Devi Bhagavata Purana — Skandha 5 — Chapter 4
DB 5 4.1
भयातुरेन्द्रादिदेवैः सुरगुरुणा सह परामर्शवर्णनम् व्यास उवाच गते दूते सुरेन्द्रोऽपि समाहूय सुरानथ । यमवायुधनाध्यक्षवरुणानिदमूचिवान्
bhayāturendrādidevaiḥ suraguruṇā saha parāmarśavarṇanam vyāsa uvāca gate dūte surendro'pi samāhūya surānatha | yamavāyudhanādhyakṣavaruṇānidamūcivān
(Chapter title:) The account of the deliberation of Indra and the other gods, stricken with fear, together with the preceptor of the gods. Vyāsa said: When the messenger had gone, Indra too summoned the gods and spoke thus to Yama, Vāyu, the lord of wealth (Kubera), and Varuṇa:
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 5 4.2
महिषो नाम दैत्येन्द्रो रम्भपुत्रो महाबलः । वरदर्पमदोन्मत्तो मायाशतविचक्षणः
mahiṣo nāma daityendro rambhaputro mahābalaḥ | varadarpamadonmatto māyāśatavicakṣaṇaḥ
"There is a lord of the Daityas named Mahiṣa, son of Rambhā, of great strength, drunk with the arrogance and intoxication of a boon, skilled in a hundred illusions.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 5 4.3
तस्य दूतोऽद्य सम्प्राप्तः प्रेषितस्तेन भोः सुराः । स्वर्गकामेन लुब्धेन मामुवाचेदृशं वचः
tasya dūto'dya samprāptaḥ preṣitastena bhoḥ surāḥ | svargakāmena lubdhena māmuvācedṛśaṃ vacaḥ
His messenger has arrived today, sent by him, O gods; and, sent by that greedy one who covets heaven, he spoke to me words such as these:
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 5 4.4
त्यज देवालयं शक्र यथेच्छं व्रज वासव । सेवां वा कुरु दैत्यस्य महिषस्य महात्मनः भयातुरेन्द्रादिदेवैः सुरगुरुणा सह परामर्शवर्णनं नाम चतुर्थोऽध्यायः
tyaja devālayaṃ śakra yathecchaṃ vraja vāsava | sevāṃ vā kuru daityasya mahiṣasya mahātmanaḥ bhayāturendrādidevaiḥ suraguruṇā saha parāmarśavarṇanaṃ nāma caturtho'dhyāyaḥ
'Abandon the gods' abode, Śakra; go where you please, Vāsava; or else render service to the Daitya, the great Mahiṣa.' — [Here ends] the fourth chapter, called "The Description of the Deliberation of Indra and the other Gods, Stricken with Fear, together with the Preceptor of the Gods."
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 5 4.5
दयावान्दानवेन्द्रोऽसौ स ते वृत्तिं विधास्यति । नतेषु भृत्यभूतेषु न कुप्यति कदाचन
dayāvāndānavendro'sau sa te vṛttiṃ vidhāsyati | nateṣu bhṛtyabhūteṣu na kupyati kadācana
'That lord of the Dānavas is compassionate; he will provide you a livelihood. He is never angry with those who bow and become his servants.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 5 4.6
नोचेद्युद्धाय देवेश सेनोद्योगं कुरु स्वयम् । गते मयि स दैत्येन्द्रस्त्वरितः समुपेष्यति
nocedyuddhāya deveśa senodyogaṃ kuru svayam | gate mayi sa daityendrastvaritaḥ samupeṣyati
'Otherwise, lord of the gods, muster your army yourself for battle; when I have gone, that lord of the Daityas will come at once.'
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 5 4.7
इत्युक्त्वा स गतो दूतो दानवस्य दुरात्मनः । किं कर्तव्यमतः कार्यं चिन्तयध्वं सुरोत्तमाः
ityuktvā sa gato dūto dānavasya durātmanaḥ | kiṃ kartavyamataḥ kāryaṃ cintayadhvaṃ surottamāḥ
Having said this, the messenger of the evil-souled Dānava departed. So consider, O best of gods, what should now be done in this matter.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 5 4.8
दुर्बलोऽपि न चोपेक्ष्यः शत्रुर्बलवता सुराः । विशेषेण सदोद्योगी बलवान्बलदर्पितः
durbalo'pi na copekṣyaḥ śatrurbalavatā surāḥ | viśeṣeṇa sadodyogī balavānbaladarpitaḥ
Even a weak enemy is not to be disregarded by a strong man, O gods — much less one who is always active, strong, and proud of his strength.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 5 4.9
उद्यमः किल कर्तव्यो यथाबुद्धि यथाबलम् । दैवाधीनो भवेन्नूनं जयो वाथ पराजयः
udyamaḥ kila kartavyo yathābuddhi yathābalam | daivādhīno bhavennūnaṃ jayo vātha parājayaḥ
Effort indeed must be made, according to one's intelligence and according to one's strength; but victory or else defeat surely depends on fate.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 5 4.10
सन्धियोगो न चात्रास्ति खले सन्धिर्निरर्थकः । सर्वथा साधुभिः कार्यं विचार्य च पुनः पुनः
sandhiyogo na cātrāsti khale sandhirnirarthakaḥ | sarvathā sādhubhiḥ kāryaṃ vicārya ca punaḥ punaḥ
And here there is no possibility of a treaty: a treaty with a scoundrel is pointless. In every case a task should be undertaken by good men only after considering it again and again.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 5 4.11
यानमप्यधुना नैव कर्तव्यं सहसा पुनः । प्रेक्षकाः प्रेषणीयाश्च शीघ्रगाः सुप्रवेशकाः
yānamapyadhunā naiva kartavyaṃ sahasā punaḥ | prekṣakāḥ preṣaṇīyāśca śīghragāḥ supraveśakāḥ
Nor should a march be undertaken now, rashly, again. Rather, spies should be sent — swift-moving and skilled at gaining entry —
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 5 4.12
इङ्गितज्ञाश्च निःसङ्गा निःस्पृहाः सत्यवादिनः । सेनाभियोगं प्रस्थानं बलसंख्यां यथार्थतः
iṅgitajñāśca niḥsaṅgā niḥspṛhāḥ satyavādinaḥ | senābhiyogaṃ prasthānaṃ balasaṃkhyāṃ yathārthataḥ
who know (men's) hints, are unattached, free of craving, and speak the truth; (let them learn) accurately the army's mobilization, its setting out, and the count of its forces,
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 5 4.13
वीराणां च परिज्ञानं कृत्वायान्तु त्वरान्विताः । ज्ञात्वा दैत्यपतेस्तस्य सैन्यस्य च बलाबलम्
vīrāṇāṃ ca parijñānaṃ kṛtvāyāntu tvarānvitāḥ | jñātvā daityapatestasya sainyasya ca balābalam
and having gained full knowledge of its heroes, let them return with speed. Having learned the strength and weakness of that lord of the Daityas and of his army,
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 5 4.14
करिष्यामि ततस्तूर्णं यानं वा दुर्गसंग्रहम् । विचार्य खलु कर्तव्यं कार्यं बुद्धिमता सदा । सहसा विहितं कार्यं दुःखदं सर्वथा भवेत्
kariṣyāmi tatastūrṇaṃ yānaṃ vā durgasaṃgraham | vicārya khalu kartavyaṃ kāryaṃ buddhimatā sadā | sahasā vihitaṃ kāryaṃ duḥkhadaṃ sarvathā bhavet
I shall then quickly either march out or take to a fortress. Indeed a wise man should always do a deed only after deliberation; a deed done rashly turns out in every way to bring sorrow.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 5 4.15
तस्माद्विमृश्य कर्तव्यं सुखदं सर्वथा बुधैः । नात्र भेदविधिर्न्याय्यो दानवेषु च सर्वथा
tasmādvimṛśya kartavyaṃ sukhadaṃ sarvathā budhaiḥ | nātra bhedavidhirnyāyyo dānaveṣu ca sarvathā
Therefore the wise should act after reflection, which is in every way productive of ease. And here a policy of sowing dissension is not proper at all among the Dānavas,
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 5 4.16
एकचित्तेषु कार्येऽस्मिंस्तस्माच्चारा व्रजन्तु वै । ज्ञात्वा बलाबलं तेषां पश्चान्नीतिर्विचार्य च
ekacitteṣu kārye'smiṃstasmāccārā vrajantu vai | jñātvā balābalaṃ teṣāṃ paścānnītirvicārya ca
since they are of one mind in this affair; therefore let spies go forth. Then, having learned their strength and weakness, and having deliberated, policy
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 5 4.17
विधेया विधिवत्तज्ज्ञैस्तेषु कार्यपरेषु च । अन्यथा विहितं कार्यं विपरीतफलप्रदम्
vidheyā vidhivattajjñaisteṣu kāryapareṣu ca | anyathā vihitaṃ kāryaṃ viparītaphalapradam
should be applied according to rule by those who know it and who are intent on the task; a deed done otherwise yields a contrary result.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 5 4.18
सर्वथा तद्भवेन्नूनमज्ञातमौषधं यथा । व्यास उवाच इति सञ्चिन्त्य तैः सर्वैः प्रणिधिं कार्यवेदिनम्
sarvathā tadbhavennūnamajñātamauṣadhaṃ yathā | vyāsa uvāca iti sañcintya taiḥ sarvaiḥ praṇidhiṃ kāryavedinam
In every case it would surely turn out like a medicine (taken) without knowledge. Vyāsa said: Having thus deliberated with all of them, a spy who knew the business —
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 5 4.19
प्रेषयामास देवेन्द्रः परिज्ञानाय पार्थिव । दूतस्तु त्वरितो गत्वा समागम्य सुराधिपम्
preṣayāmāsa devendraḥ parijñānāya pārthiva | dūtastu tvarito gatvā samāgamya surādhipam
him the lord of the gods sent to gain information, O king. And the messenger, having gone swiftly and come back to the lord of the gods,
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 5 4.20
निवेदयामास तदा सर्वसैन्यबलाबलम् । ज्ञात्वा तद्बलमुद्योगं तुराषाडतिविस्मितः
nivedayāmāsa tadā sarvasainyabalābalam | jñātvā tadbalamudyogaṃ turāṣāḍativismitaḥ
then reported the strength and weakness of the whole army. Learning that force and its mobilization, Turāṣāṭ (Indra) was greatly astonished.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 5 4.21
देवानचोदयत्तूर्णं समाहूय पुरोहितम् । मन्त्रं मन्त्रविदां श्रेष्ठं चकार त्रिदशेश्वरः
devānacodayattūrṇaṃ samāhūya purohitam | mantraṃ mantravidāṃ śreṣṭhaṃ cakāra tridaśeśvaraḥ
He at once urged on the gods, and summoning the household priest, the lord of the thirty (gods) took counsel with that best of those who know counsel.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 5 4.22
उवाचाङ्गिरसश्रेष्ठं समासीनं वरासने । इन्द्र उवाच भो भो देवगुरो विद्वन्किं कर्तव्यं वदस्व नः
uvācāṅgirasaśreṣṭhaṃ samāsīnaṃ varāsane | indra uvāca bho bho devaguro vidvankiṃ kartavyaṃ vadasva naḥ
— tr. refused: cyber
DB 5 4.23
सर्वज्ञोऽसि समुत्पन्ने कार्ये त्वं गतिरद्य नः । दानवो महिषो नाम महावीर्यो मदान्वितः
sarvajño'si samutpanne kārye tvaṃ gatiradya naḥ | dānavo mahiṣo nāma mahāvīryo madānvitaḥ
— tr. refused: cyber
DB 5 4.24
योद्धुकामः समायाति बहुभिर्दानवैर्वृतः । तत्र प्रतिक्रिया कार्या त्वया मन्त्रविदाधुना
yoddhukāmaḥ samāyāti bahubhirdānavairvṛtaḥ | tatra pratikriyā kāryā tvayā mantravidādhunā
— tr. refused: cyber
DB 5 4.25
तेषां शुक्रस्तथा त्वं मे विघ्नहर्ता सुसंयतः । व्यास उवाच तच्छ्रुत्वा वचनं प्राह तुरासाहं बृहस्पतिः
teṣāṃ śukrastathā tvaṃ me vighnahartā susaṃyataḥ | vyāsa uvāca tacchrutvā vacanaṃ prāha turāsāhaṃ bṛhaspatiḥ
— tr. refused: cyber
DB 5 4.26
विचिन्त्य मनसा कामं कार्यसाधनतत्परः । गुरुरुवाच स्वस्थो भव सुरेन्द्र त्वं धैर्यमालम्ब्य मारिष
vicintya manasā kāmaṃ kāryasādhanatatparaḥ | gururuvāca svastho bhava surendra tvaṃ dhairyamālambya māriṣa
— tr. refused: cyber
DB 5 4.27
व्यसने च समुत्पन्ने न त्याज्यं धैर्यमाशु वै । जयाजयौ सुराध्यक्ष दैवाधीनौ सदैव हि
vyasane ca samutpanne na tyājyaṃ dhairyamāśu vai | jayājayau surādhyakṣa daivādhīnau sadaiva hi
— tr. refused: cyber
DB 5 4.28
स्थातव्यं धैर्यमालम्ब्य तस्माद् बुद्धिमता सदा । भवितव्यं भवत्येव जानन्नेव शतक्रतो
sthātavyaṃ dhairyamālambya tasmād buddhimatā sadā | bhavitavyaṃ bhavatyeva jānanneva śatakrato
— tr. refused: cyber
DB 5 4.29
उद्यमः सर्वथा कार्यो यथापौरुषमात्मनः । मुनयोऽपि हि मुक्त्यर्थमुद्यमैकरताः सदा
udyamaḥ sarvathā kāryo yathāpauruṣamātmanaḥ | munayo'pi hi muktyarthamudyamaikaratāḥ sadā
— tr. refused: cyber
DB 5 4.30
दैवाधीनं च जानन्तो योगध्यानपरायणाः । तस्मात्सदैव कर्तव्यो व्यवहारोदितोद्यमः
daivādhīnaṃ ca jānanto yogadhyānaparāyaṇāḥ | tasmātsadaiva kartavyo vyavahāroditodyamaḥ
— tr. refused: cyber
DB 5 4.31
सुखं भवतु वा मा वा दैवे का परिदेवना । विना पुरुषकारेण कदाचित्सिद्धिमाप्नुयात्
sukhaṃ bhavatu vā mā vā daive kā paridevanā | vinā puruṣakāreṇa kadācitsiddhimāpnuyāt
— tr. refused: cyber
DB 5 4.32
अन्धवत्पङ्गुवत्कामं न तथा मुदमावहेत् । कृते पुरुषकारेऽपि यदि सिद्धिर्न जायते
andhavatpaṅguvatkāmaṃ na tathā mudamāvahet | kṛte puruṣakāre'pi yadi siddhirna jāyate
— tr. refused: cyber
DB 5 4.33
न तत्र दूषणं तस्य दैवाधीने शरीरिणि । कार्यसिद्धिर्न सैन्येऽस्ति न मन्त्रे न च मन्त्रणे
na tatra dūṣaṇaṃ tasya daivādhīne śarīriṇi | kāryasiddhirna sainye'sti na mantre na ca mantraṇe
— tr. refused: cyber
DB 5 4.34
न रथे नायुधे नूनं दैवाधीना सुराधिप । बलवाञ्क्लेशमाप्नोति निर्बलः सुखमश्नुते
na rathe nāyudhe nūnaṃ daivādhīnā surādhipa | balavāñkleśamāpnoti nirbalaḥ sukhamaśnute
— tr. refused: cyber
DB 5 4.35
बुद्धिमान्क्षुधितः शेते निर्बुद्धिर्भोगवान्भवेत् । कातरो जयमाप्नोति शूरो याति पराजयम्
buddhimānkṣudhitaḥ śete nirbuddhirbhogavānbhavet | kātaro jayamāpnoti śūro yāti parājayam
— tr. refused: cyber
DB 5 4.36
दैवाधीने तु संसारे कामं का परिदेवना । उद्यमे योजयेन्नूनं भवितव्यं सुराधिप
daivādhīne tu saṃsāre kāmaṃ kā paridevanā | udyame yojayennūnaṃ bhavitavyaṃ surādhipa
— tr. refused: cyber
DB 5 4.37
दुःखदे सुखदे वापि तत्र तौ न विचिन्तयेत् । दुःखे दुःखाधिकान्पश्येत्सुखे पश्येत्सुखाधिकम्
duḥkhade sukhade vāpi tatra tau na vicintayet | duḥkhe duḥkhādhikānpaśyetsukhe paśyetsukhādhikam
— tr. refused: cyber
DB 5 4.38
आत्मानं हर्षशोकाभ्यां शत्रुभ्यामिव नार्पयेत् । धैर्यमेवावगन्तव्यं हर्षशोकोद्भवे बुधैः
ātmānaṃ harṣaśokābhyāṃ śatrubhyāmiva nārpayet | dhairyamevāvagantavyaṃ harṣaśokodbhave budhaiḥ
— tr. refused: cyber
DB 5 4.39
अधैर्याद्यादृशं दुःखं न तु धैर्येऽस्ति तादृशम् । दुर्लभं सहनत्वं वै समये सुखदुःखयोः
adhairyādyādṛśaṃ duḥkhaṃ na tu dhairye'sti tādṛśam | durlabhaṃ sahanatvaṃ vai samaye sukhaduḥkhayoḥ
— tr. refused: cyber
DB 5 4.40
हर्षशोकोद्भवो यत्र न भवेद् बुद्धिनिश्चयात् । किं दुःखं कस्य वा दुःखं निर्गुणोऽहं सदाव्ययः
harṣaśokodbhavo yatra na bhaved buddhiniścayāt | kiṃ duḥkhaṃ kasya vā duḥkhaṃ nirguṇo'haṃ sadāvyayaḥ
— tr. refused: cyber
DB 5 4.41
चतुर्विंशातिरिक्तोऽस्मि किं मे दुःखं सुखं च किम् । प्राणस्य क्षुत्पिपासे द्वे मनसः शोकमूर्छने
caturviṃśātirikto'smi kiṃ me duḥkhaṃ sukhaṃ ca kim | prāṇasya kṣutpipāse dve manasaḥ śokamūrchane
I am other than the twenty-four (principles); what is pain to me, and what pleasure? Hunger and thirst are the two (afflictions) of the vital breath; grief and swooning belong to the mind.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 5 4.42
जरामृत्यू शरीरस्य षडूर्मिरहितः शिवः । शोकमोहौ शरीरस्य गणौ किं मेऽत्र चिन्तने
jarāmṛtyū śarīrasya ṣaḍūrmirahitaḥ śivaḥ | śokamohau śarīrasya gaṇau kiṃ me'tra cintane
Old age and death belong to the body; Śiva (the auspicious self) is free of the six waves. Grief and delusion are the body's troops — what have I to do with brooding on this?
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
DB 5 4.43
शरीरं नाहमथवा तत्सम्बन्धी न चाप्यहम् । सप्तैकषोडशादिभ्यो विभिन्नोऽहं सदा सुखी
śarīraṃ nāhamathavā tatsambandhī na cāpyaham | saptaikaṣoḍaśādibhyo vibhinno'haṃ sadā sukhī
I am not the body, nor am I connected with it. Distinct from the seven, the one, the sixteen, and the rest, I am ever happy.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 5 4.44
प्रकृतिर्विकृतिर्नाहं किं मे दुःखं सदा पुनः । इति मत्वा सुरेश त्वं मनसा भव निर्ममः
prakṛtirvikṛtirnāhaṃ kiṃ me duḥkhaṃ sadā punaḥ | iti matvā sureśa tvaṃ manasā bhava nirmamaḥ
I am neither primordial nature nor its modification — what sorrow can ever be mine? Understanding thus, O lord of the gods, become free of the sense of 'mine' in your mind.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 5 4.45
उपायः प्रथमोऽयं ते दुःखनाशे शतक्रतो । ममता परमं दुःखं निर्ममत्वं परं सुखम्
upāyaḥ prathamo'yaṃ te duḥkhanāśe śatakrato | mamatā paramaṃ duḥkhaṃ nirmamatvaṃ paraṃ sukham
This is the first means for you in the destruction of sorrow, O performer of a hundred sacrifices: the sense of 'mine' is the supreme sorrow, freedom from it the supreme happiness.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 5 4.46
सन्तोषादपरं नास्ति सुखस्थानं शचीपते । अथवा यदि न ज्ञानं ममत्वनाशने किल
santoṣādaparaṃ nāsti sukhasthānaṃ śacīpate | athavā yadi na jñānaṃ mamatvanāśane kila
There is no abode of happiness other than contentment, O husband of Śacī. But if indeed you have no such knowledge for destroying the sense of 'mine',
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 5 4.47
ततो विवेकः कर्तव्यो भवितव्ये सुराधिप । प्रारब्धकर्मणां नाशो नाभोगाल्लक्ष्यते किल
tato vivekaḥ kartavyo bhavitavye surādhipa | prārabdhakarmaṇāṃ nāśo nābhogāllakṣyate kila
then, O lord of the gods, you must exercise discernment about what is destined: the destruction of accumulated (prārabdha) karmas is not seen to occur except by experiencing them.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 5 4.48
यद्भावि तद्भवत्येव का चिन्ता सुखदुःखयोः । सुरैः सर्वैः सहायैर्वा बुद्ध्या वा तव सत्तम
yadbhāvi tadbhavatyeva kā cintā sukhaduḥkhayoḥ | suraiḥ sarvaiḥ sahāyairvā buddhyā vā tava sattama
What is to be, that indeed comes to pass — what worry is there about pleasure and pain? — whether by all the gods as helpers, or by your own intelligence, O best of beings.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 5 4.49
सुखं क्षयाय पुण्यस्य दुःखं पापस्य मारिष । तस्मात्सुखक्षये हर्षः कर्तव्यः सर्वथा बुधैः
sukhaṃ kṣayāya puṇyasya duḥkhaṃ pāpasya māriṣa | tasmātsukhakṣaye harṣaḥ kartavyaḥ sarvathā budhaiḥ
Pleasure comes about through the wearing away of merit, and pain through (the wearing away) of sin, my good sir; therefore the wise should by all means rejoice at the exhaustion of pleasure.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 5 4.50
अथवा मन्त्रयित्वाद्य कुरु यत्नं यथाविधि । कृते यत्ने महाराज भवितव्यं भविष्यति
athavā mantrayitvādya kuru yatnaṃ yathāvidhi | kṛte yatne mahārāja bhavitavyaṃ bhaviṣyati
Or else, having taken counsel today, make the effort according to rule; when the effort has been made, O great king, what is destined will come to be.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition