The Praise Offered by Hara and Brahma

Verse 1 (devibhagavatam.3.5.1)

ब्रह्मोवाच । इत्युक्त्वा विरते विष्णौ देवदेवे जनार्दने । उवाच शङ्करः शर्वः प्रणतः पुरतः स्थितः

brahmovāca ityuktvā virate viṣṇau devadeve janārdane uvāca śaṅkaraḥ śarvaḥ praṇataḥ purataḥ sthitaḥ

Brahma said: When Vishnu, the god of gods, Janardana, had spoken thus and fallen silent, Shankara, Sharva, bowing, standing before her, spoke.

Verse 2 (devibhagavatam.3.5.2)

शिव उवाच । यदि हरिस्तव देवि विभावजस्तदनु पद्मज एव तवोद्भवः । किमहमत्र तवापि न सद्गुणः सकललोकविधौ चतुरा शिवे

śiva uvāca yadi haristava devi vibhāvajastadanu padmaja eva tavodbhavaḥ kimahamatra tavāpi na sadguṇaḥ sakalalokavidhau caturā śive

Shiva said: "If Hari, O Goddess, was born from your own manifestation, and thereafter the lotus-born too arose from you — am I not, then, likewise one of your true qualities, O skillful one, in the ordaining of all the worlds, O auspicious one?

Verse 3 (devibhagavatam.3.5.3)

त्वमसि भूः सलिलं पवनस्तथा खमपि वह्निगुणश्च तथा पुनः । जननि तानि पुनः करणानि च त्वमसि बुद्धिमनोऽप्यथ हङ्कृतिः

tvamasi bhūḥ salilaṁ pavanastathā khamapi vahniguṇaśca tathā punaḥ janani tāni punaḥ karaṇāni ca tvamasi buddhimano'pyatha haṅkṛtiḥ

"You are the earth, the water, the wind likewise, and also the ether, and fire, and the qualities; and again, O mother, you are the very organs too; you are the intellect, the mind, and also the ego.

Verse 4 (devibhagavatam.3.5.4)

न च विदन्ति वदन्ति च येऽन्यथा हरिहराजकृतं निखिलं जगत् । तव कृतास्त्रय एव सदैव ते विरचयन्ति जगत्सचराचरम्

na ca vidanti vadanti ca ye'nyathā hariharājakṛtaṁ nikhilaṁ jagat tava kṛtāstraya eva sadaiva te viracayanti jagatsacarācaram

"Those who say otherwise, that this entire world is made by Hari, Hara, and the king, do not truly know; it is those three, ever fashioned by you, who create the world together with its moving and unmoving beings.

Verse 5 (devibhagavatam.3.5.5)

अवनिवायुखवह्निजलादिभिः सविषयैः सगुणैश्च जगद्भवेत् । यदि तदा कथमद्य च तत्स्फुटं प्रभवतीति तवाम्ब कलामृते

avanivāyukhavahnijalādibhiḥ saviṣayaiḥ saguṇaiśca jagadbhavet yadi tadā kathamadya ca tatsphuṭaṁ prabhavatīti tavāmba kalāmṛte

"If the world could come into being merely by earth, wind, ether, fire, water and the rest, together with their objects and qualities, then how is it, today, that it plainly cannot arise without a portion of you, O mother?

Verse 6 (devibhagavatam.3.5.6)

भवसि सर्वमिदं सचराचरं त्वमजविष्णुशिवाकृतिकल्पितम् । विविधवेषविलासकुतूहलैर्विरमसे रमसेऽम्ब यथारुचि

bhavasi sarvamidaṁ sacarācaraṁ tvamajaviṣṇuśivākṛtikalpitam vividhaveṣavilāsakutūhalairviramase ramase'mba yathāruci

"You yourself are this entire moving and unmoving universe, fashioned in the forms of the unborn Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva; through various sportive disguises assumed out of curiosity, you now cease and now again delight yourself, O mother, just as you please.

Verse 7 (devibhagavatam.3.5.7)

सकललोकसिसृक्षुरहं हरिः कमलभूश्च भवाम यदाऽम्बिके । तव पदाम्बुजपांसुपरिग्रहं समधिगम्य तदा ननु चक्रिम

sakalalokasisṛkṣurahaṁ hariḥ kamalabhūśca bhavāma yadā'mbike tava padāmbujapāṁsuparigrahaṁ samadhigamya tadā nanu cakrima

"When Hari, and the lotus-born, and I, desiring to create all the worlds, undertook it, O mother, we did so, indeed, only after taking hold of the dust of your lotus feet.

Verse 8 (devibhagavatam.3.5.8)

यदि दयार्द्रमना न सदाम्बिके कथमहं विहितश्च तमोगुणः । कमलजश्च रजोगुणसम्भवः सुविहितः किमु सत्त्वगुणो हरिः

yadi dayārdramanā na sadāmbike kathamahaṁ vihitaśca tamoguṇaḥ kamalajaśca rajoguṇasambhavaḥ suvihitaḥ kimu sattvaguṇo hariḥ

"If your mind, O mother, is not ever softened with compassion, then how have I been assigned the quality of tamas, and the lotus-born assigned the origin in rajas, and Hari well assigned the quality of sattva?

Verse 9 (devibhagavatam.3.5.9)

यदि न ते विषमा मतिरम्बिके कथमिदं बहुधा विहितं जगत् । सचिवभूपतिभृत्यजनावृतं बहुधनैरधनैश्च समाकुलम्

yadi na te viṣamā matirambike kathamidaṁ bahudhā vihitaṁ jagat sacivabhūpatibhṛtyajanāvṛtaṁ bahudhanairadhanaiśca samākulam

"If your intention, O mother, were not thus variously disposed, how could this world be fashioned in such manifold ways — filled with ministers, kings, and servants, teeming with the very rich and the utterly poor?

Verse 10 (devibhagavatam.3.5.10)

तव गुणास्रय एव सदा क्षमाः प्रकटनावनसंहरणेषु वै । हरिहरद्रुहिणाश्च क्रमात्त्वया विरचितास्त्रिजगतां किल कारणम्

tava guṇāsraya eva sadā kṣamāḥ prakaṭanāvanasaṁharaṇeṣu vai hariharadruhiṇāśca kramāttvayā viracitāstrijagatāṁ kila kāraṇam

"It is only by taking refuge in your own qualities that Hari, Hara, and Brahma are ever capable, in due order, of manifesting, protecting, and destroying the world; it is you who have fashioned them as the very cause of the three worlds.

Verse 11 (devibhagavatam.3.5.11)

परिचितानि मया हरिणा तथा कमलजेन विमानगतेन वै । पथिगतैर्भुवनानि कृतानि वा कथय केन भवानि नवानि च

paricitāni mayā hariṇā tathā kamalajena vimānagatena vai pathigatairbhuvanāni kṛtāni vā kathaya kena bhavāni navāni ca

"The worlds we have come to know — myself, and Hari likewise, and the lotus-born, travelling in the chariot along the way — tell me, O Bhavani, by whom were these new worlds made?

Verse 12 (devibhagavatam.3.5.12)

सृजसि पासि जगज्जगदम्बिके स्वकलया कियदिच्छसि नाशितुम् । रमयसे स्वपतिं पुरुषं सदा तव गतिं न हि विद्म वयं शिवे

sṛjasi pāsi jagajjagadambike svakalayā kiyadicchasi nāśitum ramayase svapatiṁ puruṣaṁ sadā tava gatiṁ na hi vidma vayaṁ śive

"You create, you protect the world, O mother of the world, with but a fraction of yourself; how much of it do you wish to destroy? You ever delight your own consort, the Purusha; we do not know your true course, O auspicious one.

Verse 13 (devibhagavatam.3.5.13)

जननि देहि पदाम्बुजसेवनं युवतिभागवतानपि नः सदा । पुरुषतामधिगम्य पदाम्बुजाद्विरहिताः क्व लभेम सुखं स्फुटम्

janani dehi padāmbujasevanaṁ yuvatibhāgavatānapi naḥ sadā puruṣatāmadhigamya padāmbujādvirahitāḥ kva labhema sukhaṁ sphuṭam

"O mother, grant us — even us, who now share the state of young devoted women — ever the service of your lotus feet; for having regained our manhood, but separated from your lotus feet, where indeed could we find true happiness?

Verse 14 (devibhagavatam.3.5.14)

न रुचिरस्ति ममाम्ब पदाम्बुजं तव विहाय शिवे भुवनेष्वलम् । निवसितुं नरदेहमवाप्य च त्रिभुवनस्य पतित्वमवाप्य वै

na rucirasti mamāmba padāmbujaṁ tava vihāya śive bhuvaneṣvalam nivasituṁ naradehamavāpya ca tribhuvanasya patitvamavāpya vai

"I have no desire, O mother, O auspicious one, to dwell in the worlds, forsaking your lotus feet — even were I to obtain a human body, or even the lordship of the three worlds.

Verse 15 (devibhagavatam.3.5.15)

सुदति नास्ति मनागपि मे रतिर्युवतिभावमवाप्य तवान्तिके । पुरुषता क्व सुखाय भवत्यलं तव पदं न यदीक्षणगोचरम्

sudati nāsti manāgapi me ratiryuvatibhāvamavāpya tavāntike puruṣatā kva sukhāya bhavatyalaṁ tava padaṁ na yadīkṣaṇagocaram

"O fair-toothed one, I have not the slightest attachment, having attained this state of a young woman near you, to returning to manhood — for how could manhood ever suffice for happiness, if your feet were not within the range of my sight?

Verse 16 (devibhagavatam.3.5.16)

त्रिभुवनेषु भवत्वियमम्बिके मम सदैव हि कीर्तिरनाविला । युवतिभावमवाप्य पदाम्बुजं परिचितं तव संसृतिनाशनम्

tribhuvaneṣu bhavatviyamambike mama sadaiva hi kīrtiranāvilā yuvatibhāvamavāpya padāmbujaṁ paricitaṁ tava saṁsṛtināśanam

"O mother, let this be my ever-untarnished fame throughout the three worlds — that, having attained the state of a young woman, I came to know your lotus feet, the destroyer of worldly bondage.

Verse 17 (devibhagavatam.3.5.17)

भुवि विहाय तवान्तिकसेवनं क इह वाञ्छति राज्यमकण्टकम् । त्रुटिरसौ किल याति युगात्मतां न निकटं यदि तेऽङ्घ्रिसरोरुहम्

bhuvi vihāya tavāntikasevanaṁ ka iha vāñchati rājyamakaṇṭakam truṭirasau kila yāti yugātmatāṁ na nikaṭaṁ yadi te'ṅghrisaroruham

"Who on earth, forsaking service near you, would desire even an unopposed kingdom? A mere instant becomes, indeed, an entire age, if your lotus foot is not near.

Verse 18 (devibhagavatam.3.5.18)

तपसि ये निरता मुनयोऽमलास्तव विहाय पदाम्बुजपूजनम् । जननि ते विधिना किल वञ्चिताः परिभवो विभवे परिकल्पितः

tapasi ye niratā munayo'malāstava vihāya padāmbujapūjanam janani te vidhinā kila vañcitāḥ paribhavo vibhave parikalpitaḥ

"Those pure sages who are absorbed in austerity, forsaking the worship of your lotus feet, are indeed, O mother, cheated by fate; disgrace has been ordained for them even amid their spiritual wealth.

Verse 19 (devibhagavatam.3.5.19)

न तपसा न दमेन समाधिना न च तथा विहितैः क्रतुभिर्यथा । तव पदाब्जपरागनिषेवणाद्भवति मुक्तिरजे भवसागरात्

na tapasā na damena samādhinā na ca tathā vihitaiḥ kratubhiryathā tava padābjaparāganiṣevaṇādbhavati muktiraje bhavasāgarāt

"Not by austerity, not by self-restraint, not by meditative absorption, nor likewise by rites duly performed, does liberation from the ocean of worldly existence come about, O queen, as it does through the loving service of the pollen of your lotus feet.

Verse 20 (devibhagavatam.3.5.20)

कुरु दयां दयसे यदि देवि मां कथय मन्त्रमनाविलमद्भुतम् । समभवं प्रजपन्सुखितो ह्यहं सुविशदं च नवार्णमनुत्तमम्

kuru dayāṁ dayase yadi devi māṁ kathaya mantramanāvilamadbhutam samabhavaṁ prajapansukhito hyahaṁ suviśadaṁ ca navārṇamanuttamam

"Show me compassion, O Goddess, if you feel compassion for me — tell me the unblemished, wondrous mantra; muttering it, may I become truly happy — the perfectly clear, most excellent nine-syllabled mantra.

Verse 21 (devibhagavatam.3.5.21)

प्रथमजन्मनि चाधिगतो मया तदधुना न विभाति नवाक्षरः । कथय मां मनुमद्य भवार्णवाज्जननि तारय तारय तारके

prathamajanmani cādhigato mayā tadadhunā na vibhāti navākṣaraḥ kathaya māṁ manumadya bhavārṇavājjanani tāraya tāraya tārake

"In my first birth I once obtained it, but now that nine-lettered mantra does not shine forth in my memory; tell me the mantra today. O mother, deliver me, deliver me from the ocean of worldly existence, O deliveress!"

Verse 22 (devibhagavatam.3.5.22)

इत्युक्ता सा तदा देवी शिवेनाद्भुततेजसा । उच्चचाराम्बिका मन्त्रं प्रस्फुटं च नवाक्षरम्

ityuktā sā tadā devī śivenādbhutatejasā uccacārāmbikā mantraṁ prasphuṭaṁ ca navākṣaram

Thus addressed by Shiva of wondrous splendour, the Goddess Ambika then uttered clearly the nine-syllabled mantra.

Verse 23 (devibhagavatam.3.5.23)

तं गृहीत्वा महादेवः परां मुदमवाप ह । प्रणम्य चरणौ देव्यास्तत्रैवावस्थितः शिवः

taṁ gṛhītvā mahādevaḥ parāṁ mudamavāpa ha praṇamya caraṇau devyāstatraivāvasthitaḥ śivaḥ

Receiving it, the great god obtained supreme joy; having bowed to the Goddess's two feet, Shiva remained standing right there.

Verse 24 (devibhagavatam.3.5.24)

जपन्नवाक्षरं मन्त्रं कामदं मोक्षदं तथा । बीजयुक्तं शुभोच्चारं शङ्करस्तस्थिवांस्तदा

japannavākṣaraṁ mantraṁ kāmadaṁ mokṣadaṁ tathā bījayuktaṁ śubhoccāraṁ śaṅkarastasthivāṁstadā

Muttering that nine-syllabled mantra, the giver of desires and likewise of liberation, joined with its seed-syllable, of auspicious utterance, Shankara then stood there.

Verse 25 (devibhagavatam.3.5.25)

तं तथाऽवस्थितं दृष्ट्वा शङ्करं लोकशङ्करम् । अवोचं तां महामायां संस्थितोऽहं पदान्तिके

taṁ tathā'vasthitaṁ dṛṣṭvā śaṅkaraṁ lokaśaṅkaram avocaṁ tāṁ mahāmāyāṁ saṁsthito'haṁ padāntike

Seeing Shankara, the benefactor of the world, thus standing there, I too, standing near her feet, spoke to that great Maya.

Verse 26 (devibhagavatam.3.5.26)

न वेदास्त्वामेवं कलयितुमिहासन्नपटवो यतस्ते नोचुस्त्वां सकलजनधात्रीमविकलाम् । स्वधाभूता देवी सकलमखहोमेषु विहिता तदा त्वं सर्वज्ञा जननि खलु जाता त्रिभुवने

na vedāstvāmevaṁ kalayitumihāsannapaṭavo yataste nocustvāṁ sakalajanadhātrīmavikalām svadhābhūtā devī sakalamakhahomeṣu vihitā tadā tvaṁ sarvajñā janani khalu jātā tribhuvane

"The Vedas here are not skilled enough to grasp you thus, since they have not spoken of you as the perfect creatress of all beings; the Goddess who has become Svadha, ordained in every sacrifice and oblation, has thus truly become known, O mother, as the all-knowing one in the three worlds.

Verse 27 (devibhagavatam.3.5.27)

कर्ताऽहं प्रकरोमि सर्वमखिलं ब्रह्माण्डमत्यद्भुतं कोऽन्योस्तीह चराचरे त्रिभुवने मत्तः समर्थः पुमान् । धन्योऽस्म्यत्र न संशयः किल यदा ब्रह्माऽस्मि लोकातिगो मग्नोऽहं भवसागरे प्रवितते गर्वाभिवेशादिति

kartā'haṁ prakaromi sarvamakhilaṁ brahmāṇḍamatyadbhutaṁ ko'nyostīha carācare tribhuvane mattaḥ samarthaḥ pumān dhanyo'smyatra na saṁśayaḥ kila yadā brahmā'smi lokātigo magno'haṁ bhavasāgare pravitate garvābhiveśāditi

"'I am the maker; I fashion this entire, most wondrous cosmic egg in full; who else, moving or unmoving, in the three worlds, is capable, besides me? I am blessed here, no doubt, since I am Brahma, transcending the worlds' — thinking thus, possessed by pride, I was sunk in the vast ocean of worldly existence.

Verse 28 (devibhagavatam.3.5.28)

अद्याहं तव पादपङ्कजपरागादानगर्वेण वै धन्योऽस्मीति यथार्थवादनिपुणो जातः प्रसादाच्च ते । याचे त्वां भवभीतिनाशचतुरां मुक्तिप्रदां चेश्वरीं हित्वा मोहकृतं महार्तिनिगडं त्वद्भक्तियुक्तं कुरु

adyāhaṁ tava pādapaṅkajaparāgādānagarveṇa vai dhanyo'smīti yathārthavādanipuṇo jātaḥ prasādācca te yāce tvāṁ bhavabhītināśacaturāṁ muktipradāṁ ceśvarīṁ hitvā mohakṛtaṁ mahārtinigaḍaṁ tvadbhaktiyuktaṁ kuru

"'Today, through the very pride of having taken hold of the pollen-dust of your lotus feet, I have become truly skilled in speaking the truth — "I am blessed" — by your very grace. I beg of you, O skillful destroyer of the fear of worldly existence, O giver of liberation, O sovereign — having cast off the great fetter of anguish made by delusion, make me devoted to you.'

Verse 29 (devibhagavatam.3.5.29)

अतोऽहञ्च जातो विमुक्तः कथं स्यां सरोजादमेयात्त्वदाविष्कृताद्वै । तवाज्ञाकरः किङ्करोऽस्मीति नूनं शिवे पाहि मां मोहमग्नं भवाब्धौ

ato'hañca jāto vimuktaḥ kathaṁ syāṁ sarojādameyāttvadāviṣkṛtādvai tavājñākaraḥ kiṅkaro'smīti nūnaṁ śive pāhi māṁ mohamagnaṁ bhavābdhau

"'So how then, born from that immeasurable lotus made manifest by you, might I become free? Surely I am the executor of your command, your servant — O auspicious one, protect me, sunk in delusion, in the ocean of worldly existence.'

Verse 30 (devibhagavatam.3.5.30)

न जानन्ति ये मानवास्ते वदन्ति प्रभुं मां तवाद्यं चरित्रं पवित्रम् । यजन्तीह ये याजकाः स्वर्गकामा न ते ते प्रभावं विदन्त्येव कामम्

na jānanti ye mānavāste vadanti prabhuṁ māṁ tavādyaṁ caritraṁ pavitram yajantīha ye yājakāḥ svargakāmā na te te prabhāvaṁ vidantyeva kāmam

"'Those men who do not know your pure and primal doings, yet call me the supreme lord; those sacrificers here who perform sacrifice desiring heaven — they truly do not know your power at all.'

Verse 31 (devibhagavatam.3.5.31)

त्वया निर्मितोऽहं विधित्वे विहारं विकर्तुं चतुर्धा विधायादिसर्गम् । अहं वेद्मि कोऽन्यो विवेदातिमाये क्षमस्वापराधं त्वहङ्कारजं मे

tvayā nirmito'haṁ vidhitve vihāraṁ vikartuṁ caturdhā vidhāyādisargam ahaṁ vedmi ko'nyo vivedātimāye kṣamasvāparādhaṁ tvahaṅkārajaṁ me

"'I was fashioned by you for the office of Brahma, to sport in performing the fourfold primal creation; I alone know it — who else, O great Maya, has ever known it? Forgive my offence, born of my own egoism.'

Verse 32 (devibhagavatam.3.5.32)

श्रमं येऽष्टधा योगमार्गे प्रवृत्ताः प्रकुर्वन्ति मूढाः समाधौ स्थिता वै । न जानन्ति ते नाम मोक्षप्रदं वा समुच्चारितं जातु मातर्मिषेण

śramaṁ ye'ṣṭadhā yogamārge pravṛttāḥ prakurvanti mūḍhāḥ samādhau sthitā vai na jānanti te nāma mokṣapradaṁ vā samuccāritaṁ jātu mātarmiṣeṇa

"'Those deluded ones who, having set out on the eightfold path of yoga, undergo hardship, established in meditative absorption — they do not know, indeed, your liberation-giving name, ever properly uttered, O mother, even out of mere pretext.'

Verse 33 (devibhagavatam.3.5.33)

विचारे परे तत्त्वसङ्ख्याविधाने पदे मोहिता नाम ते संविहाय । न किं ते विमूढा भवाब्धौ भवानि त्वमेवासि संसारमुक्तिप्रदा वै

vicāre pare tattvasaṅkhyāvidhāne pade mohitā nāma te saṁvihāya na kiṁ te vimūḍhā bhavābdhau bhavāni tvamevāsi saṁsāramuktipradā vai

"'Deluded by that supreme inquiry into the reckoning and classification of the principles, having abandoned your very name — are they not utterly bewildered in the ocean of worldly existence, O Bhavani? You alone are indeed the giver of liberation from worldly bondage.'

Verse 34 (devibhagavatam.3.5.34)

परं तत्त्वविज्ञानमाद्यैर्जनैर्यैरजे चानुभूतं त्यजन्त्येव ते किम् । निमेषार्धमात्रं पवित्रं चरित्रं शिवा चाम्बिका शक्तिरीशेति नाम

paraṁ tattvavijñānamādyairjanairyairaje cānubhūtaṁ tyajantyeva te kim nimeṣārdhamātraṁ pavitraṁ caritraṁ śivā cāmbikā śaktirīśeti nāma

"'That supreme knowledge of the ultimate truth, which was experienced by the ancient sages, O unborn one — do they, then, truly forsake it? Even for half the blink of an eye, this pure name — "Shiva, Ambika, Shakti, Ishvari" — should never be abandoned.'

Verse 35 (devibhagavatam.3.5.35)

न किं त्वं समर्थाऽसि विश्वं विधातुं दृशैवाशु सर्वं चतुर्धा विभक्तम् । विनोदार्थमेवं विधिं मां विधायादिसर्गे किलेदं करोषीति कामम्

na kiṁ tvaṁ samarthā'si viśvaṁ vidhātuṁ dṛśaivāśu sarvaṁ caturdhā vibhaktam vinodārthamevaṁ vidhiṁ māṁ vidhāyādisarge kiledaṁ karoṣīti kāmam

"'Are you not able to ordain the universe by a mere glance alone, dividing all instantly into its four kinds? Then why, having appointed me as Brahma merely for your own sport, do you cause me to perform this task of primal creation at will?'

Verse 36 (devibhagavatam.3.5.36)

हरिः पालकः किं त्वयाऽसौ मधोर्वा तथा कैटभाद्रक्षितः सिन्धुमध्ये । हरः संहृतः किं त्वयाऽसौ न काले कथं मे भ्रुवोर्मध्यदेशात्स जातः

hariḥ pālakaḥ kiṁ tvayā'sau madhorvā tathā kaiṭabhādrakṣitaḥ sindhumadhye haraḥ saṁhṛtaḥ kiṁ tvayā'sau na kāle kathaṁ me bhruvormadhyadeśātsa jātaḥ

"'Was not that Hari, the protector, saved by you from Madhu and likewise from Kaitabha, in the midst of the ocean? Is not Hara, too, withdrawn by you at the final time? How, then, was he born from between my two eyebrows?'

Verse 37 (devibhagavatam.3.5.37)

न ते जन्म कुत्रापि दृष्टं श्रुतं वा कुतः सम्भवस्ते न कोऽपीह वेद । किलाद्यासि शक्तिस्त्वमेका भवानि स्वतन्त्रैः समस्तैरतो बोधिताऽसि

na te janma kutrāpi dṛṣṭaṁ śrutaṁ vā kutaḥ sambhavaste na ko'pīha veda kilādyāsi śaktistvamekā bhavāni svatantraiḥ samastairato bodhitā'si

"'Your own birth has nowhere been seen or heard of; from whence your own origin, no one here knows at all. Indeed, you alone are the primal Shakti, O Bhavani; therefore you are understood by all the independent gods as such.'

Verse 38 (devibhagavatam.3.5.38)

त्वया संयुतोऽहं विकर्तुं समर्थो हरिस्त्रातुमम्ब त्वया संयुतश्च । हरः सम्प्रहर्तुं त्वयैवेह युक्तः क्षमा नाद्य सर्वे त्वया विप्रयुक्ताः

tvayā saṁyuto'haṁ vikartuṁ samartho haristrātumamba tvayā saṁyutaśca haraḥ samprahartuṁ tvayaiveha yuktaḥ kṣamā nādya sarve tvayā viprayuktāḥ

"'Joined with you, I am capable of creating; Hari, joined with you, O mother, is capable of protecting; and Hara, joined with you alone, here, is fit to destroy. Without you, none of us today would be capable at all.'

Verse 39 (devibhagavatam.3.5.39)

यथाऽहं हरिः शङ्करः किं तथाऽन्ये न जाता न सन्तीह नो वाऽभविष्यन् । न मुह्यन्ति केऽस्मिंस्तवात्यन्तचित्रे विनोदे विवादास्पदेऽल्पाशयानाम्

yathā'haṁ hariḥ śaṅkaraḥ kiṁ tathā'nye na jātā na santīha no vā'bhaviṣyan na muhyanti ke'smiṁstavātyantacitre vinode vivādāspade'lpāśayānām

"'Just as I, Hari, and Shankara are your instruments, so too are others — whether born, or not existing here, or yet to be — who indeed is not bewildered by this most wondrous sport of yours, this very ground of dispute among those of little understanding?'

Verse 40 (devibhagavatam.3.5.40)

अकर्ता गुणस्पष्ट एवाद्य देवो निरीहोऽनुपाधिः सदैवाकलश्च । तथापीश्वरस्ते वितीर्णं विनोदं सुसम्पश्यतीत्याहुरेवं विधिज्ञाः

akartā guṇaspaṣṭa evādya devo nirīho'nupādhiḥ sadaivākalaśca tathāpīśvaraste vitīrṇaṁ vinodaṁ susampaśyatītyāhurevaṁ vidhijñāḥ

"'The Supreme God — non-agent, manifest only through the qualities, desireless, without limiting adjuncts, ever undivided — yet he well beholds the sport granted by you, his sovereign lady' — thus say those who know the sacred ordinance.

Verse 41 (devibhagavatam.3.5.41)

दृष्टादृष्टविभेदेऽस्मिन्प्राक्त्वत्तो वै पुमान्परः । नान्यः कोऽपि तृतीयोऽस्ति प्रमेये सुविचारिते

dṛṣṭādṛṣṭavibhede'sminprāktvatto vai pumānparaḥ nānyaḥ ko'pi tṛtīyo'sti prameye suvicārite

"'In this distinction between seen and unseen, before you there was indeed the supreme Purusha; there is no other, no third thing at all, when the object of knowledge is well examined.'

Verse 42 (devibhagavatam.3.5.42)

न मिथ्या वेदवाक्यं वै कल्पनीयं कदाचन । विरोधोऽयं मयाऽत्यन्तं हृदये तु विशङ्कितः

na mithyā vedavākyaṁ vai kalpanīyaṁ kadācana virodho'yaṁ mayā'tyantaṁ hṛdaye tu viśaṅkitaḥ

"'The words of the Veda are never, indeed, to be imagined as false — yet this very contradiction I have deeply doubted in my heart.'

Verse 43 (devibhagavatam.3.5.43)

एकमेवाद्वितीयं यद्ब्रह्म वेदा वदन्ति वै । सा किं त्वं वाप्यसौ वा किं सन्देहं विनिवर्तय

ekamevādvitīyaṁ yadbrahma vedā vadanti vai sā kiṁ tvaṁ vāpyasau vā kiṁ sandehaṁ vinivartaya

"'That Brahman which the Vedas declare to be "one only, without a second" — is that you, or is it he? Remove this doubt.'

Verse 44 (devibhagavatam.3.5.44)

निःसंशयं न मे चेतः प्रभवत्यविशङ्कितम् । द्वित्वैकत्वविचारेऽस्मिन्निमग्नं क्षुल्लकं मनः

niḥsaṁśayaṁ na me cetaḥ prabhavatyaviśaṅkitam dvitvaikatvavicāre'sminnimagnaṁ kṣullakaṁ manaḥ

"'My mind cannot become free of doubt, unshaken; in this inquiry into duality and unity, my petty mind is submerged.'

Verse 45 (devibhagavatam.3.5.45)

स्वमुखेनापि सन्देहं छेत्तुमर्हसि मामकम् । पुण्यभोगाच्च मे प्राप्ता सङ्गतिस्तव पादयोः

svamukhenāpi sandehaṁ chettumarhasi māmakam puṇyabhogācca me prāptā saṅgatistava pādayoḥ

"'You are indeed fit to cut away this doubt of mine with your own mouth; it is through the enjoyment of my own merit that I have obtained this union with your two feet.'

Verse 46 (devibhagavatam.3.5.46)

पुमानसि त्वं स्त्री वासि वद विस्तरतो मम । ज्ञात्वाऽहं परमां शक्तिं मुक्तः स्यां भवसागरात्

pumānasi tvaṁ strī vāsi vada vistarato mama jñātvā'haṁ paramāṁ śaktiṁ muktaḥ syāṁ bhavasāgarāt

"'Are you male, or are you female? Tell me this in full detail; having come to know the supreme Shakti, may I be freed from the ocean of worldly existence.'"