Scriptures

Śrīmad Devī Bhāgavatam

BOOK 7 • CHAPTER 29
Ch 29 Verse 1-4 Verse
Sanskrit Text
७.२९ एकोनत्रिंशोऽध्यायः । भगवतीं समाराधयिषूणां देवानां तपःकरणवर्णनम् । व्यास उवाच - इत्येवं सूर्यवंश्यानां राज्ञां चरितमुत्तमम् । सोमवंशोद्भवानां च वर्णनीयं मया कियत् ॥ १ ॥ पराशक्तिप्रसादेन महत्त्वं प्रतिपेदिरे । राजन् सुनिश्चितं विद्धि पराशक्तिप्रसादतः ॥ २ ॥ यद्यद्विभूतिमत्सत्त्वं श्रीमदूर्जितमेव वा । तत्तदेवावगच्छ त्वं पराशक्त्यंशसम्भवम् ॥ ३ ॥ एते चान्ये च राजानः पराशक्तेरुपासकाः । संसारतरुमूलस्य कुठारा अभवन्नृप ॥ ४ ॥
English Translation
All their prowess, bravery, prosperity and all their glory, know that those all were derived from the mere parts of the Parā Śakti. O King! Those Kings and others as well were able to out off the Tree of this World by the Axe of their Knowledge, simply because they were the devotees of the Parā Śakti.
Ch 29 Verse 5-6 Verse
Sanskrit Text
तस्मात्सर्वप्रयत्नेन संसेव्या भुवनेश्वरी । पलालमिव धान्यार्थी त्यजेदन्यमशेषतः ॥ ५ ॥ आमथ्य वेददुग्धाब्धिं प्राप्तं रत्नं मया नृप । पराशक्तिपदाम्भोजं कृतकृत्योऽस्म्यहं ततः ॥ ६ ॥
English Translation
So with all the care possible, the Lady of the Universe is to be worshipped and served. Men should avoid worshipping any other gods, as people avoid the husk to get the grain inside. O King! By churning the ocean of the Vedas, I have got the jewel as the lotus-feet of the Parā Śakti; and I think that I have discharged all my duties and think myself satisfied and successful.
Ch 29 Verse 7-8 Verse
Sanskrit Text
पञ्चब्रह्मासनारूढा नास्त्यन्या कापि देवता । तत एव महादेव्या पञ्चब्रह्मासनं कृतम् ॥ ७ ॥ पञ्चभ्यस्त्वधिकं वस्तु वेदेऽव्यक्तमितीर्यते । यस्मिन्नोतं च प्रोतं च सैव श्रीभुवनेश्वरी ॥ ८ ॥
English Translation
Brahmā, Viṣṇu Rudra, and Iśvara are the four feet and Sadā Śiva is the plank overhead; thus these five form the seat on which the Devī is seated. There is no other deity superior to Her. To show this (to the ordinary ignorant people) the Mahā Devī has taken this seat composed of the five Brahmā, Viṣṇu, Rudra, Iśvara and Sadā Śiva.
Ch 29 Verse 9 Verse
Sanskrit Text
तामविज्ञाय राजेन्द्र नैव मुक्तो भवेन्नरः । यदा चर्मवदाकाशं वेष्टयिष्यन्ति मानवाः ॥ ९ ॥
English Translation
Superior to these five, what is stated in the Vedas as Vyaktam and in which all this Universe is sewn, as it were, crosswise and lengthwise, lying in and through, that is Bhuvaneśvarī, the Goddess of the Universe. [Note: Brahmā, Viṣṇu, Rudra, Iśvara and Sadā Śiva are the Regents or the presiding Deities of earth, water, fire, air and Ākāśa].
Ch 29 Verse 10-11 Verse
Sanskrit Text
तदा शिवामविज्ञाय दुःखस्यान्तो भविष्यति । अत एव श्रुतौ प्राहुः श्वेताश्वतरशाखिनः ॥ १० ॥ ते ध्यानयोगानुगता अपश्य- न्देवात्मशक्तिं स्वगुणैर्निगूढाम् ॥ ११ ॥
English Translation
No man can be free unless he until the Goddess. When men will be able to encircle the Ākāśa, of the fourth dimension, as if it were an antelope skin, then they will be able to root out the miseries of the world, without knowing the nature of the Devī (i.e., impossible). Thus the Śvetāśvataropaniṣada says :-- “Those that were engaged in meditation, Dhyāna Yoga, they saw the Devī covered by the Guṇas Sāttva, Rājas and Tāmas and the forces incarnate respectively of the several Devas.”
Ch 29 Verse 12-14 Verse
Sanskrit Text
तस्मात् सर्वप्रयत्नेन जन्मसाफल्यहेतवे । लज्जया वा भयेनापि भक्त्या वा प्रेमयुक्तया । सर्वसङ्गं परित्यज्य मनो हृदि निरुध्य च ॥ १२ ॥ तन्निष्ठस्तत्परो भूयादिति वेदान्तडिण्डिमः । येन केन मिषेणापि स्वपंस्तिष्ठन्व्रजन्नपि ॥ १३ ॥ कीर्तयेत्सततं देवीं स वै मुच्येत बन्धनात् । तस्मात्सर्वप्रयत्नेन भज राजन् महेश्वरीम् ॥ १४ ॥
English Translation
Whoever takes the name of the Devī, either in sleeping, going or resting or in any other condition, he is certainly freed from the bondage of the world, no doubt. O King! So worship the Māheśvarī with all the care that you can.
Ch 29 Verse 15 Verse
Sanskrit Text
विराड्रूपां सूत्ररूपां तथान्तर्यामिरूपिणीम् । सोपानक्रमतः पूर्वं ततः शुद्धे तु चेतसि ॥ १५ ॥
English Translation
Go on step by step; first worship Her Virāṭ Rūpa (cosmic form); then Sūkṣma Rūpa (subtle form) and then her Antaryāmī Rūpa (inner form, ruling within). Thus when your heart is purified, worship the Parā Śakti, of the nature of Brahmā, beyond this Māyā, this Prapañca Ullāsa, of the nature of Existence, Intelligence and Bliss.
Ch 29 Verse 16-17 Verse
Sanskrit Text
सच्चिदानन्दलक्ष्यार्थरूपां तां ब्रह्मरूपिणीम् । आराधय परां शक्तिं प्रपञ्चोल्लासवर्जिताम् ॥ १६ ॥ तस्यां चित्तलयो यः स तस्या आराधनं स्मृतम् । राजन् राज्ञां पराशक्तिभक्तानां चरितं मया ॥ १७ ॥
English Translation
When the Chitta (heart) melts in Parā Śakti, then comes the real Ārādhanā (the real worship). So dilute your heart in Her. O King! Thus I have described to you the sanctifying deeds of the extremely devoted kings of the Parā Śakti, who were noble minded and religious.
Ch 29 Verse 18 Verse
Sanskrit Text
धार्मिकाणां सूर्यसोमवंशजानां मनस्विनाम् । पावनं कीर्तिदं धर्मबुद्धिदं सद्गतिप्रदम् ॥ १८ ॥
English Translation
One who will hear this will acquire fame, dharma, intelligence, good end, and merits that have no equal. Now what else do you like to hear?
Ch 29 Verse 19-21 Verse
Sanskrit Text
कथितं पुण्यदं पश्चात्किमन्यच्छ्रोतुमिच्छसि । जनमेजय उवाच - गौरीलक्ष्मीसरस्वत्यो दत्ताः पूर्वं पराम्बया ॥ १९ ॥ हराय हरये तद्वन्नाभिपद्मोद्भवाय च । तुषाराद्रेश्च दक्षस्य गौरी कन्येति विश्रुतम् ॥ २० ॥ क्षीरोदधेश्च कन्येति महालक्ष्मीरिति स्मृतम् । मूलदेव्युद्भवानां च कथं कन्यात्वमन्ययोः ॥ २१ ॥
English Translation
Janamejaya said :-- “O Bhagavān! In olden times, the World mother Parā Śakti handed over Gaurī to Hara, Lakṣmī to Hari, and Sarasvatī to Brahmā, born of the lotus from the navel of Hari. Now I hear that Gaurī is the daughter of Himālayā as well of Dakṣa; and Mahā Lakṣmī is the daughter of the Kṣiroda ocean (ocean of milk). They were all originated from the Prime Devī; how, then, Gaurī and Lakṣmī came to be the daughters of others?
Ch 29 Verse 22 Verse
Sanskrit Text
असम्भाव्यमिदं भाति संशयोऽत्र महामुने । छिन्धि ज्ञानासिना तं त्वं संशयच्छेदतत्परः ॥ २२ ॥
English Translation
O great Muni! This is next to impossible; so my doubt arises. O Bhagavān! You are quite competent to cut off all my doubts; so by your axe of knowledge, cut off my present doubt.”
Ch 29 Verse 23-24 Verse
Sanskrit Text
व्यास उवाच - शृणु राजन् प्रवक्ष्यामि रहस्यं परमाद्भुतम् । देवीभक्तस्य ते किञ्चिदवाच्यं न हि विद्यते ॥ २३ ॥ देवीत्रयं यदा देवत्रयायादात्पराम्बिका । तदाप्रभृति ते देवाः सृष्टिकार्याणि चक्रिरे ॥ २४ ॥
English Translation
Veda Vyāsa said :-- O King! Hear. I am telling you this wonderful secret. You are greatly devoted to the Devī; so nothing there can be that I cannot disclose to you. Since the time the Great Mother gave over to Hara, Hari and Brahmā, Gaurī, Lakṣmī and and Sarasvatī, respectively, these three Devas, Hara, etc. were performing their tasks, preserving, etc.
Ch 29 Verse 25-26 Verse
Sanskrit Text
कस्मिंश्चित्समये राजन् दैत्या हालाहलाभिधाः । महापराक्रमा जातास्त्रैलोक्यं तैर्जितं क्षणात् ॥ २५ ॥ ब्रह्मणो वरदानेन दर्पिता रजताचलम् । रुरुधुर्निजसेनाभिस्तथा वैकुण्ठमेव च ॥ २६ ॥
English Translation
O King! Once on a time, certain Dānavas, named Halāhalas were born. In time, they became very powerful and in a short time conquered the three worlds. What more than this, that they being elated with the boon granted to them by Brahmā, took their forces and invested the Mount Kailāśa and the Vaikuṇṭha regions!
Ch 29 Verse 27-28 Verse
Sanskrit Text
कामारिः कैटभारिश्च युद्धोद्योगं च चक्रतुः । षष्टिवर्षसहस्राणामभूद्युद्धं महोत्कटम् ॥ २७ ॥ हाहाकारो महानासीद्देवदानवसेनयोः । महताथ प्रयत्नेन ताभ्यां ते दानवा हताः ॥ २८ ॥
English Translation
Seeing this, Mahā Deva and Viṣṇu both made preparations for war. A terrible fight ensued between both the parties. For sixty thousand years the battle lasted incessantly but the result was stalemate. Gradually there was a great cry of consternation in the two parties.
Ch 29 Verse 29-30 Verse
Sanskrit Text
स्वस्वस्थानेषु गत्वा तावभिमानं च चक्रतुः । स्वशक्त्योर्निकटे राजन् यद्वशादेव ते हताः ॥ २९ ॥ अभिमानं तयोर्ज्ञात्वा छलहास्यं च चक्रतुः । महालक्ष्मीश्च गौरी च हास्यं दृष्ट्वा तयोस्तु तौ ॥ ३० ॥
English Translation
When Śiva and Viṣṇu with great effort destroyed the Dānavas. O King! Śiva and Viṣṇu then returned to their own houses and began to brag of their powers before their own Śaktis Gaurī and Lakṣmī; whereas the Demons were killed on account of the Śaktis of Gaurī and Lakṣmī. Seeing them boast, Gaurī and Lakṣmī laughed not sincerely whereon the two gods were very much angry.
Ch 29 Verse 31-32 Verse
Sanskrit Text
देवावतीव सङ्कृद्धौ मोहितावादिमायया । दुरुत्तरं च ददतुरवमानपुरःसरम् ॥ ३१ ॥ ततस्ते देवते तस्मिन्क्षणे त्यक्त्वा तु तौ पुनः । अन्तर्हिते चाभवतां हाहाकारस्तदा ह्यभूत् ॥ ३२ ॥
English Translation
They under the magic spell of the Prime Māyā insulted them and even used offensive languages. Gaurī and Lakṣmī quitted them and disappeared. A great uproar then arose in the worlds. Both Hari and Hara became lustreless due to their insulting the two Śaktis.
Ch 29 Verse 33-34 Verse
Sanskrit Text
निस्तेजस्कौ च निःशक्ती विक्षिप्तौ च विचेतनौ । अवमानात्तयोः शक्त्योर्जातौ हरिहरौ तदा ॥ ३३ ॥ ब्रह्मा चिन्तातुरो जातः किमेतत्समुपस्थितम् । प्रधानौ देवतामध्ये कथं कार्याक्षमावमू ॥ ३४ ॥
English Translation
They become powerless and unconscious and turned out mad. Seeing this Brahmā became very anxious. Hari and Hara are the two chief Deities; how then these two have become unable to perform the actions of the world! What is the cause?
Ch 29 Verse 35-36 Verse
Sanskrit Text
अकाण्डे किं निमित्तेन सङ्कटं समुपस्थितम् । प्रलयो भविता किं वा जगतोऽस्य निरागसः ॥ ३५ ॥ निमित्तं नैव जानेऽहं कथं कार्या प्रतिक्रिया । इति चिन्तातुरोऽत्यर्थं दध्यौ मीलितलोचनः ॥ ३६ ॥
English Translation
Why this calamity has sprung up out of season? Will there be a Pralaya (a general dissolution) of the world out of some offence, when no actions are being done! I know nothing about this. So how can I find a remedy! Being thus very distressed, he began to meditate with his eyes closed in the fourth dimensional space in the heart.
Ch 29 Verse 37-38 Verse
Sanskrit Text
पराशक्तिप्रकोपात्तु जातमेतदिति स्म ह । जानंस्तदा सावधानः पद्मजोऽभून्नृपोत्तम ॥ ३७ ॥ ततस्तयोश्च यत्कार्यं स्वयमेवाऽकरोत्तदा । स्वशक्तेश्च प्रभावेण कियत्कालं तपोनिधिः ॥ ३८ ॥
English Translation
O King! The Lotus born Brahmā then found out by his meditation that this calamity was brought about by the great wrath of the Parā Śakti. He then tried to find out the remedy until Hari and Hara did not regain the former natural position. Brahmā began by his own Śakti to carry on the functions of them both, viz., that of preservation and destruction for some time.
Ch 29 Verse 39-40 Verse
Sanskrit Text
ततस्तयोस्तु स्वस्त्यर्थं मन्वादीन्स्वसुतानथ । आह्वयामास धर्मात्मा सनकादींश्च सत्वरः ॥ ३९ ॥ उवाच वचनं तेभ्यः सन्नतेभ्यस्तपोनिधिः । कार्यासक्तोऽहमधुना तपः कर्तुं न च क्षमः ॥ ४० ॥
English Translation
The religious-minded Prajāpati quickly called his son Manu and Sanaka, etc. , the Ṛṣis, for bringing peace on the two great Gods! When they came to him, the great ascetic four-faced Brahmā told them :-- “I am now busy with many more works; so I am unable carry on my tapasyā?
Ch 29 Verse 41 Verse
Sanskrit Text
पराशक्तेस्तु तोषार्थं जगद्भारयुतोऽस्म्यहम् । शिवविष्णू च विक्षिप्तौ पराशक्तिप्रकोपतः ॥ ४१ ॥
English Translation
By the wrath of the Highest Force, Hari and Hara have become somewhat distracted; so for the satisfaction of the Parā Śakti I am performing the three functions, i.e., those of Creation, Preservation and Destruction.
Ch 29 Verse 42-43 Verse
Sanskrit Text
तस्मात्तां परमां शक्तिं यूयं सन्तोषयन्त्वथ । अत्यद्भुतं तपः कृत्वा भक्त्या परमया युताः ॥ ४२ ॥ यथा तौ पूर्ववृत्तौ च स्यात शक्तियुतावपि । तथा कुरुत मत्पुत्रा यशोवृद्धिर्भवेद्धि वः ॥ ४३ ॥
English Translation
So you both practise this hard tapasyā with the greatest devotion and bring about Her satisfaction. O sons! Do such as Hari and Hara gain their former states and then be united with their own Śaktis respectively. Your fame will increase thereby, no doubt.
Ch 29 Verse 44 Verse
Sanskrit Text
कुले यस्य भवेज्जन्म तयोः शक्त्योस्तु तत्कुलम् । पावयेज्जगतीं सर्वां कृतकृत्यं स्वयं भवेत् ॥ ४४ ॥
English Translation
Rather that family where the two Śaktis will take their birth, will purify the whole world and that man himself will be crowned with success.”
Ch 29 Verse 45-46 Verse
Sanskrit Text
व्यास उवाच - पितामहवचः श्रुत्वा गताः सर्वे वनान्तरे । रिराधयिषवः सर्वे दक्षाद्या विमलान्तराः ॥ ४५ ॥
Sanskrit Colophon
इति श्रीमद्देवीभागवते महापुराणेऽष्टादशसाहस्र्यां संहितायां सप्तमस्कन्धे भगवतीं समाराधयिषूणां देवानां तपःकरणवर्णनं नामैकोनत्रिंशोऽध्यायः ॥ ७.२९॥
English Translation
Vyāsa said :-- O King! The pure-hearted Dakṣa and other mind-born sons of Brahmā, hearing the words of the Grandsire expressed their desire to worship the Parā Śakti and went to the forest. Here ends the Twenty-ninth Chapter of the Seventh Book on birth of the Bhagavatī in the house of Dakṣa in the Mahāpurāṇam Śrī Mad Devī Bhāgavatam, of 18,000 verses, by Maharṣi Veda Vyāsa.