The Story of Surabhi

Verse 1 (devibhagavatam.9.49.1)

नारद उवाच । का वा सा सुरभिर्देवी गोलोकादागता च या । तज्जन्मचरितं ब्रह्मञ्छ्रोतुमिच्छामि यत्नतः

nārada uvāca | kā vā sā surabhirdevī golokādāgatā ca yā | tajjanmacaritaṁ brahmañchrotumicchāmi yatnataḥ

Narada said: Who indeed is that Devi Surabhi, who came from Goloka? O Brahmin, I wish earnestly to hear the story of her birth.

Verse 2 (devibhagavatam.9.49.2)

श्रीनारायणाय उवाच । गवामधिष्ठातृदेवी गवामाद्या गवां प्रसूः । गवां प्रधाना सुरभिर्गोलोके सा समुद्भवा

śrīnārāyaṇāya uvāca | gavāmadhiṣṭhātṛdevī gavāmādyā gavāṁ prasūḥ | gavāṁ pradhānā surabhirgoloke sā samudbhavā

Shri Narayana said: The presiding deity of cows, the first of cows, the mother of cows, the foremost of cows — Surabhi arose in Goloka.

Verse 3 (devibhagavatam.9.49.3)

सर्वादिसृष्टेश्चरितं कथयामि निशामय । बभूव तेन तज्जन्म पुरा वृन्दावने वने

sarvādisṛṣṭeścaritaṁ kathayāmi niśāmaya | babhūva tena tajjanma purā vṛndāvane vane

I shall relate the story of that very first creation; listen. Her birth thus took place, of old, in the forest of Vrindavana.

Verse 4 (devibhagavatam.9.49.4)

एकदा राधिकानाथो राधया सह कौतुकी । गोपाङ्गनापरिवृतः पुण्यं वृन्दावनं ययौ

ekadā rādhikānātho rādhayā saha kautukī | gopāṅganāparivṛtaḥ puṇyaṁ vṛndāvanaṁ yayau

Once, the Lord of Radhika, playful, together with Radha, surrounded by the cowherd women, went to the sacred Vrindavana.

Verse 5 (devibhagavatam.9.49.5)

सहसा तत्र रहसि विजहार स कौतुकात् । बभूव क्षीरपानेच्छा तस्य स्वेच्छामयस्य च

sahasā tatra rahasi vijahāra sa kautukāt | babhūva kṣīrapānecchā tasya svecchāmayasya ca

There, suddenly, in a secluded place, he sported out of playfulness; a desire arose in him, the Lord of his own free will, to drink milk.

Verse 6 (devibhagavatam.9.49.6)

ससृजे सुरभिं देवीं लीलया वामपार्श्वतः । वत्सयुक्तां दुग्धवतीं वत्सो नाम मनोरथः

sasṛje surabhiṁ devīṁ līlayā vāmapārśvataḥ | vatsayuktāṁ dugdhavatīṁ vatso nāma manorathaḥ

With playful ease he created the Devi Surabhi from his left side, together with a calf, giving milk — that calf being, in fact, his very own desire, called Manoratha, "Wish."

Verse 7 (devibhagavatam.9.49.7)

दृष्ट्वा सवत्सां श्रीदामा नवभाण्डे दुदोह च । क्षीरं सुधातिरिक्तं च जन्ममृत्युजराहरम्

dṛṣṭvā savatsāṁ śrīdāmā navabhāṇḍe dudoha ca | kṣīraṁ sudhātiriktaṁ ca janmamṛtyujarāharam

Seeing her together with her calf, Shridama milked her into a new vessel — milk surpassing even nectar, removing birth, death, and old age.

Verse 8 (devibhagavatam.9.49.8)

तदुत्थं च पयः स्वादु पपौ गोपीपतिः स्वयम् । सरो बभूव पयसां भाण्डविस्रंसनेन च

tadutthaṁ ca payaḥ svādu papau gopīpatiḥ svayam | saro babhūva payasāṁ bhāṇḍavisraṁsanena ca

The Lord of the Gopis himself drank that sweet milk arising from her; and, from the vessel overflowing, a lake of milk came into being,

Verse 9 (devibhagavatam.9.49.9)

दीर्घं च विस्तृतं चैव परितः शतयोजनम् । गोलोकेऽयं प्रसिद्धश्च सोऽपि क्षीरसरोवरः

dīrghaṁ ca vistṛtaṁ caiva paritaḥ śatayojanam | goloke'yaṁ prasiddhaśca so'pi kṣīrasarovaraḥ

long and wide, extending a hundred yojanas all around; this is that very lake of milk, renowned in Goloka.

Verse 10 (devibhagavatam.9.49.10)

गोपिकानां च राधायाः क्रीडावापी बभूव सा । रत्नेन्द्ररचिता पूर्णं भूता चापीश्वरेच्छया

gopikānāṁ ca rādhāyāḥ krīḍāvāpī babhūva sā | ratnendraracitā pūrṇaṁ bhūtā cāpīśvarecchayā

It became a playful pool for the gopis and for Radha, fashioned of the finest of jewels, made full by the will of the Lord.

Verse 11 (devibhagavatam.9.49.11)

बभूव कामधेनूनां सहसा लक्षकोटयः । यावन्तस्तत्र गोपाश्च सुरभ्या लोमकूपतः

babhūva kāmadhenūnāṁ sahasā lakṣakoṭayaḥ | yāvantastatra gopāśca surabhyā lomakūpataḥ

Then, suddenly, hundreds of millions of wish-fulfilling cows came into being, from the very hair-pores of Surabhi — as many as there were cowherds there.

Verse 12 (devibhagavatam.9.49.12)

तासां पुत्राश्च बहवः सम्बभूवुरसङ्ख्यकाः । कथिता च गवां सृष्टिस्तया च पूरितं जगत्

tāsāṁ putrāśca bahavaḥ sambabhūvurasaṅkhyakāḥ | kathitā ca gavāṁ sṛṣṭistayā ca pūritaṁ jagat

Countless were the offspring born to them; thus has the creation of cows been told, and by them the world was filled.

Verse 13 (devibhagavatam.9.49.13)

पूजां चकार भगवान् सुरभ्याश्च पुरा मुने । ततो बभूव तत्पूजा त्रिषु लोकेषु दुर्लभा

pūjāṁ cakāra bhagavān surabhyāśca purā mune | tato babhūva tatpūjā triṣu lokeṣu durlabhā

O sage, the Blessed Lord himself, of old, performed the worship of Surabhi; and from that, her worship became something rare in all three worlds.

Verse 14 (devibhagavatam.9.49.14)

दीपान्वितापरदिने श्रीकृष्णस्याज्ञया हरेः । बभूव सुरभिः पूज्या धर्मवक्त्रादिदं श्रुतम्

dīpānvitāparadine śrīkṛṣṇasyājñayā hareḥ | babhūva surabhiḥ pūjyā dharmavaktrādidaṁ śrutam

On the day following Dipanvita, by the command of Shri Krishna Hari, Surabhi became worthy of worship — this has been heard from the mouth of Dharma.

Verse 15 (devibhagavatam.9.49.15)

ध्यानं स्तोत्रं मूलमन्त्रं यद्यत्यूजाविधिक्रमम् । वेदोक्तं च महाभाग निबोध कथयामि ते

dhyānaṁ stotraṁ mūlamantraṁ yadyatyūjāvidhikramam | vedoktaṁ ca mahābhāga nibodha kathayāmi te

The meditation, hymn, root-mantra, and whatever the sequence of her worship — as taught in the Veda, O most fortunate one, understand it; I shall relate it to you.

Verse 16 (devibhagavatam.9.49.16)

ॐ सुरभ्यै नम इति मन्त्रस्तस्याः षडक्षरः । सिद्धो लक्षजपेनैव भक्तानां कल्पपादपः

oṁ surabhyai nama iti mantrastasyāḥ ṣaḍakṣaraḥ | siddho lakṣajapenaiva bhaktānāṁ kalpapādapaḥ

"Oṁ surabhyai namaḥ" — this is her six-syllabled mantra; perfected by a hundred thousand recitations, it is a wish-fulfilling tree for her devotees.

Verse 17 (devibhagavatam.9.49.17)

ध्यानं यजुर्वेदगीतं तस्याः पूजा च सर्वतः । ऋद्धिदा वृद्धिदा चैव मुक्तिदा सर्वकामदा

dhyānaṁ yajurvedagītaṁ tasyāḥ pūjā ca sarvataḥ | ṛddhidā vṛddhidā caiva muktidā sarvakāmadā

Her meditation is sung in the Yajurveda, and her worship is prescribed everywhere; she grants prosperity and increase, and grants liberation, and every desire.

Verse 18 (devibhagavatam.9.49.18)

लक्ष्मीस्वरूपां परमां राधासहचरीं पराम् । गवामधिष्ठातृदेवीं गवामाद्यां गवां प्रसूम्

lakṣmīsvarūpāṁ paramāṁ rādhāsahacarīṁ parām | gavāmadhiṣṭhātṛdevīṁ gavāmādyāṁ gavāṁ prasūm

Meditate upon her: the very form of Lakshmi, supreme, the constant companion of Radha, most excellent; the presiding deity of cows, the first of cows, the mother of cows,

Verse 19 (devibhagavatam.9.49.19)

पवित्ररूपां पूतां च भक्तानां सर्वकामदाम् । यया पूतं सर्वविश्वं तां देवीं सुरभिं भजे

pavitrarūpāṁ pūtāṁ ca bhaktānāṁ sarvakāmadām | yayā pūtaṁ sarvaviśvaṁ tāṁ devīṁ surabhiṁ bhaje

of pure form, purifying, granting every desire of her devotees; by whom the whole universe is made pure — I worship that Devi, Surabhi.

Verse 20 (devibhagavatam.9.49.20)

घटे वा धेनुशिरसि बन्धस्तम्भे गवामपि । शालग्रामे जलाग्नौ वा सुरभिं पूजयेद् द्विजः

ghaṭe vā dhenuśirasi bandhastambhe gavāmapi | śālagrāme jalāgnau vā surabhiṁ pūjayed dvijaḥ

In a water-pot, or at the head of a cow, or at the post to which cows are tied, or on a shalagrama, or in water or fire — the Brahmin should worship Surabhi,

Verse 21 (devibhagavatam.9.49.21)

दीपान्वितापरदिने पूर्वाह्ने भक्तिसंयुतः । यः पूजयेच्च सुरभिं स च पूज्यो भवेद्भुवि

dīpānvitāparadine pūrvāhne bhaktisaṁyutaḥ | yaḥ pūjayecca surabhiṁ sa ca pūjyo bhavedbhuvi

on the day after Dipanvita, in the forenoon, filled with devotion. Whoever worships Surabhi thus becomes himself worthy of worship on this earth.

Verse 22 (devibhagavatam.9.49.22)

एकदा त्रिषु लोकेषु वाराहे विष्णुमायया । क्षीरं जहार सुरभिश्चिन्तिताश्च सुरादयः

ekadā triṣu lokeṣu vārāhe viṣṇumāyayā | kṣīraṁ jahāra surabhiścintitāśca surādayaḥ

Once, in the Varaha age, through Vishnu's own maya, Surabhi withdrew the flow of milk in the three worlds; and the gods and others became anxious.

Verse 23 (devibhagavatam.9.49.23)

ते गत्वा ब्रह्मलोके च ब्रह्माणं तुष्टुवुस्तदा । तदाज्ञया च सुरभिं तुष्टाव पाकशासनः

te gatvā brahmaloke ca brahmāṇaṁ tuṣṭuvustadā | tadājñayā ca surabhiṁ tuṣṭāva pākaśāsanaḥ

They went to Brahmaloka and praised Brahma there; and, by his instruction, the Punisher of Paka praised Surabhi.

Verse 24 (devibhagavatam.9.49.24)

पुरन्दर उवाच । नमो देव्यै महादेव्यै सुरभ्यै च नमो नमः । गवां बीजस्वरूपायै नमस्ते जगदम्बिके

purandara uvāca | namo devyai mahādevyai surabhyai ca namo namaḥ | gavāṁ bījasvarūpāyai namaste jagadambike

Purandara said: "Salutation to the Devi, the great Devi; salutation again and again to Surabhi. Salutation to you, O Mother of the world, the very seed-form of all cows.

Verse 25 (devibhagavatam.9.49.25)

नमो राधाप्रियायै च पद्मांशायै नमो नमः । नमः कृष्णप्रियायै च गवां मात्रे नमो नमः

namo rādhāpriyāyai ca padmāṁśāyai namo namaḥ | namaḥ kṛṣṇapriyāyai ca gavāṁ mātre namo namaḥ

"Salutation to her who is dear to Radha; salutation again and again to her who is a portion of Padma; salutation to her who is dear to Krishna, and salutation to the mother of cows.

Verse 26 (devibhagavatam.9.49.26)

कल्पवृक्षस्वरूपायै सर्वेषां सततं परे । क्षीरदायै धनदायै बुद्धिदायै नमो नमः

kalpavṛkṣasvarūpāyai sarveṣāṁ satataṁ pare | kṣīradāyai dhanadāyai buddhidāyai namo namaḥ

"Salutation to her who, for all beings continually, is of the very nature of a supreme wish-fulfilling tree; salutation again and again to the giver of milk, the giver of wealth, the giver of intelligence.

Verse 27 (devibhagavatam.9.49.27)

शुभायै च सुभद्रायै गोप्रदायै नमो नमः । यशोदायै कीर्तिदायै धर्मदायै नमो नमः

śubhāyai ca subhadrāyai gopradāyai namo namaḥ | yaśodāyai kīrtidāyai dharmadāyai namo namaḥ

"Salutation again and again to the auspicious one, to the most gracious one, to the giver of cows; to the giver of fame, the giver of renown, the giver of righteousness."

Verse 28 (devibhagavatam.9.49.28)

स्तोत्रश्रवणमात्रेण तुष्टा हृष्टा जगत्प्रसूः । आविर्बभूव तत्रैव ब्रह्मलोके सनातनी

stotraśravaṇamātreṇa tuṣṭā hṛṣṭā jagatprasūḥ | āvirbabhūva tatraiva brahmaloke sanātanī

By the mere hearing of that hymn, that eternal Mother of the world, pleased and delighted, appeared right there, in Brahmaloka.

Verse 29 (devibhagavatam.9.49.29)

महेन्द्राय वरं दत्त्वा वाञ्छितं चापि दुर्लभम् । जगाम सा च गोलोकं ययुर्देवादयो गृहम्

mahendrāya varaṁ dattvā vāñchitaṁ cāpi durlabham | jagāma sā ca golokaṁ yayurdevādayo gṛham

Having granted to Mahendra his desired and most rare boon, she departed for Goloka, and the gods and the rest went to their own abodes.

Verse 30 (devibhagavatam.9.49.30)

बभूव विश्वं सहसा दुग्धपूर्णं च नारद । दुग्धं घृतं ततो यज्ञस्ततः प्रीतिः सुरस्य च

babhūva viśvaṁ sahasā dugdhapūrṇaṁ ca nārada | dugdhaṁ ghṛtaṁ tato yajñastataḥ prītiḥ surasya ca

The whole universe, O Narada, suddenly became filled with milk again; from milk comes ghee, from that comes the possibility of sacrifice, and from that comes the satisfaction of the gods.

Verse 31 (devibhagavatam.9.49.31)

इदं स्तोत्रं महापुण्यं भक्तियुक्तश्च यः पठेत् । स गोमान् धनवांश्चैव कीर्तिमान्पुत्रवांस्तथा

idaṁ stotraṁ mahāpuṇyaṁ bhaktiyuktaśca yaḥ paṭhet | sa gomān dhanavāṁścaiva kīrtimānputravāṁstathā

Whoever, filled with devotion, recites this most sacred hymn, becomes rich in cattle, wealthy, renowned, and blessed with sons.

Verse 32 (devibhagavatam.9.49.32)

स स्नातः सर्वतीर्थेषु सर्वयज्ञेषु दीक्षितः । इह लोके सुखं भुक्त्वा यात्यन्ते कृष्णमन्दिरे

sa snātaḥ sarvatīrtheṣu sarvayajñeṣu dīkṣitaḥ | iha loke sukhaṁ bhuktvā yātyante kṛṣṇamandire

He becomes as one bathed in every sacred ford, as one initiated into every sacrifice; having enjoyed happiness in this world, he goes at last to the abode of Krishna,

Verse 33 (devibhagavatam.9.49.33)

सुचिरं निवसेत्तत्र करोति कृष्णसेवनम् । न पुनर्भवनं तत्र ब्रह्मपुत्रो भवेत्ततः

suciraṁ nivasettatra karoti kṛṣṇasevanam | na punarbhavanaṁ tatra brahmaputro bhavettataḥ

where he dwells for a very long time, performing service to Krishna. There is no rebirth for him thereafter; he attains liberation, O son of Brahma.