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Mantra · The gods' Ya Devi hymn; Kaushiki leaves Parvati and answers Shumbha's envoy with a vow

Durga Saptashati Chapter 5

पुरा शुम्भनिशुम्भाभ्यामसुराभ्यां शचीपतेः । त्रैलोक्यं यज्ञभागाश्च हृता मदबलाश्रयात् ॥

In Devanagari, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam and English — with the meaning of every word, and the one syllable most people pronounce wrongly.

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What the Durga Saptashati Chapter 5 is

Durga Saptashati Chapter 5, called Devi Duta Samvada in its colophon, the Goddess's dialogue with the messenger, opens the last and longest episode of the Devi Mahatmya, the one given to Mahasaraswati; her meditation verse stands at its head. The scene is set in verses 2 to 7: the demon brothers Shumbha and Nishumbha have taken Indra's three worlds and the offices of the Sun, Moon, Kubera, Yama, Varuna, Wind and Fire. Verse 5 has the outcast gods call to mind the Goddess as aparajita, the unconquered, which is why their hymn is also known as the Aparajita Stuti; verse 6 recalls the promise she made them at the end of chapter 4. On the Himalaya they praise her in verses 9 to 82. Verses 9 to 13 salute her by name, as Prakriti, Gauri, Durga, Nairriti and Sharvani, as most gentle and most fierce at once. Verses 14 to 80 are the 'ya devi sarvabhuteshu' litany, and verses 81 and 82 close it with a prayer to her as the Sovereign who ends misfortune the moment she is remembered. The rest of the chapter turns to story: Kaushiki's appearance in verses 84 to 88, the report of Chanda and Munda in verses 89 to 100, and Shumbha's messenger in verses 102 to 129.

Kaushiki, the loot list and the envoy's errand

While the gods are still praising her, Parvati comes there to bathe in the Ganga and asks whom they are singing to (verses 84 and 85). The answer comes from inside her: a Goddess steps out of the sheath of her body and says the hymn is hers, offered by gods whom Shumbha drove out and Nishumbha beat in battle. Because she came from Parvati's kosha, the text explains in verse 87, she is sung of as Kaushiki; Parvati, emptied of her, turns dark and is known as Kalika, living on the Himalaya. Two of Shumbha's servants, Chanda and Munda, see Kaushiki and hurry to their king. Their speech in verses 90 to 100 is an inventory of everything the brothers have seized: Indra's elephant Airavata, the Parijata tree and the horse Uchchaihshravas, Brahma's swan-drawn car, Kubera's treasure Mahapadma, a garland of never-fading lotuses from the ocean, Varuna's umbrella that showers gold and his noose, Prajapati's chariot, the spear Utkrantida taken from Death, and two garments cleansed by Fire. Every jewel of the three worlds is theirs, they say, except this jewel among women. Shumbha sends a demon named Sugriva, not the monkey king of the Ramayana, to win her over, telling him in verse 103 to say this and that and see that she comes gladly and soon. The envoy repeats his master's boasts and offers her a choice of the two brothers. She agrees that every word is true, then states the vow she made long ago: she will marry only the one who defeats her in battle. The messenger warns that she will be dragged to Shumbha by the hair, and she sends him back to report exactly what she said.

The mantra, in six scripts

DevanagariSanskrit & Hindiपुरा शुम्भनिशुम्भाभ्यामसुराभ्यां शचीपतेः । त्रैलोक्यं यज्ञभागाश्च हृता मदबलाश्रयात् ॥

Tamilபுரா ஶும்பநிஶும்பாப்யாமஸுராப்யாம் ஶசீபதேஃ । த்ரைலோக்யம் யஜ்ஞபாகாஶ்ச ஹ்ருதா மதபலாஶ்ரயாத் ॥

Teluguపురా శుమ్భనిశుమ్భాభ్యామసురాభ్యాం శచీపతేః । త్రైలోక్యం యజ్ఞభాగాశ్చ హృతా మదబలాశ్రయాత్ ॥

Kannadaಪುರಾ ಶುಮ್ಭನಿಶುಮ್ಭಾಭ್ಯಾಮಸುರಾಭ್ಯಾಂ ಶಚೀಪತೇಃ । ತ್ರೈಲೋಕ್ಯಂ ಯಜ್ಞಭಾಗಾಶ್ಚ ಹೃತಾ ಮದಬಲಾಶ್ರಯಾತ್ ॥

Malayalamപുരാ ശുമ്ഭനിശുമ്ഭാഭ്യാമസുരാഭ്യാം ശചീപതേഃ । ത്രൈലോക്യം യജ്ഞഭാഗാശ്ച ഹൃതാ മദബലാശ്രയാത് ॥

EnglishRoman transliterationpurā śumbhaniśumbhābhyāmasurābhyāṃ śacīpateḥ | trailokyaṃ yajñabhāgāśca hṛtā madabalāśrayāt ||

“The sage said: Long ago the two demons Shumbha and Nishumbha, relying on their pride and strength, took from Indra, the lord of Shachi, the three worlds and his shares of the sacrifices.”

पुरा: purā — long ago
शुम्भनिशुम्भाभ्यामसुराभ्यां: śumbhaniśumbhābhyāmasurābhyāṃ — by the two demons Shumbha and Nishumbha
शचीपतेः: śacīpateḥ — of the lord of Shachi (Indra)
त्रैलोक्यं: trailokyaṃ — the three worlds
यज्ञभागाश्च: yajñabhāgāśca — and the shares of the sacrifices
हृता: hṛtā — were taken
मदबलाश्रयात्: madabalāśrayāt — relying on pride and strength

Durga Saptashati Chapter 5 lyrics in full

The Mahasaraswati meditation verse and all 129 numbered lines of the chapter in the standard numbering; each 'ya devi' stanza appears once under its three numbers, and the speaker of each passage is named above it.

All 129 numbered lines, in Sanskrit, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam and English, each with its meaning. Choose a script:

Download the Durga Saptashati Chapter 5 PDFAll 129 numbered lines with their meanings, in Sanskrit. Free to print and keep.

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Dhyanam 1

ॐ घण्टाशूलहलानि शङ्खमुसले चक्रं धनुः सायकं हस्ताब्जैर्दधतीं घनान्तविलसच्छीतांशुतुल्यप्रभाम् ।
गौरीदेहसमुद्भवां त्रिजगतामाधारभूतां महापूर्वामत्र सरस्वतीमनुभजे शुम्भादिदैत्यार्दिनीम् ॥

Om. I worship here Mahasaraswati, who holds in her lotus hands the bell, trident, plough, conch, pestle, discus, bow and arrow, and whose radiance is like the moon shining at the end of the rainy season. She arose from the body of Gauri, is the support of the three worlds, and destroys Shumbha and the other demons.

Verse 2

ऋषिरुवाच
पुरा शुम्भनिशुम्भाभ्यामसुराभ्यां शचीपतेः । त्रैलोक्यं यज्ञभागाश्च हृता मदबलाश्रयात् ॥

The sage said: Long ago the two demons Shumbha and Nishumbha, relying on their pride and strength, took from Indra, the lord of Shachi, the three worlds and his shares of the sacrifices.

Verse 3

तावेव सूर्यतां तद्वदधिकारं तथैन्दवम् ।
कौबेरमथ याम्यं च चक्राते वरुणस्य च ॥

Those two themselves took over the office of the Sun, and likewise the authority of the Moon, of Kubera, of Yama and of Varuna.

Verse 4

तावेव पवनर्द्धिं च चक्रतुर्वह्निकर्म च ।
ततो देवा विनिर्धूता भ्रष्टराज्याः पराजिताः ॥

They themselves took the power of the Wind and did the work of Fire. So the gods were driven out, defeated and stripped of their realms.

Verse 5

हृताधिकारास्त्रिदशास्ताभ्यां सर्वे निराकृताः ।
महासुराभ्यां तां देवीं संस्मरन्त्यपराजिताम् ॥

Robbed of their offices and cast out by those two great demons, all the gods called to mind the unconquered Goddess.

Verse 6

तयास्माकं वरो दत्तो यथाऽऽपत्सु स्मृताखिलाः ।
भवतां नाशयिष्यामि तत्क्षणात्परमापदः ॥

They thought: She gave us a boon, saying, When you remember me in times of trouble, I will at that very moment destroy all your gravest misfortunes.

Verse 7

इति कृत्वा मतिं देवा हिमवन्तं नगेश्वरम् ।
जग्मुस्तत्र ततो देवीं विष्णुमायां प्रतुष्टुवुः ॥

Having resolved this, the gods went to Himavan, lord of mountains, and there they praised the Goddess Vishnumaya.

Verse 9

देवा ऊचुः
नमो देव्यै महादेव्यै शिवायै सततं नमः । नमः प्रकृत्यै भद्रायै नियताः प्रणताः स्म ताम् ॥

The gods said: Salutation to the Goddess, to the Great Goddess; salutation always to Shiva, the auspicious one. Salutation to Prakriti, to the gracious one; with minds controlled we bow to her.

Verse 10

रौद्रायै नमो नित्यायै गौर्यै धात्र्यै नमो नमः ।
ज्योत्स्नायै चेन्दुरूपिण्यै सुखायै सततं नमः ॥

Salutation to the fierce one; salutation again and again to the eternal one, to Gauri, to the sustainer. Salutation always to her who is moonlight, who has the form of the moon, who is happiness itself.

Verse 11

कल्याण्यै प्रणतां वृद्ध्यै सिद्ध्यै कुर्मो नमो नमः ।
नैर्ऋत्यै भूभृतां लक्ष्म्यै शर्वाण्यै ते नमो नमः ॥

We bow again and again to her who is welfare, and growth and success for those who bow to her. Salutation again and again to you who are Nairriti, the fortune of kings, and Sharvani, consort of Shiva.

Verse 12

दुर्गायै दुर्गपारायै सारायै सर्वकारिण्यै ।
ख्यात्यै तथैव कृष्णायै धूम्रायै सततं नमः ॥

Salutation always to Durga, who carries us across difficulties, to the essence of all, to the maker of all, to Khyati (renown), to the dark one and to the smoke-coloured one.

Verse 13

अतिसौम्यातिरौद्रायै नतास्तस्यै नमो नमः ।
नमो जगत्प्रतिष्ठायै देव्यै कृत्यै नमो नमः ॥

We bow to her who is most gentle and most fierce; salutation to her again and again. Salutation to the Goddess who is the foundation of the world; salutation again and again to her who is action.

Verse 14-16

या देवी सर्वभूतेषु विष्णुमायेति शब्दिता ।
नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमो नमः ॥

To the Goddess who in all beings is called Vishnumaya: salutation to her, salutation to her, salutation to her, salutation again and again.

Verse 17-19

या देवी सर्वभूतेषु चेतनेत्यभिधीयते ।
नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमो नमः ॥

To the Goddess who in all beings is known as consciousness: salutation to her, salutation to her, salutation to her, salutation again and again.

Verse 20-22

या देवी सर्वभूतेषु बुद्धिरूपेण संस्थिता ।
नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमो नमः ॥

To the Goddess who in all beings abides in the form of intelligence: salutation to her, salutation to her, salutation to her, salutation again and again.

Verse 23-25

या देवी सर्वभूतेषु निद्रारूपेण संस्थिता ।
नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमो नमः ॥

To the Goddess who in all beings abides in the form of sleep: salutation to her, salutation to her, salutation to her, salutation again and again.

Verse 26-28

या देवी सर्वभूतेषु क्षुधारूपेण संस्थिता ।
नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमो नमः ॥

To the Goddess who in all beings abides in the form of hunger: salutation to her, salutation to her, salutation to her, salutation again and again.

Verse 29-31

या देवी सर्वभूतेषुच्छायारूपेण संस्थिता ।
नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमो नमः ॥

To the Goddess who in all beings abides in the form of shadow (reflection): salutation to her, salutation to her, salutation to her, salutation again and again.

Verse 32-34

या देवी सर्वभूतेषु शक्तिरूपेण संस्थिता ।
नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमो नमः ॥

To the Goddess who in all beings abides in the form of power: salutation to her, salutation to her, salutation to her, salutation again and again.

Verse 35-37

या देवी सर्वभूतेषु तृष्णारूपेण संस्थिता ।
नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमो नमः ॥

To the Goddess who in all beings abides in the form of thirst (desire): salutation to her, salutation to her, salutation to her, salutation again and again.

Verse 38-40

या देवी सर्वभूतेषु क्षान्तिरूपेण संस्थिता ।
नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमो नमः ॥

To the Goddess who in all beings abides in the form of forbearance: salutation to her, salutation to her, salutation to her, salutation again and again.

Verse 41-43

या देवी सर्वभूतेषु जातिरूपेण संस्थिता ।
नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमो नमः ॥

To the Goddess who in all beings abides in the form of birth (kind): salutation to her, salutation to her, salutation to her, salutation again and again.

Verse 44-46

या देवी सर्वभूतेषु लज्जारूपेण संस्थिता ।
नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमो नमः ॥

To the Goddess who in all beings abides in the form of modesty: salutation to her, salutation to her, salutation to her, salutation again and again.

Verse 47-49

या देवी सर्वभूतेषु शान्तिरूपेण संस्थिता ।
नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमो नमः ॥

To the Goddess who in all beings abides in the form of peace: salutation to her, salutation to her, salutation to her, salutation again and again.

Verse 50-52

या देवी सर्वभूतेषु श्रद्धारूपेण संस्थिता ।
नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमो नमः ॥

To the Goddess who in all beings abides in the form of faith: salutation to her, salutation to her, salutation to her, salutation again and again.

Verse 53-55

या देवी सर्वभूतेषु कान्तिरूपेण संस्थिता ।
नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमो नमः ॥

To the Goddess who in all beings abides in the form of loveliness: salutation to her, salutation to her, salutation to her, salutation again and again.

Verse 56-58

या देवी सर्वभूतेषु लक्ष्मीरूपेण संस्थिता ।
नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमो नमः ॥

To the Goddess who in all beings abides in the form of Lakshmi, good fortune: salutation to her, salutation to her, salutation to her, salutation again and again.

Verse 59-61

या देवी सर्वभूतेषु वृत्तिरूपेण संस्थिता ।
नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमो नमः ॥

To the Goddess who in all beings abides in the form of livelihood (activity): salutation to her, salutation to her, salutation to her, salutation again and again.

Verse 62-64

या देवी सर्वभूतेषु स्मृतिरूपेण संस्थिता ।
नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमो नमः ॥

To the Goddess who in all beings abides in the form of memory: salutation to her, salutation to her, salutation to her, salutation again and again.

Verse 65-67

या देवी सर्वभूतेषु दयारूपेण संस्थिता ।
नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमो नमः ॥

To the Goddess who in all beings abides in the form of compassion: salutation to her, salutation to her, salutation to her, salutation again and again.

Verse 68-70

या देवी सर्वभूतेषु तुष्टिरूपेण संस्थिता ।
नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमो नमः ॥

To the Goddess who in all beings abides in the form of contentment: salutation to her, salutation to her, salutation to her, salutation again and again.

Verse 71-73

या देवी सर्वभूतेषु मातृरूपेण संस्थिता ।
नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमो नमः ॥

To the Goddess who in all beings abides in the form of the mother: salutation to her, salutation to her, salutation to her, salutation again and again.

Verse 74-76

या देवी सर्वभूतेषु भ्रान्तिरूपेण संस्थिता ।
नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमो नमः ॥

To the Goddess who in all beings abides in the form of delusion: salutation to her, salutation to her, salutation to her, salutation again and again.

Verse 77

इन्द्रियाणामधिष्ठात्री भूतानां चाखिलेषु या ।
भूतेषु सततं तस्यै व्याप्तिदेव्यै नमो नमः ॥

Salutation again and again to her, the all-pervading Goddess, who presides over the senses of beings and is ever present in all creatures.

Verse 78-80

चितिरूपेण या कृत्स्नमेतद्व्याप्य स्थिता जगत् ।
नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमो नमः ॥

To her who pervades this whole world and abides in it as consciousness: salutation to her, salutation to her, salutation to her, salutation again and again.

Verse 81

स्तुता सुरैः पूर्वमभीष्टसंश्रयात्तथा सुरेन्द्रेण दिनेषु सेविता ।
करोतु सा नः शुभहेतुरीश्वरी शुभानि भद्राण्यभिहन्तु चापदः ॥

She was praised by the gods long ago for the fulfilment of their wishes, and served for many days by Indra, lord of the gods. May that Sovereign, the source of all good, bring us what is good and auspicious and strike down our misfortunes.

Verse 82

या साम्प्रतं चोद्धतदैत्यतापितैरस्माभिरीशा च सुरैर्नमस्यते ।
या च स्मृता तत्क्षणमेव हन्ति नः सर्वापदो भक्तिविनम्रमूर्तिभिः ॥

She is the Sovereign whom we gods, tormented by arrogant demons, now worship; and when she is remembered by those bowed down in devotion, she at that very moment destroys all our misfortunes.

Verse 84

ऋषिरुवाच
एवं स्तवादियुक्तानां देवानां तत्र पार्वती । स्नातुमभ्याययौ तोये जाह्नव्या नृपनन्दन ॥

The sage said: O prince, while the gods were engaged in these praises, Parvati came there to bathe in the waters of the Ganga.

Verse 85

साब्रवीत्तान् सुरान् सुभ्रूर्भवद्भिः स्तूयतेऽत्र का ।
शरीरकोशतश्चास्याः समुद्भूताब्रवीच्छिवा ॥

The lovely-browed Goddess asked the gods, Whom are you praising here? Then Shiva, the auspicious one, arising from the sheath of her body, answered.

Verse 86

स्तोत्रं ममैतत् क्रियते शुम्भदैत्यनिराकृतैः ।
देवैः समेतैः समरे निशुम्भेन पराजितैः ॥

This hymn is offered to me by the gods gathered here, who were cast out by the demon Shumbha and defeated in battle by Nishumbha.

Verse 87

शरीरकोशाद्यत्तस्याः पार्वत्या निःसृताम्बिका ।
कौशिकीति समस्तेषु ततो लोकेषु गीयते ॥

Because Ambika came forth from the sheath (kosha) of Parvati's body, she is sung of in all the worlds as Kaushiki.

Verse 88

तस्यां विनिर्गतायां तु कृष्णाभूत्सापि पार्वती ।
कालिकेति समाख्याता हिमाचलकृताश्रया ॥

When she had come forth, Parvati herself became dark, and she became known as Kalika, making her home on the Himalaya.

Verse 89

ततोऽम्बिकां परं रूपं बिभ्राणां सुमनोहरम् ।
ददर्श चण्डो मुण्डश्च भृत्यौ शुम्भनिशुम्भयोः ॥

Then Chanda and Munda, servants of Shumbha and Nishumbha, saw Ambika bearing a supremely captivating form.

Verse 90

ताभ्यां शुम्भाय चाख्याता अतीव सुमनोहरा ।
काप्यास्ते स्त्री महाराज भासयन्ती हिमाचलम् ॥

They told Shumbha about her, so very captivating: Great king, some woman is there, lighting up the Himalaya.

Verse 91

नैव तादृक् क्वचिद्रूपं दृष्टं केनचिदुत्तमम् ।
ज्ञायतां काप्यसौ देवी गृह्यतां चासुरेश्वर ॥

Such a perfect form has never been seen by anyone anywhere. Lord of the demons, find out who this goddess is and take her.

Verse 92

स्त्रीरत्नमतिचार्वङ्गी द्योतयन्ती दिशस्त्विषा ।
सा तु तिष्ठति दैत्येन्द्र तां भवान् द्रष्टुमर्हति ॥

She is a jewel among women, exceedingly graceful of limb, lighting the directions with her splendour. She is there now, king of the demons; you should see her.

Verse 93

यानि रत्नानि मणयो गजाश्वादीनि वै प्रभो ।
त्रैलोक्ये तु समस्तानि साम्प्रतं भान्ति ते गृहे ॥

Lord, all the treasures of the three worlds, the gems, the elephants, the horses and the rest, now shine in your house.

Verse 94

ऐरावतः समानीतो गजरत्नं पुरन्दरात् ।
पारिजाततरुश्चायं तथैवोच्चैःश्रवा हयः ॥

Airavata, the jewel among elephants, has been brought from Indra, and so have this Parijata tree and the horse Uchchaihshravas.

Verse 95

विमानं हंससंयुक्तमेतत्तिष्ठति तेऽङ्गणे ।
रत्नभूतमिहानीतं यदासीद्वेधसोऽद्भुतम् ॥

This wondrous aerial car yoked with swans, a treasure that once belonged to Brahma, has been brought here and stands in your courtyard.

Verse 96

निधिरेष महापद्मः समानीतो धनेश्वरात् ।
किञ्जल्किनीं ददौ चाब्धिर्मालामम्लानपङ्कजाम् ॥

This treasure called Mahapadma was brought from Kubera, lord of wealth, and the ocean gave you the garland Kinjalkini of never-fading lotuses.

Verse 97

छत्रं ते वारुणं गेहे काञ्चनस्रावि तिष्ठति ।
तथायं स्यन्दनवरो यः पुराऽऽसीत्प्रजापतेः ॥

Varuna's umbrella that showers gold is in your house, and so is this finest of chariots that once belonged to Prajapati.

Verse 98

मृत्योरुत्क्रान्तिदा नाम शक्तिरीश त्वया हृता ।
पाशः सलिलराजस्य भ्रातुस्तव परिग्रहे ॥

Lord, you have taken from Death the spear named Utkrantida, and the noose of Varuna, king of the waters, is in your brother's possession.

Verse 99

निशुम्भस्याब्धिजाताश्च समस्ता रत्नजातयः ।
वह्निरपि ददौ तुभ्यमग्निशौचे च वाससी ॥

Every kind of gem born of the ocean belongs to Nishumbha, and Fire too gave you two garments purified by fire.

Verse 100

एवं दैत्येन्द्र रत्नानि समस्तान्याहृतानि ते ।
स्त्रीरत्नमेषा कल्याणी त्वया कस्मान्न गृह्यते ॥

So, king of the demons, all treasures have been brought to you. Why do you not take this lovely one, the jewel among women?

Verse 102

ऋषिरुवाच
निशम्येति वचः शुम्भः स तदा चण्डमुण्डयोः । प्रेषयामास सुग्रीवं दूतं देव्या महासुरम् ॥

The sage said: Hearing these words of Chanda and Munda, Shumbha sent the great demon Sugriva as his messenger to the Goddess.

Verse 103

इति चेति च वक्तव्या सा गत्वा वचनान्मम ।
यथा चाभ्येति सम्प्रीत्या तथा कार्यं त्वया लघु ॥

He said: Go and tell her this and that on my behalf, and act quickly so that she comes here gladly.

Verse 104

स तत्र गत्वा यत्रास्ते शैलोद्देशेऽतिशोभने ।
तां च देवीं ततः प्राह श्लक्ष्णं मधुरया गिरा ॥

He went to the very beautiful spot on the mountain where the Goddess was, and spoke to her in soft and sweet words.

Verse 106

दूत उवाच
देवि दैत्येश्वरः शुम्भस्त्रैलोक्ये परमेश्वरः । दूतोऽहं प्रेषितस्तेन त्वत्सकाशमिहागतः ॥

The messenger said: Goddess, Shumbha, lord of the demons, is the supreme ruler of the three worlds. I am his messenger, sent by him, and I have come here to you.

Verse 107

अव्याहताज्ञः सर्वासु यः सदा देवयोनिषु ।
निर्जिताखिलदैत्यारिः स यदाह शृणुष्व तत् ॥

His command is never resisted among any of the races of gods, and he has conquered all the enemies of the demons. Hear what he says.

Verse 108

मम त्रैलोक्यमखिलं मम देवा वशानुगाः ।
यज्ञभागानहं सर्वानुपाश्नामि पृथक् पृथक् ॥

The whole of the three worlds is mine, and the gods obey my will. I enjoy all the shares of the sacrifices, each one separately.

Verse 109

त्रैलोक्ये वररत्नानि मम वश्यान्यशेषतः ।
तथैव गजरत्नं च हृत्वा देवेन्द्रवाहनम् ॥

All the finest treasures of the three worlds are in my power without exception, and so is the jewel among elephants, the mount of Indra, which I have taken.

Verse 110

क्षीरोदमथनोद्भूतमश्वरत्नं ममामरैः ।
उच्चैःश्रवससंज्ञं तत्प्रणिपत्य समर्पितम् ॥

The jewel among horses named Uchchaihshravas, which rose from the churning of the milk ocean, was handed over to me by the gods with bowed heads.

Verse 111

यानि चान्यानि देवेषु गन्धर्वेषूरगेषु च ।
रत्नभूतानि भूतानि तानि मय्येव शोभने ॥

Whatever other precious things there were among the gods, the Gandharvas and the serpents, they are all with me, lovely one.

Verse 112

स्त्रीरत्नभूतां त्वां देवि लोके मन्यामहे वयम् ।
सा त्वमस्मानुपागच्छ यतो रत्नभुजो वयम् ॥

Goddess, we regard you as the jewel among women in the world. So come to us, for we are the enjoyers of all jewels.

Verse 113

मां वा ममानुजं वापि निशुम्भमुरुविक्रमम् ।
भज त्वं चञ्चलापाङ्गि रत्नभूतासि वै यतः ॥

You of the darting glances, take either me or my younger brother Nishumbha of great valour, since you are indeed a jewel.

Verse 114

परमैश्वर्यमतुलं प्राप्स्यसे मत्परिग्रहात् ।
एतद् बुद्ध्या समालोच्य मत्परिग्रहतां व्रज ॥

By marrying me you will gain supreme and unequalled sovereignty. Consider this with your mind and become my wife.

Verse 116

ऋषिरुवाच
इत्युक्ता सा तदा देवी गम्भीरान्तःस्मिता जगौ । दुर्गा भगवती भद्रा ययेदं धार्यते जगत् ॥

The sage said: Spoken to in this way, the Goddess, the blessed and gracious Durga by whom this world is upheld, smiled deeply within and spoke.

Verse 118

देव्युवाच
सत्यमुक्तं त्वया नात्र मिथ्या किंचित्त्वयोदितम् । त्रैलोक्याधिपतिः शुम्भो निशुम्भश्चापि तादृशः ॥

The Goddess said: You have spoken the truth; nothing you said is false. Shumbha is lord of the three worlds, and Nishumbha is just like him.

Verse 119

किं त्वत्र यत्प्रतिज्ञातं मिथ्या तत्क्रियते कथम् ।
श्रूयतामल्पबुद्धित्वात्प्रतिज्ञा या कृता पुरा ॥

But how can I make false the vow I have taken in this matter? Hear the vow I made long ago out of my little understanding.

Verse 120

यो मां जयति संग्रामे यो मे दर्पं व्यपोहति ।
यो मे प्रतिबलो लोके स मे भर्ता भविष्यति ॥

He who conquers me in battle, who removes my pride, who is my equal in strength in the world, he shall be my husband.

Verse 121

तदागच्छतु शुम्भोऽत्र निशुम्भो वा महासुरः ।
मां जित्वा किं चिरेणात्र पाणिं गृह्णातु मे लघु ॥

So let Shumbha come here, or the great demon Nishumbha. Why delay? Let him conquer me and quickly take my hand.

Verse 123

दूत उवाच
अवलिप्तासि मैवं त्वं देवि ब्रूहि ममाग्रतः । त्रैलोक्ये कः पुमांस्तिष्ठेदग्रे शुम्भनिशुम्भयोः ॥

The messenger said: You are proud, Goddess. Do not speak like this before me. What man in the three worlds could stand before Shumbha and Nishumbha?

Verse 124

अन्येषामपि दैत्यानां सर्वे देवा न वै युधि ।
तिष्ठन्ति सम्मुखे देवि किं पुनः स्त्री त्वमेकिका ॥

Goddess, all the gods together cannot stand face to face in battle even with the other demons; how then can you, a woman alone?

Verse 125

इन्द्राद्याः सकला देवास्तस्थुर्येषां न संयुगे ।
शुम्भादीनां कथं तेषां स्त्री प्रयास्यसि सम्मुखम् ॥

Indra and all the gods could not stand against Shumbha and the others in battle. How will you, a woman, go to face them?

Verse 126

सा त्वं गच्छ मयैवोक्ता पार्श्वं शुम्भनिशुम्भयोः ।
केशाकर्षणनिर्धूतगौरवा मा गमिष्यसि ॥

So go to Shumbha and Nishumbha at my word, so that you do not go with your dignity lost, dragged there by the hair.

Verse 128

देव्युवाच
एवमेतद् बली शुम्भो निशुम्भश्चातिवीर्यवान् । किं करोमि प्रतिज्ञा मे यदनालोचिता पुरा ॥

The Goddess said: It is as you say: Shumbha is strong and Nishumbha is exceedingly mighty. But what can I do, since I made my vow long ago without thinking?

Verse 129

स त्वं गच्छ मयोक्तं ते यदेतत्सर्वमादृतः ।
तदाचक्ष्वासुरेन्द्राय स च युक्तं करोतु तत् ॥

So go, and report carefully to the lord of the demons all that I have told you; and let him do what he thinks fit.

The syllable people get wrong

In verses 35 to 37, tṛṣṇārūpeṇa (तृष्णारूपेण) begins with ṛ, a vowel and not 'r' plus a vowel, followed by two retroflex sounds, ṣ and ṇ, made with the tongue curled back. Say TRISH-naa-roo-pay-ṇa, not 'tursh-na' or 'trush-na'.

When the Durga Saptashati Chapter 5 is chanted

Weekday. Friday

Festival. Navaratri, opening the fourth day's reading

Questions

Each stanza ends with the refrain 'namastasyai namastasyai namastasyai namo namah', salutation to her three times over and then again and again. The standard printed edition counts every 'namastasyai' as a separate mantra of three quarter-lines, a tripad mantra, so the first stanza is numbered 14, 15 and 16 and the last 78, 79 and 80. Its closing tally for the chapter is 9 speaker lines, 66 tripad mantras and 54 verses, 129 in all; the 66 tripads are 22 stanzas taken three at a time. On this page each stanza is printed once under its number range. Some copies add three more stanzas, for steadiness, conduct and nourishment; the standard printed edition does not print them.

The litany does not sort her forms into good and bad. It opens in verses 14 to 16 by calling her Vishnumaya, the name the gods used for her in verse 7, and in the stanzas after that she abides in all beings as intelligence, sleep, hunger, shadow, power, thirst, forbearance, birth, modesty, peace, faith, loveliness, fortune, livelihood, memory, compassion, contentment and the mother, then as bhranti, delusion, in verses 74 to 76. This matches verse 13, where she is both most gentle and most fierce. Verse 77 breaks the pattern without a refrain, naming her ruler of the senses, and verses 78 to 80 sum up: she pervades this whole world as consciousness.

Kaushiki is the Goddess who steps out of Parvati's body while the gods are praising her on the Himalaya. Verse 87 gives the name its own explanation: she came forth from the kosha, the sheath, of Parvati's body, and so she is called Kaushiki in all the worlds. Verse 88 adds that once she had left, Parvati herself became dark and was known as Kalika, making her home on the Himalaya. The meditation verse printed before the chapter describes the same event from the other side, calling Mahasaraswati the one born from the body of Gauri. Kaushiki is the warrior of the chapters that follow, until Shumbha falls in chapter 10.

Asked to choose between Shumbha and Nishumbha, she does not refuse outright. In verse 118 she grants that the envoy has said nothing false, and in verse 119 she asks how she can break a promise made long ago 'out of my little understanding'. Verse 120 states it: whoever conquers me in battle, takes away my pride and is my equal in strength in the world will be my husband. Verse 121 invites either brother to come and win her hand quickly. When the messenger threatens force, verse 128 repeats that the vow was made without thinking and cannot be helped. Just before she speaks, verse 116 has the narrator call her the Durga by whom this world is upheld, smiling deeply within.

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Durga Saptashati Chapter 5

What the Durga Saptashati Chapter 5 is

Kaushiki, the loot list and the envoy's errand

The mantra, in six scripts

Durga Saptashati Chapter 5 lyrics in full

The syllable people get wrong

When the Durga Saptashati Chapter 5 is chanted

Questions

Have your chart read before you decide

Related

Chandi Mantra

Saptashloki Durga

Durga Saptashati

Nirnaya