The Manifestation of the Supreme Shakti

Verse 1 (devibhagavatam.12.8.1)

जनमेजय उवाच । भगवन्सर्वधर्मज्ञ सर्वशास्त्रवतांवर । द्विजातीनां तु सर्वेषां शक्त्युपास्तिः श्रुतीरिता

janamejaya uvāca bhagavansarvadharmajña sarvaśāstravatāṁvara dvijātīnāṁ tu sarveṣāṁ śaktyupāstiḥ śrutīritā

Janamejaya said: O Lord, knower of all dharma, best among those versed in all scriptures! The Shrutis have declared that the worship of Shakti belongs to all the twice-born.

Verse 2 (devibhagavatam.12.8.2)

सन्ध्याकालत्रयेऽन्यस्मिन् काले नित्यतया विभो । तां विहाय द्विजाः कस्माद्गृह्णीयुश्चान्यदेवताः

sandhyākālatraye'nyasmin kāle nityatayā vibho tāṁ vihāya dvijāḥ kasmādgṛhṇīyuścānyadevatāḥ

O Lord, why then do the twice-born, abandoning her — who is to be worshipped daily at the three sandhya-times and at other times — take up other deities?

Verse 3 (devibhagavatam.12.8.3)

दृश्यन्ते वैष्णवाः केचिद्गाणपत्यास्तथापरे । कापालिकाश्चीनमार्गरता वल्कलधारिणः

dṛśyante vaiṣṇavāḥ kecidgāṇapatyāstathāpare kāpālikāścīnamārgaratā valkaladhāriṇaḥ

Some are seen to be Vaishnavas, others Ganapatyas, some Kapalikas devoted to the way of China, and some wearing bark garments,

Verse 4 (devibhagavatam.12.8.4)

दिगम्बरास्तथा बौद्धाश्चार्वार्का एवमादयः । दृश्यन्ते बहवो लोके वेदश्रद्धाविवर्जिताः

digambarāstathā bauddhāścārvārkā evamādayaḥ dṛśyante bahavo loke vedaśraddhāvivarjitāḥ

some Digambaras, and Buddhists and Charvakas and the like — many are seen in the world devoid of faith in the Veda.

Verse 5 (devibhagavatam.12.8.5)

किमत्र कारणं ब्रह्मंस्तद्भवान् वक्तुमर्हति । बुद्धिमन्तः पण्डिताश्च नानातर्कविचक्षणाः

kimatra kāraṇaṁ brahmaṁstadbhavān vaktumarhati buddhimantaḥ paṇḍitāśca nānātarkavicakṣaṇāḥ

O Brahmin, what is the reason for this? You are worthy to explain it. Even intelligent men, learned pundits, and those skilled in various kinds of reasoning —

Verse 6 (devibhagavatam.12.8.6)

अपि सन्त्येव वेदेषु श्रद्धया तु विवर्जिताः । न हि कश्चित्स्वकल्याणं बुद्ध्या हातुमिहेच्छति

api santyeva vedeṣu śraddhayā tu vivarjitāḥ na hi kaścitsvakalyāṇaṁ buddhyā hātumihecchati

— exist devoid of faith in the Vedas. Yet surely no one, using his intelligence, wishes to abandon his own welfare here.

Verse 7 (devibhagavatam.12.8.7)

किमत्र कारणं तस्माद्वद वेदविदांवर । मणिद्वीपस्य महिमा वर्णितो भवता पुरा

kimatra kāraṇaṁ tasmādvada vedavidāṁvara maṇidvīpasya mahimā varṇito bhavatā purā

So what is the reason for this? Tell me, O best of the knowers of the Veda. The greatness of Manidvipa was described by you before —

Verse 8 (devibhagavatam.12.8.8)

कीदृक् तदस्ति यद्देव्याः परं स्थानं महत्तरम् । तच्चापि वद भक्ताय श्रद्दधानाय मेऽनघ

kīdṛk tadasti yaddevyāḥ paraṁ sthānaṁ mahattaram taccāpi vada bhaktāya śraddadhānāya me'nagha

— what is it like, that supreme and greater abode of the Devi? O sinless one, tell that too to me, your devotee, full of faith.

Verse 9 (devibhagavatam.12.8.9)

प्रसन्नास्तु वदन्त्येव गुरवो गुह्यमप्युत । सूत उवाच । इति राज्ञो वचः श्रुत्वा भगवान् बादरायणः

prasannāstu vadantyeva guravo guhyamapyuta sūta uvāca iti rājño vacaḥ śrutvā bhagavān bādarāyaṇaḥ

Gracious teachers do speak even of what is secret. Suta said: Having heard the king's words, the blessed Badarayana —

Verse 10 (devibhagavatam.12.8.10)

निजगाद ततः सर्वं क्रमेणैव मुनीश्वराः । यच्छ्रुत्वा तु द्विजातीनां वेदश्रद्धा विवर्धते

nijagāda tataḥ sarvaṁ krameṇaiva munīśvarāḥ yacchrutvā tu dvijātīnāṁ vedaśraddhā vivardhate

— O lords of sages, then declared everything in due order, hearing which the faith of the twice-born in the Veda increases.

Verse 11 (devibhagavatam.12.8.11)

व्यास उवाच । सम्यक्पृष्टं त्वया राजन् समये समयोचितम् । वुद्धिमानसि वेदेषु श्रद्धावांश्चैव लक्ष्यसे

vyāsa uvāca samyakpṛṣṭaṁ tvayā rājan samaye samayocitam vuddhimānasi vedeṣu śraddhāvāṁścaiva lakṣyase

Vyasa said: You have asked well, O king, a question fitting for the occasion; you show yourself to be intelligent and full of faith in the Vedas.

Verse 12 (devibhagavatam.12.8.12)

पूर्वं मदोद्धता दैत्या देवैर्युद्धं तु चक्रिरे । शतवर्षं महाराज महाविस्मयकारकम्

pūrvaṁ madoddhatā daityā devairyuddhaṁ tu cakrire śatavarṣaṁ mahārāja mahāvismayakārakam

Long ago, the demons, swollen with pride, waged war against the gods, O great king, for a hundred years — a war that caused the greatest astonishment.

Verse 13 (devibhagavatam.12.8.13)

नानाशस्त्रप्रहरणं नानामायाविचित्रितम् । जगत्क्षयकरं नूनं तेषां युद्धमभून्नृप

nānāśastrapraharaṇaṁ nānāmāyāvicitritam jagatkṣayakaraṁ nūnaṁ teṣāṁ yuddhamabhūnnṛpa

With blows of many weapons, made wondrous by many magical illusions, their battle was indeed one that brought the world to the brink of destruction.

Verse 14 (devibhagavatam.12.8.14)

पराशक्तिकृपावेशाद्देवैर्दैत्या जिता युधि । भुवं स्वर्गं परित्यज्य गताः पातालवेश्मनि

parāśaktikṛpāveśāddevairdaityā jitā yudhi bhuvaṁ svargaṁ parityajya gatāḥ pātālaveśmani

By the entering-in of the Supreme Shakti's grace, the demons were conquered by the gods in battle; abandoning the earth and heaven, they went to the netherworld.

Verse 15 (devibhagavatam.12.8.15)

ततः प्रहर्षिता देवाः स्वपराक्रमवर्णनम् । चक्रुः परस्परं मोहात्साभिमानाः समन्ततः

tataḥ praharṣitā devāḥ svaparākramavarṇanam cakruḥ parasparaṁ mohātsābhimānāḥ samantataḥ

Then the gods, greatly delighted, deluded, began among themselves, full of pride, to praise their own valor on every side.

Verse 16 (devibhagavatam.12.8.16)

जयोऽस्माकं कुतो न स्यादस्माकं महिमा यतः । सर्वोत्तरः कुत्र दैत्याः पामरा निष्पराक्रमाः

jayo'smākaṁ kuto na syādasmākaṁ mahimā yataḥ sarvottaraḥ kutra daityāḥ pāmarā niṣparākramāḥ

'How could victory not be ours, seeing our own greatness? Where do the demons stand — wretched, powerless creatures?'

Verse 17 (devibhagavatam.12.8.17)

सृष्टिस्थितिक्षयकरा वयं सर्वे यशस्विनः । अस्मदग्रे पामराणां दैत्यानां चैव का कथा

sṛṣṭisthitikṣayakarā vayaṁ sarve yaśasvinaḥ asmadagre pāmarāṇāṁ daityānāṁ caiva kā kathā

'We are the makers of creation, preservation, and destruction, all of us glorious; before us, what is there even to say of the wretched demons?'

Verse 18 (devibhagavatam.12.8.18)

पराशक्तिप्रभावं ते न ज्ञात्वा मोहमागताः । तेषामनुग्रहं कर्तुं तदैव जगदम्बिका

parāśaktiprabhāvaṁ te na jñātvā mohamāgatāḥ teṣāmanugrahaṁ kartuṁ tadaiva jagadambikā

Not knowing the power of the Supreme Shakti, they fell into delusion. Then, in order to bestow her grace upon them, the Mother of the world —

Verse 19 (devibhagavatam.12.8.19)

प्रादुरासीत्कृपापूर्णा यक्षरूपेण भूमिप । कोटिसूर्यप्रतीकाशं चन्द्रकोटिसुशीतलम्

prādurāsītkṛpāpūrṇā yakṣarūpeṇa bhūmipa koṭisūryapratīkāśaṁ candrakoṭisuśītalam

— full of compassion, appeared in the form of a Yaksha, radiant like ten million suns, yet cool as ten million moons,

Verse 20 (devibhagavatam.12.8.20)

विद्युत्कोटिसमानाभं हस्तपादादिवर्जितम् । अदृष्टपूर्वं तद्दृष्ट्वा तेजः परमसुन्दरम्

vidyutkoṭisamānābhaṁ hastapādādivarjitam adṛṣṭapūrvaṁ taddṛṣṭvā tejaḥ paramasundaram

blazing like ten million flashes of lightning, yet without hands, feet, or limbs. Seeing that never-before-seen, supremely beautiful radiance,

Verse 21 (devibhagavatam.12.8.21)

सविस्मयास्तदा प्रोचुः किमिदं किमिदं त्विति । दैत्यानां चेष्टितं किं वा माया कापि महीयसी

savismayāstadā procuḥ kimidaṁ kimidaṁ tviti daityānāṁ ceṣṭitaṁ kiṁ vā māyā kāpi mahīyasī

they said in astonishment, 'What is this? What is this?' Is it some doing of the demons, or is it some great illusion,

Verse 22 (devibhagavatam.12.8.22)

केनचिन्निर्मिता वाथ देवानां स्मयकारिणी । सम्भूय ते तदा सर्वे विचारं चक्रुरुत्तमम्

kenacinnirmitā vātha devānāṁ smayakāriṇī sambhūya te tadā sarve vicāraṁ cakruruttamam

created by someone to astonish the gods?' Then, gathering together, they all deliberated carefully.

Verse 23 (devibhagavatam.12.8.23)

यक्षस्य निकटे गत्वा प्रष्टव्यं कस्त्वमित्यपि । बलाबलं ततो ज्ञात्वा कर्तव्या तु प्रतिक्रिया

yakṣasya nikaṭe gatvā praṣṭavyaṁ kastvamityapi balābalaṁ tato jñātvā kartavyā tu pratikriyā

'Someone must go near the Yaksha and ask, ’Who are you?’ Having then learned its strength or weakness, a response should be made.'

Verse 24 (devibhagavatam.12.8.24)

ततो वह्निं समाहूय प्रोवाचेन्द्रः सुराधिपः । गच्छ वह्ने त्वमस्माकं यतोऽसि मुखमुत्तमम्

tato vahniṁ samāhūya provācendraḥ surādhipaḥ gaccha vahne tvamasmākaṁ yato'si mukhamuttamam

Then Indra, lord of the gods, summoned Agni and said, 'Go, O Fire, since you are our foremost mouth —

Verse 25 (devibhagavatam.12.8.25)

ततो गत्वा तु जानीहि किमिदं यक्षमित्यपि । सहस्राक्षवचः श्रुत्वा स्वपराक्रमगर्भितम्

tato gatvā tu jānīhi kimidaṁ yakṣamityapi sahasrākṣavacaḥ śrutvā svaparākramagarbhitam

— go there and find out what this Yaksha is.' Having heard the thousand-eyed one's words, pregnant with his own pride,

Verse 26 (devibhagavatam.12.8.26)

वेगात्स निर्गतो वह्निर्ययौ यक्षस्य सन्निधौ । तदा प्रोवाच यक्षस्तं त्वं कोऽसीति हुताशनम्

vegātsa nirgato vahniryayau yakṣasya sannidhau tadā provāca yakṣastaṁ tvaṁ ko'sīti hutāśanam

Agni set out swiftly and went into the presence of the Yaksha. Then the Yaksha said to him, 'Who are you?'

Verse 27 (devibhagavatam.12.8.27)

वीर्यं च त्वयि किं यत्तद्वद सर्वं ममाग्रतः । अग्निरस्मि तथा जातवेदा अस्मीति सोऽब्रवीत्

vīryaṁ ca tvayi kiṁ yattadvada sarvaṁ mamāgrataḥ agnirasmi tathā jātavedā asmīti so'bravīt

'And what power is in you — tell me all of it.' He said, 'I am Agni, and likewise I am Jatavedas.'

Verse 28 (devibhagavatam.12.8.28)

सर्वस्य दहने शक्तिर्मयि विश्वस्य तिष्ठति । तदा यक्षं परं तेजस्तदग्रे निदधौ तृणम्

sarvasya dahane śaktirmayi viśvasya tiṣṭhati tadā yakṣaṁ paraṁ tejastadagre nidadhau tṛṇam

'The power to burn everything, the whole universe, abides in me.' Then the Yaksha, that supreme radiance, placed a blade of grass before him.

Verse 29 (devibhagavatam.12.8.29)

दहैनं यदि ते शक्तिर्विश्वस्य दहनेऽस्ति हि । तदा सर्वबलेनैवाकरोद्यत्नं हुताशनः

dahainaṁ yadi te śaktirviśvasya dahane'sti hi tadā sarvabalenaivākarodyatnaṁ hutāśanaḥ

'Burn this, if you truly have the power to burn the universe.' Then Agni made every effort, with all his strength.

Verse 30 (devibhagavatam.12.8.30)

न शशाक तृणं दग्धुं लज्जितोऽगात्सुरान्प्रति । पृष्टे देवैस्तु वृत्तान्ते सर्वं प्रोवाच हव्यभुक्

na śaśāka tṛṇaṁ dagdhuṁ lajjito'gātsurānprati pṛṣṭe devaistu vṛttānte sarvaṁ provāca havyabhuk

He was unable to burn even the blade of grass, and, ashamed, went back to the gods. When the gods asked him what had happened, Agni told them everything.

Verse 31 (devibhagavatam.12.8.31)

वृथाभिमानो ह्यस्माकं सर्वेशत्वादिके सुराः । ततस्तु वृत्रहा वायुं समाहूयेदमब्रवीत्

vṛthābhimāno hyasmākaṁ sarveśatvādike surāḥ tatastu vṛtrahā vāyuṁ samāhūyedamabravīt

'Our pride, O gods, in being lords of everything, was in vain.' Then the slayer of Vritra summoned Vayu and said this:

Verse 32 (devibhagavatam.12.8.32)

त्वयि प्रोतं जगत्सर्वं त्वच्चेष्टाभिस्तु चेष्टितम् । त्वं प्राणरूपः सर्वेषां सर्वशक्तिविधारकः

tvayi protaṁ jagatsarvaṁ tvacceṣṭābhistu ceṣṭitam tvaṁ prāṇarūpaḥ sarveṣāṁ sarvaśaktividhārakaḥ

'The whole world is woven upon you, and moves by your movements; you are the very breath of all beings, the sustainer of every power.'

Verse 33 (devibhagavatam.12.8.33)

त्वमेव गत्वा जानीहि किमिदं यक्षमित्यपि । नान्यः कोऽपि समर्थोऽस्ति ज्ञातुं यक्षं परं महः

tvameva gatvā jānīhi kimidaṁ yakṣamityapi nānyaḥ ko'pi samartho'sti jñātuṁ yakṣaṁ paraṁ mahaḥ

'Go yourself, and find out what this Yaksha is; no one else has the capacity to know that supreme radiance.'

Verse 34 (devibhagavatam.12.8.34)

सहस्राक्षवचः श्रुत्वा गुणगौरवगुम्फितम् । साभिमानो जगामाशु यत्र यक्षं विराजते

sahasrākṣavacaḥ śrutvā guṇagauravagumphitam sābhimāno jagāmāśu yatra yakṣaṁ virājate

Having heard the thousand-eyed one's words, laced with praise of his own virtues, he went at once, full of pride, to where the Yaksha shone forth.

Verse 35 (devibhagavatam.12.8.35)

यक्षं दृष्ट्वा ततो वायुं प्रोवाच मृदुभाषया । कोऽसि त्वं त्वयि का शक्तिर्वद सर्वं ममाग्रतः

yakṣaṁ dṛṣṭvā tato vāyuṁ provāca mṛdubhāṣayā ko'si tvaṁ tvayi kā śaktirvada sarvaṁ mamāgrataḥ

Seeing the Yaksha, it said to Vayu in a gentle voice, 'Who are you, and what power is in you? Tell me all of it.'

Verse 36 (devibhagavatam.12.8.36)

ततो यक्षवचः श्रुत्वा गर्वेण मरुदब्रवीत् । मातरिश्वाहमस्मीति वायुरस्मीति चाब्रवीत्

tato yakṣavacaḥ śrutvā garveṇa marudabravīt mātariśvāhamasmīti vāyurasmīti cābravīt

Then, hearing the Yaksha's words, the wind-god said with pride, 'I am Matarishvan,' and also said, 'I am Vayu.'

Verse 37 (devibhagavatam.12.8.37)

वीर्यं तु मयि सर्वस्य चालने ग्रहणेऽस्ति हि । मच्चेष्टया जगत्सर्वं सर्वव्यापारवद्भवेत्

vīryaṁ tu mayi sarvasya cālane grahaṇe'sti hi macceṣṭayā jagatsarvaṁ sarvavyāpāravadbhavet

'My power lies in the moving and seizing of everything; by my action, the whole world engages in all its activity.'

Verse 38 (devibhagavatam.12.8.38)

इति श्रुत्वा वायुवाणीं निजगाद परं महः । तृणमेतत्तवाग्रे यत्तच्चालय यथेप्सितम्

iti śrutvā vāyuvāṇīṁ nijagāda paraṁ mahaḥ tṛṇametattavāgre yattaccālaya yathepsitam

Having heard Vayu's speech, that supreme radiance said, 'This blade of grass before you — move it as you please.'

Verse 39 (devibhagavatam.12.8.39)

नोचेद्गर्वं विहायैनं लज्जितो गच्छ वासवम् । श्रुत्वा यक्षवचो वायुः सर्वशक्तिसमन्वितः

nocedgarvaṁ vihāyainaṁ lajjito gaccha vāsavam śrutvā yakṣavaco vāyuḥ sarvaśaktisamanvitaḥ

'Otherwise, abandon this pride, and return ashamed to Vasava.' Hearing the Yaksha's words, Vayu, endowed with every power,

Verse 40 (devibhagavatam.12.8.40)

उद्योगमकरोत्तच्च स्वस्थानान्न चचाल ह । लज्जितोऽगाद्देवपार्श्वे हित्वा गर्वं स चानिलः

udyogamakarottacca svasthānānna cacāla ha lajjito'gāddevapārśve hitvā garvaṁ sa cānilaḥ

made every effort, and yet it did not move from its place. Ashamed, and having abandoned his pride, the wind-god returned to the gods.

Verse 41 (devibhagavatam.12.8.41)

वृत्तान्तमवदत्सर्वं गर्वनिर्वापकारणम् । नैतंज्ञातुं समर्थाः स्म मिथ्यागर्वाभिमानिनः

vṛttāntamavadatsarvaṁ garvanirvāpakāraṇam naitaṁjñātuṁ samarthāḥ sma mithyāgarvābhimāninaḥ

He told the whole story, the cause of the extinguishing of his pride: 'We, proud with false conceit, were not able to understand this.'

Verse 42 (devibhagavatam.12.8.42)

अलौकिकं भाति यक्षं तेजः परमदारुणम् । ततः सर्वे सुरगणाः सहस्राक्षं समूचिरे

alaukikaṁ bhāti yakṣaṁ tejaḥ paramadāruṇam tataḥ sarve suragaṇāḥ sahasrākṣaṁ samūcire

'This Yaksha shines with an otherworldly, supremely formidable radiance.' Then all the hosts of gods said to the thousand-eyed Indra:

Verse 43 (devibhagavatam.12.8.43)

देवराडसि यस्मात्त्वं यक्षं जानीहि तत्त्वतः । तत इन्द्रो महागर्वात्तद्यक्षं समुपाद्रवत्

devarāḍasi yasmāttvaṁ yakṣaṁ jānīhi tattvataḥ tata indro mahāgarvāttadyakṣaṁ samupādravat

'Since you are the king of the gods, find out the true nature of this Yaksha yourself.' Then Indra, in great pride, rushed toward that Yaksha.

Verse 44 (devibhagavatam.12.8.44)

प्राद्रवच्च परं तेजो यक्षरूपं परात्परम् । अन्तर्धानं ततः प्राप तद्यक्षं वासवाग्रतः

prādravacca paraṁ tejo yakṣarūpaṁ parātparam antardhānaṁ tataḥ prāpa tadyakṣaṁ vāsavāgrataḥ

But that supreme radiance, that Yaksha-form, transcendent beyond the transcendent, fled from him; it vanished from before Vasava.

Verse 45 (devibhagavatam.12.8.45)

अतीव लज्जितो जातो वासवो देवराडपि । यक्षसम्भाषणाभावाल्लघुत्वं प्राप चेतसि

atīva lajjito jāto vāsavo devarāḍapi yakṣasambhāṣaṇābhāvāllaghutvaṁ prāpa cetasi

Vasava, though king of the gods, became exceedingly ashamed; through his failure to converse with the Yaksha, he felt a sense of smallness in his heart.

Verse 46 (devibhagavatam.12.8.46)

अतः परं न गन्तव्यं मया तु सुरसंसदि । किं मया तत्र वक्तव्यं स्वलघुत्वं सुरान्प्रति

ataḥ paraṁ na gantavyaṁ mayā tu surasaṁsadi kiṁ mayā tatra vaktavyaṁ svalaghutvaṁ surānprati

'Beyond this, I should not go to the assembly of the gods. What could I possibly say there, admitting my own smallness?'

Verse 47 (devibhagavatam.12.8.47)

देहत्यागो वरस्तस्मान्मानो हि महतां धनम् । माने नष्टे जीवितं तु मृतितुल्यं न संशयः

dehatyāgo varastasmānmāno hi mahatāṁ dhanam māne naṣṭe jīvitaṁ tu mṛtitulyaṁ na saṁśayaḥ

'Better then to give up my body; for honor is the wealth of the great. When honor is lost, life itself is equal to death — of this there is no doubt.'

Verse 48 (devibhagavatam.12.8.48)

इति निश्चित्य तत्रैव गर्वं हित्वा सुरेश्वरः । चरित्रमीदृशं यस्य तमेव शरणं गतः

iti niścitya tatraiva garvaṁ hitvā sureśvaraḥ caritramīdṛśaṁ yasya tameva śaraṇaṁ gataḥ

Having thus resolved, the lord of the gods, abandoning his pride right there, went for refuge to that very one whose conduct was of such a nature.

Verse 49 (devibhagavatam.12.8.49)

तस्मिन्नेव क्षणे जाता व्योमवाणी नभस्तले । मायाबीजं सहस्राक्ष जप तेन सुखी भव

tasminneva kṣaṇe jātā vyomavāṇī nabhastale māyābījaṁ sahasrākṣa japa tena sukhī bhava

In that very instant, a voice arose in the sky: 'O thousand-eyed one, recite the Maya-bija; by it, become happy.'

Verse 50 (devibhagavatam.12.8.50)

ततो जजाप परमं मायाबीजं परात्परम् । लक्षवर्षं निराहारो ध्यानमीलितलोचनः

tato jajāpa paramaṁ māyābījaṁ parātparam lakṣavarṣaṁ nirāhāro dhyānamīlitalocanaḥ

Then he recited that supreme Maya-bija, transcendent beyond the transcendent, for a hundred thousand years, without food, his eyes closed in meditation.

Verse 51 (devibhagavatam.12.8.51)

अकस्माच्चैत्रमासीयनवम्यां मध्यगे रवौ । तदेवाविरभूत्तेजस्तस्मिन्नेव स्थले पुनः

akasmāccaitramāsīyanavamyāṁ madhyage ravau tadevāvirabhūttejastasminneva sthale punaḥ

Suddenly, on the ninth day of the month of Chaitra, with the sun at its zenith, that very radiance appeared once more, in that very place.

Verse 52 (devibhagavatam.12.8.52)

तेजोमण्डलमध्ये तु कुमारीं नवयौवनाम् । भास्वज्जपाप्रसूनाभां बालकोटिरविप्रभाम्

tejomaṇḍalamadhye tu kumārīṁ navayauvanām bhāsvajjapāprasūnābhāṁ bālakoṭiraviprabhām

In the midst of that orb of radiance, a maiden of fresh youth, glowing like the hibiscus flower, radiant as ten million rising suns,

Verse 53 (devibhagavatam.12.8.53)

बालशीतांशमुकुटां वस्त्रान्तर्व्यञ्जितस्तनीम् । चतुर्भिर्वरहस्तैस्तु वरपाशाङ्कुशाभयान्

bālaśītāṁśamukuṭāṁ vastrāntarvyañjitastanīm caturbhirvarahastaistu varapāśāṅkuśābhayān

crowned with the young, cool-rayed moon, her breasts faintly revealed within her garment, holding in her four excellent hands the boon-granting gesture, noose, goad, and gesture of fearlessness,

Verse 54 (devibhagavatam.12.8.54)

दधानां रमणीयाङ्गीं कोमलाङ्गलतां शिवाम् । भक्तकल्पद्रुमामम्बां नानाभूषणभूषिताम्

dadhānāṁ ramaṇīyāṅgīṁ komalāṅgalatāṁ śivām bhaktakalpadrumāmambāṁ nānābhūṣaṇabhūṣitām

of lovely limbs, her body soft as a creeper, the auspicious one, the wish-fulfilling tree for her devotees, the Mother, adorned with manifold ornaments,

Verse 55 (devibhagavatam.12.8.55)

त्रिनेत्रां मल्लिकामालाकबरीजूटशोभिताम् । चतुर्दिक्षु चतुर्वेदैर्मूर्तिमद्भिरभिष्टुताम्

trinetrāṁ mallikāmālākabarījūṭaśobhitām caturdikṣu caturvedairmūrtimadbhirabhiṣṭutām

three-eyed, her braided hair beautified with a garland of jasmine, praised on all four sides by the four Vedas in embodied form,

Verse 56 (devibhagavatam.12.8.56)

दन्तच्छटाभिरभितः पद्मरागीकृतक्षमाम् । प्रसन्तस्मेरवदनां कोटिकन्दर्पसुन्दराम्

dantacchaṭābhirabhitaḥ padmarāgīkṛtakṣamām prasantasmeravadanāṁ koṭikandarpasundarām

the radiance of whose teeth turned the ground on every side to the color of ruby, her face serene and smiling, lovely as ten million Kamadevas,

Verse 57 (devibhagavatam.12.8.57)

रक्ताम्बरपरीधानां रक्तचन्दनचर्चिताम् । उमाभिधानां पुरतो देवीं हैमवतीं शिवाम्

raktāmbaraparīdhānāṁ raktacandanacarcitām umābhidhānāṁ purato devīṁ haimavatīṁ śivām

clad in a red garment, anointed with red sandal-paste — the Devi named Uma, daughter of Himavat, the auspicious one,

Verse 58 (devibhagavatam.12.8.58)

निर्व्याजकरुणामूर्तिं सर्वकारणकारणाम् । ददर्श वासवस्तत्र प्रेमगद्गदितान्तरः

nirvyājakaruṇāmūrtiṁ sarvakāraṇakāraṇām dadarśa vāsavastatra premagadgaditāntaraḥ

the very image of unfeigned compassion, the cause of all causes. Vasava beheld her there, his inner being choked with love,

Verse 59 (devibhagavatam.12.8.59)

प्रेमाश्रुपूर्णनयनो रोमाञ्चिततनुस्ततः । दण्डवत्प्रणनामाथ पादयोर्जगदीशितुः

premāśrupūrṇanayano romāñcitatanustataḥ daṇḍavatpraṇanāmātha pādayorjagadīśituḥ

his eyes filled with tears of love, his body thrilling with joy; he then prostrated himself flat upon the ground at the feet of the Mistress of the world.

Verse 60 (devibhagavatam.12.8.60)

तुष्टाव विविधैः स्तोत्रैर्भक्तिसन्नतकन्धरः । उवाच परमप्रीतः किमिदं यक्षमित्यपि

tuṣṭāva vividhaiḥ stotrairbhaktisannatakandharaḥ uvāca paramaprītaḥ kimidaṁ yakṣamityapi

With his neck bowed in devotion, he praised her with various hymns; and, deeply pleased, he asked, 'What was that Yaksha,'

Verse 61 (devibhagavatam.12.8.61)

प्रादुर्भूतं च कस्मात्तद्वद सर्वं सुशोभने । इति तस्य वचः श्रुत्वा प्रोवाच करुणार्णवा

prādurbhūtaṁ ca kasmāttadvada sarvaṁ suśobhane iti tasya vacaḥ śrutvā provāca karuṇārṇavā

'and why did it appear? Tell me all, O most beautiful one.' Having heard his words, the ocean of compassion replied:

Verse 62 (devibhagavatam.12.8.62)

रूपं मदीयं ब्रह्मैतत्सर्वकारणकारणम् । मायाधिष्ठानभूतं तु सर्वसाक्षि निरामयम्

rūpaṁ madīyaṁ brahmaitatsarvakāraṇakāraṇam māyādhiṣṭhānabhūtaṁ tu sarvasākṣi nirāmayam

'That form was my own — Brahman itself, the cause of all causes, the very substrate of Maya, the witness of all, free from all affliction.'

Verse 63 (devibhagavatam.12.8.63)

सर्वे वेदा यत्पदमामनन्ति तपांसि सर्वाणि च यद्वदन्ति । यदिच्छन्तो ब्रह्मचर्यं चरन्ति तत्ते पदं सङ्ग्रहेण ब्रवीमि

sarve vedā yatpadamāmananti tapāṁsi sarvāṇi ca yadvadanti yadicchanto brahmacaryaṁ caranti tatte padaṁ saṅgraheṇa bravīmi

'That state which all the Vedas proclaim, which all austerities speak of, desiring which men practice the vow of celibacy — that state I now declare to you in brief.'

Verse 64 (devibhagavatam.12.8.64)

ओमित्येकाक्षरं ब्रह्म तदेवाहुश्च ह्रींमयम् । द्वे बीजे मम मन्त्रौ स्तो मुख्यत्वेन सुरोत्तम

omityekākṣaraṁ brahma tadevāhuśca hrīṁmayam dve bīje mama mantrau sto mukhyatvena surottama

'The single syllable Om is Brahman; and that very Brahman they also call the syllable Hrim. O best of gods, these two seed-syllables are my principal mantras.'

Verse 65 (devibhagavatam.12.8.65)

भागद्वयवती यस्मात्सृजामि सकलं जगत् । तत्रैकभागः सम्प्रोक्तः सच्चिदानन्दनामकः

bhāgadvayavatī yasmātsṛjāmi sakalaṁ jagat tatraikabhāgaḥ samproktaḥ saccidānandanāmakaḥ

'Since I possess these two portions, by them I create the entire universe. Of these, the one portion is declared to be named Sat-Chit-Ananda;'

Verse 66 (devibhagavatam.12.8.66)

मायाप्रकृतिसंज्ञस्तु द्वितीयो भाग ईरितः । सा च माया परा शक्तिः शक्तिमत्यहमीश्वरी

māyāprakṛtisaṁjñastu dvitīyo bhāga īritaḥ sā ca māyā parā śaktiḥ śaktimatyahamīśvarī

'and the second portion is called Maya, or Prakriti; and that Maya is my own Supreme Shakti — I, the Lord, am the very possessor of that power.'

Verse 67 (devibhagavatam.12.8.67)

चन्द्रस्य चन्द्रिकेवेयं ममाभिन्नत्वमागता । साम्यावस्थात्मिका चैषा माया मम सुरोत्तम

candrasya candrikeveyaṁ mamābhinnatvamāgatā sāmyāvasthātmikā caiṣā māyā mama surottama

'Like moonlight to the moon, this Maya has become non-different from me; and this Maya of mine, O best of gods, has the nature of the equilibrium of the gunas.'

Verse 68 (devibhagavatam.12.8.68)

प्रलये सर्वजगतो मदभिन्नैव तिष्ठति । प्राणिकर्मपरीपाकवशतः पुनरेव हि

pralaye sarvajagato madabhinnaiva tiṣṭhati prāṇikarmaparīpākavaśataḥ punareva hi

'At the dissolution of the entire universe, it remains non-different from me; but then again, by the ripening of the karma of living beings,'

Verse 69 (devibhagavatam.12.8.69)

रूपं तदेवमव्यक्तं व्यक्तीभावमुपैति च । अन्तर्मुखा तु यावस्था सा मायेत्यभिधीयते

rūpaṁ tadevamavyaktaṁ vyaktībhāvamupaiti ca antarmukhā tu yāvasthā sā māyetyabhidhīyate

'that same unmanifest form comes to manifestation. That state which faces inward is called Maya;'

Verse 70 (devibhagavatam.12.8.70)

बहिर्मुखा तु या माया तमःशब्देन सोच्यते । बहिर्मुखात्तमोरूपाज्जायते सत्त्वसम्भवः

bahirmukhā tu yā māyā tamaḥśabdena socyate bahirmukhāttamorūpājjāyate sattvasambhavaḥ

'and that Maya which faces outward is spoken of by the word Tamas. From that outward-facing form of Tamas arises the origin of Sattva,'

Verse 71 (devibhagavatam.12.8.71)

रजोगुणस्तदैव स्यात्सर्गादौ सुरसत्तम । गुणत्रयात्मकाः प्रोक्ता ब्रह्मविष्णुमहेश्वराः

rajoguṇastadaiva syātsargādau surasattama guṇatrayātmakāḥ proktā brahmaviṣṇumaheśvarāḥ

'and at that very time, at the beginning of creation, Rajas also arises, O best of gods. Brahma, Vishnu, and Maheshvara are declared to consist of the three gunas.'

Verse 72 (devibhagavatam.12.8.72)

रजोगुणाधिको ब्रह्मा विष्णुः सत्त्वाधिको भवेत् । तमोगुणाधिको रुद्रः सर्वकारणरूपधृक्

rajoguṇādhiko brahmā viṣṇuḥ sattvādhiko bhavet tamoguṇādhiko rudraḥ sarvakāraṇarūpadhṛk

'Brahma has an excess of rajas; Vishnu has an excess of sattva; Rudra, who bears the form of the cause of all things, has an excess of tamas.'

Verse 73 (devibhagavatam.12.8.73)

स्थूलदेहो भवेद्ब्रह्मा लिङ्गदेहो हरिः स्मृतः । रुद्रस्तु कारणो देहस्तुरीया त्वहमेव हि

sthūladeho bhavedbrahmā liṅgadeho hariḥ smṛtaḥ rudrastu kāraṇo dehasturīyā tvahameva hi

'Brahma is the gross body of the cosmos; Vishnu is remembered as the subtle body; Rudra is the causal body; but I alone am the fourth, the transcendent state.'

Verse 74 (devibhagavatam.12.8.74)

साम्यावस्था तु या प्रोक्ता सर्वान्तर्यामिरूपिणी । अत ऊर्ध्वं परं ब्रह्म मद्रूपं रूपवर्जितम्

sāmyāvasthā tu yā proktā sarvāntaryāmirūpiṇī ata ūrdhvaṁ paraṁ brahma madrūpaṁ rūpavarjitam

'That state of equilibrium which has been declared is of the form of the indwelling Ruler of all. Beyond even that is the Supreme Brahman, my own form, devoid of all form.'

Verse 75 (devibhagavatam.12.8.75)

निर्गुणं सगुणं चेति द्विधा मद्रूपमुच्यते । निर्गुणं मायया हीनं सगुणं मायया युतम्

nirguṇaṁ saguṇaṁ ceti dvidhā madrūpamucyate nirguṇaṁ māyayā hīnaṁ saguṇaṁ māyayā yutam

'My form is said to be twofold: without qualities and with qualities. The nirguna form is devoid of Maya; the saguna form is joined with Maya.'

Verse 76 (devibhagavatam.12.8.76)

साहं सर्वं जगत्सृष्ट्वा तदन्तः सम्प्रविश्य च । प्रेरयाम्यनिशं जीवं यथाकर्म यथाश्रुतम्

sāhaṁ sarvaṁ jagatsṛṣṭvā tadantaḥ sampraviśya ca prerayāmyaniśaṁ jīvaṁ yathākarma yathāśrutam

'I, having created the entire universe, and having entered within it, ceaselessly impel the individual soul according to its own karma, as it has been heard in scripture.'

Verse 77 (devibhagavatam.12.8.77)

सृष्टिस्थितितिरोधाने प्रेरयाम्यहमेव हि । ब्रह्माणं च तथा विष्णुं रुद्रं वै कारणात्मकम्

sṛṣṭisthititirodhāne prerayāmyahameva hi brahmāṇaṁ ca tathā viṣṇuṁ rudraṁ vai kāraṇātmakam

'In creation, preservation, and dissolution, I alone impel Brahma, and likewise Vishnu, and Rudra, who is of the nature of the final cause.'

Verse 78 (devibhagavatam.12.8.78)

मद्भयाद्वाति पवनो भीत्या सूर्यश्च गच्छति । इन्द्राग्निमृत्यवस्तद्वत्साहं सर्वोत्तमा स्मृता

madbhayādvāti pavano bhītyā sūryaśca gacchati indrāgnimṛtyavastadvatsāhaṁ sarvottamā smṛtā

'For fear of me the wind blows; for fear the sun moves across the sky; likewise Indra, Agni, and Death; I am thus remembered as supreme over all.'

Verse 79 (devibhagavatam.12.8.79)

मत्प्रसादाद्भवद्भिस्तु जयो लब्धोऽस्ति सर्वथा । युष्मानहं नर्तयामि काष्ठपुत्तलिकोपमान्

matprasādādbhavadbhistu jayo labdho'sti sarvathā yuṣmānahaṁ nartayāmi kāṣṭhaputtalikopamān

'It was by my grace alone that victory was obtained by you in every way; I make you dance like wooden puppets.'

Verse 80 (devibhagavatam.12.8.80)

कदाचिद्देवविजयं दैत्यानां विजयं क्वचित् । स्वतन्त्रा स्वेच्छया सर्वं कुर्वे कर्मानुरोधतः

kadāciddevavijayaṁ daityānāṁ vijayaṁ kvacit svatantrā svecchayā sarvaṁ kurve karmānurodhataḥ

'Sometimes I bring about the victory of the gods, sometimes the victory of the demons; independent, by my own will, I do everything, in accordance with karma.'

Verse 81 (devibhagavatam.12.8.81)

तां मां सर्वात्मिकां यूयं विस्मृत्य निजगर्वतः । अहङ्कारावृतात्मानो मोहमाप्ता दुरन्तकम्

tāṁ māṁ sarvātmikāṁ yūyaṁ vismṛtya nijagarvataḥ ahaṅkārāvṛtātmāno mohamāptā durantakam

'Forgetting me, who am the Self of all, through your own pride, your very selves veiled by ego, you fell into an endless delusion.'

Verse 82 (devibhagavatam.12.8.82)

अनुग्रहं ततः कर्तुं युष्मद्देहादनुत्तमम् । निःसृतं सहसा तेजो मदीयं यक्षमित्यपि

anugrahaṁ tataḥ kartuṁ yuṣmaddehādanuttamam niḥsṛtaṁ sahasā tejo madīyaṁ yakṣamityapi

'Therefore, in order to bestow grace upon you, that unsurpassed radiance of mine suddenly issued forth in the form of that Yaksha.'

Verse 83 (devibhagavatam.12.8.83)

अतः परं सर्वभावैर्हित्वा गर्वं तु देहजम् । मामेव शरणं यात सच्चिदानन्दरूपिणीम्

ataḥ paraṁ sarvabhāvairhitvā garvaṁ tu dehajam māmeva śaraṇaṁ yāta saccidānandarūpiṇīm

'Henceforth, abandoning with your whole being the pride born of the body, take refuge in me alone, whose nature is being-consciousness-bliss.'

Verse 84 (devibhagavatam.12.8.84)

व्यास उवाच । इत्युक्त्या च महादेवी मूलप्रकृतिरीश्वरी । अन्तर्धानं गता सद्यो भक्त्या देवैरभिष्टुता

vyāsa uvāca ityuktyā ca mahādevī mūlaprakṛtirīśvarī antardhānaṁ gatā sadyo bhaktyā devairabhiṣṭutā

Vyasa said: Having spoken thus, the Great Goddess, the primordial Prakriti, the Ruler, praised with devotion by the gods, vanished at once.

Verse 85 (devibhagavatam.12.8.85)

ततः सर्वे स्वगर्वं तु विहाय पदपङ्कजम् । सम्यगाराधयामासुर्भगवत्याः परात्परम्

tataḥ sarve svagarvaṁ tu vihāya padapaṅkajam samyagārādhayāmāsurbhagavatyāḥ parātparam

Then all of them, abandoning their own pride, duly worshipped the lotus feet of the Blessed Goddess, transcendent beyond the transcendent.

Verse 86 (devibhagavatam.12.8.86)

त्रिसन्ध्यं सर्वदा सर्वे गायत्रीजपतत्पराः । यज्ञभागादिभिः सर्वे देवीं नित्यं सिषेविरे

trisandhyaṁ sarvadā sarve gāyatrījapatatparāḥ yajñabhāgādibhiḥ sarve devīṁ nityaṁ siṣevire

At all three sandhyas, forever, all of them, devoted to the recitation of Gayatri, served the Devi constantly with their portions of sacrifice and the rest.

Verse 87 (devibhagavatam.12.8.87)

एवं सत्ययुगे सर्वे गायत्रीजपतत्पराः । तारहृल्लेखयोश्चापि जपे निष्णातमानसाः

evaṁ satyayuge sarve gāyatrījapatatparāḥ tārahṛllekhayoścāpi jape niṣṇātamānasāḥ

Thus, in the Satya Yuga, all beings were devoted to the recitation of Gayatri, their minds accomplished also in the recitation of Om and the heart-seed Hrim.

Verse 88 (devibhagavatam.12.8.88)

न विष्णूपासना नित्या वेदेनोक्ता तु कुत्रचित् । न विष्णुदीक्षा नित्यास्ति शिवस्यापि तथैव च

na viṣṇūpāsanā nityā vedenoktā tu kutracit na viṣṇudīkṣā nityāsti śivasyāpi tathaiva ca

Nowhere has the Veda declared the worship of Vishnu to be a daily obligation; nor is initiation into Vishnu's worship a daily necessity, and likewise for Shiva's worship too.

Verse 89 (devibhagavatam.12.8.89)

गायत्र्युपासना नित्या सर्ववेदैः समीरिता । यया विना त्वधःपातो ब्राह्मणस्यास्ति सर्वथा

gāyatryupāsanā nityā sarvavedaiḥ samīritā yayā vinā tvadhaḥpāto brāhmaṇasyāsti sarvathā

The worship of Gayatri, however, is declared by all the Vedas to be a daily obligation; without it, a Brahmin's downfall is certain in every way.

Verse 90 (devibhagavatam.12.8.90)

तावता कृतकृत्यत्वं नान्यापेक्षा द्विजस्य हि । गायत्रीमात्रनिष्णातो द्विजो मोक्षमवाप्नुयात्

tāvatā kṛtakṛtyatvaṁ nānyāpekṣā dvijasya hi gāyatrīmātraniṣṇāto dvijo mokṣamavāpnuyāt

By that alone comes fulfillment of all duty; a twice-born has no need to depend on anything else. A twice-born accomplished in Gayatri alone attains liberation.

Verse 91 (devibhagavatam.12.8.91)

कुर्यादन्यन्न वा कुर्यादिति प्राह मनुः स्वयम् । विहाय तां तु गायत्रीं विष्णूपास्तिपरायणः

kuryādanyanna vā kuryāditi prāha manuḥ svayam vihāya tāṁ tu gāyatrīṁ viṣṇūpāstiparāyaṇaḥ

'Whether he performs other rites or not' — thus Manu himself has declared. Yet one who, abandoning Gayatri, is devoted solely to the worship of Vishnu,

Verse 92 (devibhagavatam.12.8.92)

शिवोपास्तिरतो विप्रो नरकं याति सर्वथा । तस्मादाद्ययुगे राजन् गायत्रीजपतत्पराः । देवीपदाम्बुजरता आसन्सर्वे द्विजोत्तमाः

śivopāstirato vipro narakaṁ yāti sarvathā tasmādādyayuge rājan gāyatrījapatatparāḥ devīpadāmbujaratā āsansarve dvijottamāḥ

or a Brahmin devoted solely to the worship of Shiva, goes to hell in every case. Therefore, O king, in the first age, all the best of the twice-born were devoted to the recitation of Gayatri, delighting in the lotus feet of the Devi.