The Question on Gayatri

Verse 1 (devibhagavatam.12.1.1)

नारद उवाच । सदाचारविधिर्देव भवता वर्णितः प्रभो । तस्याप्यतुलमाहात्म्यं सर्वपापविनाशनम्

nārada uvāca sadācāravidhirdeva bhavatā varṇitaḥ prabho tasyāpyatulamāhātmyaṁ sarvapāpavināśanam

Narada said: O Lord, O God! You have described to me the rule of right conduct (sadāchāra); now tell me also its incomparable greatness, which destroys all sin.

Verse 2 (devibhagavatam.12.1.2)

श्रुतं भवन्मुखाम्भोजच्युतं देवीकथामृतम् । व्रतानि यानि चोक्तानि चान्द्रायणमुखानि ते

śrutaṁ bhavanmukhāmbhojacyutaṁ devīkathāmṛtam vratāni yāni coktāni cāndrāyaṇamukhāni te

I have heard the nectar of the Devi's story that has fallen from your lotus mouth, and the vows beginning with the Chandrayana that you have spoken of.

Verse 3 (devibhagavatam.12.1.3)

दुःखसाध्यानि जानीमः कर्तृसाध्यानि तानि च । तदस्मात्साम्प्रतं यत्तु सुखसाध्यं शरीरिणाम्

duḥkhasādhyāni jānīmaḥ kartṛsādhyāni tāni ca tadasmātsāmprataṁ yattu sukhasādhyaṁ śarīriṇām

We know that those vows are hard to accomplish and depend on the doer's strength; therefore now tell me that which can be easily accomplished by embodied beings.

Verse 4 (devibhagavatam.12.1.4)

देवीप्रसादजनकं शुभानुष्ठानसिद्धिदम् । तत्कर्म वद मे स्वामिन् कृपापूर्वं सुरेश्वर

devīprasādajanakaṁ śubhānuṣṭhānasiddhidam tatkarma vada me svāmin kṛpāpūrvaṁ sureśvara

O Lord, O Ruler of the gods, tell me out of compassion of that act which brings about the Devi's grace and grants success in auspicious observances.

Verse 5 (devibhagavatam.12.1.5)

सदाचारविधौ यश्च गायत्रीविधिरीरितः । तस्मिन्मुख्यतमं किं स्यात्किं वा पुण्याधिकप्रदम्

sadācāravidhau yaśca gāyatrīvidhirīritaḥ tasminmukhyatamaṁ kiṁ syātkiṁ vā puṇyādhikapradam

And in the rule of right conduct, the procedure of Gayatri has been declared; what within it is most essential, and what confers the greater merit?

Verse 6 (devibhagavatam.12.1.6)

ये गायत्रीगता वर्णास्तत्त्वसङ्ख्यास्त्वयेरिताः । तेषां के ऋषयः प्रोक्ताः कानि छन्दांसि वै मुने

ye gāyatrīgatā varṇāstattvasaṅkhyāstvayeritāḥ teṣāṁ ke ṛṣayaḥ proktāḥ kāni chandāṁsi vai mune

The syllables contained in the Gayatri, whose number you have declared equal to the twenty-four principles (tattvas) — O sage, what sages have been said to preside over them, and what are their meters?

Verse 7 (devibhagavatam.12.1.7)

तेषां का देवताः प्रोक्ताः सर्वं कथय मे प्रभो । महत्कौतूहलं मे च मानसे परिवर्तते

teṣāṁ kā devatāḥ proktāḥ sarvaṁ kathaya me prabho mahatkautūhalaṁ me ca mānase parivartate

O Lord, what deities have been said to preside over them — tell me all of this; a great curiosity is stirring in my mind.

Verse 8 (devibhagavatam.12.1.8)

श्रीनारायणाय उवाच । कुर्यादन्यन्न वा कुर्यादनुष्ठानादिकं तथा । गायत्रीमात्रनिष्ठस्तु कृतकृत्यो भवेद्द्विजः

śrīnārāyaṇāya uvāca kuryādanyanna vā kuryādanuṣṭhānādikaṁ tathā gāyatrīmātraniṣṭhastu kṛtakṛtyo bhaveddvijaḥ

Shri Narayana said: Whether he performs other observances or not, the twice-born who is devoted to Gayatri alone becomes one who has fulfilled all that is to be done.

Verse 9 (devibhagavatam.12.1.9)

सन्ध्यासु चार्घ्यदानं च गायत्रीजपमेव च । सहस्रत्रितयं कुर्वन्सुरैः पूज्यो भवेन्मुने

sandhyāsu cārghyadānaṁ ca gāyatrījapameva ca sahasratritayaṁ kurvansuraiḥ pūjyo bhavenmune

He who, at the three sandhyas, offers arghya and recites the Gayatri, completing three thousand repetitions in all, O sage, becomes worthy of worship even by the gods.

Verse 10 (devibhagavatam.12.1.10)

न्यासान्करोतु वा मा वा गायत्रीमेव चाभ्यसेत् । ध्यात्वा निर्व्याजया वृत्त्या सच्चिदानन्दरूपिणीम्

nyāsānkarotu vā mā vā gāyatrīmeva cābhyaset dhyātvā nirvyājayā vṛttyā saccidānandarūpiṇīm

Whether he performs the nyāsas or not, let him simply practice the Gayatri alone, meditating without pretense upon her whose nature is being-consciousness-bliss.

Verse 11 (devibhagavatam.12.1.11)

यदक्षरैकसंसिद्धेः स्पर्धते ब्राह्मणोत्तमः । हरिशङ्करकञ्जोत्थसूर्यचन्द्रहुताशनैः

yadakṣaraikasaṁsiddheḥ spardhate brāhmaṇottamaḥ hariśaṅkarakañjotthasūryacandrahutāśanaiḥ

By perfection in even a single syllable of it, the best of Brahmins becomes able to rival Hari, Shankara, the lotus-born Brahma, the Sun, the Moon, and Fire.

Verse 12 (devibhagavatam.12.1.12)

अथातः श्रूयतां ब्रह्मन् वर्णऋष्यादिकांस्तथा । छन्दांसि देवतास्तद्वत्क्रमात्तत्त्वानि चैव हि

athātaḥ śrūyatāṁ brahman varṇaṛṣyādikāṁstathā chandāṁsi devatāstadvatkramāttattvāni caiva hi

Now therefore, O Brahmin, hear in order the syllables together with their sages, and likewise their meters, deities, and governing principles.

Verse 13 (devibhagavatam.12.1.13)

वामदेवोऽत्रिर्वसिष्ठः शुक्रः कण्वः पराशरः । विश्वामित्रो महातेजाः कपिलः शौनको महान्

vāmadevo'trirvasiṣṭhaḥ śukraḥ kaṇvaḥ parāśaraḥ viśvāmitro mahātejāḥ kapilaḥ śaunako mahān

Vamadeva, Atri, Vasishtha, Shukra, Kanva, Parashara, the greatly radiant Vishvamitra, Kapila, and the great Shaunaka —

Verse 14 (devibhagavatam.12.1.14)

याज्ञवल्क्यो भरद्वाजो जमदग्निस्तपोनिधिः । गौतमो मुद्गलश्चैव वेदव्यासश्च लोमशः

yājñavalkyo bharadvājo jamadagnistaponidhiḥ gautamo mudgalaścaiva vedavyāsaśca lomaśaḥ

Yajnavalkya, Bharadvaja, Jamadagni the treasury of austerity, Gautama, Mudgala, Vedavyasa, and Lomasha —

Verse 15 (devibhagavatam.12.1.15)

अगस्त्यः कौशिको वत्सः पुलस्त्यो माण्डुकस्तथा । दुर्वासास्तपसां श्रेष्ठो नारदः कश्यपस्तथा

agastyaḥ kauśiko vatsaḥ pulastyo māṇḍukastathā durvāsāstapasāṁ śreṣṭho nāradaḥ kaśyapastathā

Agastya, Kaushika, Vatsa, Pulastya, and likewise Manduka, Durvasa the foremost among ascetics, Narada, and Kashyapa —

Verse 16 (devibhagavatam.12.1.16)

इत्येते ऋषयः प्रोक्ता वर्णानां क्रमशो मुने । गायत्र्युष्णिगनुष्टुप् च बृहती पङ्क्तिरेव च

ityete ṛṣayaḥ proktā varṇānāṁ kramaśo mune gāyatryuṣṇiganuṣṭup ca bṛhatī paṅktireva ca

These, O sage, have been declared in order as the sages of the syllables. Now hear the meters: Gayatri, Ushnik, Anushtup, Brihati, and Pankti,

Verse 17 (devibhagavatam.12.1.17)

त्रिष्टुभं जगती चैव तथातिजगती मता । शक्वर्यतिशक्वरी च धृतिश्चातिधृतिस्तथा

triṣṭubhaṁ jagatī caiva tathātijagatī matā śakvaryatiśakvarī ca dhṛtiścātidhṛtistathā

Trishtubh, Jagati, and likewise Atijagati is regarded as a meter; Shakvari, Atishakvari, Dhriti, and likewise Atidhriti,

Verse 18 (devibhagavatam.12.1.18)

विराट्प्रस्तारपङ्क्तिश्च कृतिः प्रकृतिराकृतिः । विकृतिः सकृतिश्चैवाक्षरपङ्क्तिस्तथैव च

virāṭprastārapaṅktiśca kṛtiḥ prakṛtirākṛtiḥ vikṛtiḥ sakṛtiścaivākṣarapaṅktistathaiva ca

Virat, Prastarapankti, Kriti, Prakriti, Akriti, Vikriti, and likewise Sakriti, and also Aksharapankti —

Verse 19 (devibhagavatam.12.1.19)

भूर्भुवः स्वरितिच्छन्दस्तथा ज्योतिष्मती स्मृतम् । इत्येतानि च छन्दांसि कीर्तितानि महामुने

bhūrbhuvaḥ svariticchandastathā jyotiṣmatī smṛtam ityetāni ca chandāṁsi kīrtitāni mahāmune

The meter called Bhur-bhuvah-svar, and likewise Jyotishmati, is remembered — these, O great sage, are the meters that have been proclaimed.

Verse 20 (devibhagavatam.12.1.20)

दैवतानि शृणु प्राज्ञ तेषामेवानुपूर्वशः । आग्नेयं प्रथमं प्रोक्तं प्राजापत्यं द्वितीयकम्

daivatāni śṛṇu prājña teṣāmevānupūrvaśaḥ āgneyaṁ prathamaṁ proktaṁ prājāpatyaṁ dvitīyakam

Now hear, O wise one, the deities of these same syllables in their proper order: the first is declared to be Agni's, the second is Prajapatya,

Verse 21 (devibhagavatam.12.1.21)

तृतीयं च तथा सौम्यमीशानं च चतुर्थकम् । सावित्रं पञ्चमं प्रोक्तं षष्ठमादित्यदैवतम्

tṛtīyaṁ ca tathā saumyamīśānaṁ ca caturthakam sāvitraṁ pañcamaṁ proktaṁ ṣaṣṭhamādityadaivatam

the third is likewise Saumya, and the fourth is Ishana's; the fifth is declared to be Savitra's, and the sixth has Aditya as its deity,

Verse 22 (devibhagavatam.12.1.22)

बार्हस्पत्यं सप्तमं तु मैत्रावरुणमष्टमम् । नवमं भगदैवत्यं दशमं चार्यमेश्वरम्

bārhaspatyaṁ saptamaṁ tu maitrāvaruṇamaṣṭamam navamaṁ bhagadaivatyaṁ daśamaṁ cāryameśvaram

the seventh is Barhaspatya, the eighth is Maitravaruna; the ninth has Bhaga as its deity, and the tenth belongs to Aryaman,

Verse 23 (devibhagavatam.12.1.23)

गणेशमेकादशकं त्वाष्ट्रं द्वादशकं स्मृतम् । पौष्णं त्रयोदशं प्रोक्तमैन्द्राग्नं च चतुर्दशम्

gaṇeśamekādaśakaṁ tvāṣṭraṁ dvādaśakaṁ smṛtam pauṣṇaṁ trayodaśaṁ proktamaindrāgnaṁ ca caturdaśam

the eleventh is remembered as Ganesha's, the twelfth as Tvashtra's; the thirteenth is declared to be Paushna's, and the fourteenth is Aindragna,

Verse 24 (devibhagavatam.12.1.24)

वायव्यं पञ्चदशकं वामदैव्यं च षोडशम् । मैत्रावरुणिदैवत्यं प्रोक्तं सप्तदशाक्षरम्

vāyavyaṁ pañcadaśakaṁ vāmadaivyaṁ ca ṣoḍaśam maitrāvaruṇidaivatyaṁ proktaṁ saptadaśākṣaram

the fifteenth is Vayavya, and the sixteenth is Vamadaivya; the seventeenth syllable is declared to have Maitravaruni as its deity,

Verse 25 (devibhagavatam.12.1.25)

अष्टादशं वैश्वदेवमूनविंशं तु मातृकम् । वैष्णवं विंशतितमं वसुदैवतमीरितम्

aṣṭādaśaṁ vaiśvadevamūnaviṁśaṁ tu mātṛkam vaiṣṇavaṁ viṁśatitamaṁ vasudaivatamīritam

the eighteenth is Vaishvadeva, and the nineteenth is Matrika's; the twentieth is declared to be Vaishnava, the deity of the Vasus.

Verse 26 (devibhagavatam.12.1.26)

एकविंशतिसङ्ख्याकं द्वाविंशं रुद्रदैवतम् । त्रयोविंशं च कौबेरमाश्विनं तत्त्वसङ्ख्यकम्

ekaviṁśatisaṅkhyākaṁ dvāviṁśaṁ rudradaivatam trayoviṁśaṁ ca kauberamāśvinaṁ tattvasaṅkhyakam

The syllables numbered twenty-one and twenty-two both have Rudra as their deity; the twenty-third is Kaubera, of Kubera, and the twenty-fourth — completing the count of the tattvas — is Ashvin's.

Verse 27 (devibhagavatam.12.1.27)

चतुर्विंशतिवर्णानां देवतानां च सङ्ग्रहः । कथितः परमश्रेष्ठो महापापैकशोधनः । यदाकर्णनमात्रेण साङ्गं जाप्यफलं मुने

caturviṁśativarṇānāṁ devatānāṁ ca saṅgrahaḥ kathitaḥ paramaśreṣṭho mahāpāpaikaśodhanaḥ yadākarṇanamātreṇa sāṅgaṁ jāpyaphalaṁ mune

Thus, O sage, has been declared this most excellent collection of the deities of the twenty-four syllables, the sole purifier of great sins — by the mere hearing of which one obtains the full fruit of Gayatri-japa together with all its ancillary rites.