Universal
Karagre Vasate — the morning palm verse
कराग्रे वसते लक्ष्मीः करमध्ये सरस्वती । करमूले तु गोविन्दः प्रभाते करदर्शनम् ॥
Karāgre vasate lakṣmīḥ kara-madhye sarasvatī, kara-mūle tu govindaḥ prabhāte kara-darśanam
Simple reading: Ka-raag-re va-sa-te laksh-meeh, ka-ra-madh-ye sa-ras-va-tee, ka-ra-moo-le tu go-vin-dah, pra-bhaa-te ka-ra-dar-sha-nam
About this mantra
The verse said on waking, looking at one's own palms — Lakshmi at the fingertips, Saraswati in the middle, Govinda at the base: the day's work is sacred.
Meaning
At the tips of the hands dwells Lakshmi; in their middle, Saraswati; at their base, Govinda. Therefore, at dawn, behold your hands. The verse is the morning's first act of respect, and it is aimed at one's own two hands. Look here before looking anywhere else, it says — today will be made by these.
When to recite it
The first act on waking — said before the feet touch the floor, palms held open before the eyes; children are taught it as the day's first habit.
Word by word
- कराग्रे वसते लक्ष्मीःkarāgre vasate lakṣmīḥ
- at the fingertips dwells Lakshmi
- करमध्ये सरस्वतीkara-madhye sarasvatī
- in the middle, Saraswati
- करमूले तु गोविन्दःkara-mūle tu govindaḥ
- at the base, Govinda
- प्रभाते करदर्शनम्prabhāte kara-darśanam
- at dawn, behold the hands
Source: Traditional prātaḥ-smaraṇa verse
Note: Many families say the third quarter as 'kara-mūle sthito brahmā' — Brahma at the base of the hands. The Govinda reading is used here; both are traditional.