The ''Devīsūktam'' (

Sanskrit Sanskrit (; attributively , ; nominally , , ) is a classical language belonging to the Indo-Aryan branch of the Indo-European languages. It arose in South Asia after its predecessor languages had diffused there from the northwest in the late ...

: दॆवीसूक्तम्), also popularly called as the ''Caṇḍīpāṭha'' (चण्डीपाठ) or the ''Taṃtroktadevīsūktam'' (तंत्रॊक्तदेवीसूक्तम्), is a hymnal text that occurs in the 5th chapter of the ''Devīmāhātmyam'' (दॆवीमाहात्म्यम्), also known as ''Durgāsaptaśatī'' (दुर्गासप्तशती). The ''Devīmāhātmyam'', in turn, forms a part of the ''Sāvarṇikamanvantara'' Section (सावर्णिकमन्वन्तर, Chapters 77 - 90) of the ''Mārkaṃḍeyapurāṇa'' (मार्कंडेयपुराण). 1853 sketch of Durga Mahishasura mardini in 6th century Ravana Phadi Hindu cave temple, Aihole Karnataka (1)

1853 sketch of Durga Mahishasura mardini in 6th century Ravana Phadi Hindu cave temple, Aihole Karnataka (1)

The ''Devīsūktam'' eulogises the manifold manifestations of the fierce goddess ('' Devī),

Caṇḍī Chandi ( sa, चण्डी, ) or Chandika () is a Hindu deity. Chandika is another form of Mahadevi, similar to Durga. Chandika is a powerful form of Mahadevi who manifested to destroy evil. She is also known as '' Kaushiki'', ''Katyayani' ...

'' or '' Durgā'' (दुर्गा), in her objective and subjective aspects. This hymn is very popular and is chanted every day in the Devī temples across India, during the morning and evening ritual worship. It is specially recited during the '' Śarannavarātri'' festival which occurs in the Gregorian months of October - November; it is also recited during the ''Vasantanavarātri''. This particular ''Devīsūktam'' belongs to the

Puranic Purana (; sa, , '; literally meaning "ancient, old"Merriam-Webster's Encyclopedia of Literature (1995 Edition), Article on Puranas, , page 915) is a vast genre of Indian literature about a wide range of topics, particularly about legends an ...

and Tantric traditions. It is different from, and should not be confused with, the ''

Devīsūkta : This article is about the Devīsūktam in the Ṛgveda The ''Rigveda'' or ''Rig Veda'' ( ', from ' "praise" and ' "knowledge") is an ancient Indian collection of Vedic Sanskrit hymns (''sūktas''). It is one of the four sacred canonic ...

'' which occurs in the 10th mandala of the '' Ṛgveda''.

Text with meaning

Preamble

The Devīsūktam belongs to the 5th Chapter of the Devīmāhātmyam. In the preceding (4th) chapter, the Devī, having slain the demon '' Mahiṣāsura'' (महिषासुर), assures the gods that she would help them if they come to distress in the future too. After some time, two ''

asura Asuras (Sanskrit: असुर) are a class of beings in Indic religions. They are described as power-seeking clans related to the more benevolent Devas (also known as Suras) in Hinduism. In its Buddhist context, the word is sometimes translated ...

'' (demon) brothers, Śuṃbha and Niśuṃbha terrorise the three worlds, usurp the offices and powers Sūrya, Caṃdra, Kubera,

Yama Yama (Devanagari: यम) or Yamarāja (यमराज), is a deity of death, dharma, the south direction, and the underworld who predominantly features in Hindu and Buddhist religion, belonging to an early stratum of Rigvedic Hindu deities. ...

Varuṇa Varuna (; sa, वरुण, , Malay: ''Baruna'') is a Vedic deity associated initially with the sky, later also with the seas as well as Ṛta (justice) and Satya (truth). He is found in the oldest layer of Vedic literature of Hinduism, such a ...

Agni Agni (English: , sa, अग्नि, translit=Agni) is a Sanskrit word meaning fire and connotes the Vedic fire deity of Hinduism. He is also the guardian deity of the southeast direction and is typically found in southeast corners of Hindu ...

Vāyu Vayu (, sa, वायु, ), also known as Vata and Pavana, is the Hindu god of the winds as well as the divine massenger of the gods. In the ''Vedic scriptures'', Vayu is an important deity and is closely associated with Indra, the king of g ...

and other gods, and establish themselves in their steads. These gods, having been defeated and having lost their power, authority and honour, recall the assurance given by the Devī of alleviating them from their troubles. They decide to pray for her help, and arrive at the

Himalayas The Himalayas, or Himalaya (; ; ), is a mountain range in Asia, separating the plains of the Indian subcontinent from the Tibetan Plateau. The range has some of the planet's highest peaks, including the very highest, Mount Everest. Over 10 ...

. Having assembled there, they begin praising Her, who is also known as Aparājitā (अपराजिता) and Viṣṇumāyā (विष्णुमाया):Text of Devisuktam at Sanskrit Documents: https://sanskritdocuments.org/doc_devii/tantroktadeviisuukta.html?lang=sa

Devīsūktam

देवा ऊचुः ॥ The gods spoke thus: ''namo devyai mahādevyai śivāyai satataṃ namaḥ'' । ''namaḥ prakṛtyai bhadrāyai niyatāḥ praṇatāḥ sma tām'' ॥ "Our obeisances unto the Devī, the Great Goddess; our constant salutations to that Auspicious One; our obeisances to Her who is Nature (First Born, Primordial Cause); with humble self-restraint, we salute the Gracious One.Patanakar, Chandrashekar Bhat (1954). ''Mārkaṃḍeyapurāṇa'': Shri Panchacharya Electrical Press, Mysore, Karnataka, India. (Published by H.H. Sri Jayachamarajendra Wodeyar Bahadur, King of Mysore, under the Sri Jayachamarajendra Granthamala Series (Vol. No. 57) for free public perusal); Ch. LXXXII, p. 329 ''raudrāyai namo nityāyai gauryai dhātryai namo namaḥ'' । ''jyotsnāyai cendurūpiṇyai sukhāyai satataṃ namaḥ'' ॥ "Our repeated obeisances to the Ferocious, Eternal and Bright One, who is the Mother & Earth; our continual obeisances to Her who is the Moon and the Moonlight, and who is Bliss. ''kalyāṇyai praṇatāmṛddhyai siddhyai kūrmyai namo namaḥ'' । ''nairṛtyai bhūbhṛtāṃ lakṣmyai śarvāṇyai te namo namaḥ'' ॥ "Our obeisances to the ever Beneficial One, to Her who bestows abundance (of knowledge, peace, happiness, wealth), to her who is of the form of ''siddhi'' (success, attainment, perfection), to Her again and again who is in the form of the ''śhakti'' of the Kūrmadevata (a form of Vishṇu); our many salutations to Her who is also in the form of Nirṛti (the ill-gotten wealth which deludes and destroys the wicked!), to Her who is in the form of the great wealth of kings, and to her who is the consort of Śarva (Shiva). ''(There is an alternate reading to this verse which replaces 'kūrmyai' with 'kurmo'.)'' ''durgāyai durgapārāyai sārāyai sarvakāriṇyai'' । ''khyātyai tathaiva kṛṣṇāyai dhūmrāyai satataṃ namaḥ'' ॥ "Our obeisances to Her who is invincible, incomprehensible and unassailable (Durgā), to Her who helps us cross over the difficulties (alternatively, whose limits are infinite and unknowable), to Her who is the Essence (of all), and to Her who is the Primordial Cause of everything; our continual obeisances to Her who is in the form of Renown, and who is dark and smoky (beyond human comprehension; also, the form of Kālarātri).Patanakar (1954), p. 330 ''atisaumyātiraudrāyai natāstasyai namo namaḥ'' । ''namo jagatpratiṣṭhāyai devyai kṛtyai namo namaḥ'' ॥ "Our obeisances to Her who, at once, is extremely gentle (like the Moon or a flower) as well as extremely terrible - and we bow down to Thee again and again; our repeated salutations to Her who is the support of the universe, the Ruler, and who is the Efficient Cause (of creation, maintenance and destruction of the universe). yā devī sarvabhūteṣu viṣṇumāyeti śabditā । ''namastasyai namastasyai namastasyai namo namaḥ'' ॥ "Our obeisances to Her, the Devī, who is called as Viṣṇumāyā (the incomprehensible power of Viṣṇu which seemingly projects Time-Space-Causality) in all beings; our (bodily) salutations to Her, our (verbal) salutations to Her, our (mental) salutations to Her; our salutations again and again. ''yā devī sarvabhūteṣu cetanetyabhidhīyate'' । ''namastasyai namastasyai namastasyai namo namaḥ'' ॥ "Our obeisances to Her, the Devī, who is known as Consciousness (awareness,sentience) in all beings; our (bodily) salutations to Her, our (verbal) salutations to Her, our (mental) salutations to Her; our salutations again and again.Patanakar (1954), p. 331 ''yā devī sarvabhūteṣu buddhirūpeṇa saṃsthitā'' । ''namastasyai namastasyai namastasyai namo namaḥ'' ॥ "Our obeisances to Her, the Devī, who abides in all beings as intellect (discriminating, decisive intelligence); our (bodily) salutations to Her, our (verbal) salutations to Her, our (mental) salutations to Her; our salutations again and again. ''yā devī sarvabhūteṣu nidrārūpeṇa saṃsthitā'' । ''namastasyai namastasyai namastasyai namo namaḥ'' ॥ "Our obeisances to Her, the Devī, who abides in all beings as sleep (giving respite and rejuvenation); our (bodily) salutations to Her, our (verbal) salutations to Her, our (mental) salutations to Her; our salutations again and again. ''yā devī sarvabhūteṣu kṣudhārūpeṇa saṃsthitā'' । ''namastasyai namastasyai namastasyai namo namaḥ'' ॥ "Our obeisances to Her, the Devī, who abides in all beings as hunger (and thirst, by implication); our (bodily) salutations to Her, our (verbal) salutations to Her, our (mental) salutations to Her; our salutations again and again. ''yā devī sarvabhūteṣu chāyārūpeṇa saṃsthitā'' । ''namastasyai namastasyai namastasyai namo namaḥ'' ॥ "Our obeisances to Her, the Devī, who abides in all beings as shadow (the individual self, which is the reflection of the Higher Self); our (bodily) salutations to Her, our (verbal) salutations to Her, our (mental) salutations to Her; our salutations again and again.Patanakar (1954), p. 332 ''yā devī sarvabhūteṣu śaktirūpeṇa saṃsthitā'' । ''namastasyai namastasyai namastasyai namo namaḥ'' ॥ "Our obeisances to Her, the Devī, who abides in all beings as energy (or the powers of will, knowledge and action); our (bodily) salutations to Her, our (verbal) salutations to Her, our (mental) salutations to Her; our salutations again and again. ''yā devī sarvabhūteṣu tṛṣṇārūpeṇa saṃsthitā'' । ''namastasyai namastasyai namastasyai namo namaḥ'' ॥ "Our obeisances to Her, the Devī, who abides in all beings as thirst (incessant craving for sensual pleasures that bind the individuals to the world); our (bodily) salutations to Her, our (verbal) salutations to Her, our (mental) salutations to Her; our salutations again and again. ''yā devī sarvabhūteṣu kṣāntirūpeṇa saṃsthitā'' । ''namastasyai namastasyai namastasyai namo namaḥ'' ॥ "Our obeisances to Her, the Devī, who abides in all beings as forbearance (forgiveness); our (bodily) salutations to Her, our (verbal) salutations to Her, our (mental) salutations to Her; our salutations again and again. ''yā devī sarvabhūteṣu jātirūpeṇa saṃsthitā'' । ''namastasyai namastasyai namastasyai namo namaḥ'' ॥ "Our obeisances to Her, the Devī, who abides in all beings as genus (breed, species, descent that distinguishes one from the other, and hence the Original Cause); our (bodily) salutations to Her, our (verbal) salutations to Her, our (mental) salutations to Her; our salutations again and again.Patanakar (1954), p. 333 ''yā devī sarvabhūteṣu lajjārūpeṇa saṃsthitā'' । ''namastasyai namastasyai namastasyai namo namaḥ'' ॥ "Our obeisances to Her, the Devī, who abides in all beings as modesty (sense of shame, shyness, knowledge of one's limitations); our (bodily) salutations to Her, our (verbal) salutations to Her, our (mental) salutations to Her; our salutations again and again. ''yā devī sarvabhūteṣu śāntirūpeṇa saṃsthitā'' । ''namastasyai namastasyai namastasyai namo namaḥ'' ॥ "Our obeisances to Her, the Devī, who abides in all beings as peace; our (bodily) salutations to Her, our (verbal) salutations to Her, our (mental) salutations to Her; our salutations again and again. ''yā devī sarvabhūteṣu śraddhārūpeṇa saṃsthitā'' । ''namastasyai namastasyai namastasyai namo namaḥ'' ॥ "Our obeisances to Her, the Devī, who abides in all beings as faith (diligence, sincerity, earnestness); our (bodily) salutations to Her, our (verbal) salutations to Her, our (mental) salutations to Her; our salutations again and again. ''yā devī sarvabhūteṣu kāntirūpeṇa saṃsthitā'' । ''namastasyai namastasyai namastasyai namo namaḥ'' ॥ "Our obeisances to Her, the Devī, who abides in all beings as radiance (splendour, beauty which varies from being to being); our (bodily) salutations to Her, our (verbal) salutations to Her, our (mental) salutations to Her; our salutations again and again.Patanakar (1954), p. 334 ''yā devī sarvabhūteṣu lakṣmīrūpeṇa saṃsthitā'' । ''namastasyai namastasyai namastasyai namo namaḥ'' ॥ "Our obeisances to Her, the Devī, who abides in all beings as Lakṣmī (fortune; prosperity; all kinds wealth like knowledge, victory, health, fame, youthfulness, joy, bliss, liberation ); our (bodily) salutations to Her, our (verbal) salutations to Her, our (mental) salutations to Her; our salutations again and again. ''yā devī sarvabhūteṣu dhṛtirūpeṇa saṃsthitā'' । ''namastasyai namastasyai namastasyai namo namaḥ'' ॥ "Our obeisances to Her, the Devī, who abides in all beings as poise (courage; balance); our (bodily) salutations to Her, our (verbal) salutations to Her, our (mental) salutations to Her; our salutations again and again. (This verse is present only in some recensions of the text). ''yā devī sarvabhūteṣu vṛttirūpeṇa saṃsthitā'' । ''namastasyai namastasyai namastasyai namo namaḥ'' ॥ "Our obeisances to Her, the Devī, who abides in all beings as activity (physical, verbal and mental actions that sustain life); our (bodily) salutations to Her, our (verbal) salutations to Her, our (mental) salutations to Her; our salutations again and again. ''yā devī sarvabhūteṣu smṛtirūpeṇa saṃsthitā'' । ''namastasyai namastasyai namastasyai namo namaḥ'' ॥ "Our obeisances to Her, the Devī, who abides in all beings as memory; our (bodily) salutations to Her, our (verbal) salutations to Her, our (mental) salutations to Her; our salutations again and again.Patanakar (1954), p. 335 ''yā devī sarvabhūteṣu dayārūpeṇa saṃsthitā'' । ''namastasyai namastasyai namastasyai namo namaḥ'' ॥ "Our obeisances to Her, the Devī, who abides in all beings as compassion (kindness); our (bodily) salutations to Her, our (verbal) salutations to Her, our (mental) salutations to Her; our salutations again and again. ''yā devī sarvabhūteṣu nītirūpeṇa saṃsthitā'' । ''namastasyai namastasyai namastasyai namo namaḥ'' ॥ "Our obeisances to Her, the Devī, who abides in all beings as morality (law; righteous conduct); our (bodily) salutations to Her, our (verbal) salutations to Her, our (mental) salutations to Her; our salutations again and again. (This verse is present only in some recensions of the text). ''yā devī sarvabhūteṣu tuṣṭirūpeṇa saṃsthitā'' । ''namastasyai namastasyai namastasyai namo namaḥ'' ॥ "Our obeisances to Her, the Devī, who abides in all beings as contentment (fulfillment); our (bodily) salutations to Her, our (verbal) salutations to Her, our (mental) salutations to Her; our salutations again and again.Patanakar (1954), p.336 ''yā devī sarvabhūteṣu puṣṭirūpeṇa saṃsthitā'' । ''namastasyai namastasyai namastasyai namo namaḥ'' ॥ "Our obeisances to Her, the Devī, who abides in all beings as nourishment (food); our (bodily) salutations to Her, our (verbal) salutations to Her, our (mental) salutations to Her; our salutations again and again. (This verse is present only in some recensions of the text). ''yā devī sarvabhūteṣu mātṛrūpeṇa saṃsthitā'' । ''namastasyai namastasyai namastasyai namo namaḥ'' ॥ "Our obeisances to Her, the Devī, who abides in all beings as the mother; our (bodily) salutations to Her, our (verbal) salutations to Her, our (mental) salutations to Her; our salutations again and again. ''yā devī sarvabhūteṣu bhrāntirūpeṇa saṃsthitā'' । ''namastasyai namastasyai namastasyai namo namaḥ'' ॥ "Our obeisances to Her, the Devī, who abides in all beings as delusion (that causes erroneous knowledge); our (bodily) salutations to Her, our (verbal) salutations to Her, our (mental) salutations to Her; our salutations again and again. ''indriyāṇāmadhiṣṭhātrī bhūtānāṃ cākhileṣu yā'' । ''bhūteṣu satataṃ vyāptyai tasyai devyai namo namaḥ'' ॥ "Our obeisances to Her, who is the supporting ground (and governing force) of the faculty of actions and senses (''karmendriya'' and ''jnānendriya'') in all beings; our many salutations to Her who pervades everything (animate and inanimate). ''citirūpeṇa yā kṛtsnametadvyāpya sthitā jagat'' । ''namastasyai namastasyai namastasyai namo namaḥ'' ॥ "Our obeisances to Her, who abides in all things as Consciousness and pervades the universe (as the Self); our (bodily) salutations to Her, our (verbal) salutations to Her, our (mental) salutations to Her; our salutations again and again.Patanakar (1954), p. 337 ''stutā suraiḥ pūrvamabhīṣṭasaṃśrayāttathā surendreṇa dineṣu sevitā'' । ''karotu sā naḥ śubhaheturīśvarī'' ''śubhāni bhadrāṇyabhihantu cāpadaḥ'' ॥ ''yā sāmprataṃ coddhatadaityatāpitairasmābhirīśā ca surairnamasyate'' । ''yā ca smṛtā tatkṣaṇameva hanti naḥ'' ''sarvāpado bhaktivinamramūrtibhiḥ'' ॥ "May She who is our Ruler, She who is the Cause of all auspiciousness, She who was praised and served earlier for many days by Indra and other gods to obtain their desires, She who shatters all the perils of us gods the very moment She is remembered, annihilate our present crisis as we stand troubled by the arrogant, intoxicated ''asura''s; may She grace us gods who bow down to Her and salute Her with devotion, may She bestow upon us all the auspicious fortunes, and put an end to our distress".

External links

Complete recitation of the text on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qKKBdPWIQBs

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Devīsūktam (Chandipatha) Hindu texts Puranas Tantra Shaktism Sanskrit texts