Chapter 5: Uthama Charitha

Uthama Charitha (The holy story)

Chapter 5: The argument between devi and the emissary.

1. Rishir Uvacha:-

Puraa Shumbha Nishumbha masurabhyaam Sacheepathe,

Trilokyam yagnabhagascha hruthaa madha balasrayath.

The sage told:-

During olden times, because Indra was proud of his strength and prowess, his three worlds and share in the fire sacrifice were stolen by two asuras called Shumbha and Nishumbha.

(Shumbha and Nishmbha were the sons of Sage Kasyapa and Dhanu)

2. Thaveva suryathaam thadwad adhikaram thadinndhavam,

Koubheramadha yamyamcha chakrathe varunasya cha.

They took over the powers of Sun God and similarly that of moon god, Kubhera, the God of wealth and Yama, the God of death.

3. Thaveva pavanardhim cha chakrathur vahni karma cha,

Thatho deva vinirdhudha brashta rajya parajitha.

They took over the duties of wind god and fire god. Because of this devas were defeated and lost their kingdom

4. Hruthadhikara thridasasthabhyaam sarve nirakrutha,

Maha asurabhyam tham devim samsmaranthya aparajitham

Thus having lost all their powers due to these great asuras, all devas thought of the goddess who cannot be defeated by anybody.

5. Thayasmakam varo dhatho yadhapathsu smruthakhila,

Bhavatham nasayishyami thath kshnath paramapada.

6. Ithi kruthwa mathim devaa himavantham nageswaram,

Jagmusthathra thatho devim vishnu mayam prathishtuvu.

Devas thinking that the goddess has given a boon to them that she would destroy all their dangers if she is remembered, went to Himalayas who is the king of all mountains and started praising that Goddess who is Vishnumaya (Power of illusion of Vishnu)

7. Deva Ouchu:-

Namo devyai maha devyai shivayai sathatham nama,

Nama prakruthyair bhadrayair niyatha pranatha sma thaam.

Devas told:-

Salutations to the Goddess. Salutations to that great Goddess who is the consort of Shiva,Salutations to her who is nature and she who takes care of every thing. We are saluting her with veneration after controlling our mind.

8. Roudrayair namo nithyair gauryair dhathryair namo nama,

Jyothsnayair chendu roopinyair sukhayair sathatham nama.

Salutations to her who is angry like Rudra. Salutations to that Parvathy who is stable forever in looking after the worlds. Salutations to her who is the form of light, the form of moon and the form of stable happiness.

9. Kalyanyair pranatha vrudyair sidhyair koormayair namo nama,

Nairuthyair bhubhruthaam lakshmyair sarvanyair thee namo nama.

Salutations and salutations to her who does only good, who blesses all those salting her, who is greatly powerful and who is taking care of the world (Like Koorma who lifted the world). Salutations and salutations to her who is the Asura power, who is the power behind the kings and who is the wife of Shiva.

10. Durgayair durga parayai saraayai sarva karinyai,

Khaytyai thadaiva krushnayai dhoomayai sathatham nama.

Always salutations to her who can take over sorrow, who can take us to the other shore of sorrow, who is the cause behind everything, who is very famous, who is black in colour and who is of the colour of smoke.

11. Athi soumyathi roudrayair nathasthasyair namo nama,

Namo jagath prathishtayar devyair kruthyair namo nama.

We salute her who is beyond peace and anger and offer our salutations. Many salutations to her who is the basis of the entire universe, who is the power behind devas and who is action oriented.

12. Ya devi Sarva bhootheshu vishnu mayethi sabdhitha,

Namasthasyair namasthasyair namasthasyair namo nama.

Salutations, salutations and salutations to that goddess who is soul power in all beings.

13. Ya devi sarva bhootheshu chethanthyabhi dheeyathe,

Namasthasyair namasthasyair namasthasyair namo nama.

Salutations, salutations and salutations to that goddess who is root power in action of all beings.

14. Ya Devi sarva bhootheshu bhuddhi roopena samshthitha,

Naasthasyair namasthasyair namasthasyair namo nama.

Salutations, salutations and salutations to that goddess who lives in all beings as power of intellect.

15. Ya devi sarva bhootheshu nidhra roopena samshthitha,

Namasthasyair namasthasyair namasthasyair namo nama.

Salutations, salutations and salutations to that goddess who lives in all beings as power of sleep

16. Ya devi sarva bhootheshu kshudha roopena samshthitha,

Namasthasyair namasthasyair namasthasyair namo nama.

Salutations, salutations and salutations to that goddess who lives in all beings as power of hunger.

17. Ya devi sarva bhootheshu chaya roopena samshthitha,

Namasthasyair namasthasyair namasthasyair namo nama.

Salutations, salutations and salutations to that goddess who lives in all beings as power of shadow

18. Ya devi sarva bhootheshu shakthi roopena samshthitha,

Namasthasyair namasthasyair namasthasyair namo nama.

Salutations, salutations and salutations to that goddess who lives in all beings as power of inner strength

19. Ya devi sarva bhootheshu thrishna roopena samshthitha,

Namasthasyair namasthasyair namasthasyair namo nama.

Salutations, salutations and salutations to that goddess who lives in all beings as power of saving and storage

20.  Ya devi sarva bhootheshu kshanthi roopena samshthitha,

Namasthasyair namasthasyair namasthasyair namo nama.

Salutations, salutations and salutations to that goddess who lives in all beings as power of patience.

21. Ya devi sarva bhootheshu jathi roopena samshthitha,

Namasthasyair namasthasyair namasthasyair namo nama.

Salutations, salutations and salutations to that goddess who lives in all beings as power of oneness in many.

22. Ya devi sarva bhootheshu lajja roopena samshthitha,

Namasthasyair namasthasyair namasthasyair namo nama.

Salutations, salutations and salutations to that goddess who lives in all beings as power of shame.

23. Ya devi sarva bhootheshu shanthi roopena samshthitha,

Namasthasyair namasthasyair namasthasyair namo nama.

Salutations, salutations and salutations to that goddess who lives in all beings as power of peace

24. Ya devi sarva bhootheshu sradha roopena samshthitha,

Namasthasyair namasthasyair namasthasyair namo nama.

Salutations, salutations and salutations to that goddess who lives in all beings as power of understanding

25. Ya devi sarva bhootheshu kanthi roopena samshthitha,

Namasthasyair namasthasyair namasthasyair namo nama.

Salutations, salutations and salutations to that goddess who lives in all beings as power of light.

26. Ya devi sarva bhootheshu lakshmi roopena samshthitha,

Namasthasyair namasthasyair namasthasyair namo nama.

Salutations, salutations and salutations to that goddess who lives in all beings as power of wealth or god given assets.

27. Ya devi sarva bhootheshu vruthi roopena samshthitha,

Namasthasyair namasthasyair namasthasyair namo nama.

Salutations, salutations and salutations to that goddess who lives in all beings as power of work

28. Ya devi sarva bhootheshu smruthi roopena samshthitha,

Namasthasyair namasthasyair namasthasyair namo nama.

Salutations, salutations and salutations to that goddess who lives in all beings as power of memory.

29.  Ya devi sarva bhootheshu daya roopena samshthitha,

Namasthasyair namasthasyair namasthasyair namo nama.

Salutations, salutations and salutations to that goddess who lives in all beings as power of mercy

30. Ya devi sarva bhootheshu thushti roopena samshthitha,

Namasthasyair namasthasyair namasthasyair namo nama.

Salutations, salutations and salutations to that goddess who lives in all beings as power of happiness bore out of sufficiency.

31. Ya devi sarva bhootheshu mathruroopena samshthitha,

Namasthasyair namasthasyair namasthasyair namo nama.

Salutations, salutations and salutations to that goddess who lives in all beings as power of motherhood.

32. Ya devi sarva bhootheshu brandhi roopena samshthitha,

Namasthasyair namasthasyair namasthasyair namo nama.

Salutations, salutations and salutations to that goddess who lives in all beings as power of delusion.

33. Indryanam adhishtathri bhoothanam akhileshu ya,

Bhotheshu sathatham tasyai vyapthai devyai namo nama.

Salutations and salutations to that Goddess who is the inner power and soul behind organs performing daily actions, organs performing intellectual pursuits and is the source power behind the five elements viz. earth, water, air, fire and ether.

34. Chithi roopena yaa kruthsnamedath vyapyai sthitha jagath,

Namasthasyai namasthasyai namasthasyai namo nama.

Salutations, salutations and salutations who as the form of micro power has spread all over the universe.

35. Sthutha surai poorva mabeeshta samsraya,

Thadha surendrena dineshu sevitha,

Karothu saa na shubha hethureeeswai,

Shubhani bhadrani abhihanthu Chaa pada.

36. Yaa saampradham chodhadha daithyathapithair,

Rasmabhireesa cha surair namasyathe,

Ya cha smrutha thath kshanameva hanthi na,

Sarvapadho bhakthi vinamra murthibhi.

Let that goddess who brings good to us Who was praised in the olden times by gods like Brahma, Who is daily being served by Devendra for getting his works done, Who is being praised by us devas who are being troubled by Asuras, who is praised and remembered by us because devotion to her solves all our problems even when we are thinking about her and who is the reason for all good things in the world. Let destroy all our problems.

37. Rishir Uvacha:-

Evam sthavadhi yukthanam devaanam thathra parvathi,

Snathu mabyayau thoye jahnavya nrupa nandana,

The sage told:

Hey king, that goddess Parvathy thus praised by the devas rose from the Himalaya mountain in front of them for taking bath in the river Ganges.

38. Sabravethaan suraan subhroor bhavadbhi sthuyahe athrakaa,

Sareera kosa thaschasya samudbhootha bravichivaa.

That pretty goddess Parvathy asked the devas, “whom are you praising in the Himalayas?” and the answer was told by Goddess Koushiki who rose from the body of Parvathy.

(Once Shiva called Parvathy as Kali (Black girl and Parvathy was upset by this went to the monastery of Gauthama did Thapas and remover her black part (Kali) and became white (Gauri))

39. Sthothram mamaithad kriyathe Shumbha daithya nirakruthair,

Devai samethair samare Nishumbena Parajithair.

These praises were done by all devas who were defeated by Nishumbha in war and who were scorned by Shumbha.

40. Sarera kosadsthasya parvathya nissruthambhika,

Kausikeethi samastheshu thatho lokeshu geeyathe.

Because that Goddess rose from the body of Parvathy (Kosa) the entire world calls her Koushiki.

41. Thasyaam vinirgathaynthu krushna bhoothsapi paravathi,

Kalikethi samakyatha hImachala kruthasraya.

Once that Goddess left her body, that Goddess Parvathy assumed the black form of Goddess Kali and stayed in the Himalaya Mountain.

(The assumption is that the Goddess did not go to take bath in river Ganges but remained there in her black form. )

42. Thatho Ambika param roopam bhibranam sumanoharam,

Dadarsa chando mundascha bruthyou Shumba Nishumbhayo.

Afterwards Chanda and Munda who were the servants of Shumbha and Nishumbha Saw the Goddess in her very pretty form of Kalika.

43. Thabhyaam Shumbhaya Chakyatha saathheva sumanohara,

Kapyasthe sthreer maha raja, bhasayanthi Himachalam.

She made Chanda and Munda inform their king, “Oh great king, in the Himalaya Mountains there exists a lady who makes the mountain glitter.”

44. Naiva Thadruk Kwachidroopam drushtam kena chiduthamam,

Jnayatham kaapyasou devi gruhyatham Cha asureswara.

Hey lord of all Asuras, so far no where in the universe has such a pretty lady has been seen. So it is necessary for you to know about her and also receive her.

45. Sthree rathnam ithi charvangi dhyothayanthi disasthisha,

Saa thu thishtathi Daithyendra, thaam bhavaan drushtum arhathi.

Hey king of all asuras that jewel among ladies is very pretty and due to her glitter is dazzling all directions and so you have to see her.

46. Yaani rathnani manayo gaja aswaaadhaani vaii prabho,

Trilokya thu samasthani sampratham bhanthi they gruhe.

Hey lord, it is well known that all the best among elephants, horses and other valuable things including jewels are shining in your house.

47. Iravatha samaneetho gaja rathnam purandharath,

Parrijatha tharu chayam Thadha uchasrava haya.

You took away from Indra the great elephant known as Iravatha, the wish-giving tree called parijatha and the great horse known as Uchaisrava.

48. Vimanam hamsa samyukthametha thishtathi they angane,

Rathna bhoothamihaa neetham yadasidwedham athbutham.

That wonderful plane with swans which was a great wonder was brought by you and was parked in your courtyard.

49. Nidhiresha maha padma samaneetho dhaneswarath,

Kinchithkinim dhadhou chabdhi rmalamamlana pankajam.

From Lord Kubhera, the wealth called Maha padma (great lotus) was brought and the ocean gave you the garland of the non-fading lotus.

50. Chathram they varunam gehe kanchanasravi thishtathi,

Thadayam syndhanavaro ya purasith prajapathe.

That umbrella belonging to Lord Varuna capable of giving golden showers and this queen of gems owned by Lord Brahma also are in your house.

51. Mruthyorolkranthidha nama saktheesa, twaya hrutha,

Pasa salilarajasya brathrusthava parigruhe.

Oh God, You confiscated from Lord Yama the power to cause death and the great rope weapon of Lord Varuna are in your brother’s house.

52. Nishumbhasyaabdhi jathascha samastho rathna jathaya,

Vahnischapi dhadhou thubhya magnisouche cha vasasi.

All the precious stones originating from the sea are in Nishumbha’s house and the God of fire presented to you those dresses cleaned by the fire.

53. Evam Dhaithyendra rathnani samasthaniya hruthanithe,

Sthree rathna mesha kalyani thwa kasmanna gruhyathe.

Hey King of asuras, as told all the precious stones were brought for your sake, and how come this Ambika who is a jewel among ladies is not with you.

54. Rishir Uvacha:-

Nisamyethi vacha shumbha sa thadha Chanda Mundayo,

Preshayamasa Sugreevam dhootham devya mahasuram.

The sage told:-

Then Shumbasura hearing the words of Chanda and Munda, sent the great Asura called Sugreeva as an emissary to meet the Goddess.

55. Ithi chethi cha vakthavyam saa gathwa vachan mama,

Yadha chabhyethi sampreethya thadha karyam thwaya laghu.

Because of my orders you should tell her words as told by me and do actions which will make her come here speedily with love.

56. Sa thathra gathwa yathasthe sailodhese athi shobhane,

Saa devi thaam thatha praha slashnam maduraya giraa.

That emissary went to the most pretty mountain parts where that Goddess was living and spoke these most suitable sweet words.

57. Dhootha Uvacha:-

Devi, Daithyeswara Shumbha trilokya parameswara,

Dhoothoham preshithasthena twathsakasamihagatha.

Hey lady, Shumbha who is the lord of all the three worlds has sent me as an emissary and I have come near you.

58. Avyahathagna sarvaasu yaa sadha deva yonishu,

Nirjitha Akhila dhaithyaari sa yadhaha srunushwa thath.

Please hear the words of Lord Shumbha who cannot be even neared by all devas and who has defeated all devas.

59. Mama trilokyamakhilam mama deva vasanugha,

Yagna bhaganaam sarvanupasnami pruthak pruthak.

All the three worlds are all and mine the devas obey my orders and I also eat the share in the fire sacrifices meant for them.

60. Trilokya vara rathnani mama vasyanyaseshatha,

Thadiva gaja rathnam cha hrutham devendra vahanam.

All the valuable precious stones of all the three worlds are with me and I have also taken that elephant on which Indra used to ride.

61. Ksherodha madhonoathbudha maswa rathnam mamarai,

Uchaisrava sasamgnam that pranipthya samarpitham.

Uchaisravas, that great horse which was got from churning of the ocean of milk was offered to me by devas after they fell at my feet.

62. Yani chanyani deveshu gandharweshu rageshu cha,

Rathna bhoothani thani mayyeva shobhane.

Hey glittering damsel, all the precious gems with devas, gandharwas and others are also with me.

63. Sthree rathna bhootham thwam devi loke manyaamahe vayam,

Saa twamasmanupagascha yatho rathna bhujo vayam.

Hey lady, I think that you are the greatest gem among ladies of this world and since we are the ones who enjoy all gems, you better be pleased to attain me.

64. Maam vaa mamanujam vaa api Nishumbhamuru vikramam,

Bhaja thwam chanchalapangi, rathna bhoothasi vai yatha.

Hey pretty damsel, because you have attained top position among pretty women, you either pray me or my brother.

65. Parameswarryamathulam prapsyase math parigrauhath,

Ethat budhya samolochya math parigruhathaam vraja.

By becoming my wife you attain incomparably great wealth and so think of this properly and become my wife.

66. Rishir Uvacha:-

Ithyukthaa saa devi gambheeranthasmitha jagou,

Durga bhagawathi bhadra yayedham dharyathe jagath.

Hearing the words of the emissary, that goddess who was Durga, who was the greatest Goddess and who was wearing the world for the sake of its good, told with a deceptive smile the following words.

67. Devyuvacha:-

Sathyamuktham thwayanathra mithya kinchit thwyothidham,

Trilokyadhipathi Shumbho Nishumbhaschapi thaadrusa.

The Goddess told:-

You have told the truth in this case and you have not exaggerated anything. Shumbha is the lord of the three worlds and so is Nishumbha.

68. Kinthwathra yath prathignadham mithya thath kriyathekadam,

Sruyatham alpa budhithwad prathigna yaa krutha pura.

The oath, which was taken because of ignorance for selecting a husband in my case, has become a problem. Please hear about it.

69. Yo maam jayathi samgrame yo mey dharpam vyapohathi,

Yo mey prathibhalo loke saa mey bhartha bhavishyathi.

That man who will win me in war, he who who will take away my pride and he who is equal to me in strength would become my husband.

70. Thadaschathu shumbhotha Nishumbho vaa mahasura,

maam jithwa kinchirenathra panim gruhnathu mey laghu.

So let either the great Asura Shumbha or Nishumbha come here and let them win over me speedily and marry me. Let there not be waste of time in this.

71. Dhootha Uvacha:-

Avalipthasi maivam thwam devi broohi mamagratha,

Trilokye kaa pumaam thishtehdagre Shumbha Nishumbhayo.

Hey Lady, you happen to be very proud because you should not tell like this to me. In all the three worlds which man can stand for war against Shumbha and Nishumbha.

72. Anyesha mapi dhithyanam sarve deva na vai yudhi,

Thishtanthi sammukhe devi, kim puna sthwam ekika.

Hey lady, All devas cannot stand for war before other Asuras and how can you who are alone and of the weaker sex fight?

73. Indradhya sakala the deva shthasthuryashanna samyuge,

Shumbhadeenaam kadham thesham sthree prayasyasi sam mukham.

Before these Rakshasas lead by Shumbha all devas lead by Indra were not able to face them. What about you who is a helpless girl?

74. Saa thwam gacha mayaivoktha paraswam Shumbha Nishumbhayo,

Kesakarshana nirdhugdha gowrawa maa gamishyasi.

You better come in front of them as told by me and not loose all your respect and be dragged by your hair before them.

75. Devyuvacha:-

Evamethad balee shumbho Nishumbhaschadhi veeryavaan,

Kim karomi prathigna mey yadanalochitha puraa.

It is true that Shumbha and Nishumbha are very strong, but what can be done now, as I had taken an oath without much thought.

76. Sa thwam gacha mayaivoktham yadethath sarva mathrudhtha,

Thadha chakshwa asurendraya sa cha yuktham karothu yath.

After you go back, please tell Shumbha, whatever I have told without omitting any thing. Let that Shumbha decide whatever is appropriate.

Ithi Markandeya purane savarnike manwanthare,

Devi Mahatmye,

Devi Dhootha Samvadho nama,

Panchamo adhyaya,

This is the fifth chapter in Devi Mahatmya dealing with the discussion of Goddess with the emissary Occurring in the Savarnika period of Markandeya Purana.