Sri Suktam

Meaning:

Hiraṇyavarṇāṁ hariṇīṁ su̲varṇarajata̲srajām .

Candrāṁ hiraṇmayīṁ lakṣmīṁ jātavedo ma āvaha ..1..

O Agni! Invoke that Lakshmi, who shines like gold, who destroys all sins, who wears silver and gold ornaments, who is like the moon, and who is golden-hued. 

Tām ma āvaha jātavedo lakṣmīm anapagāminīm .

Yasyāṁ hiraṇyaṁ vindeyaṁ gāmaśvaṁ puruṣānaham ..2.. 

O Agni! Invoke that Lakshmi who never leaves, by whose grace I have obtained gold, cows, horses, and friends.

Aśvapūrvāṁ rathamadhyāṁ hastinādaprabodhinīm .

Śriyaṁ devīmupahvaye śrīrmā devīrjuṣatām ..3..

I invoke Lakshmi who is seated in a chariot driven by horses and whose appearance is heralded by the sound of elephants. May she be pleased with me.

Kāṁ sosmitāṁ hiraṇyaprākārām ārdrāṁ jvalantīṁ tṛptāṁ tarpayantīm .

Padme sthitāṁ padmavarṇāṁ tāmihopahvaye śriyam ..4..

I invoke Lakshmi who is ever smiling, who is surrounded by a golden fort, who is full of mercy, who is ever shining, who makes her devotees happy, who sits on the lotus, and who has the colour of the lotus. 

Candrāṁ prabhāsāṁ yaśasā jvalantīṁ śriyaṁ loke devajuṣṭāmudārām .

Tāṁ padminīmīṁ śaraṇamahaṁ prapadye'lakṣmīrme naśyatāṁ tvāṁ vṛṇe ..5..

I seek refuge in that lotus-born Lakshmi who shines like the moon due to her glory, who is noble and who is worshipped by the Devas. May Alakshmi be destroyed by your grace.

Ādityavarṇe tapaso’dhijāto vanaspatistava vṛkṣo’tha bilvaḥ .

Tasya phalāni tapasā nudantu māyāntarāyāśca bāhyā alakṣmīḥ ..6..

O Goddess who shines like sun! By your great penance the Bilva tree was created. Let its fruits full of knowledge remove the ignorance within, and all ill-fortune without.

Upaitu māṁ devasakhaḥ kīrtiśca maṇinā saha .

Prādurbhūto'smi rāṣṭre'smin kīrtimṛddhiṁ dadātu me ..7..

May the god of wealth Kubera, the friend of the Devas; come to me with jewels-for I am born in this country, showered with your grace-and give me fame and fulfillment.

Kṣutpipāsāmalāṁ jyeṣṭhāmalakṣmīṁ nāśayāmyaham .

Abhūtimasamṛddhiṁ ca sarvāṁ nirṇuda me gṛhāt ..8..

I will destroy hunger, thirst and impurity associated with your elder sister Alakshmi by your grace; please drive away wretchedness and ill-fortune from my house.

Gandhadvārāṁ durādharṣāṁ nityapuṣṭāṁ karīṣiṇīm .

Īśvarīm̐̐ sarvabhūtānāṁ tāmihopahvaye śriyam ..9..

I invoke that Lakshmi who is the source of all fragrance, who is difficult to approach, who is always full, who gives prosperity wherever she goes, and who is the goddess of all beings.

Manasaḥ kāmamākūtiṁ vācaḥ satyamaśīmahi .

Paśūnāṁ rūpamannasya mayi śrīḥ śrayatāṁ yaśaḥ ..10..

May goddess Lakshmi forever bless me with fulfillment of my wishes and desires, truth in speech, and plenty of cattle, beauty and food.

Kardamena prajā bhūtā mayi sambhava kardama .

Śriyaṁ vāsaya me kule mātaraṁ padmamālinīm ..11..

As earth creates mankind; similarly, O Kardama! Stay with me, and bring your mother; who wears a lotus garland to live with my family.

Āpaḥ sṛjantu snigdhāni ciklīta vasa me gṛhe .

Ni ca devīṁ mātaraṁ śriyaṁ vāsaya me kule ..12..

As water creates beauty in all things by its presence; similarly, O Chiklita! Stay with me, and bring your mother to live with my family.

Ārdrāṁ puṣkariṇīṁ puṣṭiṁ piṅgalāṁ padmamālinīm .

Candrāṁ hiraṇmayīṁ lakṣmīṁ jātavedo ma āvaha ..13..

O Agni! Invoke that Lakshmi who is like the moisture of a lotus pond that nourishes, who has a golden hue, who wears lotus garlands, and who has the golden radiance of the moon.

Ārdrāṁ yaḥ kariṇīṁ yaṣṭiṁ suvarṇāṁ hemamālinīm .

Sūryāṁ hiraṇmayīṁ lakṣmīṁ jātavedo ma āvaha ..14..

O Agni! Invoke that Lakshmi who is like the moisture (figuratively representing Energy) which supports all activity, who wears golden necklaces, and who has the golden brilliance of the sun.

Tāṁ ma āvaha jātavedo lakṣmīm anapagāminīm .

Yasyāṁ hiraṇyaṁ prabhūtaṁ gāvo dāsyo'śvānvindeyaṁ puruṣānaham ..15..

O Agni! Invoke that Lakshmi who never leaves, by whose grace I will obtain plenty of gold, cows, servants, horses, and friends.

Sarva maṅgala māṅgalye śive sarvārtha sādhike .

Śaraṇye tryambake devi nārāyaṇi namo'stute ..16..

Salutations you, O Goddess Narayani, who is the most auspicious among the auspicious, who is forever peaceful, who grants all boons, who gives refuge to all and who has three eyes.

Ōm mahādevyai ca vidmahe viṣṇupatnī ca dhīmahi .

Tanno lakṣmīḥ pracodayāt ..17..

We perceive the great goddess; we meditate on the consort of Vishnu.

May that Lakshmi inspire us (to reach that goal).

Ōm dhanurdharāyai vidmahe sarvasiddhyai ca dhīmahi .

Tanno dharā pracodayāt ..17a..

We perceive the one who holds a bow; we meditate on the one who has accomplished everything. May that Lakshmi who sustains all inspire us (to reach that goal).

Ōṁ śāntiḥ śāntiḥ śāntiḥ ..

Om peace, peace, peace.

This hymn is found in the Rigveda Khilani (appendices to the Rigveda) Chapter 3. The hymn is composed of verses 1-15, verse 30, and verse 26 from chapter 6 of Adhyaya 2. The Gayatri 17a is from the Bhu Suktam. This is an extra.

Notes:

This is the short version of the Sri Suktam, the full one being the whole of the chapter 6. The first few verses are addressed to the God of fire, Agni, asking him to invoke Lakshmi; the hymns in the middle are addressed to Goddess Lakshmi herself and the hymns toward the end are again addressed to Agni. Chanting the Sri Suktam-especially on Fridays-brings peace, wealth and prosperity.