Sri Suktam Explained - Part 14

आदित्यवर्णे तपसोऽधिजातो वनस्पतिस्तव वृक्षोऽथ बिल्वः
तस्य फलानि तपसा नुदन्तु मायान्तरायाश्च बाह्या अलक्ष्मीः

आदित्यवर्णे – As brilliant as the sun.
She is बाह्यान्तर सकल तमो विरोधि तेजोमय दिव्य स्वरूपे – a divine radiant form that dispels all darkness, both internal and external.

Another interpretation of आदित्यवर्णे is आत् इत्य वर्णे.
आत् means अकारवाच्यात् – ईश्वरात् – derived from Ishwara. Thus, her brilliance and radiance originate from Ishwara, Surya Narayana.

तव तपसोऽधिजातः वनस्पतिः वृक्षोऽथ बिल्वः – This Vanaspati (lord of the forests/trees) is the Vilwa tree, which emerged from the Tapas and Sankalpa of Lakshmi Devi.

तस्य फलानि – The fruits of the Vilwa tree are significant.
तपसा नुदन्तु – By performing Tapas through:

• Homa using Vilwa fruits.
• Seeing them.
• Praising or speaking about them.
• Touching them.
• Remembering them.

These fruits can remove माया अन्तरायाः च बाह्या अलक्ष्मीः – obstacles in the form of Alakshmi, both internal and external.

The Power of Vilwa Fruits
Vilwa fruits have the potency to destroy all forms of obstacles.

श्रीसाधकेन बैल्वेन फलेन श्रीविघातिनः
षष्ठेऽलक्ष्मीश् तद्विघ्नान्मायादीन्नाशयत्ययम

Vilwa fruits are critical for removing Alakshmi. That is why the Bhagya Sukta Homa is performed using Vilwa fruits.

The Vedas say that the Bilwa tree originated from Aditya (Surya Narayana), who is Sri Hari himself.
बैल्वो यूपो भवत्यसौ वा आदित्यो यतोऽजायत ततो बिल्व उदतिष्ठत्।
Thus, Bilwa represents both Lakshmi and Surya Narayana.

Symbolism of Bilwa and Its Use
The Vilwa fruit represents Lakshmi Devi herself.

• Performing Homa with Vilwa fruits.
• Touching them.
• Praising them.

All these actions destroy Alakshmi. Even while performing Homa with the Lakshmi mantra, बिल्वमयं परिधिं परिधाय, बिल्वमयमिध्ममादध्यात् – paridhis (sticks placed around the Homa Kunda) and idhma (fuel sticks) should be made of Vilwa.

श्रीकामो जुहुयादग्नौ पद्मैर्बिल्वैस्तथा फलैः – A person desiring wealth and prosperity should perform Homa with lotuses and Vilwa fruits.

माया अन्तरायाः बाह्याः अलक्ष्मीः

• माया – Wrong knowledge or incorrect actions (अन्यथा ज्ञान अन्यथा प्रवृत्तयः).
• अन्तरायाः – Obstacles in her worship, such as काम, क्रोध, लोभ, मोह (lust, anger, greed, and delusion).

The Gita says:
त्रिविधं नरकस्यैतद्वारं नाशनमात्मनः।
कामः क्रोधस्तथा लोभस्तस्मादेतत्त्रयं त्यजेत्।
Lust, anger, and greed are gateways to Naraka. Avoid these qualities while worshipping Lakshmi.

Other negative traits include:

• अतिमानं – Excessive pride.
• सदाहासं – Constant laughter or giggling.
• वाक्प्रलापं – Blabbering unnecessarily.
• विकत्थनम् – Boasting.

Obsessing over oneself, constantly praising or criticizing oneself, can lead to poverty and attract Alakshmi.

बाह्याः – Actions that oppose Lakshmi Vrata, such as:

• Performing Puja while angry or sad.
• Keeping items associated with negativity or inauspiciousness.

सरोषं च सवार्तं चार्चनादिकृतं यदि।
तत यातुधाना गृह्णन्ति तद्यत्नेनैव वर्जयेत।
Avoid performing Puja with anger or sadness, as its results will benefit demons instead of you.

Destroying Alakshmi Through Vilwa Fruits
The mantra emphasizes:
माया अन्तरायाः बाह्याः – अलक्ष्मीः – All three kinds of Alakshmi or Alakshmi-causing actions can be destroyed using Vilwa fruits.

These fruits, representing Lakshmi Devi, are sacred and powerful.
Perform Homas with Vilwa fruits, touch them, praise them, and offer them in devotion. This will eliminate Alakshmi and invite the grace of Lakshmi Devi.

Ramaswamy Sastry and Vighnesh Ghanapaathi