The Manifestation of Uma

Verse 1 (shiva.uma.49.1)

मुनय ऊचुः । उमाया भुवनेशान्याः सूत सर्वार्थवित्तम । अवतारं समाचक्ष्व यतो जाता सरस्वती

munaya ūcuḥ umāyā bhuvaneśānyāḥ sūta sarvārthavittama avatāraṁ samācakṣva yato jātā sarasvatī

The sages said: O Suta, knower of all things, tell us of the avatara of Uma, Mistress of the Worlds, from whom Sarasvati was born.

Verse 2 (shiva.uma.49.2)

या गीयते परब्रह्ममूलप्रकृतिरीश्वरी । निराकारापि साकारा नित्या नन्दमयी सती

yā gīyate parabrahmamūlaprakṛtirīśvarī nirākārāpi sākārā nityā nandamayī satī

She who is sung of as the Supreme Brahman, the root Prakriti, the Sovereign Lady — formless yet possessing form, eternal, ever blissful, the true one.

Verse 3 (shiva.uma.49.3)

सूत उवाच । तापसाः शृणुत प्रेम्णा चरित्रं परमं महत् । यस्य विज्ञानमात्रेण नरो याति परां गतिम्

sūta uvāca tāpasāḥ śṛṇuta premṇā caritraṁ paramaṁ mahat yasya vijñānamātreṇa naro yāti parāṁ gatim

Suta said: O ascetics, listen with love to this supreme and great story, by merely knowing which a man attains the highest goal.

Verse 4 (shiva.uma.49.4)

देवदानवयोर्युद्धमेकदासीत्परस्परम् । महामायाप्रभावेणामराणां विजयोऽभवत्

devadānavayoryuddhamekadāsītparasparam mahāmāyāprabhāveṇāmarāṇāṁ vijayo'bhavat

Once there was a war between the gods and the demons; by the power of Mahamaya the gods were victorious.

Verse 5 (shiva.uma.49.5)

ततोऽवलिप्ता अमराः स्वप्रशंसां वितेनिरे । वयं धन्या वयं धन्याः किं करिष्यन्ति नोऽसुराः

tato'valiptā amarāḥ svapraśaṁsāṁ vitenire vayaṁ dhanyā vayaṁ dhanyāḥ kiṁ kariṣyanti no'surāḥ

Then the gods, grown arrogant, began to praise themselves: 'We are blessed, we are blessed! What can the asuras do to us?'

Verse 6 (shiva.uma.49.6)

ये प्रभावं समालोक्यास्माकं परमदुःसहम् । भीता नागालयं याता यात यातेति वादिनः

ye prabhāvaṁ samālokyāsmākaṁ paramaduḥsaham bhītā nāgālayaṁ yātā yāta yāteti vādinaḥ

Those who, having witnessed our unbearable power, fled in fear to the abode of serpents, crying 'Go, go!'

Verse 7 (shiva.uma.49.7)

अहो बलमहो तेजो दैत्यवंशक्षयङ्करम् । अहो भाग्यं सुमनसामेवं सर्वेऽभ्यवर्णयन्

aho balamaho tejo daityavaṁśakṣayaṅkaram aho bhāgyaṁ sumanasāmevaṁ sarve'bhyavarṇayan

'Oh, what strength! Oh, what splendour, destroyer of the demon race! Oh, what good fortune of the gods!' — thus they all extolled themselves.

Verse 8 (shiva.uma.49.8)

तत आविरभूत्तेजः कूटरूपं तदैव हि । अदृष्टपूर्वं तद् दृष्ट्वा विस्मिता अभवन्सुराः

tata āvirabhūttejaḥ kūṭarūpaṁ tadaiva hi adṛṣṭapūrvaṁ tad dṛṣṭvā vismitā abhavansurāḥ

Then, at that very moment, there appeared a mass of light of mysterious form; seeing that never-before-seen thing, the gods were astonished.

Verse 9 (shiva.uma.49.9)

किमिदं किमिदं चेति रुद्धकण्ठाः समब्रुवन । अजानन्तः परं श्यामानुभावं मानभञ्जनम्

kimidaṁ kimidaṁ ceti ruddhakaṇṭhāḥ samabruvana ajānantaḥ paraṁ śyāmānubhāvaṁ mānabhañjanam

'What is this, what is this?' they said, their throats choking, unable to recognize that supreme dark radiance that had come to break their pride.

Verse 10 (shiva.uma.49.10)

तत आज्ञापयद्देवान् देवानामधिनायकः । यात यूयं परीक्षध्वं याथातथ्येन किन्विति

tata ājñāpayaddevān devānāmadhināyakaḥ yāta yūyaṁ parīkṣadhvaṁ yāthātathyena kinviti

Then the lord of the gods commanded the gods: 'Go, all of you, and find out truly what this is.'

Verse 11 (shiva.uma.49.11)

सुरेन्द्रप्रेरितो वायुर्महसः सन्निधिं गतः । कस्त्वं भोरिति सम्बोध्यावोचदेनं च तन्महः

surendraprerito vāyurmahasaḥ sannidhiṁ gataḥ kastvaṁ bhoriti sambodhyāvocadenaṁ ca tanmahaḥ

Sent by the lord of the gods, Vayu approached that radiance; and that great splendour addressed him, saying, 'Who are you, sir?'

Verse 12 (shiva.uma.49.12)

इति पृष्टस्तदा वायुर्महसातिगरीयसा । वायुरस्मि जगत्प्राणः साभिमानोऽब्रवीदिदम्

iti pṛṣṭastadā vāyurmahasātigarīyasā vāyurasmi jagatprāṇaḥ sābhimāno'bravīdidam

Thus questioned by that supremely great radiance, Vayu, filled with pride, said this: 'I am Vayu, the breath of the world.'

Verse 13 (shiva.uma.49.13)

जङ्गमाजङ्गमं सर्वमोतप्रोतमिदं जगत् । मय्येव निखिलाधारे चालयाम्यखिलं जगत्

jaṅgamājaṅgamaṁ sarvamotaprotamidaṁ jagat mayyeva nikhilādhāre cālayāmyakhilaṁ jagat

This entire world, moving and unmoving, is woven through and through in me; I, the support of all, cause the whole world to move.

Verse 14 (shiva.uma.49.14)

तदोवाच महातेजः शक्तोऽसि यदि चालने । धृतमेतत्तृणं वायो चालयस्व निजेच्छया

tadovāca mahātejaḥ śakto'si yadi cālane dhṛtametattṛṇaṁ vāyo cālayasva nijecchayā

Then the great splendour said: 'If you are capable of moving things, then move, O Vayu, by your own will, this blade of grass placed here.'

Verse 15 (shiva.uma.49.15)

ततः सर्वप्रयत्नेनाकरोद्यत्नं सदागतिः । न चचाल यदा स्थानात्तदासौ लज्जितोऽभवत

tataḥ sarvaprayatnenākarodyatnaṁ sadāgatiḥ na cacāla yadā sthānāttadāsau lajjito'bhavata

Then Vayu, the ever-moving one, exerted every effort; but when it did not move even a little from its place, he became ashamed.

Verse 16 (shiva.uma.49.16)

तूष्णीं भूत्वा ततो वायुर्जगामेन्द्रंसभां प्रति । कथयामास तद् वृत्तं स्वकीयाभिभवान्वितम्

tūṣṇīṁ bhūtvā tato vāyurjagāmendraṁsabhāṁ prati kathayāmāsa tad vṛttaṁ svakīyābhibhavānvitam

Becoming silent, Vayu then went to Indra's assembly and related what had happened, including his own humiliation.

Verse 17 (shiva.uma.49.17)

सर्वेशत्वं वयं सर्वे मृषैवात्मनि मन्महे । न पारयामहे किञ्चिद्विधातुं क्षुद्रवस्त्वपि

sarveśatvaṁ vayaṁ sarve mṛṣaivātmani manmahe na pārayāmahe kiñcidvidhātuṁ kṣudravastvapi

'We all falsely imagine ourselves to be all-powerful; we are unable to accomplish even the smallest thing.'

Verse 18 (shiva.uma.49.18)

ततश्च प्रेषयामास मरुत्वान्सकलान्सुरान् । न शेकुस्ते यदा ज्ञातुं तदेन्द्रः स्वयमभ्यगात्

tataśca preṣayāmāsa marutvānsakalānsurān na śekuste yadā jñātuṁ tadendraḥ svayamabhyagāt

Then Indra sent all the gods; when they too were unable to find out, Indra himself went there.

Verse 19 (shiva.uma.49.19)

मघवन्तमथायान्तं दृष्ट्वा तेजोऽतिदुःसहम् । बभूवान्तर्हितं सद्यो विस्मितोऽभूच्च वासवः

maghavantamathāyāntaṁ dṛṣṭvā tejo'tiduḥsaham babhūvāntarhitaṁ sadyo vismito'bhūcca vāsavaḥ

But on seeing Indra coming, that unbearable radiance instantly vanished; and Indra was left astonished.

Verse 20 (shiva.uma.49.20)

चरित्रमीदृशं यस्य तमेव शरणं श्रये । इति सञ्चिन्तयामास सहस्राक्षः पुनः पुनः

caritramīdṛśaṁ yasya tameva śaraṇaṁ śraye iti sañcintayāmāsa sahasrākṣaḥ punaḥ punaḥ

'I take refuge in that very one whose nature is such as this' — thus the thousand-eyed Indra reflected again and again.

Verse 21 (shiva.uma.49.21)

एतस्मिन्नन्तरे तत्र निर्व्याजकरुणातनुः । तेषामनुग्रहं कर्तुं हर्तुं गर्वं शिवाङ्गना

etasminnantare tatra nirvyājakaruṇātanuḥ teṣāmanugrahaṁ kartuṁ hartuṁ garvaṁ śivāṅganā

Meanwhile there, she whose very body is unfeigned compassion, the consort of Shiva, appeared, in order to bestow grace upon them and remove their pride —

Verse 22 (shiva.uma.49.22)

चैत्रशुक्लनवम्यां तु मध्याह्नस्थे दिवाकरे । प्रादुरासीदुमा देवी सच्चिदानन्दरूपिणी

caitraśuklanavamyāṁ tu madhyāhnasthe divākare prādurāsīdumā devī saccidānandarūpiṇī

On the ninth day of the bright fortnight of Chaitra, at midday when the sun stood directly overhead, the goddess Uma, whose very form is Being-Consciousness-Bliss, manifested.

Verse 23 (shiva.uma.49.23)

महोमध्ये विराजन्ती भासयन्ती दिशो रुचा । बोधयन्ती सुरान्सर्वान् ब्रह्मैवाहमिति स्फुटम्

mahomadhye virājantī bhāsayantī diśo rucā bodhayantī surānsarvān brahmaivāhamiti sphuṭam

Shining in the midst of that radiance, illuminating all directions with her splendour, she made all the gods clearly understand, 'I alone am Brahman.'

Verse 24 (shiva.uma.49.24)

चतुर्भिर्दधती हस्तैर्वरपाशाङ्कुशाभयान् । श्रुतिभिः सेविता रम्या नवयौवनगर्विता

caturbhirdadhatī hastairvarapāśāṅkuśābhayān śrutibhiḥ sevitā ramyā navayauvanagarvitā

Holding in her four hands the boon-gesture, noose, goad, and gesture of fearlessness — lovely, attended by the Vedas personified, radiant with the pride of ever-new youth.

Verse 25 (shiva.uma.49.25)

रक्ताम्बरपरीधाना रक्तमाल्यानुलेपना । कोटिकन्दर्पसङ्काशा चन्द्रकोटिसमप्रभा

raktāmbaraparīdhānā raktamālyānulepanā koṭikandarpasaṅkāśā candrakoṭisamaprabhā

Clad in red garments, adorned with red garlands and red unguents, resembling ten million Kamadevas in beauty, radiant as ten million moons.

Verse 26 (shiva.uma.49.26)

व्याजहार महामाया सर्वान्तर्यामिरूपिणी । साक्षिणी सर्वभूतानां परब्रह्मस्वरूपिणी

vyājahāra mahāmāyā sarvāntaryāmirūpiṇī sākṣiṇī sarvabhūtānāṁ parabrahmasvarūpiṇī

Mahamaya, whose very form is the Inner Ruler of all, the witness of all beings, whose nature is the Supreme Brahman, then spoke.

Verse 27 (shiva.uma.49.27)

उमोवाच । न ब्रह्मा न सुरारातिर्न पुरारातिरीश्वरः । मदग्रे गर्वितुं किञ्चित्का कथान्यसुपर्वणाम्

umovāca na brahmā na surārātirna purārātirīśvaraḥ madagre garvituṁ kiñcitkā kathānyasuparvaṇām

Uma said: Neither Brahma, nor Vishnu (the foe of the gods' foes), nor Ishvara Purari, destroyer of Tripura — none of them has anything at all to be proud of before me; what then to speak of the other gods?

Verse 28 (shiva.uma.49.28)

परं ब्रह्म परं ज्योतिः प्रणवद्वन्द्वरूपिणी । अहमेवास्मि सकलं मदन्यो नास्ति कश्चन

paraṁ brahma paraṁ jyotiḥ praṇavadvandvarūpiṇī ahamevāsmi sakalaṁ madanyo nāsti kaścana

I am the Supreme Brahman, the Supreme Light, whose very form is the union embodied in the syllable Om; I alone am everything — there is nothing other than me.

Verse 29 (shiva.uma.49.29)

निराकारापि साकारा सर्वतत्त्वस्वरूपिणी । अप्रतर्क्यगुणा नित्या कार्यकारणरूपिणी

nirākārāpi sākārā sarvatattvasvarūpiṇī apratarkyaguṇā nityā kāryakāraṇarūpiṇī

Formless yet possessing form, the very nature of all principles, of qualities beyond reasoning, eternal, whose form is both effect and cause.

Verse 30 (shiva.uma.49.30)

कदाचिद्दयिताकारा कदाचित्पुरुषाकृतिः । कदाचिदुभयाकारा सर्वाकाराहमीश्वरी

kadāciddayitākārā kadācitpuruṣākṛtiḥ kadācidubhayākārā sarvākārāhamīśvarī

Sometimes I take the form of the beloved, sometimes the form of the Purusha, sometimes both forms together — I, the Sovereign, am all forms.

Verse 31 (shiva.uma.49.31)

विरञ्चिः सृष्टिकर्ताहं जगत्पाताहमच्युतः । रुद्रः संहारकर्ताहं सर्वविश्वविमोहिनी

virañciḥ sṛṣṭikartāhaṁ jagatpātāhamacyutaḥ rudraḥ saṁhārakartāhaṁ sarvaviśvavimohinī

I am Brahma the creator, I am Vishnu the sustainer of the world, I am Rudra the destroyer — I, the enchantress of the whole universe.

Verse 32 (shiva.uma.49.32)

कालिकाकमलावाणीमुखाः सर्वा हि शक्तयः । मदंशादेव सञ्जातास्तथेमाः सकलाः कलाः

kālikākamalāvāṇīmukhāḥ sarvā hi śaktayaḥ madaṁśādeva sañjātāstathemāḥ sakalāḥ kalāḥ

Kalika, Kamala, Vani, and the other powers — all these Shaktis, and likewise all these arts, arose from a portion of me alone.

Verse 33 (shiva.uma.49.33)

मत्प्रभावाज्जिताः सर्वे युष्माभिर्दितिनन्दनाः । तामविज्ञाय मां यूयं वृथा सर्वेशमानिनः

matprabhāvājjitāḥ sarve yuṣmābhirditinandanāḥ tāmavijñāya māṁ yūyaṁ vṛthā sarveśamāninaḥ

By my power alone were all the sons of Diti conquered by you; not recognizing me, you vainly consider yourselves lords of all.

Verse 34 (shiva.uma.49.34)

यथा दारुमयीं योषां नर्तयत्यैन्द्रजालिकः । तथैव सर्वभूतानि नर्तयाम्यहमीश्वरी

yathā dārumayīṁ yoṣāṁ nartayatyaindrajālikaḥ tathaiva sarvabhūtāni nartayāmyahamīśvarī

Just as a magician makes a wooden puppet dance, so do I, the Sovereign, make all beings dance.

Verse 35 (shiva.uma.49.35)

मद्भयाद्वाति पवनः सर्वं दहति हव्यभुक् । लोकपालाः प्रकुर्वन्ति स्वस्वकर्माण्यनारतम्

madbhayādvāti pavanaḥ sarvaṁ dahati havyabhuk lokapālāḥ prakurvanti svasvakarmāṇyanāratam

Out of fear of me the wind blows, fire burns everything, and the guardians of the worlds continually perform their respective duties.

Verse 36 (shiva.uma.49.36)

कदाचिद्देववर्गाणां कदाचिद्दितिजन्मनाम् । करोमि विजयं सम्यक् स्वतन्त्रा निजलीलया

kadāciddevavargāṇāṁ kadācidditijanmanām karomi vijayaṁ samyak svatantrā nijalīlayā

Sometimes I grant complete victory to the host of gods, sometimes to the sons of Diti, being independent, through my own divine play.

Verse 37 (shiva.uma.49.37)

अविनाशि परं धाम मायातीतं परात्परम् । श्रुतयो वर्णयन्ते यत्तद्रूपं तु ममैव हि

avināśi paraṁ dhāma māyātītaṁ parātparam śrutayo varṇayante yattadrūpaṁ tu mamaiva hi

The imperishable, supreme abode, beyond Maya, higher than the highest, which the Vedas describe — that form indeed is mine alone.

Verse 38 (shiva.uma.49.38)

सगुणं निर्गुणं चेति मद्रूपं द्विविधं मतम् । मायाशबलितं चैकं द्वितीयं तदनाश्रितम्

saguṇaṁ nirguṇaṁ ceti madrūpaṁ dvividhaṁ matam māyāśabalitaṁ caikaṁ dvitīyaṁ tadanāśritam

My form is held to be twofold — with qualities and without qualities; one is coloured by Maya, the other is unsupported by it.

Verse 39 (shiva.uma.49.39)

एवं विज्ञाय मां देवाः स्वं स्वं गर्वं विहाय च । भजत प्रणयोपेताः प्रकृतिं मां सनातनीम्

evaṁ vijñāya māṁ devāḥ svaṁ svaṁ garvaṁ vihāya ca bhajata praṇayopetāḥ prakṛtiṁ māṁ sanātanīm

Knowing me thus, O gods, abandon each your own pride, and worship me, the eternal Prakriti, with devotion and love.

Verse 40 (shiva.uma.49.40)

इति देव्या वचः श्रुत्वा करुणागर्भितं सुराः । तुष्टुवुः परमेशानीं भक्तिसन्नतकन्धराः

iti devyā vacaḥ śrutvā karuṇāgarbhitaṁ surāḥ tuṣṭuvuḥ parameśānīṁ bhaktisannatakandharāḥ

Hearing these words of the goddess, filled with compassion, the gods, their necks bowed in devotion, praised the Supreme Sovereign Lady.

Verse 41 (shiva.uma.49.41)

क्षमस्व जगदीशानि प्रसीद परमेश्वरि । मैवं भूयात्कदाचिन्नो गर्वो मातर्दयां कुरु

kṣamasva jagadīśāni prasīda parameśvari maivaṁ bhūyātkadācinno garvo mātardayāṁ kuru

'Forgive us, O Mistress of the world! Be gracious, O Supreme Goddess! May such pride never again arise in us — O Mother, show us mercy.'

Verse 42 (shiva.uma.49.42)

ततःप्रभृति ते देवा हित्वा गर्वं समाहिताः । उमामाराधयामासुर्यथापूर्वं यथाविधि

tataḥprabhṛti te devā hitvā garvaṁ samāhitāḥ umāmārādhayāmāsuryathāpūrvaṁ yathāvidhi

From then on, those gods, having abandoned their pride, with composed minds, worshipped Uma as before, according to due rite.

Verse 43 (shiva.uma.49.43)

इति वः कथितो विप्रा उमाप्रादुर्भवो मया । यस्य श्रवणमात्रेण परमं पदमश्नुते

iti vaḥ kathito viprā umāprādurbhavo mayā yasya śravaṇamātreṇa paramaṁ padamaśnute

Thus, O brahmins, has the manifestation of Uma been told to you by me — by merely hearing which one attains the supreme state.