समुद्रवसने देवि पर्वतस्तनमण्डले। विष्णुपत्नि नमस्तुभ्यं पादस्पर्शं क्षमस्व मे॥

samudra-vasane devi parvata-stana-maṇdale। viṣṇu-patni namas-tubhyam pāda-sparśam kṣamasva me॥

Meaning:

O Goddess who is clothed by the ocean and adorned with mountains as her bosom, consort of Lord Vishnu, I bow to you. Please forgive me for touching you with my feet.

Word-by-Word Meaning:

समुद्रवसने - 'Samudra-vasane' - (O Goddess) who is clothed by the ocean, देवि - 'Devi' - O Goddess, पर्वतस्तनमण्डले - 'Parvata-stana-mandale' - adorned with mountains as bosom, विष्णुपत्नि - 'Vishnu-patni' - consort of Lord Vishnu, नमः - 'Namah' - bow, तुभ्यं - 'Tubhyam' - to you, पादस्पर्शं - 'Pada-sparsham' - touching with feet, क्षमस्व - 'Kshamasva' - forgive, मे - 'Me' - me.

This verse is a beautiful salutation to Goddess Earth, acknowledging her as the divine consort of Lord Vishnu and seeking her forgiveness for the inevitable act of stepping on her. It portrays reverence and humility towards the earth and recognizes her as a nurturing mother who supports all life.

Benefits of Chanting the Shloka:

Regular chanting of this Shloka can cultivate a deep sense of respect for nature and the earth. It instills humility and gratitude towards the environment, promoting harmonious living. Additionally, it is believed to bring the blessings of the Earth Goddess and protect against natural calamities.

When to chant

 It is traditionally recited upon waking up, just before touching the ground with your feet, to seek forgiveness and express gratitude to Mother Earth for her support.

Knowledge Bank

What is the relationship between nama and rupa?

Name and physical form-nama and rupa-are two sides of the same coin. If you hear the name of a person or an object, the image of the physical form comes to mind. If you see the physical form, the name comes to mind.

Why did Krishna run away from Jarasandha?

Lord Krishna is lovingly called Rancchod (रणछोड) in North India because he left his battle with Jarasandha midway and migrated with his entire clan to Dwaraka. Mahabharata very clearly says that Balarama at one point in time was just about to kill Jarasandha. But then, an oracle was heard that Jarasandha was destined to die at the hands of Bhima. Rajasuya of Yudhishtira was the first step for the Pandavas to show their power to the world. Vanquishing someone as formidable as Jarasandha definitely would help in this. Krishna must have intended to make this happen.