Scriptures

Śrīmad Devī Bhāgavatam

BOOK 1 • CHAPTER 8
Ch 8 Verse 1-2 Verse
Sanskrit Text
१.८ अष्टमोऽध्यायः । आराध्यनिर्णयवर्णनम् । ऋषय ऊचुः । सन्देहोऽत्र महाभाग कथायां तु महाद्भुतः । वेदशास्त्रपुराणैश्च निश्चितं तु सदा बुधैः ॥ १ ॥ ब्रह्मा विष्णुश्च रुद्रश्च त्रयो देवाः सनातनाः । नातः परतरं किञ्चिद्ब्रह्माण्डेऽस्मिन्महामते ॥ २ ॥
English Translation
The Ṛṣis said :-- “O highly fortunate one! A great doubt has arisen on your statement. This is ascertained by all the wise men as written in the Vedas, Purānas and other Sāstras that Brahmā, Viṣṇu and Maheśvar, these three Devas are eternal. None is superior to them in this Brahmāṇḍa.
Ch 8 Verse 3-4 Verse
Sanskrit Text
ब्रह्मा सृजति लोकान्वै विष्णुः पात्यखिलं जगत् । रुद्रः संहरते काले त्रय एतेऽत्र कारणम् ॥ ३ ॥ एका मूर्तिस्त्रयो देवा ब्रह्मविष्णुमहेश्वराः । रजःसत्त्वतमोभिश्च संयुताः कार्यकारकाः ॥ ४ ॥
English Translation
Brahmā creates all the beings, Viṣṇu preserves and Maheśvar destroys all in due time. These are the causes of creation, preservation and destruction. The Trinity Brahmā, Viṣṇu and Maheśa are really one form, indeed, Trinity in Unity and Unity in Trinity. Being endowed respectively with Sattva, Raja and Tamo Guṇas they do their respective works.
Ch 8 Verse 5 Verse
Sanskrit Text
तेषां मध्ये हरिः श्रेष्ठो माधवः पुरुषोत्तमः । आदिदेवो जगन्नाथः समर्थः सर्वकर्मसु ॥ ५ ॥
English Translation
Amongst these, again, Purushottam Ādideva Jagannāth Hari, the husband of Kamalā is the best; for he is capable of doing all the actions; no other than the Viṣṇu, of unrivalled prowess is so capable.
Ch 8 Verse 6 Verse
Sanskrit Text
नान्यः कोऽपि समर्थोऽस्ति विष्णोरतुलतेजसः । स कथं स्वापितः स्वामी विवशो योगमायया ॥ ६ ॥
English Translation
How is it, then that Yogamāyā has overpowered Hari with sleep and made him altogether senseless? O highly fortunate one! whither did, then, go that extraordinary self knowledge and power, etc., of Hari while alive?
Ch 8 Verse 7 Verse
Sanskrit Text
क्व गतं तस्य विज्ञानं जीवतश्चेष्टितं कुतः । सन्देहोऽयं महाभाग कथयस्व यथाशुभम् ॥ ७ ॥
English Translation
This is our greatest doubt; so kindly advise us that our this doubt be removed and our well-being be thus ensured.
Ch 8 Verse 8-10 Verse
Sanskrit Text
का सा शक्तिः पुरा प्रोक्ता यया विष्णुजितः प्रभुः । कुतो जाता कथं शक्ता का शक्तिर्वद सुव्रत ॥ ८ ॥ यस्तु सर्वेश्वरो विष्णुर्वासुदेवो जगद्गुरुः । परमात्मा परानन्दः सच्चिदानन्दविग्रहः ॥ ९ ॥ सर्वकृत्सर्वभृत्स्रष्टा विरजः सर्वगः शुचिः । स कथं निद्रया नीतः परतन्त्रः परात्परः ॥ १० ॥
English Translation
What is that Śaktī? Which you mentioned to us before; as well by whom Viṣṇu is conquered? Whence is She born? What is the power of that Śaktī and what is Her nature? O Suvrata! explain to us these fully. How was it that Yogamāyā overpowered with sleep the Highest Deity Bhagavān Viṣṇu who is everlasting-intelligence bliss! who is the God of all, the Guru of the whole world, the Creator, Preserver and Destroyer, who is omni-present, an incarnate of purity and holiness and beyond Rajoguṇa; how was such a personage brought under the control of sleep?
Ch 8 Verse 11 Verse
Sanskrit Text
एतदाश्चर्यभूतो हि सन्देहो नः परन्तप । छिन्धि ज्ञानासिना सूत व्यासशिष्य महामते ॥ ११ ॥
English Translation
O Sūta! You are very intelligent and the pupil of Vyasa Deva; destroy our this doubt by the sword of wisdom.
Ch 8 Verse 12-13 Verse
Sanskrit Text
सूत उवाच । कः सन्देहं भिनत्त्येनं त्रैलोक्ये सचराचरे । मुह्यन्ति मुनयः कामं ब्रह्मपुत्राः सनातनाः ॥ १२ ॥ नारदः कपिलश्चैव प्रश्नेऽस्मिन्मुनिसत्तमाः । किं ब्रवीमि महाभागा दुर्घटेऽस्मिन्विमर्शने ॥ १३ ॥
English Translation
Hearing this, Sūta said :--“O highly fortunate Munis! There is none in the three Lokas who can clear your this doubt; the mind-born sons of Brahmā, Nārada, Kapila and other eternal sons get bewildered by these questions; what can I, then, say on this very difficult point!
Ch 8 Verse 14-20 Verse
Sanskrit Text
देवेषु विष्णुः कथितः सर्वगः सर्वपालकः । यतो विराडिदं सर्वमुत्पन्नं सचराचरम् ॥ १४ ॥ ते सर्वे समुपासन्ते नत्वा देवं परात्परम् । नारायणं हृषीकेशं वासुदेवं जनार्दनम् ॥ १५ ॥ तथा केचिन्महादेवं शङ्करं शशिशेखरम् । त्रिनेत्रं पञ्चवक्त्रं च शूलपाणिं वृषध्वजम् ॥ १६ ॥ तथा वेदेषु सर्वेषु गीतं नाम्ना त्रियम्बकम् । कपर्दिनं पञ्चवक्त्रं गौरीदेहार्धधारिणम् ॥ १७ ॥ कैलासवासनिरतं सर्वशक्तिसमन्वितम् । भूतवृन्दयुतं देवं दक्षयज्ञविघातकम् ॥ १८ ॥ तथा सूर्यं वेदविदः सायम्प्रातर्दिने दिने । मध्याह्ने तु महाभागाः स्तुवन्ति विविधैः स्तवैः ॥ १९ ॥ तथा वेदेषु सर्वेषु सूर्योपासनमुत्तमम् । परमात्मेति विख्यातं नाम तस्य महात्मनः ॥ २० ॥
English Translation
See, some persons call Bhagavān Viṣṇu omnipresent, the preserver of all and the best of all the Devas; according to them all this universe moving and non-moving, is created by Viṣṇu; they bow down before the Highest Nārāyan Hrisikeśa Janārdana Vāsudeva and worship Him, whereas others worship Mahādeva Śaṅkara, having Gauri for the other half of his body, endowed with all powers, residing in Kailāśa, surrounded by hosts of bhutas, that destroyed the Daksha’s sacrifice, who is mentioned in the Vedas as Śaśiśekhara (having moon on his forehead), with three eyes and five faces and holding trident in his hand and known as Vṛṣadhaja and Kaparddi. O highly intelligent ones! There are some other persons, that know the Vedas and worship the Sun everyday in the morning, mid-day and in the evening with various hymns.
Ch 8 Verse 21 Verse
Sanskrit Text
अग्निः सर्वत्र वेदेषु संस्तुतो वेदवित्तमैः । इन्द्रश्चापि त्रिलोकेशो वरुणश्च तथापरः ॥ २१ ॥
English Translation
In all the Vedas, it is stated that the worship of the sun is excellent and they have named the high-souled sun as Paramātmā (the Highest Deity). Whereas there are other Vedavits (the knowers of the Vedas) who worship the Devas, Fire, Indra, and Varuṇa.
Ch 8 Verse 22 Verse
Sanskrit Text
यथा गङ्गा प्रवाहैश्च बहुभिः परिवर्तते । तथैव सर्वदेवेषु विष्णुः प्रोक्तो महर्षिभिः ॥ २२ ॥
English Translation
But the Maharṣis say, that as Gaṅgā Devi (the river Ganges), though one, is expressing Herself by many channels, so the one Viṣṇu is expressing in all the Deva forms. Those who are big Pundits, declare perception, inference, and verbal testimony as the three modes of proofs.
Ch 8 Verse 23-25 Verse
Sanskrit Text
त्रीण्येव हि प्रमाणानि पठितानि सुपण्डितैः । प्रत्यक्षं चानुमानं च शाब्दं चैव तृतीयकम् ॥ २३ ॥ चत्वार्येवेतरे प्राहुरुपमानयुतानि च । अर्थापत्तियुतान्यन्ये पञ्च प्राहुर्महाधियः ॥ २४ ॥ सप्त पौराणिकाश्चैव प्रवदन्ति मनीषिणः । एतैः प्रमाणैर्दुर्ज्ञेयं यद्ब्रह्म परमं च तत् ॥ २५ ॥
English Translation
The Naiyāyik Pundits add to the above three, a fourth proof which they call upamā, resemblance, similitude and some other intelligent Pundits add another fifth proof called Arthāpatti, an. inference from circumstances, presumption, implication. It is deduction of a matter from that which could not else be; it is assumption of a thing, not itself perceived but necessarily implied by another which is seen, heard or proved; whereas the authors of the Purāṇas add two other, called Sāksī and Aitijhya, thus advocating. seven modes of proofs. Now the Vedānta Śāstra says that the supreme being (Param Brahmā), the Prime cause of the Universe, cannot be comprehended by the above-mentioned seven proofs.
Ch 8 Verse 26 Verse
Sanskrit Text
वितर्कश्चात्र कर्तव्यो बुद्ध्या चैवागमेन च । निश्चयात्मिकया युक्त्या विचार्य च पुनः पुनः ॥ २६ ॥
English Translation
Therefore, first of all, adopt the reason leading to sure belief, the Buddhi, according to the words of the Vedas and discriminate and discuss again and again and draw your inference about Brahmā.
Ch 8 Verse 27 Verse
Sanskrit Text
प्रत्यक्षतस्तु विज्ञानं चिन्त्यं मतिमता सदा । दृष्टान्तेनापि सततं शिष्टमार्गानुसारिणा ॥ २७ ॥
English Translation
And the intelligent person should adopt what is seen by perception as self-evident and what is inferred by the observance of good conduct.
Ch 8 Verse 28-29 Verse
Sanskrit Text
विद्वांसोऽपि वदन्त्येवं पुराणैः परिगीयते । द्रुहिणे सृष्टिशक्तिश्च हरौ पालनशक्तिता ॥ २८ ॥ हरे संहारशक्तिश्च सूर्ये शक्तिः प्रकाशिका । धराधरणशक्तिश्च शेषे कूर्मे तथैव च ॥ २९ ॥
English Translation
The wise persons say, and it is also stated in the Purāṇas, that the Prime Force is present in Brahmā as the Creative Force; is present in Hari as the Preservative Force; is present in Hara as the Destructive Force; is present in Kurma (tortoise) and in Ananta (the thousand headed Snake) as the earth supporting Force; is present in fire as the Burning Force, is present in air as the moving Force, and so is present everywhere in various manifestations of forces.
Ch 8 Verse 30-33 Verse
Sanskrit Text
साद्या शक्तिः परिणता सर्वस्मिन्या प्रतिष्ठिता । दाहशक्तिस्तथा वह्नौ समीरे प्रेरणात्मिका ॥ ३० ॥ शिवोऽपि शवतां याति कुण्डलिन्या विवर्जितः । शक्तिहीनस्तु यः कश्चिदसमर्थः स्मृतो बुधैः ॥ ३१ ॥ एवं सर्वत्र भूतेषु स्थावरेषु चरेषु च । ब्रह्मादिस्तम्बपर्यन्तं ब्रह्माण्डेऽस्मिन्महातपाः ॥ ३२ ॥ शक्तिहीनं तु निन्द्यं स्याद्वस्तुमात्रं चराचरम् । अशक्तः शत्रुविजये गमने भोजने तथा ॥ ३३ ॥
English Translation
In this whole Universe, whoever he may be, all are incapable of any action if he be deprived of his force; what more than this, if Śiva be deprived of Kula Kundalinī Śaktī, He becomes a lifeless corpse; O great ascetic Ṛṣis! She is present everywere thus in every thing in this universe from the highest Brahmā to the lowermost blade of grass, all moving and non-moving things. Verily everything becomes quite inert, if deprived of force; whether in conquering one’s enemies, or in going from one place to another or in eating -- one finds oneself quite incapable, if deprived of force.
Ch 8 Verse 34-35 Verse
Sanskrit Text
एवं सर्वगता शक्तिः सा ब्रह्मेति विविच्यते । सोपास्या विविधैः सम्यग्विचार्या सुधिया सदा ॥ ३४ ॥ विष्णौ च सात्त्विकी शक्तिस्तया हीनोऽप्यकर्मकृत् । द्रुहिणे राजसी शक्तिर्यया हीनो ह्यसृष्टिकृत् ॥ ३५ ॥
English Translation
Thus the omnipresent Śaktī, the wise call by the name of Brahmā. Those who are verily intelligent should always worship Her in various ways and determine thoroughly the reality of Her by every means. In Viṣṇu there is the Sattviki Śaktī; then He can preserve; otherwise He is quite useless; so in Brahmā there is Rajasi Śaktī and He creates; otherwise He is quite useless; in Śiva, there is Tamasi Śaktī and He destroys; else He is quite useless.
Ch 8 Verse 36-38 Verse
Sanskrit Text
शिवे च तामसी शक्तिस्तया संहारकारकः । इत्यूह्यं मनसा सर्वं विचार्य च पुनः पुनः ॥ ३६ ॥ शक्तिः करोति ब्रह्माण्डं सा वै पालयतेऽखिलम् । इच्छया संहरत्येषा जगदेतच्चराचरम् ॥ ३७ ॥ न विष्णुर्न हरः शक्रो न ब्रह्मा न च पावकः । न सूर्यो वरुणः शक्तः स्वे स्वे कार्ये कथञ्चन ॥ ३८ ॥
English Translation
Thus, arguing again and again in one’s mind, everyone should come to know that the Highest Ādya Śaktī by Her mere will creates and preserves this Universe and She it is who destroys again in time the whole Brahmānda, moving and non-moving; no one is capable to do his respective work be he Brahmā, Viṣṇu, Maheśvar, Indra, Fire, Sun, Varuṇa or any other person whatsoever; verily all the Devas perform the respective actions by the use of this Ādya Śaktī.
Ch 8 Verse 39 Verse
Sanskrit Text
तया युक्ता हि कुर्वन्ति स्वानि कार्याणि ते सुराः । सैव कारणकार्येषु प्रत्यक्षेणावगम्यते ॥ ३९ ॥
English Translation
That She alone is present in cause and effect and is doing every action, an be witnessed vividly.
Ch 8 Verse 40 Verse
Sanskrit Text
सगुणा निर्गुणा सा तु द्विधा प्रोक्ता मनीषिभिः । सगुणा रागिभिः सेव्या निर्गुणा तु विरागिभिः ॥ ४० ॥
English Translation
The intelligent ones call that Śaktī twofold; one is Saguṇā and the other is Nirgunā. The people, attached to the senses and the objects, worship the Saguṇā aspect, and those who are not so attached worship the Nirguna aspect.
Ch 8 Verse 41 Verse
Sanskrit Text
धर्मार्थकाममोक्षाणां स्वामिनी सा निराकुला । ददाति वाच्छितान्कामान्पूजिता विधिपूर्वकम् ॥ ४१ ॥
English Translation
That conscious Śaktī is the Lady of the fourfold aims of life, religion, wealth, desires, and liberation. When She is worshipped according to due rules, She awards all sorts of desires.
Ch 8 Verse 42 Verse
Sanskrit Text
न जानन्ति जना मूढास्तां सदा माययावृताः । जानन्तोऽपि नराः केचिन्मोहयन्ति परानपि ॥ ४२ ॥
English Translation
The worldly persons, charmed by the Māyā of this world, do not know Her at all; some persons know a little and charm others; whereas some stupid and dull-deaded Pundits, impelled by Kali, start sects of heretics, Pāṣaṇḍas for the sustenance of their own bellies.
Ch 8 Verse 43-44 Verse
Sanskrit Text
पण्डिताः स्वोदरार्थं वै पाखण्डानि पूथक्पृथक् । प्रवर्तयन्ति कलिना प्रेरिता मन्दचेतसः ॥ ४३ ॥ कलावस्मिन्महाभागा नानाभेदसमुत्थिताः । नान्ये युगे तथा धर्मा वेदबाह्याः कथञ्चन ॥ ४४ ॥
English Translation
O highly fortunate Munis! In no other Yugas were found acts as prevalent in this Kali Yuga, based on various different opinions and altogether beyond the pale of the Vedic injunctions.
Ch 8 Verse 45-46 Verse
Sanskrit Text
विष्णुश्चरत्यसावुग्र तपो वर्षाण्यनेकशः । ब्रह्मा हरस्त्रयो देवा ध्यायन्तः कमपि धुवम् ॥ ४५ ॥ कामयानाः सदा कामं ते त्रयः सर्वदैव हि । यजन्ति यज्ञान्विविधान्ब्रह्मविष्णुमहेश्वराः ॥ ४६ ॥
English Translation
Behold again, if Brahmā, Viṣṇu and Maheśa be the supreme Deities, then why do these three Devas meditate on another One beyond speech, beyond mind and practise, for years, hard austerities; and why do they perform Yajñas (sacrifices) for their success in creation, preservation, and destruction?
Ch 8 Verse 47 Verse
Sanskrit Text
ते वै शक्तिं परां देवीं ब्रह्माख्यां परमात्मिकाम् । ध्यायन्ति मनसा नित्यं नित्यां मत्वा सनातनीम् ॥ ४७ ॥
English Translation
They know, verily, the Highest Supreme Being, Brahmāni Devī Śaktī eternal, constant and therefore they meditate Her always in their minds.
Ch 8 Verse 48 Verse
Sanskrit Text
तस्माच्छक्तिः सदा सेव्या विद्वद्भिः कृतनिश्चयैः । निश्चयः सर्वशास्त्राणां ज्ञातव्यो मुनिसत्तमाः ॥ ४८ ॥
English Translation
Therefore the wise man, knowing this firmly, should serve in every way the Highest Śaktī. O Munis! This is the settled conclusion of all the Sāstras.
Ch 8 Verse 49 Verse
Sanskrit Text
कृष्णाच्छ्रुतं मया चैतत्तेन ज्ञातं तु नारदात् । पितुः सकाशात्तेनापि ब्रह्मणा विष्णुवाक्यतः ॥ ४९ ॥
English Translation
I have heard of this great hidden secret from Bhagavān Kṛṣṇa Dvaipāyan. He heard it from Nārada, and Nārada heard it from his own father Brahmā.
Ch 8 Verse 50 Verse
Sanskrit Text
न श्रोतव्यं न मन्तव्यमन्येषां वचनं बुधैः । शक्तिरेव सदा सेव्या विद्वद्भिः कृतनिश्चयैः ॥ ५० ॥
English Translation
Brahmā heard this from Viṣṇu. O Munis it is well that the wise even should not hear or think anything to the contrary from other sources; they should with their concentrated heart serve the Brahmā Sanātanī Śaktī.
Ch 8 Verse 51 Verse
Sanskrit Text
प्रत्यक्षमपि द्रष्टव्यमशक्तस्य विचेष्टितम् । अतः सर्वेषु भूतेषु ज्ञातव्या शक्तिरेव हि ॥ ५१ ॥
Sanskrit Colophon
इति श्रीमद्देवीभागवते महापुराणेऽष्टादशसाहस्र्यां संहितायां प्रथमस्कन्धे आराध्यनिर्णयवर्णनं नामाष्टमोऽध्यायः ॥ १.८॥
English Translation
It is clearly witnessed in this world that if there be any substance wherein this conscious Śaktī does not exist, that becomes inert, quite useless for any purpose. So know this fully that it is the Highest Divine Mother of the Universe that is playing here, residing in every being. Thus ends the eighth chapter of the first Skandha on deciding who is to be worshipped in the Mahapurāṇa Sri Mad Devī Bhāgavatam of 18,000 verses by Maharṣi Vedavyāsa.