Twelfth Skandha · Chapter 9
Sourceब्राह्मणादीनां गायत्रीभिन्नान्यदेवोपासनाश्रद्धाहेतुनिरूपणम् व्यास उवाच कदाचिदथ काले तु दशपञ्चसमा विभो । प्राणिनां कर्मवशतो न ववर्ष शतक्रतुः ॥ १ ॥ अनावृष्ट्यातिदुर्भिक्षमभवत्क्षयकारकम् । गहे गृहे शवानां तु संख्या कर्तुं न शक्यते ॥ २ ॥ केचिदश्वान्वराहान्वा भक्षयन्ति क्षुधार्दिताः । शवानि च मनुष्याणां भक्षयन्त्यपरे जनाः ॥ ३ ॥ बालकं बालजननी स्त्रियं पुरुष एव च । भक्षितुं चलिताः सर्वे क्षुधया पीडिता नराः ॥ ४ ॥ ब्राह्मणा बहवस्तत्र विचारं चक्रुरुत्तमम् । तपोधनो गौतमोऽस्ति स नः खेदं हरिष्यति ॥ ५ ॥ सर्वैर्मिलित्वा गन्तव्यं गौतमस्याश्रमेऽधुना । गायत्रीजपसंसक्तगौतमस्याश्रमेऽधुना ॥ ६ ॥ सुभिक्षं श्रूयते तत्र प्राणिनो बहवो गताः । एवं विमृश्य भूदेवाः साग्निहोत्राः कुटुम्बिनः ॥ ७ ॥ सगोधनाः सदासाश्च गौतमस्याश्रमं ययुः । पूर्वदेशाद्ययुः केचित्केचिद्दक्षिणदेशतः ॥ ८ ॥ पाश्चात्या औत्तराहाश्च नानादिग्भ्यः समाययुः । दृष्ट्वा समाजं विप्राणां प्रणनाम स गौतमः ॥ ९ ॥ आसनाद्युपचारैश्च पूजयामास वाडवान् । चकार कुशलप्रश्नं ततश्चागमकारणम् ॥ १० ॥ ते सर्वे स्वस्ववृत्तान्तं कथयामासुरुत्स्मयाः । दृष्ट्वा तान्दुःखितान्विप्रानभयं दत्तवान्मुनिः ॥ ११ ॥ युष्माकमेतत्सदनं भवद्दासोऽस्मि सर्वथा । का चिन्ता भवतां विप्रा मयि दासे विराजति ॥ १२ ॥ धन्योऽहमस्मिन्समये यूयं सर्वे तपोधनाः । येषां दर्शनमात्रेण दुष्कृतं सुकृतायते ॥ १३ ॥ ते सर्वे पादरजसा पावयन्ति गृहं मम । को मदन्यो भवेद्धन्यो भवतां समनुग्रहात् ॥ १४ ॥ स्थेयं सर्वैः सुखेनैव सन्ध्याजपपरायणैः । व्यास उवाच इति सर्वान्ममाश्वास्य गौतमो मुनिराट् ततः ॥ १५ ॥ गायत्रीं प्रार्थयामास भक्तिसन्नतकन्धरः । नमो देवि महाविद्ये वेदमातः परात्परे ॥ १६ ॥ व्याहृत्यादिमहामन्त्ररूपे प्रणवरूपिणि । साम्यावस्थात्मिके मातर्नमो ह्रींकाररूपिणि ॥ १७ ॥ स्वाहास्वधास्वरूपे त्वां नमामि सकलार्थदाम् । भक्तकल्पलतां देवीमवस्थात्रयसाक्षिणीम् ॥ १८ ॥ तुर्यातीतस्वरूपां च सच्चिदानन्दरूपिणीम् । सर्ववेदान्तसंवेद्यां सूर्यमण्डलवासिनीम् ॥ १९ ॥ प्रातर्बालां रक्तवर्णां मध्याह्ने युवतीं पराम् । सायाह्ने कृष्णवर्णां तां वृद्धां नित्यं नमाम्यहम् ॥ २० ॥ सर्वभूतारणे देवि क्षमस्व परमेश्वरि । इति स्तुता जगन्माता प्रत्यक्षं दर्शनं ददौ ॥ २१ ॥ पूर्णपात्रं ददौ तस्मै येन स्यात्सर्वपोषणम् । उवाच मुनिमम्बा सा यं यं कामं त्वमिच्छसि ॥ २२ ॥ तस्य पूर्तिकरं पात्रं मया दत्तं भविष्यति । इत्युक्त्वान्तर्दधे देवी गायत्री परमा कला ॥ २३ ॥ अन्नानां राशयस्तस्मानिर्गताः पर्वतोपमाः । षड्रसा विविधा राजंस्तृणानि विविधानि च ॥ २४ ॥ भूषणानि च दिव्यानि क्षौमानि वसनानि च । यज्ञानां च समारम्भाः पात्राणि विविधानि च ॥ २५ ॥ यद्यदिष्टमभूद्राजन् मुनेस्तस्य महात्मनः । तत्सर्वं निर्गतं तस्माद्गायत्रीपूर्णपात्रतः ॥ २६ ॥ अथाहूय मुनीन्सर्वान्मुनिराड् गौतमस्तदा । धनं धान्यं भूषणानि वसनानि ददौ मुदा ॥ २७ ॥ गोमहिष्यादिपशवो निर्गताः पूर्णपात्रतः । निर्गतान्यज्ञसम्भारान्स्रुक्स्रुवप्रभृतीन्ददौ ॥ २८ ॥ ते सर्वे मिलिता यज्ञांश्चक्रिरे मुनिवाक्यतः । स्थानं तदेव भूयिष्ठमभवत्स्वर्गसन्निभम् ॥ २९ ॥ यत्किञ्चित् त्रिषु लोकेषु सुन्दरं वस्तु दृश्यते । तत्सर्वं तत्र निष्पन्नं गायत्रीदत्तपात्रतः ॥ ३० ॥ देवाङ्गनासमा दाराः शोभन्ते भूषणादिभिः । मुनयो देवसदृशा वस्त्रचन्दनभूषणैः ॥ ३१ ॥ नित्योत्सवः प्रववृते मुनेराश्रममण्डले । न रोगादिभयं किञ्चिन्न च दैत्यभयं क्वचित् ॥ ३२ ॥ स मुनेराश्रमो जातः समन्ताच्छतयोजनः । अन्ये च प्राणिनो येऽपि तेऽपि तत्र समागताः ॥ ३३ ॥ तांश्च सर्वान्पुपोषायं दत्त्वाभयमथात्मवान् । नानाविधैर्महायज्ञैर्विधिवत्कल्पितैः सुराः ॥ ३४ ॥ सन्तोषं परमं प्रापुर्मुनेश्चैव जगुर्यशः । सभायां वृत्रहा भूयो जगौ श्लोकं महायशाः ॥ ३५ ॥ अहो अयं नः किल कल्पपादपो मनोरथान्पूरयति प्रतिष्ठितः । नोचेदकाण्डे क्व हविर्वपा वा सुदुर्लभा यत्र तु जीवनाशा ॥ ३६ ॥ इत्थं द्वादशवर्षाणि पुपोष मुनिपुङ्गवान् । पुत्रवन्मुनिराड् गर्वगन्धेन परिवर्जितः ॥ ३७ ॥ गायत्र्याः परमं स्थानं चकार मुनिसत्तमः । यत्र सर्वैर्मुनिवरैः पूज्यते जगदम्बिका ॥ ३८ ॥ त्रिकालं परया भक्त्या पुरश्चरणकर्मभिः । अद्यापि यत्र देवी सा प्रातर्बाला तु दृश्यते ॥ ३९ ॥ मध्याह्ने युवती वृद्धा सायंकाले तु दृश्यते । तत्रैकदा समायातो नारदो मुनिसत्तमः ॥ ४० ॥ रणयन्महतीं गायन्गायत्र्याः परमान्गुणान् । निषसाद सभामध्ये मुनीनां भावितात्मनाम् ॥ ४१ ॥ गौतमादिभिरत्युच्चैः पूजितः शान्तमानसः । कथाश्चकार विविधा यशसो गौतमस्य च ॥ ४२ ॥ ब्रह्मर्षे देवसदसि देवराट् तव यद्यशः । जगौ बहुविधं स्वच्छं मुनिपोषणजं परम् ॥ ४३ ॥ श्रुत्वा शचीपतेर्वाणीं त्वां द्रष्टुमहमागतः । धन्योऽसि त्वं मुनिश्रेष्ठ जगदम्बाप्रसादतः ॥ ४४ ॥ इत्युक्त्वा मुनिवर्यं तं गायत्रीसदनं ययौ । ददर्श जगदम्बां तां प्रेमोत्फुल्लविलोचनः ॥ ४५ ॥ तुष्टाव विधिवद्देवीं जगाम त्रिदिवं पुनः । अथ तत्र स्थिता ये ते ब्राह्मणा मुनिपोषिताः ॥ ४६ ॥ उत्कर्षं तु मुनेः श्रुत्वासूयया खेदमागताः । यथास्य न यशो भूयात्कर्तव्यं सर्वथैव हि ॥ ४७ ॥ काले समागते पश्चादिति सर्वैस्तु निश्चितम् । ततः कालेन कियताप्यभूद्वृष्टिर्धरातले ॥ ४८ ॥ सुभिक्षमभवत्सर्वदेशेषु नृपसत्तम । श्रुत्वा वार्तां सुभिक्षस्य मिलिताः सर्ववाडवाः ॥ ४९ ॥ गौतमं शप्तुमुद्योगं हा हा राजन् प्रचक्रिरे । धन्यौ तेषां च पितरौ ययोरुत्पत्तिरीदृशी ॥ ५० ॥ कालस्य महिमा राजन् वक्तुं केन हि शक्यते । गौर्निर्मिता माययैका मुमूर्षुर्जरती नृप ॥ ५१ ॥ जगाम सा च शालायां होमकाले मुनेस्तदा । हुंहुंशब्दैर्वारिता सा प्राणांस्तत्याज तत्क्षणे ॥ ५२ ॥ गौर्हतानेन दुष्टेनेत्येवं ते चुक्रुशुर्द्विजाः । होमं समाप्य मुनिराङ् विस्मयं परमं गतः ॥ ५३ ॥ समाधिमीलिताक्षः संश्चिन्तयामास कारणम् । कृतं सर्वं द्विजैरेतदिति ज्ञात्वा तदैव सः ॥ ५४ ॥ दधार कोपं परमं प्रलये रुद्रकोपवत् । शशाप च ऋषीन्सर्वान्कोपसंरक्तलोचनः ॥ ५५ ॥ वेदमातरि गायत्र्यां तद्ध्याने तन्मनोर्जपे । भवतानुन्मुखा यूयं सर्वथा ब्राह्मणाधमाः ॥ ५६ ॥ वेदे वेदोक्तयज्ञेषु तद्वार्तासु तथैव च । भवतानुन्मुखा यूयं सर्वदा ब्राह्मणाधमाः ॥ ५७ ॥ शिवे शिवस्य मन्त्रे च शिवशास्त्रे तथैव च । भवतानुन्मुखा यूयं सर्वदा ब्राह्मणाधमाः ॥ ५८ ॥ मूलप्रकृत्याः श्रीदेव्यास्तद्ध्याने तत्कथासु च । भवतानुन्मुखा यूयं सर्वदा ब्राह्मणाधमाः ॥ ५९ ॥ देवीमन्त्रे तथा देव्याः स्थानेऽनुष्ठानकर्मणि । भवतानुन्मुखा यूयं सर्वदा ब्राह्मणाधमाः ॥ ६० ॥ देव्युत्सवदिदृक्षायां देवीनामानुकीर्तने । भवतानुन्मुखा यूयं सर्वदा ब्राह्मणाधमाः ॥ ६१ ॥ देवीभक्तस्य सान्निध्ये देवीभक्तार्चने तथा । भवतानुन्मुखा यूयं सर्वदा ब्राह्मणाधमाः ॥ ६२ ॥ शिवोत्सवदिदृक्षायां शिवभक्तस्य पूजने । भवतानुन्मुखा यूयं सर्वदा ब्राह्मणाधमाः ॥ ६३ ॥ रुद्राक्षं बिल्वपत्रे च तथा शुद्धे च भस्मनि । भवतानुन्मुखा यूयं सर्वदा ब्राह्मणाधमाः ॥ ६४ ॥ श्रौतस्मार्तसदाचारे ज्ञानमार्गे तथैव च । भवतानुन्मुखा यूयं सर्वदा ब्राह्मणाधमाः ॥ ६५ ॥ अद्वैतज्ञाननिष्ठायां शान्तिदान्त्यादिसाधने । भवतानुन्मुखा यूयं सर्वदा ब्राह्मणाधमाः ॥ ६६ ॥ नित्यकर्माद्यनुष्ठानेऽप्यग्निहोत्रादिसाधने । भवतानुन्मुखा यूयं सर्वदा ब्राह्मणाधमाः ॥ ६७ ॥ स्वाध्यायाध्ययने चैव तथा प्रवचनेऽपि च । भवतानुन्मुखा यूयं सर्वदा ब्राह्मणाधमाः ॥ ६८ ॥ गोदानादिषु दानेषु पितृश्राद्धेषु चैव हि । भवतानुन्मुखा यूयं सर्वदा ब्राह्मणाधमाः ॥ ६९ ॥ कृच्छ्रचान्द्रायणे चैव प्रायश्चित्ते तथैव च । भवतानुन्मुखा यूयं सर्वदा ब्राह्मणाधमाः ॥ ७० ॥ श्रीदेवीभिन्नदेवेषु श्रद्धाभक्तिसमन्विताः । शङ्खचक्राद्यङ्किताश्च भवत ब्राह्मणाधमाः ॥ ७१ ॥ कापालिकमतासक्ता बौद्धशास्त्ररताः सदा । पाखण्डाचारनिरता भवत ब्राह्मणाधमाः ॥ ७२ ॥ पितृमातृसुताभ्रातृकन्याविक्रयिणस्तथा । भार्याविकयिणस्तद्वद्भवत ब्राह्मणाधमाः ॥ ७३ ॥ वेदविक्रयिणस्तद्वत्तीर्थविक्रयिणस्तथा । धर्मविक्रयिणस्तद्वद्भवत ब्राह्मणाधमाः ॥ ७४ ॥ पाञ्चरात्रे कामशास्त्रे तथा कापालिके मते । बौद्धे श्रद्धायुता यूयं भवत ब्राह्मणाधमाः ॥ ७५ ॥ मातृकन्यागामिनश्च भगिनीगामिनस्तथा । परस्त्रीलम्पटाः सर्वे भवत ब्राह्मणाधमाः ॥ ७६ ॥ युष्माकं वंशजाताश्च स्त्रियश्च पुरुषास्तथा । मद्दत्तशापदग्धास्ते भविष्यन्ति भवत्समाः ॥ ७७ ॥ किं मया बहुनोक्तेन मूलप्रकृतिरीश्वरी । गायत्री परमा भूयाद्युष्मासु खलु कोपिता ॥ ७८ ॥ अन्धकूपादिकुण्डेषु युष्माकं स्यात्सदा स्थितिः । व्यास उवाच वाग्दण्डमीदृशं कृत्वाप्युपस्पृश्य जलं ततः ॥ ७९ ॥ जगाम दर्शनार्थं च गायत्र्याः परमोस्तुकः । प्रणनाम महादेवीं सापि देवी परात्परा ॥ ८० ॥ ब्राह्मणानां कृतिं दृष्ट्वा स्मयं चित्ते चकार ह । अद्यापि तस्या वदनं स्मययुक्तं च दृश्यते ॥ ८१ ॥ उवाच मुनिवर्यं तं स्मयमानमुखाम्बुजा । भुजङ्गायार्पितं दुग्धं विषायैवोपजायते ॥ ८२ ॥ शान्तिं कुरु महाभाग कर्मणो गतिरीदृशी । इति देवीं प्रणम्याथ ततोऽगात्स्वाश्रमं प्रति ॥ ८३ ॥ ततो विप्रैः शापदग्धैर्विस्मृता वेदराशयः । गायत्री विस्मृता सर्वैस्तदद्भुतमिवाभवत् ॥ ८४ ॥ ते सर्वेऽथ मिलित्वा तु पश्चात्तापयुतास्तथा । प्रणेमुर्मुनिवर्यं तं दण्डवत्पतिता भुवि ॥ ८५ ॥ नोचुः किञ्चन वाक्यं तु लज्जयाधोमुखाः स्थिताः । प्रसीदेति प्रसीदेति प्रसीदेति पुनः पुनः ॥ ८६ ॥ प्रार्थयामासुरभितः परिवार्य मुनीश्वरम् । करुणापूर्णहृदयो मुनिस्तान्समुवाच ह ॥ ८७ ॥ कृष्णावतारपर्यन्तं कुम्भीपाके भवेत्स्थितिः । न मे वाक्यं मृषा भूयादिति जानीथ सर्वथा ॥ ८८ ॥ ततः परं कलियुगे भुवि जन्म भवेद्धि वाम् । मदुक्तं सर्वमेतत्तु भवेदेव न चान्यथा ॥ ८९ ॥ मच्छापस्य विमोक्षार्थं युष्माकं स्याद्यदीषणा । तर्हि सेव्यं सदा सर्वैर्गायत्रीपदपङ्कजम् ॥ ९० ॥ व्यास उवाच इति सर्वान्विसृज्याथ गौतमो मुनिसत्तमः । प्रारब्धामिति मत्वा तु चित्ते शान्तिं जगाम ह ॥ ९१ ॥ एतस्मात्कारणाद्राजन् गते कृष्णे तु धीमति । कलौ युगे प्रवृत्ते तु कुम्भीपाकात्तु निर्गताः ॥ ९२ ॥ भुवि जाता ब्राह्मणाश्च शापदग्धाः पुरा तु ये । सन्ध्यात्रयविहीनाश्च गायत्रीभक्तिवर्जिताः ॥ ९३ ॥ वेदभक्तिविहीनाश्च पाखण्डमतगामिनः । अग्निहोत्रादिसत्कर्मस्वधास्वाहाविवर्जिताः ॥ ९४ ॥ मूलप्रकृतिमव्यक्तां नैव जानन्ति कर्हिचित् । तप्तमुद्राङ्किताः केचित्कामाचाररताः परे ॥ ९५ ॥ कापालिकाः कौलिकाश्च बौद्धा जैनास्तथापरे । पण्डिता अपि ते सर्वे दुराचारप्रवर्तकाः ॥ ९६ ॥ लम्पटाः परदारेषु दुराचारपरायणाः । कुम्भीपाकं पुनः सर्वे यास्यन्ति निजकर्मभिः ॥ ९७ ॥ तस्मात्सर्वात्मना राजन् संसेव्या परमेश्वरी । न विष्णूपासना नित्या न शिवोपासना तथा ॥ ९८ ॥ नित्या चोपासना शक्तेर्यां विना तु पतत्यधः । सर्वमुक्तं समासेन यत्पृष्टं तत्त्वयानघ ॥ ९९ ॥ अतः परं मणिद्वीपवर्णनं शृणु सुन्दरम् । यत्परं स्थानमाद्याया भुवनेश्या भवारणेः ॥ १०० ॥ इति श्रीमद्देवीभागवते महापुराणेऽष्टादशसाहस्र्यां संहितायां द्वादशस्कन्धे ब्राह्मणादीनां गायत्रीभिन्नान्यदेवोपासनाश्रद्धाहेतुनिरूपणं नाम नवमोऽध्यायः ॥ ९ ॥
brāhmaṇādīnāṃ gāyatrībhinnānyadevopāsanāśraddhāhetunirūpaṇam vyāsa uvāca kadācidatha kāle tu daśapañcasamā vibho | prāṇināṃ karmavaśato na vavarṣa śatakratuḥ || 1 || anāvṛṣṭyātidurbhikṣamabhavatkṣayakārakam | gahe gṛhe śavānāṃ tu saṃkhyā kartuṃ na śakyate || 2 || kecidaśvānvarāhānvā bhakṣayanti kṣudhārditāḥ | śavāni ca manuṣyāṇāṃ bhakṣayantyapare janāḥ || 3 || bālakaṃ bālajananī striyaṃ puruṣa eva ca | bhakṣituṃ calitāḥ sarve kṣudhayā pīḍitā narāḥ || 4 || brāhmaṇā bahavastatra vicāraṃ cakruruttamam | tapodhano gautamo'sti sa naḥ khedaṃ hariṣyati || 5 || sarvairmilitvā gantavyaṃ gautamasyāśrame'dhunā | gāyatrījapasaṃsaktagautamasyāśrame'dhunā || 6 || subhikṣaṃ śrūyate tatra prāṇino bahavo gatāḥ | evaṃ vimṛśya bhūdevāḥ sāgnihotrāḥ kuṭumbinaḥ || 7 || sagodhanāḥ sadāsāśca gautamasyāśramaṃ yayuḥ | pūrvadeśādyayuḥ kecitkeciddakṣiṇadeśataḥ || 8 || pāścātyā auttarāhāśca nānādigbhyaḥ samāyayuḥ | dṛṣṭvā samājaṃ viprāṇāṃ praṇanāma sa gautamaḥ || 9 || āsanādyupacāraiśca pūjayāmāsa vāḍavān | cakāra kuśalapraśnaṃ tataścāgamakāraṇam || 10 || te sarve svasvavṛttāntaṃ kathayāmāsurutsmayāḥ | dṛṣṭvā tānduḥkhitānviprānabhayaṃ dattavānmuniḥ || 11 || yuṣmākametatsadanaṃ bhavaddāso'smi sarvathā | kā cintā bhavatāṃ viprā mayi dāse virājati || 12 || dhanyo'hamasminsamaye yūyaṃ sarve tapodhanāḥ | yeṣāṃ darśanamātreṇa duṣkṛtaṃ sukṛtāyate || 13 || te sarve pādarajasā pāvayanti gṛhaṃ mama | ko madanyo bhaveddhanyo bhavatāṃ samanugrahāt || 14 || stheyaṃ sarvaiḥ sukhenaiva sandhyājapaparāyaṇaiḥ | vyāsa uvāca iti sarvānmamāśvāsya gautamo munirāṭ tataḥ || 15 || gāyatrīṃ prārthayāmāsa bhaktisannatakandharaḥ | namo devi mahāvidye vedamātaḥ parātpare || 16 || vyāhṛtyādimahāmantrarūpe praṇavarūpiṇi | sāmyāvasthātmike mātarnamo hrīṃkārarūpiṇi || 17 || svāhāsvadhāsvarūpe tvāṃ namāmi sakalārthadām | bhaktakalpalatāṃ devīmavasthātrayasākṣiṇīm || 18 || turyātītasvarūpāṃ ca saccidānandarūpiṇīm | sarvavedāntasaṃvedyāṃ sūryamaṇḍalavāsinīm || 19 || prātarbālāṃ raktavarṇāṃ madhyāhne yuvatīṃ parām | sāyāhne kṛṣṇavarṇāṃ tāṃ vṛddhāṃ nityaṃ namāmyaham || 20 || sarvabhūtāraṇe devi kṣamasva parameśvari | iti stutā jaganmātā pratyakṣaṃ darśanaṃ dadau || 21 || pūrṇapātraṃ dadau tasmai yena syātsarvapoṣaṇam | uvāca munimambā sā yaṃ yaṃ kāmaṃ tvamicchasi || 22 || tasya pūrtikaraṃ pātraṃ mayā dattaṃ bhaviṣyati | ityuktvāntardadhe devī gāyatrī paramā kalā || 23 || annānāṃ rāśayastasmānirgatāḥ parvatopamāḥ | ṣaḍrasā vividhā rājaṃstṛṇāni vividhāni ca || 24 || bhūṣaṇāni ca divyāni kṣaumāni vasanāni ca | yajñānāṃ ca samārambhāḥ pātrāṇi vividhāni ca || 25 || yadyadiṣṭamabhūdrājan munestasya mahātmanaḥ | tatsarvaṃ nirgataṃ tasmādgāyatrīpūrṇapātrataḥ || 26 || athāhūya munīnsarvānmunirāḍ gautamastadā | dhanaṃ dhānyaṃ bhūṣaṇāni vasanāni dadau mudā || 27 || gomahiṣyādipaśavo nirgatāḥ pūrṇapātrataḥ | nirgatānyajñasambhārānsruksruvaprabhṛtīndadau || 28 || te sarve militā yajñāṃścakrire munivākyataḥ | sthānaṃ tadeva bhūyiṣṭhamabhavatsvargasannibham || 29 || yatkiñcit triṣu lokeṣu sundaraṃ vastu dṛśyate | tatsarvaṃ tatra niṣpannaṃ gāyatrīdattapātrataḥ || 30 || devāṅganāsamā dārāḥ śobhante bhūṣaṇādibhiḥ | munayo devasadṛśā vastracandanabhūṣaṇaiḥ || 31 || nityotsavaḥ pravavṛte munerāśramamaṇḍale | na rogādibhayaṃ kiñcinna ca daityabhayaṃ kvacit || 32 || sa munerāśramo jātaḥ samantācchatayojanaḥ | anye ca prāṇino ye'pi te'pi tatra samāgatāḥ || 33 || tāṃśca sarvānpupoṣāyaṃ dattvābhayamathātmavān | nānāvidhairmahāyajñairvidhivatkalpitaiḥ surāḥ || 34 || santoṣaṃ paramaṃ prāpurmuneścaiva jaguryaśaḥ | sabhāyāṃ vṛtrahā bhūyo jagau ślokaṃ mahāyaśāḥ || 35 || aho ayaṃ naḥ kila kalpapādapo manorathānpūrayati pratiṣṭhitaḥ | nocedakāṇḍe kva havirvapā vā sudurlabhā yatra tu jīvanāśā || 36 || itthaṃ dvādaśavarṣāṇi pupoṣa munipuṅgavān | putravanmunirāḍ garvagandhena parivarjitaḥ || 37 || gāyatryāḥ paramaṃ sthānaṃ cakāra munisattamaḥ | yatra sarvairmunivaraiḥ pūjyate jagadambikā || 38 || trikālaṃ parayā bhaktyā puraścaraṇakarmabhiḥ | adyāpi yatra devī sā prātarbālā tu dṛśyate || 39 || madhyāhne yuvatī vṛddhā sāyaṃkāle tu dṛśyate | tatraikadā samāyāto nārado munisattamaḥ || 40 || raṇayanmahatīṃ gāyangāyatryāḥ paramānguṇān | niṣasāda sabhāmadhye munīnāṃ bhāvitātmanām || 41 || gautamādibhiratyuccaiḥ pūjitaḥ śāntamānasaḥ | kathāścakāra vividhā yaśaso gautamasya ca || 42 || brahmarṣe devasadasi devarāṭ tava yadyaśaḥ | jagau bahuvidhaṃ svacchaṃ munipoṣaṇajaṃ param || 43 || śrutvā śacīpatervāṇīṃ tvāṃ draṣṭumahamāgataḥ | dhanyo'si tvaṃ muniśreṣṭha jagadambāprasādataḥ || 44 || ityuktvā munivaryaṃ taṃ gāyatrīsadanaṃ yayau | dadarśa jagadambāṃ tāṃ premotphullavilocanaḥ || 45 || tuṣṭāva vidhivaddevīṃ jagāma tridivaṃ punaḥ | atha tatra sthitā ye te brāhmaṇā munipoṣitāḥ || 46 || utkarṣaṃ tu muneḥ śrutvāsūyayā khedamāgatāḥ | yathāsya na yaśo bhūyātkartavyaṃ sarvathaiva hi || 47 || kāle samāgate paścāditi sarvaistu niścitam | tataḥ kālena kiyatāpyabhūdvṛṣṭirdharātale || 48 || subhikṣamabhavatsarvadeśeṣu nṛpasattama | śrutvā vārtāṃ subhikṣasya militāḥ sarvavāḍavāḥ || 49 || gautamaṃ śaptumudyogaṃ hā hā rājan pracakrire | dhanyau teṣāṃ ca pitarau yayorutpattirīdṛśī || 50 || kālasya mahimā rājan vaktuṃ kena hi śakyate | gaurnirmitā māyayaikā mumūrṣurjaratī nṛpa || 51 || jagāma sā ca śālāyāṃ homakāle munestadā | huṃhuṃśabdairvāritā sā prāṇāṃstatyāja tatkṣaṇe || 52 || gaurhatānena duṣṭenetyevaṃ te cukruśurdvijāḥ | homaṃ samāpya munirāṅ vismayaṃ paramaṃ gataḥ || 53 || samādhimīlitākṣaḥ saṃścintayāmāsa kāraṇam | kṛtaṃ sarvaṃ dvijairetaditi jñātvā tadaiva saḥ || 54 || dadhāra kopaṃ paramaṃ pralaye rudrakopavat | śaśāpa ca ṛṣīnsarvānkopasaṃraktalocanaḥ || 55 || vedamātari gāyatryāṃ taddhyāne tanmanorjape | bhavatānunmukhā yūyaṃ sarvathā brāhmaṇādhamāḥ || 56 || vede vedoktayajñeṣu tadvārtāsu tathaiva ca | bhavatānunmukhā yūyaṃ sarvadā brāhmaṇādhamāḥ || 57 || śive śivasya mantre ca śivaśāstre tathaiva ca | bhavatānunmukhā yūyaṃ sarvadā brāhmaṇādhamāḥ || 58 || mūlaprakṛtyāḥ śrīdevyāstaddhyāne tatkathāsu ca | bhavatānunmukhā yūyaṃ sarvadā brāhmaṇādhamāḥ || 59 || devīmantre tathā devyāḥ sthāne'nuṣṭhānakarmaṇi | bhavatānunmukhā yūyaṃ sarvadā brāhmaṇādhamāḥ || 60 || devyutsavadidṛkṣāyāṃ devīnāmānukīrtane | bhavatānunmukhā yūyaṃ sarvadā brāhmaṇādhamāḥ || 61 || devībhaktasya sānnidhye devībhaktārcane tathā | bhavatānunmukhā yūyaṃ sarvadā brāhmaṇādhamāḥ || 62 || śivotsavadidṛkṣāyāṃ śivabhaktasya pūjane | bhavatānunmukhā yūyaṃ sarvadā brāhmaṇādhamāḥ || 63 || rudrākṣaṃ bilvapatre ca tathā śuddhe ca bhasmani | bhavatānunmukhā yūyaṃ sarvadā brāhmaṇādhamāḥ || 64 || śrautasmārtasadācāre jñānamārge tathaiva ca | bhavatānunmukhā yūyaṃ sarvadā brāhmaṇādhamāḥ || 65 || advaitajñānaniṣṭhāyāṃ śāntidāntyādisādhane | bhavatānunmukhā yūyaṃ sarvadā brāhmaṇādhamāḥ || 66 || nityakarmādyanuṣṭhāne'pyagnihotrādisādhane | bhavatānunmukhā yūyaṃ sarvadā brāhmaṇādhamāḥ || 67 || svādhyāyādhyayane caiva tathā pravacane'pi ca | bhavatānunmukhā yūyaṃ sarvadā brāhmaṇādhamāḥ || 68 || godānādiṣu dāneṣu pitṛśrāddheṣu caiva hi | bhavatānunmukhā yūyaṃ sarvadā brāhmaṇādhamāḥ || 69 || kṛcchracāndrāyaṇe caiva prāyaścitte tathaiva ca | bhavatānunmukhā yūyaṃ sarvadā brāhmaṇādhamāḥ || 70 || śrīdevībhinnadeveṣu śraddhābhaktisamanvitāḥ | śaṅkhacakrādyaṅkitāśca bhavata brāhmaṇādhamāḥ || 71 || kāpālikamatāsaktā bauddhaśāstraratāḥ sadā | pākhaṇḍācāraniratā bhavata brāhmaṇādhamāḥ || 72 || pitṛmātṛsutābhrātṛkanyāvikrayiṇastathā | bhāryāvikayiṇastadvadbhavata brāhmaṇādhamāḥ || 73 || vedavikrayiṇastadvattīrthavikrayiṇastathā | dharmavikrayiṇastadvadbhavata brāhmaṇādhamāḥ || 74 || pāñcarātre kāmaśāstre tathā kāpālike mate | bauddhe śraddhāyutā yūyaṃ bhavata brāhmaṇādhamāḥ || 75 || mātṛkanyāgāminaśca bhaginīgāminastathā | parastrīlampaṭāḥ sarve bhavata brāhmaṇādhamāḥ || 76 || yuṣmākaṃ vaṃśajātāśca striyaśca puruṣāstathā | maddattaśāpadagdhāste bhaviṣyanti bhavatsamāḥ || 77 || kiṃ mayā bahunoktena mūlaprakṛtirīśvarī | gāyatrī paramā bhūyādyuṣmāsu khalu kopitā || 78 || andhakūpādikuṇḍeṣu yuṣmākaṃ syātsadā sthitiḥ | vyāsa uvāca vāgdaṇḍamīdṛśaṃ kṛtvāpyupaspṛśya jalaṃ tataḥ || 79 || jagāma darśanārthaṃ ca gāyatryāḥ paramostukaḥ | praṇanāma mahādevīṃ sāpi devī parātparā || 80 || brāhmaṇānāṃ kṛtiṃ dṛṣṭvā smayaṃ citte cakāra ha | adyāpi tasyā vadanaṃ smayayuktaṃ ca dṛśyate || 81 || uvāca munivaryaṃ taṃ smayamānamukhāmbujā | bhujaṅgāyārpitaṃ dugdhaṃ viṣāyaivopajāyate || 82 || śāntiṃ kuru mahābhāga karmaṇo gatirīdṛśī | iti devīṃ praṇamyātha tato'gātsvāśramaṃ prati || 83 || tato vipraiḥ śāpadagdhairvismṛtā vedarāśayaḥ | gāyatrī vismṛtā sarvaistadadbhutamivābhavat || 84 || te sarve'tha militvā tu paścāttāpayutāstathā | praṇemurmunivaryaṃ taṃ daṇḍavatpatitā bhuvi || 85 || nocuḥ kiñcana vākyaṃ tu lajjayādhomukhāḥ sthitāḥ | prasīdeti prasīdeti prasīdeti punaḥ punaḥ || 86 || prārthayāmāsurabhitaḥ parivārya munīśvaram | karuṇāpūrṇahṛdayo munistānsamuvāca ha || 87 || kṛṣṇāvatāraparyantaṃ kumbhīpāke bhavetsthitiḥ | na me vākyaṃ mṛṣā bhūyāditi jānītha sarvathā || 88 || tataḥ paraṃ kaliyuge bhuvi janma bhaveddhi vām | maduktaṃ sarvametattu bhavedeva na cānyathā || 89 || macchāpasya vimokṣārthaṃ yuṣmākaṃ syādyadīṣaṇā | tarhi sevyaṃ sadā sarvairgāyatrīpadapaṅkajam || 90 || vyāsa uvāca iti sarvānvisṛjyātha gautamo munisattamaḥ | prārabdhāmiti matvā tu citte śāntiṃ jagāma ha || 91 || etasmātkāraṇādrājan gate kṛṣṇe tu dhīmati | kalau yuge pravṛtte tu kumbhīpākāttu nirgatāḥ || 92 || bhuvi jātā brāhmaṇāśca śāpadagdhāḥ purā tu ye | sandhyātrayavihīnāśca gāyatrībhaktivarjitāḥ || 93 || vedabhaktivihīnāśca pākhaṇḍamatagāminaḥ | agnihotrādisatkarmasvadhāsvāhāvivarjitāḥ || 94 || mūlaprakṛtimavyaktāṃ naiva jānanti karhicit | taptamudrāṅkitāḥ kecitkāmācāraratāḥ pare || 95 || kāpālikāḥ kaulikāśca bauddhā jaināstathāpare | paṇḍitā api te sarve durācārapravartakāḥ || 96 || lampaṭāḥ paradāreṣu durācāraparāyaṇāḥ | kumbhīpākaṃ punaḥ sarve yāsyanti nijakarmabhiḥ || 97 || tasmātsarvātmanā rājan saṃsevyā parameśvarī | na viṣṇūpāsanā nityā na śivopāsanā tathā || 98 || nityā copāsanā śakteryāṃ vinā tu patatyadhaḥ | sarvamuktaṃ samāsena yatpṛṣṭaṃ tattvayānagha || 99 || ataḥ paraṃ maṇidvīpavarṇanaṃ śṛṇu sundaram | yatparaṃ sthānamādyāyā bhuvaneśyā bhavāraṇeḥ || 100 || iti śrīmaddevībhāgavate mahāpurāṇe'ṣṭādaśasāhasryāṃ saṃhitāyāṃ dvādaśaskandhe brāhmaṇādīnāṃ gāyatrībhinnānyadevopāsanāśraddhāhetunirūpaṇaṃ nāma navamo'dhyāyaḥ || 9 ||
English translation
1-20. Vyasa said O King Janamejaya! Once on a time, on account of an evil turn of Fate (Karma) of the human beings, Indra did not rain on this earth for fifteen years. Owing to want of rain, the famine appeared horribly; and almost all the beings lost their lives. No one could count in every house the number of the dead persons. Out of hunger the people began to eat horses; some began to eat bears and pigs, some began to eat the dead bodies while some others carried on any how their lives. The people were so much distressed with hunger that the mother did not refrain from eating her baby child and the husband did not refrain from eating his wife. O King! The Brahmanas then united and after due discussion, came to the conclusion that they would go to the hermit Gautama who would be able to remove their distress. So all of them wanted to go quickly to the hermitage of the Muni Gautama. They began to say “We hear that there is no famine in the hermitage of Gautama. Various persons are running there from various quarters.” Thus coming to a conclusion, the Brahmanas went to the Gautama’s As’rama with their cows, servants and relations. Some went from the east; some from the south; some from the west, and some from the north. Thus from various quarters the people flocked there. Seeing the Brahmanas coming there, the Risi Gautama bowed down to them and gave them a cordial welcome and served them with seats, etc. When all took their seats and became calm and quiet, Gautama enquired about their welfare and the cause of their arrival. They described everything about the dire famine and their own states and expressed their deep regret. Seeing them very much distressed, the Muni gave them word not to have any fear; he said “I am today become blessed by the arrival of the great ascetics and honourable persons like you. I am your servant. You consider all my houses as yours. Be quite comfortable. Bear no uneasiness. When your servant is alive, what fear do your entertain and whom do you fear? When
the demerits are transformed into good merits by your mere sight, and when you have blessed my house with the dust of your holy feet, then who is more blessed than me? O Vipras! Kindly perform your Sandhyas, and Japams and rest here at ease.” Vyasa said O King Janamejaya! Thus consoling the Brahmanas, the Risi Gautama began to worship the Gayatri Devi with rapt devotional trance. “O Devi Gayatri! Obeisance to Thee! Thou art the Great Vidya, the Mother of the Vedas, Higher than the Highest; Thou art Vyarhiti represented by the Mantra ‘Om Bhur Bhuvah Svah,’ O Mother! Thou art the state of equilibrium, i.e., the Turiya; Thou art of of the Form of Hrim; Thou art Svaha and Svadha; Thou grantest the desires of the Bhaktas. Thou art the Witness of the three states, Jagrat (waking), Svapna (dreaming) and Susupti (deep sleep). Thou art the Turiya and Sachchidananda Brahma. O Devi! Thou resident in the Solar Orb and appearest as a ruddy girl in the morning, an youthful maiden at noon and a black old woman in the evening. O Devi! Obeisance to Thee! Now shew favour on us at this severe famine time when all the beings are well nigh on the way to destruction.”
21-40. Thus praised and worshipped, the World-Mother appeared and gave to the Risi one vessel (cup) full to the brim by which every one can he fed and nourished. The Mother told the Muni “This full vessel, given by me to you will yield whatever you wish.” Thus saying, the Devi Gayatri, Higher than the Highest, vanished. Then, according to the wish of the Muni, came out from that cup, mountains of cooked rice, various curries and sweetmeats, lots of grass and fodder, silken clothings, various ornaments and various articles and vessels for sacrificial purposes. In fact whatever the Muni Gautama wished, that came out of the brimful cup, given by the Devi Gayatri. Then the Muni Gautama called the other Munis that came there and gave them wealth, grains, clothing, ornament, and the sacrificial ladles and spoons and cows and buffaloes for the sacrificial purposes. The Munis then assembled and performed various yajhas. The place all round, then flourished and became so
much prosperous that it looked like a second heaven. In fact whatever fair and beautiful there exist in the Trilokas, all came from the brimful cup given by the Devi Gayatri. At this time the Munis, with sandalpaste all over on their bodies, and decorated with very bright ornaments looked like the gods and their wives looked like goddesses. Daily utsabs began to be held in in the As’rama of Gautama. Nowhere were seen any diseases or dacoities and there was no fear from any such things. Gradually the As’rama’s boundary extended to one hundred Yojanas (4 hundred miles). Hearing this greatness of Gautama, many persons came there from various quarters. And the Muni Gautama, too, gave them words, “cast away fear” and fed them. The Devas, on the other hand, became very much satisfied by the various Yajhas and extolled the Muni’s greatness. So much so, that the famous Indra, the Lord of the Devas, came in the midst of the assembly and extolled his greatness, thus “This Gautama has fulfilled all our wishes and has verily become a Kalpa Vriksa (celestial tree yielding all desires). If this man had not done such things, in this hard famine time, we would not have got the Havih offered in sacrifices and the prospect of our lives would have been at stake.” O King Janamejaya! Thus the Muni Gautama fed and nourished for twelve years all the Munis, like his sons and that place came to be recognised as the chief centre (the Head Quarters) of the Gayatri Devi. Even today, all the Munis perform with devotion the Purasacharanams and worship thrice the Bhagavati Gayatri Devi. Even today the Devi is there seen as a girl in the morning, as a youthful maiden at noon, as an old woman in the evening. Then, once on a time, Narada, of best conduct, came there playing on his great lute and singing in tune the highest glories of Gayatri and took his seat in the assembly of the Munis.
41-62. Seeing the tranquil hearted Narada coming there, Gautama and the other Munis received him duly and worshipped him with the Padya and Arghya. In course of conversation he began to describe the glories of Gautama and said “O Best of Munis! I have heard
from the mouth of Indra, in the assembly of the Devas, your glories as to your supporting and feeding the pure-hearted Munis and I have come to see you. By the Grace of S’ri Bhagavati Gayatri Devi, you have now become blessed. There is no doubt in this.” Thus saying, the Devarsi Narada entered into the temple of the Devi Gayatri and with eyes gladdened by love, saw the Devi there and offered due hymns in praise of Her and then ascended to the Heavens. Here, on the other hand, the Brahmanas that were fed by Gautama, became jealous at so much honour offered to Gautama and tried their best so that no further honour be paid to him. They further settled not to stay any longer in his As’rama, when the next good harvest season comes. (Thus his glories will wane). O King! Some days passed when good rains fell and there was an abundance of crops everywhere and the famine ended. Hearing this, all the Brahmins united, Alas! O King! to curse the Gautama. Oh! Their fathers and mothers are blessed in whom do not arise such feelings of jealousy! This all is the wonderful play of the powerful Time; it cannot be expressed by any person. O King! These Brahmins created, by Maya, an aged cow, who was to die and pushed her in the sacrificial hall of the Muni Gautama at the time of the Homa ceremony. Seeing that cow entering into the enclosure where the Homa was being performed, Gautama cried out “Hoorn Hoorn” when the cow fell there and died. And the other Brahmanas instantly cried out “Look! Look! The wicked Gautama has killed the cow.” Seeing this inconceivable event, Gautama was greatly nonplussed and, completing his Homa ceremony, entered into Samadhi and began to think the cause of it. Then, coming to know that this has been concocted by the Maya of the Brahmins, he became angry like Rudra at the time of dissolution; his eyes were reddened and he cursed the Risis, thus Oh vile Brahmins! When you are ready to cause mischief to me unjustly then let you be averse to meditate and do the japam of the Devi Gayatri, the Mother of the Vedas. For your this act, never you will be eager to perform any Vedic sacrificial acts or any action concerning thereof. There is no doubt in this. You will be always averse to the mantra of S’iva or the Tantra of S’iva. You will be always averse to Mula Prakrit! S’ri Devi, to Her Dhyanam, mantra, to any conversation regarding
Her; to the visiting of Her place or Temple, to do worship and other ceremonies to Her, to see the Grand Festivals of the Devi, to singing the names and glories of the Devi, to sit before the Devi and to adore Her.
63-81. O vile Brahmanas! You will be always averse to see the festivals of S’iva, to worship S’iva, to Rudraksa, to the Bel leaves, and to the holy Bhasma (ashes). You will be wholly indifferent to practise the right ways of living as presented in the Vedas and Smritis, to preserve your conduct good and to observe the path of knowledge to Advaita Jhanam, to practise restraint of senses and continence, to the daily practices of Sandhya Bandanam, to performing the Agnihotra ceremonies, to the study of the Vedas according to one’s own S’akha or to the daily studies thereof as to teach those things or to give, as gifts, cows, etc., or to perform the S’raddhas of the fathers, etc., or to perform Krichchra Chandrayana and other penances. O Vile Brahmanas! As you are ready to do these mean things, you will have to suffer for this that you will desist from worshipping the Most Adorable S’ri Bhagavati Devi and that you will worship the other Devas with faith and devotion and hold on your bodies S’amkha, Chakra and other signs. You will follow the Kapalikas, Bauddha S’astras and other heretics. You will sell your father, mother, brothers, sisters, sons and daughters and even your wives tool
You will sell the Vedas, Tirthas, and your Dharma. You will not feel ashamed in any way to sell all these. You will certainly have faith in Kapalika and Bauddha opinions, Pahcharatras and Kama S’astras.
O vile Brahmanas! You will not hesitate to go to your mother, daughters or sisters and you will always be licentious with others’ wives and spend your time in that. This is not to you only but to the women and men, all that will come in your families. Let the Gayatri Devi be always indignant with you and let you all go in the end to the
Andha Kupa hells, etc. Vyasa said O Janamejaya! Thus taking the water symbolising the true rules and laws of creation, and cursing the Brahmanas, the Muni Gautama went hastily to see the Gayatri Devi and, on arriving at the temple there bowed down to Her. The Devi, too, became surprised to see their actions. O King! Even to day Her Lotus Face looks similarly astonished!
82-90. Then the Gayatri Devi told Gautama with amazement“O Gautama! The venom of the snake does not become less if you feed the serpents with milk; so never mind all these things; the Karmas take their peculiar turns; it is hard to say when will happen what things. Now be peaceful. Do not be sorry.” Hearing these words of the Devi, Gautama bowed down to Her and went thence to his own As’rama. Here, on the other hand, the Brahmanas forgot everything due to the curse of Gautama, of the Vedas and the Gayatri Mantra. They then began to look at this event with wonder as unique and extraordinary. All united they afterwards repented and going before Gautama, fell prostrate at his feet. But they could not speak any word out of shame. Only they said frequently “Be pleased, be pleased with us.” When all the assembly of the Brahmanas prayed to him for favour and grace, the Muni Gautama took pity on them and replied. My word will never turn out false. You will have to remain in Kumbhipaka hell upto the time when S’ri Krisna will take his incarnation. Then you will be born in the earth in the Kali age and whatever I have uttered will exactly come unto you. And if you are in earnest to avert my curse then go and worship the Lotus Feet of S’ri Gayatri Devi. The is no other remedy.
91-100. Vyasa said Thus dismissing the Brahmanas, Gautama Muni thought that all these occurred as a result of Prarabdha Karma and he became calm and quiet. For this reason, after S’ri Krisna Maharaja ascended to the Heavens, when the Kali age came, those cursed Brahmanas got out of the Kumbhipaka hell and took their
births in this earth as Brahmins, devoid of the three Sandhyas, devoid of the devotion to Gayatri, devoid of faith in the Vedas, advocating the heretics’ opinion and unwilling to perform Agnihotra and other religious sacrifices and duties and they were devoid of Svadha and Svaha. They forgot entirely the Unmanifested Mula Prakriti Bhagavati. Some of them began to mark on their bodies various heretical signs, e.g., Taptamudra, etc.; some became Kapalikas; some became Kaulas; some Bauddhas and some Jainas. Many of them, though learned, became lewd and addicted to other’s wives and engaged themselves in vain and bad disputations. For these, they will have to go again surely to the Kumbhipaka hell. So O King! Worship with your heart and soul S’ri Bhagavati Parames’vari Devi. The worship of Visnu or S’iva is not constant (to be done everyday); only the worship of S’akti is to be constantly performed. For this reason whoever does not worship S’akti is sure to fall. Thus I have answered all your questions. Now I shall describe the highest and most beautiful place, Manidvipa of the Primal Force Bhagavati, the Deliverer from this bondage of world. Listen.
Here ends the Ninth Chapter of the Twelfth Book on the cause of S’raddha in other Devas than the Devi Gayatri in the Mahapuranam S’ri Mad Devi Bhagavatam of 18,000 verses by Maharsi Veda Vyasa.
Complete chapter-aligned witnesses. Sanskrit Wikisource page 31984, revision 84741 (2016-10-10T09:18:34Z). 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/bk12ch09.htm. Historic spelling and transliteration are lightly normalized; no verse-by-verse alignment is asserted.