Sarasvatī’s Stotra to Kṛshṇa
This is the stotra that Sarasvatī sang to Bhagavān Kṛshṇa when she came out of his mouth at the beginning of creation. She praises him as the lord of the eternal Rāsa, the circle dance of divine love. It is found in the Brahma Khaṇḍa of the Brahma Vaivarta Mahā Purāṇa, in Chapter 3.
The setting
Sarasvatī came out of the mouth of Bhagavān Kṛshṇa. She is white as crystal. She holds a vīṇā (a stringed instrument) and a book. She shines like ten million full moons, and her eyes are like autumn lotuses (śarat-padma).
She is the presiding devī of speech (vāk-adhishṭhāna), the mother of all vidvāns (learned people) and the beloved of poets.
She first sang the glory of Bhagavān Kṛshṇa through the music of her vīṇā. She told of all his acts in every kalpa (age of creation) and every yuga (age). Then she praised him with folded hands and spoke to him directly as “Rāseśvara” and “Śānta”.
The stotra
Sarasvatī called Bhagavān Kṛshṇa by these names and epithets:
- Rāsamaṇḍala-madhyabhūta: present in the centre of the Rāsamaṇḍala (the circle of the Rāsa).
- Rāsollāsa-samutsuka: always eager for the joy of the Rāsa.
- Ratna-siṃhāsanastha: seated on a jewelled throne.
- Ratna-bhūshaṇa-bhūshita: adorned with jewelled ornaments.
- Rāseśvara: the lord of the Rāsa.
- Rāsakara: the one who performs the Rāsa.
- Rāseśvarī-Īśvara: the lord of Rāseśvarī, who is Rādhā.
- Rāsa-adhishṭhāna-daivam: the divine foundation of the Rāsa.
- Rāsakrīḍā-vinodī: the one who delights in the play of the Rāsa.
- Rāsakrīḍā-āyāsa-pariśrānta: the one who is refreshed after the sweet effort of the Rāsa play.
- Śānta: the peaceful one.
- Sundara: the beautiful one.
The phalaśruti
Whoever reads this stotra on rising from sleep becomes:
- buddhimān, intelligent;
- dhanavān, wealthy;
- vidyāvān, learned;
- putravān, blessed with sons.
Sources
- Brahma Vaivarta Mahā Purāṇa, Brahma Khaṇḍa, Chapter 3