Saraswati Suktam (Yajurvediya)

sarasvatī sūktam (yajurvēdīya) is the Saraswati Suktam sequence preserved here from the Krishna Yajurveda liturgical tradition, with selected mantras from the Taittiriya Samhita and Rigveda. It is shorter than the Rigvedic Saraswati collection, but it is ritually concentrated: Saraswati is invoked as protectress of inspired thoughts, as one who comes to the sacrifice, as the giver of shelter, nourishment, friendship, and auspicious speech.

The Yajurvedic form places Saraswati inside the working world of yajña, where mantras are used to consecrate, invite, protect, and complete sacred action. The goddess is not only praised as a river or as learning; she is asked to actively hold the intellect, hear the invocation, give firm refuge, nourish all desirable goods, and guide the worshipper away from barren ground.

ōm ॥

Translation (bhāvārtha):
The recitation opens with OM, placing the hymn under the sacred sound that begins and sanctifies Vedic prayer.

(tai.saṃ.1.8.22)
pra ṇō̍ dē̠vī sara̍svatī̠ vājē̍bhirvā̠jinī̍vatī ।
dhī̠nāma̍vi̠trya̍vatu ॥

Translation (bhāvārtha):
May the divine Saraswati, rich in strength, nourishment, and sacred abundance, protect our inspired thoughts.

ā nō̍ di̠vō bṛ̍ha̠taḥ parva̍tā̠dā sara̍svatī yaja̠tā ga̍ntu ya̠jñam ।
hava̍-ndē̠vī ju̍juṣā̠ṇā ghṛ̠tāchī̍ śa̠gmā-nnō̠ vācha̍muśa̠tī śṛ̍ṇōtu ॥

Translation (bhāvārtha):
May worshipful Saraswati come to our sacrifice from the great heaven and the lofty mountain. May the goddess accept our invocation; may she, bright and nourishing like ghee, willingly hear our auspicious speech.

(tai.saṃ.4.1.11)
pāvī̍ravī ka̠nyā̍ chi̠trāyu̠-ssara̍svatī vī̠rapa̍tnī̠ dhiya̍-ndhāt ।
gnābhi̠rachChi̍dragṃ śara̠ṇagṃ sa̠jōṣā̍ durā̠dharṣa̍-ṅgṛṇa̠tē śarma̍ yagṃsat ॥

Translation (bhāvārtha):
May Saraswati, youthful and radiant with wondrous life, the lady of heroic power, establish understanding. Together with the divine powers, may she grant an unbroken, harmonious refuge, hard for hostile forces to overpower, and may she extend protective peace for the one who praises her.

(ṛ.vē.7.95.5)
i̠mā juhvā̎nā yu̠ṣmadā namō̎bhi̠ḥ prati̠ stōma̎ṃ sarasvati juṣasva ।
tava̠ śarma̎npri̠yata̍mē̠ dadhā̎nā̠ upa̍ sthēyāma śara̠ṇa-nna vṛ̠kṣam ॥

Translation (bhāvārtha):
O Saraswati, accept this hymn that we offer to you with reverence. Holding your dearest shelter, may we come near and stand beneath your protection as one rests under a tree.

(ṛ.vē.1.164.49)
yastē̠ stana̍-śśaśa̠yō yō ma̍yō̠bhūryēna̠ viśvā̠ puṣya̍si̠ vāryā̍ṇi ।
yō ra̍tna̠dhā va̍su̠vidya-ssu̠datra̠-ssara̍svati̠ tami̠ha dhāta̍vē kaḥ ॥

Translation (bhāvārtha):
O Saraswati, your nourishing breast is joy-giving; through it you sustain all desirable goods. It is treasure-bearing, wealth-knowing, and generous in giving. May that nourishing source be placed here for us.

(ṛ.vē.6.61.14)
sara̍svatya̠bhi nō̎ nēṣi̠ vasyō̠ māpa̍ spharī̠ḥ paya̍sā̠ mā na̠ ā dha̍k ।
ju̠ṣasva̍ na-ssa̠khyā vē̠śyā̎ cha̠ mā tva-tkṣētrā̠ṇyara̍ṇāni ganma ॥

Translation (bhāvārtha):
O Saraswati, guide us toward welfare and desirable good. Do not overwhelm or afflict us with your flood; accept our friendships and our settled nearness. May we not go away from you into barren or hostile fields.

(ṛ.vē.6.61.2)
i̠yaṃ śuṣmē̎bhirbisa̠khā i̍vāruja̠tsānu̍ girī̠ṇā-nta̍vi̠ṣēbhi̍rū̠rmibhi̍ḥ ।
pā̠rā̠va̠ta̠ghnīmava̍sē suvṛ̠ktibhi̍ssara̍svatī̠ mā vi̍vāsēma dhī̠tibhi̍ḥ ॥

Translation (bhāvārtha):
This Saraswati, by her force and powerful waves, breaks through mountain ridges as easily as fibrous roots are split. We worship and invoke her for help with well-formed hymns and inspired thoughts.

ōṃ śānti̠-śśānti̠-śśānti̍ḥ ॥

Translation (bhāvārtha):
May peace settle at every level: in unseen forces, in the surrounding world, and within the body, speech, and mind of the worshipper.

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