Devi Bhagavata Purana — Skandha 1 — Chapter 6
DB 1 6.1
मधुकैटभयोर्युद्धोद्योगवर्णनम् ऋषय ऊचुः सौम्य यच्च त्वया प्रोक्तं शौरेर्युद्धं महार्णवे । मधुकैटभयोः सार्धं पञ्चवर्षसहस्रकम्
madhukaiṭabhayoryuddhodyogavarṇanam ṛṣaya ūcuḥ saumya yacca tvayā proktaṃ śaureryuddhaṃ mahārṇave | madhukaiṭabhayoḥ sārdhaṃ pañcavarṣasahasrakam
(Chapter: ) The description of the preparation for the battle of Madhu and Kaiṭabha. The sages said: Gentle one, as for what was told by you — Śauri's battle in the great ocean together with Madhu and Kaiṭabha, lasting five thousand years —
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 1 6.2
कस्मात्तौ दानवौ जातौ तस्मिन्नेकार्णवे जले । महावीर्यो दुराधर्षौ देवैरपि सुदुर्जयौ
kasmāttau dānavau jātau tasminnekārṇave jale | mahāvīryo durādharṣau devairapi sudurjayau
From what (cause) were those two Dānavas born in that water of the single ocean, of great valour, hard to assail, very hard to conquer even by the gods?
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 1 6.3
कथं तावसुरौ जातौ कथं च हरिणा हतौ । तदाचक्ष्व महाप्राज्ञ चरितं परमाद्भुतम्
kathaṃ tāvasurau jātau kathaṃ ca hariṇā hatau | tadācakṣva mahāprājña caritaṃ paramādbhutam
How were those two Asuras born, and how were they slain by Hari? Tell us that, greatly wise one — that most wondrous story.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 1 6.4
श्रोतुकामा वयं सर्वे त्वं वक्ता च बहुश्रुतः । दैवाच्चात्रैव संजातः संयोगश्च तथावयोः
śrotukāmā vayaṃ sarve tvaṃ vaktā ca bahuśrutaḥ | daivāccātraiva saṃjātaḥ saṃyogaśca tathāvayoḥ
We all desire to hear, and you are a speaker of much learning; and by fate our meeting has come about here in this very place.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 1 6.5
मूर्खेण सह संयोगो विषादपि सुदुर्जरः । विज्ञेन सह संयोगः सुधारससमः स्मृतः
mūrkheṇa saha saṃyogo viṣādapi sudurjaraḥ | vijñena saha saṃyogaḥ sudhārasasamaḥ smṛtaḥ
Association with a fool is harder to digest than poison; association with a wise man is held to be like the nectar of immortality.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 1 6.6
जीवन्ति पशवः सर्वे खादन्ति मेहयन्ति च । जानन्ति विषयाकारं व्यवायसुखमद्भुतम् प्रथमस्कन्धे मधुकैटभयोर्युद्धोद्योगवर्णनं नाम षष्ठोऽध्यायः
jīvanti paśavaḥ sarve khādanti mehayanti ca | jānanti viṣayākāraṃ vyavāyasukhamadbhutam prathamaskandhe madhukaiṭabhayoryuddhodyogavarṇanaṃ nāma ṣaṣṭho'dhyāyaḥ
All beasts live: they eat and they urinate, and they know the form of sense-objects and the wondrous pleasure of copulation. (Thus) in the first book, the sixth chapter, called the description of the preparation for the battle of Madhu and Kaiṭabha.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 1 6.7
न तेषां सदसज्ज्ञानं विवेको न च मोक्षदः । पशुभिस्ते समा ज्ञेया येषां न श्रवणादरः
na teṣāṃ sadasajjñānaṃ viveko na ca mokṣadaḥ | paśubhiste samā jñeyā yeṣāṃ na śravaṇādaraḥ
They have no knowledge of the real and the unreal, nor discrimination that bestows liberation; those who have no regard for hearing (sacred lore) are to be reckoned equal to beasts.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 1 6.8
मृगाद्याः पशवः केचिज्जानन्ति श्रावणं सुखम् । अश्रोत्राः फणिनश्चैव मुमुहुर्नादपानतः
mṛgādyāḥ paśavaḥ kecijjānanti śrāvaṇaṃ sukham | aśrotrāḥ phaṇinaścaiva mumuhurnādapānataḥ
Some beasts, deer and the like, know the pleasure of hearing; and serpents, though earless, were entranced by the drinking-in of sound.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 1 6.9
पञ्चानामिन्द्रियाणां वै शुभे श्रवणदर्शने । श्रवणाद्वस्तुविज्ञानं दर्शनाच्चित्तरञ्जनम्
pañcānāmindriyāṇāṃ vai śubhe śravaṇadarśane | śravaṇādvastuvijñānaṃ darśanāccittarañjanam
Of the five senses, hearing and sight are indeed the auspicious ones: from hearing comes knowledge of things, from seeing, delight of the mind.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 1 6.10
श्रवणं त्रिविधं प्रोक्तं सात्त्विकं राजसं तथा । तामसं च महाभाग सुज्ञोक्तं निश्चयान्वितम्
śravaṇaṃ trividhaṃ proktaṃ sāttvikaṃ rājasaṃ tathā | tāmasaṃ ca mahābhāga sujñoktaṃ niścayānvitam
Hearing is said to be of three kinds — sāttvika, rājasa, and tāmasa, O greatly fortunate one; this has been well stated by the wise with certainty.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 1 6.11
सात्त्विकं वेदशास्त्रादि साहित्यं चैव राजसम् । तामसं युद्धवार्ता च परदोषप्रकाशनम्
sāttvikaṃ vedaśāstrādi sāhityaṃ caiva rājasam | tāmasaṃ yuddhavārtā ca paradoṣaprakāśanam
The sāttvika is the Vedas, the scriptures and the like; belles-lettres (erotic poetry) is rājasa; tāmasa is talk of battle and the publishing of others' faults.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 1 6.12
सात्त्विकं त्रिविधं प्रोक्तं प्रज्ञावद्भिश्च पण्डितैः । उत्तमं मध्यमं चैव तथैवाधममित्युत
sāttvikaṃ trividhaṃ proktaṃ prajñāvadbhiśca paṇḍitaiḥ | uttamaṃ madhyamaṃ caiva tathaivādhamamityuta
The sāttvika is said by wise and learned men to be of three kinds: the highest, the middling, and likewise the lowest.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 1 6.13
उत्तमं मोक्षफलदं स्वर्गदं मध्यमं तथा । अधमं भोगदं प्रोक्तं निर्णीय विदितं बुधैः
uttamaṃ mokṣaphaladaṃ svargadaṃ madhyamaṃ tathā | adhamaṃ bhogadaṃ proktaṃ nirṇīya viditaṃ budhaiḥ
The highest yields liberation as its fruit, the middling gives heaven, and the lowest is said to give enjoyment — so it has been determined and known by the wise.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 1 6.14
साहित्यं चैव त्रिविधं स्वीयायां चोत्तमं स्मृतम् । मध्यमं वारयोषायां परोढायां तथाधमम्
sāhityaṃ caiva trividhaṃ svīyāyāṃ cottamaṃ smṛtam | madhyamaṃ vārayoṣāyāṃ paroḍhāyāṃ tathādhamam
And belles-lettres too is threefold: concerning one's own wife it is held the highest, concerning a courtesan middling, and concerning another's wife the lowest.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 1 6.15
तामसं त्रिविधं ज्ञेयं विद्वद्भिः शास्त्रदर्शिभिः । आततायिनियुद्धं यत्तदुत्तममुदाहृतम्
tāmasaṃ trividhaṃ jñeyaṃ vidvadbhiḥ śāstradarśibhiḥ | ātatāyiniyuddhaṃ yattaduttamamudāhṛtam
The tāmasa is to be known as threefold by the learned who see into the scriptures: that battle which is against an aggressor is declared the highest.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 1 6.16
मध्यमं चापि विद्वेषात्पाण्डवानां तथारिभिः । अधमं निर्निमित्तं तु विवादे कलहे तथा
madhyamaṃ cāpi vidveṣātpāṇḍavānāṃ tathāribhiḥ | adhamaṃ nirnimittaṃ tu vivāde kalahe tathā
And the middling is (that waged) out of enmity, as by the enemies of the Pāṇḍavas; but the lowest is that without cause, in dispute and in quarrel.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 1 6.17
तदत्र श्रवणं मुख्यं पुराणस्य महामते । बुद्धिप्रवर्धनं पुण्यं ततः पापप्रणाशनम्
tadatra śravaṇaṃ mukhyaṃ purāṇasya mahāmate | buddhipravardhanaṃ puṇyaṃ tataḥ pāpapraṇāśanam
So here, O great-minded one, the hearing of the Purāṇa is the chief thing; it increases understanding, is meritorious, and thereby destroys sin.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 1 6.18
तदाख्याहि महाबुद्धे कथां पौराणिकीं शुभाम् । श्रुतां द्वैपायनात्पूर्वं सर्वार्थस्य प्रसाधिनीम्
tadākhyāhi mahābuddhe kathāṃ paurāṇikīṃ śubhām | śrutāṃ dvaipāyanātpūrvaṃ sarvārthasya prasādhinīm
So tell (us), O you of great intellect, the auspicious ancient tale, heard formerly from Dvaipāyana, which accomplishes every aim.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 1 6.19
सूत उवाच यूयं धन्या महाभागा धन्योऽहं पृथिवीतले । येषां श्रवणबुद्धिश्च ममापि कथने किल
sūta uvāca yūyaṃ dhanyā mahābhāgā dhanyo'haṃ pṛthivītale | yeṣāṃ śravaṇabuddhiśca mamāpi kathane kila
Sūta said: Blessed are you, greatly fortunate ones, and blessed am I on the face of the earth — you who have the mind to hear, and I too (the mind) to tell.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 1 6.20
पुरा चैकार्णवे जाते विलीने भुवनत्रये । शेषपर्यङ्कसुप्ते च देवदेवे जनार्दने
purā caikārṇave jāte vilīne bhuvanatraye | śeṣaparyaṅkasupte ca devadeve janārdane
Formerly, when (all) had become a single ocean and the three worlds were dissolved, and the god of gods Janārdana lay asleep on the couch of Śeṣa,
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 1 6.21
विष्णुकर्णमलोद्भूतौ दानवौ मधुकैटभौ । महाबलौ च तौ दैत्यौ विवृद्धौ सागरे जले
viṣṇukarṇamalodbhūtau dānavau madhukaiṭabhau | mahābalau ca tau daityau vivṛddhau sāgare jale
two Dānavas, Madhu and Kaiṭabha, arose from the wax of Viṣṇu's ear; and those two Daityas, of great strength, grew up in the water of the sea.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 1 6.22
क्रीडमानौ स्थितौ तत्र विचरन्तावितस्ततः । तावेकदा महाकायौ क्रीडासक्तौ महार्णवे
krīḍamānau sthitau tatra vicarantāvitastataḥ | tāvekadā mahākāyau krīḍāsaktau mahārṇave
They stayed there playing, roaming here and there; one day those two of huge bodies, absorbed in play in the great ocean,
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 1 6.23
चिन्तामवापतुश्चित्ते भ्रातराविव संस्थितौ । नाकारणं भवेत्कार्यं सर्वत्रैषा परम्परा
cintāmavāpatuścitte bhrātarāviva saṃsthitau | nākāraṇaṃ bhavetkāryaṃ sarvatraiṣā paramparā
fell into thought in their minds, standing together as brothers (do): "No effect can come about without a cause — everywhere this is the sequence.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 1 6.24
आधेयं तु विनाधारं न तिष्ठति कथञ्चन । आधाराधेयभावस्तु भाति नो चित्तगोचरः
ādheyaṃ tu vinādhāraṃ na tiṣṭhati kathañcana | ādhārādheyabhāvastu bhāti no cittagocaraḥ
And what is to be supported does not in any way stand without a support; yet the relation of support and supported is not evident, not within the range of our thought.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 1 6.25
क्व तिष्ठति जलं चेदं सुखरूपं सुविस्तरम् । केन सृष्टं कथं जातं मग्नावावाञ्जले स्थितौ
kva tiṣṭhati jalaṃ cedaṃ sukharūpaṃ suvistaram | kena sṛṣṭaṃ kathaṃ jātaṃ magnāvāvāñjale sthitau
Where does this water rest, pleasant in form and vastly extended? By whom was it created, how did it come to be? And we two stand plunged in the water.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 1 6.26
आवां वा कथमुत्पन्नौ केन वोत्पादितावुभौ । पितरौ क्वेति विज्ञानं नास्ति कामं तथावयोः
āvāṃ vā kathamutpannau kena votpāditāvubhau | pitarau kveti vijñānaṃ nāsti kāmaṃ tathāvayoḥ
Or how were we two born, and by whom were we both produced? Where are (our) parents? We have no knowledge of this, though we wish it.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 1 6.27
सूत उवाच एवं कामयमानौ तौ जग्मतुर्न विनिश्चयम् । उवाच कैटभस्तत्र मधुं पार्श्वे स्थितं जले
sūta uvāca evaṃ kāmayamānau tau jagmaturna viniścayam | uvāca kaiṭabhastatra madhuṃ pārśve sthitaṃ jale
Sūta said: Desiring thus, the two reached no conclusion; then Kaiṭabha spoke to Madhu, who stood beside him in the water.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 1 6.28
कैटभ उवाच मधो वामत्र सलिले स्थातुं शक्तिर्महाबला । वर्तते भ्रातरचला कारणं सा हि मे मता
kaiṭabha uvāca madho vāmatra salile sthātuṃ śaktirmahābalā | vartate bhrātaracalā kāraṇaṃ sā hi me matā
Kaiṭabha said: Madhu, the power by which we two can stand here in the water is greatly strong and unshaken, brother; that indeed I hold to be the cause.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 1 6.29
तया ततमिदं तोयं तदाधारं च तिष्ठति । सा एव परमा देवी कारणञ्च तथावयोः
tayā tatamidaṃ toyaṃ tadādhāraṃ ca tiṣṭhati | sā eva paramā devī kāraṇañca tathāvayoḥ
By her this water is pervaded, and it rests with her as its support; she alone is the supreme Goddess, and the cause of us two as well.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 1 6.30
एवं विबुध्यमानौ तौ चिन्ताविष्टौ यदासुरौ । तदाकाशे श्रुतं ताभ्यां वाग्बीजं सुमनोहरम्
evaṃ vibudhyamānau tau cintāviṣṭau yadāsurau | tadākāśe śrutaṃ tābhyāṃ vāgbījaṃ sumanoharam
While the two Asuras were thus reflecting, absorbed in thought, then in the sky a most delightful seed-syllable of speech was heard by them.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 1 6.31
गृहीतं च ततस्ताभ्यां तस्याभ्यासो दृढः कृतः । तदा सौदामनी दृष्टा ताभ्यां खे चोत्थिता शुभा
gṛhītaṃ ca tatastābhyāṃ tasyābhyāso dṛḍhaḥ kṛtaḥ | tadā saudāmanī dṛṣṭā tābhyāṃ khe cotthitā śubhā
And it was taken up by them, and firm repetition of it was made; then a beautiful flash of lightning was seen by them, risen in the sky.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 1 6.32
ताभ्यां विचारितं तत्र मन्त्रोऽयं नात्र संशयः । तथा ध्यानमिदं दृष्टं गगने सगुणं किल
tābhyāṃ vicāritaṃ tatra mantro'yaṃ nātra saṃśayaḥ | tathā dhyānamidaṃ dṛṣṭaṃ gagane saguṇaṃ kila
They considered there: "This is a mantra, there is no doubt of it; and this with its attribute, seen in the sky, is the object of meditation."
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 1 6.33
निराहारौ जितात्मानौ तन्मनस्कौ समाहितौ । बभूवतुर्विचिन्त्यैवं जपध्यानपरायणौ
nirāhārau jitātmānau tanmanaskau samāhitau | babhūvaturvicintyaivaṃ japadhyānaparāyaṇau
Having reflected thus, the two became foodless, self-controlled, their minds fixed on that, concentrated, devoted to recitation and meditation.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 1 6.34
एवं वर्षसहस्रं तु ताभ्यां तप्तं महत्तपः । प्रसन्ना परमा शक्तिर्जाता सा परमा तयोः
evaṃ varṣasahasraṃ tu tābhyāṃ taptaṃ mahattapaḥ | prasannā paramā śaktirjātā sā paramā tayoḥ
Thus for a thousand years great austerity was performed by them, and that supreme Power, the highest, became pleased with them.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 1 6.35
खिन्नौ तौ दानवौ दृष्ट्वा तपसे कृतनिश्चयौ । तयोरनुग्रहार्थाय वागुवाचाशरीरिणी
khinnau tau dānavau dṛṣṭvā tapase kṛtaniścayau | tayoranugrahārthāya vāguvācāśarīriṇī
Seeing those two Dānavas exhausted and resolved upon austerity, a bodiless voice spoke, in order to favour them:
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 1 6.36
वरं वां वाञ्छितं दैत्यौ ब्रूतं परमसम्मतम् । ददामि परितुष्टास्मि युवयोस्तपसा किल
varaṃ vāṃ vāñchitaṃ daityau brūtaṃ paramasammatam | dadāmi parituṣṭāsmi yuvayostapasā kila
"Speak, O Daityas, the boon you two desire, whatever is most agreeable; I grant it, for I am well pleased with the austerity of you both."
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 1 6.37
सूत उवाच इति श्रुत्वा तु तां वाणीं दानवावूचतुस्तदा । स्वेच्छया मरणं देवि वरं नौ देहि सुव्रते
sūta uvāca iti śrutvā tu tāṃ vāṇīṃ dānavāvūcatustadā | svecchayā maraṇaṃ devi varaṃ nau dehi suvrate
Sūta said: Having heard that speech, the two Dānavas then said: "O goddess, O you of good vows, grant us the boon of death at our own will."
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 1 6.38
वागुवाच वाञ्छितं मरणं दैत्यौ भवेद्वा मत्प्रसादतः । अजेयौ देवदैत्यैश्च भ्रातरौ नात्र संशयः
vāguvāca vāñchitaṃ maraṇaṃ daityau bhavedvā matprasādataḥ | ajeyau devadaityaiśca bhrātarau nātra saṃśayaḥ
The Voice (Vāk) said: "O Daityas, by my favour let death be as you wish. You two brothers shall be unconquerable by gods and demons — there is no doubt in this."
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 1 6.39
सूत उवाच इति दत्तवरौ देव्या दानवौ मददर्पितौ । चक्रतुः सागरे क्रीडां यादोगणसमन्वितौ
sūta uvāca iti dattavarau devyā dānavau madadarpitau | cakratuḥ sāgare krīḍāṃ yādogaṇasamanvitau
Sūta said: Thus granted the boon by the goddess, the two Dānavas, puffed up with pride, sported in the ocean together with the hosts of sea-creatures.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 1 6.40
कालेन कियता विप्रा दानवाभ्यां यदृच्छया । दृष्टः प्रजापतिर्ब्रह्मा पद्मासनगतः प्रभुः
kālena kiyatā viprā dānavābhyāṃ yadṛcchayā | dṛṣṭaḥ prajāpatirbrahmā padmāsanagataḥ prabhuḥ
After some time, O brāhmaṇas, the two Dānavas by chance saw the lord Brahmā, the Prajāpati, seated on his lotus seat.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 1 6.41
दृष्ट्वा तु मुदितावास्तां युद्धकामौ महाबलौ । तमूचतुस्तदा तत्र युद्धं नौ देहि सुव्रत
dṛṣṭvā tu muditāvāstāṃ yuddhakāmau mahābalau | tamūcatustadā tatra yuddhaṃ nau dehi suvrata
On seeing (him) the two of great strength were delighted, desiring battle, and then and there they said to him: "O you of good vows, give us a fight!"
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 1 6.42
नोचेत्पद्मं परित्यज्य यथेष्टं गच्छ माचिरम् । यदि त्वं निर्बलश्चासि क्व योग्यं शुभमासनम्
nocetpadmaṃ parityajya yatheṣṭaṃ gaccha māciram | yadi tvaṃ nirbalaścāsi kva yogyaṃ śubhamāsanam
"Otherwise, abandon the lotus and go where you please, without delay. If you are without strength, where (is your claim to) this fine seat that is fit (for a hero)?"
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 1 6.43
वीरभोग्यमिदं स्थानं कातरोऽसि त्यजाशु वै । तयोरिति वचः श्रुत्वा चिन्तामाप प्रजापतिः
vīrabhogyamidaṃ sthānaṃ kātaro'si tyajāśu vai | tayoriti vacaḥ śrutvā cintāmāpa prajāpatiḥ
"This place is for the enjoyment of heroes; you are a coward — leave it at once!" Hearing these words of the two, the Prajāpati fell into anxiety.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 1 6.44
दृष्ट्वा च बलिनौ वीरौ किं करोमीति तापसः । चिन्ताविष्टस्तदा तस्थौ चिन्तयन्मनसा तदा
dṛṣṭvā ca balinau vīrau kiṃ karomīti tāpasaḥ | cintāviṣṭastadā tasthau cintayanmanasā tadā
And seeing the two mighty heroes, the ascetic (thought) "What shall I do?" — filled with anxiety he stood there then, pondering in his mind.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition