Third Skandha · Chapter 4
Sourceब्रह्मोवाच इत्युक्त्वा भगवान्विष्णुः पुनराह जनार्दनः । वयं गच्छेम पार्श्वेऽस्याः प्रणमन्तः पुनः पुनः ॥ १ ॥ सेयं वरा महामाया दास्यत्येषा वरान् हि नः । स्तुवामः सन्निधिं प्राप्य निर्भयाश्चरणान्तिके ॥ २ ॥ यदि नो वारयिष्यन्ति द्वारस्थाः परिचारकाः । पठिष्यामश्च तत्रस्थाः स्तुतिं देव्याः समाहिताः ॥ ३ ॥ ब्रह्मोवाच इत्युक्ते हरिणा वाक्ये सुप्रहृष्टौ सुसंस्थितौ । जातौ प्रमुदितौ कामं निकटे गमनाय च ॥ ४ ॥ ओमित्युक्त्वा हरिं सर्वे विमानात्त्वरितास्त्रयः । उत्तीर्य निर्गता द्वारि शङ्कमाना मनस्यलम् ॥ ५ ॥ द्वारस्थान् वीक्ष्य तान्सर्वान्देवी भगवती तदा । स्मितं कृत्वा चकाराशु तांस्त्रीन्स्त्रीरूपधारिणः ॥ ६ ॥ वयं युवतयो जाताः सुरूपाश्चारुभूषणाः । विस्मयै परमं प्राप्ता गतास्तत्सन्निधिं पुनः ॥ ७ ॥ सा दृष्ट्वा नः स्थितांस्तत्र स्त्रीरूपांश्चरणान्तिके । व्यलोकयत चार्वङ्गी प्रेमसम्पूर्णया दृशा ॥ ८ ॥ प्रणम्य तां महादेवीं पुरतः संस्थिता वयम् । परस्परं लोकयन्तः स्त्रीरूपाश्चारुभूषणाः ॥ ९ ॥ पादपीठं प्रेक्षमाणा नानामणिविभूषितम् । सूर्यकोटिप्रतीकाशं स्थितास्तत्र वयं त्रयः ॥ १० ॥ काश्चिद्रक्ताम्बरास्तत्र सहचर्यः सहस्रशः । काश्चिन्नीलाम्बरा नार्यस्तथा पीताम्बराः शुभाः ॥ ११ ॥ देव्यः सर्वाः शुभाकारा विचित्राम्बरभूषणाः । विरेजुः पार्श्वतस्तस्याः परिचर्यापराः किल ॥ १२ ॥ जगुश्च ननृतुश्चान्याः पर्युपासन्त ताः स्त्रियः । वीणामारुतवाद्यानि वादयन्तो मुदान्विताः ॥ १३ ॥ शृणु नारद वक्ष्यामि यद्दृष्टं तत्र चाद्भुतम् । नखदर्पणमध्ये वै देव्याश्चरणपङ्कजे ॥ १४ ॥ ब्रह्माण्डमखिलं सर्वं तत्र स्थावरजङ्गमम् । अहं विष्णुश्च रुद्रश्च वायुरग्निर्यमो रविः ॥ १५ ॥ वरुणः शीतगुस्त्वष्टा कुबेरः पाकशासनः । पर्वताः सागरा नद्यो गन्धर्वाप्सरसस्तथा ॥ १६ ॥ विश्वावसुश्चित्रकेतुः श्वेतश्चित्राङ्गदस्तथा । नारदस्तुम्बुरुश्चैव हाहाहूहूस्तथैव च ॥ १७ ॥ अश्विनौ वसवः साध्याः सिद्धाश्च पितरस्तथा । नागाः शेषादयः सर्वे किन्नरोरगराक्षसाः ॥ १८ ॥ वैकुण्ठो ब्रह्मलोकश्च कैलासः पर्वतोत्तमः । सर्वं तदखिलं दृष्टं नखमध्यस्थितं च नः ॥ १९ ॥ मज्जन्मपङ्कजं तत्र स्थितोऽहं चतुराननः । शेषशायी जगन्नाथस्तथा च मधुकैटभौ ॥ २० ॥ ब्रह्मोवाच एवं दृष्टं मया तत्र पादपद्मनखे स्थितम् । विस्मतोऽहं ततो वीक्ष्य किमेतदिति शङ्कितः ॥ २१ ॥ विष्णुश्च विस्मयाविष्टः शङ्करश्च तथा स्थितः । तां तदा मेनिरे देवीं वयं विश्वस्य मातरम् ॥ २२ ॥ ततो वर्षशतं पूर्णं व्यतिक्रान्तं प्रपश्यतः । सुधामये शिवे द्वीपे विहारं विविधं तदा ॥ २३ ॥ सख्य इव तदा तत्र मेनिरेऽस्मानवस्थितान् । देव्यः प्रमुदिताकारा नानाभरणमण्डिताः ॥ २४ ॥ वयमप्यतिरम्यत्वाद्बभूविम विमोहिताः । प्रहृष्टमनसः सर्वे पश्यन्भावान्मनोरमान् ॥ २५ ॥ एकदा तां महादेवीं देवीं श्रीभुवनेश्वरीम् । तुष्टाव भगवान्विष्णुर्युवतीभावसंस्थितः ॥ २६ ॥ श्रीभगवानुवाच नमो देव्यै प्रकृत्यै च विधात्र्यै सततं नमः । कल्याणै कामदायै च वृद्ध्यै सिद्ध्यै नमो नमः ॥ २७ ॥ सच्चिदानन्दरूपिण्यै संसारारणये नमः । पञ्चकृत्यविधात्र्यै ते भुवनेश्यै नमो नमः ॥ २८ ॥ सर्वाधिष्टानरूपायै कूटस्थायै नमो नमः । अर्धमात्रार्थभूतायै हृल्लेखायै नमो नमः ॥ २९ ॥ ज्ञातं मयाऽखिलमिदं त्वयि सन्निविष्टं त्वत्तोऽस्य सम्भवलयावपि मातरद्य । शक्तिश्च तेऽस्य करणे विततप्रभावा ज्ञाताऽधुना सकललोकमयीति नूनम् ॥ ३० ॥ विस्तार्य सर्वमखिलं सदसद्विकारं सन्दर्शयस्यविकलं पुरुषाय काले । तत्त्वैश्च षोडशभिरेव च सप्तभिश्च भासीन्द्रजालमिव नः किल रञ्जनाय ॥ ३१ ॥ न त्वामृते किमपि वस्तुगतं विभाति व्याप्यैव सर्वमखिलं त्वमवस्थिताऽसि । शक्तिं विना व्यवहृतो पुरुषोऽप्यशक्तो वम्भण्यते जननि बुद्धिमता जनेन ॥ ३२ ॥ प्रीणासि विश्वमखिलं सततं प्रभावैः स्वैस्तेजसा च सकलं प्रकटीकरोषि । अत्स्येव देवि तरसा किल कल्पकाले को वेद देवि चरितं तव वै भवस्य ॥ ३३ ॥ त्राता वयं जननि ते मधुकैटभाभ्यां लोकाश्च ते सुवितताः खलु दर्शिता वै । नीताः सुखस्य भवने परमां च कोटिं यद्दर्शनं तव भवानि महाप्रभावम् ॥ ३४ ॥ नाहं भवो न च विरिंचि विवेद मातः कोऽन्यो हि वेत्ति चरितं तव दुर्विभाव्यम् । कानीह सन्ति भुवनानि महाप्रभावे ह्यस्मिन्भवानि रचिते रचनाकलापे ॥ ३५ ॥ अस्माभिरत्र भुवने हरिरन्य एव दृष्टः शिवः कमलजः प्रथितप्रभावः । अन्येषु देवि भुवनेपु न सन्ति किं ते किं विद्म देवि विततं तव सुप्रभावम् ॥ ३६ ॥ याचेऽम्ब तेऽङ्घ्रिकमलं प्रणिपत्य कामं चित्ते सदा वसतु रूपमिदं तवैतत् । नामापि वक्त्रकुहरे सततं तवैव सन्दर्शनं तव पदाम्बुजयोः सदैव ॥ ३७ ॥ भृत्योऽयमस्ति सततं मयि भावनीयं त्वां स्वामिनीति मनसा ननु चिन्तयामि । एषाऽऽवयोरविरता किल देवि भूया- द्व्याप्तिः सदैव जननी सुतयोरिवार्थे ॥ ३८ ॥ त्वं वेत्सि सर्वमखिलं भुवनप्रपञ्चं सर्वज्ञता परिसमाप्तिनितान्तभूमिः । किं पामरेण जगदम्ब निवेदनीयं यद्युक्तमाचर भवानि तवेङ्गितं स्यात् ॥ ३९ ॥ ब्रह्मा सृजत्यवति विष्णुरुमापतिश्च संहारकारक इयं तु जने प्रसिद्धिः । किं सत्यमेतदपि देवि तवेच्छया वै कर्तुं क्षमा वयमजे तव शक्तियुक्ताः ॥ ४० ॥ धात्री धराधरसुते न जगद्बिभर्ति आधारशक्तिरखिलं तव वै बिभर्ति । सूर्योऽपि भाति वरदे प्रभया युतस्ते त्वं सर्वमेतदखिलं विरजा विभासि ॥ ४१ ॥ ब्रह्माऽहमीश्वरवरः किल ते प्रभावा- त्सर्वे वयं जनियुता न यदा तु नित्याः । केऽन्ये सुराः शतमखप्रमुखाश्च नित्या नित्या त्वमेव जननी प्रकृतिः पुराणा ॥ ४२ ॥ त्वं चेद्भवानि दयसे पुरुषं पुराणं जानेऽहमद्य तव संनिधिगः सदैव । नोचेदहं विभुरनादिरनीह ईशो विश्वात्मधीरिति तमःप्रकृतिः सदैव ॥ ४३ ॥ विद्या त्वमेव ननु बुद्धिमतां नराणां शक्तिस्त्वमेव किल शक्तिमतां सदैव । त्वं कीर्तिकान्तिकमलामलतुष्टिरूपा मुक्तिप्रदा विरतिरेव मनुष्यलोके ॥ ४४ ॥ गायत्र्यसि प्रथमवेदकला त्वमेव स्वाहा स्वधा भगवती सगुणार्धमात्रा । आम्नाय एव विहितो निगमो भवत्यै सञ्जीवनाय सततं सुरपूर्वजानाम् ॥ ४५ ॥ मोक्षार्थमेव रचयस्यखिलं प्रपञ्चं तेषां गताः खलु यतो ननु जीवभावम् । अंशा अनादिनिधनस्य किलानघस्य पूर्णार्णवस्य वितता हि यथा तरङ्गाः ॥ ४६ ॥ जीवो यदा तु परिवेत्ति तवैव कृत्यं त्वं संहरस्यखिलमेतदिति प्रसिद्धम् । नाट्यं नटेन रचितं वितथेऽन्तरङ्गे कार्ये कृते विरमसे प्रथितप्रभावा ॥ ४७ ॥ त्राता त्वमेव मम मोहमयाद्भवाब्धे- स्त्वामम्बिके सततमेमि महार्तिदे च । रागादिभिर्विरचिते वितथे किलान्ते मामेव पाहि बहुदुःखकरे च काले ॥ ४८ ॥ नमो देवि महाविद्ये नमामि चरणौ तव । सदा ज्ञानप्रकाशं मे देहि सर्वार्थदे शिवे ॥ ४९ ॥
brahmovāca ityuktvā bhagavānviṣṇuḥ punarāha janārdanaḥ | vayaṃ gacchema pārśve'syāḥ praṇamantaḥ punaḥ punaḥ || 1 || seyaṃ varā mahāmāyā dāsyatyeṣā varān hi naḥ | stuvāmaḥ sannidhiṃ prāpya nirbhayāścaraṇāntike || 2 || yadi no vārayiṣyanti dvārasthāḥ paricārakāḥ | paṭhiṣyāmaśca tatrasthāḥ stutiṃ devyāḥ samāhitāḥ || 3 || brahmovāca ityukte hariṇā vākye suprahṛṣṭau susaṃsthitau | jātau pramuditau kāmaṃ nikaṭe gamanāya ca || 4 || omityuktvā hariṃ sarve vimānāttvaritāstrayaḥ | uttīrya nirgatā dvāri śaṅkamānā manasyalam || 5 || dvārasthān vīkṣya tānsarvāndevī bhagavatī tadā | smitaṃ kṛtvā cakārāśu tāṃstrīnstrīrūpadhāriṇaḥ || 6 || vayaṃ yuvatayo jātāḥ surūpāścārubhūṣaṇāḥ | vismayai paramaṃ prāptā gatāstatsannidhiṃ punaḥ || 7 || sā dṛṣṭvā naḥ sthitāṃstatra strīrūpāṃścaraṇāntike | vyalokayata cārvaṅgī premasampūrṇayā dṛśā || 8 || praṇamya tāṃ mahādevīṃ purataḥ saṃsthitā vayam | parasparaṃ lokayantaḥ strīrūpāścārubhūṣaṇāḥ || 9 || pādapīṭhaṃ prekṣamāṇā nānāmaṇivibhūṣitam | sūryakoṭipratīkāśaṃ sthitāstatra vayaṃ trayaḥ || 10 || kāścidraktāmbarāstatra sahacaryaḥ sahasraśaḥ | kāścinnīlāmbarā nāryastathā pītāmbarāḥ śubhāḥ || 11 || devyaḥ sarvāḥ śubhākārā vicitrāmbarabhūṣaṇāḥ | virejuḥ pārśvatastasyāḥ paricaryāparāḥ kila || 12 || jaguśca nanṛtuścānyāḥ paryupāsanta tāḥ striyaḥ | vīṇāmārutavādyāni vādayanto mudānvitāḥ || 13 || śṛṇu nārada vakṣyāmi yaddṛṣṭaṃ tatra cādbhutam | nakhadarpaṇamadhye vai devyāścaraṇapaṅkaje || 14 || brahmāṇḍamakhilaṃ sarvaṃ tatra sthāvarajaṅgamam | ahaṃ viṣṇuśca rudraśca vāyuragniryamo raviḥ || 15 || varuṇaḥ śītagustvaṣṭā kuberaḥ pākaśāsanaḥ | parvatāḥ sāgarā nadyo gandharvāpsarasastathā || 16 || viśvāvasuścitraketuḥ śvetaścitrāṅgadastathā | nāradastumburuścaiva hāhāhūhūstathaiva ca || 17 || aśvinau vasavaḥ sādhyāḥ siddhāśca pitarastathā | nāgāḥ śeṣādayaḥ sarve kinnaroragarākṣasāḥ || 18 || vaikuṇṭho brahmalokaśca kailāsaḥ parvatottamaḥ | sarvaṃ tadakhilaṃ dṛṣṭaṃ nakhamadhyasthitaṃ ca naḥ || 19 || majjanmapaṅkajaṃ tatra sthito'haṃ caturānanaḥ | śeṣaśāyī jagannāthastathā ca madhukaiṭabhau || 20 || brahmovāca evaṃ dṛṣṭaṃ mayā tatra pādapadmanakhe sthitam | vismato'haṃ tato vīkṣya kimetaditi śaṅkitaḥ || 21 || viṣṇuśca vismayāviṣṭaḥ śaṅkaraśca tathā sthitaḥ | tāṃ tadā menire devīṃ vayaṃ viśvasya mātaram || 22 || tato varṣaśataṃ pūrṇaṃ vyatikrāntaṃ prapaśyataḥ | sudhāmaye śive dvīpe vihāraṃ vividhaṃ tadā || 23 || sakhya iva tadā tatra menire'smānavasthitān | devyaḥ pramuditākārā nānābharaṇamaṇḍitāḥ || 24 || vayamapyatiramyatvādbabhūvima vimohitāḥ | prahṛṣṭamanasaḥ sarve paśyanbhāvānmanoramān || 25 || ekadā tāṃ mahādevīṃ devīṃ śrībhuvaneśvarīm | tuṣṭāva bhagavānviṣṇuryuvatībhāvasaṃsthitaḥ || 26 || śrībhagavānuvāca namo devyai prakṛtyai ca vidhātryai satataṃ namaḥ | kalyāṇai kāmadāyai ca vṛddhyai siddhyai namo namaḥ || 27 || saccidānandarūpiṇyai saṃsārāraṇaye namaḥ | pañcakṛtyavidhātryai te bhuvaneśyai namo namaḥ || 28 || sarvādhiṣṭānarūpāyai kūṭasthāyai namo namaḥ | ardhamātrārthabhūtāyai hṛllekhāyai namo namaḥ || 29 || jñātaṃ mayā'khilamidaṃ tvayi sanniviṣṭaṃ tvatto'sya sambhavalayāvapi mātaradya | śaktiśca te'sya karaṇe vitataprabhāvā jñātā'dhunā sakalalokamayīti nūnam || 30 || vistārya sarvamakhilaṃ sadasadvikāraṃ sandarśayasyavikalaṃ puruṣāya kāle | tattvaiśca ṣoḍaśabhireva ca saptabhiśca bhāsīndrajālamiva naḥ kila rañjanāya || 31 || na tvāmṛte kimapi vastugataṃ vibhāti vyāpyaiva sarvamakhilaṃ tvamavasthitā'si | śaktiṃ vinā vyavahṛto puruṣo'pyaśakto vambhaṇyate janani buddhimatā janena || 32 || prīṇāsi viśvamakhilaṃ satataṃ prabhāvaiḥ svaistejasā ca sakalaṃ prakaṭīkaroṣi | atsyeva devi tarasā kila kalpakāle ko veda devi caritaṃ tava vai bhavasya || 33 || trātā vayaṃ janani te madhukaiṭabhābhyāṃ lokāśca te suvitatāḥ khalu darśitā vai | nītāḥ sukhasya bhavane paramāṃ ca koṭiṃ yaddarśanaṃ tava bhavāni mahāprabhāvam || 34 || nāhaṃ bhavo na ca viriṃci viveda mātaḥ ko'nyo hi vetti caritaṃ tava durvibhāvyam | kānīha santi bhuvanāni mahāprabhāve hyasminbhavāni racite racanākalāpe || 35 || asmābhiratra bhuvane hariranya eva dṛṣṭaḥ śivaḥ kamalajaḥ prathitaprabhāvaḥ | anyeṣu devi bhuvanepu na santi kiṃ te kiṃ vidma devi vitataṃ tava suprabhāvam || 36 || yāce'mba te'ṅghrikamalaṃ praṇipatya kāmaṃ citte sadā vasatu rūpamidaṃ tavaitat | nāmāpi vaktrakuhare satataṃ tavaiva sandarśanaṃ tava padāmbujayoḥ sadaiva || 37 || bhṛtyo'yamasti satataṃ mayi bhāvanīyaṃ tvāṃ svāminīti manasā nanu cintayāmi | eṣā''vayoraviratā kila devi bhūyā- dvyāptiḥ sadaiva jananī sutayorivārthe || 38 || tvaṃ vetsi sarvamakhilaṃ bhuvanaprapañcaṃ sarvajñatā parisamāptinitāntabhūmiḥ | kiṃ pāmareṇa jagadamba nivedanīyaṃ yadyuktamācara bhavāni taveṅgitaṃ syāt || 39 || brahmā sṛjatyavati viṣṇurumāpatiśca saṃhārakāraka iyaṃ tu jane prasiddhiḥ | kiṃ satyametadapi devi tavecchayā vai kartuṃ kṣamā vayamaje tava śaktiyuktāḥ || 40 || dhātrī dharādharasute na jagadbibharti ādhāraśaktirakhilaṃ tava vai bibharti | sūryo'pi bhāti varade prabhayā yutaste tvaṃ sarvametadakhilaṃ virajā vibhāsi || 41 || brahmā'hamīśvaravaraḥ kila te prabhāvā- tsarve vayaṃ janiyutā na yadā tu nityāḥ | ke'nye surāḥ śatamakhapramukhāśca nityā nityā tvameva jananī prakṛtiḥ purāṇā || 42 || tvaṃ cedbhavāni dayase puruṣaṃ purāṇaṃ jāne'hamadya tava saṃnidhigaḥ sadaiva | nocedahaṃ vibhuranādiranīha īśo viśvātmadhīriti tamaḥprakṛtiḥ sadaiva || 43 || vidyā tvameva nanu buddhimatāṃ narāṇāṃ śaktistvameva kila śaktimatāṃ sadaiva | tvaṃ kīrtikāntikamalāmalatuṣṭirūpā muktipradā viratireva manuṣyaloke || 44 || gāyatryasi prathamavedakalā tvameva svāhā svadhā bhagavatī saguṇārdhamātrā | āmnāya eva vihito nigamo bhavatyai sañjīvanāya satataṃ surapūrvajānām || 45 || mokṣārthameva racayasyakhilaṃ prapañcaṃ teṣāṃ gatāḥ khalu yato nanu jīvabhāvam | aṃśā anādinidhanasya kilānaghasya pūrṇārṇavasya vitatā hi yathā taraṅgāḥ || 46 || jīvo yadā tu parivetti tavaiva kṛtyaṃ tvaṃ saṃharasyakhilametaditi prasiddham | nāṭyaṃ naṭena racitaṃ vitathe'ntaraṅge kārye kṛte viramase prathitaprabhāvā || 47 || trātā tvameva mama mohamayādbhavābdhe- stvāmambike satatamemi mahārtide ca | rāgādibhirviracite vitathe kilānte māmeva pāhi bahuduḥkhakare ca kāle || 48 || namo devi mahāvidye namāmi caraṇau tava | sadā jñānaprakāśaṃ me dehi sarvārthade śive || 49 ||
English translation
1-20. Brahma said Thus speaking, Bhagavan Janardana Visnu spoke to me again “Come, let us bow down to Her again and again and let us go to Her. We shall reach at Her feet fearlessly and we will chant hymns to Her; Maha Maya will be pleased with us and will grant us boons. If the guards at the entrance prevent us from going, we would stand at the gateway and we will chant hymns to the Devi with one mind.”
Brahma said When Hari addressed us in the above way, we two became choked by intense feelings of joy; our voice became tremulous and we waited there for some time; our hearts were elated with joy to go to Her. We then accepted Hari's word said “Om” and got down from our car and went with hastened steps and with fear to the gate. Seeing us standing at the gateway, the Devi Bhagavati smiled and within an instant transformed us three into females. We looked beautiful and youthful women, adorned with nice ornaments; thus we greatly wondered and went to Her. Seeing us standing at Her feet in feminine forms, the beautiful Devi Bhagavati, looked on us with eyes of affection. We then bowed to the great Devi, looked at one another and stood before Her in that feminine dress. We three, then, began to see the pedestal of the great Devi, shining with the lustre of ten million Suns and decorated with various gems and jewels. We next discerned that thousands and thousands of attendants are waiting on Her. Some of them are wearing red dress; some blue dress, some yellow dress; thus the Deva girls, variously dressed were serving Her and standing by Her side. They were dancing, singing on and playing with musical instruments and were gladly chanting hymns in praise of the Devi. O NaradalWe saw there another wonderful thing. Listen. We saw the whole universe, moving and non-moving within the nails of the lotus feet of the Devi. We saw there myself, Visnu, Rudra, Vayu, Agni, Yama, Moon, Sun, Varuna,
Tvasta, Indra, Kuvera and other Devas, Apsaras, Gandarbhas, rivers, oceans, mountains, Visvavasus Chitraketu, Sveta, Chitrangada, Narada, Tumburu, Ha Ha Hu Hu and other Gandarbhas, the twin As'vins, the eight Vasus, Sadhyas, Siddhas, the Piths, Ananta and other Nagas, Kinnaras, Uragas, Raksasas, the abode of Vaikuntha, the abode of Brahma, Kailas'a mountain, the best of all mountains; all were existing there. Within that nail of the toe were, reflected all the things of the Universe. The lotus whence I was born, the four faced Brahma like myself on that lotus, Bhagavan Jagannath lying on that bed of Ananta, the two Demons Madhu Kaitabha, all I saw there.
21-31. Seeing all these wonderful things within the nails of Her lotus feet, I became greatly surprised and thought timidly “What are all these!” My companions Visnu and S'ankara were struck with wonder. We three, then, made out that She was our Mother of the universe.
Thus full one hundred years passed away in seeing the various glories of the Devi in the auspicious nectar-like Mani Dvipa; as long we were there. Her attendants, the Deva girls adorned with various ornaments gladly considered us as Sakhis. We, too, were greatly fascinated by their enchanting gestures and postures. For that reason, we saw always their beautiful movements with great gladness. Once, on an occasion, Bhagavan Visnu, while He was in that feminine form, chanted hymns in praise of the great Devi S’ri Bhuvanes'vari.
S’ri Bhagavan said Salutation to the Devi Prakriti, the Creatrix; I bow down again and again to Thee. Thou art all-auspicious and grantest the desires of Thy devotees; Thou art of the nature of Siddhi (success) and Vriddhi (increase). I bow down again and again to Thee. I bow down to the World Mother, Who is of the nature of Everlasting Existence, Intelligence and Bliss. O Devi! Thou createst, preservest and destroyest this Universe; Thou dost the Pralaya (the great Dissolution) and showest favour to the created beings. Thus
Thou art the Authoress of the above five fold things that are done; so, O BhuvanesVari, I bow down to Thee! Thou art the great efficient and material cause of the changeful. Thou art the Unchangeable, Immoveable Consciousness; Thou art the half letter (Ardhamatra), Hrillekha (the consciousness that ever pervades both inside and outside the Universe); Thou art the Supreme Soul and the individual soul. Salutation again and again to Thee.
O Mother! I now realise fully well that this whole Universe rests on Thee; it rises from Thee and again melts away in Thee. The creation of this Universe shews Thy infinite force. Verily, Thou art become Thyself all these Lokas (regions). During the time of creation Thou createst the two formless elements akasa and Vayu and the three elements with form, fire, water, and earth; then with these Thou createst the whole Universe and shewest this to the Enjoyer Purusa, who is of the nature of consciousness, for His satisfaction. Thou again dost become the material cause of the twentythree (23)
Tattvas, Mahat, etc., as enumerated in the Sankhya system and appearest to us like a mirage.
32. O Mother! Were it not for Thee, no object would be visible. Thou pervadest the whole Universe. It is for this reason that those persons that are wise declare that even the Highest Purusa can do no work without Thy aid.
33-34. O Devi! Thou createst and art giving satisfaction to the whole Universe by Thy power; again at the time of Pralaya Thou swallowest forcibly all these that are seen. So, O Devi! Who can fathom Thy powers? O Mother! Thou didst save us from the hands of Madhu and Kaitabha. Then Thou hast brought us to this Mani Dvipa and shewed us Thy own form, all the extended regions and immense powers and given us exquisite delight and joy. This is the highest place of happiness.
35-37. O Mother! When I Myself, S'ankara and Brahma or any one of us is unable to fathom Thy inconceivable glory, who else can then ascertain? O Bhavani! Who knows, how many more than the several regions that we saw reflected in thy nails of Thy feet, exist in Thy creation. O One endowed with infinitely great powers! O Devi! we saw another Visnu, another Hara, another Brahma, all of great celebrity in the Universe exhibited by Thee; who knows how many other such Brahmas, etc., exist in Thy other Universes! Thy glory is infinite. O Mother! I bow down again and again to Thy lotus feet and pray to Thee that may Thy this form exist always in my mind. May my mouth always utter Thy name and may my two eyes see always Thy lotus feet.
38-43. O Revered One! May I remember Thee as my Goddess and may'st Thou constantly look on myself as Thy humble servant. O Mother! What more shall I say than this May this relation as mother and son always exist between Thee and me. O World- Mother! There is nothing in this world that is not known to Thee for Thou art omniscient. So O Bhavani! What more shall my humble self declare to Thee! Now dost Thou do whatever Thou desirest. O Devi! The rumour goes that Brahma is the Creator, Visnu is the Preserver, and MahesVara is the Destroyer! Is this true? O Eternal One! It is through Thy Will power, through Thy force, that we create, preserve and destroy. O Daughter of the Himalaya mountain! The earth is supporting this Universe; it is Thy endless might that is holding all this made of five elements. O Grantress of boons! It is through Thy power and lustre that the Sun is lustrous and becomes visible. Though Thou art the attributeless Self, yet by Thy Mayic power Thou appearest in the form of this Prapancha Universe. When Brahma, Mahes'a, and I myself take birth by Thy power and are not eternal, what more can be said of Indra and other Devas than this that they are mere temporary things and created. It is only Thou that art Eternal, Ancient Prakriti and the Mother of this Universe. O Bhavani!
Now I realise from my remaining with Thee, that it is Thou that dost impart, out of mercy, the Brahma vidya to the ancient Purusa; and thus He can realise His eternal nature. Otherwise He will remain always under delusion that He is the Lord, He is the Purusa without beginning, that He is good and the Universal Soul, and thus suffers under various forms of egoism (Ahamkara).
Thou art the Vidya of the intelligent persons and the S’akti of the beings endowed with force; Thou art Kirti (fame), Kanti (lustre), Kamala (wealth) and the spotless Tusti (peace, happiness). Amongst men. Thou art the dispassion, leading to Mukti (complete freedom from bondage). Thou art the Gayatri, the mother of the Vedas; and Thou art Svaha, Svadha, etc. Thou art the Bhagavati, of the nature of the three Gunas; Thou art the half matra (half the upper stroke of a letter), the fourth state, transcending the Gunas. It is Thou that givest always the S’astras for the preservation of the Devas and the Brahmanas. It is Thou that hast expanded and manifested this whole phenomenon of the visible Universe for the liberation of the embodied souls (JTvas), the parts of the pure holy Brahman, the Full, the Beginningless, the Deathless, forming the waves of the Infinite expanse of ocean. When the JTva comes to know internally and becomes thoroughly conscious that all this is Thy work. Thou createst and destroyest, that all this is Thy Mayic pastime, false, like the parts of an actor in a theatrical play, then and then only he desists for ever from his part in this Theatre of world. O Mother! O Destroyer of the greatest difficulties! I always take refuge unto Thee. Thou dost save me from this ocean of Samsara, full of Moha (delusion). Let Thou be my Saviour when my end will come, from these infinitely troublesome and unreal pains arising from love and hatred. Obeisance to Thee! O Devi! O Maha vidya! I fall prostrate at Thy feet. O Thou, the Giver of all desires! O Auspicious One! Dost Thou give the knowledge that is All-Light to Me.
Thus ends the fourth chapter of the Third Skandha on the hymns to the Great Devi by Visnu in the Mahapurana S'rimad Devi
Bhagavatam of 18,000 verses by Maharsi Veda Vyas.
Complete chapter-aligned witnesses. Sanskrit Wikisource page 24730, revision 75583 (2016-08-03T11:28:36Z). 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/bk03ch04.htm. Historic spelling and transliteration are lightly normalized; no verse-by-verse alignment is asserted.