The Gods' Austerities to Worship the Goddess

Verse 1 (devibhagavatam.7.29.1)

व्यास उवाच । इत्येवं सूर्यवंश्यानां राज्ञां चरितमुत्तमम् । सोमवंशोद्भवानां च वर्णनीयं मया कियत्

vyāsa uvāca ityevaṁ sūryavaṁśyānāṁ rājñāṁ caritamuttamam somavaṁśodbhavānāṁ ca varṇanīyaṁ mayā kiyat

Vyasa said: Thus have I told the excellent conduct of the kings of the Solar dynasty; and how much more of the conduct of those born in the Lunar dynasty should I now recount?

Verse 2 (devibhagavatam.7.29.2)

पराशक्तिप्रसादेन महत्त्वं प्रतिपेदिरे । राजन् सुनिश्चितं विद्धि पराशक्तिप्रसादतः

parāśaktiprasādena mahattvaṁ pratipedire rājan suniścitaṁ viddhi parāśaktiprasādataḥ

By the grace of the Supreme Shakti alone did they attain their greatness; O king, know this with full certainty, that it was through the grace of the Supreme Shakti alone.

Verse 3 (devibhagavatam.7.29.3)

यद्यद्विभूतिमत्सत्त्वं श्रीमदूर्जितमेव वा । तत्तदेवावगच्छ त्वं पराशक्त्यंशसम्भवम्

yadyadvibhūtimatsattvaṁ śrīmadūrjitameva vā tattadevāvagaccha tvaṁ parāśaktyaṁśasambhavam

Whatever being possesses splendor, prosperity, or great strength — know all of it to be born of a fragment of the Supreme Shakti alone.

Verse 4 (devibhagavatam.7.29.4)

एते चान्ये च राजानः पराशक्तेरुपासकाः । संसारतरुमूलस्य कुठारा अभवन्नृप

ete cānye ca rājānaḥ parāśakterupāsakāḥ saṁsāratarumūlasya kuṭhārā abhavannṛpa

These kings, and others besides who were devotees of the Supreme Shakti, O king, became like axes cutting at the very root of the tree of worldly existence.

Verse 5 (devibhagavatam.7.29.5)

तस्मात्सर्वप्रयत्नेन संसेव्या भुवनेश्वरी । पलालमिव धान्यार्थी त्यजेदन्यमशेषतः

tasmātsarvaprayatnena saṁsevyā bhuvaneśvarī palālamiva dhānyārthī tyajedanyamaśeṣataḥ

Therefore, with every effort, one should serve Bhuvaneshvari alone; just as one who desires grain casts away entirely the husk that surrounds it, so should everything else be set aside.

Verse 6 (devibhagavatam.7.29.6)

आमथ्य वेददुग्धाब्धिं प्राप्तं रत्नं मया नृप । पराशक्तिपदाम्भोजं कृतकृत्योऽस्म्यहं ततः

āmathya vedadugdhābdhiṁ prāptaṁ ratnaṁ mayā nṛpa parāśaktipadāmbhojaṁ kṛtakṛtyo'smyahaṁ tataḥ

Churning the ocean of the milk of the Veda, O king, the jewel I have obtained is the lotus feet of the Supreme Shakti alone — having attained them, I have accomplished all that need be accomplished.

Verse 7 (devibhagavatam.7.29.7)

पञ्चब्रह्मासनारूढा नास्त्यन्या कापि देवता । तत एव महादेव्या पञ्चब्रह्मासनं कृतम्

pañcabrahmāsanārūḍhā nāstyanyā kāpi devatā tata eva mahādevyā pañcabrahmāsanaṁ kṛtam

She alone sits enthroned above the five forms of Brahman (Shiva, Vishnu, Brahma, and the rest) — there is no deity apart from her; and it is for this very reason that the great Devi is called 'she who is enthroned above the five Brahmans.'

Verse 8 (devibhagavatam.7.29.8)

पञ्चभ्यस्त्वधिकं वस्तु वेदेऽव्यक्तमितीर्यते । यस्मिन्नोतं च प्रोतं च सैव श्रीभुवनेश्वरी

pañcabhyastvadhikaṁ vastu vede'vyaktamitīryate yasminnotaṁ ca protaṁ ca saiva śrībhuvaneśvarī

That unmanifest reality beyond even these five is itself declared in the Veda; that in which all this is woven, warp and weft together, is Shri Bhuvaneshvari herself.

Verse 9 (devibhagavatam.7.29.9)

तामविज्ञाय राजेन्द्र नैव मुक्तो भवेन्नरः । यदा चर्मवदाकाशं वेष्टयिष्यन्ति मानवाः

tāmavijñāya rājendra naiva mukto bhavennaraḥ yadā carmavadākāśaṁ veṣṭayiṣyanti mānavāḥ

O foremost of kings, without knowing her, a man can never attain liberation; only when men shall come to wrap up the very sky as though it were a hide,

Verse 10 (devibhagavatam.7.29.10)

तदा शिवामविज्ञाय दुःखस्यान्तो भविष्यति । अत एव श्रुतौ प्राहुः श्वेताश्वतरशाखिनः

tadā śivāmavijñāya duḥkhasyānto bhaviṣyati ata eva śrutau prāhuḥ śvetāśvataraśākhinaḥ

only then, without knowing the auspicious Devi, could an end to sorrow ever come — and not otherwise. It is for this very reason that it is declared in the Shvetashvatara branch of the Veda —

Verse 11 (devibhagavatam.7.29.11)

ते ध्यानयोगानुगता अपश्यन्देवात्मशक्तिं स्वगुणैर्निगूढाम्

te dhyānayogānugatā apaśyandevātmaśaktiṁ svaguṇairnigūḍhām

those sages absorbed in the discipline of meditation beheld that very divine power of the Self, hidden away within its own qualities.

Verse 12 (devibhagavatam.7.29.12)

तस्मात् सर्वप्रयत्नेन जन्मसाफल्यहेतवे । लज्जया वा भयेनापि भक्त्या वा प्रेमयुक्तया । सर्वसङ्गं परित्यज्य मनो हृदि निरुध्य च

tasmāt sarvaprayatnena janmasāphalyahetave lajjayā vā bhayenāpi bhaktyā vā premayuktayā sarvasaṅgaṁ parityajya mano hṛdi nirudhya ca

Therefore, for the fruition of one's very birth, with every effort — whether out of shame, out of fear, or through love-filled devotion — abandoning every worldly attachment, fixing the mind firmly within the heart,

Verse 13 (devibhagavatam.7.29.13)

तन्निष्ठस्तत्परो भूयादिति वेदान्तडिण्डिमः । येन केन मिषेणापि स्वपंस्तिष्ठन्व्रजन्नपि

tanniṣṭhastatparo bhūyāditi vedāntaḍiṇḍimaḥ yena kena miṣeṇāpi svapaṁstiṣṭhanvrajannapi

one should become wholly devoted and intent upon her alone — this is the very trumpet-call of the Vedanta. Under whatever pretext — whether sleeping, sitting, or walking —

Verse 14 (devibhagavatam.7.29.14)

कीर्तयेत्सततं देवीं स वै मुच्येत बन्धनात् । तस्मात्सर्वप्रयत्नेन भज राजन् महेश्वरीम्

kīrtayetsatataṁ devīṁ sa vai mucyeta bandhanāt tasmātsarvaprayatnena bhaja rājan maheśvarīm

whoever continually chants the Devi's own name is, without doubt, freed from bondage; therefore, O king, with every effort, worship the great goddess —

Verse 15 (devibhagavatam.7.29.15)

विराड्रूपां सूत्ररूपां तथान्तर्यामिरूपिणीम् । सोपानक्रमतः पूर्वं ततः शुद्धे तु चेतसि

virāḍrūpāṁ sūtrarūpāṁ tathāntaryāmirūpiṇīm sopānakramataḥ pūrvaṁ tataḥ śuddhe tu cetasi

she who is the cosmic form, the thread-soul, and also the indwelling witness within all; first ascending this path step by step in due order, and then, once the mind has become purified,

Verse 16 (devibhagavatam.7.29.16)

सच्चिदानन्दलक्ष्यार्थरूपां तां ब्रह्मरूपिणीम् । आराधय परां शक्तिं प्रपञ्चोल्लासवर्जिताम्

saccidānandalakṣyārtharūpāṁ tāṁ brahmarūpiṇīm ārādhaya parāṁ śaktiṁ prapañcollāsavarjitām

worship that supreme Shakti, whose very form is Brahman, whose meaning and goal is being-consciousness-bliss itself, in that form utterly free of the play of manifest creation.

Verse 17 (devibhagavatam.7.29.17)

तस्यां चित्तलयो यः स तस्या आराधनं स्मृतम् । राजन् राज्ञां पराशक्तिभक्तानां चरितं मया

tasyāṁ cittalayo yaḥ sa tasyā ārādhanaṁ smṛtam rājan rājñāṁ parāśaktibhaktānāṁ caritaṁ mayā

The very dissolution of the mind into her alone is declared to be the true worship of her. O king, I have thus told you the conduct of kings, of the devotees of the Supreme Shakti,

Verse 18 (devibhagavatam.7.29.18)

धार्मिकाणां सूर्यसोमवंशजानां मनस्विनाम् । पावनं कीर्तिदं धर्मबुद्धिदं सद्गतिप्रदम्

dhārmikāṇāṁ sūryasomavaṁśajānāṁ manasvinām pāvanaṁ kīrtidaṁ dharmabuddhidaṁ sadgatipradam

of righteous, discerning men born in both the Solar and Lunar dynasties — this purifying, fame-granting conduct, which bestows righteous understanding and grants the highest destination.

Verse 19 (devibhagavatam.7.29.19)

कथितं पुण्यदं पश्चात्किमन्यच्छ्रोतुमिच्छसि । जनमेजय उवाच । गौरीलक्ष्मीसरस्वत्यो दत्ताः पूर्वं पराम्बया

kathitaṁ puṇyadaṁ paścātkimanyacchrotumicchasi janamejaya uvāca gaurīlakṣmīsarasvatyo dattāḥ pūrvaṁ parāmbayā

This merit-bestowing tale has now been told; what more do you now wish to hear? Janamejaya said: Gauri, Lakshmi, and Sarasvati — these were given long ago by the Supreme Mother herself,

Verse 20 (devibhagavatam.7.29.20)

हराय हरये तद्वन्नाभिपद्मोद्भवाय च । तुषाराद्रेश्च दक्षस्य गौरी कन्येति विश्रुतम्

harāya haraye tadvannābhipadmodbhavāya ca tuṣārādreśca dakṣasya gaurī kanyeti viśrutam

to Hara (Shiva), Hari (Vishnu), and likewise to the one born of the lotus of the navel (Brahma); Gauri is famed as the daughter of the Himalaya and, elsewhere, as the daughter of Daksha,

Verse 21 (devibhagavatam.7.29.21)

क्षीरोदधेश्च कन्येति महालक्ष्मीरिति स्मृतम् । मूलदेव्युद्भवानां च कथं कन्यात्वमन्ययोः

kṣīrodadheśca kanyeti mahālakṣmīriti smṛtam mūladevyudbhavānāṁ ca kathaṁ kanyātvamanyayoḥ

and Mahalakshmi is famed as the daughter of the Ocean of Milk — how, then, can these two, both born of the one primordial Devi, be said to be the daughters of these other fathers?

Verse 22 (devibhagavatam.7.29.22)

असम्भाव्यमिदं भाति संशयोऽत्र महामुने । छिन्धि ज्ञानासिना तं त्वं संशयच्छेदतत्परः

asambhāvyamidaṁ bhāti saṁśayo'tra mahāmune chindhi jñānāsinā taṁ tvaṁ saṁśayacchedatatparaḥ

This seems impossible to me, O great sage — I have doubt in this matter; you, ever intent on dispelling doubt, cut through it now with the very sword of knowledge.

Verse 23 (devibhagavatam.7.29.23)

व्यास उवाच । शृणु राजन् प्रवक्ष्यामि रहस्यं परमाद्भुतम् । देवीभक्तस्य ते किञ्चिदवाच्यं न हि विद्यते

vyāsa uvāca śṛṇu rājan pravakṣyāmi rahasyaṁ paramādbhutam devībhaktasya te kiñcidavācyaṁ na hi vidyate

Vyasa said: Listen, O king, I shall tell this most wondrous mystery; for you, a devotee of the Devi, there is nothing at all that I would leave untold.

Verse 24 (devibhagavatam.7.29.24)

देवीत्रयं यदा देवत्रयायादात्पराम्बिका । तदाप्रभृति ते देवाः सृष्टिकार्याणि चक्रिरे

devītrayaṁ yadā devatrayāyādātparāmbikā tadāprabhṛti te devāḥ sṛṣṭikāryāṇi cakrire

When the Supreme Mother gave those three goddesses to the three gods, from that time onward those gods took up the tasks of creation.

Verse 25 (devibhagavatam.7.29.25)

कस्मिंश्चित्समये राजन् दैत्या हालाहलाभिधाः । महापराक्रमा जातास्त्रैलोक्यं तैर्जितं क्षणात्

kasmiṁścitsamaye rājan daityā hālāhalābhidhāḥ mahāparākramā jātāstrailokyaṁ tairjitaṁ kṣaṇāt

O king, at one time there arose demons called the Halahalas, of tremendous power, and they conquered all three worlds in a single instant.

Verse 26 (devibhagavatam.7.29.26)

ब्रह्मणो वरदानेन दर्पिता रजताचलम् । रुरुधुर्निजसेनाभिस्तथा वैकुण्ठमेव च

brahmaṇo varadānena darpitā rajatācalam rurudhurnijasenābhistathā vaikuṇṭhameva ca

Grown arrogant through Brahma's own boon, they besieged with their armies the Silver Mountain (Kailasa), and in the same way they besieged Vaikuntha as well.

Verse 27 (devibhagavatam.7.29.27)

कामारिः कैटभारिश्च युद्धोद्योगं च चक्रतुः । षष्टिवर्षसहस्राणामभूद्युद्धं महोत्कटम्

kāmāriḥ kaiṭabhāriśca yuddhodyogaṁ ca cakratuḥ ṣaṣṭivarṣasahasrāṇāmabhūdyuddhaṁ mahotkaṭam

Then Kamari (Shiva) and Kaitabhari (Vishnu) made ready for battle; for sixty thousand years that most terrible war continued.

Verse 28 (devibhagavatam.7.29.28)

हाहाकारो महानासीद्देवदानवसेनयोः । महताथ प्रयत्नेन ताभ्यां ते दानवा हताः

hāhākāro mahānāsīddevadānavasenayoḥ mahatātha prayatnena tābhyāṁ te dānavā hatāḥ

A great outcry arose among the armies of gods and demons; then, through the great effort of those two (Shiva and Vishnu), those demons were slain.

Verse 29 (devibhagavatam.7.29.29)

स्वस्वस्थानेषु गत्वा तावभिमानं च चक्रतुः । स्वशक्त्योर्निकटे राजन् यद्वशादेव ते हताः

svasvasthāneṣu gatvā tāvabhimānaṁ ca cakratuḥ svaśaktyornikaṭe rājan yadvaśādeva te hatāḥ

Returning each to his own abode, those two grew arrogant — O king, though it was in truth by the power of their own respective shaktis alone that those demons had been slain,

Verse 30 (devibhagavatam.7.29.30)

अभिमानं तयोर्ज्ञात्वा छलहास्यं च चक्रतुः । महालक्ष्मीश्च गौरी च हास्यं दृष्ट्वा तयोस्तु तौ

abhimānaṁ tayorjñātvā chalahāsyaṁ ca cakratuḥ mahālakṣmīśca gaurī ca hāsyaṁ dṛṣṭvā tayostu tau

and this arrogance they displayed even in the very presence of those two shaktis. Knowing of this arrogance in those two gods, their own shaktis — Mahalakshmi and Gauri — laughed at them, a laugh laced with knowing mockery.

Verse 31 (devibhagavatam.7.29.31)

देवावतीव सङ्कृद्धौ मोहितावादिमायया । दुरुत्तरं च ददतुरवमानपुरःसरम्

devāvatīva saṅkṛddhau mohitāvādimāyayā duruttaraṁ ca dadaturavamānapuraḥsaram

Seeing that laughter, those two gods became greatly enraged — deluded by the very primal power of maya itself, they spoke harsh, unbearable words, laced with insult.

Verse 32 (devibhagavatam.7.29.32)

ततस्ते देवते तस्मिन्क्षणे त्यक्त्वा तु तौ पुनः । अन्तर्हिते चाभवतां हाहाकारस्तदा ह्यभूत्

tataste devate tasminkṣaṇe tyaktvā tu tau punaḥ antarhite cābhavatāṁ hāhākārastadā hyabhūt

Thereupon, in that very instant, those two goddesses abandoned those two gods and vanished from sight — and then a great outcry of lamentation arose there.

Verse 33 (devibhagavatam.7.29.33)

निस्तेजस्कौ च निःशक्ती विक्षिप्तौ च विचेतनौ । अवमानात्तयोः शक्त्योर्जातौ हरिहरौ तदा

nistejaskau ca niḥśaktī vikṣiptau ca vicetanau avamānāttayoḥ śaktyorjātau hariharau tadā

Bereft of splendor and of power, distracted and stripped of their very senses — it was through the very insult offered to their own shaktis that Hari and Hara (Shiva) fell, at that time, into that state.

Verse 34 (devibhagavatam.7.29.34)

ब्रह्मा चिन्तातुरो जातः किमेतत्समुपस्थितम् । प्रधानौ देवतामध्ये कथं कार्याक्षमावमू

brahmā cintāturo jātaḥ kimetatsamupasthitam pradhānau devatāmadhye kathaṁ kāryākṣamāvamū

Brahma too fell into deep anxiety — what has come to pass? How have the two foremost among the gods become powerless to perform any task at all?

Verse 35 (devibhagavatam.7.29.35)

अकाण्डे किं निमित्तेन सङ्कटं समुपस्थितम् । प्रलयो भविता किं वा जगतोऽस्य निरागसः

akāṇḍe kiṁ nimittena saṅkaṭaṁ samupasthitam pralayo bhavitā kiṁ vā jagato'sya nirāgasaḥ

For what reason has this calamity arisen so suddenly, out of season? Is the very dissolution of this innocent world now at hand?

Verse 36 (devibhagavatam.7.29.36)

निमित्तं नैव जानेऽहं कथं कार्या प्रतिक्रिया । इति चिन्तातुरोऽत्यर्थं दध्यौ मीलितलोचनः

nimittaṁ naiva jāne'haṁ kathaṁ kāryā pratikriyā iti cintāturo'tyarthaṁ dadhyau mīlitalocanaḥ

I cannot fathom the cause of this — how, then, should a remedy be found? Thus deeply anxious, closing his eyes, he sank into deep meditation.

Verse 37 (devibhagavatam.7.29.37)

पराशक्तिप्रकोपात्तु जातमेतदिति स्म ह । जानंस्तदा सावधानः पद्मजोऽभून्नृपोत्तम

parāśaktiprakopāttu jātametaditi sma ha jānaṁstadā sāvadhānaḥ padmajo'bhūnnṛpottama

Then he came to know that all of this had arisen through the very wrath of the Supreme Shakti — knowing this, O best of kings, Brahma, born of the lotus, grew watchful and alert.

Verse 38 (devibhagavatam.7.29.38)

ततस्तयोश्च यत्कार्यं स्वयमेवाऽकरोत्तदा । स्वशक्तेश्च प्रभावेण कियत्कालं तपोनिधिः

tatastayośca yatkāryaṁ svayamevā'karottadā svaśakteśca prabhāveṇa kiyatkālaṁ taponidhiḥ

Then, for a certain span of time, whatever task belonged to those two, that treasury of austerity, Brahma, performed himself, by the power of his own shakti.

Verse 39 (devibhagavatam.7.29.39)

ततस्तयोस्तु स्वस्त्यर्थं मन्वादीन्स्वसुतानथ । आह्वयामास धर्मात्मा सनकादींश्च सत्वरः

tatastayostu svastyarthaṁ manvādīnsvasutānatha āhvayāmāsa dharmātmā sanakādīṁśca satvaraḥ

Then, for the welfare of those two (Shiva and Vishnu), the righteous Brahma summoned Manu and his other sons, and, with haste, Sanaka and the rest as well.

Verse 40 (devibhagavatam.7.29.40)

उवाच वचनं तेभ्यः सन्नतेभ्यस्तपोनिधिः । कार्यासक्तोऽहमधुना तपः कर्तुं न च क्षमः

uvāca vacanaṁ tebhyaḥ sannatebhyastaponidhiḥ kāryāsakto'hamadhunā tapaḥ kartuṁ na ca kṣamaḥ

To all of them, bowed before him, that treasury of austerity spoke this word: I am now occupied with these tasks, and am not able to perform austerities myself.

Verse 41 (devibhagavatam.7.29.41)

पराशक्तेस्तु तोषार्थं जगद्भारयुतोऽस्म्यहम् । शिवविष्णू च विक्षिप्तौ पराशक्तिप्रकोपतः

parāśaktestu toṣārthaṁ jagadbhārayuto'smyaham śivaviṣṇū ca vikṣiptau parāśaktiprakopataḥ

It is only for the satisfaction of the Supreme Shakti that I now bear this burden of the world; both Shiva and Vishnu have fallen into this distracted state precisely through the wrath of the Supreme Shakti.

Verse 42 (devibhagavatam.7.29.42)

तस्मात्तां परमां शक्तिं यूयं सन्तोषयन्त्वथ । अत्यद्भुतं तपः कृत्वा भक्त्या परमया युताः

tasmāttāṁ paramāṁ śaktiṁ yūyaṁ santoṣayantvatha atyadbhutaṁ tapaḥ kṛtvā bhaktyā paramayā yutāḥ

Therefore let all of you go and propitiate that supreme Shakti — performing the most wondrous austerity, filled with the deepest devotion.

Verse 43 (devibhagavatam.7.29.43)

यथा तौ पूर्ववृत्तौ च स्यात शक्तियुतावपि । तथा कुरुत मत्पुत्रा यशोवृद्धिर्भवेद्धि वः

yathā tau pūrvavṛttau ca syāta śaktiyutāvapi tathā kuruta matputrā yaśovṛddhirbhaveddhi vaḥ

In such a way that those two (Shiva and Vishnu) may be restored once more to their former state, together with their own shaktis — do this, my sons, and may your own fame increase thereby.

Verse 44 (devibhagavatam.7.29.44)

कुले यस्य भवेज्जन्म तयोः शक्त्योस्तु तत्कुलम् । पावयेज्जगतीं सर्वां कृतकृत्यं स्वयं भवेत्

kule yasya bhavejjanma tayoḥ śaktyostu tatkulam pāvayejjagatīṁ sarvāṁ kṛtakṛtyaṁ svayaṁ bhavet

Whatever lineage those two shaktis should take birth within, that lineage shall purify the entire earth, and shall itself become one that has accomplished all it need accomplish.

Verse 45 (devibhagavatam.7.29.45)

व्यास उवाच । पितामहवचः श्रुत्वा गताः सर्वे वनान्तरे । रिराधयिषवः सर्वे दक्षाद्या विमलान्तराः

vyāsa uvāca pitāmahavacaḥ śrutvā gatāḥ sarve vanāntare rirādhayiṣavaḥ sarve dakṣādyā vimalāntarāḥ

Vyasa said: Hearing this word of the Grandsire (Brahma), Daksha and all the other sages, pure of heart, wishing to perform this worship, went forth into the depths of the forest.