||सार्थ त्रिपुरसुन्दरि अष्टकं||

.. सार्थ त्रिपुरसुन्दरि अष्टकं..


Introduction:
``tripurasundari aShTakaM" is an octal  hymn , praising
Goddess tripurasundari, composed by Adi sha.nkara, in a group
of eight shlokams, all set in prithvi metre consisting
of 17 syllables to each line, with a yati (pause) at
syllable 8 and 17. (Note that the hymn, Saundaryalahari,
also has 17 letters to each line, but the poetic
metre there is shikhariNi, which is entirely different).
The feminine noun "tripurasundari" means  beauty `par excellence',
in the triad (tripura). The word "tripura" can be interpreted
in several ways.  First, The kALlikA purANaM states that
by the will of the pradhAna (the First Principle), the
body of shiva became triple: the upper part became brahma, the middle,
vishNu, and the lower, rudra, As these three  "pura"s (bodies) are in
Him, shiva is called tripura, and his spouse is tripurA
In this context, it is interesting to note the following.
In Andhra Pradesh, about 20 kilomnetres from Kalahasthi, there is
a small shiva shrine and liN\^_gaM, at Gudimallam. It is believed this
shiva liN\^_ghaM was installed by parasurAma.  The lower part bears the
form
of a gAndharva, the middle part, that of parasurAma with a turban, and
the upper part, that of shiva liN\^_gaM.  Under a curse, once brahma
became a gAndharwa, by name CitrasEna. Therefore, the lower part
could be brahma, and the middle one vishNu, since parasurama is
an avatAraM of vishNu.  This fact is mentioned in the Tamil
book: ``Jagadguruvin Upadeshangal" (Appendix, page 23, 1957).
tripura has another meaning: The dEvi's mantra consists of three
syllables; the paJNchadashaakshari mantraM is composed of three
peaks (kUTa), namely vAgbhatakUTa, kAmarAja kUTa, and
shakta kUTa. The nADis (nerves currents) where she resides are three:
sushumna, piN\^_gaLa, and ida). Her shaktis are three, ichcha, kriya, and
GYAna.  Now, to the actual hymn:



          ॐ
.. अथ त्रिपुरसुन्दरि अष्टकम्..

कदम्बवनचारिणीं मुनिकदम्बकादम्बिनीं
नितम्बजितभूधरां सुरनितम्बिनीसेविताम् |
नवाम्बुरुहलोचनां अभिनवाम्बुदश्यामलां
त्रिलोचनकुटुम्बिनीं त्रिपुरसुन्दरीमाश्रये || १||

Meaning
अहं:  I;
त्रिपुरसुन्दरीं: (in/to) Goddess tripurasundari;
आश्रये: seek shelter in (pay obeisance to).
The remaining phrases are adjectives that qualify the accusative noun
(dvitIyA vibhakti) ``tripurasundarIM";
कदम्ब वन चरिनीं: who is roaming in the kadamba forest.
Kadamba is a kind of tree (Nauclea cadamba). It is
said to put forth orange coloured fragrant buds at the roaring of
thunder clouds.  A withered relic of the kadamba tree is still preserved
in the precincts of the Madurai Meenakshi temple.  Here,
kadamba forest stands for the universe which devi permeates.
मुनि कदम्ब कादम्बिनीं: a galaxy of clouds to the galaxy of rishis
(sages).  Just as the bank of clouds quenches the thirst of the
earthly beings, so does tripurasundari quench the
spiritual thirst of the munis (sages).
नितम्ब:  hip;
जित भूधरां: conquering (excelling) the mountains
(whose hip excels the mountain);
सुर नितम्बिनी सेवितां:  who is served by celestial damsels;
नवांबुरुह लोचनां: whoes eyes resemble fresh lotus;
अभिनवांबुद श्यामलां: who is swarthy like the newly formed
nimbus.
त्रिलोचनकुटुम्बिनीं: who belongs to the family of the three-eyed
one (Lord shiva);


कदम्बवनवासिनीं कनकवल्लकीधारिणीं
महार्हमणिहारिणीं मुखसमुल्लसद्वारुणीम् |
दयाविभवकारिणीं विशदलोचनीं चारिणीं
त्रिलोचनकुटुम्बिनीं त्रिपुरसुन्दरीमाश्रये || २||

Meaning:
(अहम्)त्रिपुरसुन्दरीं आश्रये: (as in the above shlokaM);
कदम्ब वन वासिनीं:  (as in shlokaM 1);
कनक वल्लकी धारिणीं: who holds a golden VINa;
महार्ह मणि हारिणीं:  who wears a garland of precious gems;
मुख समुल्लसद् वारिणीं: whose face  glows deeply with ambrosia;
दयाविभव कारिणीं:  bestowing prosperity through mercy;
विशद लोचनीं: clear eyed;
चारिणीं: wandering.


कदम्बवनशालया कुचमरोल्लसन्मालया
कुचोपमितशैलया गुरुकृपालसद्वेलया |
मदारुणकपोलया मधुरगीतवाचालया
कयाऽपि घननीलया कवचिता वयं लीलया || ३||

Meaning:
वयं:  we;
लीलया: by her inscrutable play;
कवचिता: (we) are arrayed in panoply.
the remaining phrases qualify the noun ``lIlayA";
कदम्बवन शालया: by her abode in the kadamba forest (meaning here,
the entire universe);
कुचमरोल्लसन् मालया: by the garland gracing her massive bosoms;
कुचोपमित शैलया: by her bosoms rivalling the mountains
(represents her cosmic motherhood, and eagerness to
nourish the entire world).
गुरुकृपालसद् वेलया:  by splendid flow of Her Grace;
मदारुण कपोलया: with cheeks rudded by wine;
मधुरगीत वाचालया: by her melodious musical voice;
कयापि घन नीलया: by her cloud-like blue.


कदम्बवनमध्यगां कनकमण्डलोपस्थितां
षडम्बुरुहवासिनीं सततसिद्धसौदामिनीम् |
विडम्बितजपारुचिं विकचचन्द्रचूडामणिं
त्रिलोचनकुटुम्बिनीं त्रिपुरसुन्दरीमाश्रये || ४||

Meaning:
(अहम्)त्रिपुरसुन्दरीं आश्रये: (as in shlokam 1);
कदम्ब वन मध्यगां: who is in the midst of kadamba forest;
कनक मण्डलोपस्थितां: seated on the golden disc;
षडम्बुरुह वासिनीं: who resides in six lotus flowers;
सतत सिद्ध सौधामिनीं: a lightning to the constant siddhas;
विडम्बित जपा रुचिं: splenderously mocking the scarlet (red)
Hibiscous flower;
विकच चन्द्र चूडामणिं: with cloudless moon for her
crest jewel;
त्रिलोचन कुटुम्बिनीं: (as in shlokam  1).


कुचाञ्चितविपञ्चिकां कुटिलकुन्तलालंकृतां
कुशेशयनिवासिनीं कुटिलचित्तविद्वेषिणीम् |
मदारुणविलोचनां मनसिजारिसंमोहिनीं
मतङ्गमुनिकन्यकां मधुरभाषिणीमाश्रये || ५||

Meaning:
(आहं) : I;
आश्रये:  seek shelter in  (Her, who is);
कुचाञ्चित विपञ्चिकां: with a Vina gracing her bosom;
कुटिल कुन्थलालंकृतां:  adorned with curly tresses of hair;
कुशेसय निवासिनीं:  residing in lotus;
कुटिल चित्त विद्वेषिणीं: scorning the evil-minded ones;
मदाऱुण विलोचनां: reddish eyed from nectar;
मनसिजारि सम्मोहिनीं: captivating the enemy of Cupid (shiva);
मतङ्ग मुनि कन्यकां:  daughter of  sage mataN\^_ga;
मधुर भाषिणीं: mellifluously conversing.


स्मरप्रथमपुष्पिणीं रुधिरबिन्दुनीलाम्बरां
गृहीतमधुपात्रिकां मदविढणर्नेत्राञ्चलाम् |
घनस्तनभरोन्नतां गलितचूलिकां श्यामलां
त्रिलोचनकुटुम्बिनीं त्रिपुरसुन्दरीमाश्रये || ६||

Meaning:
(अहम्)त्रिपुरसुन्दरीं आश्रये: (as in shlokam 1);
स्मर प्रथम पुष्पिणीं: who bears the first flower of manmatha
(Cupid);
रुधिर बिन्दु नीलाम्बरां: clad in blue garments spotted
sanguine (red);
गृहीत मधु पात्रिकां:  holding a bowl of wine;
मद विढर्ण नेत्राञ्चलां: eyes inebriated languishing at the ends;
घन स्तन भरोन्नतां: close set with high and heavy bosom;
गलित चूलिकां:  with locks dishevelled;
श्याम्लां:  swarthy one;
त्रिलोचन कुटुम्बिनीं: (as in shlokaM 1).


सकुङ्कुमविलेपनां अलकचुम्बिकस्तूरिकां
समन्दहसितेक्षणां सशरचापपाशाङ्कुशाम् |
अशेषजनमोहिनीं अरुणमाल्यभूषाम्बरां
जपाकुसुमभासुरां जपविधौ स्मराम्यम्बिकां || ७||

Meaning:
( अहं) : I;
अम्बिकां : ambikA Mother (dvitIya vibhakti);
जपविधौ: in (during) Japa (meditation);
स्मरामि:  remember;
The remaining phrases qualify the noun: ambikAM:;
स कुङ्कुम विलेपनां:  smeared with vermillion;
अलक चुम्बि कस्तूरिकां: forelocks grazing the dot of musk;
स मन्द हसितेक्षणां:  with looks soft and smiling;
स शर चाप पाशाङ्कुशां:  bearing arrows, bow, snare and goad;
अशेष जन मोहिनीं: deluding the entire people;
अरुण माल्य भूशाम्बरां:  wearing (decorating her body with)
red garments;
जपाकुसुम भासुरां: shining with the japA flower
NOTE: This particular shlokam is considered very sacred, and it
is included  in the "dhyANa shlokaM" segment of both lalitA
sahasranAmaM, as well as  lalitA trishati.


 पुरन्दरपुरंध्रिकां चिकुरबन्धसैरंध्रिकां
 पितामहपतिव्रतां पटपटीरचर्चारताम् |
 मुकुन्दरमणीमणीं लसदलङ्क्रियाकारिणीं
 भजामि भुवनांबिकां सुरवधूटिकाचेटिकाम् || ८||

Meaning:
( अहं) : I;
भुवनाम्बिकां:  mother of the entire world (dvitIya vibhakti);
भजामि: worship (salute) The remaining words qualify the noun "ambikAM";
पुरन्दर पुरंध्रिकां:   ruling over the entire srI puraM;
चिकुर बन्ध सैरन्ध्रिकां: who has the celestial queen for plaiting tresses;
पितामह पतिव्रतां: consort of Lord brahma;
पट पटीर चर्चा रतां:  skilful for anointing sandal paste;
मुकुन्द रमणी मनीं: gem of vishNu's spouse;
लसद् अलंकृया कारिणीं: adorning with lustrous  gems;
सुरवधूटिका चेटिकां: having heavenly damsels for servant maids.


 .. इति  त्रिपुरसुन्दरि अष्टकम् सम्पूर्णम् ||

Thus ends the octal hymn on Tripurasundai