Durga Saptashati
|| Chapter Eleven ||
Chapter 11:
The Deities’ Hymn of Praise to the Devi and the Devi’s Granting of Boons to the Deities
॥ Dhyana (Meditation) ॥
I meditate upon Devi Bhuvaneshwari (the Goddess of the Universe). The radiance of her sacred limbs is like the morning sun, and a crescent moon adorns her head as a crown. She has raised breasts and three eyes. A beautiful smile plays upon her face, and her hands are graced with the gestures of granting boons (Varada), the elephant goad (Ankusha), the noose (Pasha), and the gesture of fearlessness (Abhaya Mudra).
The Rishi said: When the great demon-king Shumbha was slain there by the Devi, the deities, with Agni (Fire God) at the forefront, began to praise that Devi Katyayani. At that time, their lotus-like faces shone brightly due to the attainment of their desired goal, and their radiance illuminated the directions.
The Deities spoke: O Devi, who removes the distress of those who seek refuge! Be pleased with us. O Mother of the entire world! Be gracious. O Vishweshwari (Ruler of the Universe)! Protect the universe. O Devi! You are the sovereign of this movable and immovable world.
You are the sole support of this world, as you abide in the form of the Earth. O Devi! Your valor is unconquerable. You abide in the form of water and satisfy the entire world.
You are the Vaishnavi Shakti (Power of Vishnu), possessing infinite strength. You are the Para Maya (Supreme Illusion), the cause of this universe. O Devi! You have deluded this entire world. When pleased, you grant the attainment of liberation (Moksha) on this Earth.
O Devi! All forms of knowledge are but your various aspects. All the women in the world are your very forms. O Jagadamba (Mother of the Universe)! You alone have pervaded this entire universe. What praise can suffice for you? You are beyond the reach of objects worthy of praise and are the supreme speech (Para Vani).
When you, the all-pervasive Devi, are the bestower of heaven and liberation, then your praise is already accomplished in this very form. What other better words could there be for your eulogy?
Salutations to you, O Narayani, who resides in the hearts of all people in the form of intelligence (Buddhi) and who grants heaven and liberation.
Salutations to you, O Narayani, who gradually leads the universe towards transformation (change of state) in the forms of Kala, Kashtha (measures of time) and who is capable of withdrawing (dissolving) the universe.
O Narayani! You are all-auspicious, the embodiment of auspiciousness (Mangalamayi). You are the benevolent Shiva (Kalyanadayini). You are the one who accomplishes all the goals of human life (Purusharthas), who is affectionate to those who seek refuge (Sharanagatavatsala), who has three eyes, and who is Gauri. Salutations to you.
You are the power behind creation, preservation, and destruction, the eternal Devi, the support of the Gunas (Sattva, Rajas, Tamas), and the embodiment of all Gunas. O Narayani! Salutations to you.
Salutations to you, O Narayani Devi, who is engaged in the protection of the poor and the distressed who come for refuge, and who removes the suffering of all.
O Narayani! You assume the form of Brahmani, seated on a chariot drawn by swans, and you sprinkle water mixed with Kusha grass. Salutations to you.
Salutations to you, O Narayani Devi, who in the form of Maheshwari (Power of Shiva) holds the trident, the moon, and the serpent, and who is seated on the back of a great bull.
O sinless Narayani! Salutations to you, who assumes the form of Kaumari (Power of Kumara/Kartikeya), surrounded by peacocks and roosters, and who holds the great spear (Mahashakti).
O Narayani, who is the Vaishnavi Shakti, holding the excellent weapons of the conch, discus, mace, and the Sharanga bow! Be pleased. Salutations to you.
Salutations to you, O benevolent Narayani, who assumes the form of Varahi, holding the terrifying great discus in her hand and lifting the Earth on her tusks.
Salutations to you, O Narayani, who strives for the destruction of the demons in the terrifying form of Narasimha, and who is engaged in the protection of the three worlds.
Salutations to you, O Narayani Devi, who is the Indra Shakti (Power of Indra), wearing a crown on her head and holding the great thunderbolt (Mahavajra) in her hand, who appears brilliant due to her thousand eyes, and who stole the life of the demon Vritrasura.
Salutations to you, O Narayani, who in the form of Shivaduti (Messenger of Shiva) slays the huge army of demons, assumes a terrifying form, and makes dreadful roars.
Salutations to you, O Narayani, who is Chamuṇḍa, the slayer of Muṇḍa, whose face is terrible due to her tusks, and who is adorned with a garland of skulls.
Salutations to you, O Narayani, who is Lakshmi, Lajjā (Modesty), Mahāvidyā (Great Knowledge), Shraddhā (Faith), Pushti (Nourishment), Svadhā (Oblation to ancestors), Dhruvā (Constant), Mahārātri (Great Night), and Mahāvidyā (Great Ignorance).
Salutations to you, O Narayani, who is Medhā (Intellect), Sarasvatī (Goddess of Speech), Varā (Excellent), Bhūti (Prosperity), Bābhravī (Brown-colored or Pārvatī), Tāmasī (Mahākālī), Niyatā (Restrained), and Īshā (Ruler of all).
O Durga Devi, who is the form of everything (Sarvaswarupa), the ruler of everything (Sarveshwari), and endowed with all types of divine powers (Divyarupa)! Protect us from all fears; salutations to you.
O Katyayani! May your gentle face, adorned with three eyes, protect us from all kinds of fears. Salutations to you.
O Bhadrakali! May your trident, which appears terrifying due to its flames, is extremely dreadful, and slays all the Asuras, protect us from fear. Salutations to you.
O Devi! May your bell, whose sound pervades the entire world and destroys the brilliance of the demons, protect us from sins, just as a mother protects her children from evil deeds.
O Chandika! May the sword shining in your hands, which is smeared with the blood and fat of the Asuras, bring us welfare. We salute you.
O Devi! When you are pleased, you destroy all diseases, and when you are angered, you destroy all desired wishes. No calamity ever befalls those who have taken refuge in you. Those who have sought your shelter become the givers of shelter to others.
O Devi! O Ambike! What other power could have done all this that you have done at this time by dividing your own form into many parts and destroying these great demons, the enemies of Dharma, with various forms?
In the Vidyas (lores), in the scriptures that illuminate knowledge, and in the ancient Vedic statements, whose description is there other than yours? And who else is there, other than you, who constantly makes this world wander in the pit of attachment (Mamatā), which is filled with the dreadful darkness of ignorance?
You protect the world by remaining present where there are Rakshasas (demons), where there are highly poisonous serpents, where there are enemies, where there are armies of robbers, where there is a forest fire, and even in the middle of the ocean.
O Vishweshwari (Ruler of the Universe)! You nourish the world. You are the form of the universe, and therefore you support the entire world. You are revered even by Lord Vishwanath (Shiva). Those who bow their heads before you with devotion become the refuge for the entire world.
O Devi! Be pleased. Just as you have quickly protected us by slaying the Asuras at this time, similarly, always protect us from the fear of enemies. Destroy the sins of the entire world, and quickly remove the great calamities like epidemics, which result from evil deeds and sins.
O Devi, who removes the suffering of the world! We fall at your feet, be gracious to us. O Parameshwari (Supreme Goddess), who is worshiped by the residents of the three worlds! Grant boons to all people.
The Devi said: O Deities! I am ready to grant a boon. Ask for whatever is in your heart’s desire. I shall certainly grant that beneficial boon for the world.
The Deities said: O Sarveshwari (Ruler of All)! In this manner, calm all the obstacles in the three worlds and continue to destroy our enemies.
The Devi said: O Deities! In the twenty-eighth Yuga of the Vaivasvata Manvantara, two other great demons named Shumbha and Nishumbha will be born.
Then, I shall descend in the home of Nanda Gopa, from the womb of his wife Yashoda, and I shall dwell in the Vindhya mountains and destroy the two said Asuras.
Then, taking a very dreadful form, I shall incarnate on Earth and slay the Danavas named Vaiprachitta.
While devouring those dreadful Mahā-daityas (great demons), my teeth will become red like the pomegranate flower.
Then, the Deities in heaven and humans in the mortal world, always praising me, will call me ‘Raktadantikā’ (She with blood-red teeth).
Then, when the rain will cease for a hundred years on Earth, and there will be a lack of water, I shall appear on Earth in a non-uterine (ayonija) form upon the eulogy of the Sages (Munis).
And I shall look upon the Munis with a hundred eyes. Hence, humans will glorify me by the name ‘Shataakshī’ (She with a hundred eyes).
O Deities! At that time, I shall nourish the entire world with vegetables grown from my own body. Until the rain returns, those vegetables alone will protect the lives of all.
Because of this deed, I shall be famous on Earth by the name ‘Shākambharī’. In that very incarnation, I shall also slay the great demon named Durgama.
Due to this, my name ‘Durgā Devī’ will become famous. Then, when I assume a terrible form and devour the Rākshasas dwelling in the Himalayas for the protection of the Sages, at that time, all the Sages, with devotion, will bow their heads and praise me.
Then my name ‘Bhīmādevī’ (The Terrible Goddess) will become renowned. When the demon named Aruṇa will cause great trouble in the three worlds.
Then, for the welfare of the three worlds, I shall assume the form of innumerable bees with six legs and slay that great demon.
At that time, all people will praise me everywhere by the name ‘Bhrāmarī’ (The Goddess of Bees). Thus, whenever an obstacle caused by the Dānavas (demons) arises in the world, I shall incarnate and destroy the enemies.
Thus, in the Shri Markandeya Purana, in the story of the Savarnika Manvantara, the eleventh chapter named ‘Devīstuti’ (Hymn of Praise to the Devi) in the Devi Mahatmya is completed.
