Devi Mahatmyam (Durga Saptashati)

एवमेष तथाहं च द्वावप्यत्यन्तदुः खितौ । दृष्टदोषे ऽपि विषये ममत्वाकृष्टमानसौ

In this way, both he and I are deeply afflicted; though we see the faults in these objects, our minds are still drawn by attachment.

तत्किमेतन्महाभाग यन्मोहो ज्ञानिनोरपि । ममास्य च भवत्येषा विवेकान्धस्य मूढता

O greatly fortunate one, what is this delusion that arises even for the wise? Why does this bewilderment of discernment, this folly, occur to me and to him?

ज्ञानमस्ति समस्तस्य जन्तोर्विषयगोचरे । विषयश्च महाभाग याति चैवं पृथक् पृथक्

All beings possess knowledge regarding objects, O greatly fortunate one, and yet, the objects themselves appear to each being in different ways.

दिवान्धाः प्राणिनः केचिद्रात्रावन्धास्तथापरे । केचिद् दिवा तथा रात्रौ प्राणिनस्तुल्यदृष्टयः

Some living beings are blind by day, others are blind by night; and some, both by day and by night, perceive equally.

ज्ञानिनो मनुजाः सत्यं किन्तु ते न हि केवलम् । यतो हि ज्ञानिनः सर्वे पशु-पक्षि-मृगादयः

It is true that humans are knowledgeable, but they are not unique in this; for indeed, all creatures—cattle, birds, wild animals, and others—possess knowledge.

ज्ञानं च तन्मनुष्याणां यत्तेषां मृगृपक्षिणाम् । मनुष्याणां च यत्तेषां तुल्यमन्यत्तथोभयोः

The knowledge that humans possess, and that which belongs to animals and birds—whatever is similar between humans and them, and whatever is distinct, is likewise found in both.

ज्ञाने ऽपि सति पश्यैतान् पतङ्गाञ्छावचञ्चुषु । कणमोक्षादृतान् मोहात्पीड्यमानानपि क्षुधा

Even though knowledge exists, look at these moths, drawn to the flames, who, out of delusion, pursue the fire for its taste, and, though tormented by hunger, are destroyed.

मानुषा मनुजव्याघ्र साभिलाषाः सुतान् प्रति । लोभात्प्रत्युपकाराय नन्वेतान् किं न पश्यसि

Humans, like tigers among men, are attached to their children with desire; out of greed, they seek reciprocation—do you not see this in them as well?

तथापि ममतावर्ते मोहगर्ते निपातिताः । महामायाप्रभावेण संसारस्थितिकारिणा

Yet, caught in the whirlpool of attachment and cast into the pit of delusion by the power of the great Māyā, which sustains the world, they remain thus.

तन्नात्र विस्मयः कार्यो योगनिद्रा जगत्पतेः । महामाया हरेश्चैतत्तथा संमोह्यते जगत्

Therefore, there is no cause for astonishment here; by the Yoga-nidrā of the Lord of the universe, by the great Māyā of Hari, the world is thus deluded.

ज्ञानिनामपि चेतांसि देवी भगवती हि सा । बलादाकृष्य मोहाय महामाया प्रयच्छति

Even the minds of the wise, O Devi, are forcibly drawn by that Blessed Goddess; the great Māyā bestows delusion upon them.

तया विसृज्यते विश्वं जगदेतच्चराचरम् । सैषा प्रसन्ना वरदा नृणां भवति मुक्तये

By her, this entire universe, both animate and inanimate, is brought forth; when she is gracious, she grants boons and becomes the means of liberation for people.

सा विद्या परमा मुक्तेर्हेतुभूता सनातनी । संसारबन्धहेतुश्च सैव सर्वेश्वरेश्वरी

She is the supreme knowledge, eternal, the cause of liberation; and she herself is also the cause of bondage in worldly existence, the sovereign of all sovereigns.

भगवन् ! का हि सा देवी महामायेति यां भवान् । ब्रवीति कथमुत्पन्ना सा कर्मास्याश्च किं द्विज

O revered one! Who is that goddess whom you call Mahāmāyā? How did she arise, and what are her deeds, O twice-born?

यत्स्वभावा च सा देवी यत्स्वरूपा यदुद्भवा । तत् सर्वं श्रोतुमिच्छामि त्वत्तो ब्रह्मविदां वर

What is the nature of that goddess, what is her essence, and from where did she originate? I wish to hear all this from you, foremost among knowers of Brahman.

नित्यैव सा जगन्मूर्तिस्तया सर्वमिदं ततम् । तथापि तत्समुत्पत्तिर्बहुधा श्रुयतां मम

She is eternally the embodiment of the universe, and by her, all this is pervaded; yet, her origin is recounted in many ways—listen to it from me.

देवानां कार्यसिद्ध्यर्थमाविर्भवति सा यदा । उत्पन्नेति तदा लोके सा नित्याप्यभिधीयते

Whenever it is necessary for the accomplishment of the gods’ purposes, she manifests; though eternal, she is said to be born in the world at such times.

योगनिद्रां यदा विष्णुर्जगत्येकार्णवीकृते । आस्तीर्य शेषमभजत् कल्पान्ते भगवान् प्रभुः

When, at the end of the cosmic cycle, the Lord Viṣṇu, having spread out the serpent Śeṣa, reclined in yogic slumber upon the single ocean that was the world,

तदा द्वावसुरौ घोरौ विख्यातौ मधुकैटभौ । विष्णुकर्णमलोद्भूतौ हन्तुं ब्रह्माणमुद्यतौ

Then, two terrible demons, renowned as Madhu and Kaiṭabha, born from the earwax of Viṣṇu, rose up, intent on killing Brahmā.

स नाभिकमले विष्णोः स्थितो ब्रह्मा प्रजापतिः । दृष्ट्वा तावसुरौ चोग्रौ प्रसुप्तं च जनार्दनम्

Brahmā, the lord of creatures, seated in the lotus arising from Viṣṇu’s navel, saw those fierce demons and Viṣṇu himself deep in sleep.

तुष्टाव योगनिद्रां तामेकाग्रहृदयस्थितः । विबोधनार्थाय हरेर्हरिनेत्रकृतालयाम्

With focused mind, he praised that Yogic Sleep, who dwelt in the eyes of Hari, in order to awaken Hari.

विश्वेश्वरीं जगद्धात्रीं स्थिति-संहारकारिणीम् । निद्रां भगवतीं विष्णोरतुलां तेजसः प्रभुः

He praised the Lady of the Universe, the Sustainer of the world, the one who brings about creation and destruction, the divine Sleep of Viṣṇu, the incomparable power of the Lord.

त्वं स्वाहा त्वं स्वधा त्वं हि वषट्कारः स्वरात्मिका । सुधा त्वमक्षरे नित्ये त्रिधा मात्रात्मिका स्थिता

You are Svāhā, you are Svadhā, you indeed are the Vaṣaṭ call, the essence of sound; you are the immortal nectar, O imperishable and eternal one, established as the threefold measure of speech.

अर्धमात्रा स्थिता नित्या यानुच्चार्या विशेषतः । त्वमेव सन्ध्या सावित्री त्वं देवि जननी परा

You are the eternal, unuttered half-syllable, especially beyond articulation; you alone are the twilight, the Savitri hymn, and you, O Goddess, are the supreme Mother.

त्वयैव धार्यते सर्वं त्वयैतत्सृज्यते जगत् । त्वयैतत्पाल्यते देवि त्वमत्स्यन्ते च सर्वदा

By you alone is all this sustained; by you this universe is created; by you, O Goddess, this is protected, and you always bring about its dissolution.

विसृष्टौ सृष्टिरूपा त्वं स्थितिरूपा च पालने । तथा संहृतिरूपान्ते जगतो ऽस्य जगन्मये

At creation you are the form of creation, in preservation you are the form of sustenance; likewise, at the end you are the form of dissolution of this universe, O embodiment of the world.

महाविद्या महामाया महामेधा महास्मृतिः । महामोहा च भवती महादेवी महेश्वरी

You are the great knowledge, the great illusion, the great wisdom, the great memory; you are also the great delusion, the great Goddess, the supreme Lady.

प्रकृतिस्त्वञ्च सर्वस्य गुणत्रयविभाविनी । कालरात्रिर्महारात्रिर्मोहरात्रिश्च दारुणा

You are the primal nature of all, manifesting the three qualities; you are the night of time, the great night, and the dreadful night of delusion.

त्वं श्रीस्त्वमीश्वरी त्वं ह्रीस्त्वं बुद्धिर्बोधलक्षणा । लज्जा पुष्टिस्तथा तुष्टिस्त्वं शान्तिः क्षान्तिरेव च

You are prosperity, you are sovereignty, you are modesty, you are intelligence marked by understanding; you are bashfulness, nourishment, contentment, peace, and indeed forbearance.