Ch 20 Verse 1 Verse

Sanskrit Text

५.२० विंशोऽध्यायः । महिषवधानन्तरं पृथिवीसुखवर्णनम् । जनमेजय उवाच - अथाद्भुतं वीक्ष्य मुने प्रभावं देव्या जगच्छान्तिकरं परञ्च । न तृप्तिरस्ति द्विजवर्य शृण्वतः कथामृतं ते मुखपद्मजातम् ॥ १ ॥

English Translation

Janamejaya said :-- O best of Ṛṣis! I have now seen the wonderful excellent deeds of the Devī for the enhancement of peace in this world. Though I have heard from thy lotus face these nectar-like words, still I am not satisfied.

Ch 20 Verse 2 Verse

Sanskrit Text

अन्तर्हितायां च तदा भवान्या चक्रुश्च किं देवपुरोगमास्ते । देव्याश्चरित्र परमं पवित्रं दुरापमेवाल्पपुण्यैर्नराणाम् ॥ २ ॥

English Translation

O best of Munis! What did the chief Devas do when the Goddess disappeared, kindly say to me. O Bhagavān! I think those Jīvas cannot fully comprehend these excellent sacred deeds of the Devī, that are less fortunate and have done not many meritorious deeds in this world.

Ch 20 Verse 3 Verse

Sanskrit Text

कस्तृप्तिमाप्नोति कथामृतेन भिन्नोऽल्पभाग्यात्पटुकर्णरन्ध्रः । पीतेन येनामरतां प्रयाति धिक्तान्नरान् ये न पिबन्ति सादरम् ॥ ३ ॥

English Translation

O Muni! What to speak of the less fortunate souls, even the Mahātmas who are well versed in hearing such things, can hardly be satiated on hearing the Devī’s deeds. O! Fie to those, that do not hear of these things, the essence of essences, on hearing which men become Immortals.

Ch 20 Verse 4 Verse

Sanskrit Text

लीलाचरित्रं जगदम्बिकाया रक्षान्वितं देवमहामुनीनाम् । संसारवार्धेस्तरणं नराणां कथं कृतज्ञा हि परित्यजेयुः ॥ ४ ॥

English Translation

The Mother’s Līlā is to preserve the Devas as well as the great Munis and to serve as a boat for the human beings to cross this ocean of world. How can, then, the grateful souls forsake Her?

Ch 20 Verse 5 Verse

Sanskrit Text

मुक्ताश्च ये चैव मुमुक्षवश्च संसारिणो रोगयुताश्च केचित् । तेषां सदा श्रोत्रपुटैश्च पेयं सर्वार्थदं वेदविदो वदन्ति ॥ ५ ॥

English Translation

The Pundits versed in the Vedas declare, that the Devī’s life is able to fulfil all the desires. Therefore the liberated souls that want liberation, the worldly souls, the diseased all ought to drink incessantly the nectar-like nectar of Devī’s doings.

Ch 20 Verse 6 Verse

Sanskrit Text

तथा विशेषेण मुने नृपाणां धर्मार्थकामेषु सदा रतानाम् । मुक्ताश्च यस्मात्खलु तत्पिबन्ति कथं न पेयं रहितैश्च तेभ्यः ॥ ६ ॥

English Translation

Especially the kings that are engaged in Dharma, in earning wealth and in enjoyments, ought to hear Her life. O Muni! When the liberated souls drink the nectar-like doings of the Devī, what doubt can there be with the ordinary human beings, to listen with rapt devotion those wondrous things! O Best of Munis!

Ch 20 Verse 7 Verse

Sanskrit Text

यैः पूजिता पूर्वभवे भवानी सत्कुन्दपुष्पैरथ चम्पकैश्च । बैल्वैर्दलैस्ते भुवि भोगयुक्ता नृपा भवन्तीत्यनुमेयमेवम् ॥ ७ ॥

English Translation

It is those that worshipped the Goddess Bhavānī in their previous births with beautiful Kuṇḍa flowers, Champaka flowers and Bel leaves, they have, it is inferred, in their present births become possessed of rich enjoyments.

Ch 20 Verse 8 Verse

Sanskrit Text

ये भक्तिहीना समवाप्य देहं तं मानुषं भारतभूमिभागे । यैर्नार्चिता ते धनधान्यहीना रोगान्विताः सन्ततिवर्जिताश्च ॥ ८ ॥

English Translation

And those devoid of any devotion, that obtained this human body in the land of Bhārata and did not worship the Mother Goddess, they are, in the present births, without grains and riches, diseased, and void of any issues.

Ch 20 Verse 9 Verse

Sanskrit Text

भ्रमन्ति नित्यं किल दासभूता आज्ञाकराः केवलभारवाहाः । दिवानिशं स्वार्थपराः कदापि नैवाप्नुवन्त्यौदरपूर्तिमात्रम् ॥ ९ ॥

English Translation

Wander they always as servants, carrying out orders, and bearing on the burden loads; day and night, they seek for their own selfish ends, yet they cannot get their belly full meals.

Ch 20 Verse 10 Verse

Sanskrit Text

अन्धाश्च मूका बधिराश्च खञ्जाः कुष्ठान्विता ये भुवि दुःखभाजः । तत्रानुमानं कविभिर्विधेयं नाराधिता तैः सततं भवानी ॥ १० ॥

English Translation

The blind, deaf and dumb; lame and lepers suffer pain and misery in this earth; seeing them, it should be inferred that they never worshipped the Goddess Bhavānī.

Ch 20 Verse 11 Verse

Sanskrit Text

ये राजभोगान्वितऋद्धिपूर्णाः संसेव्यमाना बहुभिर्मनुष्यैः । दृश्यन्ति ये वा विभवैः समेता- स्तैः पूजिताम्बेत्यनुमेयमेव ॥ ११ ॥

English Translation

And those that are wealthy, prosperous, attended by numerous attendants and are always enjoying, like kings, it is to be inferred that they certainly worshipped the lotus feet of the Mother Goddess in their past lives.

Ch 20 Verse 12 Verse

Sanskrit Text

तस्मात्सत्यवतीसूनो देव्याश्चरितमुत्तमम् । कथयस्व कृपां कृत्वा दयावानसि साम्प्रतम् ॥ १२ ॥

English Translation

Therefore O Son of Satyavatī! As you are kind-hearted, kindly narrate before me the excellent deeds of the Devī.

Ch 20 Verse 13 Verse

Sanskrit Text

हत्वा तं महिषं पापं स्तुता सम्पूजिता सुरैः । क्व गता सा महालक्ष्मीः सर्वतेजःसमुद्भवा ॥ १३ ॥

English Translation

O best of Munis! Where did the Goddess, Mahā Lakṣmī, created out of the energies of all the gods, depart after She had slain the Mahiṣāsura and had been worshipped and praised by the Devas?

Ch 20 Verse 14-15 Verse

Sanskrit Text

कथितं ते महाभाग गतान्तर्धानमाशु सा । स्वर्गे वा मृत्युलोके वा संस्थिता भुवनेश्वरी ॥ १४ ॥ लयं गता वा तत्रैव वैकुण्ठे वा समाश्रिता । अथवा हेमशैले सा तत्त्वतो मे वदाधुना ॥ १५ ॥

English Translation

O highly Fortunate one! You told me that She vanished from the sight of the Devas; now I like to know where is She staying now, whether in the Heavens or in the Land of Mortals? Did She melt away then and there or did She descend to Vaikuṇṭha or did She go to the mountain Sumeru? O Muni! Narrate all these duly before me.

Ch 20 Verse 16-17 Verse

Sanskrit Text

व्यास उवाच । पूर्वं मया ते कथितं मणिद्वीपं मनोहरम् । क्रीडास्थानं सदा देव्या वल्लभं परमं स्मृतम् ॥ १६ ॥ यत्र ब्रह्मा हरिः स्थाणुः स्त्रीभावं ते प्रपेदिरे । पुरुषत्वं पुनः प्राप्य स्वानि कार्याणि चक्रिरे ॥ १७ ॥

English Translation

Vyāsa said :-- O King! I told you before about the beautiful Maṇi Dvīpa; that island is the place of sport to the Devī and very dear to Her. In that place Brahmā, Viṣṇu, Mahādeva were transformed into females; they afterwards became males and were engaged in their respective duties.

Ch 20 Verse 18 Verse

Sanskrit Text

यः सुधासिन्धुमध्येऽस्ति द्वीपः परमशोभनः । नानारूपैः सदा तत्र विहारं कुरुतेऽम्बिका ॥ १८ ॥

English Translation

That place is grand and splendid and is in the centre of the ocean of Nectar; the Devī Ambikā assumes various forms there as She likes; and She sports there.

Ch 20 Verse 19-20 Verse

Sanskrit Text

स्तुता सम्पूजिता देवैः सा तत्रैव गता शिवा । यत्र सङ्क्रीडते नित्यं मायाशक्तिः सनातनी ॥ १९ ॥ देवास्तां निर्गतां वीक्ष्य देवीं सर्वेश्वरीं तथा । रविवंशोद्भवं चक्रुर्भूमिपालं महाबलम् ॥ २० ॥

English Translation

To that Maṇi Dvīpa the auspicious Devī departed after She had been praised by the Gods, to that place where sports always the eternal Bhagavatī Bhuvaneśvarī, the incarnate of Para Brahmā.

Ch 20 Verse 21 Verse

Sanskrit Text

अयोध्याधिपतिं वीरं शत्रुघ्नं नाम पार्थिवम् । सर्वलक्षणसम्पन्नं महिषस्यासने शुभे ॥ २१ ॥

English Translation

When the Highest Goddess vanished, the Devas installed, on the throne of Mahiṣāsura, the powerful King Śatrughna, endowed with all auspicious qualities, the Lord of Ajodhyā and descended from the Solar line.

Ch 20 Verse 22 Verse

Sanskrit Text

दत्त्वा राज्यं तदा तस्मै देवा इन्द्रपुरोगमाः । स्वकीयैर्वाहनैः सर्वे जग्मुः स्वान्यालयानि ते ॥ २२ ॥

English Translation

After making him thus the King, Indra and the other Devas went to their respective abodes on their own conveyances.

Ch 20 Verse 23 Verse

Sanskrit Text

गतेषु तेषु देवेषु पृथिव्यां पृथिवीपते । धर्मराज्यं बभूवाथ प्रजाश्च सुखितास्तथा ॥ २३ ॥

English Translation

O King! The Devas having gone to their places, the subjects were governed on this earth according to Dharma; and they passed their times in ease and comfort.

Ch 20 Verse 24 Verse

Sanskrit Text

पर्जन्यः कालवर्षी च धरा धान्यगुणावृता । पादपाः फलपुष्पाढ्या बभूवुः सुखदाः सदा ॥ २४ ॥

English Translation

It used to rain, then, timely and the earth was covered with plenty of grains and wealth; the trees were all filled with fruits and leaves and gave enjoyment to people.

Ch 20 Verse 25 Verse

Sanskrit Text

गावश्च क्षीरसम्पना घटोध्न्यः कामदा नृणाम् । नद्यः सुमार्गगाः स्वच्छाः शीतोदाः खगसंयुताः ॥ २५ ॥

English Translation

The cows with their udders full like earthen pots gave such a profuse quantity of milk that men began to milk them whenever they liked. The riverś waters were all clear and cooling; and they flowed full in regular channels; the birds grouped round them.

Ch 20 Verse 26-27 Verse

Sanskrit Text

ब्राह्मणा वेदतत्त्वाश्च यज्ञकर्मरतास्तथा । क्षत्रिया धर्मसंयुक्ता दानाध्ययनतत्पराः ॥ २६ ॥ शस्त्रविद्यारता नित्यं प्रजारक्षणतत्पराः । न्यायदण्डधराः सर्वे राजानः शमसंयुताः ॥ २७ ॥

English Translation

The Brāhmaṇas, versed in the Vedas, were engaged in performing sacrifices; the Kṣattriyas observed their virtues and were engaged in doing charities and in their education; the kings held their rods of justice and were engaged in governing their subjects; though the several kings were busy with various arms and weapons, they all became fond of peace.

Ch 20 Verse 28 Verse

Sanskrit Text

अविरोधस्तु भूतानां सर्वेषां सम्बभूव ह । आकरा धनदा नृणां व्रजा गोयूथसंयुताः ॥ २८ ॥

English Translation

Thus no wars nor quarrels were seen amongst the subjects; and the mines yielded plenty of wealth to the people.

Ch 20 Verse 29 Verse

Sanskrit Text

ब्राह्मणाः क्षत्रिया वैश्याः शूद्राश्च नृपसत्तम । देवीभक्तिपराः सर्वे सम्बभूवुर्धरातले ॥ २९ ॥

English Translation

O best of Kings! There were the Brāhmaṇs, Kṣattriyas, Vaiśyas and Śūdras who became the devotees of the Goddess.

Ch 20 Verse 30 Verse

Sanskrit Text

सर्वत्र यज्ञयूपाश्च मण्डपाश्च मनोहराः । मखैः पूर्णा धराश्चासन् ब्राह्मणैः क्षत्रियैः कृतैः ॥ ३० ॥

English Translation

The Brāhmaṇas and Kṣattriyas used, then, to perform so many sacrifices that, at every nook and corner in this globe, the sacrificial altars and the sacrificial posts became visible.

Ch 20 Verse 31-32 Verse

Sanskrit Text

पतिव्रतधरा नार्यः सुशीलाः सत्यसंयुताः । पितृभक्तिपराः पुत्रा आसन्धर्मपरायणाः ॥ ३१ ॥ न पाखण्डं न वाधर्मः कुत्रापि पृथिवीतले । वेदवादा शास्त्रवादा नान्ये वादास्तथाभवन् ॥ ३२ ॥

English Translation

The female sex became gentle and of good behaviour, truthful and chaste towards their husbands respectively. Atheism and unrighteous acts vanished entirely from the face of the earth; the people left all dry discussions; they argued only about the Śāstras that did not go in contra-distinction to the Vedas.

Ch 20 Verse 33-34 Verse

Sanskrit Text

कलहो नैव केषाञ्चिन्न दैन्यं नाशुभा मतिः । सर्वत्र सुखिनो लोकाः काले च मरणं तथा ॥ ३३ ॥ सुहृदां न वियोगश्च नापदश्च कदाचन । नानावृष्टिर्न दुर्भिक्षं न मारी दुःखदा नृणाम् ॥ ३४ ॥

English Translation

Nobody liked to quarrel with each other; poverty, and evil inclinations were checked; the people everywhere lived in happiness. Untimely death was not there; so the people had no bereavements with their friends; no distress was seen.

Ch 20 Verse 35 Verse

Sanskrit Text

न रोगो न च मात्सर्यं न विरोधः परस्परम् । सर्वत्र सुखसम्पन्ना नरा नार्यः सुखान्विताः ॥ ३५ ॥

English Translation

Famine, want of rains, and deadly plagues were out of sight. The people had no illness even; and jealousies and quarrels vanished.

Ch 20 Verse 36-37 Verse

Sanskrit Text

क्रीडन्ति मानवाः सर्वे स्वर्गे देवगणा इव । न चौरा न च पाखण्डा वञ्चका दम्भकास्तथा ॥ ३६ ॥ पिशुना लम्पटाः स्तब्धा न बभूवुस्तदा नृप । न वेदद्वेषिणः पापा मानवाः पृथिवीपते ॥ ३७ ॥

English Translation

O King! all men and women began to sport merrily everywhere like the Gods in Heaven. Theft, atheism, deceit, vanity, hypocrisy, lustfulness, stupidity, and the anti-Vedic feelings were not to be seen.

Ch 20 Verse 38 Verse

Sanskrit Text

सर्वधर्मरता नित्यं द्विजसेवापरायणाः । त्रिधात्वात्सृष्टिधर्मस्य त्रिविधा ब्राह्मणास्ततः ॥ ३८ ॥

English Translation

O Lord of the Earth! All the men were then extremely devoted to their Dharma and engaged in serving the Brāhmaṇas.

Ch 20 Verse 39 Verse

Sanskrit Text

सात्त्विका राजसाश्चैव तामसाश्च तथापरे । सर्वे वेदविदो दक्षाः सात्त्विकाः सत्त्ववृत्तयः ॥ ३९ ॥

English Translation

The Brāhmins were also, according to the three-fold plan of the creation, Sāttvik, Rājasik and Tāmasik.

Ch 20 Verse 40 Verse

Sanskrit Text

प्रतिग्रहविहीनाश्च दयादमपरायणाः । यज्ञास्ते सात्त्विकैरन्नैः कुर्वाणा धर्मतत्पराः ॥ ४० ॥

English Translation

The Sāttvik Brāhmins were all versed in the Vedas, clever and truthful; they were kind, they controlled their passions and they did not accept any presents from others.

Ch 20 Verse 41 Verse

Sanskrit Text

पुरोडाशविधानैश्च पशुभिर्न कदाचन । दानमध्ययनञ्चैव यजनं तु तृतीयकम् ॥ ४१ ॥

English Translation

Filled with their ideas of Dharma, they used to perform their Puroḍāṣa and other such sacrifices with Sāttvik rice, etc., but never, never did they immolate any animals.* O King!

Ch 20 Verse 42 Verse

Sanskrit Text

त्रिकर्मरसिकास्ते वै सात्त्विका ब्राह्मणा नृप । राजसा वेदविद्वांसः क्षत्रियाणां पुरोहिताः ॥ ४२ ॥

English Translation

The Sāttvik Brāhmaṇas gave charities, studied the Vedas and offered sacrifices for themselves. These were their three ordained actions. They were busy in these.

Ch 20 Verse 43 Verse

Sanskrit Text

षट्कर्मनिरता सर्वे विधिवन्मांसभक्षकाः । यजनं याजनं दानं तथैव च प्रतिग्रहः ॥ ४३ ॥

English Translation

O King! The Rājasik Brāhmaṇas were versed in the Vedas and acted as priests to the Kṣattriyas *N.B. - Where the victim is fastened during the time of immolation. and ate flesh as sanctioned by recognised rules. They were busy with their six duties.

Ch 20 Verse 44 Verse

Sanskrit Text

अध्ययनं तु वेदानां तथैवाध्यापनं तु षट् । तामसाः क्रोधसंयुक्ता रागद्वेषपराः पुनः ॥ ४४ ॥

English Translation

They offered sacrifices on their own behalf, assisted others in sacrifices, took gifts, made charities, studied and taught others the Vedas. The Tāmasik Brāhmaṇas were angry, attached to worldly objects, and jealous.

Ch 20 Verse 45 Verse

Sanskrit Text

राज्ञां कर्मकरा नित्यं किञ्चिदध्ययने रताः । महिषे निहते सर्वे सुखिनो वेदतत्पराः ॥ ४५ ॥

English Translation

They studied very little of the Vedas and spent most of their time in serving the kings.

Ch 20 Verse 46 Verse

Sanskrit Text

बभूवुर्व्रतनिष्णाता दानधर्मपरास्तथा । क्षत्रियाः पालने युक्ता वैश्या वणिजवृत्तयः ॥ ४६ ॥

English Translation

O King! Mahiṣāsura was killed, all the Brāhmaṇas were glad and began to practise Dharma according to the Vedas, observed vows and made charities.

Ch 20 Verse 47 Verse

Sanskrit Text

कृषिवाणिज्यगोरक्षाकुसीदवृत्तयः परे । एवं प्रमुदितो लोको महिषे विनिपातिते ॥ ४७ ॥

English Translation

The Kṣattriyas began to govern the subjects, the Vaisya carried on their trading business and the other tribes went on with their agriculture, preservation of the cows, and lending money on interest. Thus all men became vary glad on the death of Mahiṣa.

Ch 20 Verse 48 Verse

Sanskrit Text

अनुद्वेगः प्रजानां वै सम्बभूव धनागमः । बहुक्षीरा शुभा गावो नद्यश्चैव बहूदकाः ॥ ४८ ॥

English Translation

Devoid of cares and anxieties, the subjects got much wealth! The cows were endowed with suspicious signs and gave plenty of milk and the rivers flowed full of waters.

Ch 20 Verse 49 Verse

Sanskrit Text

वृक्षा बहुफलाश्चासन्मानवा रोगवर्जिताः । नाधयो नेतयः क्वापि प्रजानां दुःखदायकाः ॥ ४९ ॥

English Translation

The trees looked splendid with abundance of fruits; men were without diseases: in short, people had no mental agony and too much or too little of rains were not there; Śalavas, mice, birds, and seditions we not extant.

Ch 20 Verse 50-51 Verse

Sanskrit Text

न निधनमुपयान्ति प्राणिनस्तेऽप्यकाले सकलविभवयुक्ता रोगहीनाः सदैव । निगमविहितधर्मे तत्पराश्चण्डिकाया- श्चरणसरसिजानां सेवने दत्तचित्ताः ॥ ५० ॥

Sanskrit Colophon

इति श्रीमद्देवीभागवते महापुराणेऽष्टादशसाहस्र्यां संहितायां पञ्चमस्कन्धे महिषवधानन्तरं पृथिवीसुखवर्णनं नाम विशोऽध्यायः ॥ ५.२०॥

English Translation

O King! The beings died not prematurely; rather enjoyed incessantly, their full health and possessed lots of riches; especially beings, engaged in the Vedic Dharma, served the lotus feet of Candikā and thus spent their lives. Here ends the Twentieth Chapter of the Fifth Book on the peace of the world in the Mahāpurāṇam Śrī Mad Devī Bhāgavatam of 18,000 verses by Maharṣi Veda Vyāsa.