The Story of the Hayagriva Avatara

Verse 1 (devibhagavatam.1.5.1)

ऋषय ऊचुः । सूतास्माकं मनः कामं मग्नं संशयसागरे । यथोक्तं महदाश्चर्यं जगद्विस्मयकारकम् ॥ 5.1 ॥

ṛṣaya ūcuḥ sūtāsmākaṁ manaḥ kāmaṁ magnaṁ saṁśayasāgare yathoktaṁ mahadāścaryaṁ jagadvismayakārakam

The sages said: O Suta, our mind is utterly plunged into an ocean of doubt over the great wonder you have just told, a thing that astonishes the whole world.

Verse 2 (devibhagavatam.1.5.2)

यन्मूर्धा माधवस्यापि गतो देहात्पुनः परम् । हयग्रीवस्ततो जातः सर्वकर्ता जनार्दनः ॥ 5.2 ॥

yanmūrdhā mādhavasyāpi gato dehātpunaḥ param hayagrīvastato jātaḥ sarvakartā janārdanaḥ

That the very head of Madhava himself departed from his body, and thereafter Janardana, the doer of all, became Hayagriva —

Verse 3 (devibhagavatam.1.5.3)

वेदोऽपि स्तौति यं देवं देवाः सर्वे यदाश्रयाः । आदिदेवो जगन्नाथः सर्वकारणकारणः ॥ 5.3 ॥

vedo'pi stauti yaṁ devaṁ devāḥ sarve yadāśrayāḥ ādidevo jagannāthaḥ sarvakāraṇakāraṇaḥ

— that god whom even the Vedas praise, on whom all the gods depend, the primal deity, lord of the world, the cause of all causes —

Verse 4 (devibhagavatam.1.5.4)

तस्यापि वदनं छिन्नं दैवयोगात्कथं तदा । तत्सर्वं कथयाशु त्वं विस्तरेण महामते ॥ 5.4 ॥

tasyāpi vadanaṁ chinnaṁ daivayogātkathaṁ tadā tatsarvaṁ kathayāśu tvaṁ vistareṇa mahāmate

— how, then, by some turn of fate, could even his head be severed? Tell us all of this quickly, in full detail, O great-minded one.

Verse 5 (devibhagavatam.1.5.5)

सूत उवाच । शृण्वन्तु मुनयः सर्वे सावधानाः समन्ततः । चरितं देवदेवस्य विष्णोः परमतेजसः ॥ 5.5 ॥

sūta uvāca śṛṇvantu munayaḥ sarve sāvadhānāḥ samantataḥ caritaṁ devadevasya viṣṇoḥ paramatejasaḥ

Suta said: Let all the sages listen carefully, on every side, to the deeds of the god of gods, Vishnu, of supreme splendor.

Verse 6 (devibhagavatam.1.5.6)

कदाचिद्दारुणं युद्धं कृत्वा देवः सनातनः । दशवर्षसहस्राणि परिश्रान्तो जनार्दनः ॥ 5.6 ॥

kadāciddāruṇaṁ yuddhaṁ kṛtvā devaḥ sanātanaḥ daśavarṣasahasrāṇi pariśrānto janārdanaḥ

Once, having waged a fierce war, the eternal god Janardana, wearied after ten thousand years of battle,

Verse 7 (devibhagavatam.1.5.7)

समे देशे शुभे स्थाने कृत्वा पद्मासनं विभुः । अवलम्ब्य धनुः सज्यं कण्ठदेशे धरास्थितम् ॥ 5.7 ॥

same deśe śubhe sthāne kṛtvā padmāsanaṁ vibhuḥ avalambya dhanuḥ sajyaṁ kaṇṭhadeśe dharāsthitam

in a level and auspicious place, the mighty lord took the lotus posture, resting upon his strung bow, its lower end set upon the ground, propped near his throat,

Verse 8 (devibhagavatam.1.5.8)

दत्त्वा भारं धनुष्कोट्यां निद्रामाप रमापतिः । श्रान्तत्वाद्दैवयोगाच्च जातस्तत्रातिनिद्रितः ॥ 5.8 ॥

dattvā bhāraṁ dhanuṣkoṭyāṁ nidrāmāpa ramāpatiḥ śrāntatvāddaivayogācca jātastatrātinidritaḥ

— resting his weight upon the tip of the bow — and the Lord of Lakshmi fell asleep; from weariness and by fate's turn, he became there deeply, deeply asleep.

Verse 9 (devibhagavatam.1.5.9)

तदा कालेन कियता देवाः सर्वे सवासवाः । ब्रह्मेशसहिताः सर्वे यज्ञं कर्तुं समुद्यताः ॥ 5.9 ॥

tadā kālena kiyatā devāḥ sarve savāsavāḥ brahmeśasahitāḥ sarve yajñaṁ kartuṁ samudyatāḥ

Then, after some time, all the gods, together with Vasava, along with Brahma and Ishvara, all made ready to perform a sacrifice.

Verse 10 (devibhagavatam.1.5.10)

गताः सर्वेऽथ वैकुण्ठं द्रष्टुं देवं जनार्दनम् । देवकार्यार्थसिद्।ह्ध्यर्थं मखानामधिपं प्रभुम् ॥ 5.10 ॥

gatāḥ sarve'tha vaikuṇṭhaṁ draṣṭuṁ devaṁ janārdanam devakāryārthasid|hdhyarthaṁ makhānāmadhipaṁ prabhum

All of them then went to Vaikuntha to see the lord Janardana, the master of sacrifices, for the sake of accomplishing the gods' business.

Verse 11 (devibhagavatam.1.5.11)

अदृष्ट्वा तं तदा तत्र ज्ञानदृष्ट्या विलोक्य ते । यत्रास्ते भगवान् विष्णुर्जग्मुस्तत्र तदा सुराः ॥ 5.11 ॥

adṛṣṭvā taṁ tadā tatra jñānadṛṣṭyā vilokya te yatrāste bhagavān viṣṇurjagmustatra tadā surāḥ

Not seeing him there, they looked with the eye of knowledge, and the gods then went to that place where the Lord Vishnu was staying.

Verse 12 (devibhagavatam.1.5.12)

ददृशुस्ते तदेशानं योगनिद्रावशं गतम् । विचेतनं विभुं विष्णुं तत्रासाञ्चक्रिरे सुराः ॥ 5.12 ॥

dadṛśuste tadeśānaṁ yoganidrāvaśaṁ gatam vicetanaṁ vibhuṁ viṣṇuṁ tatrāsāñcakrire surāḥ

They saw that lord, fallen under the sway of yogic slumber; and the gods stood there gazing at the mighty Vishnu, unconscious.

Verse 13 (devibhagavatam.1.5.13)

स्थितेषु सर्वदेवेषु निद्रासुप्ते जगत्पतौ । चिन्तामापुः सुराः सर्वे ब्रह्मरुद्रपुरोगमाः ॥ 5.13 ॥

sthiteṣu sarvadeveṣu nidrāsupte jagatpatau cintāmāpuḥ surāḥ sarve brahmarudrapurogamāḥ

With all the gods standing there, and the lord of the world asleep in slumber, all the gods, led by Brahma and Rudra, fell into anxious thought.

Verse 14 (devibhagavatam.1.5.14)

तानुवाच ततः शक्रः किं कर्तव्यं सुरोत्तमाः । निद्राभङ्गः कथं कार्यश्चिन्तयन्तु सुरोत्तमाः ॥ 5.14 ॥

tānuvāca tataḥ śakraḥ kiṁ kartavyaṁ surottamāḥ nidrābhaṅgaḥ kathaṁ kāryaścintayantu surottamāḥ

Then Shakra said to them: 'What is to be done, O best of gods? How is his slumber to be broken? Let the best of gods consider this.'

Verse 15 (devibhagavatam.1.5.15)

तमुवाच तदा शम्भुर्निद्राभङ्गेऽस्ति दूषणम् । कार्यं चैव प्रकर्तव्यं यज्ञस्य सुरसत्तमाः ॥ 5.15 ॥

tamuvāca tadā śambhurnidrābhaṅge'sti dūṣaṇam kāryaṁ caiva prakartavyaṁ yajñasya surasattamāḥ

Then Shambhu said to him: 'There is a fault in breaking his sleep forcibly; yet the work of the sacrifice must indeed be accomplished, O best of gods.'

Verse 16 (devibhagavatam.1.5.16)

उत्पादिता तदा वम्री ब्रह्मणा परमेष्ठिना । तया भक्षयितुं तत्र धनुषोऽग्रं धरास्थितम् ॥ 5.16 ॥

utpāditā tadā vamrī brahmaṇā parameṣṭhinā tayā bhakṣayituṁ tatra dhanuṣo'graṁ dharāsthitam

Then Brahma, the supreme lord, produced an ant, so that she might gnaw there at the tip of the bow, resting upon the ground.

Verse 17 (devibhagavatam.1.5.17)

भक्षितेऽग्रे तदा निम्नं गमिष्यति शरासनम् । तदा निद्राविमुक्तोऽसौ देवदेवो भविष्यति ॥ 5.17 ॥

bhakṣite'gre tadā nimnaṁ gamiṣyati śarāsanam tadā nidrāvimukto'sau devadevo bhaviṣyati

'When the tip is gnawed through, the bow will then sink down; then that god of gods will be freed from his sleep.'

Verse 18 (devibhagavatam.1.5.18)

देवकार्यं तदा सर्वं भविष्यति न संशयः । स वम्रीं सन्दिदेशाथ देवदेवः सनातनः ॥ 5.18 ॥

devakāryaṁ tadā sarvaṁ bhaviṣyati na saṁśayaḥ sa vamrīṁ sandideśātha devadevaḥ sanātanaḥ

'Then the whole work of the gods will be accomplished, without doubt.' So the eternal god of gods instructed the ant.

Verse 19 (devibhagavatam.1.5.19)

तमुवाच तदा वम्री देवदेवस्य मापतेः । निद्राभङ्गः कथं कार्यो देवस्य जगतां गुरोः ॥ 5.19 ॥

tamuvāca tadā vamrī devadevasya māpateḥ nidrābhaṅgaḥ kathaṁ kāryo devasya jagatāṁ guroḥ

Then the ant said to him: 'How can the sleep of the god of gods, the lord of Lakshmi, the teacher of the worlds, rightly be broken in this way?'

Verse 20 (devibhagavatam.1.5.20)

निद्राभङ्गः कथाच्छेदो दम्पत्योः प्रीतिभेदनम् । शिशुमातृविभेदश्च ब्रह्महत्यासमं स्मृतम् ॥ 5.20 ॥

nidrābhaṅgaḥ kathācchedo dampatyoḥ prītibhedanam śiśumātṛvibhedaśca brahmahatyāsamaṁ smṛtam

'The breaking of sleep, the cutting off of a story mid-way, the sundering of love between husband and wife, and the parting of a child from its mother — these are held equal to the sin of killing a brahmin.'

Verse 21 (devibhagavatam.1.5.21)

तत्कथं देवदेवस्य करोमि सुखनाशनम् । किं फलं भक्षणाद्देव येन पापं करोम्यहम् ॥ 5.21 ॥

tatkathaṁ devadevasya karomi sukhanāśanam kiṁ phalaṁ bhakṣaṇāddeva yena pāpaṁ karomyaham

'How, then, shall I destroy the happiness of the god of gods? What benefit is there for me, O god, in this gnawing, by which I would commit a sin?'

Verse 22 (devibhagavatam.1.5.22)

सर्वः स्वार्थवशो लोकः कुरुते पातकं किल । तस्मादहं करिष्यामि स्वार्थमेव प्रभक्षणम् ॥ 5.22 ॥

sarvaḥ svārthavaśo lokaḥ kurute pātakaṁ kila tasmādahaṁ kariṣyāmi svārthameva prabhakṣaṇam

'Every being in this world, indeed, commits sin under the sway of self-interest; therefore, I too shall gnaw only for the sake of my own self-interest.'

Verse 23 (devibhagavatam.1.5.23)

ब्रह्मोवाच । तव भागं करिष्यामो मखमध्ये यथा शृणु । तेन त्वं कुरु कार्यं नो विष्णुं बोधय माचिरम् ॥ 5.23 ॥

brahmovāca tava bhāgaṁ kariṣyāmo makhamadhye yathā śṛṇu tena tvaṁ kuru kāryaṁ no viṣṇuṁ bodhaya māciram

Brahma said: 'Listen — I shall allot you your share within the sacrifice itself. In return, do this task for us — awaken Vishnu, without delay.'

Verse 24 (devibhagavatam.1.5.24)

होमकर्मणि पार्श्वे च हविर्दानात्पतिष्यति । तत्ते भागं विजानीहि कुरु कार्यं त्वरान्विता ॥ 5.24 ॥

homakarmaṇi pārśve ca havirdānātpatiṣyati tatte bhāgaṁ vijānīhi kuru kāryaṁ tvarānvitā

'At the side of the fire-oblation, some of the offered oblation will fall; know that to be your share. Perform the task quickly.'

Verse 25 (devibhagavatam.1.5.25)

सूत उवाच । इत्युक्ता ब्रह्मणा वम्री धनुषोऽग्रं त्वरान्विता । चखाद संस्थितं भूमौ विमुक्ता ज्या तदाभवत् ॥ 5.25 ॥

sūta uvāca ityuktā brahmaṇā vamrī dhanuṣo'graṁ tvarānvitā cakhāda saṁsthitaṁ bhūmau vimuktā jyā tadābhavat

Suta said: Thus told by Brahma, the ant swiftly gnawed at the tip of the bow, resting on the ground; the bowstring then sprang loose.

Verse 26 (devibhagavatam.1.5.26)

प्रत्यञ्जायां विमुक्तायां मुक्ता कोटिस्तथोत्तरा । शब्दः समभवद्घोरस्तेन त्रस्ताः सुरास्तदा ॥ 5.26 ॥

pratyañjāyāṁ vimuktāyāṁ muktā koṭistathottarā śabdaḥ samabhavadghorastena trastāḥ surāstadā

When the string was released, the upper end too sprang free with tremendous force; a terrible sound arose, and the gods were then struck with terror.

Verse 27 (devibhagavatam.1.5.27)

ब्रह्माण्डं क्षुभितं सर्वं वसुधा कम्पिता तदा । समुद्राश्च समुद्विग्नास्त्रेसुश्च जलजन्तवः ॥ 5.27 ॥

brahmāṇḍaṁ kṣubhitaṁ sarvaṁ vasudhā kampitā tadā samudrāśca samudvignāstresuśca jalajantavaḥ

The whole cosmic egg was shaken, the earth trembled then, the oceans were agitated, and the creatures of the water trembled in fear.

Verse 28 (devibhagavatam.1.5.28)

ववुर्वातास्तथा चोग्राः पर्वताश्च चकम्पिरे । उल्कापाता महोत्पाता बभूवुर्दुःखशंसिनः ॥ 5.28 ॥

vavurvātāstathā cogrāḥ parvatāśca cakampire ulkāpātā mahotpātā babhūvurduḥkhaśaṁsinaḥ

Fierce winds blew, and the mountains shook; meteors fell, and great portents arose, foretelling sorrow.

Verse 29 (devibhagavatam.1.5.29)

दिशो घोरतराश्चासन्सूर्योऽप्यस्तङ्गतोऽभवत् । चिन्तामापुः सुराः सर्वे किं भविष्यति दुर्दिने ॥ 5.29 ॥

diśo ghoratarāścāsansūryo'pyastaṅgato'bhavat cintāmāpuḥ surāḥ sarve kiṁ bhaviṣyati durdine

The quarters of the sky grew terrible, and even the sun seemed to set; all the gods fell into anxious thought: 'What will happen on this evil day?'

Verse 30 (devibhagavatam.1.5.30)

एवं चिन्तयतां तेषां मूर्धा विष्णोः सकुण्डलः । गतः समुकुटः क्वापि देवदेवस्य तापसाः ॥ 5.30 ॥

evaṁ cintayatāṁ teṣāṁ mūrdhā viṣṇoḥ sakuṇḍalaḥ gataḥ samukuṭaḥ kvāpi devadevasya tāpasāḥ

O ascetics, as they were thus worrying, the head of Vishnu, together with its earrings and crown, went off somewhere, severed from the god of gods.

Verse 31 (devibhagavatam.1.5.31)

अन्धकारे तदा घोरे शान्ते ब्रह्महरौ तदा । शिरोहीनं शरीरं तु ददृशाते विलक्षणम् ॥ 5.31 ॥

andhakāre tadā ghore śānte brahmaharau tadā śirohīnaṁ śarīraṁ tu dadṛśāte vilakṣaṇam

Then, in that terrible darkness, when Brahma and Hara had grown quiet, the two of them saw the strange sight of the headless body.

Verse 32 (devibhagavatam.1.5.32)

दृष्ट्वा कबन्धं विष्णोस्ते विस्मिताः सुरसत्तमाः । चिन्तासागरमग्नाश्च रुरुदुः शोककर्शिताः ॥ 5.32 ॥

dṛṣṭvā kabandhaṁ viṣṇoste vismitāḥ surasattamāḥ cintāsāgaramagnāśca ruruduḥ śokakarśitāḥ

Seeing Vishnu's headless trunk, those best of gods were astounded; sunk in an ocean of anxiety and worn down by grief, they wept.

Verse 33 (devibhagavatam.1.5.33)

हा नाथ किं प्रभो जातमत्यद्भुतममानुषम् । वैशसं सर्वदेवानां देवदेव सनातन ॥ 5.33 ॥

hā nātha kiṁ prabho jātamatyadbhutamamānuṣam vaiśasaṁ sarvadevānāṁ devadeva sanātana

'Alas, O lord! O master! What has happened — a thing most wondrous and unnatural, a calamity for all the gods, O eternal god of gods!'

Verse 34 (devibhagavatam.1.5.34)

मायेयं कस्य देवस्य यया तेऽद्य शिरो हृतम् । अच्छेद्यस्त्वमभेद्योऽसि अप्रदाह्योऽसि सर्वदा ॥ 5.34 ॥

māyeyaṁ kasya devasya yayā te'dya śiro hṛtam acchedyastvamabhedyo'si apradāhyo'si sarvadā

'Whose illusion is this, O god, by which your head has today been taken? You are the unsplittable, the unbreakable, ever the unburnable!'

Verse 35 (devibhagavatam.1.5.35)

एवं गते त्वयि विभो मरिष्यन्ति च देवताः । कीदृशस्त्वयि नः स्नेहः स्वार्थेनैव रुदामहे ॥ 5.35 ॥

evaṁ gate tvayi vibho mariṣyanti ca devatāḥ kīdṛśastvayi naḥ snehaḥ svārthenaiva rudāmahe

'If you should go thus, O mighty one, the gods too shall die. Of what kind, then, is our love for you? — We weep only out of our own self-interest.'

Verse 36 (devibhagavatam.1.5.36)

नायं विघ्नः कृतो दैत्यैर्न यक्षैर्न च राक्षसैः । देवैरेव कृतः कस्य दूषणं च रमापते ॥ 5.36 ॥

nāyaṁ vighnaḥ kṛto daityairna yakṣairna ca rākṣasaiḥ devaireva kṛtaḥ kasya dūṣaṇaṁ ca ramāpate

'This calamity was not caused by daityas, nor by yakshas, nor by rakshasas — it was caused by the gods themselves; whom, then, O lord of Lakshmi, shall we blame?'

Verse 37 (devibhagavatam.1.5.37)

पराधीनाः सुराः सर्वे किं कुर्मः क्व व्रजाम च । शरणं नैव देवेश सुराणां मूढचेतसाम् ॥ 5.37 ॥

parādhīnāḥ surāḥ sarve kiṁ kurmaḥ kva vrajāma ca śaraṇaṁ naiva deveśa surāṇāṁ mūḍhacetasām

'All of us gods are dependent on another; what shall we do, and where shall we go? There is no refuge, O lord of gods, for us gods, our minds so bewildered.'

Verse 38 (devibhagavatam.1.5.38)

न चैषा सात्त्विकी माया राजसी न च तामसी । यया छिन्नं शिरस्तेऽद्य मायेशस्य जगद्गुरोः ॥ 5.38 ॥

na caiṣā sāttvikī māyā rājasī na ca tāmasī yayā chinnaṁ śiraste'dya māyeśasya jagadguroḥ

'This Maya, too, by which your head has today been severed, O teacher of the world, master of Maya — it is neither sattvic, nor rajasic, nor tamasic.'

Verse 39 (devibhagavatam.1.5.39)

क्रन्दमानांस्तदा दृष्ट्वा देवाञ्छिवपुरोगमान् । बृहस्पतिस्तदोवाच शमयन्वेदवित्तमः ॥ 5.39 ॥

krandamānāṁstadā dṛṣṭvā devāñchivapurogamān bṛhaspatistadovāca śamayanvedavittamaḥ

Seeing the gods weeping, led by Shiva, Brihaspati, most learned in the Veda, then spoke, calming them:

Verse 40 (devibhagavatam.1.5.40)

रुदितेन महाभागाः क्रन्दितेन तथापि किम् । उपायश्चात्र कर्तव्यः सर्वथा बुद्धिगोचरः ॥ 5.40 ॥

ruditena mahābhāgāḥ kranditena tathāpi kim upāyaścātra kartavyaḥ sarvathā buddhigocaraḥ

'What use is there, O greatly fortunate ones, in weeping and wailing? A remedy must be devised here, in every way within the reach of intelligence.'

Verse 41 (devibhagavatam.1.5.41)

दैवं पुरुषकारश्च देवेश सदृशावुभौ । उपायश्च विधातव्यो दैवात्फलति सर्वथा ॥ 5.41 ॥

daivaṁ puruṣakāraśca deveśa sadṛśāvubhau upāyaśca vidhātavyo daivātphalati sarvathā

'Fate and human effort, O lord of gods, are indeed alike; a remedy must be devised — yet in every case, it is fate that brings the result.'

Verse 42 (devibhagavatam.1.5.42)

इन्द्र उवाच । दैवमेव परं मन्ये धिक्पौरुषमनर्थकम् । विष्णोरपि शिरश्छिन्नं सुराणां चैव पश्यताम् ॥ 5.42 ॥

indra uvāca daivameva paraṁ manye dhikpauruṣamanarthakam viṣṇorapi śiraśchinnaṁ surāṇāṁ caiva paśyatām

Indra said: 'I hold fate alone to be supreme; fie on human effort, which is useless — even Vishnu's own head has been severed, right before the eyes of the gods.'

Verse 43 (devibhagavatam.1.5.43)

ब्रह्मोवाच । अवश्यमेव भोक्तव्यं कालेनापादितं च यत् । शुभं वाप्यशुभं वापि दैवं कोऽतिक्रमेत्पुनः ॥ 5.43 ॥

brahmovāca avaśyameva bhoktavyaṁ kālenāpāditaṁ ca yat śubhaṁ vāpyaśubhaṁ vāpi daivaṁ ko'tikrametpunaḥ

Brahma said: 'Whatever is brought about by time, whether good or bad, must certainly be endured; who indeed could ever overstep fate?'

Verse 44 (devibhagavatam.1.5.44)

देहवान्सुखदुःखानां भोक्ता नैवात्र संशयः । यथा कालवशात्कृत्तं शिरो मे शम्भुना पुरा ॥ 5.44 ॥

dehavānsukhaduḥkhānāṁ bhoktā naivātra saṁśayaḥ yathā kālavaśātkṛttaṁ śiro me śambhunā purā

'One who has a body is certainly the experiencer of pleasure and pain — there is no doubt of this. Just as, under the sway of time, my own head was once severed by Shambhu,'

Verse 45 (devibhagavatam.1.5.45)

तथैव लिङ्गपातश्च महादेवस्य शापतः । तथैवाद्य हरेर्मूर्धा पतितो लवणाम्भसि ॥ 5.45 ॥

tathaiva liṅgapātaśca mahādevasya śāpataḥ tathaivādya harermūrdhā patito lavaṇāmbhasi

'and just as the linga of Mahadeva itself fell, through a curse — so too, today, has the head of Hari fallen into the salt ocean.'

Verse 46 (devibhagavatam.1.5.46)

सहस्रभगसम्प्राप्तिर्दुःखं चैव शचीपतेः । स्वर्गाद्भ्रंशस्तथा वासः कमले मानसे सरे ॥ 5.46 ॥

sahasrabhagasamprāptirduḥkhaṁ caiva śacīpateḥ svargādbhraṁśastathā vāsaḥ kamale mānase sare

'The attaining of a thousand marks of shame was the suffering of the lord of Shachi; and, similarly, his fall from heaven, and his dwelling upon a lotus in Lake Manasa.'

Verse 47 (devibhagavatam.1.5.47)

एते दुःखस्य भोक्तारः केन दुःखं न भुज्यते । संसारेऽस्मिन्महाभागास्तस्माच्छोकं त्यजन्तु वै ॥ 5.47 ॥

ete duḥkhasya bhoktāraḥ kena duḥkhaṁ na bhujyate saṁsāre'sminmahābhāgāstasmācchokaṁ tyajantu vai

'These have all been sufferers of sorrow — by whom, in this world, is sorrow not experienced? Therefore, O greatly fortunate ones, let all give up grieving.'

Verse 48 (devibhagavatam.1.5.48)

चिन्तयन्तु महामायां विद्यादेवीं सनातनीम् । सा विधास्यति नः कार्यं निर्गुणा प्रकृतिः परा ॥ 5.48 ॥

cintayantu mahāmāyāṁ vidyādevīṁ sanātanīm sā vidhāsyati naḥ kāryaṁ nirguṇā prakṛtiḥ parā

'Let them meditate instead upon Mahamaya, the eternal Goddess of Wisdom; she, the supreme Prakriti beyond the gunas, will accomplish our task.'

Verse 49 (devibhagavatam.1.5.49)

ब्रह्मविद्यां जगद्धात्रीं सर्वेषां जननीं तथा । यया सर्वमिदं व्याप्तं त्रैलोक्यं सचराचरम् ॥ 5.49 ॥

brahmavidyāṁ jagaddhātrīṁ sarveṣāṁ jananīṁ tathā yayā sarvamidaṁ vyāptaṁ trailokyaṁ sacarācaram

'— the Wisdom of Brahman, the sustainer of the world, the mother of all beings, by whom this entire threefold world, with all its moving and unmoving things, is pervaded.'

Verse 50 (devibhagavatam.1.5.50)

सूत उवाच । इत्युक्त्वा वै सुरान्वेधा निगमानादिदेश ह । देहयुक्तान्स्थितानग्रे सुरकार्यार्थसिद्धये ॥ 5.50 ॥

sūta uvāca ityuktvā vai surānvedhā nigamānādideśa ha dehayuktānsthitānagre surakāryārthasiddhaye

Suta said: Having thus spoken to the gods, the Creator then commanded the Vedas, who stood before him in embodied form, for the accomplishment of the gods' task.

Verse 51 (devibhagavatam.1.5.51)

ब्रह्मोवाच । स्तुवन्तु परमां देवीं ब्रह्मविद्यां सनातनीम् । गूढाङ्गीं च महामायां सर्वकार्यार्थसाधनीम् ॥ 5.51 ॥

brahmovāca stuvantu paramāṁ devīṁ brahmavidyāṁ sanātanīm gūḍhāṅgīṁ ca mahāmāyāṁ sarvakāryārthasādhanīm

Brahma said: 'Let them praise the supreme Devi, the eternal Wisdom of Brahman, the Great Maya of hidden form, who accomplishes the purpose of every task.'

Verse 52 (devibhagavatam.1.5.52)

तच्छ्रुत्वा वचनं तस्य वेदाः सर्वाङ्गसुन्दराः । तुष्टुवुर्ज्ञानगम्यां तां महामायां जगत्स्थिताम् ॥ 5.52 ॥

tacchrutvā vacanaṁ tasya vedāḥ sarvāṅgasundarāḥ tuṣṭuvurjñānagamyāṁ tāṁ mahāmāyāṁ jagatsthitām

Hearing his words, the Vedas, beautiful in every limb, then praised that Mahamaya, attainable only through knowledge, abiding in the world.

Verse 53 (devibhagavatam.1.5.53)

वेदा ऊचुः । नमो देवि महामाये विश्वोत्पत्तिकरे शिवे । निर्गुणे सर्वभूतेशि मातः शङ्करकामदे ॥ 5.53 ॥

vedā ūcuḥ namo devi mahāmāye viśvotpattikare śive nirguṇe sarvabhūteśi mātaḥ śaṅkarakāmade

The Vedas said: Salutations, O Devi Mahamaya, cause of the world's creation, auspicious one; beyond the gunas, ruler of all beings, O mother, beloved of Shankara.

Verse 54 (devibhagavatam.1.5.54)

त्वं भूमिः सर्वभूतानां प्राणाः प्राणवतां तथा । धीः श्रीः कान्तिः क्षमा शान्तिः श्रद्धा मेधा धृतिः स्मृतिः ॥ 5.54 ॥

tvaṁ bhūmiḥ sarvabhūtānāṁ prāṇāḥ prāṇavatāṁ tathā dhīḥ śrīḥ kāntiḥ kṣamā śāntiḥ śraddhā medhā dhṛtiḥ smṛtiḥ

You are the earth of all beings, and likewise the life-breath of the living; you are intellect, splendor, beauty, forbearance, peace, faith, wisdom, fortitude, and memory.

Verse 55 (devibhagavatam.1.5.55)

त्वमुद्गीथेऽर्धमात्रासि गायत्री व्याहृतिस्तथा । जया च विजया धात्री लज्जा कीर्तिः स्पृहा दया ॥ 5.55 ॥

tvamudgīthe'rdhamātrāsi gāyatrī vyāhṛtistathā jayā ca vijayā dhātrī lajjā kīrtiḥ spṛhā dayā

You are the half-measure of Om in the Udgitha; you are the Gayatri, and likewise the sacred utterances; you are Jaya, and Vijaya, the sustainer, modesty, fame, longing, and compassion.

Verse 56 (devibhagavatam.1.5.56)

त्वां संस्तुमोऽम्ब भुवनत्रयसंविधान\- दक्षां दयारसयुतां जननीं जनानाम् । विद्यां शिवां सकललोकहितां वरेण्यां वाग्बीजवासनिपुणां भवनाशकर्त्रीम् ॥ 5.56 ॥

tvāṁ saṁstumo'mba bhuvanatrayasaṁvidhāna\- dakṣāṁ dayārasayutāṁ jananīṁ janānām vidyāṁ śivāṁ sakalalokahitāṁ vareṇyāṁ vāgbījavāsanipuṇāṁ bhavanāśakartrīm

We praise you, O Mother, skilled in ordering the three worlds, filled with the essence of compassion, mother of all beings; the auspicious Wisdom, the good of all worlds, most excellent, skilled in dwelling within the seed of speech, the destroyer of worldly existence.

Verse 57 (devibhagavatam.1.5.57)

ब्रह्मा हरः शौरिसहस्रनेत्र\- वाग्वह्निसूर्या भुवनाधिनाथाः । ते त्वत्कृताः सन्ति ततो न मुख्या माता यतस्त्वं स्थिरजङ्गमानाम् ॥ 5.57 ॥

brahmā haraḥ śaurisahasranetra\- vāgvahnisūryā bhuvanādhināthāḥ te tvatkṛtāḥ santi tato na mukhyā mātā yatastvaṁ sthirajaṅgamānām

Brahma, Hara, Shauri, the thousand-eyed one, Speech, Fire, the Sun — the lords of the worlds — all of them are your creation, and are therefore not truly foremost; for you alone are the mother of all things, moving and unmoving.

Verse 58 (devibhagavatam.1.5.58)

सकलभुवनमेतत्कर्तुकामा यदा त्वं सृजसि जननि देवान्विष्णुरुद्राजमुख्यान् । स्थितिलयजननं तैः कारयस्येकरूपा न खलु तव कथञ्चिद्देवि संसारलेशः ॥ 5.58 ॥

sakalabhuvanametatkartukāmā yadā tvaṁ sṛjasi janani devānviṣṇurudrājamukhyān sthitilayajananaṁ taiḥ kārayasyekarūpā na khalu tava kathañciddevi saṁsāraleśaḥ

When, O mother, desiring to make this entire universe, you create the gods — Vishnu, Rudra, the unborn one, and the rest — you, though one in form, make them perform creation, sustenance, and dissolution; yet indeed, O Devi, not the slightest trace of worldly involvement ever touches you.

Verse 59 (devibhagavatam.1.5.59)

न ते रूपं वेत्तुं सकलभुवने कोऽपि निपुणो न नाम्नां सङ्ख्यां ते कथितुमिह योग्योऽस्ति पुरुषः । यदल्पं कीलालं कलयितुमशक्तः स तु नरः कथं पारावाराकलनचतुरः स्यादृतमतिः ॥ 5.59 ॥

na te rūpaṁ vettuṁ sakalabhuvane ko'pi nipuṇo na nāmnāṁ saṅkhyāṁ te kathitumiha yogyo'sti puruṣaḥ yadalpaṁ kīlālaṁ kalayitumaśaktaḥ sa tu naraḥ kathaṁ pārāvārākalanacaturaḥ syādṛtamatiḥ

No one at all in the whole universe is skilled enough to know your true form, nor is any man here capable of reckoning the count of your names; for a man unable even to measure a small pool of water — how could he, however sound his understanding, be clever enough to fathom the ocean?

Verse 60 (devibhagavatam.1.5.60)

न देवानां मध्ये भगवति तवानन्तविभवं विजानात्येकोऽपि त्वमिह भुवनैकासि जननी । कथं मिथ्या विश्वं सकलमपि चैका रचयसि प्रमाणं त्वेतस्मिन्निगमवचनं देवि विहितम् ॥ 5.60 ॥

na devānāṁ madhye bhagavati tavānantavibhavaṁ vijānātyeko'pi tvamiha bhuvanaikāsi jananī kathaṁ mithyā viśvaṁ sakalamapi caikā racayasi pramāṇaṁ tvetasminnigamavacanaṁ devi vihitam

Not even one among the gods, O Bhagavati, truly knows your boundless glory; you alone are, here, the mother of the universe. How, being one, do you fashion this whole world as mere illusion? On this point, O Devi, the word of the scriptures itself is the only proof.

Verse 61 (devibhagavatam.1.5.61)

निरीहैवासि त्वं निखिलजगतां कारणमहो चरित्रं ते चित्रं भगवति मनो नो व्यथयति । कथङ्कारं वाच्यः सकलनिगमागोचरगुण\- प्रभावः स्वं यस्मात्स्वयमपि न जानासि परमम् ॥ 5.61 ॥

nirīhaivāsi tvaṁ nikhilajagatāṁ kāraṇamaho caritraṁ te citraṁ bhagavati mano no vyathayati kathaṅkāraṁ vācyaḥ sakalanigamāgocaraguṇa\- prabhāvaḥ svaṁ yasmātsvayamapi na jānāsi paramam

You are, ah, without any desire, yet the cause of all the worlds; your wondrous conduct, O Bhagavati, troubles our minds. How is your glory to be described — a glory of qualities beyond the reach of all the scriptures — when even you yourself, it seems, do not know your own ultimate nature?

Verse 62 (devibhagavatam.1.5.62)

न किं जानासि त्वं जननि मधुजिन्मौलिपतनम् ॥ शिवे किं वा ज्ञात्वा विविदिषसि शक्तिं मधुजितः । हरेः किं वा मातर्दुरितततिरेषा बलवती ॥ भवत्याः पादाब्जे भजननिपुणे क्वास्ति दुरितम् ॥ 5.62 ॥

na kiṁ jānāsi tvaṁ janani madhujinmaulipatanam śive kiṁ vā jñātvā vividiṣasi śaktiṁ madhujitaḥ hareḥ kiṁ vā mātarduritatatireṣā balavatī bhavatyāḥ pādābje bhajananipuṇe kvāsti duritam

Do you not know, O mother, of the falling of Madhu's conqueror's head? Or, O auspicious one, having known it, do you wish still to test the power of the slayer of Madhu? Or, O mother, is this mass of misfortune around Hari so very powerful — where, indeed, is there any misfortune for one skilled in worshipping the lotus of your feet?

Verse 63 (devibhagavatam.1.5.63)

उपेक्षा किं चेयं तव सुरसमूहेऽतिविषमा ॥ हरेर्मूर्ध्नो नाशो मतमिह महाश्चर्यजनकम् । महद्दुःखं मातस्त्वमसि जननच्छेदकुशला ॥ न जानीमो मौलेर्विघटनविलम्बः कथमभूत् ॥ 5.63 ॥

upekṣā kiṁ ceyaṁ tava surasamūhe'tiviṣamā harermūrdhno nāśo matamiha mahāścaryajanakam mahadduḥkhaṁ mātastvamasi jananacchedakuśalā na jānīmo maulervighaṭanavilambaḥ kathamabhūt

Is this, then, your indifference toward the host of gods, so very cruel? The loss of Hari's head is, in our thought, a cause of great wonder here. Great is our sorrow, O mother — you are indeed skilled at ending any birth; we do not know how this delay in restoring his crown has come to be.

Verse 64 (devibhagavatam.1.5.64)

ज्ञात्वा दोषं सकलसुरतापादितं देवि चित्ते किं वा विष्णावमरजनितं दुष्कृतं पातितं ते । विष्णोर्वा किं समरजनितः कोऽपि गर्वोऽतिवेगा\- च्छेत्तुं मातस्तव विलसितं नैव विद्मोऽत्र भावम् ॥ 5.64 ॥

jñātvā doṣaṁ sakalasuratāpāditaṁ devi citte kiṁ vā viṣṇāvamarajanitaṁ duṣkṛtaṁ pātitaṁ te viṣṇorvā kiṁ samarajanitaḥ ko'pi garvo'tivegā\- cchettuṁ mātastava vilasitaṁ naiva vidmo'tra bhāvam

Have you, O Devi, in your heart, taken note of some fault caused by all the gods together? Or has some evil deed committed by us gods been visited upon Vishnu instead? Or was there some great pride born in Vishnu from battle, that your play has swiftly moved to cut down? We do not know, O mother, the true intent behind this.

Verse 65 (devibhagavatam.1.5.65)

किं वा दैत्यैः समरविजितैस्तीर्थदेशे सुरम्ये घोरं तप्त्वा भगवति वरं लब्धवद्भिर्भवत्याः । अन्तर्धानं गमितमधुना विष्णुशीर्षं भवानि द्रष्टुं किं वा विगतशिरसं वासुदेवं विनोदः ॥ 5.65 ॥

kiṁ vā daityaiḥ samaravijitaistīrthadeśe suramye ghoraṁ taptvā bhagavati varaṁ labdhavadbhirbhavatyāḥ antardhānaṁ gamitamadhunā viṣṇuśīrṣaṁ bhavāni draṣṭuṁ kiṁ vā vigataśirasaṁ vāsudevaṁ vinodaḥ

Or is it that some daityas, conquered in battle, having performed terrible austerity in a lovely place of pilgrimage, obtained from you, O Bhagavati, a boon, so that Vishnu's head has now vanished? Or, O Bhavani, is this merely your sport, to see Vasudeva without his head?

Verse 66 (devibhagavatam.1.5.66)

सिन्धोः पुत्र्यां रोषिता किं त्वमाद्ये कस्मादेनां प्रेक्षसे नाथहीनाम् । क्षन्तव्यस्ते स्वांशजातापराधो व्युत्थाप्यैनं मोदिता मां कुरुष्व ॥ 5.66 ॥

sindhoḥ putryāṁ roṣitā kiṁ tvamādye kasmādenāṁ prekṣase nāthahīnām kṣantavyaste svāṁśajātāparādho vyutthāpyainaṁ moditā māṁ kuruṣva

Are you angry, O Primeval One, with the daughter of the Ocean? Why do you look upon her now, bereft of her Lord? Any fault born from your own portion is surely to be forgiven by you; raise him up again, and make me joyful.

Verse 67 (devibhagavatam.1.5.67)

एते सुरास्त्वां सततं नमन्ति कार्येषु मुख्याः प्रथितप्रभावाः । शोकार्णवात्तारय देवि देवा\- नुत्थाप्य देवं सकलाधिनाथम् ॥ 5.67 ॥

ete surāstvāṁ satataṁ namanti kāryeṣu mukhyāḥ prathitaprabhāvāḥ śokārṇavāttāraya devi devā\- nutthāpya devaṁ sakalādhinātham

These gods here ever bow to you, foremost in their tasks, of renowned power; O Devi, deliver the gods from this ocean of grief by raising up the god, the lord of all.

Verse 68 (devibhagavatam.1.5.68)

मूर्धा गतः क्वाम्ब हरेर्न विद्मो नान्योऽस्त्युपायः खलु जीवनेऽद्य । यथा सुधा जीवनकर्मदक्षा तथा जगज्जीवितदासि देवि ॥ 5.68 ॥

mūrdhā gataḥ kvāmba harerna vidmo nānyo'styupāyaḥ khalu jīvane'dya yathā sudhā jīvanakarmadakṣā tathā jagajjīvitadāsi devi

Where has Hari's head gone, O mother? We do not know; indeed there is no other means for his life today. Just as nectar is skilled at the work of giving life, so are you, O Devi, the giver of life to the whole world.

Verse 69 (devibhagavatam.1.5.69)

सूत उवाच । एवं स्तुता तदा देवी गुणातीता महेश्वरी । प्रसन्ना परमा माया वेदैः साङ्गैश्च सामगैः ॥ 5.69 ॥

sūta uvāca evaṁ stutā tadā devī guṇātītā maheśvarī prasannā paramā māyā vedaiḥ sāṅgaiśca sāmagaiḥ

Suta said: Thus praised by the Vedas, together with their limbs and the Sama-chanters, the Devi, who is beyond the gunas, the great goddess, the supreme Maya, then became pleased.

Verse 70 (devibhagavatam.1.5.70)

तानुवाच तदा वाणी चाकाशस्थाशरीरिणी । देवान्प्रति सुखैः शब्दैर्जनानन्दकरी शुभा ॥ 5.70 ॥

tānuvāca tadā vāṇī cākāśasthāśarīriṇī devānprati sukhaiḥ śabdairjanānandakarī śubhā

Then a voice, bodiless, sounded from the sky, auspicious and delighting all who heard it, and spoke to the gods with pleasing words:

Verse 71 (devibhagavatam.1.5.71)

मा कुरुध्वं सुराश्चिन्तां स्वस्थास्तिष्ठन्तु चामराः । स्तुताहं निगमैः कामं सन्तुष्टास्मि न संशयः ॥ 5.71 ॥

mā kurudhvaṁ surāścintāṁ svasthāstiṣṭhantu cāmarāḥ stutāhaṁ nigamaiḥ kāmaṁ santuṣṭāsmi na saṁśayaḥ

'Do not be anxious, O gods; let the immortals stand at ease. I have indeed been praised well by the Vedas; I am pleased, without doubt.'

Verse 72 (devibhagavatam.1.5.72)

यः पुमान्मानुषे लोके स्तौत्येतां मामकीं स्तुतिम् । पतिष्यति सदा भक्त्या सर्वान्कामानवाप्नुयात् ॥ 5.72 ॥

yaḥ pumānmānuṣe loke stautyetāṁ māmakīṁ stutim patiṣyati sadā bhaktyā sarvānkāmānavāpnuyāt

'Whatever man in the human world recites this hymn of mine, reading it ever with devotion, shall obtain all his desires.'

Verse 73 (devibhagavatam.1.5.73)

शृणोति वा स्तोत्रमिदं मदीयं भक्त्या त्रिकालं सततं नरो यः । विमुक्तदुःखः स भवेत्सुखी च वेदोक्तमेतन्ननु वेदतुल्यम् ॥ 5.73 ॥

śṛṇoti vā stotramidaṁ madīyaṁ bhaktyā trikālaṁ satataṁ naro yaḥ vimuktaduḥkhaḥ sa bhavetsukhī ca vedoktametannanu vedatulyam

'Or the man who constantly listens with devotion to this hymn of mine, at the three daily junctures, shall become free from sorrow and happy — this is declared in the Veda, and is indeed equal to the Veda.'

Verse 74 (devibhagavatam.1.5.74)

शृण्वन्तु कारणं चाद्य यद्गतं वदनं हरेः । अकारणं कथं कार्यं संसारेऽत्र भविष्यति ॥ 5.74 ॥

śṛṇvantu kāraṇaṁ cādya yadgataṁ vadanaṁ hareḥ akāraṇaṁ kathaṁ kāryaṁ saṁsāre'tra bhaviṣyati

'Now hear, too, the true cause of why Hari's head departed — for how could any effect in this world occur without a cause?'

Verse 75 (devibhagavatam.1.5.75)

उदधेस्तनयां विष्णुः संस्थितामन्तिके प्रियाम् । जहास वदनं वीक्ष्य तस्यास्तत्र मनोरमम् ॥ 5.75 ॥

udadhestanayāṁ viṣṇuḥ saṁsthitāmantike priyām jahāsa vadanaṁ vīkṣya tasyāstatra manoramam

Vishnu, seeing the lovely face of the daughter of the Ocean, his beloved, seated close beside him, laughed.

Verse 76 (devibhagavatam.1.5.76)

तया ज्ञातं हरिर्नूनं कथं मां हसति प्रभुः । विरूपं हरिणा दृष्टं मुखं मे केन हेतुना ॥ 5.76 ॥

tayā jñātaṁ harirnūnaṁ kathaṁ māṁ hasati prabhuḥ virūpaṁ hariṇā dṛṣṭaṁ mukhaṁ me kena hetunā

She thought: 'Surely the Lord Hari is laughing at me — for what reason? Has Hari seen some deformity in my face?'

Verse 77 (devibhagavatam.1.5.77)

विनापि कारणेनाद्य कथं हास्यस्य सम्भवः । सपत्नीव कृता तेन मन्येऽन्या वरवर्णिनी ॥ 5.77 ॥

vināpi kāraṇenādya kathaṁ hāsyasya sambhavaḥ sapatnīva kṛtā tena manye'nyā varavarṇinī

'How can there be laughter today without any cause at all? I think he must have made some other fair-complexioned woman my rival.'

Verse 78 (devibhagavatam.1.5.78)

ततः कोपयुता जाता महालक्ष्मी तमोगुणा । तामसी तु तदा शक्तिस्तस्या देहे समाविशत् ॥ 5.78 ॥

tataḥ kopayutā jātā mahālakṣmī tamoguṇā tāmasī tu tadā śaktistasyā dehe samāviśat

Then Mahalakshmi became filled with anger, overtaken by the quality of tamas; the tamasic Shakti then entered into her body.

Verse 79 (devibhagavatam.1.5.79)

केनचित्कालयोगेन देवकार्यार्थसिद्धये । प्रविष्टा तामसी शक्तिस्तस्या देहेऽतिदारुणा ॥ 5.79 ॥

kenacitkālayogena devakāryārthasiddhaye praviṣṭā tāmasī śaktistasyā dehe'tidāruṇā

By some turn of time, for the accomplishment of the gods' purpose, that most terrible tamasic Shakti entered into her body.

Verse 80 (devibhagavatam.1.5.80)

तामस्याविष्टदेहा सा चुकोपातिशयं तदा । शनकैः समुवाचेदमिदं पततु ते शिरः ॥ 5.80 ॥

tāmasyāviṣṭadehā sā cukopātiśayaṁ tadā śanakaiḥ samuvācedamidaṁ patatu te śiraḥ

Her body possessed by the tamasic power, she grew exceedingly angry, and slowly spoke these words: 'Let your head fall!'

Verse 81 (devibhagavatam.1.5.81)

स्त्रीस्वभावाच्च भावित्वात्कालयोगाद्विनिर्गतः । अविचार्य तदा दत्तः शापः स्वसुखनाशनः ॥ 5.81 ॥

strīsvabhāvācca bhāvitvātkālayogādvinirgataḥ avicārya tadā dattaḥ śāpaḥ svasukhanāśanaḥ

Owing to woman's nature, and by the working of that time, the curse, destructive of her own happiness, was uttered then without reflection.

Verse 82 (devibhagavatam.1.5.82)

सपत्नीसम्भवं दुःखं वैधव्यादधिकं त्विति । विचिन्त्य मनसेत्युक्तं तामसीशक्तियोगतः ॥ 5.82 ॥

sapatnīsambhavaṁ duḥkhaṁ vaidhavyādadhikaṁ tviti vicintya manasetyuktaṁ tāmasīśaktiyogataḥ

Thinking in her mind, 'The sorrow born of a rival wife is worse even than widowhood,' she spoke thus, under the sway of the tamasic Shakti.

Verse 83 (devibhagavatam.1.5.83)

अनृतं साहसं माया मूर्खत्वमतिलोभता । अशौचं निर्दयत्वं च स्त्रीणां दोषाः स्वभावजाः ॥ 5.83 ॥

anṛtaṁ sāhasaṁ māyā mūrkhatvamatilobhatā aśaucaṁ nirdayatvaṁ ca strīṇāṁ doṣāḥ svabhāvajāḥ

Falsehood, rashness, deceit, foolishness, excessive greed, impurity, and mercilessness — these are faults born naturally in women.

Verse 84 (devibhagavatam.1.5.84)

सशीर्षं वासुदेवं तं करोम्यद्य यथा पुरा । शिरोऽस्य शापयोगेन निमग्नं लवणाम्बुधौ ॥ 5.84 ॥

saśīrṣaṁ vāsudevaṁ taṁ karomyadya yathā purā śiro'sya śāpayogena nimagnaṁ lavaṇāmbudhau

'I shall make Vasudeva headed again, just as he was before' — so she thought, even as his head, through the power of the curse, had already sunk into the salt ocean.

Verse 85 (devibhagavatam.1.5.85)

अन्यच्च कारणं किञ्चिद्वर्तते सुरसत्तमाः । भवतां च महत्कार्यं भविष्यति न संशयः ॥ 5.85 ॥

anyacca kāraṇaṁ kiñcidvartate surasattamāḥ bhavatāṁ ca mahatkāryaṁ bhaviṣyati na saṁśayaḥ

There is, moreover, O best of gods, yet another cause at work here; and your great task shall indeed be accomplished, without doubt.

Verse 86 (devibhagavatam.1.5.86)

पुरा दैत्यो महाबाहुर्हयग्रीवोऽतिविश्रुतः । तपश्चक्रे सरस्वत्यास्तीरे परमदारुणम् ॥ 5.86 ॥

purā daityo mahābāhurhayagrīvo'tiviśrutaḥ tapaścakre sarasvatyāstīre paramadāruṇam

Long ago there was a mighty-armed daitya, greatly renowned, named Hayagriva, who performed the most severe austerity on the bank of the Sarasvati.

Verse 87 (devibhagavatam.1.5.87)

जपन्नेकाक्षरं मन्त्रं मायाबीजात्मकं मम । निराहारो जितात्मा च सर्वभोगविवर्जितः ॥ 5.87 ॥

japannekākṣaraṁ mantraṁ māyābījātmakaṁ mama nirāhāro jitātmā ca sarvabhogavivarjitaḥ

He recited the one-syllabled mantra, my own seed-syllable of Maya, taking no food, self-controlled, and forsaking every pleasure.

Verse 88 (devibhagavatam.1.5.88)

ध्यायन्मां तामसीं शक्तिं सर्वभूषणभूषिताम् । एवं वर्षसहस्रं च तपश्चक्रेऽतिदारुणम् ॥ 5.88 ॥

dhyāyanmāṁ tāmasīṁ śaktiṁ sarvabhūṣaṇabhūṣitām evaṁ varṣasahasraṁ ca tapaścakre'tidāruṇam

Meditating on me, the tamasic Shakti, adorned with every ornament, he thus performed the most terrible austerity for a thousand years.

Verse 89 (devibhagavatam.1.5.89)

तदाहं तामसं रूपं कृत्वा तत्र समागता । दर्शने पुरतस्तस्य ध्यातं तत्तेन यादृशम् ॥ 5.89 ॥

tadāhaṁ tāmasaṁ rūpaṁ kṛtvā tatra samāgatā darśane puratastasya dhyātaṁ tattena yādṛśam

Then I, taking a tamasic form, came there, appearing before him in the very form in which he had meditated upon me.

Verse 90 (devibhagavatam.1.5.90)

सिंहोपरि स्थिता तत्र तमवोचं दयान्विता । वरं ब्रूहि महाभाग ददामि तव सुव्रत ॥ 5.90 ॥

siṁhopari sthitā tatra tamavocaṁ dayānvitā varaṁ brūhi mahābhāga dadāmi tava suvrata

Seated there upon a lion, filled with compassion, I said to him: 'Ask your boon, O greatly fortunate one; I grant it to you, O one of noble vow.'

Verse 91 (devibhagavatam.1.5.91)

इति श्रुत्वा वचो देव्या दानवः प्रेमपूरितः । प्रदक्षिणां प्रणामं च चकार त्वरितस्तदा ॥ 5.91 ॥

iti śrutvā vaco devyā dānavaḥ premapūritaḥ pradakṣiṇāṁ praṇāmaṁ ca cakāra tvaritastadā

Hearing these words of the Devi, the danava, filled with love, at once quickly circumambulated her and bowed down.

Verse 92 (devibhagavatam.1.5.92)

दृष्ट्वा रूपं मदीयं स प्रेमोस्फुल्लविलोचनः । हर्षाश्रुपूर्णनयनस्तुष्टाव स च मां तदा ॥ 5.92 ॥

dṛṣṭvā rūpaṁ madīyaṁ sa premosphullavilocanaḥ harṣāśrupūrṇanayanastuṣṭāva sa ca māṁ tadā

Seeing my form, his eyes wide with love, filled with tears of joy, he then praised me.

Verse 93 (devibhagavatam.1.5.93)

हयग्रीव उवाच । नमो देव्यै महामाये सृष्टिस्थित्यन्तकारिणि । भक्तानुग्रहचतुरे कामदे मोक्षदे शिवे ॥ 5.93 ॥

hayagrīva uvāca namo devyai mahāmāye sṛṣṭisthityantakāriṇi bhaktānugrahacature kāmade mokṣade śive

Hayagriva said: Salutations to the Devi Mahamaya, the cause of creation, preservation, and dissolution; skilled in showing grace to devotees, giver of desire and of liberation, auspicious one.

Verse 94 (devibhagavatam.1.5.94)

धराम्बुतेजःपवनखपञ्चानां च कारणम् । त्वं गन्धरसरूपाणां कारणं स्पर्शशब्दयोः ॥ 5.94 ॥

dharāmbutejaḥpavanakhapañcānāṁ ca kāraṇam tvaṁ gandharasarūpāṇāṁ kāraṇaṁ sparśaśabdayoḥ

You are the cause of the five elements — earth, water, fire, wind, and ether; you are the cause of smell, taste, and form, and of touch and sound.

Verse 95 (devibhagavatam.1.5.95)

घ्राणं च रसना चक्षुस्त्वक्श्रोत्रमिन्द्रियाणि च । कर्मेन्द्रियाणि चान्यानि त्वत्तः सर्वं महेश्वरि ॥ 5.95 ॥

ghrāṇaṁ ca rasanā cakṣustvakśrotramindriyāṇi ca karmendriyāṇi cānyāni tvattaḥ sarvaṁ maheśvari

Smell, taste, sight, touch, and hearing — the sense-organs — and the other organs of action too — from you comes all of this, O great goddess.

Verse 96 (devibhagavatam.1.5.96)

देव्युवाच । किं तेऽभीष्टं वरं ब्रूहि वाञ्छितं यद्ददामि तत् । परितुष्टास्मि भक्त्या ते तपसा चाद्भुतेन च ॥ 5.96 ॥

devyuvāca kiṁ te'bhīṣṭaṁ varaṁ brūhi vāñchitaṁ yaddadāmi tat parituṣṭāsmi bhaktyā te tapasā cādbhutena ca

The Devi said: Tell me what boon you desire; I shall grant whatever you wish. I am well pleased by your devotion and your wondrous austerity.

Verse 97 (devibhagavatam.1.5.97)

हयग्रीव उवाच । यथा मे मरणं मातर्न भवेत्तत्तथा कुरु । भवेयममरो योगी तथाजेयः सुरासुरैः ॥ 5.97 ॥

hayagrīva uvāca yathā me maraṇaṁ mātarna bhavettattathā kuru bhaveyamamaro yogī tathājeyaḥ surāsuraiḥ

Hayagriva said: Grant, O mother, that I shall not die; make it so that I become immortal, a yogi, and thus unconquerable by gods and demons alike.

Verse 98 (devibhagavatam.1.5.98)

देव्युवाच । जातस्य हि ध्रुवं मृत्युर्ध्रुवं जन्म मृतस्य च । मर्यादा चेदृशी लोके भवेच्च कथमन्यथा ॥ 5.98 ॥

devyuvāca jātasya hi dhruvaṁ mṛtyurdhruvaṁ janma mṛtasya ca maryādā cedṛśī loke bhavecca kathamanyathā

The Devi said: For one who is born, death is certain; and for one who dies, birth again is certain. Such is the fixed law in this world — how could it be otherwise?

Verse 99 (devibhagavatam.1.5.99)

एवं त्वं निश्चयं कृत्वा मरणे राक्षसोत्तम । वरं वरय चेष्टं ते विचार्य मनसा किल ॥ 5.99 ॥

evaṁ tvaṁ niścayaṁ kṛtvā maraṇe rākṣasottama varaṁ varaya ceṣṭaṁ te vicārya manasā kila

Bearing this in mind, O best of rakshasas, choose your desired boon regarding your death, having truly reflected upon it well.

Verse 100 (devibhagavatam.1.5.100)

हयग्रीव उवाच । हयग्रीवाच्च मे मृत्युर्नान्यस्माज्जगदम्बिके । इति मे वाञ्छितं कामं पूरयस्व मनोगतम् ॥ 5.100 ॥

hayagrīva uvāca hayagrīvācca me mṛtyurnānyasmājjagadambike iti me vāñchitaṁ kāmaṁ pūrayasva manogatam

Hayagriva said: Let my death come from none other than one named Hayagriva, O mother of the world; fulfill this desire that is in my heart.

Verse 101 (devibhagavatam.1.5.101)

देव्युवाच । गृहं गच्छ महाभाग कुरु राज्यं यथासुखम् । हयग्रीवादृते मृत्युर्न ते नूनं भविष्यति ॥ 5.101 ॥

devyuvāca gṛhaṁ gaccha mahābhāga kuru rājyaṁ yathāsukham hayagrīvādṛte mṛtyurna te nūnaṁ bhaviṣyati

The Devi said: Go home, O greatly fortunate one, and rule your kingdom as you please; death shall surely not come to you except from one named Hayagriva.

Verse 102 (devibhagavatam.1.5.102)

इति दत्त्वा वरं तस्मा अन्तर्धानं गता तथा । मुदं परमिकां प्राप्य सोऽपि स्वभवनं गतः ॥ 5.102 ॥

iti dattvā varaṁ tasmā antardhānaṁ gatā tathā mudaṁ paramikāṁ prāpya so'pi svabhavanaṁ gataḥ

Having thus granted him the boon, she then vanished from sight; and he too, having attained the greatest joy, went to his own abode.

Verse 103 (devibhagavatam.1.5.103)

स पीडयति दुष्टात्मा मुनीन् वेदांश्च सर्वशः । न कोऽपि विद्यते तस्य हन्ताद्य भुवनत्रये ॥ 5.103 ॥

sa pīḍayati duṣṭātmā munīn vedāṁśca sarvaśaḥ na ko'pi vidyate tasya hantādya bhuvanatraye

That evil-souled one now oppresses the sages and the Vedas in every way; there exists today no one at all in the three worlds able to slay him.

Verse 104 (devibhagavatam.1.5.104)

तस्माच्छीर्षं हयस्यास्य समुद्धृत्य मनोहरम् । देहेऽत्र विशिरोविष्णोस्त्वष्टा संयोजयिष्यति ॥ 5.104 ॥

tasmācchīrṣaṁ hayasyāsya samuddhṛtya manoharam dehe'tra viśiroviṣṇostvaṣṭā saṁyojayiṣyati

Therefore, taking the lovely head of this horse, Tvashtri shall join it to this headless body of Vishnu here.

Verse 105 (devibhagavatam.1.5.105)

हयग्रीवोऽथ भगवान्हनिष्यति तमासुरम् । पापिष्ठं दानवं क्रूरं देवानां हितकाम्यया ॥ 5.105 ॥

hayagrīvo'tha bhagavānhaniṣyati tamāsuram pāpiṣṭhaṁ dānavaṁ krūraṁ devānāṁ hitakāmyayā

Then the Lord Hayagriva shall slay that asura — the most sinful and cruel danava — for the welfare of the gods.

Verse 106 (devibhagavatam.1.5.106)

सूत उवाच । एवं सुरांस्तदाभाष्य शर्वाणी विरराम ह । देवास्तदातिसन्तुष्टास्तमूचुर्देवशिल्पिनम् ॥ 5.106 ॥

sūta uvāca evaṁ surāṁstadābhāṣya śarvāṇī virarāma ha devāstadātisantuṣṭāstamūcurdevaśilpinam

Suta said: Having thus spoken to the gods, Sharvani then fell silent; the gods, greatly pleased, then spoke to the divine craftsman.

Verse 107 (devibhagavatam.1.5.107)

देवा ऊचुः । कुरु कार्यं सुराणां वै विष्णोः शीर्षाभियोजनम् । दानवप्रवरं दैत्यं हयग्रीवो हनिष्यति ॥ 5.107 ॥

devā ūcuḥ kuru kāryaṁ surāṇāṁ vai viṣṇoḥ śīrṣābhiyojanam dānavapravaraṁ daityaṁ hayagrīvo haniṣyati

The gods said: Perform this task for the gods — the joining of a head to Vishnu; then Hayagriva shall slay the foremost of danavas, the daitya.

Verse 108 (devibhagavatam.1.5.108)

सूत उवाच । इति श्रुत्वा वचस्तेषां त्वष्टा चातित्वरान्वितः । वाजिशीर्षं चकर्ताशु खड्गेन सुरसन्निधौ ॥ 5.108 ॥

sūta uvāca iti śrutvā vacasteṣāṁ tvaṣṭā cātitvarānvitaḥ vājiśīrṣaṁ cakartāśu khaḍgena surasannidhau

Suta said: Hearing their words, Tvashtri, in great haste, at once cut off a horse's head with his sword, in the presence of the gods.

Verse 109 (devibhagavatam.1.5.109)

विष्णोः शरीरे तेनाशु योजितं वाजिमस्तकम् । हयग्रीवो हरिर्जातो महामायाप्रसादतः ॥ 5.109 ॥

viṣṇoḥ śarīre tenāśu yojitaṁ vājimastakam hayagrīvo harirjāto mahāmāyāprasādataḥ

That horse's head was then swiftly joined by him to Vishnu's body; and Hari became Hayagriva, by the grace of Mahamaya.

Verse 110 (devibhagavatam.1.5.110)

कियता तेन कालेन दानवो मददर्पितः । निहतस्तरसा सङ्ख्ये देवानां रिपुरोजसा ॥ 5.110 ॥

kiyatā tena kālena dānavo madadarpitaḥ nihatastarasā saṅkhye devānāṁ ripurojasā

After some time, that danava, puffed up with pride, the enemy of the gods, was swiftly slain in battle by that mighty power.

Verse 111 (devibhagavatam.1.5.111)

य इदं शुभमाख्यानं शृण्वन्ति भुवि मानवाः । सर्वदुःखविनिर्मुक्तास्ते भवन्ति न संशयः ॥ 5.111 ॥

ya idaṁ śubhamākhyānaṁ śṛṇvanti bhuvi mānavāḥ sarvaduḥkhavinirmuktāste bhavanti na saṁśayaḥ

Those men on this earth who listen to this auspicious tale become freed from all sorrow, without doubt.

Verse 112 (devibhagavatam.1.5.112)

महामायाचरित्रञ्च पवित्रं पापनाशनम् । पठतां शृण्वतां चैव सर्वसम्पत्तिकारकम् ॥ 5.112 ॥

mahāmāyācaritrañca pavitraṁ pāpanāśanam paṭhatāṁ śṛṇvatāṁ caiva sarvasampattikārakam

This account of the deeds of Mahamaya is sacred and destroys sin; for those who recite or hear it, it brings every kind of prosperity.