Meaning of Subham Karoti Kalyanam - Deepa Shlokam

शुभम् करोति कल्याणम्
आरोग्यम् धन संपदः
शत्रुबुद्धि विनाशाय
दीप ज्योतिर् नमोस्तुते!

śubham karōti kalyāṇam
ārōgyam dhana saṁpadaḥ
śatrubuddhi vināśāya
dīpa jyōtir namōstutē!

Subham Karoti Kalyaanam

Arogyam Dhana Sampadaha

Shatru Buddhi Vinashaya

Deepa Jyotir Namosthute


Voice: Suryanarayana Vulimiri

Word to Word Meaning:

Subham = good / auspiciousness; karoti = which does/brings; kalyanam = prosperity; arogyam = freedom from disease (good health); dhana = money (currency); sampadah = abundance of wealth; shatru = enemy; buddhi = intellect; shatru = enemy; shatrubuddhi = enemy of the intellect (ignorance); vinaasha =  complete destruction; deepa = lamp;  jyothi = light /glow / illumination; namaha = salutation / paying respect; astu = let it be; te = you; namosthute = I salute you.

Meaning (taatparya):

I pay my salutation (namaskara) to the light / lamp which brings auspiciousness; prosperity, good health, abundance of money and wealth, and the destruction of the intellect’s enemy.

Explanation:

This shloka is recited while lighting the lamp (deepam). Light is considered a symbol of auspiciousness, prosperity, and abundance in many cultures. Lighting a lamp (deepam) in the pooja (place of worship) room twice a day, once in the morning and once in the evening, is a common ritual of Hindu tradition. In other words, the worship starts with lighting the lamp. Besides, this practice is also followed at the beginning of several auspicious, spiritual or social gatherings. It is believed that deepam is the symbol of knowledge.  It drives away the darkness of ignorance from the mind and illuminates it with the knowledge. We salute to such knowledge which brings bliss and prosperity to our lives.  A lamp can be used for lighting several other lamps causing several fold increase in the light in the room without losing its strength.  Similarly, one can share his/her knowledge with others increasing our understanding and a sense of caring without diminishing one’s own knowledge.  Thus, by bringing brightness of knowledge an intellectual person’s enemy (ignorance), which is comparable to darkness is driven away. Thus, once the light drives away the darkness it is possible to see things clearly.