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Śrī Sūktam – Verse 12
Āpaḥ Sṛjantu – softness, sacred waters and a settled presence
By Amit N. Lakhtariya
Devanāgarī
आपः सृजन्तु स्निग्धानि चिक्लीत वस मे गृहे।
नि च देवीं मातरं श्रियं वासय मे कुले॥
Āpaḥ sṛjantu snigdhāni ciklīta vasa me gṛhe,
Ni ca devīṁ mātaraṁ śriyaṁ vāsaya me kule.
Word-by-word meaning
Waters, sacred waters
In Vedic thought, water is purity, life-force and flow.
May they create, bring forth, generate
Soft, smooth, harmonious, full of affection and cohesion
It represents sweetness in relationships, softness in the heart, and kindness in speech and action.
An ancient word for fertility, fragrance and richness
It also suggests stickiness or cohesion, everything that makes prosperity “cling” or stay with you. Many commentators take Ciklīta as a name, another son of Lakshmi after Kardama in the previous verse, who is addressed directly: “O Ciklīta, dwell in my home.”
Dwell in my home
May abundance and sweetness live here.
And settle the Goddess firmly
Ni carries the sense of settling down firmly. The humble, close, divine presence in daily life is the Goddess we ask to be settled in the home.
The motherly form of Śrī (Lakshmi)
Nurturing, compassionate and permanently present.
Make her reside in my lineage; bless my family
Full meaning
May the sacred waters bring softness, harmony and sweetness into my life and home. O divine Mother Lakshmi, humble yet ever-present, adorned with grace and nurturing energy, dwell permanently in my family and bless my lineage with abundance and peace.
Deeper spiritual insights
Water’s symbolism (Āpaḥ)
Flow, purity and cleansing. True prosperity flows gently. It is never rigid or forced.
Softness (Snigdhāni)
Wealth without gentleness becomes arrogance. This verse asks for abundance that comes with sweetness in behaviour, harmony in the home and kindness in interactions.
Ciklīta: the quality that makes prosperity “stick”
What makes prosperity stay? Contentment, humility, gratitude and righteous conduct. Without these, abundance comes but slips away.
A settled, humble presence (Ni ca devīṁ)
We ask not for loud displays of wealth, but for a humble, nourishing, constant divine presence that subtly blesses every corner of life.
Practical meditation
- Close your eyes and imagine pure, crystal-clear water flowing through your home, washing away rigidity, cleansing old energy, and leaving behind softness, warmth and harmony.
- Visualise Goddess Lakshmi sitting quietly, like a gentle mother, in the heart of your home: calm, smiling, silently nurturing.
- Whisper within: “May abundance flow softly and sweetly. May it remain with me, humble and nourishing, blessing my family for generations.”
Reflection for today
Am I cultivating softness and kindness along with abundance? What qualities in me make prosperity “stick”: gratitude, humility, sharing? Does my home feel like a place where divine energy would love to stay?
This verse teaches that prosperity is not a sudden guest. It is a quiet, gentle, nourishing presence that stays only where there is purity, softness, humility and care.
Terms used here are explained in the glossary. This commentary was prepared with AI assistance; read more.