Scriptures

Śrīmad Devī Bhāgavatam

BOOK 7 • CHAPTER 38
Ch 38 Verse 1-2 Verse
Sanskrit Text
७.३८ अष्टत्रिंशोऽध्यायः । देवीगीतायां महोत्सवव्रतस्थानवर्णनम् । हिमालय उवाच । कति स्थानानि देवेशि द्रष्टव्यानि महीतले । मुख्यानि च पवित्राणि देवीप्रियतमानि च ॥ १ ॥ व्रतान्यपि तथा यानि तुष्टिदान्युत्सवा अपि । तत्सर्वं वद मे मातः कृतकृत्यो यतो नरः ॥ २ ॥
English Translation
The Himālayās said :-- "O Devī! Describe the places on this earth that are prominent, sacred, and worth visiting and which Thou likest best. O Mother! Also sanctify us by describing the vows and utsabs that are pleasing to Thee, and by performing which, men become blessed and get themselves satisfied.
Ch 38 Verse 3-4 Verse
Sanskrit Text
श्रीदेव्युवाच । सर्वं दृश्यं मम स्थानं सर्वे काला व्रतात्मकाः । उत्सवाः सर्वकालेषु यतोऽहं सर्वरूपिणी ॥ ३ ॥ तथापि भक्तवात्सल्यात्किञ्चित्किञ्चिदथोच्यते । शृणुष्वावहितो भूत्वा नगराज वचो मम ॥ ४ ॥
English Translation
The Devī spoke :-- "O Himavan! All the places that are on this earth are all Mine and all should be visited. And every moment is fit for taking vows and utsabs. For I am of the nature pervading every moment; so whatever actions are performed at any moment are all equal to taking My vows and utsabs. O King of Mountains! Still I am now telling something out of My affection to My Bhaktaṣ. Hear.
Ch 38 Verse 5-6 Verse
Sanskrit Text
कोलापुरं महास्थानं यत्र लक्ष्मीः सदा स्थिता । मातुः पुरं द्वितीयं च रेणुकाधिष्ठितं परम् ॥ ५ ॥ तुलजापुरं तृतीयं स्यात्सप्तशृङ्गं तथैव च । हिङ्गुलाया महास्थानं ज्वालामुख्यास्तथैव च ॥ ६ ॥
English Translation
There is a great place of pilgrimage named Kolhāpura in the southern country. Here the Devī Lakṣmi always dwells. The second place is Mātripura in the Sahyādrī mountain; here the Devī Reṇukā dwells. The third place is Tulajāpur; next is the place Saptaśriṅga, the great places of Hingulā and Jvālā Mukhī.
Ch 38 Verse 7 Verse
Sanskrit Text
शाकम्भर्याः परं स्थानं भ्रामर्याः स्थानमुत्तमम् । श्रीरक्तदन्तिकास्थानं दुर्गास्थानं तथैव च ॥ ७ ॥
English Translation
Then the great places of Sākambharī, Bhrāmāri, Śrīraktadantikā and Dūrgā. The best of all places is that of Vindhyācala Vāsinī, the great places of Annapurnā and the excellent Kāñcipur (Conjiverum).
Ch 38 Verse 8-10 Verse
Sanskrit Text
विन्ध्याचलनिवासिन्याः स्थानं सर्वोत्तमोत्तमम् । अन्नपूर्णामहास्थानं काञ्चीपुरमनुत्तमम् ॥ ८ ॥ भीमादेव्याः परं स्थानं विमलास्थानमेव च । श्रीचन्द्रलामहास्थानं कौशिकीस्थानमेव ॥ ९ ॥ नीलाम्बायाः परं स्थानं नीलपर्वतमस्तके । जाम्बूनदेश्वरीस्थानं तथा श्रीनगरं शुभम् ॥ १० ॥
English Translation
Next come the places of Bhīmā Devī, Vimalā Devī, Śrī Caṇdralā Devī of Karṇāṭ, and the place of Kauśikī. Then the great place of Nīlāmbā on the top of the Nīlāparvata, the place of Jambiinade§vart, and the beautiful Srinagara.
Ch 38 Verse 11-12 Verse
Sanskrit Text
गुह्यकाल्या महास्थानं नेपाले यत्प्रतिष्ठितम् । मीनाक्ष्याः परमं स्थानं यच्च प्रोक्तं चिदम्बरे ॥ ११ ॥ वेदारण्यं महास्थानं सुन्दर्याः समधिष्ठितम् । एकाम्बरं महास्थानं परशक्त्या प्रतिष्ठितम् ॥ १२ ॥
English Translation
The great place of Śrī Guhya Kālī, well established in Nepal, and that of Śrī Mīnākṣī Devī established in Cīdamvaram. The great place named Vedāraṇya where the Sundarī Devī is residing; then the place named Ekāmvaram, and the place Bhuvaneśvara near Puruṣottama where I always dwell as Parā Śakti Bhuvaṇeśvarī.
Ch 38 Verse 13-14 Verse
Sanskrit Text
महालसा परं स्थानं योगेश्वर्यास्तथैव च । तथा नीलसरस्वत्याः स्थानं चीनेषु विश्रुतम् ॥ १३ ॥ वैद्यनाथे तु बगलास्थानं सर्वोत्तमं मतम् । श्रीमच्छ्रीभुवनेश्वर्या मणिद्वीपं मम स्मृतम् ॥ १४ ॥
English Translation
The famous place of Mahālasā, known in the south by the name Mallāri; the place of Yogeśvarī Varāṭ, and the widely known place of Nīla Śarasvatī in China. The excellent place of Bagalā in Baidyanāth, the supreme place Maṇidvīpa of Śrīmatī Bhuvaneśvarī where I always reside.
Ch 38 Verse 15-16 Verse
Sanskrit Text
श्रीमत्त्रिपुरभैरव्याः कामाख्यायोनिमण्डलम् । भूमण्डले क्षेत्ररत्नं महामायाधिवासितम् ॥ १५ ॥ नातः परतरं स्थानं क्वचिदस्ति धरातले । प्रतिमासं भवेद्देवी यत्र साक्षाद्रजस्वला ॥ १६ ॥
English Translation
The Yonimaṇḍala Kāmākhyā, the place of Śrimatī Tripurā Bhariavī, the excellent of all the places in this earth, where the Devī Mahā Māyā always dwells. There is no other place better than this on the earth. Here the Devī becomes every month in Her course of menstruation and where the virtuous men are seen.
Ch 38 Verse 17 Verse
Sanskrit Text
तत्रत्या देवताः सर्वाः पर्वतात्मकतां गताः । पर्वतेषु वसन्त्येव महत्यो देवता अपि ॥ १७ ॥
English Translation
Here all the Devas remain in the form of mountains and where on the mountains the excellent Devas inhabit.
Ch 38 Verse 18-20 Verse
Sanskrit Text
तत्रत्या पृथिवी सर्वा देवीरूपा स्मृता बुधैः । नातः परतरं स्थानं कामाख्यायोनिमण्डलात् ॥ १८ ॥ गायत्र्याश्च परं स्थानं श्रीमत्पुष्करमीरितम् । अमरेशे चण्डिका स्यात्प्रभासे पुष्करेक्षिणी ॥ १९ ॥ नैमिषे तु महास्थाने देवी सा लिङ्गधारिणी । पुरुहूता पुष्कराक्षे आषाढौ च रतिस्तथा ॥ २० ॥
English Translation
The sages say: That all the places there are of the nature of the Devī; there is no better place than this Kāmākhyā Yonimaṇḍala. Puṣkara, the sacred place, is the seat of Gāyatrī; the place of Caṇḍikā in Amareśa: and the excellent place of Puṣkarekṣiṇī in Frabhāsa. The place of Liṅga-dhāriṇī Devī in Naimiṣāraṇya, and the place of Purubutā in Puṣkarākṣa; Rati dwells in Āsāḍhī.
Ch 38 Verse 21-23 Verse
Sanskrit Text
चण्डमुण्डीमहास्थाने दण्डिनी परमेश्वरी । भारभूतौ भवेद्भूतिर्नाकुले नकुलेश्वरी ॥ २१ ॥ चन्द्रिका तु हरिश्चन्द्रे श्रीगिरौ शाङ्करी स्मृता । जप्येश्वरे त्रिशूला स्यात्सूक्ष्मा चाम्रातकेश्वरे ॥ २२ ॥ शाङ्करी तु महाकाले शर्वाणी मध्यमाभिधे । केदाराख्ये महाक्षेत्रे देवी सा मार्गदायिनी ॥ २३ ॥
English Translation
Daṇḍinī Parameśvari dwells in Caṇḍamunḍī. Bhūti dwells in Bhārabhūti; and Nakule Śvarī dwells in Nākula. Candrikā dwells in Hariścandra; Śāṅkari in Śrīgiri; Triśūlā in Japeśvara; and Sukṣmā in Āmrāta Keśvara. Śāṅkarī dwells in Ujjain, Śarvāṇī in the place Madhyamā, and Mārga Dāyini dwells in the holy Kṣetra Kedāra.
Ch 38 Verse 24-25 Verse
Sanskrit Text
भैरवाख्ये भैरवी सा गयायां मङ्गला स्मृता । स्थाणुप्रिया कुरुक्षेत्रे स्वायम्भुव्यपि नाकुले ॥ २४ ॥ कनखले भवेदुग्रा विश्वेशा विमलेश्वरे । अट्टहासे महानन्दा महेन्द्रे तु महान्तका ॥ २५ ॥
English Translation
The celebrated Bhairavī dwells in the place named Bhairava; Mangalā in Gayā Kṣettra; Sthānupriyā in Kurukṣetra; and Svāyambhuvī Devī dwells in Nākula; Ugrā dwells in Kankhal; Viśvesā dwells in Vimaleśvara, Mahānandā in Attahāsa and Mahāntakā in Mahendra.
Ch 38 Verse 26-28 Verse
Sanskrit Text
भीमे भीमेश्वरी प्रोक्ता स्थाने वस्त्रापथे पुनः । भवानी शाङ्करी प्रोक्ता रुद्राणी त्वर्धकोटिके ॥ २६ ॥ अविमुक्ते विशालाक्षी महाभागा महालये । गोकर्णे भद्रकर्णी स्याद्भद्रा स्याद्भद्रकर्णके ॥ २७ ॥ उत्पलाक्षी सुवर्णाक्षे स्थाण्वीशा स्थाणुसंज्ञके । कमलालये तु कमला प्रचण्डा छगलण्डके ॥ २८ ॥
English Translation
Bhimeśvarī dwells in Bhīma; the Bhavānī Śaṅkarī dwells in Vastrāpadma; and Rudrāṇī in Ardha Koṭī. Viśalākṣī dwells in Avimukta; Mahābhāgā dwells in Mahālaya; Bhadrakarṇī in Gokarṇa; and Bhadrā resides in Bhadrakarṇak; Utpalākṣī dwells in Suvarnākṣa; Sthāṇvīśā in Sthāṇu; Kamalā in Kamalālayā; Caṇḍā in Cagalaṇḍaka, situated in the south near the sea coast.
Ch 38 Verse 29-30 Verse
Sanskrit Text
कुरण्डले त्रिसन्ध्या स्यान्माकोटे मुकुटेश्वरी । मण्डलेशे शाण्डकी स्यात्काली कालञ्जरे पुनः ॥ २९ ॥ शङ्कुकर्णे ध्वनिः प्रोक्ता स्थूला स्यात्स्थूलकेश्वरे । ज्ञानिनां हृदयाम्भोजे हृल्लेखा परमेश्वरी ॥ ३० ॥
English Translation
Trisandhyā dwells in Kuruṇḍala; Mukuṭeśvarī in Mākoṭa; Śānḍakī in Mandaleśa; Kālī in Kālañjara; Dhvani in Śaṅkukarṇa; Sthūlā in Sthūlakeśvara; and Parameśvarī Hrillekhā dwells in the heart lotuses of the Jñanins.
Ch 38 Verse 31 Verse
Sanskrit Text
प्रोक्तानीमानि स्थानानि देव्याः प्रियतमानि च । तत्तत्क्षेत्रस्य माहात्म्यं श्रुत्वा पूर्वं नगोत्तम ॥ ३१ ॥
English Translation
The places mentioned above are all dearest to the Devī. First the merits of these places are to be heard; next the Devī is to be worshipped by the rites and ceremonies according to these rules.
Ch 38 Verse 32-34 Verse
Sanskrit Text
तदुक्तेन विधानेन पश्चाद्देवीं प्रपूजयेत् । अथवा सर्वक्षेत्राणि काश्यां सन्ति नगोत्तम ॥ ३२ ॥ अतस्तत्र वसेन्नित्यं देवीभक्तिपरायणः । तानि स्थानानि सम्पश्यञ्जपन्देवीं निरन्तरम् ॥ ३३ ॥ ध्यायंस्तच्चरणाम्भोजं मुक्तो भवति बन्धनात् । इमानि देवीनामानि प्रातरुत्थाय यः पठेत् ॥ ३४ ॥
English Translation
Or, O Mountain! All the holy places of pilgrimages exist in Kāśī. The Devī always dwells there. Persons, devoted to the Devī, see these places and if they make Japam and meditate on the lotus-feet of the Devī, they will certainly be freed from the bonds of Samsāra; there is no doubt in this. If anybody, getting up in the morning, recite the names of these places, all his sins would instantly be burnt away.
Ch 38 Verse 35 Verse
Sanskrit Text
भस्मीभवन्ति पापानि तत्क्षणान्नग सत्वरम् । श्राद्धकाले पठेदेतान्यमलानि द्विजाग्रतः ॥ ३५ ॥
English Translation
And if one reads, in the time of Śrāddha, before the Brahmiṇs, these holy names of the Devī, his Pitris will be purified of their sins in the Mahākāśa by the Mahā Prāṇa and will get their highest goal.
Ch 38 Verse 36-38 Verse
Sanskrit Text
मुक्तास्तत्पितरः सर्वे प्रयान्ति परमां गतिम् । अधुना कथयिष्यामि व्रतानि तव सुव्रत ॥ ३६ ॥ नारीभिश्च नरैश्चैव कर्तव्यानि प्रयत्नतः । व्रतमनन्ततृतीयाख्यं रसकल्याणिनीव्रतम् ॥ ३७ ॥ आर्द्रानन्दकरं नाम्ना तृतीयाया व्रतं च यत् । शुक्रवारव्रतं चैव तथा कृष्णचतुर्दशी ॥ ३८ ॥
English Translation
O One of good vows! I will now describe to you the vows that are to be carefully observed by men and women; hear. Ananta Tritīyākhya Vrata (vow), Rasakalyānī Vrata, and Ārdrānandakara Vrata, these three Vratas are to be observed in the Tritīyā (third) tithi. The next come the Friday vow, the Kṛṣṇa Caturdaśi vows, the Tuesday vow, and the evening twilight vow.
Ch 38 Verse 39-40 Verse
Sanskrit Text
भौमवारव्रतं चैव प्रदोषव्रतमेव च । यत्र देवो महादेवो देवीं संस्थाप्य विष्टरे ॥ ३९ ॥ नृत्यं करोति पुरतः सार्धं देवैर्निशामुखे । तत्रोपोष्य रजन्यादौ प्रदोषे पूजयेच्छिवाम् ॥ ४० ॥
English Translation
In this twilight vow, Mahā Deva placed the Devī in the evening on an Āsana; and He, along with the other Devas, began to dance before Her. Fasting is enjoined in this vow; and then in the evening one must worship the Devī, the Giver of all auspicious things. Especially in every fortnight, if the Devī be worshipped, She gets extremely pleased.
Ch 38 Verse 41 Verse
Sanskrit Text
प्रतिपक्षं विशेषेण तद्देवीप्रीतिकारकम् । सोमवारव्रतं चैव ममातिप्रियकृन्नग ॥ ४१ ॥
English Translation
O Best of Mountains! The Monday vow is very agreeable to Me; the worship of the Devī should be done and then in the night one must take one’s food.
Ch 38 Verse 42-43 Verse
Sanskrit Text
तत्रापि देवीं सम्पूज्य रात्रौ भोजनमाचरेत् । नवरात्रद्वयं चैव व्रतं प्रीतिकरं मम ॥ ४२ ॥ एवमन्यान्यपि विभो नित्यनैमित्तिकानि च । व्रतानि कुरुते यो वै मत्प्रीत्यर्थं विमत्सरः ॥ ४३ ॥
English Translation
The two nine nights vow called Navarātra are to be observed, one in the autumn and the other in the spring season. These are very dear to Me. He is certainly My devotee and very dear who for My satisfaction performs these and the other Nitya Naimittik vows, free from any pride and jealousy. He certainly gets the Sājujya Mukti with Me.
Ch 38 Verse 44-46 Verse
Sanskrit Text
प्राप्नोति मम सायुज्यं स मे भक्तः स मे प्रियः । उत्सवानपि कुर्वीत दोलोत्सवसुखान्विभो ॥ ४४ ॥ शयनोत्सवं यथा कुर्यात्तथा जागरणोत्सवम् । रथोत्सवं च मे कुर्याद्दमनोत्सवमेव च ॥ ४५ ॥ पवित्रोत्सवमेवापि श्रावणे प्रीतिकारकम् । मम भक्तः सदा कुर्यादेवमन्यान्महोत्सवान् ॥ ४६ ॥
English Translation
O Nagarāja! The Holy (Dol) festival in the month of Cait on tha third day of the white fortnight is very pleasing to Me and should be observed by all. My devotees perform the Śayanotsava in the Paurṇāmāsī in the month of Āsāḍha; the Jāgaraṇotsava in the Paurṇamāsī in the month of Kārtik, the Ratha Jātrā in the 3rd of the white fortnight in Āsāḍha; the Damanotsava in Caitra. And my dear festivals in the month of Śrāvana and various other festivals.
Ch 38 Verse 47-49 Verse
Sanskrit Text
मद्भक्तान्भोजयेत्प्रीत्या तथा चैव सुवासिनीः । कुमारीर्बटुकांश्चापि मद्बुद्ध्या तद्गतान्तरः ॥ ४७ ॥ वित्तशाठ्येन रहितो यजेदेतान्सुमादिभिः । य एवं कुरुते भक्त्या प्रतिवर्षमतन्द्रितः ॥ ४८ ॥ स धन्यः कृतकृत्योऽसौ मत्प्रीतेः पात्रमञ्जसा । सर्वमुक्तं समासेन मम प्रीतिप्रदायकम् । नाशिष्याय प्रदातव्यं नाभक्ताय कदाचन ॥ ४९ ॥
Sanskrit Colophon
इति श्रीमद्देवीभागवते महापुराणेऽष्टादशसाहस्र्यां संहितायां सप्तमस्कन्धे देवीगीतायां महोत्सवव्रतस्थानवर्णनं नामाष्टत्रिंशोऽध्यायः ॥ ७.३८॥
English Translation
In all these festivals one should feast well with gladness all My devotees, and the Kumāris (virgins), well clothed and dressed, and the boys, thinking them all to be of My very nature. No miserliness is to be entertained and I should be worshipped with flowers, etc. He is blessed and attains his goal and is dear to Me who carefully and devotedly observes every year all these festivals. O Nagendra! Thus I have described to you in brief all the vows that are pleasing to Me. These instructions are not to be given who is not a disciple nor to one who is not My devotee. Here ends the Thirty-eighth Chapter of the Seventh Book on the vows and the sacred places of the Devī in the Mahā Purāṇam Śrī Mad Devī Bhāgavatam, of 18,000 verses, by Maharṣi Veda Vyāsa.