237 - A hymn in praise of goddess Sri (Lakshmi) for the sake of success

Pushkara said:

1.    Indra made the prayer to (the goddess þri (Lakshmi) in days of yore for securing the kingdom. A kingshould similarly do that prayer for the sake of victory.

Indra said: 

2. I make obeisance to the mother of all worlds, that is born of the ocean, the (goddess) Śri (Fortune), that has eyes like the lotus that is waking up after sleep and that person dwelling on the chest of lord Vishņu. 

3-4. O Goddess! You are the success. You are the Svadhā (food offered to the manes), the Svaha (oblations). You are ambrosia. (You are) the purifier of the world. You are the twilights, night, lustre, wealth, memory, faith and Sarasvati (the goddess of speech). (You are) the sacrificial knowledge, supreme knowledge and secret knowledge. O Auspicious one! O Goddess! You are the knowledge of the soul and the conferer of the benefit of emancipation. 

5. You are the metaphysics, the three Vedas and the science of administration. O Goddess! The Beautiful! This has been filled by your beautiful worldly forms. 

6. O Goddess! Who else other than you would rest in the body composed of all sacrifices of the mace-wielding Lord Narayana, the god of gods whom the yogins contemplate. 

7. O Goddess | All the three worlds were forsaken by you and the Earth was almost lost and resuscitated by you now. 

8. O Most Fortunate One! Men would always get wives, sons, house, friends, grains, wealth etc. on account of your glances. 

9. O Goddess! It is not impossible for men seen by your glances to get beauty, health, fortune, destruction of the enemy beside happiness. 

10. You are the mother of all beings; and Lord Hari (Vishņu), the god of gods, is the father. O Mother! This world of movable and immovable beings is pervaded by you and lord Vishņu. 

11-12. o Purifier of all! Do not forsake honour, treasury, granary, house, attendants, body and wife. One resting on the chest of lord Vishņu! Do not desert children, circle of friends, cows and ornaments. 

13. O Spotless one! Those men forsaken by you would be forsaken at once by nobility, truth, purity and other qualities such as good conduct. 

14. Men seen by you would atonce be endowed with all qualities such as good conduct, the fortune of good famıly etc. even though they be without good qualities. 

15. O Goddess! Whoever is seen by you would be praiseworthy, possessing good qualities, fortunate, belonging to a good family, wise, valiant and victorious. 

16. O Consort of lord Vishņu! The Sustainer of the universe! All qualities such as good conductshed their excellence at once in men from whom you have turned your face. 

17. Even the tongue of Brahmā is not capable of describing your qualities. O Goddess Lotus-eyed! Be gracious. Never forsake us.

Pushkara said:

18-19. Being thus adored, (goddess) Śrī (Lakshmi) conferred on Indra the desired boon (such as) firmness of sovereignty and success in the battle etc. It confers enjoyment and emancipation on those reciting or hearing the hymn. Hence oneshould always read and listen to the hymn on (goddess) Sri (Lakshmi).