The Soundarya Lahari, a masterpiece attributed to Adi Shankaracharya, is a devotional hymn celebrating the divine beauty and power of Goddess Parvati. The first five slokas establish the theological and spiritual foundation of the text, emphasizing the goddess’s supremacy and grace. Below, each sloka is presented in Devanagari script, followed by its transliteration, translation, and an elaborate commentary in block quotes to illuminate its meaning, symbolism, and spiritual significance.
The Divine Union of Shiva and Shakti
शिवः शक्त्या युक्तो यदि भवति शक्तः प्रभवितुं
न चेदेवं देवो न खलु कुशलः स्पन्दितुमपि।
अतस्त्वामाराध्यं हरिहरविष्णादिभिरपि
प्रणन्तुं स्तोतुं वा कथमकृतपुण्यः प्रभवति॥
Meaning:
Shiva, when united with Shakti, gains the power to create the universe. Without her, even the Lord cannot move. Thus, you, worshipped by Vishnu, Shiva, and Brahma, are the supreme goddess. How can one who has not accumulated merit praise or bow to you?
Commentary:
The opening sloka establishes the metaphysical and spiritual primacy of Shakti, the divine feminine energy, in the cosmic order. It articulates the Tantric principle that Shiva (pure consciousness) is inert without Shakti (dynamic energy). This union is the source of all creation, symbolizing the balance of masculine and feminine principles. The verse highlights the goddess’s supremacy, as even the trinity—Vishnu (Hari), Shiva (Hara), and Brahma (Virinchi)—worship her. The final line introduces a note of humility, suggesting that only those with accumulated spiritual merit (punya) can approach her through praise or worship. This sets the tone for the Soundarya Lahari as a text that combines devotion (bhakti) with spiritual discipline. For devotees, this sloka is a call to recognize the goddess as the ultimate source of power and to cultivate purity and merit to connect with her grace. It also subtly introduces the idea of sadhana (spiritual practice), as merit is earned through righteous actions and devotion.