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Fifth Skandha · Chapter 20

Chapter 20

Unit 107 of 318Fifth Skandha · Chapter 20Fifth Skandha · Chapter 201 source entries

Fifth Skandha · Chapter 20

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जनमेजय उवाच - अथाद्‌भुतं वीक्ष्य मुने प्रभावं देव्या जगच्छान्तिकरं परञ्च । न तृप्तिरस्ति द्विजवर्य शृण्वतः कथामृतं ते मुखपद्मजातम् ॥ १ ॥ अन्तर्हितायां च तदा भवान्या चक्रुश्च किं देवपुरोगमास्ते । देव्याश्चरित्र परमं पवित्रं दुरापमेवाल्पपुण्यैर्नराणाम् ॥ २ ॥ कस्तृप्तिमाप्नोति कथामृतेन भिन्नोऽल्पभाग्यात्पटुकर्णरन्ध्रः । पीतेन येनामरतां प्रयाति धिक्तान्नरान् ये न पिबन्ति सादरम् ॥ ३ ॥ लीलाचरित्रं जगदम्बिकाया रक्षान्वितं देवमहामुनीनाम् । संसारवार्धेस्तरणं नराणां कथं कृतज्ञा हि परित्यजेयुः ॥ ४ ॥ मुक्ताश्च ये चैव मुमुक्षवश्च संसारिणो रोगयुताश्च केचित् । तेषां सदा श्रोत्रपुटैश्च पेयं सर्वार्थदं वेदविदो वदन्ति ॥ ५ ॥ तथा विशेषेण मुने नृपाणां धर्मार्थकामेषु सदा रतानाम् । मुक्ताश्च यस्मात्खलु तत्पिबन्ति कथं न पेयं रहितैश्च तेभ्यः ॥ ६ ॥ यैः पूजिता पूर्वभवे भवानी सत्कुन्दपुष्पैरथ चम्पकैश्च । बैल्वैर्दलैस्ते भुवि भोगयुक्ता नृपा भवन्तीत्यनुमेयमेवम् ॥ ७ ॥ ये भक्तिहीना समवाप्य देहं तं मानुषं भारतभूमिभागे । यैर्नार्चिता ते धनधान्यहीना रोगान्विताः सन्ततिवर्जिताश्च ॥ ८ ॥ भ्रमन्ति नित्यं किल दासभूता आज्ञाकराः केवलभारवाहाः । दिवानिशं स्वार्थपराः कदापि नैवाप्नुवन्त्यौदरपूर्तिमात्रम् ॥ ९ ॥ अन्धाश्च मूका बधिराश्च खञ्जाः कुष्ठान्विता ये भुवि दुःखभाजः । तत्रानुमानं कविभिर्विधेयं नाराधिता तैः सततं भवानी ॥ १० ॥ ये राजभोगान्वितऋद्धिपूर्णाः संसेव्यमाना बहुभिर्मनुष्यैः । दृश्यन्ति ये वा विभवैः समेता- स्तैः पूजिताम्बेत्यनुमेयमेव ॥ ११ ॥ तस्मात्सत्यवतीसूनो देव्याश्चरितमुत्तमम् । कथयस्व कृपां कृत्वा दयावानसि साम्प्रतम् ॥ १२ ॥ हत्वा तं महिषं पापं स्तुता सम्पूजिता सुरैः । क्व गता सा महालक्ष्मीः सर्वतेजःसमुद्‌भवा ॥ १३ ॥ 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 ॥ 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 ॥ यः सुधासिन्धुमध्येऽस्ति द्वीपः परमशोभनः । नानारूपैः सदा तत्र विहारं कुरुतेऽम्बिका ॥ १८ ॥ स्तुता सम्पूजिता देवैः सा तत्रैव गता शिवा । यत्र संक्रीडते नित्यं मायाशक्तिः सनातनी ॥ १९ ॥ देवास्तां निर्गतां वीक्ष्य देवीं सर्वेश्वरीं तथा । रविवंशोद्‌भवं चक्रुर्भूमिपालं महाबलम् ॥ २० ॥ अयोध्याधिपतिं वीरं शत्रुघ्नं नाम पार्थिवम् । सर्वलक्षणसम्पन्नं महिषस्यासने शुभे ॥ २१ ॥ दत्त्वा राज्यं तदा तस्मै देवा इन्द्रपुरोगमाः । स्वकीयैर्वाहनैः सर्वे जग्मुः स्वान्यालयानि ते ॥ २२ ॥ गतेषु तेषु देवेषु पृथिव्यां पृथिवीपते । धर्मराज्यं बभूवाथ प्रजाश्च सुखितास्तथा ॥ २३ ॥ पर्जन्यः कालवर्षी च धरा धान्यगुणावृता । पादपाः फलपुष्पाढ्या बभूवुः सुखदाः सदा ॥ २४ ॥ गावश्च क्षीरसम्पना घटोध्न्यः कामदा नृणाम् । नद्यः सुमार्गगाः स्वच्छाः शीतोदाः खगसंयुताः ॥ २५ ॥ ब्राह्मणा वेदतत्त्वाश्च यज्ञकर्मरतास्तथा । क्षत्रिया धर्मसंयुक्ता दानाध्ययनतत्पराः ॥ २६ ॥ शस्त्रविद्यारता नित्यं प्रजारक्षणतत्पराः । न्यायदण्डधराः सर्वे राजानः शमसंयुताः ॥ २७ ॥ अविरोधस्तु भूतानां सर्वेषां सम्बभूव ह । आकरा धनदा नृणां व्रजा गोयूथसंयुताः ॥ २८ ॥ ब्राह्मणाः क्षत्रिया वैश्याः शूद्राश्च नृपसत्तम । देवीभक्तिपराः सर्वे सम्बभूवुर्धरातले ॥ २९ ॥ सर्वत्र यज्ञयूपाश्च मण्डपाश्च मनोहराः । मखैः पूर्णा धराश्चासन् ब्राह्मणैः क्षत्रियैः कृतैः ॥ ३० ॥ पतिव्रतधरा नार्यः सुशीलाः सत्यसंयुताः । पितृभक्तिपराः पुत्रा आसन्धर्मपरायणाः ॥ ३१ ॥ न पाखण्डं न वाधर्मः कुत्रापि पृथिवीतले । वेदवादा शास्त्रवादा नान्ये वादास्तथाभवन् ॥ ३२ ॥ 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 ॥ न रोगो न च मात्सर्यं न विरोधः परस्परम् । सर्वत्र सुखसम्पन्ना नरा नार्यः सुखान्विताः ॥ ३५ ॥ 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 ॥ सर्वधर्मरता नित्यं द्विजसेवापरायणाः । त्रिधात्वात्सृष्टिधर्मस्य त्रिविधा ब्राह्मणास्ततः ॥ ३८ ॥ सात्त्विका राजसाश्चैव तामसाश्च तथापरे । सर्वे वेदविदो दक्षाः सात्त्विकाः सत्त्ववृत्तयः ॥ ३९ ॥ प्रतिग्रहविहीनाश्च दयादमपरायणाः । यज्ञास्ते सात्त्विकैरन्नैः कुर्वाणा धर्मतत्पराः ॥ ४० ॥ पुरोडाशविधानैश्च पशुभिर्न कदाचन । दानमध्ययनञ्चैव यजनं तु तृतीयकम् ॥ ४१ ॥ त्रिकर्मरसिकास्ते वै सात्त्विका ब्राह्मणा नृप । राजसा वेदविद्वांसः क्षत्रियाणां पुरोहिताः ॥ ४२ ॥ षट्कर्मनिरता सर्वे विधिवन्मांसभक्षकाः । यजनं याजनं दानं तथैव च प्रतिग्रहः ॥ ४३ ॥ अध्ययनं तु वेदानां तथैवाध्यापनं तु षट् । तामसाः क्रोधसंयुक्ता रागद्वेषपराः पुनः ॥ ४४ ॥ राज्ञां कर्मकरा नित्यं किञ्चिदध्ययने रताः । महिषे निहते सर्वे सुखिनो वेदतत्पराः ॥ ४५ ॥ बभूवुर्व्रतनिष्णाता दानधर्मपरास्तथा । क्षत्रियाः पालने युक्ता वैश्या वणिजवृत्तयः ॥ ४६ ॥ कृषिवाणिज्यगोरक्षाकुसीदवृत्तयः परे । एवं प्रमुदितो लोको महिषे विनिपातिते ॥ ४७ ॥ अनुद्वेगः प्रजानां वै सम्बभूव धनागमः । बहुक्षीरा शुभा गावो नद्यश्चैव बहूदकाः ॥ ४८ ॥ वृक्षा बहुफलाश्चासन्मानवा रोगवर्जिताः । नाधयो नेतयः क्वापि प्रजानां दुःखदायकाः ॥ ४९ ॥ न निधनमुपयान्ति प्राणिनस्तेऽप्यकाले सकलविभवयुक्ता रोगहीनाः सदैव । निगमविहितधर्मे तत्पराश्चण्डिकाया- श्चरणसरसिजानां सेवने दत्तचित्ताः ॥ ५० ॥

janamejaya uvāca - athād‌bhutaṃ vīkṣya mune prabhāvaṃ devyā jagacchāntikaraṃ parañca | na tṛptirasti dvijavarya śṛṇvataḥ kathāmṛtaṃ te mukhapadmajātam || 1 || antarhitāyāṃ ca tadā bhavānyā cakruśca kiṃ devapurogamāste | devyāścaritra paramaṃ pavitraṃ durāpamevālpapuṇyairnarāṇām || 2 || kastṛptimāpnoti kathāmṛtena bhinno'lpabhāgyātpaṭukarṇarandhraḥ | pītena yenāmaratāṃ prayāti dhiktānnarān ye na pibanti sādaram || 3 || līlācaritraṃ jagadambikāyā rakṣānvitaṃ devamahāmunīnām | saṃsāravārdhestaraṇaṃ narāṇāṃ kathaṃ kṛtajñā hi parityajeyuḥ || 4 || muktāśca ye caiva mumukṣavaśca saṃsāriṇo rogayutāśca kecit | teṣāṃ sadā śrotrapuṭaiśca peyaṃ sarvārthadaṃ vedavido vadanti || 5 || tathā viśeṣeṇa mune nṛpāṇāṃ dharmārthakāmeṣu sadā ratānām | muktāśca yasmātkhalu tatpibanti kathaṃ na peyaṃ rahitaiśca tebhyaḥ || 6 || yaiḥ pūjitā pūrvabhave bhavānī satkundapuṣpairatha campakaiśca | bailvairdalaiste bhuvi bhogayuktā nṛpā bhavantītyanumeyamevam || 7 || ye bhaktihīnā samavāpya dehaṃ taṃ mānuṣaṃ bhāratabhūmibhāge | yairnārcitā te dhanadhānyahīnā rogānvitāḥ santativarjitāśca || 8 || bhramanti nityaṃ kila dāsabhūtā ājñākarāḥ kevalabhāravāhāḥ | divāniśaṃ svārthaparāḥ kadāpi naivāpnuvantyaudarapūrtimātram || 9 || andhāśca mūkā badhirāśca khañjāḥ kuṣṭhānvitā ye bhuvi duḥkhabhājaḥ | tatrānumānaṃ kavibhirvidheyaṃ nārādhitā taiḥ satataṃ bhavānī || 10 || ye rājabhogānvitaṛddhipūrṇāḥ saṃsevyamānā bahubhirmanuṣyaiḥ | dṛśyanti ye vā vibhavaiḥ sametā- staiḥ pūjitāmbetyanumeyameva || 11 || tasmātsatyavatīsūno devyāścaritamuttamam | kathayasva kṛpāṃ kṛtvā dayāvānasi sāmpratam || 12 || hatvā taṃ mahiṣaṃ pāpaṃ stutā sampūjitā suraiḥ | kva gatā sā mahālakṣmīḥ sarvatejaḥsamud‌bhavā || 13 || kathitaṃ te mahābhāga gatāntardhānamāśu sā | svarge vā mṛtyuloke vā saṃsthitā bhuvaneśvarī || 14 || layaṃ gatā vā tatraiva vaikuṇṭhe vā samāśritā | athavā hemaśaile sā tattvato me vadādhunā || 15 || vyāsa uvāca pūrvaṃ mayā te kathitaṃ maṇidvīpaṃ manoharam | krīḍāsthānaṃ sadā devyā vallabhaṃ paramaṃ smṛtam || 16 || yatra brahmā hariḥ sthāṇuḥ strībhāvaṃ te prapedire | puruṣatvaṃ punaḥ prāpya svāni kāryāṇi cakrire || 17 || yaḥ sudhāsindhumadhye'sti dvīpaḥ paramaśobhanaḥ | nānārūpaiḥ sadā tatra vihāraṃ kurute'mbikā || 18 || stutā sampūjitā devaiḥ sā tatraiva gatā śivā | yatra saṃkrīḍate nityaṃ māyāśaktiḥ sanātanī || 19 || devāstāṃ nirgatāṃ vīkṣya devīṃ sarveśvarīṃ tathā | ravivaṃśod‌bhavaṃ cakrurbhūmipālaṃ mahābalam || 20 || ayodhyādhipatiṃ vīraṃ śatrughnaṃ nāma pārthivam | sarvalakṣaṇasampannaṃ mahiṣasyāsane śubhe || 21 || dattvā rājyaṃ tadā tasmai devā indrapurogamāḥ | svakīyairvāhanaiḥ sarve jagmuḥ svānyālayāni te || 22 || gateṣu teṣu deveṣu pṛthivyāṃ pṛthivīpate | dharmarājyaṃ babhūvātha prajāśca sukhitāstathā || 23 || parjanyaḥ kālavarṣī ca dharā dhānyaguṇāvṛtā | pādapāḥ phalapuṣpāḍhyā babhūvuḥ sukhadāḥ sadā || 24 || gāvaśca kṣīrasampanā ghaṭodhnyaḥ kāmadā nṛṇām | nadyaḥ sumārgagāḥ svacchāḥ śītodāḥ khagasaṃyutāḥ || 25 || brāhmaṇā vedatattvāśca yajñakarmaratāstathā | kṣatriyā dharmasaṃyuktā dānādhyayanatatparāḥ || 26 || śastravidyāratā nityaṃ prajārakṣaṇatatparāḥ | nyāyadaṇḍadharāḥ sarve rājānaḥ śamasaṃyutāḥ || 27 || avirodhastu bhūtānāṃ sarveṣāṃ sambabhūva ha | ākarā dhanadā nṛṇāṃ vrajā goyūthasaṃyutāḥ || 28 || brāhmaṇāḥ kṣatriyā vaiśyāḥ śūdrāśca nṛpasattama | devībhaktiparāḥ sarve sambabhūvurdharātale || 29 || sarvatra yajñayūpāśca maṇḍapāśca manoharāḥ | makhaiḥ pūrṇā dharāścāsan brāhmaṇaiḥ kṣatriyaiḥ kṛtaiḥ || 30 || pativratadharā nāryaḥ suśīlāḥ satyasaṃyutāḥ | pitṛbhaktiparāḥ putrā āsandharmaparāyaṇāḥ || 31 || na pākhaṇḍaṃ na vādharmaḥ kutrāpi pṛthivītale | vedavādā śāstravādā nānye vādāstathābhavan || 32 || kalaho naiva keṣāñcinna dainyaṃ nāśubhā matiḥ | sarvatra sukhino lokāḥ kāle ca maraṇaṃ tathā || 33 || suhṛdāṃ na viyogaśca nāpadaśca kadācana | nānāvṛṣṭirna durbhikṣaṃ na mārī duḥkhadā nṛṇām || 34 || na rogo na ca mātsaryaṃ na virodhaḥ parasparam | sarvatra sukhasampannā narā nāryaḥ sukhānvitāḥ || 35 || krīḍanti mānavāḥ sarve svarge devagaṇā iva | na caurā na ca pākhaṇḍā vañcakā dambhakāstathā || 36 || piśunā lampaṭāḥ stabdhā na babhūvustadā nṛpa | na vedadveṣiṇaḥ pāpā mānavāḥ pṛthivīpate || 37 || sarvadharmaratā nityaṃ dvijasevāparāyaṇāḥ | tridhātvātsṛṣṭidharmasya trividhā brāhmaṇāstataḥ || 38 || sāttvikā rājasāścaiva tāmasāśca tathāpare | sarve vedavido dakṣāḥ sāttvikāḥ sattvavṛttayaḥ || 39 || pratigrahavihīnāśca dayādamaparāyaṇāḥ | yajñāste sāttvikairannaiḥ kurvāṇā dharmatatparāḥ || 40 || puroḍāśavidhānaiśca paśubhirna kadācana | dānamadhyayanañcaiva yajanaṃ tu tṛtīyakam || 41 || trikarmarasikāste vai sāttvikā brāhmaṇā nṛpa | rājasā vedavidvāṃsaḥ kṣatriyāṇāṃ purohitāḥ || 42 || ṣaṭkarmaniratā sarve vidhivanmāṃsabhakṣakāḥ | yajanaṃ yājanaṃ dānaṃ tathaiva ca pratigrahaḥ || 43 || adhyayanaṃ tu vedānāṃ tathaivādhyāpanaṃ tu ṣaṭ | tāmasāḥ krodhasaṃyuktā rāgadveṣaparāḥ punaḥ || 44 || rājñāṃ karmakarā nityaṃ kiñcidadhyayane ratāḥ | mahiṣe nihate sarve sukhino vedatatparāḥ || 45 || babhūvurvrataniṣṇātā dānadharmaparāstathā | kṣatriyāḥ pālane yuktā vaiśyā vaṇijavṛttayaḥ || 46 || kṛṣivāṇijyagorakṣākusīdavṛttayaḥ pare | evaṃ pramudito loko mahiṣe vinipātite || 47 || anudvegaḥ prajānāṃ vai sambabhūva dhanāgamaḥ | bahukṣīrā śubhā gāvo nadyaścaiva bahūdakāḥ || 48 || vṛkṣā bahuphalāścāsanmānavā rogavarjitāḥ | nādhayo netayaḥ kvāpi prajānāṃ duḥkhadāyakāḥ || 49 || na nidhanamupayānti prāṇinaste'pyakāle sakalavibhavayuktā rogahīnāḥ sadaiva | nigamavihitadharme tatparāścaṇḍikāyā- ścaraṇasarasijānāṃ sevane dattacittāḥ || 50 ||

English translation

1-11. Janamejaya said O best of Risis! I have now seen the wonderful excellent deeds of the Devi 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. O best of Munis! What did the chief Devas do when the Goddess disappeared, kindly say to me. O Bhagavan! I think those Jivas cannot fully comprehend these excellent sacred deeds of the Devi, that are less fortunate and have done not many meritorious deeds in this world. O Muni! What to speak of the less fortunate souls, even the Mahatmas who are well versed in hearing such things, can hardly be satiated on hearing the Devi’s deeds. O! Fie to those, that do not hear of these things, the essence of essences, on hearing which men become Immortals. The Mother’s Lila 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? The Pundits versed in the Vedas declare, that the Devi’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 Devi’s doings. 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 Devi, what doubt can there be with the ordinary human beings, to listen with rapt devotion those wondrous things! O Best of Munis! It is those that worshipped the Goddess Bhavani in their previous births with beautiful Kunda flowers, Champaka flowers and Bel leaves, they have, it is inferred, in their present births become possessed of rich enjoyments. And those devoid of any devotion, that obtained this human body in the land of Bharata and did not worship the Mother Goddess, they are, in the present births, without grains and riches, diseased, and void of any issues. 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. 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 Bhavani. 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.

12-15. Therefore O Son of Satyavati! As you are kind-hearted, kindly narrate before me the excellent deeds of the Devi. O best of Munis! Where did the Goddess, Maha Laksmi, created out of the energies of all the gods, depart after She had slain the Mahisasura and had been worshipped and praised by the Devas? 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 Vaikuntha or did She go to the mountain Sumeru? O Muni! Narrate all these duly before me.

16-50. Vyasa said O King! I told you before about the beautiful Mani Dvipa; that island is the place of sport to the Devi and very dear to Her. In that place Brahma, Visnu, Mahadeva were transformed into females; they afterwards became males and were engaged in their respective duties. That place is grand and splendid and is in the centre of the ocean of Nectar; the Devi Ambika assumes various forms there as She likes; and She sports there. To that Mani Dvipa the auspicious Devi departed after She had been praised by the Gods, to that place where sports always the eternal Bhagavati BhuvanesVari, the incarnate of Para Brahma. When the Highest Goddess vanished, the Devas installed, on the throne of Mahisasura, the powerful King S’atrughna, endowed with all auspicious qualities, the Lord of Ajodhya and descended from the Solar line. After making him thus the King, Indra and the other Devas went to their respective abodes on their own conveyances. 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. 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. 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 rivers’ waters were all clear and cooling; and they flowed full in regular channels; the birds grouped round them. The Brahmanas, versed in the Vedas, were engaged in performing sacrifices; the Ksattriyas 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. Thus no wars nor quarrels were seen amongst the subjects; and the mines yielded plenty of wealth to the people. O best of Kings! There were the Brahmans, Ksattriyas, Vais’yas and S’udras who became the devotees of the Goddess. The Brahmanas and Ksattriyas 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. 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 S’astras that did not go in contra-distinction to the Vedas. 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. Famine, want of rains, and deadly plagues were out of sight. The people had no illness even; and jealousies and quarrels vanished. 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. O Lord of the Earth! All the men were then extremely devoted to their Dharma and engaged in serving the Brahmanas. The Brahmins were also, according to the three-fold

plan of the creation, Sattvik, Rajasik and Tamasik. The Sattvik Brahmins 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. Filled with their ideas of Dharma, they used to perform their Purodasa and other such sacrifices with Sattvik rice, etc., but never, never did they immolate any animals.* O King! The Sattvik Brahmanas gave charities, studied the Vedas and offered sacrifices for themselves. These were their three ordained actions. They were busy in these. O King! The Rajasik Brahmanas were versed in the Vedas and acted as priests to the Ksattriyas

*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. They offered sacrifices on their own behalf, assisted others in sacrifices, took gifts, made charities, studied and taught others the Vedas. The Tamasik Brahmanas were angry, attached to worldly objects, and jealous. They studied very little of the Vedas and spent most of their time in serving the kings. O King! Mahisasura was killed, all the Brahmanas were glad and began to practise Dharma according to the Vedas, observed vows and made charities. The Ksattriyas 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 Mahisa. 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. 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; S’alavas, mice, birds, and seditions we not extant. 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 Chandika and thus spent their lives.

Here ends the Twentieth Chapter of the Fifth Book on the peace of the world in the Mahapuranam S’ri Mad Devi Bhagavatam of 18,000 verses by Maharsi Veda Vyasa.

Complete chapter-aligned witnesses. Sanskrit Wikisource page 24417, revision 74854 (2016-07-21T23:59:36Z). English is Swami Vijñanananda’s complete 1921–23 public-domain translation, controlled against the archival OCR and its chapter page at https://sacred-texts.com/hin/db/bk05ch20.htm. Historic spelling and transliteration are lightly normalized; no verse-by-verse alignment is asserted.