एतादृशं महारूपं ददृशुः सुरपुङ्गवाः । ज्वालामालासहस्राढ्यं लेलिहानं च जिह्वया
Such a vast form, adorned with thousands of garlands of flames, licking with her tongue, was seen by the foremost of the gods.
दंष्ट्राकटकटारावं वमन्तं वह्निमक्षिभिः । नानायुधधरं वीरं ब्रह्मक्षत्रौदनं च यत्
Emitting a clattering sound with her fangs, vomiting fire from her eyes, bearing various weapons, heroic, and consuming Brahmins, Kshatriyas, and others.
सहस्रशीर्षनयनं सहस्रचरणं तथा । कोटिसूर्यप्रतीकाशं विद्युत्कोटिसमप्रभम्
With a thousand heads and eyes, and likewise a thousand feet, shining like ten million suns, and blazing like ten million lightning bolts.
भयङ्करं महाघोरं हृदक्ष्णोस्त्रासकारकम् । ददृशुस्ते सुराः सर्वे हाहाकारं च चक्रिरे
Terrifying, exceedingly dreadful, causing fear to the hearts and eyes, all the gods saw her and cried out in distress.
विकम्पमानहृदया मूर्च्छामापुर्दुरत्ययाम् । स्मरणं च गतं तेषां जगदम्बेयमित्यपि
Their hearts trembling, they fell into an unbearable swoon, and even the thought, 'She is the World-Mother,' left them.
अथ ते ये स्थिता वेदाश्चतुर्दिक्षु महाविभोः । बोधयामासुरत्युग्रं मूर्छातो मूर्च्छितान्सुरान्
Then those Vedas, stationed in all directions of the Great Lord, awakened the gods who had fainted from that intense swoon.
अथ ते धैर्यमालम्ब्य लब्ध्वा च श्रुतिमुत्तमाम् । प्रेमाश्रुपूर्णनयना रुद्धकण्ठास्तु निर्जराः
Then, gathering their courage and having received the highest revelation, the immortals, their eyes filled with tears of love and their throats choked with emotion,
बाष्पगद्गदया वाचा स्तोतुं समुपचक्रिरे । देवा ऊचुः अपराधं क्षमस्वाम्ब पाहि दीनांस्त्वदुद्भवान्
began to praise with voices broken by sobs. The gods said: Forgive our offenses, O Mother, protect us who are helpless and born from you.
कोपं संहर देवेशि सभया रूपदर्शनात् । का ते स्तुतिः प्रकर्तव्या पामरैर्निर्जरैरिह
Withdraw your anger, O Goddess of the gods, for we are fearful at the sight of your form. What praise can be offered here by us, mere immortals of little merit?
स्वस्याप्यज्ञेय एवासौ यावान्यश्च स्वविक्रमः । तदर्वाग्जायमानानां कथं स विषयो भवेत्
Even your own power is unknowable to yourself, and so to others as well; how can that be grasped by those born after you, limited in speech and understanding?
नमस्ते भुवनेशानि नमस्ते प्रणवात्मिके । सर्ववेदान्तसंसिद्धे नमो ह्रीङ्कारमूर्तये
Salutations to you, O Ruler of the worlds; salutations to you, embodiment of the sacred syllable Om; salutations to you, perfected through all Vedanta; salutations to you, whose form is Hrīṃ.
यस्मादग्निः समुत्पन्नो यस्मात्सूर्यश्च चन्द्रमाः । यस्मादोषधयः सर्वास्तस्मै सर्वात्मने नमः
From whom fire arises, from whom the sun and moon come forth, from whom all plants are born—to that One who is the Self of all, salutations.
यस्माच्च देवाः सम्भूताः साध्याः पक्षिण एव च । पशवश्च मनुष्याश्च तस्मै सर्वात्मने नमः
From whom the gods, the Sādhyas, the birds, the beasts, and humans have arisen—to that One who is the Self of all, salutations.
प्राणापानौ व्रीहियवौ तपः श्रद्धा ऋतं तथा । ब्रह्मचर्यं विधिश्चैव यस्मात्तस्मै नमो नमः
From whom prāṇa and apāna, rice and barley, austerity, faith, truth, celibacy, and ritual arise—to that One, repeated salutations.
सप्त प्राणार्चिषो यस्मात्समिधः सप्त एव च । होमाः सप्त तथा लोकास्तस्मै सर्वात्मने नमः
From whom the seven flames of life, the seven kinds of fuel, the seven offerings, and the seven worlds arise—to that One who is the Self of all, salutations.
यस्मात्समुद्रा गिरयः सिन्धवः प्रचरन्ति च । यस्मादोषधयः सर्वा रसास्तस्मै नमो नमः
From whom the oceans, mountains, rivers flow forth, from whom all plants and their essences arise—to that One, repeated salutations.
यस्माद्यज्ञः समुद्भूतो दीक्षा यूपश्च दक्षिणाः । ऋचो यजूंषि सामानि तस्मै सर्वात्मने नमः
From whom sacrifice is born, initiation, the sacrificial post, and gifts; from whom the Ṛg, Yajur, and Sāma hymns arise—to that One who is the Self of all, salutations.
नमः पुरस्तात्पृष्ठे च नमस्ते पार्श्वयोर्द्वयोः । अध ऊर्ध्वं चतुर्दिक्षु मातर्भूयो नमो नमः
Salutations to you in front and behind, salutations to you on both sides; below, above, and in all four directions, O Mother, again and again, salutations.
उपसंहर देवेशि रूपमेतदलौकिकम् । तदेव दर्शयास्माकं रूपं सुन्दरसुन्दरम्
Withdraw this extraordinary form, O Goddess of the gods; show us instead that most beautiful and pleasing form.
व्यास उवाच इति भीतान्सुरान्दृष्ट्वा जगदम्बा कृपार्णवा । संहृत्य रूपं घोरं तद्दर्शयामास सुन्दरम्
Vyāsa said: Seeing the gods terrified, the Mother of the world, ocean of compassion, withdrew that terrible form and revealed a beautiful one.
पाशाङ्कुशवराभीतिधरं सर्वाङ्गकोमलम् । करुणापूर्णनयनं मन्दस्मितमुखाम्बुजम्
She held a noose, goad, boon, and gesture of fearlessness, her entire body soft, her eyes full of compassion, her lotus face adorned with a gentle smile.
दृष्ट्वा तत्सुन्दरं रूपं तदा भीतिविवर्जिताः । शान्तचित्ताः प्रणेमुस्ते हर्षगद्गदनिःस्वनाः
Beholding that beautiful form, they were freed from fear, their minds became peaceful, and they bowed down, their voices trembling with joy.
श्रीदेवीविराड्रूपदर्शनसहितं देवकृततत्स्तववर्णनम् श्री देव्युवाच क्व यूयं मन्दभाग्या वै क्वेदं रूपं महाद्भुतम् । तथापि भक्तवात्सल्यादीदृशं दर्शितं मया
The vision of the Divine Mother's cosmic form and the praise sung by the gods.
न वेदाध्ययनैर्योगैर्न दानैस्तपसेज्यया । रूपं द्रष्टुमिदं शक्यं केवलं मत्कृपां विना
Śrī Devī said: Where are you, so unfortunate, and where is this wondrous form? Yet, out of affection for my devotees, I have shown you this form.
प्रकृतं शृणु राजेन्द्र परमात्मात्र जीवताम् । उपाधियोगात्सम्प्राप्तः कर्तृत्वादिकमप्युत
O King, listen: the Supreme Self alone exists in all beings; due to association with limiting adjuncts, it appears as doer and so forth.
क्रियाः करोति विविधा धर्माधर्मैकहेतवः । नाना योनीस्ततः प्राप्य सुखदुःखैश्च युज्यते
It performs various actions, which are the sole causes of righteousness and unrighteousness; then, attaining various wombs, it experiences pleasure and pain.
पुनस्तत्संस्कृतिवशान्नानाकर्मरतः सदा । नानादेहान्समाप्नोति सुखदुःखैश्च युज्यते
Again, under the influence of those impressions, it is always engaged in various actions, attains different bodies, and is joined with pleasure and pain.
घटीयन्त्रवदेतस्य न विरामः कदापि हि । अज्ञानमेव मूलं स्यात्ततः कामः क्रियास्ततः
Like a water-clock mechanism, there is never any cessation for it; ignorance alone is the root, from which desire arises, and from that, action.
तस्मादज्ञाननाशाय यतेत नियतं नरः । एतद्धि जन्मसाफल्यं यदज्ञानस्य नाशनम्
Therefore, a person should constantly strive for the destruction of ignorance; for the true fulfillment of birth is the eradication of ignorance.
पुरुषार्थसमाप्तिश्च जीवन्मुक्तदशापि च । अज्ञाननाशने शक्ता विद्यैव तु पटीयसी
The attainment of all human goals and the state of liberation while living are possible only through the destruction of ignorance, and knowledge alone is truly powerful for this.