Gautamī’s Stotra to Lakshmī (Brahma Purāṇa)
Gautamī Kṛta Lakshmī Stotra · gautamī kṛta lakshmī stotra, “the stotra to Lakshmī spoken by the Gautamī”
Gautamī’s Stotra to Lakshmī is the praise of Devī Lakshmī that the river Gautamī, the Gaṅgā of the south, spoke when she settled the dispute between Lakshmī and Daridrā (Poverty). It is found in the Brahma Purāṇa, Gautamī Māhātmya, Chapter 67 (verses 32–39), where Brahmā tells Nārada the glory of Lakshmītīrtha. In it the Gautamī declares that the whole world of moving and unmoving beings is pervaded by Lakshmī: she is the splendour of Brahman, of tapas, of yajña, of learning and of moksha, of the Vedas, the waters and the earth, down to the auspicious dawn, and whatever excellence is seen in anyone is her power.
The setting
Brahmā tells Nārada the sacred account that destroys Alakshmī (misfortune). Long ago Lakshmī, also called Śrī, and Daridrā came into the universe as rivals, and there is nothing in the three worlds that they do not pervade. Each claimed to be the greater. Daridrā said, “I was born first.”
Lakshmī said: “I alone am noble birth, good conduct and the very life of embodied beings; without me, though alive, they are like the dead. Whoever I adorn is honoured, and a man without wealth is attacked by all even if he is equal to Śiva. Dhī (intellect), Śrī, Hrī (modesty), Śānti (peace) and Kīrti (fame) leave the body at once at the word ‘Give’. Good qualities and honour remain only as long as one does not beg. Want of wealth is the fruit of great pāpa; people neither honour, nor speak to, nor touch a man without wealth.”
Daridrā said: “Moksha always depends on me. Desire, anger, greed, arrogance and malice never stay where I am, nor madness, jealousy or haughtiness, and no fear arises there. Are you not ashamed to boast? You sport with pāpīs and forsake the excellent; men grow more drunk with pride at your presence than with liquor. I dwell in those devoted to Śiva and Vishṇu, in the grateful, the calm and well-conducted, those eager to serve elders, the good, the learned and the heroic, in pure brāhmaṇas, in bhikshus, and in the fearless who perform holy rites. You dwell in pāpīs who hang about kings, in the cruel and wicked, in scandal-mongers and misers, in the ungrateful, in those who break dharma and betray their friends, and in those who do evil.”
Arguing thus, they came to Brahmā. Brahmā said: “The Earth is older than I, and the Waters older still. Only women know the depths of a dispute between women. Best of all waters are those that rise from the kamaṇḍalu, and among them Devī Gautamī will be able to decide; she dispels all suffering and all doubt.” So Lakshmī and Daridrā went with the Earth and the Waters to the Gautamī. The Earth and the Waters bowed to her and, as neutral arbiters, laid before her the claims of each in their very words. Then, while the dikpālas, the Earth and the Waters listened, Gautamī Gaṅgā spoke to Daridrā in praise of Lakshmī.
The stotra
The Gautamī said: “Everything in the world of moving and unmoving beings is pervaded by Lakshmī. She is the splendour of:
- Brahman,
- tapas,
- yajñas,
- renown,
- wealth,
- reputation,
- learning,
- intellect,
- Sarasvatī, speech,
- enjoyment,
- worldly pleasures,
- moksha,
- modesty,
- forbearance,
- forgiveness,
- siddhi, spiritual attainment,
- contentment,
- nourishment,
- peace,
- the waters,
- the earth,
- ahaṅkāra, the sense of self,
- the oshadhis, the healing herbs,
- the Vedas,
- purity,
- night,
- svarga,
- moonlight,
- blessings,
- greetings of svasti,
- pervasion,
- māyā,
- and the auspicious dawn.
Whatever is beautiful in these is the showing of Lakshmī’s power: in brāhmaṇas who are bold, self-possessed, patient and good, and in others of great learning who follow the path of moksha and the path of worldly enjoyment. Why say more? The whole universe is pervaded by Lakshmī. Whatever excellence is seen in anyone is her power. There is nothing without her. Are you not ashamed to compete with her?”
Source: Brahma Purāṇa, Gautamī Māhātmya, Chapter 67
The verdict and the phala
Then the Gaṅgā said to Daridrā, “Go away, go away.” From that time the waters of the Gaṅgā are hostile to poverty, and the torment of poverty lasts only as long as one has not taken refuge in the Gaṅgā. The place became the auspicious Lakshmītīrtha, which directly increases wealth and prosperity and dispels Alakshmī. By snāna (holy bath) and dāna (gifts) there one becomes wealthy and full of puṇya. There are six thousand tīrthas in that holy spot, frequented by devas, devarshis and ṛshis, and they grant every siddhi.
Source: Brahma Purāṇa, Gautamī Māhātmya, Chapter 67
Sources
- Brahma Purāṇa, Gautamī Māhātmya, Chapter 67