Soundarya Lahari Ep. 26 - Chanting Mode in 100 Raagams - With Lyrics - Meanings - Shlokams 51-52 !

Aadi Shankara's Soundarya Lahari consists of 100 Shlokams in Sanskrit praising the Divine Beauty and Infinite Grace of Hindu Goddess Shakti.
The recital of these shlokams and worshipping Mother Goddess Shakti invokes the benevolence of the Mother to the whole Universe.

I am humbly presenting the 100 shlokams in tunes set in 100 popular Carnatic Music Raagams, 2 Shlokams in each episode. These tunes and the pronunciations of complex phrases in Sanskrit were inherited and learnt initially from my first Guru, my beloved periamma ( aunt ), Late Smt. Vijayalakshmi Sitharaman from Chennai, India and later on revised and updated through audio recordings of my mother who had learnt the entire Soundarya Lahari from my aunt and over time , passed them onto me through her own audio recordings.

I will be singing the entire Soundaraya Lahari in 50 episodes, with 2 shlokams in each episode. Each video episode will display the lyrics appropriately transliterated into English.

I am looking forward to you all to accompany me in this spiritual journey and learn, recite, worship and invoke the Divine Blessings of Mother Goddess Shakti!

In Episode 26, I am presenting 2 Soundarya Lahari Shlokams 51 and 52.

The following episodes will each have 2 shlokams until we complete 100 shlokams in 50 episodes !

Meanings :

51.

O Mother! Your look towards Shiva is filled with love; towards others it is full of dislike; towards your co-wife Ganga it is full of anger; on hearing about the heroic deeds of Shiva your look is filled with wonder; at the sight of the great serpents adorning Shiva you show fear; towards your friends you smile with light-heartedness; and towards me, a devotee, your glance is full of compassion.

This verse beautifully portrays the range of emotions the Goddess shows through her glance in different situations and towards different beings, signifying her loving and complex personality.

Word-by-word meanings:

Shivey: to Shiva

Shrungaara-ardhraa: moist with love/affection

Thaditharajaney: to others (other than Shiva) with dislike

Kuthsanaparaa: full of blame or reproach

Sarosha: Saroshā (co-wife, referring to Ganga)

Gangaayaam: on Ganga

Girisha-charitey: in the deeds or stories of Girisha (Shiva)

Vismayavati: full of wonder or amazement

Haraahibhyo: by the enemies of Hara (Shiva's enemy)

Bheethaa: fearful

Sarasiruhasa: with the great snakes (ornaments of Shiva)

Saubhagya-jananee: bestower of good fortune

Sakheeshu: towards friends or companions

Smera: smile

Te: your

Mayi: towards me

Jananī: O Mother

Drushtihi: look or glance

Sakarunā: compassionate

52.

O beautiful daughter of the King of mountains! Your long, feather-like eyelashes, extending near your ears, possess such charm and grace that they shatter the tranquility of Lord Shiva's peaceful mind. Your eyes act like Cupid’s arrows, awakening love and passion in the heart of Shiva without needing external weapons. This verse eloquently portrays the irresistible beauty and divine power of the Goddess's glance.

Word-by-Word Meaning:

gate: approaching

karṇābhyarnam: near the ears

garuta iva: like bird feathers

pakṣmāṇi: eyelids or eyelashes

dadhatī: wearing, bearing

purām: the city, here meaning the three worlds

bhettuh: destroyer (Shiva)

citta: mind

praśama: calmness

rasa: essence, taste

vidrāvaṇa phale: disturbing the effect

ime: these

netre: eyes

gotrādhāra: lineage bearer (daughter)

pati: lord or protector

kula-uttamsa-kalike: the excellent (daughter) of the family/uprooting enemy

tava: your

ā-karṇā-kṛṣṭa: extended till the ears

smara-śara-vilāsaṁ: playful arrows of Cupid

kalayataḥ: causing, making