The Declaration that the Devi Is Supreme over All

Verse 1 (devibhagavatam.1.4.1)

ऋषय ऊचुः । सौम्य व्यासस्य भार्यायां कस्यां जातः सुतः शुकः । कथं वा कीदृशो येन पठितेयं सुसंहिता ॥ 4.1 ॥

ṛṣaya ūcuḥ saumya vyāsasya bhāryāyāṁ kasyāṁ jātaḥ sutaḥ śukaḥ kathaṁ vā kīdṛśo yena paṭhiteyaṁ susaṁhitā

The sages said: O gentle one, in which wife of Vyasa was the son Shuka born? How, and of what nature was he, by whom this excellent Samhita was studied?

Verse 2 (devibhagavatam.1.4.2)

अयोनिजस्त्वया प्रोक्तस्तथा चारणिजः शुकः । सन्देहोऽस्ति महांस्तत्र कथयाद्य महामते ॥ 4.2 ॥

ayonijastvayā proktastathā cāraṇijaḥ śukaḥ sandeho'sti mahāṁstatra kathayādya mahāmate

You have said that Shuka was not born from a womb, and yet also born from the fire-sticks — there is great doubt in this; tell us today, O great-minded one.

Verse 3 (devibhagavatam.1.4.3)

गर्भयोगी श्रुतः पूर्वं शुको नाम महातपाः । कथं च पठितं तेन पुराणं बहुविस्तरम् ॥ 4.3 ॥

garbhayogī śrutaḥ pūrvaṁ śuko nāma mahātapāḥ kathaṁ ca paṭhitaṁ tena purāṇaṁ bahuvistaram

We have heard before that Shuka, of great austerity, was a womb-yogi — and how did he study this Purana, so vast in extent?

Verse 4 (devibhagavatam.1.4.4)

सूत उवाच । पुरा सरस्वतीतीरे व्यासः सत्यवतीसुतः । आश्रमे कलविङ्कौ तु दृष्ट्वा विस्मयमागतः ॥ 4.4 ॥

sūta uvāca purā sarasvatītīre vyāsaḥ satyavatīsutaḥ āśrame kalaviṅkau tu dṛṣṭvā vismayamāgataḥ

Suta said: Once, on the bank of the Sarasvati, in his hermitage, Vyasa, the son of Satyavati, saw a pair of sparrows and was struck with wonder.

Verse 5 (devibhagavatam.1.4.5)

जातमात्रं शिशुं नीडे मुक्तमण्डान्मनोहरम् । ताम्रास्यं शुभसर्वाङ्गं पिच्छाङ्कुरविवर्जितम् ॥ 4.5 ॥

jātamātraṁ śiśuṁ nīḍe muktamaṇḍānmanoharam tāmrāsyaṁ śubhasarvāṅgaṁ picchāṅkuravivarjitam

He saw a chick just born in the nest, freshly emerged from its shell, charming, copper-beaked, lovely in every limb, its feathers not yet grown.

Verse 6 (devibhagavatam.1.4.6)

तौ तु भक्ष्यार्थमत्यन्तं रतौ श्रमपरायणौ । शिशोश्चञ्चुपुटे भक्ष्यं क्षिपन्तौ च पुनः पुनः ॥ 4.6 ॥

tau tu bhakṣyārthamatyantaṁ ratau śramaparāyaṇau śiśoścañcupuṭe bhakṣyaṁ kṣipantau ca punaḥ punaḥ

The pair, utterly devoted to fetching food and absorbed in that labor, kept dropping food again and again into the beak-cup of their chick.

Verse 7 (devibhagavatam.1.4.7)

अङ्गेनाङ्गानि बालस्य घर्षयन्तौ मुदान्वितौ । चुम्बन्तौ च मुखं प्रेम्णा कलविङ्कौ शिशोः शुभम् ॥ 4.7 ॥

aṅgenāṅgāni bālasya gharṣayantau mudānvitau cumbantau ca mukhaṁ premṇā kalaviṅkau śiśoḥ śubham

Filled with joy, the sparrow-pair rubbed their bodies against the limbs of their little one, and kissed with love their chick's lovely face.

Verse 8 (devibhagavatam.1.4.8)

वीक्ष्य प्रेमाद्भुतं तत्र बाले चटकयोस्तदा । व्यासश्चिन्तातुरः कामं मनसा समचिन्तयत् ॥ 4.8 ॥

vīkṣya premādbhutaṁ tatra bāle caṭakayostadā vyāsaścintāturaḥ kāmaṁ manasā samacintayat

Seeing that wondrous love of the sparrow-pair for their young one, Vyasa, filled with longing, reflected within his mind:

Verse 9 (devibhagavatam.1.4.9)

तिरश्चामपि यत्प्रेम पुत्रे समभिलक्ष्यते । किं चित्रं यन्मनुष्याणां सेवाफलमभीप्सताम् ॥ 4.9 ॥

tiraścāmapi yatprema putre samabhilakṣyate kiṁ citraṁ yanmanuṣyāṇāṁ sevāphalamabhīpsatām

'If even in animals such love for a child is seen, what wonder is it, then, in humans, who desire the fruit of a child's service?'

Verse 10 (devibhagavatam.1.4.10)

किमेतौ चटकौ चास्य विवाहं सुखसाधनम् । विरच्य सुखिनौ स्यातां दृष्ट्वा वध्वा मुखं शुभम् ॥ 4.10 ॥

kimetau caṭakau cāsya vivāhaṁ sukhasādhanam viracya sukhinau syātāṁ dṛṣṭvā vadhvā mukhaṁ śubham

'Will these two sparrows arrange a marriage for it — the means to happiness — and become happy on seeing the lovely face of a daughter-in-law?'

Verse 11 (devibhagavatam.1.4.11)

अथवा वार्धके प्राप्ते परिचर्यां करिष्यति । पुत्रः परमधर्मिष्ठः पुण्यार्थं कलविङ्कयोः ॥ 4.11 ॥

athavā vārdhake prāpte paricaryāṁ kariṣyati putraḥ paramadharmiṣṭhaḥ puṇyārthaṁ kalaviṅkayoḥ

'Or, when old age comes, will a most righteous son perform service, for the sake of merit, to this sparrow-pair?'

Verse 12 (devibhagavatam.1.4.12)

अर्जयित्वाथवा द्रव्यं पितरौ तर्पयिष्यति । अथवा प्रेतकार्याणि करिष्यति यथाविधि ॥ 4.12 ॥

arjayitvāthavā dravyaṁ pitarau tarpayiṣyati athavā pretakāryāṇi kariṣyati yathāvidhi

'Or, having earned wealth, will he satisfy his parents? Or will he perform the rites for the dead according to due form?'

Verse 13 (devibhagavatam.1.4.13)

अथवा किं गयाश्राद्धं गत्वा संवितरिष्यति । नीलोत्सर्गं च विधिवत्प्रकरिष्यति बालकः ॥ 4.13 ॥

athavā kiṁ gayāśrāddhaṁ gatvā saṁvitariṣyati nīlotsargaṁ ca vidhivatprakariṣyati bālakaḥ

'Or will this little one go to Gaya and offer the shraddha there, and duly perform the release of the blue bull?'

Verse 14 (devibhagavatam.1.4.14)

संसारेऽत्र समाख्यातं सुखानामुत्तमं सुखम् । पुत्रगात्रपरिष्वङ्गो लालनञ्च विशेषतः ॥ 4.14 ॥

saṁsāre'tra samākhyātaṁ sukhānāmuttamaṁ sukham putragātrapariṣvaṅgo lālanañca viśeṣataḥ

'In this world it is declared that the highest of all joys is the embrace of a son's body, and especially his fond caressing.'

Verse 15 (devibhagavatam.1.4.15)

अपुत्रस्य गतिर्नास्ति स्वर्गो नैव च नैव च । पुत्रादन्यतरन्नास्ति परलोकस्य साधनम् ॥ 4.15 ॥

aputrasya gatirnāsti svargo naiva ca naiva ca putrādanyatarannāsti paralokasya sādhanam

'For the sonless there is no good destiny — no heaven, none at all, none at all; there is no other means to the other world than a son.'

Verse 16 (devibhagavatam.1.4.16)

मन्वादिभिश्च मुनिभिर्धर्मशास्त्रेषु भाषितम् । पुत्रवान्स्वर्गमाप्नोति नापुत्रस्तु कथञ्चन ॥ 4.16 ॥

manvādibhiśca munibhirdharmaśāstreṣu bhāṣitam putravānsvargamāpnoti nāputrastu kathañcana

'It has been declared by Manu and other sages in the dharma-shastras: he who has a son attains heaven, but the sonless never does, by any means.'

Verse 17 (devibhagavatam.1.4.17)

दृश्यतेऽत्र समक्षं तन्नानुमानेन साध्यते । पुत्रवान्मुच्यते पापादाप्तवाक्यं च शाश्वतम् ॥ 4.17 ॥

dṛśyate'tra samakṣaṁ tannānumānena sādhyate putravānmucyate pāpādāptavākyaṁ ca śāśvatam

'This is seen here directly, not established merely by inference — a man with a son is freed from sin: this is the eternal word of the trustworthy.'

Verse 18 (devibhagavatam.1.4.18)

आतुरे मृत्युकालेऽपि भूमिशय्यागतो नरः । करोति मनसा चिन्तां दुःखितः पुत्रवर्जितः ॥ 4.18 ॥

āture mṛtyukāle'pi bhūmiśayyāgato naraḥ karoti manasā cintāṁ duḥkhitaḥ putravarjitaḥ

'Even a sick man, at the time of death, lying on the ground, sorrowful and without a son, reflects anxiously in his mind:'

Verse 19 (devibhagavatam.1.4.19)

धनं मे विपुलं गेहे पात्राणि विविधानि च । मन्दिरं सुन्दरं चैतत्कोऽस्य स्वामी भविष्यति ॥ 4.19 ॥

dhanaṁ me vipulaṁ gehe pātrāṇi vividhāni ca mandiraṁ sundaraṁ caitatko'sya svāmī bhaviṣyati

'My abundant wealth in the house, my many vessels, and this beautiful mansion — who will become the master of all this?'

Verse 20 (devibhagavatam.1.4.20)

मृत्युकाले मनस्तस्य दुःखेन भ्रमते यतः । अतोऽस्य दुर्गतिर्नूनं भ्रान्तचित्तस्य सर्वथा ॥ 4.20 ॥

mṛtyukāle manastasya duḥkhena bhramate yataḥ ato'sya durgatirnūnaṁ bhrāntacittasya sarvathā

'Since, at the time of death, his mind wanders in sorrow, therefore his fate is surely evil in every way, his mind being so distracted.'

Verse 21 (devibhagavatam.1.4.21)

एवं बहुविधां चिन्तां कृत्वा सत्यवतीसुतः । निःश्वस्य बहुधा चोष्णं विमनाः सम्बभूव ह ॥ 4.21 ॥

evaṁ bahuvidhāṁ cintāṁ kṛtvā satyavatīsutaḥ niḥśvasya bahudhā coṣṇaṁ vimanāḥ sambabhūva ha

Having thus reflected in many ways, the son of Satyavati sighed hot breaths again and again, and became truly despondent.

Verse 22 (devibhagavatam.1.4.22)

विचार्य मनसात्यर्थं कृत्वा मनसि निश्चयम् । जगाम च तपस्तप्तुं मेरुपर्वतसनिधौ ॥ 4.22 ॥

vicārya manasātyarthaṁ kṛtvā manasi niścayam jagāma ca tapastaptuṁ meruparvatasanidhau

Having deliberated deeply and made up his mind with resolve, he went to Mount Meru's vicinity to perform austerity.

Verse 23 (devibhagavatam.1.4.23)

मनसा चिन्तयामास कं देवं समुपास्महे । वरप्रदाननिपुणं वाञ्छितार्थप्रदं तथा ॥ 4.23 ॥

manasā cintayāmāsa kaṁ devaṁ samupāsmahe varapradānanipuṇaṁ vāñchitārthapradaṁ tathā

He pondered in his mind: 'Which deity shall I worship — one skilled in granting boons, and likewise one who bestows the object of one's desire?'

Verse 24 (devibhagavatam.1.4.24)

विष्णुं रुद्रं सुरेन्द्रं वा ब्रह्माणं वा दिवाकरम् । गणेशं कार्तिकेयं च पावकं वरुणं तथा ॥ 4.24 ॥

viṣṇuṁ rudraṁ surendraṁ vā brahmāṇaṁ vā divākaram gaṇeśaṁ kārtikeyaṁ ca pāvakaṁ varuṇaṁ tathā

'Vishnu, or Rudra, or the lord of the gods, or Brahma, or the sun; Ganesha, or Kartikeya, or Agni, or Varuna?'

Verse 25 (devibhagavatam.1.4.25)

एवं चिन्तयतस्तस्य नारदो मुनिसत्तमः । यदृच्छया समायातो वीणापाणिः समाहितः ॥ 4.25 ॥

evaṁ cintayatastasya nārado munisattamaḥ yadṛcchayā samāyāto vīṇāpāṇiḥ samāhitaḥ

As he was thus pondering, Narada, best of sages, arrived there of his own accord, veena in hand, deeply composed.

Verse 26 (devibhagavatam.1.4.26)

तं दृष्ट्वा परमप्रीतो व्यासः सत्यवतीसुतः । कृत्वार्घ्यमासनं दत्त्वा पप्रच्छ कुशलं मुनिम् ॥ 4.26 ॥

taṁ dṛṣṭvā paramaprīto vyāsaḥ satyavatīsutaḥ kṛtvārghyamāsanaṁ dattvā papraccha kuśalaṁ munim

Seeing him, Vyasa, the son of Satyavati, greatly delighted, offered him the guest-water and a seat, and inquired of the sage's welfare.

Verse 27 (devibhagavatam.1.4.27)

श्रुत्वाथ कुशलप्रश्नं पप्रच्छ मुनिसत्तमः । चिन्तातुरोऽसि कस्मात्त्वं द्वैपायन वदस्व मे ॥ 4.27 ॥

śrutvātha kuśalapraśnaṁ papraccha munisattamaḥ cintāturo'si kasmāttvaṁ dvaipāyana vadasva me

Having heard the inquiry after his welfare, the best of sages then asked in turn: 'Why are you so troubled, O Dvaipayana? Tell me.'

Verse 28 (devibhagavatam.1.4.28)

व्यास उवाच । अपुत्रस्य गतिर्नास्ति न सुखं मानसे यतः । तदर्थं दुःखितश्चाहं चिन्तयामि पुन पुनः ॥ 4.28 ॥

vyāsa uvāca aputrasya gatirnāsti na sukhaṁ mānase yataḥ tadarthaṁ duḥkhitaścāhaṁ cintayāmi puna punaḥ

Vyasa said: For the sonless there is no good destiny, and there is no happiness in the mind; for that reason, sorrowful, I ponder this again and again.

Verse 29 (devibhagavatam.1.4.29)

तपसा तोषयाम्यद्य कं देवं वाच्छितार्थदम् । इति चिन्तातुरोऽस्म्यद्य त्वामहं शरणं गतः ॥ 4.29 ॥

tapasā toṣayāmyadya kaṁ devaṁ vācchitārthadam iti cintāturo'smyadya tvāmahaṁ śaraṇaṁ gataḥ

'Which desire-granting deity shall I please today with austerity?' — thus troubled today, I have come to you for refuge.

Verse 30 (devibhagavatam.1.4.30)

सर्वज्ञोऽसि महर्षे त्वं कथयाशु कृपानिधे । कं देवं शरणं यामि यो मे पुत्रं प्रदास्यति ॥ 4.30 ॥

sarvajño'si maharṣe tvaṁ kathayāśu kṛpānidhe kaṁ devaṁ śaraṇaṁ yāmi yo me putraṁ pradāsyati

You are all-knowing, O great sage, ocean of compassion; tell me quickly — to which deity shall I go for refuge, who will grant me a son?

Verse 31 (devibhagavatam.1.4.31)

सूत उवाच । इति व्यासेन पृष्टस्तु नारदो वेदविन्मुनिः । उवाच परया प्रीत्या कृष्णं प्रति महामनाः ॥ 4.31 ॥

sūta uvāca iti vyāsena pṛṣṭastu nārado vedavinmuniḥ uvāca parayā prītyā kṛṣṇaṁ prati mahāmanāḥ

Suta said: Thus questioned by Vyasa, Narada, the sage learned in the Vedas, great-minded, spoke to Krishna Dvaipayana with the greatest affection.

Verse 32 (devibhagavatam.1.4.32)

नारद उवाच । पाराशर्य महाभाग यत्त्वं पृच्छसि मामिह । तमेवार्थं पुरा पृष्टः पित्रा मे मधुसूदनः ॥ 4.32 ॥

nārada uvāca pārāśarya mahābhāga yattvaṁ pṛcchasi māmiha tamevārthaṁ purā pṛṣṭaḥ pitrā me madhusūdanaḥ

Narada said: O son of Parashara, greatly fortunate one, this very matter you ask me here was, long ago, asked by my father of Madhusudana.

Verse 33 (devibhagavatam.1.4.33)

ध्यानस्थं च हरिं दृष्ट्वा पिता मे विस्मयं गतः । पर्यपृच्छत देवेशं श्रीनाथं जगतः पतिम् ॥ 4.33 ॥

dhyānasthaṁ ca hariṁ dṛṣṭvā pitā me vismayaṁ gataḥ paryapṛcchata deveśaṁ śrīnāthaṁ jagataḥ patim

Seeing Hari absorbed in meditation, my father was struck with wonder, and questioned that lord of gods, the lord of Shri, the master of the world —

Verse 34 (devibhagavatam.1.4.34)

कौस्तुभोद्भासितं दिव्यं शङ्खचक्रगदाधरम् । पीताम्बरं चतुर्बाहुं श्रीवत्साङ्कितवक्षसम् ॥ 4.34 ॥

kaustubhodbhāsitaṁ divyaṁ śaṅkhacakragadādharam pītāmbaraṁ caturbāhuṁ śrīvatsāṅkitavakṣasam

— radiant with the Kaustubha jewel, divine, bearing conch, discus, and mace, clad in yellow, four-armed, his chest marked with the Shrivatsa —

Verse 35 (devibhagavatam.1.4.35)

कारणं सर्वलोकानां देवदेवं जगद्गुरुम् । वासुदेवं जगन्नाथं तप्यमानं महत्तपः ॥ 4.35 ॥

kāraṇaṁ sarvalokānāṁ devadevaṁ jagadgurum vāsudevaṁ jagannāthaṁ tapyamānaṁ mahattapaḥ

— the cause of all the worlds, the god of gods, teacher of the universe, Vasudeva, lord of the world — as he performed great austerity.

Verse 36 (devibhagavatam.1.4.36)

ब्रह्मोवाच । देवदेव जगन्नाथ भूतभव्यभवत्प्रभो । तपश्चरसि कस्मात्त्वं किं ध्यायसि जनार्दन ॥ 4.36 ॥

brahmovāca devadeva jagannātha bhūtabhavyabhavatprabho tapaścarasi kasmāttvaṁ kiṁ dhyāyasi janārdana

Brahma said: O god of gods, lord of the world, master of what has been, what shall be, and what is — why do you perform austerity? What do you meditate upon, O Janardana?

Verse 37 (devibhagavatam.1.4.37)

विस्मयोऽयं ममात्यर्थं त्वं सर्वजगतां प्रभुः । ध्यानयुक्तोऽसि देवेश किं च चित्रमतः परम् ॥ 4.37 ॥

vismayo'yaṁ mamātyarthaṁ tvaṁ sarvajagatāṁ prabhuḥ dhyānayukto'si deveśa kiṁ ca citramataḥ param

This is a matter of the greatest wonder to me: you, the lord of all the worlds, are engaged in meditation, O lord of gods — what could be more strange than this?

Verse 38 (devibhagavatam.1.4.38)

त्वन्नाभिकमलाज्जातः कर्ताहमखिलस्य ह । त्वत्तः कोऽप्यधिकोऽस्त्यत्र तं देवं ब्रूहि मापते ॥ 4.38 ॥

tvannābhikamalājjātaḥ kartāhamakhilasya ha tvattaḥ ko'pyadhiko'styatra taṁ devaṁ brūhi māpate

I was born from the lotus of your navel, and I am the creator of all; is there someone here even greater than you? Tell me of that deity, O lord.

Verse 39 (devibhagavatam.1.4.39)

जानाम्यहं जगन्नाथ त्वमादिः सर्वकारणम् । कर्ता पालयिता हर्ता समर्थः सर्वकार्यकृत् ॥ 4.39 ॥

jānāmyahaṁ jagannātha tvamādiḥ sarvakāraṇam kartā pālayitā hartā samarthaḥ sarvakāryakṛt

I know, O lord of the world, that you are the origin, the cause of all — creator, sustainer, destroyer, all-capable, the doer of every task.

Verse 40 (devibhagavatam.1.4.40)

इच्छया ते महाराज सृजाम्यहमिदं जगत् । हरः संहरते काले सोऽपि ते वचने सदा ॥ 4.40 ॥

icchayā te mahārāja sṛjāmyahamidaṁ jagat haraḥ saṁharate kāle so'pi te vacane sadā

By your will, O great king, I create this universe; Hara destroys it in time — he too ever acts at your word.

Verse 41 (devibhagavatam.1.4.41)

सूर्यो भ्रमति चाकाशे वायुर्वाति शुभाशुभः । अग्निस्तपति पर्जन्यो वर्षतीश त्वदाज्ञया ॥ 4.41 ॥

sūryo bhramati cākāśe vāyurvāti śubhāśubhaḥ agnistapati parjanyo varṣatīśa tvadājñayā

The sun moves through the sky, the wind blows fair and foul, fire burns, and the rain-cloud rains — O lord, by your command.

Verse 42 (devibhagavatam.1.4.42)

त्वं तु ध्यायसि कं देवं संशयोऽयं महान्मम । त्वत्तः परं न पश्यामि देवं वै भुवनत्रये ॥ 4.42 ॥

tvaṁ tu dhyāyasi kaṁ devaṁ saṁśayo'yaṁ mahānmama tvattaḥ paraṁ na paśyāmi devaṁ vai bhuvanatraye

But upon which deity do you meditate? This is a great doubt of mine — I see no god higher than you in all the three worlds.

Verse 43 (devibhagavatam.1.4.43)

कृपां कृत्वा वदस्वाद्य भक्तोऽस्मि तव सुव्रत । महतां नैव गोप्यं हि प्रायः किञ्चिदिति स्मृतिः ॥ 4.43 ॥

kṛpāṁ kṛtvā vadasvādya bhakto'smi tava suvrata mahatāṁ naiva gopyaṁ hi prāyaḥ kiñciditi smṛtiḥ

Show mercy and tell me today — I am your devotee, O one of noble vows; it is remembered that, for the most part, nothing at all is to be hidden by the great.

Verse 44 (devibhagavatam.1.4.44)

तच्छ्रुत्वा वचनं तस्य हरिराह प्रजापतिम् । शृणुष्वैकमना ब्रह्मंस्त्वां ब्रवीमि मनोगतम् ॥ 4.44 ॥

tacchrutvā vacanaṁ tasya harirāha prajāpatim śṛṇuṣvaikamanā brahmaṁstvāṁ bravīmi manogatam

Hearing his words, Hari spoke to the Lord of Creatures: 'Listen with a single-pointed mind, O Brahma; I shall tell you what is in my heart.'

Verse 45 (devibhagavatam.1.4.45)

यद्यपि त्वां शिवं मां च स्थितिसृष्ट्यन्तकारणम् । ते जानन्ति जनाः सर्वे सदेवासुरमानुषाः ॥ 4.45 ॥

yadyapi tvāṁ śivaṁ māṁ ca sthitisṛṣṭyantakāraṇam te jānanti janāḥ sarve sadevāsuramānuṣāḥ

'Although all people, together with gods, demons, and men, know you, Shiva, and myself as the causes of preservation, creation, and dissolution,'

Verse 46 (devibhagavatam.1.4.46)

स्रष्टा त्वं पालकश्चाहं हरः संहारकारकः । कृताः शक्त्येति सन्तर्कः क्रियते वेदपारगैः ॥ 4.46 ॥

sraṣṭā tvaṁ pālakaścāhaṁ haraḥ saṁhārakārakaḥ kṛtāḥ śaktyeti santarkaḥ kriyate vedapāragaiḥ

'and know that — you are the creator, I am the preserver, and Hara is the agent of dissolution, and that we were made so by Shakti — such is the sound reasoning of those versed in the Veda —'

Verse 47 (devibhagavatam.1.4.47)

जगत्सञ्जनने शक्तिस्त्वयि तिष्ठति राजसी । सात्त्विकी मयि रुद्रे च तामसी परिकीर्तिता ॥ 4.47 ॥

jagatsañjanane śaktistvayi tiṣṭhati rājasī sāttvikī mayi rudre ca tāmasī parikīrtitā

'in you, for the generation of the world, the rajasic Shakti abides; the sattvic in me; and in Rudra the tamasic is proclaimed.'

Verse 48 (devibhagavatam.1.4.48)

तया विरहितस्त्वं न तत्कर्मकरणे प्रभुः । नाहं पालयितुं शक्तः संहर्तुं नापि शङ्करः ॥ 4.48 ॥

tayā virahitastvaṁ na tatkarmakaraṇe prabhuḥ nāhaṁ pālayituṁ śaktaḥ saṁhartuṁ nāpi śaṅkaraḥ

'Bereft of her, you are not capable of performing that task; nor am I able to preserve, nor is Shankara able to destroy.'

Verse 49 (devibhagavatam.1.4.49)

तदधीना वयं सर्वे वर्तामः सततं विभो । प्रत्यक्षे च परोक्षे च दृष्टान्तं शृणु सुव्रत ॥ 4.49 ॥

tadadhīnā vayaṁ sarve vartāmaḥ satataṁ vibho pratyakṣe ca parokṣe ca dṛṣṭāntaṁ śṛṇu suvrata

'All of us are ever dependent on her, O mighty one, in what is manifest and in what is hidden alike; hear an illustration, O one of noble vows —'

Verse 50 (devibhagavatam.1.4.50)

शेषे स्वपिमि पर्यङ्के परतन्त्रो न संशयः । तदधीनः सदोत्तिष्ठे काले कालवशं गतः ॥ 4.50 ॥

śeṣe svapimi paryaṅke paratantro na saṁśayaḥ tadadhīnaḥ sadottiṣṭhe kāle kālavaśaṁ gataḥ

'I sleep upon the couch of Shesha, dependent on her, without doubt; dependent on her, I ever arise when the time comes, subject to time.'

Verse 51 (devibhagavatam.1.4.51)

तपश्चरामि सततं तदधीनोऽस्म्यहं सदा । कदाचित्सह लक्ष्या च विहरामि यथासुखम् ॥ 4.51 ॥

tapaścarāmi satataṁ tadadhīno'smyahaṁ sadā kadācitsaha lakṣyā ca viharāmi yathāsukham

'I perform austerity constantly, ever dependent on her; sometimes I sport at ease together with Lakshmi.'

Verse 52 (devibhagavatam.1.4.52)

कदाचिद्दानवैः सार्धं सङ्ग्रामं प्रकरोम्यहम् । दारुणं देहदमनं सर्वलोकभयङ्करम् ॥ 4.52 ॥

kadāciddānavaiḥ sārdhaṁ saṅgrāmaṁ prakaromyaham dāruṇaṁ dehadamanaṁ sarvalokabhayaṅkaram

'Sometimes I wage fierce war against the danavas, taxing to the body, terrifying to all the worlds.'

Verse 53 (devibhagavatam.1.4.53)

प्रत्यक्षं तव धर्मज्ञ तस्मिन्नेकार्णवे पुरा । पञ्चवर्षसहस्राणि बाहुयुद्धं मया कृतम् ॥ 4.53 ॥

pratyakṣaṁ tava dharmajña tasminnekārṇave purā pañcavarṣasahasrāṇi bāhuyuddhaṁ mayā kṛtam

'This you have witnessed directly, O knower of dharma: in that single ocean of old, for five thousand years I fought hand-to-hand combat.'

Verse 54 (devibhagavatam.1.4.54)

तौ कर्णमलजौ दुष्टौ दानवौ मदगर्वितौ । देव देव्याः प्रसादेन निहतौ मधुकैटभौ ॥ 4.54 ॥

tau karṇamalajau duṣṭau dānavau madagarvitau deva devyāḥ prasādena nihatau madhukaiṭabhau

'Those two wicked danavas born of the ear-wax, arrogant with pride — Madhu and Kaitabha — were slain, O god, only by the grace of the Devi.'

Verse 55 (devibhagavatam.1.4.55)

तदा त्वया न किं ज्ञातं कारणं तु परात्परम् । शक्तिरूपं महाभाग किं पृच्छसि पुनः पुनः ॥ 4.55 ॥

tadā tvayā na kiṁ jñātaṁ kāraṇaṁ tu parātparam śaktirūpaṁ mahābhāga kiṁ pṛcchasi punaḥ punaḥ

'Did you not know, then, the cause beyond the highest cause, in the form of Shakti? Why, O greatly fortunate one, do you ask again and again?'

Verse 56 (devibhagavatam.1.4.56)

यदिच्छः पुरुषो भूत्वा विचरामि महार्णवे । कच्छपः कोलसिंहश्च वामनश्च युगे युगे ॥ 4.56 ॥

yadicchaḥ puruṣo bhūtvā vicarāmi mahārṇave kacchapaḥ kolasiṁhaśca vāmanaśca yuge yuge

'At will, becoming a man, I wander in the great ocean; and I become a tortoise, a boar, a lion, and a dwarf, age after age.'

Verse 57 (devibhagavatam.1.4.57)

न कस्यापि प्रियो लोके तिर्यग्योनिषु सम्भवः । नाभवं स्वेच्छया वामवराहादिषु योनिषु ॥ 4.57 ॥

na kasyāpi priyo loke tiryagyoniṣu sambhavaḥ nābhavaṁ svecchayā vāmavarāhādiṣu yoniṣu

'Birth in animal wombs is dear to no one in this world; I would not, of my own will, have taken birth in the wombs of the fish, boar, and the rest —'

Verse 58 (devibhagavatam.1.4.58)

विहाय लक्ष्या सह संविहारं को याति मत्स्यादिषु हीनयोनिषु । शय्यां च मुक्त्वा गरुडासनस्थः करोमि युद्धं विपुलं स्वतन्त्रः ॥ 4.58 ॥

vihāya lakṣyā saha saṁvihāraṁ ko yāti matsyādiṣu hīnayoniṣu śayyāṁ ca muktvā garuḍāsanasthaḥ karomi yuddhaṁ vipulaṁ svatantraḥ

'— who would leave sporting with Lakshmi to go into lowly wombs like the fish and the rest? Or, leaving my couch to sit upon Garuda, wage vast war of his own free will?'

Verse 59 (devibhagavatam.1.4.59)

पुरा पुरस्तेऽज शिरो मदीयं गतं धनुर्ज्यास्खलनात्क्व चापि । त्वया तदा वाजिशिरो गृहीत्वा संयोजितं शिल्पिवरेण भूयः ॥ 4.59 ॥

purā puraste'ja śiro madīyaṁ gataṁ dhanurjyāskhalanātkva cāpi tvayā tadā vājiśiro gṛhītvā saṁyojitaṁ śilpivareṇa bhūyaḥ

'Long ago, O unborn one, my own head, through the slipping of the bowstring, went somewhere; then you, taking the head of a horse, had it joined to me once more by the finest of craftsmen.'

Verse 60 (devibhagavatam.1.4.60)

हयाननोऽहं परिकीर्तितश्च प्रत्यक्षमेतत्तव लोककर्तः । विडम्बनेयं किल लोकमध्ये कथं भवेदात्मपरो यदि स्याम् ॥ 4.60 ॥

hayānano'haṁ parikīrtitaśca pratyakṣametattava lokakartaḥ viḍambaneyaṁ kila lokamadhye kathaṁ bhavedātmaparo yadi syām

'And thus I became known as horse-faced — this you, the maker of the world, witnessed directly. This, indeed, is a mockery in the eyes of the world — how could this happen, if I were truly self-sufficient?'

Verse 61 (devibhagavatam.1.4.61)

तस्मान्नाहं स्वतन्त्रोऽस्मि शक्त्यधीनोऽस्मि सर्वथा । तामेव शक्तिं सततं ध्यायामि च निरन्तरम् ॥ 4.61 ॥

tasmānnāhaṁ svatantro'smi śaktyadhīno'smi sarvathā tāmeva śaktiṁ satataṁ dhyāyāmi ca nirantaram

'Therefore I am not independent — I am, in every way, dependent on Shakti; it is that very Shakti I ceaselessly and constantly meditate upon.'

Verse 62 (devibhagavatam.1.4.62)

नातः परतरं किञ्चिज्जानामि कमलोद्भव । नारद उवाच । इत्युक्तं विष्णुना तेन पद्मयोनेस्तु सन्निधौ ॥ 4.62 ॥

nātaḥ parataraṁ kiñcijjānāmi kamalodbhava nārada uvāca ityuktaṁ viṣṇunā tena padmayonestu sannidhau

'Beyond her, O lotus-born one, I know of nothing higher.' Narada said: Thus it was spoken by Vishnu there, in the presence of the lotus-born Brahma.

Verse 63 (devibhagavatam.1.4.63)

तेन चाप्यहमुक्तोऽस्मि तथैव मुनिपुङ्गव । तस्मात्त्वमपि कल्याण पुरुषार्थाप्तिहेतवे ॥ 4.63 ॥

tena cāpyahamukto'smi tathaiva munipuṅgava tasmāttvamapi kalyāṇa puruṣārthāptihetave

And by him was I too told the same, O foremost of sages; therefore you too, O auspicious one, for the sake of attaining the true goal of human life —

Verse 64 (devibhagavatam.1.4.64)

असंशयं हृदम्भोजे भज देवीपदाम्बुजम् । सर्वं दास्यति सा देवी यद्यदिष्टं भवेत्तव ॥ 4.64 ॥

asaṁśayaṁ hṛdambhoje bhaja devīpadāmbujam sarvaṁ dāsyati sā devī yadyadiṣṭaṁ bhavettava

— without doubt, worship in the lotus of your heart the lotus feet of the Devi; that Goddess will grant you whatever you desire.

Verse 65 (devibhagavatam.1.4.65)

सूत उवाच । नारदेनैवमुक्तस्तु व्यासः सत्यवतीसुतः । देवीपादाब्जनिष्णातस्तपसे प्रययौ गिरौ ॥ 4.65 ॥

sūta uvāca nāradenaivamuktastu vyāsaḥ satyavatīsutaḥ devīpādābjaniṣṇātastapase prayayau girau

Suta said: Thus addressed by Narada, Vyasa, the son of Satyavati, wholly absorbed in the lotus feet of the Devi, set out to the mountain to perform austerity.