A poem on Goddess Lakshmi

lalitaaShtakaM

lalite kalite vanite sumukhi |
agade dhanade shubhade varade ||
dhanadhaanyakare vimale kamale |
jaya devi triloka-manaatma-sukhe || 1 ||

bhaya-paap-vilaap-rujaa-shamite |
amite makaraala-nivaas-sute ||
kara-ka.nj-padaabja-saroja-mukhe |
jaya devi triloka-manaatma-sukhe || 2 ||

bhayahaariNi-kaamini-kaalagate |
bhavataariNi bhaamini shiil-shubhe ||
varadaayini yogini viShNupriye |
jaya devi triloka-manaatma-sukhe || 3 ||

nava-paaTala-pa.nkaj-ratna-kare |
vijaye mati-GYaana-kalaa-nilaye ||
dhanadaayini rukmiNi lakshmi rame |
jaya devi triloka-manaatma-sukhe || 4 ||

dukha-taapa-nivaariNi modini he |
mahi-maNDini taamas-khaNDini he ||
hari-ra.njini raama-hRRidiishwari he |
jaya devi triloka-manaatma-sukhe || 5 ||

mati-GYaana-prade dhana-vaibhavade |
mudite mahi-maNDala-harSha-prade ||
jaya siddhi shubhe bhava-bhuuta-vibhe |
jaya devi triloka-manaatma-sukhe || 6 ||

mati-preriNi keshini ruupiNi shrii |
mati-bhaava-gate jaya vedavati ||
mana-lobhini poShiNi ka.nja-mukhi |
jaya devi triloka-manaatma-sukhe || 7 ||

mana-maanasa-shobhini buddhi-prade |
mRRidu-bhaaShiNi bhaaShak-bhaaShya-gate ||
suprabhe suvibhe muni-bhakt-priye ||
jaya devi triloka-manaatma-sukhe || 8 ||


MEANING

1) Salutations to You, Lalita, the artistic one, the desirable one, the One with a beautiful face, Who blesses us with medicine, wealth, prosperity, and boons, Who has wealth and prosperity in Her hands, and is without malice. Salutations to Devi! Who is happiness for everyone's heart and soul.

2) Salutations to You, Who destroys fear, pain, grief, sin, and cries, is like a potion, and is daughter of the abode of crocodiles, i.e., Ocean (Lakshmi came out as a result of ocean-churning and is often referred as Ocean's daughter). Salutations to You, whose hands, feet, and face is like a blooming lotus. Salutations to Devi! Who is happiness for everyone's heart and soul.

3) Salutations to You, Who is absolver of all fears, is enticing, is beyond the scope/reach of time, Who helps us cross the ocean of miseries and cycle of life and death, presents Herself again and again in the form of Woman, and is auspicious and serene. Salutations to You, Who blesses us with boons, is deft in yoga, and is dear to Vishnu. Salutations to Devi! Who is happiness for everyone's heart and soul.

4) Salutations to You, Who has newly blooming red lotus and jewels in hands, Who cannot be won over, and is ultimate reservoir of wisdom, knowledge, and art. Salutations to You, Who bestows wealth to us, and appeared as Lakshmi, Rukmini, and Ramaa (Sitaa) (in different epochs). Salutations to Devi! Who is happiness for everyone's heart and soul.

5) Salutations to You, who gets rid of all our grief, heat and sorrows, and makes us happy, Who is the ornament of the earth, and is destroyer of evil forces and darkness. Salutations to You, Who pleases Hari and rules over the heart of Raam. Salutations to Devi! Who is happiness for everyone's heart and soul.

6) Salutations to You, Who blesses us with Knowledge, wisdom, fame, and wealth, and Who is happiness and bliss (in every way), thereby pleasing this whole universe. Salutations to You, Who is skill and prosperity personified, and was existing before the
creation of this World. Salutations to Devi! Who is happiness for everyone's heart and soul.

7) Salutations to You, Who inspires everyone into various deeds, Who has beautiful hairs, Who is enticingly beautiful, and is prosperity (in every way). Salutations to You, Who is beyond the scope of wisdom and emotions, and appeared in the incarnation of Vedavati, always attracts the world with Her creations and charms, nourishes everyone, and has a
beautiful otus like face. Salutations to Devi! Who is happiness for everyone's heart and soul.

8) Salutations to You, Who is resplendent in our Maansarovar lake like heart, bestows us with wisdom, is soft spoken, and is beyond the description or scope of voice or spoken words. Salutations to You, Who is like beautiful light, Who brings prosperity, and is dear to saints and devotees. Salutations to Devi! Who is happiness for everyone's heart and soul.

*****
chhanda = toTaka ({1 1 2} X 4)
ref to meter = jaya raam ramaa ramanaM samanaM (Ramcharitmanas, UttarkaaNDa)
kaarak = saMbodhana