Devi Bhagavata Purana — Skandha 4 — Chapter 16
DB 4 16.1
हरेर्नानावतारवर्णनम् जनमेजय उवाच भृगुशापान्मुनिश्रेष्ठ हरेरद्भुतकर्मणः । अवताराः कथं जाताः कस्मिन्मन्वन्तरे विभो
harernānāvatāravarṇanam janamejaya uvāca bhṛguśāpānmuniśreṣṭha hareradbhutakarmaṇaḥ | avatārāḥ kathaṃ jātāḥ kasminmanvantare vibho
The description of Hari's various incarnations. Janamejaya said: Best of sages, how did the incarnations of Hari, of wondrous deeds, come about through Bhṛgu's curse? In which Manu-interval, O mighty one?
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 4 16.2
विस्तराद्वद धर्मज्ञ अवतारकथा हरेः । पापनाशकरीं ब्रह्मञ्छ्रुतां सर्वसुखावहाम्
vistarādvada dharmajña avatārakathā hareḥ | pāpanāśakarīṃ brahmañchrutāṃ sarvasukhāvahām
Tell (it) at length, knower of dharma; the tale of Hari's incarnations, which destroys sin, O brahmin, and which, when heard, brings every happiness.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 4 16.3
व्यास उवाच शृणु राजन् प्रवक्ष्यामि अवतारान् हरेर्यथा । यस्मिन्मन्वन्तरे जाता युगे यस्मिन्नराधिप
vyāsa uvāca śṛṇu rājan pravakṣyāmi avatārān hareryathā | yasminmanvantare jātā yuge yasminnarādhipa
Vyāsa said: Listen, O king, I shall relate how Hari's incarnations (came to be), in which Manu-interval they were born and in which age, O lord of men.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 4 16.4
येन रूपेण यत्कार्यं कृतं नारायणेन वै । तत्सर्वं नृप वक्ष्यामि संक्षेपेण तवाधुना
yena rūpeṇa yatkāryaṃ kṛtaṃ nārāyaṇena vai | tatsarvaṃ nṛpa vakṣyāmi saṃkṣepeṇa tavādhunā
With which form and what task was done by Nārāyaṇa — all that I shall now tell you in brief, O king.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 4 16.5
धर्मस्यैवावतारोऽभूच्चाक्षुषे मनुसम्भवे । नरनारायणौ धर्मपुत्रौ ख्यातौ महीतले
dharmasyaivāvatāro'bhūccākṣuṣe manusambhave | naranārāyaṇau dharmaputrau khyātau mahītale
An incarnation of Dharma himself occurred in the origination of the Cākṣuṣa Manu: Nara and Nārāyaṇa, the two sons of Dharma, renowned upon the earth.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 4 16.6
अथ वैवस्वताख्येऽस्मिन्द्वितीये तु युगे पुनः । दत्तात्रेयावतारोऽत्रेः पुत्रत्वमगमद्धरिः
atha vaivasvatākhye'smindvitīye tu yuge punaḥ | dattātreyāvatāro'treḥ putratvamagamaddhariḥ
Then again, in this (interval) named Vaivasvata, in the second age, (came) the Dattātreya incarnation: Hari attained sonship to Atri.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 4 16.7
ब्रह्मा विष्णुस्तथा रुद्रस्त्रयोऽमी देवसत्तमाः । पुत्रत्वमगमन्देवास्तस्यात्रेर्भार्यया वृताः
brahmā viṣṇustathā rudrastrayo'mī devasattamāḥ | putratvamagamandevāstasyātrerbhāryayā vṛtāḥ
Brahmā, Viṣṇu and likewise Rudra — these three, the best of gods — those gods attained sonship, being chosen (invited) by the wife of that Atri.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 4 16.8
अनसूयात्रिपत्नी च सतीनामुत्तमा सती । यया सम्प्रार्थिता देवाः पुत्रत्वमगमंस्त्रयः
anasūyātripatnī ca satīnāmuttamā satī | yayā samprārthitā devāḥ putratvamagamaṃstrayaḥ
And Anasūyā, Atri's wife, was the foremost chaste woman among chaste women; entreated by her, the three gods attained sonship.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 4 16.9
ब्रह्माभूत्सोमरूपस्तु दत्तात्रेयो हरिः स्वयम् । दुर्वासा रुद्ररूपोऽसौ पुत्रत्वं ते प्रपेदिरे
brahmābhūtsomarūpastu dattātreyo hariḥ svayam | durvāsā rudrarūpo'sau putratvaṃ te prapedire
Brahmā became in the form of Soma (the moon), Hari himself as Dattātreya, and this Durvāsas in the form of Rudra — they attained sonship to him.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 4 16.10
नृसिंहस्यावतारस्तु देवकार्यार्थसिद्धये । चतुर्थे तु युगे जातो द्विधारूपो मनोहरः
nṛsiṃhasyāvatārastu devakāryārthasiddhaye | caturthe tu yuge jāto dvidhārūpo manoharaḥ
But the incarnation of Nṛsiṃha, for the accomplishment of the gods' purpose, was born in the fourth age, of twofold form, charming.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 4 16.11
हिरण्यकशिपोः सम्यग्वधाय भगवान् हरिः । चक्रे रूपं नारसिंहं देवानां विस्मयप्रदम्
hiraṇyakaśipoḥ samyagvadhāya bhagavān hariḥ | cakre rūpaṃ nārasiṃhaṃ devānāṃ vismayapradam
For the proper slaying of Hiraṇyakaśipu, the Lord Hari made the man-lion form, which astonished the gods.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 4 16.12
बलेर्नियमनार्थाय श्रेष्ठे त्रेतायुगे तथा । चकार रूपं भगवान् वामनं कश्यपान्मुनेः
balerniyamanārthāya śreṣṭhe tretāyuge tathā | cakāra rūpaṃ bhagavān vāmanaṃ kaśyapānmuneḥ
And for the restraining of Bali, in the best Tretā age, the Lord took the dwarf form, from the sage Kaśyapa.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 4 16.13
छलयित्वा मखे भूपं राज्यं तस्य जहार ह । पाताले स्थापयामास बलिं वामनरूपधृक्
chalayitvā makhe bhūpaṃ rājyaṃ tasya jahāra ha | pātāle sthāpayāmāsa baliṃ vāmanarūpadhṛk
Having deceived the king at the sacrifice, he seized his kingdom, and, bearing the dwarf form, he established Bali in the underworld.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 4 16.14
युगे चैकोनविंशेऽथ त्रेताख्ये भगवान् हरिः । जमदग्निसुतो जातो रामो नाम महाबलः
yuge caikonaviṃśe'tha tretākhye bhagavān hariḥ | jamadagnisuto jāto rāmo nāma mahābalaḥ
Then in the nineteenth age, called Tretā, the Lord Hari was born as the son of Jamadagni, named Rāma, of great strength.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 4 16.15
क्षत्रियान्तकरः श्रीमान्सत्यवादी जितेन्द्रियः । दत्तवान्मेदिनीं कृत्स्नां कश्यपाय महात्मने
kṣatriyāntakaraḥ śrīmānsatyavādī jitendriyaḥ | dattavānmedinīṃ kṛtsnāṃ kaśyapāya mahātmane
The destroyer of the kṣatriyas, glorious, truth-speaking, with senses subdued, he gave the whole earth to the great-souled Kaśyapa.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 4 16.16
यो वै परशुरामाख्यो हरेरद्भुतकर्मणः । अवतारस्तु राजेन्द्र कथितः पापनाशनः चतुर्थस्कन्धे हरेर्नानावतारवर्णनं नाम षोडशोऽध्यायः
yo vai paraśurāmākhyo hareradbhutakarmaṇaḥ | avatārastu rājendra kathitaḥ pāpanāśanaḥ caturthaskandhe harernānāvatāravarṇanaṃ nāma ṣoḍaśo'dhyāyaḥ
That incarnation of Hari of wondrous deeds, called Paraśurāma, has been told, O best of kings — (a tale) destroying sin. In the fourth book, the sixteenth chapter, named 'The Description of Hari's Various Incarnations'.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 4 16.17
त्रेतायुगे रघोर्वंशे रामो दशरथात्मजः । नरनारायणांशौ द्वौ जातौ भुवि महाबलौ
tretāyuge raghorvaṃśe rāmo daśarathātmajaḥ | naranārāyaṇāṃśau dvau jātau bhuvi mahābalau
In the Tretā age, in Raghu's line, Rāma, the son of Daśaratha — the two portions of Nara and Nārāyaṇa were born on earth, of great strength.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 4 16.18
अष्टाविंशे युगे शस्तौ द्वापरेऽर्जुनशौरिणौ । धराभारावतारार्थं जातौ कृष्णार्जुनौ भुवि
aṣṭāviṃśe yuge śastau dvāpare'rjunaśauriṇau | dharābhārāvatārārthaṃ jātau kṛṣṇārjunau bhuvi
In the twenty-eighth age, in the Dvāpara, the two praised ones, Arjuna and the Śauri (Kṛṣṇa) — for the removal of the earth's burden Kṛṣṇa and Arjuna were born on earth.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 4 16.19
कृतवन्तौ महायुद्धं कुरुक्षेत्रेऽतिदारुणम् । एवं युगे युगे राजन्नवतारा हरेः किल
kṛtavantau mahāyuddhaṃ kurukṣetre'tidāruṇam | evaṃ yuge yuge rājannavatārā hareḥ kila
The two waged a great, most terrible war at Kurukṣetra. Thus in age after age, O king, there are indeed incarnations of Hari.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 4 16.20
भवन्ति बहवः कामं प्रकृतेरनुरूपतः । प्रकृतेरखिलं सर्वं वशमेतज्जगत्त्रयम्
bhavanti bahavaḥ kāmaṃ prakṛteranurūpataḥ | prakṛterakhilaṃ sarvaṃ vaśametajjagattrayam
Many come to be, at will, in accordance with Prakṛti; everything, all of it — these three worlds — is under Prakṛti's sway.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 4 16.21
यथेच्छति तथैवेयं भ्रामयत्यनिशं जगत् । पुरुषस्य प्रियार्थं सा रचयत्यखिलं जगत्
yathecchati tathaiveyaṃ bhrāmayatyaniśaṃ jagat | puruṣasya priyārthaṃ sā racayatyakhilaṃ jagat
As she wishes, just so does she ceaselessly whirl the world about; for the pleasure of the Person she fashions the whole world.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 4 16.22
सृष्ट्वा पुरा हि भगवाञ्जगदेतच्चराचरम् । सर्वादिः सर्वगश्चासौ दुर्ज्ञेयः परमोऽव्ययः
sṛṣṭvā purā hi bhagavāñjagadetaccarācaram | sarvādiḥ sarvagaścāsau durjñeyaḥ paramo'vyayaḥ
For in the beginning the Lord, having created this world with its moving and unmoving beings, (remains) the origin of all, all-pervading, hard to know, supreme, imperishable.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 4 16.23
निरालम्बो निराकारो निःस्पृहश्च परात्परः । उपाधितस्त्रिधा भाति यस्याः सा प्रकृतिः परा
nirālambo nirākāro niḥspṛhaśca parātparaḥ | upādhitastridhā bhāti yasyāḥ sā prakṛtiḥ parā
Supportless, formless, free of longing, higher than the high — she of whom (this is said), who by reason of the limiting conditions shines forth in threefold shape, is the supreme Nature (Prakṛti).
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
DB 4 16.24
उत्पत्तिकालयोगात्सा भिन्ना भाति शिवा तदा । सा विश्वं कुरुते कामं सा पालयति कामदा
utpattikālayogātsā bhinnā bhāti śivā tadā | sā viśvaṃ kurute kāmaṃ sā pālayati kāmadā
Through conjunction with the time of origination she then appears as divided, auspicious; she makes the universe at will, and she, the granter of desires, protects it.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 4 16.25
कल्पान्ते संहरत्येव त्रिरूपा विश्वमोहिनी । तया युक्तोऽसृज द्ब्रह्मा विष्णुः पाति तयान्वितः
kalpānte saṃharatyeva trirūpā viśvamohinī | tayā yukto'sṛja dbrahmā viṣṇuḥ pāti tayānvitaḥ
At the end of the aeon she indeed withdraws (it) — she of three forms, the deluder of the universe. Joined with her Brahmā created; Viṣṇu, accompanied by her, protects.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 4 16.26
रुद्रः संहरते कामं तया सम्मिलितः शिवः । सा चैवोत्पाद्य काकुत्स्थं पुरा वै नृपसत्तमम्
rudraḥ saṃharate kāmaṃ tayā sammilitaḥ śivaḥ | sā caivotpādya kākutsthaṃ purā vai nṛpasattamam
Rudra, the auspicious one, united with her, withdraws (all) at will. And she too, in olden time, having produced Kākutstha, the best of kings,
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 4 16.27
कुत्रचित्स्थापयामास दानवानां जयाय च । एवमस्मिंश्च संसारे सुखदुःखान्विताः किल
kutracitsthāpayāmāsa dānavānāṃ jayāya ca | evamasmiṃśca saṃsāre sukhaduḥkhānvitāḥ kila
placed (him) somewhere for the conquest of the Dānavas. Thus indeed in this round of existence, attended by pleasure and pain,
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 4 16.28
भवन्ति प्राणिनः सर्वे विधितन्त्रनियन्त्रिताः
bhavanti prāṇinaḥ sarve vidhitantraniyantritāḥ
all living beings come to be, controlled by the mechanism of ordinance.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition