King Dasharatha's Hymn to Shani

Verse 1 (padma.6.33.1)

नारद उवाच ।शनिपीडा कथं याति तन्मे वद सुरोत्तम । त्वन्मुखाच्छ्रूयते यद्वै तेन जंतुः प्रमुच्यते

nārada uvāca śanipīḍā kathaṁ yāti tanme vada surottama tvanmukhācchrūyate yadvai tena jaṁtuḥ pramucyate

Narada said: How does the affliction of Shani depart? Tell me that, O best of gods; by hearing it from your mouth, a being is freed from it.

Verse 2 (padma.6.33.2)

महादेव उवाच ।देवर्षे शृणु वृत्तांतं तेन मुच्येत बंधनात् । ग्रहाणां ग्रहराजोऽयं सौरिः सर्वमहेश्वरः

mahādeva uvāca devarṣe śṛṇu vṛttāṁtaṁ tena mucyeta baṁdhanāt grahāṇāṁ graharājo'yaṁ sauriḥ sarvamaheśvaraḥ

Mahadeva said: O divine sage, listen to the account by which one is freed from bondage. Among the planets, this is the king of planets, Sauri, the great lord of all.

Verse 3 (padma.6.33.3)

अयं तु देवो विख्यातः कालरूपी महाग्रहः । जटिलो वज्ररोमा च दानवानां भयंकरः

ayaṁ tu devo vikhyātaḥ kālarūpī mahāgrahaḥ jaṭilo vajraromā ca dānavānāṁ bhayaṁkaraḥ

This god, renowned, of the very form of Time, a great planet, matted-locked and of thunderbolt-like hair, is terrifying to the demons.

Verse 4 (padma.6.33.4)

तस्याख्यानं च लोकेऽस्मिन्प्रथितं नास्ति वै प्रभो । मया गुप्तं विशेषेण नोक्तं हि कस्यचित्कदा

tasyākhyānaṁ ca loke'sminprathitaṁ nāsti vai prabho mayā guptaṁ viśeṣeṇa noktaṁ hi kasyacitkadā

O Lord, his account is not renowned in this world; I have kept it especially secret, never telling it to anyone.

Verse 5 (padma.6.33.5)

रघुवंशेऽति विख्यातो राजा दशरथः पुरा । चक्रवर्ती महावीरः सप्तद्वीपाधिपोऽभवत्

raghuvaṁśe'ti vikhyāto rājā daśarathaḥ purā cakravartī mahāvīraḥ saptadvīpādhipo'bhavat

In the Raghu dynasty there was long ago a most renowned king, Dasharatha, a great hero, a universal sovereign, lord of the seven continents.

Verse 6 (padma.6.33.6)

कृत्तिकांते शनिं ज्ञात्वा दैवज्ञैर्ज्ञापितो हि सः । रोहिणीं भेदयित्वा च शनिर्यास्यति सांप्रतम्

kṛttikāṁte śaniṁ jñātvā daivajñairjñāpito hi saḥ rohiṇīṁ bhedayitvā ca śaniryāsyati sāṁpratam

Knowing, at the end of Krittika, that Shani, as informed by astrologers, having pierced Rohini, would now proceed,

Verse 7 (padma.6.33.7)

शाकटं भेदमत्युग्रं सुरासुरभयंकरम् । द्वादशाब्दं तु दुर्भिक्षं भविष्यति सुदारुणम्

śākaṭaṁ bhedamatyugraṁ surāsurabhayaṁkaram dvādaśābdaṁ tu durbhikṣaṁ bhaviṣyati sudāruṇam

into a most severe Shakata-piercing, terrifying to gods and demons — a most fearful twelve-year famine would occur.

Verse 8 (padma.6.33.8)

एतच्छ्रुत्वा ततो वाक्यं मंत्रिभिः सह पार्थिवः । मंत्रयामास किमिदं भयंकरमुपस्थितम्

etacchrutvā tato vākyaṁ maṁtribhiḥ saha pārthivaḥ maṁtrayāmāsa kimidaṁ bhayaṁkaramupasthitam

Hearing this, the king deliberated with his ministers: 'What terrifying thing is this that has arisen?'

Verse 9 (padma.6.33.9)

आकुलं च जगद्दृष्ट्वा पौरजानपदादिकम् । ब्रुवंति सर्वतो लोकाः क्षय एष समागतः

ākulaṁ ca jagaddṛṣṭvā paurajānapadādikam bruvaṁti sarvato lokāḥ kṣaya eṣa samāgataḥ

Seeing the whole world agitated, the citizens and country-folk and all, people everywhere said: 'This destruction has come upon us.'

Verse 10 (padma.6.33.10)

देशाः सनगरा ग्रामा भयभीताः समंततः । पप्रच्छ प्रयतो राजा वसिष्ठप्रमुखान्द्विजान्

deśāḥ sanagarā grāmā bhayabhītāḥ samaṁtataḥ papraccha prayato rājā vasiṣṭhapramukhāndvijān

The lands, with their cities and villages, were terrified on every side. The careful king asked the twice-born headed by Vasishtha —

Verse 11 (padma.6.33.11)

संविधानं किमत्रास्ति ब्रूत मां हि द्विजोत्तमाः

saṁvidhānaṁ kimatrāsti brūta māṁ hi dvijottamāḥ

'What remedy is there for this? Tell me, O best of the twice-born.'

Verse 12 (padma.6.33.12)

वसिष्ठ उवाच ।प्राजापत्यमृक्षमिदं तस्मिन्भिन्ने कुतः प्रजाः । अयं योगोह्यसाध्यस्तु ब्रह्मशक्रादिभिस्तथा

vasiṣṭha uvāca prājāpatyamṛkṣamidaṁ tasminbhinne kutaḥ prajāḥ ayaṁ yogohyasādhyastu brahmaśakrādibhistathā

Vasishtha said: 'This is Prajapati's own constellation; if it is pierced, whence shall the people remain? This conjunction is unavertable, even for Brahma, Indra, and the rest.'

Verse 13 (padma.6.33.13)

इति संचिंत्य मनसा साहसं परमं महत् । समादाय धनुर्दिव्यं दिव्यायुधसमन्वितम्

iti saṁciṁtya manasā sāhasaṁ paramaṁ mahat samādāya dhanurdivyaṁ divyāyudhasamanvitam

Having thus resolved in his mind upon a supremely bold act, taking up his divine bow, equipped with divine weapons,

Verse 14 (padma.6.33.14)

रथमारुह्य वेगेन गतो नक्षत्रमंडलम् । सपादं योजनं लक्षं सूर्यस्योपरि संस्थितम्

rathamāruhya vegena gato nakṣatramaṁḍalam sapādaṁ yojanaṁ lakṣaṁ sūryasyopari saṁsthitam

mounting his chariot, he went with speed to the constellation-circle, a hundred and twenty-five thousand yojanas above the sun,

Verse 15 (padma.6.33.15)

रोहिणीपृष्ठमास्थाय राजा दशरथः पुरा । रथे तु कांचने दिव्ये मणिरत्नविभूषिते

rohiṇīpṛṣṭhamāsthāya rājā daśarathaḥ purā rathe tu kāṁcane divye maṇiratnavibhūṣite

reaching the back of Rohini, King Dasharatha, in his divine golden chariot, adorned with jewels and gems,

Verse 16 (padma.6.33.16)

हंसवर्णहयैर्युक्ते महाकेतुसमुच्छ्रये । दीप्यमानो महारत्नैः किरीटमुकुटोज्ज्वलः

haṁsavarṇahayairyukte mahāketusamucchraye dīpyamāno mahāratnaiḥ kirīṭamukuṭojjvalaḥ

yoked with swan-colored horses, towering with a great banner, radiant with great gems, blazing with crown and diadem —

Verse 17 (padma.6.33.17)

बभ्राज स तदाकाशे द्वितीय इव भास्करः । आकर्णपूर्णा चापे तु संहारास्त्रं न्ययोजयत्

babhrāja sa tadākāśe dvitīya iva bhāskaraḥ ākarṇapūrṇā cāpe tu saṁhārāstraṁ nyayojayat

they shone in the sky like a second sun. Drawing his bow to his very ears, he fitted the annihilation weapon.

Verse 18 (padma.6.33.18)

संहारास्त्रं शनिर्दृष्ट्वा सुरासुरभयंकरम् । हसित्वा तद्भयात्सौरिरिदं वचनमब्रवीत्

saṁhārāstraṁ śanirdṛṣṭvā surāsurabhayaṁkaram hasitvā tadbhayātsauriridaṁ vacanamabravīt

Seeing that annihilation-weapon, terrifying to gods and demons, Shani, laughing, out of that very fear, spoke these words —

Verse 19 (padma.6.33.19)

शनिरुवाच ।पौरुषं तव राजेंद्र परं रिपुभयंकरम् । देवासुरमनुष्याश्च सिद्धविद्याधरोरगाः

śaniruvāca pauruṣaṁ tava rājeṁdra paraṁ ripubhayaṁkaram devāsuramanuṣyāśca siddhavidyādharoragāḥ

Shani said: 'O king of kings, your valor is supreme, terrifying to enemies; gods, demons, men, siddhas, vidyadharas, and nagas —

Verse 20 (padma.6.33.20)

मया विलोकिता राजन्भस्मसाच्च भवंतिते । तुष्टोऽहं तव राजेंद्र तपसा पौरुषेण च । वरं ब्रूहि प्रदास्यामि मनसा यत्किमिच्छसि

mayā vilokitā rājanbhasmasācca bhavaṁtite tuṣṭo'haṁ tava rājeṁdra tapasā pauruṣeṇa ca varaṁ brūhi pradāsyāmi manasā yatkimicchasi

'become reduced to ashes by my very glance, O king. O king of kings, I am pleased by your austerity and valor — choose a boon, whatever your mind desires, I shall grant it.'

Verse 21 (padma.6.33.21)

दशरथ उवाच ।रोहिणीं भेदयित्वा तु न गंतव्यं कदाचन । सरितः सागरा यावत्यावच्चंद्रार्कमेदिनी

daśaratha uvāca rohiṇīṁ bhedayitvā tu na gaṁtavyaṁ kadācana saritaḥ sāgarā yāvatyāvaccaṁdrārkamedinī

Dasharatha said: 'Having pierced Rohini, you should never proceed further — as long as rivers and oceans exist, as long as the moon, sun, and earth exist,'

Verse 22 (padma.6.33.22)

याचितं तु मया सौरे नान्यमिच्छामि ते वरम् । एवमस्तु शनिः प्राह वरं दत्त्वा तु शाश्वतम्

yācitaṁ tu mayā saure nānyamicchāmi te varam evamastu śaniḥ prāha varaṁ dattvā tu śāśvatam

'this is what I ask of you, O Sauri — I desire no other boon.' 'So be it,' said Shani, granting that eternal boon.

Verse 23 (padma.6.33.23)

पुनरेवाब्रवीत्तुष्टो वरं वरय सुव्रत । प्रार्थयामास हृष्टात्मा वरमन्यं शनेस्तदा

punarevābravīttuṣṭo varaṁ varaya suvrata prārthayāmāsa hṛṣṭātmā varamanyaṁ śanestadā

Pleased, he said again: 'Choose another boon, O virtuous one.' Joyful at heart, he then asked another boon from Shani —

Verse 24 (padma.6.33.24)

न भेत्तव्यं हि शकटं त्वया भास्करनंदन । द्वादशाब्दं तु दुर्भिक्षं न कर्तव्यं कदाचन

na bhettavyaṁ hi śakaṭaṁ tvayā bhāskaranaṁdana dvādaśābdaṁ tu durbhikṣaṁ na kartavyaṁ kadācana

'O son of Bhaskara, you should never pierce the Shakata either; a twelve-year famine should never occur.'

Verse 25 (padma.6.33.25)

शनिरुवाच ।द्वादशाब्दं तु दुर्भिक्षं न कदाचिद्भविष्यति । कीर्तिरेषा त्वदीया च त्रैलोक्ये विचरिष्यति

śaniruvāca dvādaśābdaṁ tu durbhikṣaṁ na kadācidbhaviṣyati kīrtireṣā tvadīyā ca trailokye vicariṣyati

Shani said: 'A twelve-year famine shall never occur; and this fame of yours shall spread throughout the three worlds.'

Verse 26 (padma.6.33.26)

वरद्वयं तु संप्राप्य हृष्टरोमा च पार्थिवः । रथोपरि धनुर्मुक्त्वा भूत्वा चैव कृताञ्जलि

varadvayaṁ tu saṁprāpya hṛṣṭaromā ca pārthivaḥ rathopari dhanurmuktvā bhūtvā caiva kṛtāñjali

Having obtained these two boons, his hair bristling with joy, that king, lowering his bow upon the chariot, with joined palms,

Verse 27 (padma.6.33.27)

ध्यात्वा सरस्वतीं देवीं गणनाथं विनायकम् । राजा दशरथः स्तोत्रं सौरेरिदमथाब्रवीत्

dhyātvā sarasvatīṁ devīṁ gaṇanāthaṁ vināyakam rājā daśarathaḥ stotraṁ saureridamathābravīt

meditating on the goddess Sarasvati and the lord of the Ganas, Vinayaka, King Dasharatha then spoke this hymn to Sauri —

Verse 28 (padma.6.33.28)

दशरथ उवाच ।नमः कृष्णाय नीलाय शितिकंठनिभाय च । नमः कालाग्निरूपाय कृतांताय च वै नमः

daśaratha uvāca namaḥ kṛṣṇāya nīlāya śitikaṁṭhanibhāya ca namaḥ kālāgnirūpāya kṛtāṁtāya ca vai namaḥ

Dasharatha said: 'Salutation to the dark one, the blue one, resembling the blue-throated one; salutation to the form of the fire of Time, salutation to Death itself.

Verse 29 (padma.6.33.29)

नमो निर्मांसदेहाय दीर्घश्मश्रुजटाय च । नमो विशालनेत्राय शुष्कोदरभयाकृते

namo nirmāṁsadehāya dīrghaśmaśrujaṭāya ca namo viśālanetrāya śuṣkodarabhayākṛte

'Salutation to the fleshless-bodied one, of long beard and matted locks; salutation to the wide-eyed one, of terrifying form with a shrunken belly.'

Verse 30 (padma.6.33.30)

नमः पुष्कलगात्राय स्थूलरोम्णेऽथ वै नमः । नमो दीर्घाय शुष्काय कालदंष्ट्र नमोस्तु ते

namaḥ puṣkalagātrāya sthūlaromṇe'tha vai namaḥ namo dīrghāya śuṣkāya kāladaṁṣṭra namostu te

'Salutation to the massive-limbed one, salutation to the thick-haired one; salutation to the long, dry one — salutation to you, O Time's-fanged one.'

Verse 31 (padma.6.33.31)

नमस्ते कोटराक्षाय दुर्निरीक्ष्याय वै नमः । नमो घोराय रौद्राय भीषणाय कपालिने

namaste koṭarākṣāya durnirīkṣyāya vai namaḥ namo ghorāya raudrāya bhīṣaṇāya kapāline

'Salutation to you, hollow-eyed one, salutation to the one hard to gaze upon; salutation to the terrible, fierce, fearsome, skull-bearing one.'

Verse 32 (padma.6.33.32)

नमस्ते सर्वभक्षाय वलीमुख नमोस्तु ते । सूर्यपुत्र नमस्तेस्तु भास्करे भयदाय च

namaste sarvabhakṣāya valīmukha namostu te sūryaputra namastestu bhāskare bhayadāya ca

'Salutation to you, devourer of all — salutation to you, wrinkle-faced one; salutation to you, son of the sun, terrifying even to Bhaskara.'

Verse 33 (padma.6.33.33)

अधोदृष्टे नमस्तेस्तु संवर्तक नमोस्तु ते । नमो मंदगते तुभ्यं निस्त्रिंशाय नमोस्तु ते

adhodṛṣṭe namastestu saṁvartaka namostu te namo maṁdagate tubhyaṁ nistriṁśāya namostu te

'Salutation to you, downward-gazing one; salutation to you, Samvartaka; salutation to you, slow-moving one; salutation to you, merciless one.'

Verse 34 (padma.6.33.34)

तपसा दग्धदेहाय नित्यं योगरताय च । नमो नित्यं क्षुधार्ताय अतृप्ताय च वै नमः

tapasā dagdhadehāya nityaṁ yogaratāya ca namo nityaṁ kṣudhārtāya atṛptāya ca vai namaḥ

'Salutation to the one whose body is scorched by austerity, ever devoted to yoga; salutation to the ever-hungry one, and to the never-satisfied one as well.'

Verse 35 (padma.6.33.35)

ज्ञानचक्षुर्नमस्तेस्तु कश्यपात्मजसूनवे । तुष्टो ददासि वै राज्यं रुष्टो हरसि तत्क्षणात्

jñānacakṣurnamastestu kaśyapātmajasūnave tuṣṭo dadāsi vai rājyaṁ ruṣṭo harasi tatkṣaṇāt

'Salutation to you, of the eye of knowledge, son of Kashyapa's own son; when pleased, you grant kingdoms; when angered, you take them away in an instant.'

Verse 36 (padma.6.33.36)

देवासुरमनुष्याश्च सिद्धविद्याधरोरगाः । त्वया विलोकिताः सर्वे नाशं यांति समूलतः

devāsuramanuṣyāśca siddhavidyādharoragāḥ tvayā vilokitāḥ sarve nāśaṁ yāṁti samūlataḥ

'Gods, demons, men, siddhas, vidyadharas, and nagas — all, when looked upon by you, meet destruction, down to their very root.'

Verse 37 (padma.6.33.37)

प्रसादं कुरु मे देव वरार्होऽहमुपागतः । एवं स्तुतस्तदा सौरिर्ग्रहराजो महाबलः

prasādaṁ kuru me deva varārho'hamupāgataḥ evaṁ stutastadā saurirgraharājo mahābalaḥ

'Be gracious to me, O God — I have come worthy of a boon.' Thus praised, that mighty king of planets, Sauri,

Verse 38 (padma.6.33.38)

अब्रवीच्च पुनर्वाक्यं हृष्टरोमा तु भास्करिः । तुष्टोऽहं तव राजेंद्र स्तवेनानेन सुव्रत । वरं ब्रूहि प्रदास्यामि स्वेच्छया रघुनंदन

abravīcca punarvākyaṁ hṛṣṭaromā tu bhāskariḥ tuṣṭo'haṁ tava rājeṁdra stavenānena suvrata varaṁ brūhi pradāsyāmi svecchayā raghunaṁdana

spoke again, his hair bristling with joy, that son of the sun: 'O king of kings, O virtuous one, I am pleased by this hymn; choose a boon, O joy of the Raghus, I shall grant it as you wish.'

Verse 39 (padma.6.33.39)

दशरथ उवाच ।अद्यप्रभृति ते सौरे पीडा कार्या न कस्यचित् । देवासुरमनुष्याणां पशुपक्षिसरीसृपाम्

daśaratha uvāca adyaprabhṛti te saure pīḍā kāryā na kasyacit devāsuramanuṣyāṇāṁ paśupakṣisarīsṛpām

Dasharatha said: 'O Sauri, from today onward, cause affliction to no one — to gods, demons, men, animals, birds, or reptiles.'

Verse 40 (padma.6.33.40)

शनिरुवाच ।गृह्णंतीति ग्रहाः सर्वे ग्रहाः पीडाकराः स्मृताः । अदेयं याचितं राजन्किंचिद्युक्तं वदाम्यहम्

śaniruvāca gṛhṇaṁtīti grahāḥ sarve grahāḥ pīḍākarāḥ smṛtāḥ adeyaṁ yācitaṁ rājankiṁcidyuktaṁ vadāmyaham

Shani said: '"They seize" — hence they are called grahas — all planets are known as bringers of affliction; O king, this cannot be given up; I shall tell you something fitting instead.

Verse 41 (padma.6.33.41)

त्वया प्रोक्तमिदं स्तोत्रं यः पठिष्यति मानवः । एककालं द्विकालं वा पीडामुक्तो भवेत्क्षणात्

tvayā proktamidaṁ stotraṁ yaḥ paṭhiṣyati mānavaḥ ekakālaṁ dvikālaṁ vā pīḍāmukto bhavetkṣaṇāt

'Whatever man recites this hymn spoken by you, once or twice daily, shall instantly be freed from affliction.'

Verse 42 (padma.6.33.42)

देवासुरमनुष्याणां सिद्धविद्याध्ररक्षसाम् । मृत्युं मृत्युगतो दद्यां जन्मन्यंते चतुर्थके

devāsuramanuṣyāṇāṁ siddhavidyādhrarakṣasām mṛtyuṁ mṛtyugato dadyāṁ janmanyaṁte caturthake

'Of gods, demons, men, siddhas, vidyadharas, and rakshasas, whoever is bound for death, I shall grant death only at the end of the fourth birth.'

Verse 43 (padma.6.33.43)

यः पुनः श्रद्धया युक्तः शुचिर्भूत्वा समाहितः । शमीपत्रैः समभ्यर्च्य प्रतिमां लोहजां मम

yaḥ punaḥ śraddhayā yuktaḥ śucirbhūtvā samāhitaḥ śamīpatraiḥ samabhyarcya pratimāṁ lohajāṁ mama

'But whoever, endowed with faith, pure and composed, worships my iron image with shami leaves,'

Verse 44 (padma.6.33.44)

माषौदनतिलैर्मिश्रं दद्याल्लोहं च दक्षिणाम् । कृष्णां गां वृषभं वापि यो वै दद्याद्दिवजातये

māṣaudanatilairmiśraṁ dadyāllohaṁ ca dakṣiṇām kṛṣṇāṁ gāṁ vṛṣabhaṁ vāpi yo vai dadyāddivajātaye

'and gives iron mixed with black-gram rice and sesame as a fee, or gives a black cow or a bull to a twice-born,'

Verse 45 (padma.6.33.45)

मद्दिने तु विशेषेण स्तोत्रेणानेन पूजयेत् । पूजयित्वा जपेत्स्तोत्रं भूत्वा चैव कृतांजलि

maddine tu viśeṣeṇa stotreṇānena pūjayet pūjayitvā japetstotraṁ bhūtvā caiva kṛtāṁjali

'and especially worships on my day with this hymn — having worshipped, reciting the hymn with joined palms —'

Verse 46 (padma.6.33.46)

तस्य पीडा न चैवाहं करिष्यामि कदाचन । गोचरे जन्मलग्ने वा दशास्वंतर्दशासु च

tasya pīḍā na caivāhaṁ kariṣyāmi kadācana gocare janmalagne vā daśāsvaṁtardaśāsu ca

'to him I shall never cause affliction — neither in transit, nor at his birth-ascendant, nor in his major and minor planetary periods.'

Verse 47 (padma.6.33.47)

रक्षामि सततं तस्य पीडां चापि ग्रहस्य च । अनेनैव विधानेन पीडामुक्तं जगद्भवेत्

rakṣāmi satataṁ tasya pīḍāṁ cāpi grahasya ca anenaiva vidhānena pīḍāmuktaṁ jagadbhavet

'I shall ever protect him, and from the affliction of any other planet as well. By this very procedure, the world can become free of affliction.'

Verse 48 (padma.6.33.48)

एवं युक्त्या मया दत्तो वरस्ते रघुनंदन । वरत्रयं तु संप्राप्य राजा दशरथस्तदा

evaṁ yuktyā mayā datto varaste raghunaṁdana varatrayaṁ tu saṁprāpya rājā daśarathastadā

'Thus, with due reasoning, this boon has been given by me to you, O joy of the Raghus.' Having obtained these three boons, King Dasharatha then

Verse 49 (padma.6.33.49)

मेने कृतार्थमात्मानं नमस्कृत्य शनैश्चरम् । शनिना चाभ्यनुज्ञातो रथमारुह्य वेगवान्

mene kṛtārthamātmānaṁ namaskṛtya śanaiścaram śaninā cābhyanujñāto rathamāruhya vegavān

considered himself fulfilled, having saluted Shanaishchara; and, given leave by Shani, mounting his chariot with speed,

Verse 50 (padma.6.33.50)

स्वस्थानं गतवान्राजा प्राप्तः श्रेयोऽभवत्तदा । य इदं प्रातरुत्थाय शनिवारे स्तवं पठेत्

svasthānaṁ gatavānrājā prāptaḥ śreyo'bhavattadā ya idaṁ prātarutthāya śanivāre stavaṁ paṭhet

the king returned to his own place, and thus his welfare was achieved. Whoever, rising early, recites this hymn on a Saturday,

Verse 51 (padma.6.33.51)

पठ्यमानमिदं स्तोत्रं श्रद्धया यः शृणोति च । नरः स मुच्यते पापात्स्वर्गलोके महीयते

paṭhyamānamidaṁ stotraṁ śraddhayā yaḥ śṛṇoti ca naraḥ sa mucyate pāpātsvargaloke mahīyate

and whoever, with faith, hears this hymn being recited, that person is freed from sin and is honored in the world of heaven.