Vani Stotram
By Sage Yagna Valkya
Translated by P. R. Ramachander
There was a great sage called Vaishampayana. He had several great disciples and the foremost among them was Yagna Valkya. Once Vaishampayana committed a great sin and got the Brahmahathi (sin committed by killing a Brahmin) dosha. Vaishampayana requested all his disciples to do some religious ceremonies so that he can get rid of the sin. The proud Yagna Valkya told his guru, that he himself can all that is needed easily. There was no need for other disciples to do anything. Vaishampayana got very angry at these words and ordered Vaishampayana to return all the knowledge including the Vedas that he has taught him. Yagna Valkya vomited all the knowledge that he has learnt. Vaishampayana became a bird and ate all that was vomited by Yagna Valkya. At this moment, Yagna Valkya became one without Vedas. He recited the following prayer to Goddess Saraswathi and then requested Sun God to teach him Vedas and all other knowledge. Sun God said, he could do it provided Yagna Valkya stood facing his chariot and walked in reverse with the same speed as his chariot. Yagna Valkya, did this. The Veda that he learned from Sun God is known as “Shukla Yajur Veda[1] and the Veda propagated by Vaishampayana is known as “Krishna Yajur Veda[2].
Brahma swaroopa parama jyothi swaroopaa sanathani, Sarva vidhyathi devya thasyai vanya namo nama., 1
Salutations and Salutations to Vani,
Who is the form of Lord Brahma,
Who is always, the form of light,
And who is the goddess of all learning.
Visarga bindhu mathrasu yadha thishtana meva cha, Thathathishta thriya devi thasyai nithyai namo nama., 2
Salutations and salutations to that Goddess,
Who lives in colon, full stops and comma,
And who is the goddess controlling them all.
Vyakhya swaroopa sa devi vyakhya thishta roopini, Yayavinaprasangyavansaskyam karthum sakyathe., 3
She is the personification of description,
And is the goddess of description,
And without her divine grace,
Even very learned will not be able to do anything.
Kala sankhya swaroopaya thasmai devyair namo nama, Brahma sidhantha roopaya thasmai deyair namo nama., 4
Salutations and salutations to that Goddess,
Who is of the form of time and numbers,
Salutations and salutations to that Goddess,
Who is personification of the science of Brahmam.
Smrithi sakthi Gnana shakthi budhi sakthi swaroopini, Prathibha kalpana shakthyascha thasmai namo nama., 5
Salutations and salutations to that Goddess,
Who is the form of divine knowledge, thirst for knowledge,
Power of knowledge, intelligence, strength,
Exuberance of intelligence and capability of imagination.
Krupama kuru jagan matha mamevam hatha thejasam, Gnanam dehi, smrutheem vidhyam shakthim sishya prabodhineem., 6
Oh mother of the universe, to me who has,
Lost all my knowledge due to order of the teacher,
Be merciful and grant me wisdom, knowledge of Vedas,
Other knowledge and power to teach other students.
Yagnavalkya krutham Vani stotram Ethathuyya padeth, SAkaveendro Maha VagmiBrahaspathi samo bhaveth, Sa panditha medhavisukhvindhropa veda druvam., 7
He who reads this praise of Vani, written,
By Yagnavalkya at least once would become,
Great orator, as intelligent as Brahaspathi,
Greatly learned and a great genius.
It is for sure that he would live a happy life,
As long as the Vedas exist.