Sri Suktam (Sanskrit Text, Word-to-Word Meaning, English Translation, Explanation and Transliteration)

B. B. Konnur is associated with the Bhavan’s London Centre from its very inception in 1972. He is an ardent devotee of Lord Panduranga and a great scholar in Sanskrit and English. He has done commendable research in Vedic Literature.

Preface

Amongst the many vedik hymns (suktas) the two namely Purusa Saba and Sri Sukta are very well- known, The former gives a description of the macro - cosmic form (Virat Svarupa) of Parabrahma or Paramatma, the supreme person or reality whom Manu and other Rsis call Adinarayana; He is the prime cause of this phenomenon which is creation (Srsti), maintenance' (Sthiti) and dissolution (Laya) As stated in Srimad Bhagavatam and Bhagavad Gita, these three (Srsti, Sthiti and Laya) are displayed by Him by resorting to or taking hold of his inherent nature, Prakrti the inscrutable power designated by many other names such as Sakti, Devi, Bhagavati, Isvari, Laksmi etc. Prakrti is constituted of three gunas (modes) namely Sattva (Purity and goodness), Rajas (Passion and activity) and Tamas (Ignorance and inactivity). Creation is effected with rajoguna, maintenance with sattvaguna and dissolution with tamoguna. The supreme person conjoined with prakrti takes the form of Brahma for creation and those of Visnu and Mahesa for maintenance and dissolution respectively. Whether He is called Parabrahma, Paramatma, Paramesvara, Purusottama or Adinarayana the supreme person is one though He appears as many. The divinities or deities Brahma, Visnu and Mahesa are in Him and of Him. He appears in the form of Visnu to uphold and protect the world. The operation is done through the power of Visnu for which the terminology is Laksmi. She is the Brahman revealed in its mother aspect as creatrix and nourisher of the three worlds. Her description appears in Sri Sukta where she has been lauded in golden words and in glorious terms.