Brahmavaivarta Purana — Prakriti Khanda — Chapter 57
BvP 2 57.1
नारद उवाच ।। सर्वाख्यानं श्रुतं ब्रह्मन्नतीव परमाद्भुतम्।। अधुना श्रोतुमिच्छामि दुर्गोपाख्यानमुत्तमम्
nārada uvāca || sarvākhyānaṃ śrutaṃ brahmannatīva paramādbhutam|| adhunā śrotumicchāmi durgopākhyānamuttamam
Nārada said: O Brahmā, I have heard the whole narrative, exceedingly wondrous; now I wish to hear the excellent tale of Durgā.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BvP 2 57.2
दुर्गा नारायणीशाना विष्णुमाया शिवा सती ।। नित्या सत्या भगवती शर्वाणी सर्वमङ्गला ईशानः सर्वसिद्ध्यर्थे चाशब्दो दातृवाचकः ।। सर्वसिद्धिप्रदात्री या साऽपीशाना प्रकीर्त्तिता अम्बेति मातृवचनो वन्दने पूजने सदा ।। पूजिता वन्दिता माता जगतां तेन साऽम्बिका मधुकैटभभीतेन ब्रह्मणा सा द्वितीयतः ।। त्रिपुरप्रेरितेनैव तृतीये त्रिपुरारिणा।। मृन्मयीं तामदृष्ट्वा च जलधौतां नराधिपः ।। रुरोद च तदा वैश्यस्ततः स्थानान्तरं ययौ
durgā nārāyaṇīśānā viṣṇumāyā śivā satī || nityā satyā bhagavatī śarvāṇī sarvamaṅgalā īśānaḥ sarvasiddhyarthe cāśabdo dātṛvācakaḥ || sarvasiddhipradātrī yā sā'pīśānā prakīrttitā ambeti mātṛvacano vandane pūjane sadā || pūjitā vanditā mātā jagatāṃ tena sā'mbikā madhukaiṭabhabhītena brahmaṇā sā dvitīyataḥ || tripurapreritenaiva tṛtīye tripurāriṇā|| mṛnmayīṃ tāmadṛṣṭvā ca jaladhautāṃ narādhipaḥ || ruroda ca tadā vaiśyastataḥ sthānāntaraṃ yayau
— tr. refused: cyber
BvP 2 57.3
अम्बिका वैष्णवी गौरी पार्वती च सनातनी।। नामानि कौथुमोक्तानि सर्वेषां शुभदानि च
ambikā vaiṣṇavī gaurī pārvatī ca sanātanī|| nāmāni kauthumoktāni sarveṣāṃ śubhadāni ca
— tr. refused: cyber
BvP 2 57.4
अर्थं षोडशनाम्नां च सर्वेषामीप्सितं वरम्।। ब्रूहि वेदविदां श्रेष्ठ वेदोक्तं सर्वसम्मतम्
arthaṃ ṣoḍaśanāmnāṃ ca sarveṣāmīpsitaṃ varam|| brūhi vedavidāṃ śreṣṭha vedoktaṃ sarvasammatam
Tell (me) the meaning of the sixteen names, the boon desired by all — O best of those who know the Vedas, (that meaning) which is declared in the Veda and accepted by all.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BvP 2 57.5
केन वा पूजिता साऽऽदौ द्वितीये केन वा पुरा ।। तृतीये वा चतुर्थे वा केन सर्वत्र पूजिता
kena vā pūjitā sā''dau dvitīye kena vā purā || tṛtīye vā caturthe vā kena sarvatra pūjitā
And by whom was she worshipped in the first (age), and by whom formerly in the second? And in the third or in the fourth — by whom was she worshipped everywhere?
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BvP 2 57.6
नारायण उवाच ।। अर्थं षोडशनाम्नां च विष्णुर्वेदे चकार सः ।। ज्ञात्वा पुनः पृच्छसि त्वं कथयामि यथागमम्
nārāyaṇa uvāca || arthaṃ ṣoḍaśanāmnāṃ ca viṣṇurvede cakāra saḥ || jñātvā punaḥ pṛcchasi tvaṃ kathayāmi yathāgamam
Nārāyaṇa said: The meaning of the sixteen names — that Viṣṇu set down in the Veda. Knowing it, you still ask; I shall tell it as it has come down.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BvP 2 57.7
दुर्गो दैत्ये महाविघ्ने भवबन्धे च कर्म्मणि ।। शोके दुःखे च नरके यमदण्डे च जन्मनि
durgo daitye mahāvighne bhavabandhe ca karmmaṇi || śoke duḥkhe ca narake yamadaṇḍe ca janmani
"Durga" (means) a demon, a great obstacle, the bond of worldly existence, karma, grief, pain, hell, the rod of Yama, and birth,
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BvP 2 57.8
महाभयेऽतिरोगे चाप्याशब्दो हन्तृवाचकः ।। एतान्हन्त्येव या देवी सा दुर्गा परिकीर्त्तिता
mahābhaye'tiroge cāpyāśabdo hantṛvācakaḥ || etānhantyeva yā devī sā durgā parikīrttitā
great fear and severe disease; and the syllable "ā" denotes the slayer. The goddess who slays just these — she is proclaimed as Durgā.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BvP 2 57.9
यशसा तेजसा रूपैर्नारायणसमा गुणैः ।। शक्तिर्नारायणस्येयं तेन नारायणी स्मृता
yaśasā tejasā rūpairnārāyaṇasamā guṇaiḥ || śaktirnārāyaṇasyeyaṃ tena nārāyaṇī smṛtā
In fame, in splendour, in forms, in qualities she is equal to Nārāyaṇa; she is the power of Nārāyaṇa, and therefore she is known as Nārāyaṇī.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BvP 2 57.11
सृष्टा माया पुरा सृष्टौ विष्णुना परमात्मना ।। मोहितं मायया विश्वं विष्णुमाया प्रकीर्त्तिता
sṛṣṭā māyā purā sṛṣṭau viṣṇunā paramātmanā || mohitaṃ māyayā viśvaṃ viṣṇumāyā prakīrttitā
Māyā was created formerly at the creation by Viṣṇu, the supreme Self; the universe is deluded by that māyā, (and so) she is proclaimed Viṣṇumāyā.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BvP 2 57.12
शिवे कल्याणरूपा च शिवदा च शिवप्रिया ।। प्रिये दातरि चाशब्दः शिवा तेन प्रकीर्तिता
śive kalyāṇarūpā ca śivadā ca śivapriyā || priye dātari cāśabdaḥ śivā tena prakīrtitā
"Śiva" (means) she whose form is welfare, the giver of welfare, and dear to Śiva; and the syllable "ā" (denotes) what is dear and the giver — therefore she is proclaimed Śivā.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
BvP 2 57.13
सद्बुद्ध्यधिष्ठातृदेवी विद्यमाना युगे युगे।। पतिव्रता सुशीला च सा सती परिकीर्तिता
sadbuddhyadhiṣṭhātṛdevī vidyamānā yuge yuge|| pativratā suśīlā ca sā satī parikīrtitā
The goddess who presides over right understanding, existing in age after age, devoted to her husband and of good conduct — she is proclaimed Satī.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BvP 2 57.14
यथा नित्यो हि भगवान्नित्या भगवती तथा।। स्वमायया तिरोभूता तत्रेशे प्राकृते लये
yathā nityo hi bhagavānnityā bhagavatī tathā|| svamāyayā tirobhūtā tatreśe prākṛte laye
As the Lord is eternal, so is the Goddess eternal; by her own māyā she becomes hidden there in the Lord at the dissolution of primal matter.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BvP 2 57.15
आब्रह्मस्तम्बपर्यन्तं सर्वं मिथ्यैव कृत्रिमम्।। दुर्गा सत्यस्वरूपा सा प्रकृतिर्भगवान्यथा
ābrahmastambaparyantaṃ sarvaṃ mithyaiva kṛtrimam|| durgā satyasvarūpā sā prakṛtirbhagavānyathā
Everything from Brahmā down to a clump of grass is merely false and made-up; Durgā, whose nature is real, is primal matter (prakṛti), as the Lord (is real).
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BvP 2 57.16
सिद्धैश्वर्यादिकं सर्वं यस्यामस्ति युगे युगे ।। सिद्धादिके भगो ज्ञेयस्तेन सा भगवती स्मृता
siddhaiśvaryādikaṃ sarvaṃ yasyāmasti yuge yuge || siddhādike bhago jñeyastena sā bhagavatī smṛtā
In whom, age after age, exist all supernatural power, lordship and the rest — and "bhaga" is to be understood as (denoting) supernatural power and so on; therefore she is known as Bhagavatī.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BvP 2 57.17
सर्वान्मोक्षं प्रापयति जन्ममृत्युजरादिकम् ।। चराचरांश्च विश्वस्थाञ्छर्वाणी तेन कीर्तिता
sarvānmokṣaṃ prāpayati janmamṛtyujarādikam || carācarāṃśca viśvasthāñcharvāṇī tena kīrtitā
She makes all attain release from birth, death, old age and the rest, both the moving and the unmoving that abide in the universe; therefore she is called Śarvāṇī.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BvP 2 57.18
मङ्गलं मोक्षवचनं चाशब्दो दातृवाचकः ।। सर्वान्मोक्षान्या ददाति सैव स्यात्सर्वमङ्गला
maṅgalaṃ mokṣavacanaṃ cāśabdo dātṛvācakaḥ || sarvānmokṣānyā dadāti saiva syātsarvamaṅgalā
"Maṅgala" is a word for liberation, and the syllable "ā" denotes the giver; she who gives liberation to all — she indeed would be Sarvamaṅgalā.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BvP 2 57.19
हर्षे सम्पदि कल्याणे मंगलं परिकीर्तितम् ।। तान्ददाति च सर्वेभ्यस्तेन सा सर्वमंगला
harṣe sampadi kalyāṇe maṃgalaṃ parikīrtitam || tāndadāti ca sarvebhyastena sā sarvamaṃgalā
"Maṅgala" is declared (to mean) joy, prosperity, and welfare; and she gives these to all, therefore she is Sarvamaṅgalā.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BvP 2 57.21
विष्णुभक्ता विष्णुरूपा विष्णोः शक्तिस्वरूपिणी ।। सृष्टौ च विष्णुना सृष्टा वैष्णवी तेन कीर्तिता
viṣṇubhaktā viṣṇurūpā viṣṇoḥ śaktisvarūpiṇī || sṛṣṭau ca viṣṇunā sṛṣṭā vaiṣṇavī tena kīrtitā
Devoted to Viṣṇu, having Viṣṇu's form, being the very embodiment of Viṣṇu's power, and created by Viṣṇu at the creation — therefore she is called Vaiṣṇavī.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BvP 2 57.22
गौरः पीते च निर्लिप्ते परे ब्रह्मणि निर्मले ।। तस्यात्मनः शक्तिरियं गौरी तेन प्रकीर्तिता
gauraḥ pīte ca nirlipte pare brahmaṇi nirmale || tasyātmanaḥ śaktiriyaṃ gaurī tena prakīrtitā
"Gaura" (applies) to what is yellow, and to the unattached, spotless supreme Brahman; she is the power of that Self, and therefore she is proclaimed Gaurī.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
BvP 2 57.23
गुरुः शम्भुश्च सर्वेषां तस्य शक्तिः या सती ।। गुरुः कृष्णश्च तन्माया गौरी तेन प्रकीर्त्तिता ।।
guruḥ śambhuśca sarveṣāṃ tasya śaktiḥ yā satī || guruḥ kṛṣṇaśca tanmāyā gaurī tena prakīrttitā ||
Śambhu is the guru of all, and she who is his true power (satī); Kṛṣṇa too is guru, and she is his māyā — therefore she is proclaimed Gaurī.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
BvP 2 57.24
तिथिभेदे पर्वभेदे कल्पभेदेऽन्यभेदके ।। ख्यातौ तेषु च विख्याता पार्वती तेन कीर्तिता
tithibhede parvabhede kalpabhede'nyabhedake || khyātau teṣu ca vikhyātā pārvatī tena kīrtitā
In the distinction of lunar days, of festival days (parvan), of kalpas, and in other distinctions — she is renowned in fame among them; therefore she is called Pārvatī.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
BvP 2 57.25
महोत्सवविशेषे च पर्वन्निति सुकीर्तिता ।। तस्याधिदेवी या सा च पार्वती परिकीर्त्तिता
mahotsavaviśeṣe ca parvanniti sukīrtitā || tasyādhidevī yā sā ca pārvatī parikīrttitā
And in a particular great festival it is well called "parvan"; she who is the presiding deity of that is proclaimed Pārvatī.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BvP 2 57.26
पर्वतस्य सुता देवी साऽऽविर्भूता च पर्वते।। पर्वताधिष्ठातृदेवी पार्वती तेन कीर्त्तिता
parvatasya sutā devī sā''virbhūtā ca parvate|| parvatādhiṣṭhātṛdevī pārvatī tena kīrttitā
The goddess (is) the daughter of the mountain (Parvata), and she appeared on the mountain; she is the goddess presiding over the mountain — therefore she is called Pārvatī.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BvP 2 57.27
सर्वकाले सना प्रोक्तो विस्तृते च तनीति च ।। सर्वत्रसर्वकाले च विद्यमाना सनातनी
sarvakāle sanā prokto vistṛte ca tanīti ca || sarvatrasarvakāle ca vidyamānā sanātanī
"Sanā" is declared (to mean) "at all times," and "tan" (to mean) "in what is extended": she who exists everywhere and at all times is Sanātanī.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
BvP 2 57.28
अर्थः षोडशनाम्नां च कीर्त्तितश्च महामुने।। यथागमं त्वं वेदोक्तोपाख्यानं च निशामय
arthaḥ ṣoḍaśanāmnāṃ ca kīrttitaśca mahāmune|| yathāgamaṃ tvaṃ vedoktopākhyānaṃ ca niśāmaya
And thus the meaning of the sixteen names has been declared, O great sage; now hear from me, as it is handed down, the narrative told in the Veda.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BvP 2 57.29
प्रथमे पूजिता सा च कृष्णेन परमात्मना।। वृन्दावने च सृष्ट्यादौ गोलोके रासमण्डले
prathame pūjitā sā ca kṛṣṇena paramātmanā|| vṛndāvane ca sṛṣṭyādau goloke rāsamaṇḍale
She was first worshipped by Kṛṣṇa, the supreme Self, in Vṛndāvana at the beginning of creation, in Goloka, in the circle of the rāsa dance.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BvP 2 57.31
भ्रष्टश्रिया महेन्द्रेण शापाद्दुर्वाससः पुरा ।। चतुर्थे पूजिता देवी भक्त्या भगवती सती
bhraṣṭaśriyā mahendreṇa śāpāddurvāsasaḥ purā || caturthe pūjitā devī bhaktyā bhagavatī satī
Fourth, the goddess, the blessed Satī, was worshipped with devotion by great Indra, who had formerly lost his splendour through the curse of Durvāsas.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BvP 2 57.32
तदा मुनीन्द्रैः सिद्धेन्द्रैर्देवैश्च मुनिपुङ्गवैः ।। पूजिता सर्वविश्वेषु समभूत्सर्वतः सदा
tadā munīndraiḥ siddhendrairdevaiśca munipuṅgavaiḥ || pūjitā sarvaviśveṣu samabhūtsarvataḥ sadā
Then, worshipped by the chief sages, by the chief siddhas, by the gods and by the bulls among sages, she came to be (worshipped) everywhere and always in all the universes.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BvP 2 57.33
तेजस्सु सर्वदेवानां साऽऽविर्भूता पुरा मुने ।। सर्वे देवा ददुस्तस्यै शस्त्राण्याभरणानि च
tejassu sarvadevānāṃ sā''virbhūtā purā mune || sarve devā dadustasyai śastrāṇyābharaṇāni ca
Formerly, O sage, she manifested within the energies of all the gods; and all the gods gave her weapons and ornaments.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BvP 2 57.34
दुर्गादयश्च दैत्याश्च निहता दुर्गया तया ।। दत्तं स्वराज्यं देवेभ्यो वरं च यदभीप्सितम् ।।
durgādayaśca daityāśca nihatā durgayā tayā || dattaṃ svarājyaṃ devebhyo varaṃ ca yadabhīpsitam ||
And Durga and the other demons were slain by her, Durgā; and their own kingdom was given back to the gods, and whatever boon they desired.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BvP 2 57.35
कल्पान्तरे पूजिता सा सुरथेन महात्मना ।। राज्ञा च मेधशिष्येण मृन्मय्यां च सरित्तटे
kalpāntare pūjitā sā surathena mahātmanā || rājñā ca medhaśiṣyeṇa mṛnmayyāṃ ca sarittaṭe
In another kalpa she was worshipped by the great-souled Suratha, and by the king who was a pupil of Medhas, in a clay image on a river bank.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BvP 2 57.36
मेषादिभिश्च महिषैः कृष्णसारैश्च मण्डकैः ।। छागैरिक्षुसुकूष्माण्डैः पक्षिभिर्बलिभिर्मुने
meṣādibhiśca mahiṣaiḥ kṛṣṇasāraiśca maṇḍakaiḥ || chāgairikṣusukūṣmāṇḍaiḥ pakṣibhirbalibhirmune
With rams and the like, with buffaloes, with black antelopes, with cakes, with goats, sugarcane and fine gourds, with birds — with (these) offerings, O sage —
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BvP 2 57.37
वेदोक्तांश्चैव दत्त्वैवमुपचारांस्तु षोडश ।। ध्यात्वा च कवचं धृत्वा संपूज्य च विधानतः
vedoktāṃścaiva dattvaivamupacārāṃstu ṣoḍaśa || dhyātvā ca kavacaṃ dhṛtvā saṃpūjya ca vidhānataḥ
and having likewise presented the sixteen articles of service prescribed in the Veda, having meditated (on her) and worn the protective charm (kavaca), and having worshipped (her) according to the rule,
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BvP 2 57.38
राजा कृत्वा परीहारं वरं प्राप यथेप्सितम् ।। मुक्तिं संप्राप वैश्यश्च संपूज्य च सरित्तटे
rājā kṛtvā parīhāraṃ varaṃ prāpa yathepsitam || muktiṃ saṃprāpa vaiśyaśca saṃpūjya ca sarittaṭe
the king, having performed the concluding rite, obtained the boon he wished for; and the vaiśya, having worshipped (her) on the river bank, attained liberation.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BvP 2 57.39
तुष्टाव राजा वैश्यश्च साश्रुनेत्रः कृताञ्जलिः ।। ससर्ज मृन्मयीं तां वै गभीरे निर्मले जले
tuṣṭāva rājā vaiśyaśca sāśrunetraḥ kṛtāñjaliḥ || sasarja mṛnmayīṃ tāṃ vai gabhīre nirmale jale
The king and the vaiśya praised (her) with tears in their eyes and folded hands, and released that clay image into deep, clear water.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BvP 2 57.41
त्यक्त्वा देहं च वैश्यस्तु पुष्करे दुष्करं तपः
tyaktvā dehaṃ ca vaiśyastu puṣkare duṣkaraṃ tapaḥ
And the vaiśya, having given up his body, (performed) hard austerity at Puṣkara —
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BvP 2 57.42
कृत्वा जगाम गोलोकं दुर्गादेवीवरेण सः ।। राजा ययौ स्वराज्यं च पूज्यो निष्कण्टकं बली
kṛtvā jagāma golokaṃ durgādevīvareṇa saḥ || rājā yayau svarājyaṃ ca pūjyo niṣkaṇṭakaṃ balī
— having done so, he went to Goloka by the boon of the goddess Durgā; and the king, honoured and mighty, went to his own kingdom, free of thorns.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BvP 2 57.43
भोगं च बुभुजे भूपः षष्टिवर्षसहस्रकम् ।। भार्यां स्वराज्यं संन्यस्य पुत्रे वै कालयोगतः
bhogaṃ ca bubhuje bhūpaḥ ṣaṣṭivarṣasahasrakam || bhāryāṃ svarājyaṃ saṃnyasya putre vai kālayogataḥ
And the king enjoyed enjoyments for sixty thousand years; then, in the course of time, entrusting his wife and his kingdom to his son,
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BvP 2 57.44
मनुर्बभूव सावर्णिस्तप्त्वा वै पुष्करे तपः ।। इत्येवं कथितं वत्स समासेन यथागमम्
manurbabhūva sāvarṇistaptvā vai puṣkare tapaḥ || ityevaṃ kathitaṃ vatsa samāsena yathāgamam
having performed austerity at Puṣkara he became the Manu Sāvarṇi. Thus, my child, has it been told in brief, as it is handed down —
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BvP 2 57.91
दुर्गाख्यानं मुनिश्रेष्ठ किं भूयः श्रोतुमिच्छसि
durgākhyānaṃ muniśreṣṭha kiṃ bhūyaḥ śrotumicchasi
— the tale of Durgā, O best of sages. What further do you wish to hear?
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition