Devi Bhagavata Purana — Skandha 7 — Chapter 37

DB 7 37.1

देवीगीतायां भक्तिमहिमावर्णनम् हिमालय उवाच स्वीयां भक्तिं वदस्वाम्ब येन ज्ञानं सुखेन हि । जायेत मनुजस्यास्य मध्यमस्याविरागिणः

devīgītāyāṃ bhaktimahimāvarṇanam himālaya uvāca svīyāṃ bhaktiṃ vadasvāmba yena jñānaṃ sukhena hi | jāyeta manujasyāsya madhyamasyāvirāgiṇaḥ

In the Devī Gītā, the description of the greatness of devotion. Himālaya said: Tell (me) of devotion to yourself, O mother, by which knowledge may easily arise for this middling sort of man, who is without detachment.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

DB 7 37.2

देव्युवाच मार्गास्त्रयो मे विख्याता मोक्षप्राप्तौ नगाधिप । कर्मयोगो ज्ञानयोगो भक्तियोगश्च सत्तम

devyuvāca mārgāstrayo me vikhyātā mokṣaprāptau nagādhipa | karmayogo jñānayogo bhaktiyogaśca sattama

The Goddess said: Three paths of mine are renowned for the attainment of liberation, O lord of mountains: the yoga of action, the yoga of knowledge, and the yoga of devotion, O excellent one.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

DB 7 37.3

त्रयाणामप्ययं योग्यः कर्तुं शक्योऽस्ति सर्वथा । सुलभत्वान्मानसत्वात्कायचित्ताद्यपीडनात्

trayāṇāmapyayaṃ yogyaḥ kartuṃ śakyo'sti sarvathā | sulabhatvānmānasatvātkāyacittādyapīḍanāt

Of the three, this one (devotion) is fit and can be practised in every way, because it is easy, because it is mental, and because it does not afflict the body, mind, and the rest.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

DB 7 37.4

गुणभेदान्मनुष्याणां सा भक्तिस्त्रिविधा मता । परपीडां समुद्दिश्य दम्भं कृत्वा पुरःसरम्

guṇabhedānmanuṣyāṇāṃ sā bhaktistrividhā matā | parapīḍāṃ samuddiśya dambhaṃ kṛtvā puraḥsaram

According to the differences of the qualities in men, that devotion is held to be of three kinds. Aiming at injury to others, and putting hypocrisy in front,

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

DB 7 37.5

मात्सर्यक्रोधयुक्तो यस्तस्य भक्तिस्तु तामसी । परपीडादिरहितः स्वकल्याणार्थमेव च

mātsaryakrodhayukto yastasya bhaktistu tāmasī | parapīḍādirahitaḥ svakalyāṇārthameva ca

he who is filled with envy and anger — his devotion is of the dark kind (tāmasī). And (he who is) free from injuring others and the rest, and (acts) only for his own welfare,

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

DB 7 37.6

नित्यं सकामो हृदयं यशोऽर्थी भोगलोलुपः । तत्तत्फलसमावाप्त्यै मामुपास्तेऽतिभक्तितः

nityaṃ sakāmo hṛdayaṃ yaśo'rthī bhogalolupaḥ | tattatphalasamāvāptyai māmupāste'tibhaktitaḥ

always desirous at heart, seeking fame, greedy for enjoyments, worships me with great devotion for the obtaining of this or that fruit —

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

DB 7 37.7

भेदबुद्ध्या तु मां स्वस्मादन्यां जानाति पामरः । तस्य भक्तिः समाख्याता नगाधिप तु राजसी

bhedabuddhyā tu māṃ svasmādanyāṃ jānāti pāmaraḥ | tasya bhaktiḥ samākhyātā nagādhipa tu rājasī

But the base person, through a mind of difference, knows me as other than himself; his devotion, O lord of mountains, is declared to be of the rājasa (passionate) kind.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

DB 7 37.8

परमेशार्पणं कर्म पापसङ्क्षालनाय च । वेदोक्तत्वादवश्यं तत्कर्तव्यं तु मयानिशम्

parameśārpaṇaṃ karma pāpasaṅkṣālanāya ca | vedoktatvādavaśyaṃ tatkartavyaṃ tu mayāniśam

"Action is to be offered to the supreme Lord, and for the washing away of sin; and since it is enjoined in the Veda, it must necessarily be done by me constantly" —

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

DB 7 37.9

इति निश्चितबुद्धिस्तु भेदबुद्धिमुपाश्रितः । करोति प्रीतये कर्म भक्तिः सा नग सत्त्विकी

iti niścitabuddhistu bhedabuddhimupāśritaḥ | karoti prītaye karma bhaktiḥ sā naga sattvikī

— one whose mind is thus resolved, yet who still relies on the notion of difference, performs action for (my) pleasure: that devotion, O mountain, is of the sāttvika kind.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

DB 7 37.10

परभक्तेः प्रापिकेयं भेदबुद्ध्यवलम्बनात् । पूर्वप्रोक्ते ह्युभे भक्ती न परप्रापिके मते

parabhakteḥ prāpikeyaṃ bhedabuddhyavalambanāt | pūrvaprokte hyubhe bhaktī na paraprāpike mate

This one leads to the highest devotion, (even) though it depends on the notion of difference; but the two devotions spoken of before are not held to lead to the highest.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

DB 7 37.11

अधुना परभक्तिं तु प्रोच्यमानां निबोध मे । मद्गुणश्रवणं नित्यं मम नामानुकीर्तनम्

adhunā parabhaktiṃ tu procyamānāṃ nibodha me | madguṇaśravaṇaṃ nityaṃ mama nāmānukīrtanam

Now learn from me of the highest devotion, which is being declared: constant hearing of my qualities, repeated chanting of my names,

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

DB 7 37.12

कल्याणगुणरत्नानामाकरायां मयि स्थिरम् । चेतसो वर्तनं चैव तैलधारासमं सदा

kalyāṇaguṇaratnānāmākarāyāṃ mayi sthiram | cetaso vartanaṃ caiva tailadhārāsamaṃ sadā

and the steady dwelling of the mind upon me, who am the mine of the jewels that are the auspicious qualities — always like an unbroken stream of oil;

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

DB 7 37.13

हेतुस्तु तत्र को वापि न कदाचिद्भवेदपि । सामीप्यसार्ष्टिसायुज्यसालोक्यानां न चैषणा

hetustu tatra ko vāpi na kadācidbhavedapi | sāmīpyasārṣṭisāyujyasālokyānāṃ na caiṣaṇā

and there is never any motive whatever in it; nor is there any craving for nearness (to me), for equality of power, for union, or for dwelling in my world.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

DB 7 37.14

मत्सेवातोऽधिकं किञ्चिन्नैव जानाति कर्हिचित् । सेव्यसेवकताभावात्तत्र मोक्षं न वाञ्छति

matsevāto'dhikaṃ kiñcinnaiva jānāti karhicit | sevyasevakatābhāvāttatra mokṣaṃ na vāñchati

He never knows anything at all higher than service to me; because of the relation of served and servant there, he does not desire liberation.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

DB 7 37.15

परानुरक्त्या मामेव चिन्तयेद्यो ह्यतन्द्रितः । स्वाभेदेनैव मां नित्यं जानाति न विभेदतः

parānuraktyā māmeva cintayedyo hyatandritaḥ | svābhedenaiva māṃ nityaṃ jānāti na vibhedataḥ

He who, unwearied, thinks of me alone with supreme love, and always knows me as not different from himself, not as separate;

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

DB 7 37.16

मद्रूपत्वेन जीवानां चिन्तनं कुरुते तु यः । यथा स्वस्यात्मनि प्रीतिस्तथैव च परात्मनि

madrūpatvena jīvānāṃ cintanaṃ kurute tu yaḥ | yathā svasyātmani prītistathaiva ca parātmani

and who thinks of living beings as having my form; as is the love toward one's own self, just so also toward another's self;

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

DB 7 37.17

चैतन्यस्य समानत्वान्न भेदं कुरुते तु यः । सर्वत्र वर्तमानानां सर्वरूपां च सर्वदा

caitanyasya samānatvānna bhedaṃ kurute tu yaḥ | sarvatra vartamānānāṃ sarvarūpāṃ ca sarvadā

who makes no distinction, because consciousness is the same (in all) — of (all beings) existing everywhere, in every form, at all times,

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

DB 7 37.18

नमते यजते चैवाप्याचाण्डालान्तमीश्वर । न कुत्रापि द्रोहबुद्धिं कुरुते भेदवर्जनात्

namate yajate caivāpyācāṇḍālāntamīśvara | na kutrāpi drohabuddhiṃ kurute bhedavarjanāt

he bows and worships, O Lord (of mountains), (all beings) down to the caṇḍāla; nowhere does he form a hostile thought, since he has abandoned difference.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

DB 7 37.19

मत्स्थानदर्शने श्रद्धा मद्भक्तदर्शने तथा । मच्छास्त्रश्रवणे श्रद्धा मन्त्रतन्त्रादिषु प्रभो

matsthānadarśane śraddhā madbhaktadarśane tathā | macchāstraśravaṇe śraddhā mantratantrādiṣu prabho

Faith in the sight of my holy places, and likewise in the sight of my devotees; faith in the hearing of my scriptures, and in mantras, tantras and the rest, O lord —

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

DB 7 37.20

मायि प्रेमाकुलमती रोमाञ्चिततनुः सदा । प्रेमाश्रुजलपूर्णाक्षः कण्ठगद्गदनिस्वनः

māyi premākulamatī romāñcitatanuḥ sadā | premāśrujalapūrṇākṣaḥ kaṇṭhagadgadanisvanaḥ

his mind overwhelmed with love for me, his body always with hair bristling, his eyes filled with the water of loving tears, his throat's sound choked with stammering;

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

DB 7 37.21

अनन्येनैव भावेन पूजयेद्यो नगाधिप । मामीश्वरीं जगद्योनिं सर्वकारणकारणम्

ananyenaiva bhāvena pūjayedyo nagādhipa | māmīśvarīṃ jagadyoniṃ sarvakāraṇakāraṇam

he who worships me with a devotion turned to no other, O lord of mountains — me, the Sovereign Goddess, the womb of the world, the cause of all causes;

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

DB 7 37.22

व्रतानि मम दिव्यानि नित्यनैमित्तिकान्यपि । नित्यं यः कुरुते भक्त्या वित्तशाठ्यविवर्जितः

vratāni mama divyāni nityanaimittikānyapi | nityaṃ yaḥ kurute bhaktyā vittaśāṭhyavivarjitaḥ

he who constantly performs with devotion my divine observances, both the regular and the occasional ones, free from stinginess with wealth;

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

DB 7 37.23

मदुत्सवदिदृक्षा च मदुत्सवकृतिस्तथा । जायते यस्य नियतं स्वभावादेव भूधर

madutsavadidṛkṣā ca madutsavakṛtistathā | jāyate yasya niyataṃ svabhāvādeva bhūdhara

and in whom, O bearer of the earth, there arises invariably, of its own nature, the wish to see my festivals and likewise the making of my festivals;

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

DB 7 37.24

उच्चैर्गायंश्च नामानि ममैव खलु नृत्यति । अहङ्कारादिरहितो देहतादात्म्यवर्जितः

uccairgāyaṃśca nāmāni mamaiva khalu nṛtyati | ahaṅkārādirahito dehatādātmyavarjitaḥ

and who, singing my names aloud, indeed dances, devoid of egoism and the rest, free of identification with the body;

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

DB 7 37.25

प्रारब्धेन यथा यच्च क्रियते तत्तथा भवेत् । न मे चिन्तास्ति तत्रापि देहसंरक्षणादिषु

prārabdhena yathā yacca kriyate tattathā bhavet | na me cintāsti tatrāpi dehasaṃrakṣaṇādiṣu

"Whatever is done by past karma, and however it is done, so let it be; I have no anxiety even there, in matters of protecting the body and so forth" —

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

DB 7 37.26

इति भक्तिस्तु या प्रोक्ता परभक्तिस्तु सा स्मृता । यस्यां देव्यतिरिक्तं तु न किञ्चिदपि भाव्यते

iti bhaktistu yā proktā parabhaktistu sā smṛtā | yasyāṃ devyatiriktaṃ tu na kiñcidapi bhāvyate

the devotion which is thus described is known as the highest devotion, in which nothing at all apart from the Goddess is conceived.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

DB 7 37.27

इत्थं जाता परा भक्तिर्यस्य भूधर तत्त्वतः । तदैव तस्य चिन्मात्रे मद्रूपे विलयो भवेत्

itthaṃ jātā parā bhaktiryasya bhūdhara tattvataḥ | tadaiva tasya cinmātre madrūpe vilayo bhavet

When supreme devotion has arisen in this way in someone, O mountain, truly, then and there his dissolution takes place in my form, which is pure consciousness alone.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

DB 7 37.28

भक्तेस्तु या परा काष्ठा सैव ज्ञानं प्रकीर्तितम् । वैराग्यस्य च सीमा सा ज्ञाने तदुभयं यतः

bhaktestu yā parā kāṣṭhā saiva jñānaṃ prakīrtitam | vairāgyasya ca sīmā sā jñāne tadubhayaṃ yataḥ

— tr. refused: cyber

DB 7 37.29

भक्तौ कृतायां यस्यापि प्रारब्धवशतो नग । न जायते मम ज्ञानं मणिद्वीपं स गच्छति

bhaktau kṛtāyāṃ yasyāpi prārabdhavaśato naga | na jāyate mama jñānaṃ maṇidvīpaṃ sa gacchati

— tr. refused: cyber

DB 7 37.30

तत्र गत्वाखिलान्भोगाननिच्छन्नपि चर्च्छति । तदन्ते मम चिद्रूपज्ञानं सम्यग्भवेन्नग

tatra gatvākhilānbhogānanicchannapi carcchati | tadante mama cidrūpajñānaṃ samyagbhavennaga

Having gone there, he attains all enjoyments even without wishing for them; and at the end of that, O mountain, knowledge of my consciousness-nature arises fully (in him).

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

DB 7 37.31

तेन मुक्तः सदैव स्याज्ज्ञानान्मुक्तिर्न चान्यथा । इहैव यस्य ज्ञानं स्याद्धृद्गतप्रत्यगात्मनः

tena muktaḥ sadaiva syājjñānānmuktirna cānyathā | ihaiva yasya jñānaṃ syāddhṛdgatapratyagātmanaḥ

— tr. refused: cyber

DB 7 37.32

मम संवित्परतनोस्तस्य प्राणा व्रजन्ति न । ब्रह्मैव संस्तदाप्नोति ब्रह्मैव ब्रह्म वेद यः

mama saṃvitparatanostasya prāṇā vrajanti na | brahmaiva saṃstadāpnoti brahmaiva brahma veda yaḥ

For one who (knows) me, whose body is supreme consciousness, the vital breaths do not depart; being Brahman itself he attains That — whoever knows Brahman is Brahman alone.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain

DB 7 37.33

कण्ठचामीकरसममज्ञानात्तु तिरोहितम् । ज्ञानादज्ञाननाशेन लब्धमेव हि लभ्यते

kaṇṭhacāmīkarasamamajñānāttu tirohitam | jñānādajñānanāśena labdhameva hi labhyate

Like the gold at one's own throat, it is (merely) concealed by ignorance; through knowledge, by the destruction of ignorance, what is already attained is (only then) attained.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

DB 7 37.34

विदिताविदितादन्यन्नगोत्तम वपुर्मम । यथादर्शे तथात्मनि यथा जले तथा पितृलोके

viditāviditādanyannagottama vapurmama | yathādarśe tathātmani yathā jale tathā pitṛloke

— tr. refused: cyber

DB 7 37.35

छायातपौ यथा स्वच्छौ विविक्तौ तद्वदेव हि । मम लोके भवेज्ज्ञानं द्वैतभावविवर्जितम्

chāyātapau yathā svacchau viviktau tadvadeva hi | mama loke bhavejjñānaṃ dvaitabhāvavivarjitam

— tr. refused: cyber

DB 7 37.36

यस्तु वैराग्यवानेव ज्ञानहीनो म्रियेत चेत् । ब्रह्मलोके वसेन्नित्यं यावत्कल्पं ततः परम्

yastu vairāgyavāneva jñānahīno mriyeta cet | brahmaloke vasennityaṃ yāvatkalpaṃ tataḥ param

But if someone who has dispassion only, being devoid of knowledge, should die, he dwells continually in the world of Brahmā, up to (the end of) the kalpa; after that,

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

DB 7 37.37

शुचीनां श्रीमतां गेहे भवेत्तस्य जनिः पुनः । करोति साधनं पश्चात्ततो ज्ञानं हि जायते देवीगीतायां भक्तिमहिमावर्णनं नाम सप्तत्रिंशोऽध्यायः

śucīnāṃ śrīmatāṃ gehe bhavettasya janiḥ punaḥ | karoti sādhanaṃ paścāttato jñānaṃ hi jāyate devīgītāyāṃ bhaktimahimāvarṇanaṃ nāma saptatriṃśo'dhyāyaḥ

His birth then occurs again in the house of the pure and the prosperous; afterwards he performs the practice, and from that knowledge indeed arises. — Thus the thirty-seventh chapter, called "The Description of the Greatness of Devotion," in the Devī Gītā.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

DB 7 37.38

अनेकजन्मभी राजञ्ज्ञानं स्यान्नैकजन्मना । ततः सर्वप्रयत्नेन ज्ञानार्थं यत्नमाश्रयेत्

anekajanmabhī rājañjñānaṃ syānnaikajanmanā | tataḥ sarvaprayatnena jñānārthaṃ yatnamāśrayet

Through many births, O king, knowledge may arise, not by a single birth; therefore one should undertake effort with all one's exertion for the sake of knowledge.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

DB 7 37.39

नोचेन्महान् विनाशः स्याज्जन्मैतद्दुर्लभं पुनः । तत्रापि प्रथमे वर्णे वेदप्राप्तिश्च दुर्लभा

nocenmahān vināśaḥ syājjanmaitaddurlabhaṃ punaḥ | tatrāpi prathame varṇe vedaprāptiśca durlabhā

Otherwise there would be great ruin, (for) this birth is hard to obtain again; and even in that (birth), (birth) in the first class and the attainment of the Veda are hard to obtain.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

DB 7 37.40

शमादिषट्कसम्पत्तिर्योगसिद्धिस्तथैव च । तथोत्तमगुरुप्राप्तिः सर्वमेवात्र दुर्लभम्

śamādiṣaṭkasampattiryogasiddhistathaiva ca | tathottamaguruprāptiḥ sarvamevātra durlabham

The attainment of the sixfold wealth beginning with tranquility, and likewise success in yoga, and likewise the finding of an excellent teacher — all of this is hard to obtain here.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

DB 7 37.41

तथेन्द्रियाणां पटुता संस्कृतत्वं तनोस्तथा । अनेकजन्मपुण्यैस्तु मोक्षेच्छा जायते ततः

tathendriyāṇāṃ paṭutā saṃskṛtatvaṃ tanostathā | anekajanmapuṇyaistu mokṣecchā jāyate tataḥ

Likewise the keenness of the senses, and likewise the refinement of the body — (all this is hard to obtain here); but through the merit of many births the desire for liberation arises thereafter.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

DB 7 37.42

साधने सफलेऽप्येवं जायमानेऽपि यो नरः । ज्ञानार्थं नैव यतते तस्य जन्म निरर्थकम्

sādhane saphale'pyevaṃ jāyamāne'pi yo naraḥ | jñānārthaṃ naiva yatate tasya janma nirarthakam

— tr. refused: cyber

DB 7 37.43

तस्माद्राजन्यथाशक्त्या ज्ञानार्थं यत्नमाश्रयेत् । पदे पदेऽश्वमेधस्य फलमाप्नोति निश्चितम्

tasmādrājanyathāśaktyā jñānārthaṃ yatnamāśrayet | pade pade'śvamedhasya phalamāpnoti niścitam

Therefore, O king, one should undertake effort for knowledge according to one's ability; at every step one assuredly obtains the fruit of a horse-sacrifice.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

DB 7 37.44

घृतमिव पयसि निगूढं भूते भूते च वसति विज्ञानम् । सततं मन्थयितव्यं मनसा मन्थानभूतेन

ghṛtamiva payasi nigūḍhaṃ bhūte bhūte ca vasati vijñānam | satataṃ manthayitavyaṃ manasā manthānabhūtena

Like butter hidden in milk, discriminative knowledge dwells in every being; it must be churned continually with the mind serving as the churning-stick.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

DB 7 37.45

ज्ञानं लब्ध्वा कृतार्थः स्यादिति वेदान्तडिण्डिमः । सर्वमुक्तं समासेन किं भूयः श्रोतुमिच्छसि

jñānaṃ labdhvā kṛtārthaḥ syāditi vedāntaḍiṇḍimaḥ | sarvamuktaṃ samāsena kiṃ bhūyaḥ śrotumicchasi

"Having obtained knowledge, one becomes fulfilled" — this is the drumbeat of the Vedānta. All has been told in brief; what more do you wish to hear?

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition