Para Shakti's Omniscience Declared

Verse 1 (devibhagavatam.4.25.1)

राजोवाच । सन्देहो मे मुनिश्रेष्ठ जायते वचनात्तव । वैष्णवांशे भगवति दुःखोत्पत्तिं विलोक्य च ॥

rājovāca | sandeho me muniśreṣṭha jāyate vacanāttava | vaiṣṇavāṁśe bhagavati duḥkhotpattiṁ vilokya ca ||

The king said: "A doubt arises in me, O best of sages, from your words, seeing the arising of sorrow in the Lord who is a portion of Vishnu."

Verse 2 (devibhagavatam.4.25.2)

नारायणांशसम्भूतो वासुदेवः प्रतापवान् । कथं स सूतिकागाराद्धृतो बालो हरेरपि ॥

nārāyaṇāṁśasambhūto vāsudevaḥ pratāpavān | kathaṁ sa sūtikāgārāddhṛto bālo harerapi ||

"How was that mighty Vasudeva, born of a portion of Narayana, as an infant, carried off from the birthing-chamber, even though he was Hari himself?"

Verse 3 (devibhagavatam.4.25.3)

सुगुप्तनगरे रम्ये गुप्तेऽथ सूतिकागृहे । प्रविश्य तेन दैत्येन गृहीतोऽसौ कथं शिशुः ॥

suguptanagare ramye gupte'tha sūtikāgṛhe | praviśya tena daityena gṛhīto'sau kathaṁ śiśuḥ ||

"In the well-guarded, beautiful city, in the protected birthing-chamber, how was that infant seized, entered upon by that Daitya?"

Verse 4 (devibhagavatam.4.25.4)

न ज्ञातो वासुदेवेन चित्रमेतन्ममाद्भुतम् । जायते महदाश्चर्यं चित्ते सत्यवतीसुत ॥

na jñāto vāsudevena citrametanmamādbhutam | jāyate mahadāścaryaṁ citte satyavatīsuta ||

"It was not known by Vasudeva — this is a strange wonder to me. A great astonishment arises in my mind, O son of Satyavati."

Verse 5 (devibhagavatam.4.25.5)

ब्रूहि तत्कारणं ब्रह्मन्न ज्ञातं केशवेन यत् । हरणं तत्रसंस्थेन शिशोर्वा सूतिकागृहात् ॥

brūhi tatkāraṇaṁ brahmanna jñātaṁ keśavena yat | haraṇaṁ tatrasaṁsthena śiśorvā sūtikāgṛhāt ||

"Tell me the reason for this, O Brahmin, that Keshava did not know of it — the abduction, by one present right there, of the infant from the birthing-chamber."

Verse 6 (devibhagavatam.4.25.6)

व्यास उवाच । माया बलवती राजन्नराणां बुद्धिमोहिनी । शाम्भवी विश्रुता लोके को वा मोहं न गच्छति ॥

vyāsa uvāca | māyā balavatī rājannarāṇāṁ buddhimohinī | śāmbhavī viśrutā loke ko vā mohaṁ na gacchati ||

Vyasa said: "Maya is powerful, O king, the deluder of men's intellect; known in the world as Shambhavi — who indeed does not fall into delusion?"

Verse 7 (devibhagavatam.4.25.7)

मानुषं जन्म सम्प्राप्य गुणाः सर्वेऽपि मानुषाः । भवन्ति देहजा कामं न देवा नासुरास्तदा ॥

mānuṣaṁ janma samprāpya guṇāḥ sarve'pi mānuṣāḥ | bhavanti dehajā kāmaṁ na devā nāsurāstadā ||

"Having obtained a human birth, all the qualities too become fully human, born of the body — they are then neither divine nor demonic."

Verse 8 (devibhagavatam.4.25.8)

क्षुत्तृण्निद्रा भयं तन्द्रा व्यामोहः शोकसंशयः । हर्षश्चैवाभिमानश्च जरामरणमेव च ॥

kṣuttṛṇnidrā bhayaṁ tandrā vyāmohaḥ śokasaṁśayaḥ | harṣaścaivābhimānaśca jarāmaraṇameva ca ||

"Hunger, thirst, sleep, fear, drowsiness, confusion, sorrow, doubt, joy, and also pride, and old age and death itself—"

Verse 9 (devibhagavatam.4.25.9)

अज्ञानं ग्लानिरप्रीतिरीर्ष्यासूया मदः श्रमः । एते देहभवा भावाः प्रभवन्ति नराधिप ॥

ajñānaṁ glāniraprītirīrṣyāsūyā madaḥ śramaḥ | ete dehabhavā bhāvāḥ prabhavanti narādhipa ||

"— ignorance, weariness, displeasure, jealousy, envy, intoxication, fatigue — these states, born of the body, arise, O ruler of men."

Verse 10 (devibhagavatam.4.25.10)

यथा हेममृगं रामो न बुबोध पुरोगतम् । जानक्या हरणञ्चैव जटायुमरणं तथा ॥

yathā hemamṛgaṁ rāmo na bubodha purogatam | jānakyā haraṇañcaiva jaṭāyumaraṇaṁ tathā ||

"Just as Rama did not perceive that the golden deer standing before him was false, and likewise Janaki's abduction, and Jatayu's death—"

Verse 11 (devibhagavatam.4.25.11)

अभिषेकदिने रामो वनवासं न वेद च । तथा न ज्ञातवान् रामः स्वशोकान्मरणं पितुः ॥

abhiṣekadine rāmo vanavāsaṁ na veda ca | tathā na jñātavān rāmaḥ svaśokānmaraṇaṁ pituḥ ||

"— on the very day of his coronation, Rama did not know of his impending forest-exile; so too Rama did not know, in his own grief, of his father's death."

Verse 12 (devibhagavatam.4.25.12)

अज्ञवद्विचचारासौ पश्यमानो वने वने । जानकीं न विवेदाथ रावणेन हृतां बलात् ॥

ajñavadvicacārāsau paśyamāno vane vane | jānakīṁ na vivedātha rāvaṇena hṛtāṁ balāt ||

"He wandered like one ignorant, searching in forest after forest; he did not know that Janaki had been forcibly carried off by Ravana."

Verse 13 (devibhagavatam.4.25.13)

सहायान् वानरान्कृत्वा हत्वा शक्रसुतं बलात् । सागरे सेतुबन्धञ्च कृत्वोत्तीर्य सरित्पतिम् ॥

sahāyān vānarānkṛtvā hatvā śakrasutaṁ balāt | sāgare setubandhañca kṛtvottīrya saritpatim ||

"Making allies of the monkeys, having slain Indra's son by force, and having built a bridge upon the ocean, having crossed the lord of rivers—"

Verse 14 (devibhagavatam.4.25.14)

प्रेषयामास सर्वासु दिक्षु तान्कपिकुञ्जरान् । सङ्ग्रामं कृतवान्घोरं दुःखं प्राप रणाजिरे ॥

preṣayāmāsa sarvāsu dikṣu tānkapikuñjarān | saṅgrāmaṁ kṛtavānghoraṁ duḥkhaṁ prāpa raṇājire ||

"— he sent those foremost of monkeys in all directions; he waged a terrible war, and met with sorrow on the field of battle."

Verse 15 (devibhagavatam.4.25.15)

बन्धनं नागपाशेन प्राप रामो महाबलः । गरुडान्मोक्षणं पश्चादन्वभूद्रघुनन्दनः ॥

bandhanaṁ nāgapāśena prāpa rāmo mahābalaḥ | garuḍānmokṣaṇaṁ paścādanvabhūdraghunandanaḥ ||

"Rama, of great strength, was bound by the serpent-noose; afterward, the descendant of Raghu underwent release through Garuda."

Verse 16 (devibhagavatam.4.25.16)

अहनद्रावणं सङ्ख्ये कुम्भकर्णं महाबलम् । मेघनादं निकुम्भञ्च कुपितो रघुनन्दनः ॥

ahanadrāvaṇaṁ saṅkhye kumbhakarṇaṁ mahābalam | meghanādaṁ nikumbhañca kupito raghunandanaḥ ||

"He, angered, slew Ravana in battle, and the mighty Kumbhakarna, and Meghanada, and Nikumbha, that descendant of Raghu—"

Verse 17 (devibhagavatam.4.25.17)

अदूष्यत्वञ्च जानक्या न विवेद जनार्दनः । दिव्यञ्च कारयामास ज्वलितेऽग्नौ प्रवेशनम् ॥

adūṣyatvañca jānakyā na viveda janārdanaḥ | divyañca kārayāmāsa jvalite'gnau praveśanam ||

"— Janardana did not know of Janaki's purity; he had her undergo the divine fire ordeal."

Verse 18 (devibhagavatam.4.25.18)

लोकापवादाच्च परं ततस्तत्याज तां प्रियाम् । अदूष्यां दूषितां मत्वा सीतां दशरथात्मजः ॥

lokāpavādācca paraṁ tatastatyāja tāṁ priyām | adūṣyāṁ dūṣitāṁ matvā sītāṁ daśarathātmajaḥ ||

"And then, beyond that, on account of the world's censure, he abandoned that beloved one; the son of Dasharatha, taking pure Sita to be impure, cast her off."

Verse 19 (devibhagavatam.4.25.19)

न ज्ञातौ स्वसुतौ तेन रामेण च कुशीलवौ । मुनिना कथितौ तौ तु तस्य पुत्रौ महाबलौ ॥

na jñātau svasutau tena rāmeṇa ca kuśīlavau | muninā kathitau tau tu tasya putrau mahābalau ||

"His own two sons, Kusha and Lava, were not known by that Rama; they were told to him by the sage as his own mighty sons."

Verse 20 (devibhagavatam.4.25.20)

पातालगमनं चैव जानक्या ज्ञातवान्न च । राघवः कोपसंयुक्तो भ्रातरं हन्तुमुद्यतः ॥

pātālagamanaṁ caiva jānakyā jñātavānna ca | rāghavaḥ kopasaṁyukto bhrātaraṁ hantumudyataḥ ||

"And he did not know of Janaki's going into Patala; Raghava, filled with anger, was even ready to slay his own brother."

Verse 21 (devibhagavatam.4.25.21)

कालस्यागमनञ्चैव न विवेद खरान्तकः । मानुषं देहमाश्रित्य चक्रे मानुषचेष्टितम् ॥

kālasyāgamanañcaiva na viveda kharāntakaḥ | mānuṣaṁ dehamāśritya cakre mānuṣaceṣṭitam ||

"The destroyer of Khara did not perceive the approach of his own Time; taking on a human body, he performed human actions."

Verse 22 (devibhagavatam.4.25.22)

तथैव मानुषान्भावान्नात्र कार्या विचारणा । पूर्वं कंसभयात्प्राप्तो गोकुले यदुनन्दनः ॥

tathaiva mānuṣānbhāvānnātra kāryā vicāraṇā | pūrvaṁ kaṁsabhayātprāpto gokule yadunandanaḥ ||

"In the same way, Krishna's human-like states here need no further examination. Formerly, out of fear of Kamsa, the delight of the Yadus went to Gokula—"

Verse 23 (devibhagavatam.4.25.23)

जरासन्धभयात्पश्चाद् द्वारवत्यां गतो हरिः । अधर्मं कृतवान्कृष्णो रुक्मिण्या हरणञ्च यत् ॥

jarāsandhabhayātpaścād dvāravatyāṁ gato hariḥ | adharmaṁ kṛtavānkṛṣṇo rukmiṇyā haraṇañca yat ||

"— afterward, out of fear of Jarasandha, Hari went to Dvaravati. Krishna committed an unrighteous act, in that he abducted Rukmini—"

Verse 24 (devibhagavatam.4.25.24)

शिशुपालवृतायाश्च जानन्धर्मं सनातनम् । शुशोच बालकं कृष्णः शम्बरेण हृतं बलात् ॥

śiśupālavṛtāyāśca jānandharmaṁ sanātanam | śuśoca bālakaṁ kṛṣṇaḥ śambareṇa hṛtaṁ balāt ||

"— though she had chosen Shishupala, knowing the eternal dharma against such abduction. Krishna grieved for his infant son, forcibly taken by Shambara—"

Verse 25 (devibhagavatam.4.25.25)

मुमोद जानन्पुत्रं तं हर्षशोकयुतस्ततः । सत्यभामाज्ञया यत्तु युयुधे स्वर्गतः किल ॥

mumoda jānanputraṁ taṁ harṣaśokayutastataḥ | satyabhāmājñayā yattu yuyudhe svargataḥ kila ||

"— he rejoiced, though knowing that son, then filled with both joy and sorrow. That which he did, at Satyabhama's bidding, fighting one who had come from heaven—"

Verse 26 (devibhagavatam.4.25.26)

इन्द्रेण पादपार्थं तु स्त्रीजितत्वं प्रकाशयन् । जहार कल्पवृक्षं यः पराभूय शतक्रतुम् ॥

indreṇa pādapārthaṁ tu strījitatvaṁ prakāśayan | jahāra kalpavṛkṣaṁ yaḥ parābhūya śatakratum ||

"— for the sake of a tree, revealing his subjugation by a woman, against Indra — he who carried off the wish-fulfilling tree, having defeated Shatakratu."

Verse 27 (devibhagavatam.4.25.27)

मानिनीमानरक्षार्थं हरिश्चित्रधरः प्रभुः । बद्ध्वा वृक्षे हरिं सत्या नारदाय ददौ पतिम् ॥

māninīmānarakṣārthaṁ hariścitradharaḥ prabhuḥ | baddhvā vṛkṣe hariṁ satyā nāradāya dadau patim ||

"For the protection of the honor of his proud wife, Hari, the wonder-holder, the Lord — having bound Hari to a tree, Satya gave that husband over to Narada."

Verse 28 (devibhagavatam.4.25.28)

दत्त्वाथ कानकं कृष्णं मोचयामास भामिनी । दृष्ट्वा पुत्रान्पुरुगुणान्प्रद्युम्नप्रमुखानथ ॥

dattvātha kānakaṁ kṛṣṇaṁ mocayāmāsa bhāminī | dṛṣṭvā putrānpuruguṇānpradyumnapramukhānatha ||

"Having given the golden gift, she, the radiant one, freed Krishna. Seeing his many virtuous sons, headed by Pradyumna—"

Verse 29 (devibhagavatam.4.25.29)

कृष्णं जाम्बवती दीना ययाचे सन्ततिं शुभाम् । स ययौ पर्वतं कृष्णस्तपस्याकृतनिश्चयः ॥

kṛṣṇaṁ jāmbavatī dīnā yayāce santatiṁ śubhām | sa yayau parvataṁ kṛṣṇastapasyākṛtaniścayaḥ ||

"— Jambavati, the sorrowful one, begged Krishna for auspicious offspring. Krishna, having resolved upon austerity, went to a mountain—"

Verse 30 (devibhagavatam.4.25.30)

उपमन्युर्मुनिर्यत्र शिवभक्तः परन्तपः । उपमन्युं गुरु कृत्वा दीक्षां पाशुपतो हरिः ॥

upamanyurmuniryatra śivabhaktaḥ parantapaḥ | upamanyuṁ guru kṛtvā dīkṣāṁ pāśupato hariḥ ||

"— where dwelt the sage Upamanyu, a devotee of Shiva, a scorcher of foes; making Upamanyu his guru, Hari received Pashupata initiation."

Verse 31 (devibhagavatam.4.25.31)

जग्राह पुत्रकामस्तु मुण्डी दण्डी बभूव ह । उग्रं तत्र तपस्तेपे मासमेकं फलाशनः ॥

jagrāha putrakāmastu muṇḍī daṇḍī babhūva ha | ugraṁ tatra tapastepe māsamekaṁ phalāśanaḥ ||

"Desiring a son, he took the vow, became shaven-headed, and bore a staff. There he performed intense austerity for one month, subsisting on fruit."

Verse 32 (devibhagavatam.4.25.32)

जजाप शिवमन्त्रं तु शिवध्यानपरो हरिः । द्वितीये तु जलाहारस्तिष्ठन्नेकपदा हरिः ॥

jajāpa śivamantraṁ tu śivadhyānaparo hariḥ | dvitīye tu jalāhārastiṣṭhannekapadā hariḥ ||

"He recited the Shiva-mantra, devoted to meditation on Shiva; in the second month, subsisting on water alone, standing on one foot—"

Verse 33 (devibhagavatam.4.25.33)

तृतीये वायुभक्षस्तु पादाङ्गुष्ठाग्रसंस्थितः । षष्ठे तु भगवान् रुद्रः प्रसन्नो भक्तिभावतः ॥

tṛtīye vāyubhakṣastu pādāṅguṣṭhāgrasaṁsthitaḥ | ṣaṣṭhe tu bhagavān rudraḥ prasanno bhaktibhāvataḥ ||

"— in the third, subsisting on air alone, standing on the tip of his big toe. In the sixth month, the Lord Rudra, pleased by his devotion—"

Verse 34 (devibhagavatam.4.25.34)

दर्शनञ्च ददौ तत्र सोमः सोमकलाधरः । आजगाम वृषारूढः सुरैरिन्द्रादिभिर्भूतः ॥

darśanañca dadau tatra somaḥ somakalādharaḥ | ājagāma vṛṣārūḍhaḥ surairindrādibhirbhūtaḥ ||

"— gave there his audience — the Moon, bearer of the digit of Soma; he came mounted on his bull, attended by the gods headed by Indra—"

Verse 35 (devibhagavatam.4.25.35)

ब्रह्मविष्णुयुतः साक्षाद्यक्षगन्धर्वसेवितः । सम्बोधयन्वासुदेवं शङ्करस्तमुवाच ह ॥

brahmaviṣṇuyutaḥ sākṣādyakṣagandharvasevitaḥ | sambodhayanvāsudevaṁ śaṅkarastamuvāca ha ||

"— accompanied by Brahma and Vishnu themselves, attended by Yakshas and Gandharvas; addressing Vasudeva, Shankara said to him—"

Verse 36 (devibhagavatam.4.25.36)

तुष्टोऽस्मि कृष्ण तपसा तवोग्रेण महामते । ददामि वाच्छितान्कामान्ब्रूहि यादवनन्दन ॥

tuṣṭo'smi kṛṣṇa tapasā tavogreṇa mahāmate | dadāmi vācchitānkāmānbrūhi yādavanandana ||

"'I am pleased, O Krishna, by your intense austerity, O great-minded one; I grant your desired wishes — speak, O delight of the Yadus.'"

Verse 37 (devibhagavatam.4.25.37)

मयि दृष्टे कामपूरे कामशेषो न सम्भवेत् । व्यास उवाच । तं दृष्ट्वा शङ्करं तुष्टं भगवान्देवकीसुतः ॥

mayi dṛṣṭe kāmapūre kāmaśeṣo na sambhavet | vyāsa uvāca | taṁ dṛṣṭvā śaṅkaraṁ tuṣṭaṁ bhagavāndevakīsutaḥ ||

"'When I am seen, the fulfiller of desires, no remainder of desire can exist.'" Vyasa said: Seeing Shankara pleased, the Lord, son of Devaki—

Verse 38 (devibhagavatam.4.25.38)

पपात पादयोस्तस्य दण्डवत्प्रेमसंयुतः । स्तुतिं चकार देवेशो मेघगम्भीरया गिरा ॥

papāta pādayostasya daṇḍavatpremasaṁyutaḥ | stutiṁ cakāra deveśo meghagambhīrayā girā ||

— fell at his feet like a rod, full of love; the lord of gods offered praise, in a voice deep as a cloud.

Verse 39 (devibhagavatam.4.25.39)

स्थितस्तु पुरतः शम्भोर्वासुदेवः सनातनः । श्रीकृष्ण उवाच । देवदेव जगन्ताथ सर्वभूतार्तिनाशन ॥

sthitastu purataḥ śambhorvāsudevaḥ sanātanaḥ | śrīkṛṣṇa uvāca | devadeva jagantātha sarvabhūtārtināśana ||

Standing before Shambhu, the eternal Vasudeva — Shri Krishna said: "O God of gods, protector of the worlds, destroyer of all beings' affliction—"

Verse 40 (devibhagavatam.4.25.40)

विश्वयोने सुरारिघ्न नमस्त्रैलोक्यकारक । नीलकण्ठ नमस्तुभ्यं शूलिने ते नमो नमः ॥

viśvayone surārighna namastrailokyakāraka | nīlakaṇṭha namastubhyaṁ śūline te namo namaḥ ||

"— O womb of the universe, destroyer of the gods' foes, salutation, O maker of the three worlds! O blue-throated one, salutation to you, O trident-bearer, salutation, salutation to you."

Verse 41 (devibhagavatam.4.25.41)

शैलजावल्लभायाश्च यज्ञघ्नाय नमोऽस्तु ते । धन्योऽहं कृतकृत्योऽहं दर्शनात्तव सुव्रत ॥

śailajāvallabhāyāśca yajñaghnāya namo'stu te | dhanyo'haṁ kṛtakṛtyo'haṁ darśanāttava suvrata ||

"Salutation to you, beloved of the mountain's daughter, destroyer of the sacrifice! Blessed am I, my purpose accomplished, by the sight of you, O one of noble vows."

Verse 42 (devibhagavatam.4.25.42)

जन्म मे सफलं जातं नत्वा ते पादपङ्कजम् । बद्धोऽहं स्त्रीमयैः पाशैः संसारेऽस्मिञ्जगद्गुरो ॥

janma me saphalaṁ jātaṁ natvā te pādapaṅkajam | baddho'haṁ strīmayaiḥ pāśaiḥ saṁsāre'smiñjagadguro ||

"My birth has become fruitful, having bowed to your lotus feet. I am bound by the nooses made of women, in this world, O Guru of the universe."

Verse 43 (devibhagavatam.4.25.43)

शरणं तेऽद्य सम्प्राप्तो रक्षणार्थं त्रिलोचन । सम्प्राप्य मानुषं जन्म खिन्नोऽहं दुःखनाशन ॥

śaraṇaṁ te'dya samprāpto rakṣaṇārthaṁ trilocana | samprāpya mānuṣaṁ janma khinno'haṁ duḥkhanāśana ||

"I have today come for refuge to you, O three-eyed one, for protection. Having obtained a human birth, I am wearied, O destroyer of sorrow."

Verse 44 (devibhagavatam.4.25.44)

त्राहि मां शरणं प्राप्तं भवभीतं भवाधुना । गर्भवासे महद्दुःखं प्राप्तं मदनदाहक ॥

trāhi māṁ śaraṇaṁ prāptaṁ bhavabhītaṁ bhavādhunā | garbhavāse mahadduḥkhaṁ prāptaṁ madanadāhaka ||

"Protect me, who have come to your refuge, now afraid of worldly existence. Great sorrow was undergone by me in the dwelling of the womb, O destroyer of the fire of desire."

Verse 45 (devibhagavatam.4.25.45)

जन्मतः कंसभयजमनुभूतं च गोकुले । जातोऽहं नन्दगोपालो बल्लवाज्ञाकरस्तथा ॥

janmataḥ kaṁsabhayajamanubhūtaṁ ca gokule | jāto'haṁ nandagopālo ballavājñākarastathā ||

"From birth, I have experienced the sorrow born of fear of Kamsa, and in Gokula too; I became a cowherd's boy under Nanda, and a servant obeying the cowherds' commands."

Verse 46 (devibhagavatam.4.25.46)

गोरजःकीर्णकेशस्तु भ्रमन्वृन्दावने घने । म्लेच्छराजभयत्रस्तो गतो द्वारवतीं पुनः ॥

gorajaḥkīrṇakeśastu bhramanvṛndāvane ghane | mleccharājabhayatrasto gato dvāravatīṁ punaḥ ||

"My hair covered in cow-dust, I wandered in the dense Vrindavana; frightened by fear of the Mleccha king, I went again to Dvaravati."

Verse 47 (devibhagavatam.4.25.47)

त्यक्त्वा पित्र्यं शुभं देशं माधुरं दुर्लभं विभो । ययातिशापबद्धेन तस्मै दत्तं भयाद्विभो ॥

tyaktvā pitryaṁ śubhaṁ deśaṁ mādhuraṁ durlabhaṁ vibho | yayātiśāpabaddhena tasmai dattaṁ bhayādvibho ||

"Abandoning that auspicious, hard-to-find ancestral land of Mathura, O lord — bound by Yayati's curse, it was given over out of fear, O lord—"

Verse 48 (devibhagavatam.4.25.48)

राज्यं सुपुष्टमपि च धर्मरक्षापरेण च । उग्रसेनस्य दासत्वं कृतं वै सर्वदा मया ॥

rājyaṁ supuṣṭamapi ca dharmarakṣāpareṇa ca | ugrasenasya dāsatvaṁ kṛtaṁ vai sarvadā mayā ||

"— even though the kingdom was well-flourishing, and I, devoted to the protection of dharma, have always rendered service to Ugrasena, like a slave."

Verse 49 (devibhagavatam.4.25.49)

राजासौ यादवानां वै कृतो नः पूर्वजैः किल । गार्हस्थ्यं दुःखदं शम्भो स्त्रीवश्यं धर्मखण्डनम् ॥

rājāsau yādavānāṁ vai kṛto naḥ pūrvajaiḥ kila | gārhasthyaṁ duḥkhadaṁ śambho strīvaśyaṁ dharmakhaṇḍanam ||

"That one was indeed made king of the Yadavas by our own forefathers. Household life, O Shambhu, is a giver of sorrow, subject to women, a breach of dharma."

Verse 50 (devibhagavatam.4.25.50)

पारतन्त्र्यं सदा बन्धमोक्षवार्तात्र दुर्लभा । रुक्यिण्यास्तनयान्दृष्ट्वा भार्या जाम्बवती मम ॥

pāratantryaṁ sadā bandhamokṣavārtātra durlabhā | rukyiṇyāstanayāndṛṣṭvā bhāryā jāmbavatī mama ||

"Perpetual dependency; here even the matter of release from bondage is hard to attain. Seeing Rukmini's sons, my wife Jambavati—"

Verse 51 (devibhagavatam.4.25.51)

प्रेरयामास पुत्रार्थं तपसे मदनान्तक । सकामेन मया तप्तं तपः पुत्रार्थमद्य वै ॥

prerayāmāsa putrārthaṁ tapase madanāntaka | sakāmena mayā taptaṁ tapaḥ putrārthamadya vai ||

"— urged me, O destroyer of Madana, toward austerity for the sake of a son. Desiring that end, I have today performed austerity for the sake of a son."

Verse 52 (devibhagavatam.4.25.52)

लज्जा भवति देवेश प्रार्थनायां जगद्गुरो । कस्त्वामाराध्य देवेशं मुक्तिदं भक्तवत्सलम् ॥

lajjā bhavati deveśa prārthanāyāṁ jagadguro | kastvāmārādhya deveśaṁ muktidaṁ bhaktavatsalam ||

"There is shame, O lord of gods, O Guru of the universe, in this petition. Who, having worshipped you, the lord of gods, the giver of liberation, the one affectionate to devotees—"

Verse 53 (devibhagavatam.4.25.53)

प्रसन्नं याचते मूढः फलं तुच्छं विनाशि यत् । सोऽयं मायाविमूढात्मा याचे पुत्रसुखं विभो ॥

prasannaṁ yācate mūḍhaḥ phalaṁ tucchaṁ vināśi yat | so'yaṁ māyāvimūḍhātmā yāce putrasukhaṁ vibho ||

"— once you are pleased, would, being foolish, ask for some trivial, perishable fruit? I too, deluded by Maya, in this way, ask you, O lord, for the happiness of a son."

Verse 54 (devibhagavatam.4.25.54)

कामिन्या प्रेरितः शम्भो मुक्तिदं त्वां जगत्पते । जानामि दुःखदं शम्भो संसारं दुःखसाधनम् ॥

kāminyā preritaḥ śambho muktidaṁ tvāṁ jagatpate | jānāmi duḥkhadaṁ śambho saṁsāraṁ duḥkhasādhanam ||

"Urged by my wife, O Shambhu, I ask this of you, the giver of liberation, O lord of the world; I know, O Shambhu, that samsara is a giver of sorrow, an instrument of sorrow—"

Verse 55 (devibhagavatam.4.25.55)

अनित्यं नाशधर्माणं तथापि विरतिर्न मे । शापान्नारायणांशोऽहं जातोऽस्मि क्षितिमण्डले ॥

anityaṁ nāśadharmāṇaṁ tathāpi viratirna me | śāpānnārāyaṇāṁśo'haṁ jāto'smi kṣitimaṇḍale ||

"— impermanent, subject to the law of destruction; yet still I have no aversion to it. By a curse I, a portion of Narayana, have been born in this earthly realm—"

Verse 56 (devibhagavatam.4.25.56)

भोक्तुं बहुतरं दुःखं मायापाशेन यन्त्रितः । व्यास उवाच । इत्युक्तवन्तं गोविन्दं प्रत्युवाच महेश्वरः ॥

bhoktuṁ bahutaraṁ duḥkhaṁ māyāpāśena yantritaḥ | vyāsa uvāca | ityuktavantaṁ govindaṁ pratyuvāca maheśvaraḥ ||

"— to experience much sorrow, bound by the noose of Maya." Vyasa said: To Govinda, having spoken thus, the great Lord replied—

Verse 57 (devibhagavatam.4.25.57)

बहवस्ते भविष्यन्ति पुत्राः शत्रुनिषूदन । स्त्रीणां षोडशसाहस्रं भविष्यति शतार्धकम् ॥

bahavaste bhaviṣyanti putrāḥ śatruniṣūdana | strīṇāṁ ṣoḍaśasāhasraṁ bhaviṣyati śatārdhakam ||

"You shall have many sons, O destroyer of foes; your women shall number sixteen thousand and fifty—"

Verse 58 (devibhagavatam.4.25.58)

तासु पुत्रा दश दश भविष्यन्ति महाबलाः । इत्युक्त्वोपररामाशु शङ्करः प्रियदर्शनः ॥

tāsu putrā daśa daśa bhaviṣyanti mahābalāḥ | ityuktvopararāmāśu śaṅkaraḥ priyadarśanaḥ ||

"Among them, each shall have ten sons, of great strength." Having said this, Shankara, of pleasant countenance, ceased speaking at once.

Verse 59 (devibhagavatam.4.25.59)

उवाच गिरिजा देवी प्रणतं मधुसूदनम् । कृष्ण कृष्ण महाबाहो संसारेऽस्मिन्नराधिप ॥

uvāca girijā devī praṇataṁ madhusūdanam | kṛṣṇa kṛṣṇa mahābāho saṁsāre'sminnarādhipa ||

Then the Devi Girija spoke to Madhusudana, who bowed before her: "O Krishna, Krishna, mighty-armed one, O ruler of men, in this world of samsara—"

Verse 60 (devibhagavatam.4.25.60)

गृहस्थप्रवरो लोके भविष्यति भवानिह । ततो वर्षशतान्ते तु द्विजशापाज्जनार्दन ॥

gṛhasthapravaro loke bhaviṣyati bhavāniha | tato varṣaśatānte tu dvijaśāpājjanārdana ||

"— you shall become here the foremost of householders in this world. Then, after a hundred years, O Janardana, through a Brahmin's curse—"

Verse 61 (devibhagavatam.4.25.61)

गान्धार्याश्च तथा शापाद्भविता ते कुलक्षयः । परस्परं निहत्याजौ पुत्रास्ते शापमोहिताः ॥

gāndhāryāśca tathā śāpādbhavitā te kulakṣayaḥ | parasparaṁ nihatyājau putrāste śāpamohitāḥ ||

"— and likewise through Gandhari's curse, the destruction of your lineage shall occur. Your sons, deluded by that curse, having slain one another in battle—"

Verse 62 (devibhagavatam.4.25.62)

गमिष्यन्ति क्षयं सर्वे यादवाश्च तथापरे । सानुजस्त्वं तथा देहं त्यक्त्वा यास्यसि वै दिवम् ॥

gamiṣyanti kṣayaṁ sarve yādavāśca tathāpare | sānujastvaṁ tathā dehaṁ tyaktvā yāsyasi vai divam ||

"— shall all go to their destruction, and the other Yadavas as well. You too, with your younger brother, shall then abandon your body and go to heaven indeed."

Verse 63 (devibhagavatam.4.25.63)

शोकस्तत्र न कर्तव्यो भवितव्यं प्रति प्रभो । अवश्यम्भाविभावानां प्रतीकारो न विद्यते ॥

śokastatra na kartavyo bhavitavyaṁ prati prabho | avaśyambhāvibhāvānāṁ pratīkāro na vidyate ||

"No sorrow should be felt there over what is destined, O lord; for what is bound to happen, no remedy exists."

Verse 64 (devibhagavatam.4.25.64)

तत्र शोको न कर्तव्यो नूनं मम मतं सदा । अष्टावक्रस्य शापेन भार्यास्ते मधुसूदन ॥

tatra śoko na kartavyo nūnaṁ mama mataṁ sadā | aṣṭāvakrasya śāpena bhāryāste madhusūdana ||

"No sorrow should be felt there — this is surely always my own view. By Ashtavakra's curse, O Madhusudana, your wives—"

Verse 65 (devibhagavatam.4.25.65)

चौरेभ्यो ग्रहणं कृष्ण गमिष्यन्ति मृते त्वयि । व्यास उवाच । इत्युक्त्वान्तर्दधे शम्भुः सोमः ससुरमण्डलः ॥

caurebhyo grahaṇaṁ kṛṣṇa gamiṣyanti mṛte tvayi | vyāsa uvāca | ityuktvāntardadhe śambhuḥ somaḥ sasuramaṇḍalaḥ ||

"— shall be seized by thieves, O Krishna, once you have died." Vyasa said: Having said this, Shambhu vanished, together with the Moon and the assembly of gods.

Verse 66 (devibhagavatam.4.25.66)

उपमन्युं प्रणम्याथ कृष्णोऽपि द्वारकां ययौ । यस्माद् ब्रह्मादयो राजन् सन्ति यद्यप्यधीश्वराः ॥

upamanyuṁ praṇamyātha kṛṣṇo'pi dvārakāṁ yayau | yasmād brahmādayo rājan santi yadyapyadhīśvarāḥ ||

Having bowed to Upamanyu, Krishna too then went to Dvaraka. For this reason, O king, though Brahma and the other gods are indeed sovereign lords—

Verse 67 (devibhagavatam.4.25.67)

तथापि मायाकल्लोलयोगसङ्क्षुभितान्तराः । तदधीनाः स्थिताः सर्वे काष्ठपुत्तलिकोपमाः ॥

tathāpi māyākallolayogasaṅkṣubhitāntarāḥ | tadadhīnāḥ sthitāḥ sarve kāṣṭhaputtalikopamāḥ ||

— nonetheless, their inner beings agitated by the waves of Maya's working, all remain subject to her, like wooden puppets.

Verse 68 (devibhagavatam.4.25.68)

यथा यथा पूर्वभवं कर्म तेषां तथा तथा । प्रेरयत्यनिशं माया परब्रह्मस्वरूपिणी ॥

yathā yathā pūrvabhavaṁ karma teṣāṁ tathā tathā | prerayatyaniśaṁ māyā parabrahmasvarūpiṇī ||

As their past-life karma dictates, in that very manner, Maya, of the form of the Supreme Brahman, ceaselessly impels them.

Verse 69 (devibhagavatam.4.25.69)

न वैषम्यं न नैर्घृण्यं भगवत्यां कदाचन । केवलं जीवमोक्षार्थं यतते भुवनेश्वरी ॥

na vaiṣamyaṁ na nairghṛṇyaṁ bhagavatyāṁ kadācana | kevalaṁ jīvamokṣārthaṁ yatate bhuvaneśvarī ||

There is never any unfairness or cruelty in the Devi; she, the mistress of the worlds, strives solely for the liberation of souls.

Verse 70 (devibhagavatam.4.25.70)

यदि सा नैव सृज्येत जगदेतच्चराचरम् । तदा मायां विना भूतं जडं स्यादेव नित्यशः ॥

yadi sā naiva sṛjyeta jagadetaccarācaram | tadā māyāṁ vinā bhūtaṁ jaḍaṁ syādeva nityaśaḥ ||

If this moving and unmoving world were never created by her, then, without Maya, all existence would forever remain inert.

Verse 71 (devibhagavatam.4.25.71)

तस्मात्कारुण्यमाश्रित्य जगज्जीवादिकं च यत् । करोति सततं देवी प्रेरयत्यनिशं च तत् ॥

tasmātkāruṇyamāśritya jagajjīvādikaṁ ca yat | karoti satataṁ devī prerayatyaniśaṁ ca tat ||

Therefore, taking refuge in compassion, whatever the Devi continually does with the world and its living beings, she ceaselessly directs.

Verse 72 (devibhagavatam.4.25.72)

तस्माद् ब्रह्मादिमोहेऽस्मिन्कर्तव्यः संशयो न हि । मायान्तःपातिनः सर्वे मायाधीनाः सुरासुराः ॥

tasmād brahmādimohe'sminkartavyaḥ saṁśayo na hi | māyāntaḥpātinaḥ sarve māyādhīnāḥ surāsurāḥ ||

Therefore, in this delusion of Brahma and the others, no doubt need be entertained — all beings caught within Maya, gods and demons alike, are subject to Maya.

Verse 73 (devibhagavatam.4.25.73)

स्वतन्त्रा सैव देवेशी स्वेच्छाचारविहारिणी । तस्मात्सर्वात्मना राजन् सेवनीया महेश्वरी ॥

svatantrā saiva deveśī svecchācāravihāriṇī | tasmātsarvātmanā rājan sevanīyā maheśvarī ||

She alone, the mistress of the gods, is independent, sporting according to her own will; therefore, O king, the great Ishvari must be served with one's whole being.

Verse 74 (devibhagavatam.4.25.74)

नातः परतरं किञ्चिदधिकं भुवनत्रये । एतद्धि जन्मसाफल्यं पराशक्तेः पदस्मृतिः ॥

nātaḥ parataraṁ kiñcidadhikaṁ bhuvanatraye | etaddhi janmasāphalyaṁ parāśakteḥ padasmṛtiḥ ||

There is nothing higher, nothing greater than this, in the three worlds; this indeed is the fruitfulness of birth — remembrance of Para Shakti's feet.

Verse 75 (devibhagavatam.4.25.75)

माभूत्तत्र कुले जन्म यत्र देवी न दैवतम् । अहं देवी न चान्योऽस्मि ब्रह्मैवाहं न शोकभाक् ॥

mābhūttatra kule janma yatra devī na daivatam | ahaṁ devī na cānyo'smi brahmaivāhaṁ na śokabhāk ||

May birth never occur in a family where the Devi is not the worshipped deity. 'I am the Devi, I am none other; I alone am Brahman; I am not subject to sorrow' —

Verse 76 (devibhagavatam.4.25.76)

इत्यभेदेन तां नित्यां चिन्तयेज्जगदम्बिकाम् । ज्ञात्वा गुरुमुखादेनां वेदान्तश्रवणादिभिः ॥

ityabhedena tāṁ nityāṁ cintayejjagadambikām | jñātvā gurumukhādenāṁ vedāntaśravaṇādibhiḥ ||

— thus, without distinction, one should meditate upon that eternal Mother of the universe; having known her from the mouth of a Guru, through the hearing of Vedanta and the like—

Verse 77 (devibhagavatam.4.25.77)

नित्यमेकाग्रमनसा भावयेदात्मरूपिणीम् । मुक्तो भवति तेनाशु नान्यथा कर्मकोटिभिः ॥

nityamekāgramanasā bhāvayedātmarūpiṇīm | mukto bhavati tenāśu nānyathā karmakoṭibhiḥ ||

— one should constantly contemplate her, of the form of one's own Self, with a single-pointed mind. By this alone one becomes swiftly liberated, not otherwise, even by millions of other deeds.

Verse 78 (devibhagavatam.4.25.78)

श्वेताश्वतरादयः सर्वे ऋषयो निर्मलाशयाः । आत्मरूपां हृदा ज्ञात्वा विमुक्ता भवबन्धनात् ॥

śvetāśvatarādayaḥ sarve ṛṣayo nirmalāśayāḥ | ātmarūpāṁ hṛdā jñātvā vimuktā bhavabandhanāt ||

Shvetashvatara and all the other sages, of pure intent, having known her, the form of the Self, in their hearts, became liberated from the bondage of worldly existence.

Verse 79 (devibhagavatam.4.25.79)

ब्रह्मविष्ण्वादयस्तद्वद् गौरीलक्ष्म्यादयस्तथा । तामेव समुपासन्ते सच्चिदानन्दरूपिणीम् ॥

brahmaviṣṇvādayastadvad gaurīlakṣmyādayastathā | tāmeva samupāsante saccidānandarūpiṇīm ||

Likewise Brahma, Vishnu, and the others, and likewise Gauri, Lakshmi, and the others — they too worship that very one, of the form of being-consciousness-bliss.

Verse 80 (devibhagavatam.4.25.80)

इति ते कथितं राजन् यद्यत्पुष्टं त्वयानघ । प्रपञ्चतापत्रस्तेन किं भूयः श्रोतुमिच्छसि ॥

iti te kathitaṁ rājan yadyatpuṣṭaṁ tvayānagha | prapañcatāpatrastena kiṁ bhūyaḥ śrotumicchasi ||

Thus, O king, has been told to you whatever you have inquired of, O sinless one; afflicted by the pain of worldly proliferation, what more do you wish to hear?

Verse 81 (devibhagavatam.4.25.81)

एतत्ते कथितं राजन्मयाख्यानमनुत्तमम् । सर्वपापहरं पुण्यं पुराणं परमाद्भुतम् ॥

etatte kathitaṁ rājanmayākhyānamanuttamam | sarvapāpaharaṁ puṇyaṁ purāṇaṁ paramādbhutam ||

This, O king, has been related to you by me — the most excellent narrative, the sacred, sin-removing, supremely wondrous Purana.

Verse 82 (devibhagavatam.4.25.82)

य इदं शृणुयान्नित्यं पुराणं वेदसम्मितम् । सर्वपापविनिर्मुक्तो देवीलोके महीयते ॥

ya idaṁ śṛṇuyānnityaṁ purāṇaṁ vedasammitam | sarvapāpavinirmukto devīloke mahīyate ||

Whoever constantly hears this Purana, equal in authority to the Veda, becomes freed from all sin, and is exalted in the world of the Devi.

Verse 83 (devibhagavatam.4.25.83)

सूत उवाच । एतन्मया श्रुतं व्यासात्कथ्यमानं सविस्तरम् । पुराणं पञ्चमं नूनं श्रीमद्भागवताभिधम् ॥

sūta uvāca | etanmayā śrutaṁ vyāsātkathyamānaṁ savistaram | purāṇaṁ pañcamaṁ nūnaṁ śrīmadbhāgavatābhidham ||

Suta said: "This have I heard from Vyasa, as it was related in full detail — the fifth Purana indeed, called the glorious Bhagavata."