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श्री
Śrī Sūktam – Verse 2
Tāṁ Ma Āvaha – the Goddess who never leaves
By Amit N. Lakhtariya
Devanāgarī
तां म आवह जातवेदो लक्ष्मीमनपगामिनीम्।
यस्यां हिरण्यं विन्देयं गामश्वं पुरुषानहम्॥
Tāṁ ma āvaha jāta-vedo lakṣmīm anapagāminīm,
Yasyāṁ hiraṇyaṁ vindeyaṁ gāmaśvaṁ puruṣān aham.
Word-by-word meaning
That Goddess
Referring to Lakshmi.
Please bring (to me)
A request made to Agni, as in the first verse.
O Fire God (Agni), the knower of all beings
As in the first verse, Agni is invoked as the divine messenger who carries prayers to higher realms.
Goddess Lakshmi
The embodiment of prosperity, grace and well-being.
One who never leaves, who is always present
Symbolising unwavering, enduring prosperity: not just material wealth but lasting spiritual and emotional well-being.
By whose presence
I may obtain gold (divine wealth)
Hiraṇyaṁ here is not just physical gold but symbolises abundance in all aspects: health, wisdom, dharma and joy.
Cattle and horses
Cattle represent nourishment (food, sustenance), and horses symbolise energy, movement and progress.
And worthy, noble people
The blessing of good companionship, wise people around you, or even progeny and lineage.
Full meaning
O Jātaveda (sacred fire, divine messenger), please bring to me that ever-present, unwavering Goddess Lakshmi, whose presence bestows prosperity and grace. May I, through her blessings, attain divine wealth, nourishment, strength and the company of noble souls.
Deeper spiritual insights
Lakshmi as Anapagāminī, the one who never leaves
True prosperity is not temporary or fleeting. It is steady, ever-present and deeply rooted in righteousness (dharma). Material wealth can come and go, but spiritual wealth, meaning wisdom, peace, gratitude and inner contentment, stays forever.
Requesting abundance beyond just money
Gold (Hiraṇyaṁ) symbolises not just money but also wisdom, divine grace and clarity. Cattle (Gāṁ) represent sustenance and nourishment, enough to share with others. Horses (Aśvam) represent movement, progress, energy and success in one’s pursuits. Good company (Puruṣān) represents the importance of being surrounded by wise, ethical and noble people who uplift us. True wealth is holistic: financial, emotional, mental and social well-being.
Why invoke Agni (Jātaveda) again?
Fire symbolises purification and transformation. Just as fire transforms raw food into nourishment, it is also believed to transform prayers into divine blessings. Here, we ask Agni to connect us with the divine abundance of Lakshmi, not just for material wealth but for holistic, righteous prosperity.
Practical meditation
- Sit quietly after chanting.
- Visualise Goddess Lakshmi seated on a lotus, golden radiance surrounding her, blessing you.
- Feel her grace as an unshakable presence in your life, not just today but always.
- Picture yourself abundantly blessed, not just with money but with wisdom, peace, health and noble companions.
- Whisper gently in your heart: “May true abundance, spiritual and material, flow into my life, and may I share it with others.”
Reflection for today
Today, focus on what true abundance means to you. Ask yourself: is my prosperity steady and rooted in righteousness, or is it fleeting? Cultivate gratitude for the abundance already present in your life, however small or great.
This verse reminds us that Lakshmi is not just about gold coins. She is the inner wealth that stays with us forever. Prosperity without peace is meaningless; abundance without wisdom is dangerous. By understanding this verse, we shift from simply seeking wealth to seeking holistic well-being, progress and good company, things that enrich life beyond measure.
Terms used here are explained in the glossary. This commentary was prepared with AI assistance; read more.