Devi Bhagavata Purana — Skandha 9 — Chapter 44
DB 9 44.1
स्वधोपाख्यानवर्णनम् श्रीनारायण उवाच शृणु नारद वक्ष्यामि स्वधोपाख्यानमुत्तमम् । पितॄणां च तृप्तिकरं श्राद्धान्तफलवर्धनम्
svadhopākhyānavarṇanam śrīnārāyaṇa uvāca śṛṇu nārada vakṣyāmi svadhopākhyānamuttamam | pitṝṇāṃ ca tṛptikaraṃ śrāddhāntaphalavardhanam
The Recounting of the Story of Svadhā. Śrī Nārāyaṇa said: Listen, Nārada, I shall tell the excellent story of Svadhā, which brings satisfaction to the ancestors and increases the final fruit of the śrāddha rites.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 9 44.2
सृष्टेरादौ पितृगणान्ससर्ज जगतां विधिः । चतुरश्च मूर्तिमतस्त्रींश्च तेजःस्वरूपिणः
sṛṣṭerādau pitṛgaṇānsasarja jagatāṃ vidhiḥ | caturaśca mūrtimatastrīṃśca tejaḥsvarūpiṇaḥ
At the beginning of creation the ordainer of the worlds created the hosts of ancestors—four of them embodied, and three whose nature was pure radiance.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 9 44.3
दृष्ट्वा सप्तपितृगणान् सुखरूपान्मनोहरान् । आहारं ससृजे तेषां श्राद्धं तर्पणपूर्वकम्
dṛṣṭvā saptapitṛgaṇān sukharūpānmanoharān | āhāraṃ sasṛje teṣāṃ śrāddhaṃ tarpaṇapūrvakam
Seeing the seven hosts of ancestors, happy in form and charming, he created food for them: the śrāddha, preceded by the libation of water.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 9 44.4
स्नानं तर्पणपर्यन्तं श्राद्धं तु देवपूजनम् । आह्निकं च त्रिसन्ध्यान्तं विप्राणां च श्रुतौ श्रुतम्
snānaṃ tarpaṇaparyantaṃ śrāddhaṃ tu devapūjanam | āhnikaṃ ca trisandhyāntaṃ viprāṇāṃ ca śrutau śrutam
Bathing up through the water-libation, then the śrāddha, and the worship of the gods, and the daily observance ending with the three twilight rites—this is heard in scripture as (the duty) of brahmins.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 9 44.5
नित्यं न कुर्याद्यो विप्रस्त्रिसन्ध्यं श्राद्धतर्पणम् । बलिं वेदध्वनिं सोऽपि विषहीनो यथोरगः
nityaṃ na kuryādyo viprastrisandhyaṃ śrāddhatarpaṇam | baliṃ vedadhvaniṃ so'pi viṣahīno yathoragaḥ
That brahmin who does not perform daily the three twilight rites, the śrāddha and the water-libation, the food-offering and the recitation of the Veda—he too is like a snake without venom.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 9 44.6
देवीसेवाविहीनश्च श्रीहरेरनिवेद्यभुक् । भस्मान्तं सूतकं तस्य न कर्मार्हश्च नारद
devīsevāvihīnaśca śrīhareranivedyabhuk | bhasmāntaṃ sūtakaṃ tasya na karmārhaśca nārada
And he who is devoid of service to the Goddess and eats what has not been offered to Śrī Hari—his impurity lasts until (he is reduced to) ashes, and he is unfit for ritual acts, O Nārada.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 9 44.7
ब्रह्मा श्राद्धादिकं सृष्ट्वा जगाम पितृहेतवे । न प्राप्नुवन्ति पितरो ददति ब्राह्मणादयः
brahmā śrāddhādikaṃ sṛṣṭvā jagāma pitṛhetave | na prāpnuvanti pitaro dadati brāhmaṇādayaḥ
Brahmā, having created the śrāddha and the rest, went away for the ancestors' sake. (But) the ancestors do not receive (it); the brahmins and others (merely) give it.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
DB 9 44.8
सर्वे च जग्मुः क्षुधिताः खिन्नास्तु ब्रह्मणः सभाम् । सर्वं निवेदनं चक्रुस्तमेव जगतां विधिम्
sarve ca jagmuḥ kṣudhitāḥ khinnāstu brahmaṇaḥ sabhām | sarvaṃ nivedanaṃ cakrustameva jagatāṃ vidhim
And all of them, hungry and distressed, went to Brahmā's assembly and made their whole report to him, the ordainer of the worlds.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 9 44.9
ब्रह्मा च मानसीं कन्यां ससृजे च मनोहराम् । रूपयौवनसम्पन्नां शतचन्द्रनिभाननाम्
brahmā ca mānasīṃ kanyāṃ sasṛje ca manoharām | rūpayauvanasampannāṃ śatacandranibhānanām
And Brahmā created a charming mind-born daughter, endowed with beauty and youth, her face like a hundred moons,
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 9 44.10
विद्यावतीं गुणवतीमतिरूपवतीं सतीम् । श्वेतचम्पकवर्णाभां रत्नभूषणभूषिताम्
vidyāvatīṃ guṇavatīmatirūpavatīṃ satīm | śvetacampakavarṇābhāṃ ratnabhūṣaṇabhūṣitām
learned, full of good qualities, exceedingly lovely, chaste, with the hue of a white campaka flower, adorned with jewel ornaments,
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 9 44.11
विशुद्धां प्रकृतेरंशां सस्मितां वरदां शुभाम् । स्वधाभिधां च सुदतीं लक्ष्मीलक्षणसंयुताम्
viśuddhāṃ prakṛteraṃśāṃ sasmitāṃ varadāṃ śubhām | svadhābhidhāṃ ca sudatīṃ lakṣmīlakṣaṇasaṃyutām
utterly pure, a portion of Prakṛti, smiling, granting boons, auspicious, named Svadhā, fine-toothed, possessing the marks of Lakṣmī,
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 9 44.12
शतपद्मपदन्यस्तपादपद्मं च बिभ्रतीम् । पत्नीं पितॄणां पद्मास्यां पद्मजां पद्मलोचनाम्
śatapadmapadanyastapādapadmaṃ ca bibhratīm | patnīṃ pitṝṇāṃ padmāsyāṃ padmajāṃ padmalocanām
bearing lotus feet set upon a base of a hundred lotuses—(she was to be) the wife of the ancestors, lotus-faced, lotus-born, lotus-eyed.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 9 44.13
पितृभ्यश्च ददौ ब्रह्मा तुष्टेभ्यस्तुष्टिरूपिणीम् । ब्राह्मणानां चोपदेशं चकार गोपनीयकम्
pitṛbhyaśca dadau brahmā tuṣṭebhyastuṣṭirūpiṇīm | brāhmaṇānāṃ copadeśaṃ cakāra gopanīyakam
And Brahmā gave her, who was satisfaction embodied, to the satisfied ancestors, and he gave the brahmins an instruction that was to be kept secret.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 9 44.14
स्वधान्तं मन्त्रमुच्चार्य पितृभ्यो देयमित्यपि । क्रमेण तेन विप्राश्च पित्रे दानं ददुः पुरा
svadhāntaṃ mantramuccārya pitṛbhyo deyamityapi | krameṇa tena viprāśca pitre dānaṃ daduḥ purā
(Namely) that, having uttered the formula ending in "svadhā," the offering is to be given to the ancestors. By that procedure the brahmins of old gave the gift to the father (ancestors).
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 9 44.15
स्वाहा शस्ता देवदाने पितृदाने स्वधा स्मृता । सर्वत्र दक्षिणा शस्ता हतं यज्ञमदक्षिणम्
svāhā śastā devadāne pitṛdāne svadhā smṛtā | sarvatra dakṣiṇā śastā hataṃ yajñamadakṣiṇam
"Svāhā" is prescribed in giving to the gods; in giving to the ancestors "svadhā" is enjoined. Everywhere the priest's fee is prescribed: a sacrifice without a fee is destroyed.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 9 44.16
पितरो देवता विप्रा मुनयो मनवस्तथा । पूजां चक्रुः स्वधां शान्तां तुष्टुवुः परमादरात्
pitaro devatā viprā munayo manavastathā | pūjāṃ cakruḥ svadhāṃ śāntāṃ tuṣṭuvuḥ paramādarāt
The ancestors, the gods, the brahmins, the sages and likewise the Manus performed worship of the serene Svadhā and praised her with the greatest reverence.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 9 44.17
देवादयश्च सन्तुष्टाः परिपूर्णमनोरथाः । विप्रादयश्च पितरः स्वधादेवीवरेण च
devādayaśca santuṣṭāḥ paripūrṇamanorathāḥ | viprādayaśca pitaraḥ svadhādevīvareṇa ca
And the gods and the rest were well satisfied, their wishes wholly fulfilled, and the brahmins and the rest, and the ancestors too, by the boon of the goddess Svadhā.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 9 44.18
इत्येवं कथितं सर्वं स्वधोपाख्यानमेव च । सर्वेषां च तुष्टिकरं किं भूयः श्रोतुमिच्छसि
ityevaṃ kathitaṃ sarvaṃ svadhopākhyānameva ca | sarveṣāṃ ca tuṣṭikaraṃ kiṃ bhūyaḥ śrotumicchasi
Thus has all this been told, namely the very legend of Svadhā, which gives satisfaction to all. What further do you wish to hear?
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 9 44.19
नारद उवाच स्वधापूजाविधानं च ध्यानं स्तोत्रं महामुने । श्रोतुमिच्छामि यत्नेन वद वेदविदांवर
nārada uvāca svadhāpūjāvidhānaṃ ca dhyānaṃ stotraṃ mahāmune | śrotumicchāmi yatnena vada vedavidāṃvara
Nārada said: The rule for the worship of Svadhā, and the meditation and the hymn, O great sage — these I wish to hear attentively; speak, O best of the knowers of the Veda.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 9 44.20
श्रीनारायण उवाच ध्यानं च स्तवनं ब्रह्मन् वेदोक्तं सर्वमङ्गलम् । सर्वं जानासि च कथं ज्ञातुमिच्छसि वृद्धये
śrīnārāyaṇa uvāca dhyānaṃ ca stavanaṃ brahman vedoktaṃ sarvamaṅgalam | sarvaṃ jānāsi ca kathaṃ jñātumicchasi vṛddhaye
Śrī Nārāyaṇa said: The meditation and the praise, O brahmin, are declared in the Veda and are wholly auspicious. You know it all — why do you wish to learn it? (You do so) for (its) increase.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 9 44.21
शरत्कृष्णत्रयोदश्यां मघायां श्राद्धवासरे । स्वधां सम्पूज्य यत्नेन ततः श्राद्धं समाचरेत्
śaratkṛṣṇatrayodaśyāṃ maghāyāṃ śrāddhavāsare | svadhāṃ sampūjya yatnena tataḥ śrāddhaṃ samācaret
On the thirteenth of the dark fortnight in autumn, under the star Maghā, on the day of the śrāddha, one should carefully worship Svadhā and thereafter perform the śrāddha.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 9 44.22
स्वधां नाभ्यर्च्य यो विप्रः श्राद्धं कुर्यादहंमतिः । न भवेत्फलभाक्सत्यं श्राद्धस्य तर्पणस्य च
svadhāṃ nābhyarcya yo vipraḥ śrāddhaṃ kuryādahaṃmatiḥ | na bhavetphalabhāksatyaṃ śrāddhasya tarpaṇasya ca
The brahmin who, being self-conceited, performs the śrāddha without first worshipping Svadhā does not become a partaker of the fruit — truly, of the śrāddha nor of the water-offering.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 9 44.23
ब्रह्मणो मानसीं कन्यां शश्वत्सुस्थिरयौवनाम् । पूज्यां वै पितृदेवानां श्राद्धानां फलदां भजे
brahmaṇo mānasīṃ kanyāṃ śaśvatsusthirayauvanām | pūjyāṃ vai pitṛdevānāṃ śrāddhānāṃ phaladāṃ bhaje
"I worship the mind-born daughter of Brahmā, whose youth is ever firmly unchanging, who is indeed to be worshipped by the ancestors and the gods, the giver of the fruit of śrāddhas."
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 9 44.24
इति ध्यात्वा शिलायां वा ह्यथवा मङ्गले घटे । दद्यात्पाद्यादिकं तस्यै मूलेनेति श्रुतौ श्रुतम्
iti dhyātvā śilāyāṃ vā hyathavā maṅgale ghaṭe | dadyātpādyādikaṃ tasyai mūleneti śrutau śrutam
Having meditated thus, upon a stone or else upon an auspicious pot, one should offer her water for the feet and the rest with the root-mantra — so it is heard in the Vedic text.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 9 44.25
ओं ह्रीं श्रीं क्लीं स्वधादेव्यै स्वाहेति च महामुने । समुच्चार्य तु सम्पूज्य स्तुत्वा तां प्रणमेद् द्विजः
oṃ hrīṃ śrīṃ klīṃ svadhādevyai svāheti ca mahāmune | samuccārya tu sampūjya stutvā tāṃ praṇamed dvijaḥ
Having pronounced "oṃ hrīṃ śrīṃ klīṃ, to the goddess Svadhā, svāhā," O great sage, and having worshipped and praised her, the twice-born should bow to her.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 9 44.26
स्तोत्रं शृणु मुनिश्रेष्ठ ब्रह्मपुत्र विशारद । सर्ववाञ्छाप्रदं नॄणां ब्रह्मणा यत्कृतं पुरा
stotraṃ śṛṇu muniśreṣṭha brahmaputra viśārada | sarvavāñchāpradaṃ nṝṇāṃ brahmaṇā yatkṛtaṃ purā
Hear the hymn, O best of sages, son of Brahmā, learned one — the granter of all wishes for men, which was composed of old by Brahmā.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 9 44.27
श्रीनारायण उवाच स्वधोच्चारणमात्रेण तीर्थस्नायी भवेन्नरः । मुच्यते सर्वपापेभ्यो वाजपेयफलं लभेत्
śrīnārāyaṇa uvāca svadhoccāraṇamātreṇa tīrthasnāyī bhavennaraḥ | mucyate sarvapāpebhyo vājapeyaphalaṃ labhet
Śrī Nārāyaṇa said: By the mere utterance of "Svadhā" a man becomes one who has bathed at the sacred fords; he is freed from all sins and obtains the fruit of the Vājapeya sacrifice.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 9 44.28
स्वधा स्वधा स्वधेत्येवं यदि वारत्रयं स्मरेत् । श्राद्धस्य फलमाप्नोति बलेश्च तर्पणस्य च
svadhā svadhā svadhetyevaṃ yadi vāratrayaṃ smaret | śrāddhasya phalamāpnoti baleśca tarpaṇasya ca
If one should recall "Svadhā, Svadhā, Svadhā" thus three times, he obtains the fruit of the śrāddha and of the offering of water with (sesame and) oblation.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
DB 9 44.29
श्राद्धकाले स्वधास्तोत्रं यः शृणोति समाहितः । स लभेच्छ्राद्धसम्भूतं फलमेव न संशयः
śrāddhakāle svadhāstotraṃ yaḥ śṛṇoti samāhitaḥ | sa labhecchrāddhasambhūtaṃ phalameva na saṃśayaḥ
He who, collected in mind, listens to this hymn to Svadhā at the time of the śrāddha obtains the very fruit that arises from a śrāddha — there is no doubt.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 9 44.30
स्वधा स्वधा स्वधेत्येवं त्रिसन्ध्यं यः पठेन्नरः । प्रियां विनीतां स लभेत्साध्वीं पुत्रगुणान्विताम्
svadhā svadhā svadhetyevaṃ trisandhyaṃ yaḥ paṭhennaraḥ | priyāṃ vinītāṃ sa labhetsādhvīṃ putraguṇānvitām
The man who recites "Svadhā, Svadhā, Svadhā" thus at the three junctures of the day obtains a beloved, well-behaved, virtuous (wife) endowed with the qualities (that yield) sons.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 9 44.31
पितॄणां प्राणतुल्या त्वं द्विजजीवनरूपिणी । श्राद्धाधिष्ठातृदेवी च श्राद्धादीनां फलप्रदा
pitṝṇāṃ prāṇatulyā tvaṃ dvijajīvanarūpiṇī | śrāddhādhiṣṭhātṛdevī ca śrāddhādīnāṃ phalapradā
You are equal to the breath of life for the ancestors, you have the form of the livelihood of the twice-born; you are the goddess presiding over the śrāddha and the giver of the fruit of śrāddhas and the rest.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 9 44.32
नित्या त्वं सत्यरूपासि पुण्यरूपासि सुव्रते । आविर्भावतिरोभावौ सृष्टौ च प्रलये तव
nityā tvaṃ satyarūpāsi puṇyarūpāsi suvrate | āvirbhāvatirobhāvau sṛṣṭau ca pralaye tava
You are eternal, you are of the form of truth, you are of the form of merit, O you of good vows; your appearance and disappearance are at creation and at dissolution.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 9 44.33
ॐ स्वस्तिश्च नमः स्वाहा स्वधा त्वं दक्षिणा तथा । निरूपिताश्चतुर्वेदैः प्रशस्ताः कर्मिणां पुनः
oṃ svastiśca namaḥ svāhā svadhā tvaṃ dakṣiṇā tathā | nirūpitāścaturvedaiḥ praśastāḥ karmiṇāṃ punaḥ
Oṃ, and Svasti, Namaḥ, Svāhā, Svadhā — you are these, and Dakṣiṇā as well; (these) are set forth by the four Vedas and are further extolled by the performers of rites.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 9 44.34
कर्मपूर्त्यर्थमेवैता ईश्वरेण विनिर्मिताः । इत्येवमुक्त्वा स ब्रह्मा ब्रह्मलोके स्वसंसदि
karmapūrtyarthamevaitā īśvareṇa vinirmitāḥ | ityevamuktvā sa brahmā brahmaloke svasaṃsadi
These were fashioned by the Lord solely for the completion of ritual acts. Having spoken thus, that Brahmā, in Brahmaloka in his own assembly,
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 9 44.35
तस्थौ च सहसा सद्यः स्वधा साऽऽविर्बभूव ह । तदा पितृभ्यः प्रददौ तामेव कमलाननाम्
tasthau ca sahasā sadyaḥ svadhā sā''virbabhūva ha | tadā pitṛbhyaḥ pradadau tāmeva kamalānanām
stood (silent); and at once, immediately, that Svadhā became manifest. Then he gave her, the lotus-faced one, to the ancestors.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 9 44.36
तां सम्प्राप्य ययुस्ते च पितरश्च प्रहर्षिताः । स्वधास्तोत्रमिदं पुण्यं यः शृणोति समाहितः । स स्नातः सर्वतीर्थेषु वाञ्छितं फलमाप्नुयात्
tāṃ samprāpya yayuste ca pitaraśca praharṣitāḥ | svadhāstotramidaṃ puṇyaṃ yaḥ śṛṇoti samāhitaḥ | sa snātaḥ sarvatīrtheṣu vāñchitaṃ phalamāpnuyāt
And having obtained her, those ancestors went away greatly delighted. Whoever, collected in mind, listens to this meritorious hymn to Svadhā — he, (as if) bathed in all the sacred fords, would obtain the fruit he desires.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 9 44.44
नारायणनारदसंवादे स्वधोपाख्यानवर्णनं नाम चतुश्चत्वारिशोऽध्यायः
nārāyaṇanāradasaṃvāde svadhopākhyānavarṇanaṃ nāma catuścatvāriśo'dhyāyaḥ
In the dialogue of Nārāyaṇa and Nārada, the forty-fourth chapter, called the account of Svadhā.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition