Kundalini OM - Srimad Devi Bhagavatam
The Eighth Book (Skandha)
The Eighth Book (Skandha)
Chapter I
On the description of the worlds
1-4. Janamejaya asked :-- O Lord! I have heard all that you have described about the sweet nectar-like characters of the Kings of the Solar and the Lunar dynasties. Now kindly describe the real Tattva of the Virāt Form of the Great Devī and how She was worshipped in every Manvantara by the Regent of that Manvantara and the Kings thereof. In what part of the year and in which place, under what circumstances and in what form and with what Mantras was the Devī worshipped? I am very anxious to hear all this. O Guru! In fact describe the gross forms of the Ādyā S'akti, the Devī Bhagavatī by concentrating attention to Which, I can have the power to understand the subtle forms of the Devī and I can get the highest good in this world.
5-7. Vyāsa said :-- O King! Now hear. I am describing to you in detail about the worship of the Devī Bhagavatī that leads to the welfare of the Whole World; the hearing of which or the practice of which enables one to get the highest good. In days of yore, the Devarsi Nārada asked Nārāyana about this very point; I will now tell you what the Bhagavān, the Promulgator of the Yoga Tattva, advised Nārada. Once on a time the all powerful Devarsi Nārada entitled with all the Yogic powers, and born from the body of Brahmā was travelling all over this earth and came to the hermitage of the Risi Nārāyana. Resting a while, and the troubles of the journey over, he bowed down to the Yogi Nārāyana and asked Him what you ask me now. Nārada said :-- O Deva Deva Mahādeva! O Thou, the Ancient Purusa, the Excellent One!
8-9. O Omniscient ! O Thou, the Holder of the Universe! O Thou Who art the repository of the good qualities and Who art praised by all!
10-12. O Deva! Now tell me what is the ultimate cause of this Universe: whence has this Universe its origin? And how does it rest? To whom does it take refuge? Where does it dissolve in the time of Pralaya? Where do all the Karmas of these beings go to? And what Object is that whose knowledge destroys forever the Māyā, the Cause of all this Moha (illusion)? Whose worship, what Japam, and Whose meditation in the lotus of heart are to he made, by which, O Deva! the knowledge of Paramātman rises in the heart, as the darkness of the night vanishes by the rising of the Sun.
13. O Deva! Kindly reply to these my questions in such a clear manner as the ignorant people in this Samsāra can understand and get themselves across this ocean of Samsāra.
14-15. Vyāsa said :-- Thus asked by the Devarsi, the ancient Nārāyana, the Best of the Munis, the great Yogi gladly spoke :-- O Devarsi! Hear I will now speak to you all the Tattvas of this world, knowing which the mortal never falls into the illusion of this world.
16. O Child! The original cause of this Universe is the Devī Mahā Māyā (the image of the Supreme Chaitanya Para Brahmā); this is the opinion of the Risis, the Devas, Gandharvas, and other intelligent persons.
17-23. It is written in the Vedas and other S'āstras that the Devī Bhagavatī, worshipped by all in the Universe, creates, preserves and destroys the Universe by the influence of Her three Gunas. I now describe to you the nature of the Devī, worshipped by the Siddhas, Gandharbas and Risis, the mere remembering of Whom destroys all sins, and gives final liberation Moksa (and Dharma, Artha, and Kama also). The powerful Svāyambhuva Manu, the First, the husband of S'atarûpā, the prosperous and the Ruler of all the Manvantaras worshipped the sinless Prajāpati Brahmā, his Father with due devotion and satisfied Him when the Grandsire of the Lokas, the Hiranyagarbha spoke to his son :-- The excellent worship of the Devī should be done by you. By Her Grace, O Son, your work of creating worlds will be successful. Thus spoken by Brahmā, the Bibhu Svāyambhuva Manu, the Virāt incarnate, worshipped the World Mother with great austerities. And with his concentrated devotion, he satisfied the Devī Deves'ī and began to chant hymns to Her, the First-born, the Māyā, the S'akti of all, and the Cause of all causes.
24-36. Manu said :-- Thou art Brahmā, the ocean of the Vedas, Krisna, the abode of Laksmī, Purandara. I bow down again and again to Thee, the Deves'ī, the Cause of Māyā, the Cause of this Universe. Thou holdest s'ankha (the conchshell), chakra, gadā, etc., in Thy hands and Thou residest in the heart of Nārāyana; Thou art the Vedas incarnate, the World Mother, the Auspicious One, bowed down by all the Devas, and the Knower of the Three Vedas. O Thou, endowed with all powers and glory! O Mahāmāye! Mahābhāge! Mahodaye! (the Self-manifested). Thou residest as the better half of Mahā Deva, and Thou dost all what are dear to Him. Thou art the most beloved of Nanda, the Cow-herd (in the form of Mahā Māyā, the daughter who concealed Krisna and slipped from the hands of Kamsa and got up in the air and remained as Vindhyāvāsinī; also in the form of S'rī Krisna). Thou gavest much pleasure and wert the cause of all the festivities; Thou takest away the fear due to plague, etc.; Thou art worshipped by the Devas. O Thou, the auspicious Bhagavatī! Thou art the welfare of all incarnate; Thou fructifiest the desires of all to success! Thou art the One to Whom all take refuge and Thou removest their all the dangers; O Thou the three-eyed! Gaurī! Nārāyanī! Obeisance to Thee. I bow down to that ocean of all brightness and splendour, without beginning or end, the One Consciousness, wherein this endless Universe rises and remains interwoven therein. I bow down to the Devī, whose Gracious Glance enables Brahmā, Visnu, and Mahes'vara to do their respective works of creating, preserving, and destroying the Universe. O Devī! Thou art the Only One, whom all can bow, since the lotus-born Brahmā, terrified by the horrible Daityas, was freed by Thy prowess only. O Bhagavatī! Thou art modesty, fame, memory, lustre; Thou art Laksmī, Girijā, the daughter of Himālayā, Thou art Satī, the Daksa's daughter; Thou art the Sāvitrī the Mother of the Vedas, Thou art the intelligence of all and Thou art the cause of fearlessness. So I now engage myself reciting Thy Japam, Thy hymns and Thy worship. I meditate on Thee and see Thy form within my heart and hear Thy praises. Be graciously pleased on me, O Devī! It is by Thy Grace that Brahmā is the Revealer of the Four Vedas, Visnu is the Lord of Laksmī, Indra is the Lord of the Devas and of the three worlds; Varuna is the Lord of waters, Kuvera is the Lord of wealth, Yama is the Lord of the dead, Nairrita is the Lord of the Rāksasas, and Soma is the Lord of the water element and praised by the three worlds. Therefore, O Auspicious World Mother! I bow down again and again to Thee.
37-45. Nārāyana said :-- O Child! When Svayambhuva Manu, the son of Brahmā, chanted thus the hymns to the Ādyā S'akti Bhagavatī Nārāyanī, She became pleased and spoke to him thus :-- The Devī said :-- O King, the Brahmā's son! I am pleased with your devoted worship and hymns; so ask boon from Me that you desire. Manu said :-- O Devī! If Thou art graciously pleased, grant that my creation be finished without any hitch. The Devī said :-- O King of Kings! By My blessing, your work of creation will be completed without any obstruction. And by your punya (merits) they will no doubt multiply on and on. He who reads with devotion this hymn (stotra) composed by you, will get sons, fame and beauty in the world and, in the end, he will be entitled to get the Highest Place. The people will have powers unopposed by anybody, will get wealth and grains, will get victory everywhere and happiness; and his enemies will be ruined. Nārāyana said :-- O Child! The Devī Bhagavatī Ādyā S'akti granted thus the desired boon to Svāyambhuva Manu and vanished away at once from his sight. Then the powerful Manu, obtaining thus the boon, spoke to his father :-- O Father! Now give me a solitary place where I can worship the Devī with sacrifices and do my work of creating a good number of people.
46-48. Hearing thus the words of the son, the Prajāpati, the Lord thought over the matter for a long time :-- How this work would be done? Alas! I have spent an endless time in this work of creation; but as yet nothing has been done. For the Earth, the receptacle of all the Jivās is submerged in water and has gone down to the Rasātala. What is to be done now? There is only one hope and that is this :-- If the Bhagavān, the Primeval Person, under Whose Command I am engaged in this work of creation, helps me in this work of mine, no doubt it will be accomplished then and then only.
Here ends the First Chapter of the Eighth Book on the description of the worlds in the Mahāpurānam, S'rī Mad Devī Bhāgavatam, of 18,000 verses, by Maharsi Veda Vyāsa.
Chapter II
On the uplifting of the Earth by the Sacrificial Boar
1-10. Nārāyana said :-- O Child! When you have got your senses controlled and have overcome lust, anger, etc., and other enemies, then you are certainly entitled to hear this secret. While Brahmā was discussing on this subject with Marīchi and the other Brahmārsis and with Svāyambhuva Manu, suddenly there came out of the nose of the meditative Brahmā, one young boar (the child of a boar) of the dimension of one finger only. That little boar, that was just in the air, soon became, while they were looking at it, enlarged to a very big elephant, in an instant; a very strange sight, indeed! Seeing this, the Kumāras Sanaka, etc., Marīchi and the other Seven Risis, and the Creator Brahmā were struck with wonder and Brahmā began to discuss thus :-- Oh! This young boar has come out suddenly of My nose; though it is a very small one, it is certainly, come under a disguise and it has all made us merge in an ocean of wonder. Is this something Divine, of a Sāttvic quality under the guise of this boar? It was of the size of a thumb and it is now like the Himālayā Mountain? Oh! Is this the Bhagavān, the Yajña Purusa? While they were thus discussing, the Bhagavān, in the shape of the boar, began to make loud sounds, like the rolling of the mountain clouds at the time of the Pralaya resounding all the quarters. At this Brahmā and all the Risis assembled there became very glad. Hearing the ghurghura noise of the Boar, their troubles ended and the people of Janarloka, Taparloka, Satyaloka and all the Devas being very much gladdened began to chant sweet hymns with Chhandas of Rik, Yajus, Sāma and Atharva Vedas, to that Ādi Purusa, the Bhagavān, from all sides.
11-20. Hearing their praises, the Bhagavān Hari graciously looked on them and immediately merged Himself in the ocean. The ocean was very much agitated with the fierce striking of the hairs of the Boar, when He entered into the waters, and spoke thus :-- O Deva ! O Thou, the destroyer of the afflictions of your refuges! Protect me. Hearing the words of the ocean, the God Hari tore asunder all the aquatic animals and went down beneath the waters. Searching violently hither and thither, He knew the earth by her smell. At once the Bhagavān Hari, the Lord of all, went to Her and rescued the earth by raising Her up on his big teeth, the Earth that was the abode of all the beings. When the Bhagavān, the Lord of all the sacrifices, came up with the Earth on the top of His teeth, He looked beautiful like the elephant of a quarter taking out by the root and holding a thousand petalled lotus upon his tusks. When the Bhagavān rescued thus the Earth, raising Her up on His tusks, Brahmā and Indra, the Lord of the Devas, the powerful Manu began praise to Him with sweet words :-- Brahmā said :-- O Lotus-eyed! O Bhagavān! Thou art victorious everywhere; O Thou, the Destroyer of the sufferings of the Bhaktas! Thou hast, by Thy own prowess, humiliated the Heaven, the abode of the gods upto Satyaloka! Thou, the Giver all the desires! O Deva! This earth shines so beautiful on Thy teeth as the thousand petalled lotus, taken up by the root by a mad elephant, shines on his two tusks. O Bhagavān! This Form, i. e., that of Thy sacrificial Boar, with earth on Thee looks so very beautiful as the lotus looks beautiful on the tusks of an elephant.
21-22. O Lord! We bow down to Thee, the Creator and the Destroyer of everything; Thou assumest many forms for the purpose of destroying the Dānavas; Thou dost do many acts that redound to Thy Glory, We bow down to Thee, to Thy Front and to Thy Back. (Really thou hast no front nor back. Thou art everywhere.) Thou art the Upholder of all the Celestials and the Immortals! Thy eyes shine equally everywhere.
23-25. O Deva! By Thy power I am brought up and engaged in the work of creation and by Thy order I create in every Kalpa this Universe and destroy it. O Lord of Immortals! In the ancient times the Devas united churned the vast ocean by Thy help and got according to their merits their due shares. O Hari! Indra, the Lord of the Devas is enjoying the vast kingdom of Heaven, the Trilokas, by Thy Will and appointment. All the Devas worship him.
26-27. So the God of Fire has got his burning power and is residing in the bellies of the Devas, the Asuras, men and all other beings and penetrating their bellies, is satisfying all. Yama, the King of Dharma, by Thy appointment, is the Lord of the southern quarters, is presiding over the Pitris and being the witness of all the actions of the Jivās, is awarding duly to them the fruits thereof.
28-33. Nairrita, the Lord of the Raksasas, the witness of all the actions of all the beings, by Thy commandment, is the destroyer of all the obstacles of the devotees that take refuge unto thee, though he is a Yaksa. The Varuna Deva, by Thy order, has become duly the Lord of the waters, and the Regent of the Loka (Dikpāla). The Vāyu, the Life of all, the carrier of the smell, has become by Thy order Lokāpāla and the Guru of the universe. Kuvera, obedient to Thy order, has become the Lord of the Yaksas and the Kinnaras and is holding a respectful position like other Lokapālas. Īs'āna, Who is the destroyer of all the Jīvas, has got his Lordship over a quarter by Thy order and is being praised by all the Rudras, the Devas, Gandharbas, Yaksas, Kinnaras, the men and all the beings. O Bhagavān! We bow down to Thee, the Lord of the Universe; the innumerable Devas that are seen are merely the small fractions of Thy powers.
34-38. Narayana said :-- O Child Nārada! When Brahmā, the Creator and the Grandsire of the Lokas, praised thus the Ādi Purusa Bhagavān, He cast a side long glance at them, offering His Grace. When the Bhagavān, the Sacrificial Boar, was coming up with earth, rescued and placed on his teeth, the awful Hiranyaksa, the chief of the Daityas came before Him and obstructed His passage when He killed him by one violent stroke of his club. He was besmeared all over his body with the blood of the Daitya; and thus He came up from the Rasātala and placed the earth on the waters. He then went away to His Vaikuntha abode.
O Child Nārada! He who hears or reads devotedly this glorious deed of the Bhagavān and the deliverance of the Earth, will certainly be freed of all his sins and goes to the highest holiest place of Visnu, the Lord of all. There is no doubt in this.
Here ends the Second Chapter of the Eighth Book on the uplifting of the Earth by the Sacrificial Boar in the Mahāpurānam S'rī Mad Devī Bhāgavatam, of 18,000 verses, by Maharsi Veda Vyāsa.
Chapter III
On the description of the family of Manu
1-23. Nārāyana said :-- O Nārada! When the Bhagavān went away to Vaikuntha, establishing the Earth in due position and equilibrium, Brahmā spoke thus to his son :-- O Powerful Son of mine, O Svāyamhhuva! The best of those that are filled with Teja (energy) and Tapas! Now go on with your work of creation, as you think proper, on this earth, the Upholdress of all the Jīvas. And worship the Purusa, the Lord of Sacrifices, according to the division of place and time, and with all the necessary materials of various kinds, high and low, and those that will be useful in performing your sacrifices. Do Dharma according to the S'āstras, and according to the Varna(the different castes) and Āsrama (Brahmācharya, etc.); thus by gradually going on step by step in the path of Yoga, your progeny will be multiplied. Beget lovely sons and daughters, of good fame, culture, modesty and ornamented with various other good qualifications, like yourself; then marry your daughters when they will come to the marriageable age, to proper persons of good qualifications and then fix your mind thoroughly on the Excellent Purusa that is the very Best. O Child! Now go and serve the Bhagavān with devotion as I have advised you; and you will certainly attain that which is difficult to be worshipped and obtained. Advising thus his son Svāyambhuva Manu, and starting him in his work; of creation, the Lotus-born, the Lord of all the subjects, Brahmā went away to His own abode. When Brahmā went away, having ordered his son to create progeny and subjects, Manu, took that seriously in his heart and began to do that work. In due time, he had two powerful sons named Priyavrata and Uttānapāda and three lovely beautiful daughters endowed with various good qualities. Hear the names of the three daughters. The first daughter, the purifier of the world, was named Ākûti; the second was named Devahûti and the third was Prasûti. The first daughter Ākûti was married to the Maharsi Ruchi; the second was married to the Prajapati Karddama; and the third was married to the Prajapati Daksa. And know that all the beings in this world had their origin from this last daughter. Now hear the progeny of these three daughters and the Maharsis respectively :-- By Maharsi Ruchi was born one son named Yajña, in the womb of Ākûti; he is the part of the Bhagavān Ādi Purusa Visnu; by Maharsi Karddama, in the womb of Devahûti was born the Bhagavān Kapila Deva, the famous author of the S'ānkhya S'āstra; and in the womb of Prasûti, by the Prajāpati Daksa were born some daughters only; know that the Devas, men, beasts and birds were all created by this Prajāpati Daksa. These offsprings were the first promulgators in the work of creation. In the Svāyambhuva Manvantara, the powerful Bhagavān Yajña, by the help of the Deva named Yāma, saved his mother's Father Manu from the attacks of the Raksasas; and the great Lord of the Yogis, the Bhagavān Kapila, remained for a while in his Āsrama and gave spiritual instructions to his mother Devahûti, by which Avidyā could be at once destroyed, and disclosed his S'ānkhya S'āstra, the great work on the Spiritual Philosophy and the special Dhyāna Yoga in all its details and finally went for Samādhi to the Āsrama of Pulaha where the great Deva Sāmkhyā chārya lives up to today. Oh! I bow down to the great Yogāchārya, the Bhagavān Kapila Deva, the Fructifier of all desires, the more remembrance of Whose Name makes easily the Yogi realise the meaning of the Sāmkhya Jñāna. The sins are immediately destroyed of those that hear or read the holy anecdote of the progeny of the daughters of Manu. O Child! Now I describe to you the progeny of the sons of Svāyambhuva Manu. Hear attentively. The hearing of which will enable one to enter into the highest place. Now is being described the history about the progeny of those who formed those Dvipas (islands) Varsas(countries) and oceans for the welfare and happiness of all the creation and for the use of them. Hear.
Here ends the Third Chapter of the Eighth Book on the description of the family of Manu in S'rī Mad Devī Bhāgavatam, the Mahā Purānam, of 18,000 verses, by Maharsi Veda Vyāsa.
Chapter IV
On the narration of the family of Priyavrata
1-28. The Risi Nārāyana said :-- The eldest son of Svāyambhuva, Priyavrata served always his father and was very truthful. He married the daughter of the Prajāpati Vis'va Karmā, the exceedingly lovely and beautiful Barhismatī, resembling like him, adorned with modesty, good nature and various other qualifications. He begat ten sons, very spiritual and well qualified and one daughter named Ûrjasvatī. This daughter was the youngest of all. The names of the ten sons are respectively :-- (1) Āgnīdhra, (2) Idhmajibha, (3) Jajñabāhu, (4) Mahāvīra, (5) Rukmas'ukra (Hiranyaretā), (6) Ghritapristha, (7) Savana, (8) Medhātithi, (9) Vītihotra and (10) Kavi. The name Agni was attached to each of the above names. Out of these ten, the three sons named Kavi, Savana, and Mahāvīra were indifferent and dispassionate to the world. In due time, these became extremely free from all desires and they were proficient in Ātmavidyā (Self-Knowledge). They were all Ûrdharetā (of perpetual chastity; who has subdued all their passions) and took gladly to the Paramahamsa Dharma. Priyavrata had by his other wife three sons, named Uttama, Tāmasa, and Raivata. These were all widely known; each of them in due time became endowed with great prowess and splendour and became the Lord of one Manvatara. Priyavrata, the son of Svāyambhuva, the King-Emperor enjoyed with his sons and relations, this earth for eleven Arvuda years; the wonder was this, that he lived so long and there was seen no decay in his strength as regards his body or his senses. Once on an occasion, the King observed that when the sun appeared on the horizon and got up, one part of the earth was illumined and the remaining part was enveloped in darkness. Seeing this discrepancy, he thought over for a long time and exclaimed, What! Will the Darkness be seen in my kingdom, while I am reigning? This can never be. I will stop this by my Yogic powers. Thus thinking, the King Priyavrata mounted on a luminous chariot, as big as the Sun, to illumine the whole world and circumambulated round the earth seven times. Whatever portion of the earth was trodden by the wheel on each occasion, became an ocean. Thus the seven oceans had their origins. And the portion of the earth, that was included within the ruts, became the seven islands (Dvīpas). 0 Child! Now hear about the seven Dvīpas and the seven Oceans :-- The first is the Jambu Dvīpa; the second is Plaksa, the third is S'almalī; the fourth is the Kus'a Dvīpa; the fifth is Krauncha; the sixth is the S'aka Dvīpa; and the seventh is the Puskara Dvīpa. The second Dvīpa Plaksa is twice the first Jambu Dvīpa and so on; each succeeding Dvīpa is twice as large as its previous one. Now hear the names of the oceans. The first ocean is named Ksāroda (the salt water ocean); the second is Iksurasa (the sugarcane ocean); the third is Surā (the wine ocean), the fourth is Ghritoda (the clarified butter ocean) the fifth is Ksīroda (the ocean of milk); the sixth is Dadhi Manda (the ocean of curds); and the seventh is that of the ordinary water. The Jambu Dvīpa is surrounded by Ksīra Samudra. The King Priyavrata made his son Āgnīdhra, the lord of this Dvīpa. He gave to his Idhmajibha, the Plaksa Dvīpa surrounded by Iksu Sāgara; so he gave to Jajñabāhu the S'ālmalī Dvīpa surrounded by Surā Sāgara and he gave the lordship of Kus'a Dvīpa to Hiranyaretā. Then he gave to his powerful son Ghritapristha the Krauncha Dvīpa surrounded by Ksīra Samudra and to his son Medhātithi the S'āka Dvīpa surrounded by Dadhimanda Sāgara. Finally he gave to his Vītihotra, the Puskara Dvīpa surrounded by the ordinary water. Thus distributing duly amongst his sons, the separate divisions of the earth, he married his daughter, the youngest Ûrjasvatī to the Bhagavān Us'anā. In the womb of Ûrjasvatī the Bhagavān S'ukrāchārya had his famous daughter Devayānī. O Child! Thus giving the charge of each Dvīpa to each of his sons and marrying his daughters to the worthy hands, he took to Viveka (discrimination) and adopted the path of Yoga.
Here ends the Fourth Chapter of the Eighth Book on the narration of the family of Priyavrata in the Mahā Purānam, S'rī Mad Devī Bhāgavatam of 18,000 verses by Maharsi Veda Vyāsa.
Chapter V
On the description of the receptacle of beings
and on the mountains and on the origin of rivers
1-31. S'rī Nārāyana said :-- O Child Nārada! Now hear in detail about the divisions of the earth into the Dvīpas and the Varsas as marked out by the Devas. In brief, I describe about them; no one can speak about this in details. First, the Jambu Dvīpa is one lākh Yoyanas in its dimensions. This Jambu Dvīpa is round like a lotus. There are nine Varsas in it and excepting the Bhadrās'va and Ketumāla, each is nine thousand Yoyanas in its dimensions (i.e., in its diameter or circumference?) and there are eight very lofty mountains, in those Varsas, forming their boundaries. Of the Varsas, the two Varsas that are situated in the North and South, are of the size of a bow (segmental); and the four others are elongated in their size. The centre of all these Varsas is named Īlāvrita Varsa and its size is rectangular. In the centre of this Īlāvarsa is situated the golden Sumeru Mountain, the King of all the mountains, one lakh Yoyanas high. It forms the pericarp of the lotus earth. The top of this mountain is thirty Yoyanas wide. O Child! The sixteen thousand Yoyanas of this mountain is under the ground and the eighty four Yoyanas are visible outside. In the north of this Īlāvarsa are the three mountains the Nīlagiri, the S'vetagiri and the S'ringavau, forming the boundaries respectively of the three Varsas named Ramyaka, Hiranmaya and Kuru respectively. These run along from the east and gradually extend at their base and towards the salt ocean (Lavana Samudra).
These three mountains, that form the boundaries, are each two thousand Yoyanas wide. The length of each from the east towards north is less by one-tenth (1/10) of the above dimensions. Many rivers take their source and flow from them. On the south of Īlāvarsa three beautiful mountain ranges, named Nisadha, Hemakûta, and Himālayās, are situated, extending from the east. They are each one Ayuta Yoyanas high. These three mountains form the boundaries again of Kimpurusa and Bhārata Varsa.
To the west of Īlāvrita is situated the mountain called Mālyavān and to the east are situated the mountains Gandhamādan, Nīla, and Nisadha, the centres of the highest sublime grandeur and beauty. The length and breadth of these the boundary (limiting) mountains are each two thousand Yoyanas. Then the mountains Mandara, Supārs'vak, and Kumuda and others are situated in the Ketumāla and Bhadrās'va Varsas; but these all are reckoned as the Pāda Parvatas (mountains at the foot) of the Sumeru mountain. The height and breadth of each of these is one Ayuta Yoyanas. These form the pillars, as it were, of Meru on the four sides. On these mountains, the mangoe, the jack, plantain, and the fig trees and various others are situated, four hundred (400) Yoyanas wide and eleven hundred (1,100) Yoyanas high; they seem to extend to the Heavens and form, as it were, the flagstaffs on the top. The roots, bases of these trees as well as their branches are wonderfully equally thick and extend to enormous distances. On those mountain tops are situated again, the four very capacious lakes. Of these, one lake is all milk; the other lake is all honey; the third lake is all sugarcane juice and the fourth lake is all sweet water. There are, then, again the four very lovely gardens named Nandana, Chaitrarath, Vaibhrājaka, and Sarvatobhadra, very lovely, enchanting and pleasing to the delicate female sex and where the Devas enjoy the wealth and prosperity and their other Yogic powers. Here the Devas live always with numerous hordes of women and have their free amorous, dealings with them, to their heart's contents and they hear the sweet songs sung by the Gandharbas and Kinnaras, the Upa Devatās about their own glorious deeds. On the top of the Mandara mountain, there are the Heavenly mangoe trees eleven hundred Yoyanas high; the sweet delicious nectarlike mangoe fruits, very soft and each of the size as the summit of a mountain, fall to the ground; and out of their juices of a colour of the rising sun, a great river named Arunodā takes her origin. Here the Devas always worship the great Devī Bhagavatī named Arunā, the Destructrix of all sins, the Grantrix of all desires, and the Bestower of all fearlessness with various offerings and with the lovely water of this Arunodā river, with great devotion. O Child! In ancient days, the King of the Daityas worshipped always this Mahā Māyā Arunā Devī (and obtained immense wealth and prosperity). He who worships Her becomes cured of all diseases, gets his health and other happiness by Her grace. Therefore She is named Ādyā, Māyā, Atulā, Anantā, Pustī, Īs'varamālinī, the Destroyer of the wicked and the Giver of lustre and beauty and thus remembered on this capacious earth. The river Jāmbûnada has come out, as a result of Her worship, containing divine gold.
Here ends the Fifth Chapter of the Eighth Book on the description of the receptacle of beings and on the mountains and on the origin of rivers in the Mahā Purānam S'rī Mad Devī Bhāgavatam, of 18,000 verses, by Maharsi Veda Vyāsa.
Chapter VI
On the rivers and the mountains Sumeru and others
1-32. Nārāyana said :-- O Nārada! This Arunodā river that I mentioned to you rises from the Mandara mountain and flows by the east of Ilāvarsa. The Pavana Deva (the God of wind) takes up the nice smell from the bodies of the wives of the Yaksas and Gandharbas, etc., and the attendants of the Devī Bhavānī and keeps the surroundings of the earth there filled with nice smell for ten Yoyanas around. Again the rose-apples with their nuts, of the size of an elephant, fall down upon the earth from the high peaks of the mountain Mandara and break into pieces; the sweet scented juices flow down as a river. This is called the Jambû river and this flows by the south of Ilāvarsa. The Devī Bhagavatī there is pleased with the Juice of that rose-apple (Jambû) and is known by the name of Jambādinī. The Devas, Nāgas, and Risis all always worship with great devotion, the lotus-feet of the merciful Devī, wishing the welfare of all the Jīvas. The mere remembering of the name of the Devī destroys all the disease, and all the sins of the sinner. Therefore the Devas always worship and chant the names of the Devī, the Remover of all obstacles. She is installed on both the banks of the Jambû river. If men recite Her names Kokilāksī, Karunā, Kāmapûjītā, Kathoravigrahā, Devapûjyā, Dhanyā, Gavastinī and worship, so they get their welfare both in this world and in the next. With the juice of the Jambû fruit aided by the combination of the wind and the rays of the Sun, is created the gold. Out of this are made the ornaments for the wives of the Immortals and the Vidyādharas. This gold, created by the Daiva, is known by the name of the Jāmbûnada gold. The love-stricken Devas make their crowns, waist bands and armlets out of this gold for their sweet-hearts. There is a big Kadamba tree on the mountain Supars'va; the five streams of honey called Madhu Dhārā get out from its cavities and running by the west of Ilãvrita Varsa, flow over the land. The Devas drink its waters; and their mouths become filled with the sweet fragrance. The air carries this sweet fragrant smell to a distance of even one hundred Yoyanas. The Dhāres'varī Mahā Devī dwells there, the Fulfiller of the desires of the Bhaktas, highly energetic, of the nature of Kāla (the Time, the Destroyer), and having large face (Mahānanā), faces everywhere, worshipped by the Devas and is the presiding Deity of the woods and forests all around. The Devī, the Lady of the Devas, is to be worshipped by the names Karāla Dehā, Kālāmgī, Kāmakotipravartinī. The great Banyan tree named S'atabala is situated on the top of the Kumud mountain. From its trunk many big rivers take their origin. These rivers possess such influences as to give to the holy persons there, the milk, curd, honey, clarified butter, raw sugar, rice, clothing, ornaments, seats, and beddings, etc., whatever they desire. Therefore these rivers are called Kāmadugh. They come gradually down the earth and flow by the north of Ilāvarsa. The Bhagavatī Mīnāksi dwell there and is worshipped by the Suras and the Asuras alike. That Deity clothed blue, of fearful countenance, and ornamented with hairs of blue colour, always fulfil the desires of the Devas dwelling in the Heavens. Those that worship Her, remember Her or praise Her by the names Atimānyā, Atipûjyā, Mattamātanga Gāminī, Madanonmādinī, Mānapriyā, Mānapriyatarā, Mārabegadharā, Marapûjitā, Māramādinī, Mayûravaras'obhādhyā, S'ikhivāhanagarbhabhû, etc., are honoured by the Deity Mīnalochanā Ekāngarûpinī and the Parames'vara and get all sorts of happiness. Those drink the clear waters of these rivers become free from old age or decay, worry, perspiration, bad smell, from any disease, or premature death. They do not suffer anything from error, from cold, heat, or rains, or from any paleness in their colour. They enjoy extreme happiness as long as they live and no dangers come to them. O Child! Now hear the names of the other twenty mountains that encircle the Golden Sumeru mountain at its base, as if they were the filaments round the pericarp of a flower. The first is Kuranga; they come in order Kuraga, Kus'umbha, Vikankata, Trikûta, S'is'ira, Patanga, Ruchaka, Nisadha, S'itīvāsa, Kapila, S'amkha, Vaidûrya, Chārudhi, Hamsa, Risabha, Naga, Kālanjara and lastly Nārada. The central one is the twentieth.
Here ends the Sixth Chapter of the Eighth Book on the rivers and the mountains Sumeru and others in the Mahāpuranam S'rī Mad Devī Bhāgavatam, of 18,000 verses, by Maharsi Veda Vyāsa.
Chapter VII
On the Ganges and the Varsas
1-37. Nārāyana said :-- Jathara and Devakûta are the two mountains situated on the east of Sumeru; their dimensions towards the north are eighteen thousand Yoyanas wide and two thousand Yoyanas high. On the west of Meru, are situated the two famous lofty mountains Pavamāna and Pāriyātra; their length and height are well known. On the south of Meru are situated the two lofty mountains Kailāsa and Karavira. On the north, again, of the Sumeru mountain, are situated the mountains S'ringagiri and Makaragiri. Thus the golden Sumeru mountain, shines like the Sun, surrounded by these eight mountains. In the centre of the Sumeru, there is a Divine city built of the Creator Brahmā, ten thousand Yoyanas in dimensions. The learned sages that know everything from the highest to the lowest, describe that as square in dimensions and all made of gold. On the top of the Sumeru, are situated the world known eight golden cities, subservient to the Brahmapurī, for the eight Lokapālas. The Lords of the four directions, east, west, north and south and of the four corners, north-east, north-west, south-west, south-east, occupy these. The dimensions of each of these eight cities are two thousand Yoyanas and a half. In fact, there are nine cities there including the Brahmapurī. Now hear the names of these nine cities in due order. The First is Manovatī, the second is Amarāvatī, the third is Tejovatī, next come in order Samyamanī, Krisnānganā, S'raddhāvatī, Gandhavatī, and Mahodayā, the ninth is Yas'ovatī. The Lords of the Purīs are Brahmā, Indra, Fire and the other Dikpālas in due order. When Visnu Bhagavān assumed the Tri Vikrama Form in His Dwarf Incarnation and went at the sacrifice, to get back the Kingdom of the Heavens from the demon Vali, there was created one hole or cavity over this Brahmānda Katāha (skull) by the nails of the toes of that foot that went up towards his left; and through that cavity, the famous river Bhagavatī Gangā flowed on the top of those heavenly Kingdoms, the clear waters of which are ever ready to destroy the sins of the whole people. For this reason, She is known in the three Lokas as the Visnupadī manifested. This took place long long ago, many thousand Yugas ago, a period difficult to determine. The Ganges fell first on the top of the Indra's Heavens, near the place called Visnudhāma, known in the three worlds. Here the pure-souled Dhruva, the son of Uttānapāda, observed within his heart the lotus-feet of Srī Visnu Bhagavān and exists still there taking refuge on that immoveable position. There the high-souled Seven Risis, knowing the highest purifying influence of the Ganges, circumambulate the river, wishing for the welfare of all the Lokas. This is the great place where one gets success, and final liberation, the success-giving place of the ascetics and where the Munis with clots of hairs on their heads daily take their dip in the Ganges with the greatest pleasure and admiration. The Ganges flows thence from the Dhruva Mandala, the abode of Visnu, in Kotis and Kotis of Divine Channels, interspersed with many Vimānas or carriages, deluges the Chandra Mandala (the Moon Sphere), comes gradually to the Brahmā Loka. Here She is divided into the four channels, Sītā, Alakanandā, Bhadrā, and Chaturbhadrā and irrigating many countries, mountains, and forests ultimately falls in the oceans. The Sītā, the famous Dhārā, purifying all, while falling down from the Brahmāloka, passes round the mountains that form as it were the filaments of the flower-like Sumeru mountain, and falls on the top of the Gandhamādana range. Thence She, worshipped by the Devas, irrigates the Bhadras'vavarsa and falls eastward into the salt ocean. The second Dhārā (stream), named Chaksu, getting out of the Malyavān range, gradually gains strength and assumes great force and flows by Ketumālavarsa to the western ocean. The third Dhārā (stream), the very pure Alakananda, getting out of the Brahmā Loka, passes through the Girikûta mountain and other forests, falls to Hemakûta; next She flows through the Bhārata Varsa and meets with the southern ocean. No words can describe the glory and the purifying effect of this river; suffice it to say that those who march out to bathe in this river get at each of their steps, the fruits of doing the great sacrifices, Rājasûya and As'vamedha, etc. The fourth Dhārā of the Trailokyapavanī Ganga Devi, named Bhadrā, falling from the mountain S'ringavān, become swift and capacious, flows by the Northern Kuru country and satisfying the people there flows down into the ocean. Many other rivers, getting out from the mountains, Meru, Mandara and others, flow through the various Varsas or continents, but of all the Varsas, continents, this Bhārata Varsa is called the Karma Ksettra (or the field of actions). The other eight Varsas, though on earth, give the pleasures of the Heavens. The reason for this is that when the period of the persons enjoyments in the Heavens cease, they come and take their birth in the one or other of these eight Varsas. The people here live for ten thousand years; their body is hard like thunderbolt and all are endowed with powers of Ayuta elephants. No one is satisfied with a little of the pleasures of sexes; so all men live happily with their wives, etc. It is not that the males alone are so happy; the females also are full of youth throughout their lives and become pregnant, when they are less than one year old. In short, the inhabitants of the Varsas enjoy for ever as the persons of Tretā Yuga do.
Hear ends the Seventh Chapter of the Eighth Book on the story of the Ganges and the continents in Srī Mad Devī Bhāgavatam, the Mahā Purānam, of 18,000 verses, by Maharsi Veda Vyāsa.
Chapter VIII
On the description of Ilāvrita
1-11. Nārāyana said :-- In those Varsas, Visnu and the other Devas used to worship always the Great Devī with Japam and meditation and to chant hymns to Her. The forests there are ornamented with all sorts of fruits, flowers and leaves, in all the seasons. In those excellent forests, and on the mountains, in those Varsas and on the clear waters interspersed with full blewn lotuses and S'ārasas (cranes) and in those countries where varieties of mountain trees are standing and where varieties of birds frequent and echo all around, the people play in waters and engage themselves with a great many pleasant occupations; and the beautiful women, as well, roam there with the knitting of their eyebrows. The people there enjoy as they like, surrounded by young women; Nārāyana, the Ādipurusa Bhagavān Himself, worships the Devī there, to shew his extreme grace to all the inhabitants of the Navavarsa. The people also worship the Deity. By worshipping the Devī only, the Bhagavān remains there in Samādhi, surrounded with Aniruddha and his other Vyûhachatustaya (the four forms). But in Ilāvrita Varsa, the Bhagavān Rudra, originated from the eye-brows of Brahmā, resides only with women. No other person can enter there; for the Bhāvanī, the S'akti of Rudra has cursed that any male entering there would be transformed into a female. The Lord of Bhavanī, surrounded by innumerable women, remains here engaged in the worship of the unmanifested unborn Bhagavān Samkarsana. For the good of humanity, with intense meditation, He worships His Own Turīya Form of the nature of Tamas, thus :--
12-19. S'rī Bhagavāna said :-- Obeisance to Thee! the Bhagavān, the Great Purusa, endowed with all the qualities (the principal six Ais'varyas or prosperities), the Ananta (the Infinite) and to the Unmanifested! We worship Thee, Whose lotus feet are the refuge of all. Thou art the great storehouse of all the superhuman powers and the divine faculties of omnipotence, etc. Thou art always present to the Bhaktas. Thou art creating all these beings. Thou givest Moksa to the Bhaktas and destroyest their attachment to the world and Thou bindest Thy non-devotees in bondage to this world. Thou art the Lord. We worship Thee. We are entirely under the control of the passions, anger, etc., and our minds are always attached to the senses; but though Thou art always looking at this world for its creation, etc., Thy mind is not a bit attached to it. So who will not turn to Thee, desirous to conquer his self. Thou art appearing by Thy Māyā as one whose sight is ignorant; Thou lookest dreadful with Thy eyes reddened with the drink of Madhu (wine). By the touch of Thy feet, the mental faculties are very much enchanted; hence the women folk of the Nāgas cannot in any way worship Thee, out of bashfulness. The Risis say that though Thou art the Only One to create, preserve and destroy, yet Thou art quite unconcerned with them. Thou art Infinite and Thou hast innumerable heads. This vast universe is like the mustard seed resting somewhere on one of these heads, which Thou canst not feel even. The Mahat Tattva is Thy body manifested first. It is built of Sattva, Raja and Tamo Gunas. Brahmā has come out of this and I again have sprung from this Brahmā and am nurtured by the Sattva and the other Gunas and with the help of the Teja, created these elements and the senses. These Mahat Tattvas and we all are controlled by Thy Extraordinary Form. Thou hast kept us in our respective places by Thy Kriyā S'akti as birds are kept duly by the strings through them. Mahat Tattva, Ahamkāra, and the Devas, elements and the senses, before mentioned all united create this Universe by Thy Grace. Thy creation is very big and grand; for this reason the gross thinkers, deluded by Thy power, never understand it. This Māyā is the only means to get the Samsāra Nivritti, Moksa, the real Goal of man: and this Māyā, again involves them in the Karma entanglements, very hard to get through. Coming in and going out, both of these are Thy forms; so we bow down to Thee.
20-23. Nārāyana said :-- Thus the Bhagavān Rudra, with His Own persons in Ilāvrita Varsa used to worship the Devī and the Sankarsana, the Controller of all the Lokas. The son of Dharma, well known by the name of Bhadras'rava and all the persons born of his family and his attendants, worship thus the Devī. This form is well known to all by the name of Hayagrīva and worshipped thus. All the persons there worship Him with the intense meditation and Samādhi and realise Him thoroughly. Then they praise Him, according to due customs and get the thorough Siddhis (success in getting extraordinary powers).
24-29. The Bhadras'ravās said :-- Obeisance to Thee, the Bhagavān, the Incarnate of Virtue, and to Him who destroys completely the desires, attachments, etc., to worldly objects! Ho! How wonderful are the feats of the Bhagavān! Death always destroys all, but people, seeing this, seem not to see this. Seeing that the son meets with death, the father desires to live long not for a virtuous purpose but for sense enjoyments, what is called Vikarma. Those who are skilled in Jñāna and Vijñāna say that this Universe that is seen is very transient. Moreover those Pundits who are endowed with much Jñāna, see vividly the transitoriness of this Universe. Still, O Unborn One! When practically they come to deal with this, they all become overpowered with the influence of Māyā. So Thy Pastime (Līla) is wonderfully variegated. (Instead of spending our time uselessly in discussing on S'āstras) we bow down to Thee, and Thee alone. Thou art the Self-manifest Chaitanya. Thou are not the object to be covered by Māyā. Thou dost not do anything in the sort of creation, etc. Thou remainest simply as the Witness thereof. Sill the Vedas declare that Thou createst, preservest and destroyest the Universe. It is quite reasonable and nothing to be wondered at. Thou art the Ātman of all. When the Pralaya (the time of great dissolution) comes, the Vedas were stolen by the Daityas and taken to the nether regions, the Rasātala. Thou, in the form of Hayagrīva (Horse-faced), rescued the Vedas and gave them to the Grandsire Brahmā who was very eager to get them back and understand their meanings. Thou art the true Sankalap (resolve); we bow down to Thee. Thus the Bhadras'ravās praise the Haiyagrīva form of Hari and sing the glorious deeds of Him. He who reads these narratives of the Mahā Purusa (the high-souled personage) or he who makes others hear these things, both of them, quitting their sinful bodies, go to the Devī Loka.
Here ends the Eighth Chapter of the Eighth Book on the description of Ilāvrīta in the Mahāpurānam S'rī Mad Devī Bhāgavatam, of 18,000 verses, by Maharsi Veda Vyāsa.
Chapter IX
On the narration of the division of the continents
1-2. Nārāyana said :-- In Harivarsa, the Bhagavān Hari is shining splendid as a Yogi in the form of Narasimha. The Mahā Bhāgavat (most devoted) Prahlāda, who knows the attributes of God worships and chants hymns with his whole hearted devotion, seeing that beautiful form, gladdening to all the people.
3-11. Prahlāda spoke :-- I bow down to Thee, the Bhagavān Nrisingha Deva. Thou art the Light of all Lights. Thy big teeth are like thunderbolts. Let Thee manifest in Thy most terrible form. Let Thee destroy the desires of the people to do Karma and let Thou devour the great Ignorance (Ajñāna) the Moha (delusion) of the people. Thou art the receptacle of the Sattva, Raja and Tamo Gunas. Let myself be always free from any fear by Thy Grace. Om Khraum! Let this whole world rest completely in peace and happiness. Let the cheats quit their guiles and be pure and simple. Let all the people quit completely their animosities towards each other and think of their welfare. Let all the people be free from making injuries to others and be peaceful; and let them have their control over their passions. Let our mind be completely free from desires and rest entirely and devotedly to Thy lotus-feet. Let us not be attached to sons, wives, wealth, house or to any other worldly objects. If there be any attachment, let it be to the objects dear to the Bhagavān. He who barely sustains his body and soul and controls himself completely, success is very near to him; not so to the persons that are attached to the senses. The dirt of the mind, that is not washed away by bathing in the Ganges or by taking recourse to the Tīrthas, etc., is removed by the company of the devotees to the God and by their influence, hearing, thinking, and meditating on the attributes of the Bhagavān. So who is there that does not serve the Bhagavān! He who has got Niskāma Bhakti (devotion without regard to any fruits thereof) to the Bhagavān, to him come always the Devatā, Dharma and Jñāna and other higher qualities. But he who indulges in various mental phantasms, without any Bhakti to the Bhagavān, he follows the worldly happiness that is certainly to be hated and never he gets Vairāgyan and other higher qualities. As water is life to the fish, so the Bhagavān Hari is the self of all embodied beings and so He is to be specially prayed for. So if a high-souled person be attached to household happiness, without thinking of God, then his greatness dwindles into a trifling insignificance like the ordinary pleasures of man and woman when they are full of youth. So leave, at once, the home that is the source of Birth and Death and leave Trisnā (thirst, desire), clinging to life, low-spiritedness, name, and fame, egoism, shame, fear, poverty and loss of one's honour and worship the Lotus-Feet of the Bhagavān Nrisingha Deva and be entirely fearless. Thus Prahlāda, the Lord of the Daityas, daily worships devotedly the Bhagavān Nrisingha, resplendent in his lotus heart, the death blow, the lion to all the elephant sins. In the Ketumāla Varsa, the Bhagavān Nārāyana is reigning in the form of the Kāma Deva, the God of Love. The people there always worship Him. The daughter of Ocean, the Indirā Devī, who confers honour and glory to the Mahatmas, is the presiding Deity of the Varsa. She always worships the Kama Deva with the following verses :--
12-18. The Laksmī Devī spoke :-- Om, Hrām, Hrīm, Hrûm, Om namo Bhagavate Hrisikesāya! Thou art the Bhagavān of the nature of Om. Thou are the Director, the Lord of the senses: Thy Ātman is the Highest and the Receptacle of all the good things. All the Karma Vrittis, all the Jñāna Vrittis, and effort and resolution and other faculties of the mind, act in their respective channels by Thy looking and by their being constantly practised in Thee. And the elements over which they get their masteries are subservient to Thy Laws. The mind and the other eleven Indriyas, and touch, taste and other five senses are but Thy parts. All the rites and ceremonies observed in the Vedas are found in Thee. Thou art the infinite store of all the foodings of the Jīvas. From Thee flows the Paramānanda, the Highest Bliss. Thou art All, Thou art the Substance, Purity incarnate; Thou art the Energy, the Strength manifest in all. Thou art the Finish of all the happiness and Thou art the Only One Substance, that can be desired by the people. So obeisance to Thee! This Thy Lordship is not dependent on any other body. The women that know Thee, the Lord of all and worship other bodies for their husbands, those husbands can never save them, their lives, their wealth, progeny or other dear things as those are controlled by Kāla (Time) and Karma. So they cannot be termed husbands at all; Thou art the Real Husband; and no other. For Thou art naturally fearless and Thou protectest in every way the persons that become afraid. Thou art the Lord of all wealth; so no other is superior to Thee. How can then, they be independent whose happiness depends on others! The lady that desires to worship Thy lotus feet only and becomes subservient to no others, she attains all the desires. Again the lady who, desiring other desires than to get Thee, does not worship Thy lotus-feet, Thou fulfillest the desires of her too. But, O Bhagavān! When the period of enjoyment of these things ceases and when the objects of these enjoyments are destroyed, then she repents much due to the loss of those things. Brahmā, Mahādeva, the Suras and the Asuras practise hard Tapasyās to get me, impelled by their desires to attain the objects of sense enjoyments; but he only really gets me who worships and takes refuge of Thy lotus feet only, for my heart is entirely attached to Thee. So, O Achyuta! Kindly shew Thy Grace and put, on my head, Thy lotus palm, praised by the universal people that Thou placest on Thy Bhaktas. O Bhagavān! That Thou takest me in Thy Bosom is a sign of Thy Grace. No one can fathom the deeds of Thee, the Only Controller of all. Thus the Prajāpati and the Lords of that Varsa, worship the Bhagavān, the Friend of all, with a view to attain their respective desires and Siddhis. In Ramyak Varsa, the Matsya form of the Bhagavān is set up and consecrated. The Suras and the Asuras worship Him. The highly intelligent Manu always chant hymns to that Excellent Form thus :-- Obeisance to Him who is the Life of all, the Essence and Strength of all, to that Great Fish Form, the Body Incarnate of Sattva Guna, who is of the nature of Om and Bliss.
19-23. Thou art the Lord of all the Lokapālas and of the form of the Vedas. Thou art within and without all this universe, moving and non-moving; still all the beings are unable to see Thy form. As the people bring under their control the wooden dolls, so Thou controllest the universe by the rules and prohibitions under the names of the Brāhmanas, etc. Thou art the God. The Lokapālas, being overcome by the fever of jealousy and pride, become quite unable, either individually or collectively, to quit their jealousies and to protect the tripeds, quadrupeds, reptiles and snakes; so Thou art the God. Thou hadst upheld this earth along with me and with the medicinal plants and creepers; and Thou shewedest the highest luminous light in the great ocean, at the time of Pralaya, tossed with surging waves and didst roam there. Thou art the Self of all the beings in the universe. So we bow down to Thee. Thus the Manu, the best of the mortal beings, used to praise the Bhagavān, who took His incarnation in the shape of the Fish, the Remover of all doubts. Manu, the foremost of the Bhāgavatas (the devotees) is reigning there in the service of the Fish Incarnation of the Bhagavān, with intense meditation and expurging all sins and with great devotion.
Here ends the Ninth Chapter of the Eighth Book on the narration of the division of the continents in the Mahā Purānam S'rī Mad Devī Bhāgavatam of 18,000 verses by Maharsi Veda Vyāsa.
Chapter X
On the description of Bhuvanakosa
1-7. Nārāyana said :-- In Hiranmaya Varsa, the Bhagavān is remaining in the form of Kurma, the Tortoise, as the Lord of Yoga. He is thus praised and worshipped by Aryamā, the Ruler of the Pitris. Aryamā said :-- Om namo Bhagavate Akûpārāya; (King of tortoises, sustaining the world) Obeisance to Thee, the Lord of all prosperities, in the form of Tortoise (Kurma); Thou art built of Sattva Guna Incarnate; no one can make out where Thou dost dwell; Thou art not encompassed by Time; (Thou art in the Present, Past and Future); so obeisance to Thee. Thou dost pervade all things; we bow down to Thee. All are established in Thee; so obeisance to Thee. By Thy extraordinary Māyā (power) Thou hast made manifest this universe that is seen. This is Thy Form. It is by no means distinct from Thee. This Thy Form is seen in so many forms. So the true reality being not known like the mirage, these cannot be counted really speaking, what is Thy form, no one can definitely say. The beings generated by heat and moisture (said of insects and worms), those that are born of eggs, from wombs and the plants and other moving, non-moving beings, the Devas, Risis, Pitris, Bhûtas, and these senses; the sky, the heavens, earth, mountains, rivers, oceans, islands, planets, and stars all these art Thou and Thou alone. Thy name, form, and appearance, are as varied; and their numbers cannot be counted. Still, Kapila and others have determined their numbers, by the knowledge of which Thou canst become visible to the Eye of Knowledge. Thy form and nature are determined by these Sānkhyas ascertained by Kapila. So we bow down to Thee. Thus Aryamā, and the other rulers of the Varsa all united sing, praise, and worship the Bhagavān Kurma Deva, the Controller of all and the Generator of all. All Hail to Thee! The Bhagavān Yajña Purusa is manifest in Uttara Kuru Mandala in the form of Ādi Varāha. The Earth Herself worships Him always. The Goddess Earth praises Hari, the Yajña Varāha, the Destroyer of the Daityas and worships duly that Deva, with Her heart lotus, naturally devoted, rendered more devoted by Her attachment to the Lord.
8-13. The Goddess Earth spoke :-- Om Namo Bhagavate Mantratattva Lingāya Yajña Kratave I bow down to the Bhagavān, the Great Boar; Thou art Om; Thy real form and nature can be known by only the Mantra and Tattva. Thou art Yajña and Kratu (sacrifice) incarnate; therefore all the great sacrifices are Thy limbs. Thou art the Three Yugas (there being no Yajña in the Satya Yuga); Thou art that which is left as Pure, after doing Karma (so as to be fit for performing Yajñas). So obeisance to Thee. The sages, versed in Jñāna and Vijñāna say that Thou art hidden in the body and in the senses as fire is hidden in the wood. So they, ardent to see Thee, seek for Thee with a discriminative and dispassionate mind, judging Karmas and their fruits; and then Thy Nature is revealed, I bow down to Thee, Thy Form can be ascertained by the cause and effect of the Karmas and other Gunas of Māyā, sense objects, senses, actions, Devas, body, time, Ahamkāra and others. I bow down to Thee, Those can see thus Thy form, whose mind is firmly established in Thee, by their discrimination and Yama, Niyama, etc., and who have abandoned all sorts of fickleness and changeability of their tempers. So obeisance to Thee. As iron goes attracted towards the magnet, so Māyā dances before Thee with Her Gunas and Her works in the way of the creation, preservation and destruction of this universe; but Thou art totally indifferent to it. For the sake of the Jīvas (embodied souls), desire comes to Thee, though Thou art not quite willing! Thou art the Witness of the Jīvas and their Adrista (the Fate). I bow down to Thee. The Yajña Varāha, the Cause of this universe, has lifted me up from the Rasātala and placing me on His big tusks, has come out from the Pralaya, the great ocean, after overpowering in battle His enemy, the powerful Daitya, like an elephant, I bow down to that Controller of all, to Thee. In the Kimpurusa Varsa, the Bhagavān Ādi Purusa (the Prime Man), the Self-manifest, and the Lord of all, is residing in the form of Rāma, the son of Das'aratha and the Joy of the heart of Sītā Devī.
14-18. S'rī Hanumāna thus spoke:-- Om namo Bhagavate Uttama Slokaya I bow down to the Bhagavān, who art sung by the excellent verses, purifying all. I bow down to Thee, the incarnate of modesty, good temper, vow and good signs; Thy mind is always under control; Thou dost imitate, as Thy nature is good, the actions of all persons; obeisance to Thee. Thou art the Supreme Place to award praise. Obeisance to Thee. Thou art Brahmanya Deva (in the creation of the universe), the high souled Person Mahāpurusa. Thou gettest the First Share, above all the persons! Thou art the One Tattva and That Alone, as established in the Vedānta. The holy realisation is the only guide to it. This Tattva dominates over all the Gunas. It can never be an object. Only by pure intellect, It can be realised. There is no name, no form of It. It is always beyond the pale of Ahamkāra. I take refuge to this Tattva, the most Peaceful, with my body and mind. Thy incarnation in human shape in this world is not simply for killing Rāvana but for giving instructions to the mortals. The contact with woman and the suffering thereof are very difficult to avoid; to give this lesson also He took this incarnation, He Who is merged in enjoying the Supreme Bliss of His Own Nature and He Who is the Lord of all, how can He suffer miseries in the bereavement of Sītā. He is the best friend and the very Ātman of those who have conquered their minds and senses. Especially He is the receptacle of all the qualities and is in enjoyment of other divine extraordinary powers. So He is not attached to the worldly objects. How can the delusion due to His wife come and darken Him? and why will He send Laksmana in exile? He is the Mahat Tattva and the Parama Purusa; so good birth, beauty, intelligence, oratory or good form, nothing can please Him. Bhakti (devotion) can only attract Him. If that be not the case, then why will He, the elder of Laksmana, the Bhagavān, the son of Das'aratha make friendship with us, the wanderers of the forest and who are by nature, not the receptacles of any beauty, etc. So everyone, be he a Sura or Asura, man, or not man, should worship the Hari manifest in Rāma, in the human body with all his heart. He is so good that if anybody worships Him even to a very small extent, He always considers it to be much; what more can be said than this that He took all the inhabitants of Kos'ala to Heaven!
19-20. Nārāyana said :-- Thus Hanumān, the best of monkeys, sings the praises and worships duly in Kimpurusa Varsa, the lotus-eyed Rāma, truthful, and determined in his vows. He who hears this wonderful description of Rāma, is freed of all his sins and goes with his body pure to the abode of Rāma.
Here ends the Tenth Chapter of the Eighth Book on the description of Bhuvanakosa in the Mahāpurānam S'rī Mad Devī Bhāgavatam, of 18,000 verses, by Maharsi Veda Vyāsa.
Chapter XI
On the description of the continents and of Bhāratavarsa
1. Nārāyana said :-- In this Bhāratavarsa (India) I am present, as the First of all, in the shape of the Man, at present existing before you. Let you praise Me incessantly thus:--
2-28. Nārada said :-- Thou art the Bhagavān. Obeisance to Thee. Thou art completely free from attachment and envy and Thou art the incarnate of Dharma, Jñāna and Vairāgyam (Dispassion). No trace of Ahamkara (egoism) is in Thee. Obeisance to Thee. Thou hast nothing of wealth; Thou art the foremost of the family of Risis; Thou art Nara Nārāyana. Thou art the Parama Hamsa (the highest class of ascetics and renouncers of the world). Thou art the Highest Guru; Thou art happy with Thyself and the Leader of all; I bow down to Thee. Thou art the Lord of all, yet not mixed in the work of creation, etc. Though Thou residest in every embodied being, yet no hunger and thirst can press Thee; though Thou art the Witness, yet Thy sight is not at all disturbed by the proximity. Thou art not at all connected and no desires can come to Thee; Thou art the Witness. So I bow down to Thee. This path of Yoga had come out of Thee and it is established in Thee. The Bhagavān Hiranyagarbha has given instructions on the cleverness in Yoga, thus :-- That leaving aside the egoism of this body, the seat of all evils, the people at last will take resort to the path of Bhakti and set their minds on Thee, Who art beyond the pale of the three Gunas. If, like the ignorant persons very much attached to this world as well as the next, the wise pass their time in the thoughts of their sons, wives, and riches and ultimately become very much pained on the destruction of this ugly body, persons, versed in Jñāna and Vijñāna be afraid in the end of their separation fron the body, then their study of the S'āstras and all their labours become labours merely, without any effect. When such a thing occurs to the learned, then O Thou, the Subduer of the knowledge of senses! Thou Thyself givest us instructions that we may easily think of Thee. Then this terrible clinging to this ugly body that Thy Māyā brings about and which it is very difficult to discard by other means, will leave us quickly. Nārada, the seer of all, well qualified with the knowledge of all the Tattvas, the foremost of the Munis, thus worships it and praises Nārāyana Who is unaffected by any of the Ûpādhis and who corresponds to Nitya and Leelā (both Permanent and the Pastime-making). O Devarsi! I now describe to you the rivers and mountains in Bhāratvarsa. Hear attentively. Malaya, Mangalaprastha, Maināka, Chitrakûta, Risabha, Kûtaka, Kolla, Sahya, Devagiri, Risyamûka, S'ris'aila, Vyankata, Mahendra, Vāridhāra, Vindhya, S'uktimān, Riksa, Pāriyātra, Drona, Chitrakûta, Gobardhana, Raivataka, Kakubha, Nīla, Gaurmukha, Indrakīla, Kāmagiri and many other mountains, that cannot be numbered. Great merits accrue on seeing these mountains. Hundreds and thousands of rivers issue from these mountains. Drinking their waters, bathing in them and visiting them and singing their praises completely destroy the sins of mind, word and body. The names of the rivers are :-- Tāmraparnī, Chandravas'ā, Kritamālā, Vatodakā, Vaihāyasī, Kāverī, Venā, Payasvini, Tungabhadrā, Krisnavenā, S'arkarā, Vartakā, Godāvarī, Bhīmarathī, Nirbindhyā, Payosnikā, Tāpī, Revā, Surasā, Narmadā, Sarasvatī, Charmanvatī, and the Indus, Andha, and Sone, Risikulyā, Trisāmā, Vedasmriti, Mahānadī, Kaus'ikī, Yamunā, Mandākini, Drisadvatī, Gomatī, Sarayû, Oghavatī, Saptavatī, Susamā, S'atadru, Chandrabhāgā, Marudbridhā, Vitastā, Asiknī and Vis'vā and many other rivers. Those persons that take their births in this Varsa enjoy the (Divya) Divine, human, and the lower enjoyments, as the effects of their Karmas, in accordance with their Sāttvik, Rājasik, and Tāmasik qualities. All the inhabitants of this Varsa take their Sannyāsa, Vānaprasthas, etc., in accordance with the rules of their Varnas (castes) respectively and enjoy beatitudes as dictated (in their S'āstras). The Vedavādis (the propounders of the Vedas), the Risis, and the Devas declare that this Varsa is superior to all the other Varsas as the Grace of God is easily obtained here. They say: Oh! What an amount of good works, the inhabitants of Bhārata Varsa did in their previous lives, that by their influence, the Bhagavān Hari has become pleased with them without their having any Sādhanās (good Yogic practices). Therefore we also desire to have our births there, for there if we be born amidst the persons there, we would be able serve Hari, Mukunda in every way. What will severe austerities, gifts, sacrifices, and practising vows avail us? Even if we go to Heaven, what benefit we will derive there? Then we would never be able to bring our mind to the lotus-feet of the Bhagavān Nārāyana. Our tastes for sense enjoyments would increase and we would be wholly deprived of Bhagavān. Far better it is to be born in this Bhārata Varsa as short-lived persons, than to acquire other places where one can live up to the period of Kalpa and then be reborn. For the intelligent people of Bhārata, getting this mortal coil can within a short period devote themselves to the Bhagavān Hari and be free from rebirth. That place is never to be visited and served, even if that be Svarga Loka where the nectar-like ocean of the sayings of Vaikuntha are not heard; where there are no assemblages of saints who take refuge of the Lotus feet of Bhagavān; where the great sacrifices and festivities of the Bhagavān Visnu are not celebrated. Those persons, that do not try for Moksa, when they get human births and when they possess Jñāna, Kriyā (methods of doing sacrifices and other works for the help of Jñāna) and Dravya (materials for those sacrifices), are certainly like beasts and get themselves repeatedly entanged into bondages. The people of Bhārata Varsa offer oblations to Indra and other deities, invoking their names separately, with proper rules (Vidhis), mantras, and purodāsas (a sacrificial oblation made of ground rice and offered in Kapālas or vessels); but the All sufficient Bhagavān Hari, the Giver of blessings accepts those very gladly.
True that He grants unto the people what they ask from Him; but He hardly gives anybody the Paramārtha, the Highest Goal. The reason being that the people ask again and again after receiving what they had asked. So He gives of Himself His own lotus-feet to those who, having abandoned all their desires, worship Him and Him only with the idea of love. (1) Thus :-- We are living very happily in the Heavens as the fruit of the Istāpûrta that we performed fully; yet we want that we may also be born in Bhārata Varsa with our memory all renewed with the thought of the Bhagavān Hari. The Bhagavān residing in this Bhāratvarsa, awards the highest welfare to its inhabitants.
29-32. Nārāyana said :-- O Devarsi! Thus the Devas of the Heavens, the Siddhas, the Highest Risis, sing the excellent merits of this Bhāratavarsa. There are the eight Upadvīpas of this Jambudvīpa :-- When the sons of the King Sagara were searching for the footprints of the stolen horse (for As'vamedha sacrifice), they found these Upadvīpas; so it is definitely stated. The names of out and made these are :-- Svarnaprastha, Chandras'ukra, Āvartana, Ramānaka, Mandaropākhya, Harina, Pānchajanya, and Ceylon. The length and breadth of Jambudvīpa have been described; now the other six Dvīpas, Plaksa and others will be described. Hear.
Here ends the Eleventh Chapter of the Eighth Book on the description of the continents and of Bhāratavarsa in the Mahāpurānam, S'rī Mad Devī Bhāgavatam, of 18,000 verses, by Maharsi Veda Vyāsa.
Chapter XII
On the narration of Plaksa, Sālmala and Kusa Dvīpas
1-37. Nārāyana said :-- The Jambudvīpa has been described, how it is and what is its width. It is surrounded on all sides by the salt ocean. As Meru is surrounded by Jambudvīpa, so the salt ocean is surrounded by Plaksadvīpa, twice its size. As the ditch is surrounded by gardens, so the salt ocean is surrounded by gardens. As the Jambu tree exists in Jambudvīpa, so the Plaksa tree exists in the Plaksa Dvīpa and of the same size. The name Plaksa Dvīpa is derived from the name of this Plaksa tree. This tree is of a golden colour. Fire exists at its bottom with form incarnate. This is, named Saptajihva. The Ruler of this island is Idhmajihva, the son of Priyavrata. He divided his island into the seven Varsas and distributed them, to each of his seven sons and he himself took refuge of the path of Yoga, so much liked by the Knowers of Self and he got the Bhagavān Vāsudeva. The names of those seven Dvīpas are :-- S'iva, Yavas, Subhadra, Sānti, Ksema, Amrita, and Abhaya. Seven rivers and seven mountains exist respectively in the seven islands. The rivers are :-- Arunā, Nrimnā, Angirasī, Sāvitrī, Suprabhātikā, Ritambharā, and Satyambharā. The names of the mountains are Manikûta, Vajrakûta, Indrasena, Jyotismāna, Suparna, Hiranyasthīva, and Meghamāla. The seeing and drinking the waters of these rivers take away all sins and all darkness due to ignorance. The four castes live here, Hamsa, Patanga, Ûrdhāyana, and Satyānga, corresponding to the four castes Brāhmana, etc. The inhabitants of this Plaksa Dvīpa live for one thousand years and all are of variegated wonderful appearances. They follow the customs and usages dictated by the Vedas and worship the God Sun for the attainment of Heaven. The mantra by which the worship is done is this :-- We take refuge unto that Sun, Who is the Body Manifest of the Ancient Person Visnu and Who is the Ordainer of Satya (Truth), Ritā (Straight forwardness), Brahmā, Amrita (Immortality) and Mrityu (Death); O Nārada! All the persons here live long, of vigorous senses, energetic, powerful, intelligent, enthusiasts, and valorous; everyone gets extraordinary powers of themselves. Next to this Plaksa Dvīpa is the Ikshu Ocean. This Iksu Sāgara surrounds the Plaksa Dvīpa. Next comes S'almala Dvīpa. It is twice as large as Plaksa. This Dvīpa is surrounded by Surāsāgara (the ocean of wine). There is a tree named S'almalī in this island, which is as large as the Plaksa tree. The high-souled Garuda resides on that tree, Yajñavāhu is the Ruler of this place. He was born of Priyavrata; he divided his Varsa into the seven parts and distributed each of them to his seven sons respectively. Now hear the names of these Varsas :-- Surochana, Saumanasya, Ramana, Deva Varsa, Pāribhadra, Āpyāyana, and Vijñāta. Seven mountains and seven rivers exist there respectively. The names of the mountains are :-- Sarasa, S'atas'ringa, Vāma Deva, Kandaka, Kumuda, Puspavarsa, and Sahasra-S'ruti. Now hear the names of the rivers. Anumati, Sinībālī, Sarasvatī, Kûhu, Rajanī, Nandā, and Rākā; these are the seven rivers. The people are divided into the four castes :-- S'rutadhara, Vīryadhara, Vasundhara, Isundhara. These correspond to the Brāhmanas, etc. They worship the Bhagavān Moon, the Controller of all and the Creator of all the Vedas. They offer food duly in the black and white fortnight to their Pitris. The mantra for their worship is :-- Let Soma, the King of all, be pleased. O Nārada! Next to Surāsāgara is Kus'advīpa, surrounded by Ghritasāgara (the ocean of clarified butter). Its dimensions are twice as large. Here are blades of Kus'a grass, of a very resplendent colour. The name of the Dvīpa is from this Kus'astamba. This bundle of Kus'a, illumines all the quarters with their gentle rays. The Ruler of the Dvīpa is Hiranyaretā, the son of Priyavrata. He divided the Dvīpa into seven parts and distributed each of them to each of his seven sons respectively. The names of the seven sons are :-- Vasu, Vasudāna, Dhridharuchi, Nābhigupta, Stutyavrata, Vivikta, and Bhāmadevaka. There are seven mountains forming the seven boundaries and so are the seven rivers. Hear the names of these. The names of the mountains are :-- Chakra, Chatuhs'ringa, Kapila, Chitre Devānīka, Kûta, Ûrdharomā and Dravina. The names of the rivers are :-- Rasakulyā, Madhukulyā, Mitravindā, S'rutavindā, Devagarbhā, Ghritāchyut, and Mantramalikā. The inhabitants of the Kus'advīpa drink the waters of these rivers. There are the four castes here Kus'ala, Kovida, Abhiyukta, and Kulaka corresponding to the Brāhmanas, etc. They are all powerful like Indra and the other chief Devas; and all of them are omniscient. They worship the Fire God and perform various good works in honour of Him. Their mantra is this :-- O Fire! Thou carriest the oblations direct to Para Brahmā. In the sacrifices of the Devas, Thou worshippest that Personal God and offerest to Him whatever are given in oblations, mentioning the respective limbs of His Body. Thus the inhabitants of that Dvīpa worship the Fire God.
Here ends the Twelfth Chapter of the Eighth Book on the narration of Plaksa, S'ālmala, and Kus'a Dvīpas in the Mahāpurānam, S'rī Mad Devī Bhāgavatam, of 18,000 verses, by Maharsi Veda Vyāsa.
Chapter XIII
On the description of the remaining Dvīpas
1. Nārada said :-- Thou, the Knower of everything! Describe about the remaining Dvīpas, knowing which we will be highly delighted.
2-36. Nārāyana spoke thus :-- The very vast Ghrita Sāgara (the ocean of clarified butter) is encircling the Kusa Dvīpa. Next to it is the Krauncha Dvīpa. It is twice as large as Kusa. The Ksīra Sāgara (the ocean of milk) is surrounding this Dvīpa. The Krauncha mountain is standing here. The name of this Dvīpa is derived from this mountain. In days gone by, the highly intelligent Kārtikeya burst this mountain by his own prowess. This Dvīpa is washed by the Ksīra Sāgara; and Varuna is its Regent. The son of Priyavrata, Ghritapristha, respected by all and whose prosperity knows no end, is the Lord of this Dvīpa. He divided this Dvīpa into the seven parts and distributed them to his sons and named the Varsas after the names of his sons. He made his sons the rulers of those places and he himself took the refuge of the Bhagavān Nārāyana The names of the seven Varsas are respectively :-- Āma, Madhuruha, Meghapristha, Sudhāmaka, Bhrājistha, Lohitārna, and Vanaspati. O Nārada! The seven mountains and the rivers there are very celebrated throughout the worlds. The names of the mountains are :-- Sûkla, Vardhamāna, Bhojana, Upavarhana, Nanda, Nandana, and Sarvatobhadra. The names of the rivers are :-- Abhayā, Amritaughā, Āryakā, Tīrthavatī, Vrittirûpavatī, Suklā, and Pavitravatikā. The inhabitants there drink the highly pure water of these rivers. The people there are divided into four colours Purusa, Risabha, Dravina, and Vedaka and they worship the Bhagavān Varuna, of the form of water. Then they become very discriminative, and, with great devotion, and holding full within their folded palms the water, repeat the following mantra :-- O Water! Thou art the essence Vīrya of the Person Bhagavāna and Thou sanctifiest the Bhûrloka, Bhuvarloka, and Svarloka. Thou destroyest the sins of all. We all are touching it; purify our bodies. After finishing their mantrams, they sing various hymns to Varuna. Next to the Ksiroda Sāgara, is the Saka Dvīpa, thirty two lakh yoyanas wide, surrounded by the Dadhi Sāgara (the ocean of curds), of similar dimensions. Here the most excellent tree named the Saka tree exists. O Nārada! The Dvīpa is named so after the tree. Medhātithi, the son of Priyavrata is the Lord of this Dvīpa. He divided this land into the seven Varsas and distributed each to his seven sons respectively; and ultimately he took refuge to the path of Yoga. The names of the seven Varsas are Purojava, Manojava, Pavamānaka, Dhûmrānīka, Chitrarepha, Bahurûpa, and Visvadhrik. In these Varsas there are seven mountains, one in each Varsa, as forming their boundaries; and there are seven rivers also. The names of the mountains are :-- Īsana, Ûrusringa, Valabhadra, Sata Kesara, Sahasra-srotaka, Devapāla, and Mahāsana; the names of the rivers are :-- Anaghā, Āyurdā, Ubhayaspristi, Aparājitā, Pañchapadī, and Sahasrasruti and Nijadhriti. These seven rivers are all very big and resplendent with lustre. The people are divided into four classes :-- Varsas, Satyavrata, Kratuvrata, Dānavrata, and Anuvrata. They all take the Prānayāma exercise and thereby bring the Rājas, and Tamo Guna under their subjection and they worship Hari, of the nature of Prāna Vayu, Higher than the Highest. Their mantra is this :-- He has entered into all the living beings and nourishes them by the Prāna and other faculties; He is the Internal Ruler of all and the Supreme Controller; this Universe is under His control; let Him protect and nourish us. O Nārada! Next to this Dadhi Sāgara is Puskara Dvīpa; it is twice as large as Sāka Dvīpa. It is surrounded by the Dudha Sāgar (the ocean of milk) all twice as large. The leaves of Puskara tree that shines in the Puskara Dvīpa, are fiery like golden flames; they are as clean and pure. Crores and crores of leaves, golden in colour ornament this Tree. Vāsudeva, the Guru of all the Lokas, has created this Puskara Dvīpa as the seat of Paramesthī Brahmā, possessed of six extraordinary powers, for the purpose of creation. There is one mountain in this Dvīpa; it is divided into two parts, named Arvāchīna and Parāchīna. These form the boundaries of the two Varsas. The mountain is one Ayuta Yoyana high and one Ayuta Yoyana wide. There are four cities on the four sides. Indra and the three other Lokapālas are the lords of these cities. The Sun God comes out from their top and circumambulating Meru, goes there again. The whole year is his Chakram, circle of circuit; His path is Uttrāyanam and Daksināyanam. Vītihotra, the son of Priyavrata is the lord of this island. He distributed the two Varsas amongst his two sons, Ramana and Dhātakī. They rule over the two Varsas named also after them. Like the inhabitants of the above Varsas, the people also get powers of themselves and worship devotedly the God seated on the lotus and follow such path of the Yoga as leads them to the Brahmā Sālokyā, etc. The mantra runs thus :-- We bow down to that One God, without a Second, of the nature of Peace, Who is the Fruit of all the Karmas, Who is the seat of illumination of Brahmā, Who is established in Unity, and Who is worshipped by all the Lokas.
Here ends the Thirteenth Chapter of the Eighth Book on the description of the remaining Dvīpas in the Mahāpurānam Srī Mad Devī Bhāgavatam, of 18,000 verses, by Maharsi Veda Vyāsa.
Chapter XIV
On the description of the Lokāloka space
1-29. Nārāyana said :-- Next to the ocean of pure water, is the mountain, called Lokāloka. It marks the sphere between the two countries Loka and Aloka. O Devarsi! There is a land, all of pure gold (beyond this ocean of pure water) for a space equal to the distance between Mānasottara and Meru. This land is like a mirror; there are no beings here; the reason is, any substance placed on it would at once be converted into gold and nothing can be obtained out of it. O Nārada! No living beings can live there and therefore it is named Lokāloka. This is established always between the Loka and Aloka. The God himself has made this as the boundary of the three Lokas. The rays of the Sun, the Polar Star and all the planets are confined to this sphere; rather passing through its middle, the luminaries shed their lustre on the three Lokas. O Nārada! This great mountain is so lofty and capacious that the rays of the luminaries can never go out of it. The learned men say, that the size, form, and indications of this mountain are such as this is the one-fourth of five hundred times the size of the earth on its summit. The self-born Brahmā has placed very big elephants on all sides of it. Hear their names. These are Risabha, Puspachûda, Vāmana, and Aparājita. These four elephants are said to hold all the Lokas in their respective positions. The Bhagavān Hari gives strength to these elephants and to Indra and others who are reckoned to be His Vibhûtis (powers). He manifesting His Suddha Sattva and super-extraordinary powers, and united with Animā, Laghimā, etc., the eight Siddhis, is reigning there surrounded by His Pārisadas Visvaksena and others. He is the one God of all; He is without a second. For the welfare of all, He is holding Sudarsana and His various other weapons; and the powers of His arms are great. He is His own Cause and at all times He pervades all in and through. He is Eternal. This Universe is upheld by His extraordinary power Māyā for its preservation. He remains in this form till the end of a Kalpa. The inner width described above, determines the width of Āloka. For it is situated outside the above Loka. Beyond the mountain Lokāloka, is said to lie the pure path leading to Yogesvara within the egg-shaped ellipsoid formed by the Heaven and Earth. The inner dimension of this ellipsoid is twenty five Koti Yoyanas. When this egg becomes unconscious (lifeless), the Sun enters within it in the form of Vairāja. Hence the Sun is called Mārtanda. He is Hiranyagarbha, when He is born from this Golden Egg. It is this Sun that ordains the quarters, Ākāsa, Heaven and Earth, etc., in their proper spheres and divisions. This Sun is the Ātmā of Svarga and Moksa, hell and other lower regions, of the Devas, men, birds, reptiles, trees and all other living beings; and He is the Presiding Deity of their sight. O Nārada! Its width is Pañchāsat Koti Yoyanas and its height or depth is twenty-five Koti Yoyanas. If as the two halves of a gram are of the same size, so the Earth and Heaven are of equal size. The space enclosed between them is called Antarīksa; the Sun God, the foremost of the planets, being situated in the middle, gives light and illumines and heats the three Lokas. He goes by the path of Uttarāyana and therefore His motion becomes slow (His motion becomes Mandagati). The Sun then getting up higher prolongs the day time. Similarly when the Sun follows the path of Daksināyana, He gets Sīghra-gati and not going up so high, shortens the day time. Again when He comes at the Equator, He maintains an even position and the day and night become equal. When the Sun is in the signs Aries (Mesa) and Libra (Tulā), then the day and night become equal. When the Sun traverses the five signs Taurus, Gemini, etc., the day becomes longer and when the Sun traverses the five signs Scorpio and others, the day becomes shorter and the night becomes longer.
Here ends the Fourteenth Chapter of the Eighth Book on the description of the Lokāloka space in the Mahāpurānam S'rī Mad Devī Bhāgavatam, of 18,000 verses, by Maharsi Veda Vyāsa.
Chapter XV
On the motion of the Sun
1-45. Nārāyana said :-- O Nārada! I will now describe the motion of the Sun. Hear. It is of three kinds; Sīghra (perihelionic), Manda (Aphelionic), and even. O Surasattama! Every planet has three positions. The name of the Madhyagati position is Jāradgava, the name of the northern position is Airāvata; and the name of the southern position is Vaisvānara. The asterisms Asvinī Krittikā and Bharanī are known by the term Nāgavīthī. Rohinī, Ārdrā, and Mrigasirā are named Gaja Vīthī; Pusyā, Aslesā, and Punarvasu are named Airavatīvīthī. The three Vīthīs, above-mentioned are called Uttara Mārga. Purvaphalgunī, Uttara Phalgunī and Maghā are named Arsabhī Vīthī. Hastā, Chitrā and Svātī are called Govīthī; Jyesthā, Visākhā and Anurādhā are named Jāradgavī Vīthī. These three Vīthīs are named Madhyamā Mārga. Mûlā, Purbāsādhā, Uttarāsādhā are termed Ajavīthī Sravanā, Dhanisthā and Satabhisā are termed Mriga Vīthī. Uttara bhādrapada, Purvabhādrapada, and Revatī are called Vaisvānarīvīthī. These three Vīthīs (paths) are called Daksinamārga. During the Uttarāyana time, as the Dhruva attracts the rope of air from both the sides of the Yuga, orbit (or axis), the chariot of the Sun ascends, (i.e., is drawn up by the rope). Thus when the Sun enters within the sphere, the motion of the chariot becomes slower and the day is lengthened and the night is shortened. O Sura Sattama! Know this to be the course of the path of the Sun.
When the cord draws towards the south, the Chariot descends and as the Sun then comes out of the sphere, the motion becomes quick. The day shortens and the night is lengthened. Again when the cord is neither tightened nor is it slackened, rather its motion is exactly mid-way, the Sun also remains in a medium position and his Chariot enters within a sphere of equilibrium and the day and night become equal. When the cord of air, in a state of equilibrium is attracted by the Polar Star, then it is that the Sun and the Solar system revolves; and when the Polar Star slackens its attraction over the cord of air, the Sun coming out of the middle sphere, revolves; and the Solar system also revolves. On the east of Meru is established the city of Indra and the Devas dwell there. It is called therefore Devadhānikā. On the south of the Meru, is the famous city of Yama, the God of Death, named Samyamanī. On the west of Meru, is the great city of Varuna, named Nimnochanī. On the north of Meru is the city of the Moon, named Vibhāvarī. O Nārada! The Brahmavādīs say that the Sun first rises in the city of Indra. At noon the Sun goes to Samyamanī; at evening the Sun goes to Nimnochanī and He is said to set. In the night the Sun remains in Vibhāvarī. O Muni! The going of the Sun round Meru is the cause of all the beings getting themselves engaged in their respective duties. The inhabitants of the Meru see the Sun always in the central position. The Sun moves on, eastwards towards the stars, keeping the Meru to his left; but if the Zodiac be taken into account, it would appear that the Meru is left towards the south of the Sun. The rising and the setting of the Sun are always considered in front of Him. O Devarsi! Every point, every quarter, every person, seeing the Sun says that the Sun has risen there; again where he becomes invisible, He is considered to set there. The Sun always exists; so there is no rising nor setting for Him. It is His appearance and disappearance that make men say that the Sun rises or sets. When the Sun is in the Indras city, He illumines the three cities, those of Indra, Yama, and the Moon and illumines the north-east and east-west corners. So when He rests in the city of Fire, he illumines north-east, east-west, and south-west, the three corners, and at the same time the cities of Indra and Yama; and so on for the other cities and corners. O Nārada! The Mont Meru is situated towards the north of all the Dvīpas and Varsas. So whenever any person sees the Sun rise he calls that side east. But Meru exists towards the left of the Sun; so it is said. If the Sun travels in 15 (fifteen) Ghatikās, the distance from Indrapurī to Yamapurī, He is said to travel within that time a distance equal to 2¼ Kotis, 12½ lakhs and 25000 Yojanas (22695000 Yojanas). The thousand-eyed and thousand rayed Sun God is the Manifester of Time. He travels in the aforesaid way the cities of Varuna, Chandra and Indra respectively. He is the diadem of the Svarloka; and the Zodiac is his Ātman. He travels thus, to mark off time to all persons. O Nārada! The Moon and the other planets and stars rise and set in the aforesaid manner. Thus the powerful chariot of the Sun travels in a Muhûrta 142,00000 Yojanas. By the force of Pravaha Vāyu (air), the Sun God, the Incarnate of the Vedas travels round the cities, the Zodiac, in one Samvatsara (year). The wheel of the Suns Chariot is one year; twelve months are the spokes; three Chāturmāsyas are the nave and the six seasons are the outer ring or circumference of the wheel. The learned men call this chariot as the Samvatsara (one year). The axis or axle points to the Meru on one side and to Mānasottara mountain on the other. The end or circumference of the wheel marks off other divisions of the time as Kalā, Kāsthā, Muhûrta, Yāma, Parahara, day and night, and fortnights. The wheel is fixed on the nave. The Sun goes on this wheel, like an oilmans on his oil-machine, round and round the Mānasottara mountain. The eastern side of the wheel is on that axis and the other part is fixed on the Pole Star. The dimension of the first axis is (15750000 Yoyanas). The second axis measures one-fourth of the above (3937500 Yoyanas). It resembles the axis of an oil-machine. The upper side of that is considered to belong to the Sun. The seat of the Sun on his chariot measures 36 Lakh Yoyanas wide. The Yuga measures in length one fourth of the above dimensions, that of his seat. The Chariot is is moved by seven horses, consisting of the seven Chhandas, Gāyatrī, etc., driven by Aruna. The horses carry the Sun for the happiness of all. Though the charioteer sits in front of the Sun, his face is turned towards the west. He does his work as a charioteer in that state. Sixty thousand Vālakhilya Risis, of the size of a thumb, chant the sweet Vedic hymns before Him. Other Risis, Apsarās, Uragas, Grāmanīs, Rāksasas, and all the Devas, each divided in groups of seven, worship every month that highly lustrous Sun-god. The earth measures 90152000 Krosa Yuga Yoyanas (1 Krosa - ¼ Yoyana). The Sun passes over this distance in a moment. He does not take rest in his this work even for a day; no, not even for a moment.
Here ends the Fifteenth Chapter of the Eighth Book on the motion of the Sun in the Mahāpurānam, S'rī Mad Devī Bhāgavatam, of 18000 verses, by Maharsi Veda Vyāsa.
Chapter XVI
On the motion of the planets
Srī Nārāyana said :-- O Nārada! Now hear the wonderful movements of the planets and their positions. The auspicious and inauspicious events of the mankind, are due to the different movements of these planets. As in a potters wheel going round and round, the motion of the insects crawling on the wheel, appears in a contrary direction, so the motion of the Sun and other planets moving on the Zodiac composed of the Rāsīs (12 constellations) which again always moves round the Meru as an axle, appears different. Their motion from one star to another and from one constellation to another appears so likewise. These two motions therefore are not contradictory but are consistent; so it is settled everywhere by the learned Pundits (as being subservient to the Zodiac). O Nārada! He, Who is the Origin of all, Who is the Ādi Purusa, from Whom all these have sprung, Who is endowed with six extraordinary powers, in Whom all this Prapañcha, this material world composed of the five elements remains, that Nārāyana, roaming about, has divided the Trayī Ātmā into twelve parts for the perfect happiness of all and for Karma Suddhis (the purification of Karma, acts). The sages furnished with Jñān and Vijñāna have thus argued on the point, following the path as laid out in the Vedas. The Sûrya Nārāyana, moving on in the six seasons, spring, etc., has established, cold, heat, etc., as the Dharma of the seasons, duly for the fructification of the Karmas of the individual beings. Those persons that worship this Ādipurusa, with devotion, according to the knowledge of the Vedas the customs and usages of Varna (castes) and Āsrama (Brahmacharya, etc.), and with various performances of Yogas, get their fruits respectively according to their desires. This Sun is the Ātman of all the Lokas and resting on the Zodiac between the Heavens and the Earth, enjoys the twelve months in the twelve constellations, Aries, etc. These months are the limbs of the year. Two fortnights make one month. The 21 asterisms go to form one month according to the Solar measure, of the day and night.
The period that the Sun takes to travel over the two constellations is called Ritu or the Season (i.e., two months). The Scientists say that this season is the limb of one Samvatsara. The path that the Sun describes within the three seasons or half the year in the Zodiac is called one Ayanam. The time taken by the Sun with earth and heavens to make a circuit of the Zodiac is called one Vatsara or year. This year is reckoned into five divisions as :-- Samvatsara, Parivatsara, Idāvatsara, Anuvatsara, and Idvatsara. These are functioned by the Sīghra, Manda, and uniform motions of the Sun. So the Munis say. Thus far the motion of the Sun has been described. Now hear that of the Moon. The Moon is situated one lakh Yoyanas higher than the Sun and shares with the motion of the Sun for one year; and She enjoys as well every month with the Sun in the shape of the dark and bright fortnights. The Moon, the Lord of Night and of the medicinal plants also enjoys the day and night by the help of one constellation or 2¼ Naksattras. Thus, by Her Sīghragati, the Moon enjoys the Naksattras. During the bright fortnight, the Moon becomes more and more visible and gives pleasure to the Immortals by Her increasing phases; and, during the dark fortnight by Her waning phases, She delights the Pitris. She performs revolution in the day and night by Her both the phases of the bright and dark fortnights. Thus She becomes the Life and Soul of all the living beings. The Moon, endowed with the highest prosperity, travels one Naksattra in thirty Muhûrtas. She is Full and the Soul without any beginning. She fructifies the desires (Sankalpas) and resolves of all; hence She is called Manomaya. She is the Lord of all the medicinal plants (Osadhis); hence She is called Annamaya. She is filled with nectar; hence She is called the Abode of Immortality and She gives Nirvāna (the final liberation) to all. Hence She is called Sudhākara. She nourishes and satisfies the Devas, Pitris, men, reptiles and trees; hence She is called Sarvamaya. By Her influence the asterisms travel over the three lakh Yoyanas. The God Himself has made the Naksattra Abhijit to revolve round the Meru, along with the other Naksattras in the Zodiac; so this is reckoned as the twenty-eighth Naksattra. The planet Venus (Sukra) is situated above the Moon two lakh Yoyanas high. He sometimes goes before the Sun, sometimes behind and sometimes along with Him. He is very powerful. His motion is of three kinds :-- (1) Sīghra, (2) Manda, and (3) uniform. He is generally favourable to all the persons and does for them many auspicious things. So it is stated in the Sāstras. O Muni! Sukra, the illustrious scion of Bhrigu, removes the obstacles to the rains. Next to Sukra, the planet Mercury (Budha) is situated two lakh Yoyanas high. Like Sukra, he, too, goes sometimes in front sometimes behind and sometimes along with the Sun. And his motion too, is of three kinds :-- Sīghra, Manda, and uniform. When Mercury the Son of Moon, is away from the Sun, then Ativāta (strong winds, hurricanes), Abhrapāta (the falling of meteors from the clouds) and draught and other fears arise. The planet Mars, the son of the Earth is situated two lakh Yoyanas higher. Within three fortnights (45 days) he travels one Rāsī. This occurs when his motion is not retrograde. This Mars causes all sorts of mischief, evils, and miseries to mankind. The planet Jupiter is situated two lakh Yoyanas higher. He passes through one Rāsī in one year. When his motion is not retrograde, he is always in favour with the Brahmā Vādis. Next to Brihaspati, come the planet Saturn, the son of the Sun, two lakh Yoyanas higher. He takes thirty months to pass over one Rāsī. This planet causes all sorts of unrest and miseries to all. Therefore He is called a Manda Graha (a malefic planet). Next to it, is situated the Saptarsi mandala, the Great Bear, eleven lakh Yoyanas higher up. O Muni! The seven planets always do special favours to all. These circumambulate the Visnupada, the Polar Star.
Here ends the Sixteenth Chapter in the Eighth Book on the motion of the planets in the Mahā Purānam Srī Mad Devī Bhāgavatam of 18,000 verses by Maharsi Veda Vyāsa.
Chapter XVII
On the Dhruva Mandalam
1-29. Nārāyana said :-- Beyond the Saptarsi mandalam (the Great Bear), thirteen lakh Yojanas higher is situated, the Visnus Paramam Padam (the highest place of Visnu). The Great Bhāgavat (devotee of God), the most respectful, Srīmān Dhruva, the son of Uttānapāda, is established there with Indra, Agni, Kasyapa and Dharma and the Naksattras. The visitors pay to him always their respects. He is the patron of those who live till the end of a Kalpa. He is engaged in serving the lotus-feet of the Bhagavān. He has been made by God Himself the pillar round whom all the planets, stars, and the luminary bodies are revolving always and with great force in the Zodiac and in the celestial Heavens. The Devas also worship him. He, resplendent in his own glory, illumines and manifests all. As beasts tied to yoke go on tilling, so the planets and stars, fixed on the Zodiac, go quickly round and round this Dhruva, the Pole Star; some nearer, some further distant in spheres, propelled by Vāyu. As the hawks hover round the sky, so the above-mentioned planets, go completely round and round under their own Karmas and controlled by the Vāyu in the sky. Thus all the luminaries do not fall to the ground, as they are kept up in their respective positions by the favour of the union of Prakriti and Purusa. Some say that this Jyotischakra, the celestial Heavens (the Zodiac) is Sisumāra. It is kept duly in its position for the purpose of holding things up by the power of the Bhagavān. Hence it does not fall. It is resting with its body coiled round and with its head lower down. O Muni! Dhruva, the son of Uttānapāda is staying at the tail end. And, in addition to him, also at the tail rests Brahmā, the Sinless Prajāpati, worshipped by the Gods, Agni, Indra and Dharma. Thus the creation is at the tail and the Saptarsimandal is staying at his waist. Thus the celestial wheel (Jyotischakra) is resting with his coils turned in a right-hand direction. On his right side are found the Uttarāyana Naksattras, fourteen in number from Abhijit to Punarvasu and on his left side are found the other fourteen Daksināyanam Naksattras from Pusyā to Uttarāsādhā. O Son of Brahmā! Thus the Naksattras form the coil-shaped body of the Sisumāra, the Zodiac; half the Naksattras on the one side and the other half Naksattras on the other. His back is on the Heavenly Ganges named Ajavīthī. Punarvasu and Pusyā form the right and left side of the loins; Ārdrā and Aslesā form the right and left feet (westward); Abhijit and Uttarāsādha form the right and left nostrils. O Devarsi! Sravanā and Pûrvāsādhā form the right and left eyes respectively; so say the persons that form the Kalpanās (fancies). Dhanisthā and Mûlā form his right and left ears; Maghā, etc., the eight Daksināyanam Naksattras form the bones on the left side. O Muni! Mrigasīrsa, the Uttarāyana Naksattras form the bones on his right side, Satabhisā and Jyesthā form the right and left shoulders. Agasti (the Canopus) forms the upper jaw and Yama, the lower jaw. The planet Mars forms his face; Saturn forms his organ of generation; Brihaspati forms the hump on the shoulders; the Sun, the Lord of the planets, forms his breast; Nārāyana remains in the heart; and the Moon is in his mind. (Note :-- Sisumāra is also the constellation Dolphinus and is sometimes meant for the polar star.) O Nārada! The two Asvins form the nipples on his breast; Usanā forms his navel; the Mercury is his Prāna and Apāna; Rāhu is his neck and Ketu is all over his body and the stars are reigning all over the hairs of his body. This Zodiac is the body composed of the Devas of that All Pervading Bhagavān. So every intelligent person should daily meditate this Sisumāra in the Sandhyā time, with perfect purity and keeping himself Mauna (silent), and with his whole heart. Then he should repeat the following mantras and get up and say :-- Thou art the Substratum of all the luminaries, we bow down to Thee; Thou createst and destroyest all. Thou art the Lord of all the celestials. Thou art the Ādipurusa, the foremost of all the Purusas; we meditate fully on Thee. The planets, Naksattras, and the stars are Thy body. The Daiva is established in Thee alone. Thou destroyest the sins of those that compose the Mantras. The sins are completely destroyed for the time being of him who bows down or remembers Thee in the morning, afternoon and evening.
Here ends the Seventeenth Chapter of the Eighth Book on the Dhruva Mandalam in the Mahā Purānam S'rī Mad Devī Bhāgavatam of 18,000 verses, by Maharsi Veda Vyāsa.
Chapter XVIII
On the narrative of Rāhu Mandalam
1-9. Nārāyana said :-- O Devarsi! The Sphere of Rāhu (the ascending node) is situated one Ayuta Yoyanas below the Sun. Rāhu, the son of Simhikā is moving there like a Naksattra. This Rāhu swallows up both the Sun and the Moon and He has got immortality and capability to travel in the sky. The Suns rays go up to one Ayuta Yoyanas. The Asura Rāhu thus covers his rays. So the sphere of the Moon extends upto the twelve thousand Yoyanas. Rāhu covers the field of the thirteen thousand Yoyanas. So he covers both the Sun and the Moon. Desire to take the vengeance of the previous enmity, he covers them during the time of Parva (the festivals). This planet wants to cover them from a distance. Hearing this, the Bhagavān Visnu hurls His Sudarsan Chakra against Rāhu. This Chakra (disc) is encircled with the fiery flames and is very terrible. When all the quarters were filled with its violent flames, Rāhu became instantly alarmed and fled away from the distance. O Devarsi! This is known as the eclipse known amongst the mortals. Below the sphere of Rāhu, there are the other pure Lokas situated. O Sattama! The Siddhas, Chāranas, and Vidyādharas live in those Lokas. Their dimensions are one Ayuta Yoyanas.
10. O Devarsi! Below them live the Yaksas, Rāksasas, Pisāchas, Pretas and Bhûtas with their excellent Vihāras (residences).
11-34. The learned people call this Antarīksa. It extends upto where the wind blows violently and where the clouds appear. O Best of the twice-born! Below this Antarīksa is this earth, measuring one hundred Yoyanas. All the articles and things of the earth are found here; birds herons, cranes and ducks all fly over the earth. The earth extends upto this. Now is described the configuration of the earth. O Devarsi! At the lower part of this earth there are seven places (caves or nether regions). Their diameter is one Ayuta Yoyanas. In all the seasons, all sorts of enjoyments can be had at these places. The first is Atala; the second is Vitala. Next come in order :-- Sutala, Talātala, Mahātala. Rasātala, and lastly (the seventh) the Pātāla. O Vipra! Thus the seven holes or regions are reckoned. These are termed the Vila-Svargas and they yield the happinesses, greater than those of the Heavens. These are all filled with lovely amorous enjoyments, prosperity and happiness. They are crowded with gardens and Vihāras (the places of enjoyments). And these Vihāras are all decorated tastefully so as to furnish special tastes of enjoyments. The powerful Daityas, Dānavas, and Snakes enjoy here great happiness incessantly, united lovingly with their sons, wives and friends. The householders also pass their time in ease and enjoyments, surrounded by their friends and attendants. They are all Māyāvis (Magicians) and their resolves are not thwarted; they are more than God in this respect and they are filled with desires. They all live with joy and in enjoyments and they find pleasure in all the seasons. Māyā, the Lord of Māyā had built separate cities, as he liked, in those nether regions. Besides he has created thousands of dwelling-houses, palaces, and town-gates, studded with gems and jewels.
The assembly halls, Chatvaras, and Chaityas are elaborately decorated and rare even to the Suras. The Nāgas and Asuras live in those houses with their consorts; doves and pigeons and female Mayinā birds are hovering there. In those places many plots marked out artificially and excellent rows of palatial buildings of the Lords of those Vivaras adorn there. Very big gardens also exist there. All these cheer the minds; and, to add to their beauty, many places of fruits and flowers are close by, fit for the comfort and enjoyments of the ladies. The tanks and pools of water are crowded with various birds; the lakes are filled with clear waters and the Pāthīna fishes abound there. The aquatic animals move in the waters, violently agitating them. Various kinds of lotuses, Kumud, Utpala, Kahlāra, blue lotus, red lotus, are fully blown in these lakes or reservoirs of water. The gardens there are all overcrowded with the Vihāras of the inhabitants there and echoed with the sweet melodious music, pleasing to the senses. For there, these places seem to vie with the Heavens. No fear is there, whether during the day or during the night. The gems on the crest of snakes constantly illumine the environments and there is no darkness there at any time. The food there is prepared with the divine medicines and they drink and bathe with these medicinal plants; so no disease attacks them. Old age, fever, indigestion, paleness, sweats, bad smells, or loss of energy or any other source of trouble cannot trouble them. The people are always happy and good. Only they fear the Teja of the Bhagavān and His Sudarsan disc; and they fear nothing else. When the Teja of the Bhagavān enters, the womens abortions take place.
Here ends the Eighteenth Chapter of the Eighth Book on the narrative of Rāhu Mandalam in the Mahāpurānam Srī Mad Devī Bhāgavatam of 18,000 verses, by Maharsi Veda Vyāsa.
Chapter XIX
On the narrative of the Atala, etc.
1-32. Nārāyana said :-- O Vipra! In the first beautiful region Atala, the exceedingly haughty son of the Dānava Māyā, named Bala, is living. He has created the ninety-six Māyās. All the requisites of the inhabitants are obtained by them. The other Māyāvis know one or two of these. None of them are capable to know all, as they are exceedingly difficult to be carried out. When this powerful Bala yawned, the three classes of women were produced, fascinating to all the Lokas. They were named Pumschalī (or unchaste woman) Svairinī, (an adultress) and Kāminī (a lovely women). When any man, beautiful and lovely to them, enters into their Atala region, they, with the help of the Hātaka sentiment (of love), generate in him, while in solitude, the power to enjoy (copulate) and with their sweet smiles and amorous lovely looks and with great caution embrace him thoroughly and begin to converse with him and with amorous gestures and postures, and thus please him well. When the people enjoy this Hātakarasa, they think often and often, that they themselves have become gods, they have become Siddhas and powerful like Ayuta elephants; being blind with vanity and finding them endowed with powers and prosperity, they think themselves so repeatedly and constantly. O Nārada! Thus the position in Atala has been described. Now hear, the description of the second region Vitala. Vitala is situated below the earth. There the Bhagavān Bhava, worshipped by all the Devas, has assumed the name of Hātakesvara and is staying there coupled with Bhavānī, surrounded by His attendants specially for the increase of the creation of Brahmā. The river Hātaki flows there and has Her origin from the essences (Semen virile) of them both. Fire, augmented by the help of the wind, begins to drink it. When the Fire leaves that, making a Phutkāra noise (i.e., blowing out air through the mouth), the gold, named Hātaka, is created. This gold is very much liked by the Daityas. The Daitya women use this gold always for their ornaments. Below Vitala is Sutala. It is reckoned as of some special importance. O Muni! The highly meritorious Bali, the son of Virochana lives here. The Bhagavān Vāsudeva, brought down this Bali into Sutala, for the welfare of Indra. He assumed the body of Trivikrama and gave to Bali all the wealth of the three Lokas, all the Laksmī went to him and installed him in the position of the Lord of the Daityas. What more can be said than this, that what prosperity, wealth and riches that Indra could not obtain, that Srī Laksmī Devī Herself has followed Bali. Bali, as the Lord of Sutala, has become entirely fearless, remains here upto this day and is worshipping Vāsudeva. O Nārada! It is said by the high-minded persons that when Vāsudeva Himself, the Controller of all, appeared as a beggar, Bali gave him land, and, therefore, on account of making gift to a good person, he acquired so much prosperity. But this cannot be reasonable. For, it is not at all reasonable to cast the effects of making this gift on Nārāyana, O Nārada! Who is Self-manifest by His own Extraordinary Glory and Who is Himself filled with all Aisvarya (prosperity) and Who can bestow the Highest Goal of life and other requirements of men. This Nārāyana is the Deva of the Devas; if anybody takes His name, when in the greatest distress, he gets himself immediately freed from the Gunas, the cause of bondage due to his Karma. All persons perform many Yogas and follow the paths advised by the Sāmkhya method, with their minds directed to the All-Controller Bhagavān, to abandon all sorts of troubles and miseries. O Nārada! Know that the Bhagavān does not shew us His Favour when he gives us greatest wealth and prosperity. For the wealth and riches are the offspring of Māyā and the source of all worries, miseries and mental troubles; and one is liable to forget the Bhagavān when one gets such a wealth. The Bhagavān is pervading all this universe and is full of wisdom; and He is seeing always all the ways and means; He took away, in the way of begging, rather cheated all that Bali had, leaving only his body; and at last, finding no other means, fastened him by the Varuna Pāsa (noose), threw him in the middle of the mountain cleft (cave) and then has stationed Himself at his door as a Door-keeper. Once, out of his extreme devotion, Bali did not care at all for his difficulties, troubles, or miseries. Rather he gave out that Indra, whose minister is Brihaspati had acted very foolishly. For when the Bhagavān becomes very graciously pleased, he wanted from Him ordinary wealth. But what will the wealth of the Trilokas avail? It is a quite insignificant thing. Surely, He is an illiterate and stupid brute who, for mere wealth, leaves the Bhagavān, Who is the Fountain of all Good Wishes to the Humanity. My grandfather Prahlāda, who was highly fortunate, who was devoted to the God and who was always ready to do good to others, he did not ask for any other thing than the servantship of God (the Dāsya Bhāva). When his powerful father died, the Bhagavān wanted to give him unbounded wealth; but the Bhāgavata (devoted) Prahlāda did not want that. None of us, who are marked with so many deficiencies can know the nature of the Bhagavān Vāsudeva, Whose omnipotence cannot be compared and all these manifested worlds are but His Upādhis (adjuncts, limitations). O Devarsi! Thus Bali, the Lord of Daityas, the highly respected and renowned in all the Lokas, is reigning in Sutala. Hari Himself is his Door-keeper. Once the King Rāvana, the source of torment to all the people, went out to conquer the whole world; and when he entered Sutala, that Hari, ever ready to show Grace to His devoted, threw him at a distance of one Ayuta Yoyanas by the toe of His foot. Thus by the grace of the Devadeva Vāsudeva, Bali is reigning in Sutala, and enjoying all sorts of pleasures, without any equal anywhere.
Here ends the Nineteenth Chapter of the Eighth Book on the narrative of the Atala, etc., the Pātālas in Srī Mad Devī Bhāgavatam, the Mahā Purānam, of 18,000 verses, by Maharsi Veda Vyāsa.
Chapter XX
On the narrative of the Talātala
1-37. Nārāyana said :-- O Nārada! The cave lower down than Sutala is Talātala! The Lord of Tripura, (the three cities) the great Māyā Dānava is the Ruler of this region. Mahesvara, the Doer of good to the three Bhuvanas, burnt his three cities; but at last, being pleased with his devotion, He rescued him. Thus Māyā, by the favour of that God, has regained his own kingdom and the enjoyments thereof. This Māyā Dānava is the Teacher (Āchārya) of the Māyāvi sect and the cult thereof; and he is skilled in various Māyās or all sorts of the magic powers. All the fierce demons, of cruel temper, worship him for their prosperities in their various enterprises. Next to this Talātala is the most renowned Mahātala. The sons of Kadru, the very angry Snakes, live here. They are many headed. O Vipra! I now mention to you the names of the famous amongst them :-- Kuhaka, Taksaka, Susena, and Kāliya. These all have very wide hoods and they all are very strong; they all are of cruel temper. Their kinsmen also are so. They are always afraid of Garuda, the King of birds. Surrounded with their sons, wives, friends and acquaintances, they live happily, well skilled in various sports and pleasures. Lower down this Mahātala is Rasātala. The Daityas, Dānavas and Pani Asuras live here. Besides these, there live the Nivāta Kavachas of the Hiranyapura city and the Asuras named Kāleyas, the enemies of the Devas. These all are naturally very energetic and brave; their powers are baffled by the Tejas of the Bhagavān and they live like snakes in this region. The other Asuras that were driven and were afraid of the Mantras, uttered by Saramā, the messenger of Indra, live here too. O Nārada! Lower down is Pātāla, where live Vāsuki, the Chief of the snakes, and others named Sankha, Kulika, Sveta, Dhananjaya, Mahāsankha, Dhritarāstra, Sankhachûda, Kamvala, Asvatara, and Devopadattaka, all very angry, of wide hoods, and virulently poisonous. Some of these have five heads, some seven hoods, some ten; some hundred, some others have thousand heads, while some others have on their crests exceedingly luminous jewels. By their rays, they dispel the darkness of the nether regions; but they are awfully prone to anger. At the bottom of this Pātāla, and at a distance of the thirty Yoyanas; the Portion of Bhagavān in the shape of the infinite Darkness is reigning there. O Devarsi! All the Devas worship this Form. The devotees call Him by the name of Sanakarsana, as He is the manifested emblem of Aham and the common ground where the Seer and the Seen blend into one. He is the thousand-headed Controller of all, moving and non-moving; He is of infinite forms; He is Sesa; this whole universe is being held as a mustard bean on His head; He is of the Nature Intelligence and Bliss and He is Self-manifest. When he wants to destroy all this during the Pralaya, the very powerful Sankarsana Rudra, well arrayed with the eleven Vyûhas, military (squadrons) arrangements, springs up from Him. From His Central Eyebrow, looking wide with His Three Eyes and raising His Trident, resplendent with three flames. All the (prominent) principal snakes, ruling over many others, come to Him during the nights filled with devotion and surrounded with Bhaktas (devotees) and bow down to Him with their heads bent low and look at each others faces, enlightened with the lights from the jewels shining with clear lustre, on the nails of the red toes of His Lotus-Feet. At that time their faces become brilliant with the rays emitting from the jewels on the top of their very gay encircled hoods; and their cheeks look beautiful and shining. The daughters of the Nāga Rāja also do like this; when very beautiful rays come out of their perfectly excellent bodies. Their arms are wide extended; they look very clear and they are beautifully white. They use always Sandalpaste, Aguru and Kāsmīri unguents. Being overpowered by the amorous passion, due to their contact with those scented things, they look at Him with bashful glances and sweet smiles and expect Āsiss (benedictions) from Him. And then His eyes roll maddened with love and express signs of kindness and mercy. The Bhagavān Ananta Deva is of boundless strength; His attributes are infinite; He is the ocean of infinite qualities. He is the Ādi Deva, of a very good nature and His Nature is highly luminous. He has abandoned anger and envy and He wants the welfare of all. All the Devas worship Him and He is the repository of all Sāttvic qualities.
The Devas, Siddhas, Asuras, Uragas, Vidyādharas, Gandharbas, and Munis always meditate on Him. On account of His constant Mada Rāga the enthusiasm and intoxication, His sight appears intoxicated and His eyes look perturbed with emotions. He is always pleasing to those who surround him and to the Devas by His sweet nectar-like words.
The Vaijayantī garland hangs from His neck; it never wanes and it is always decorated with the fresh and clear Tulasī leaves. The maddened bees make their humming noises incessantly and thus add to the beauty. He is the Deva of the Devas and He wears a blue coloured cloth and He is ornamented with only one earring. He (the God Visnu) Undecaying and Immutable; resting His fleshy arms on the Halakakuda (the lofty portion of the plough), He is upholding the golden girdle as the elephant Airāvata of Indra upholds the golden girdle. O Nārada! The devotees describe Him as the Source of this Leelā of the Universe and the Controller of the Devas.
Here ends the Twentieth Chapter of the Eighth Book on the narrative of the Talātala in the Mahāpurānam Srī Mad Devī Bhāgavatam, of 18,000 verses, by Maharsi Veda Vyāsa.
Chapter XXI
On the narrative of hells
1-9. Nārāyana said :-- O Devarsi! Sanātana, the son of Brahmā, recites thus in the assembly of the Devas, the glories of the Bhagavān Ananta Deva, and worships Him, thus :-- How can one of ordinary sight and understanding grasp the real nature of Brahmā, Whose mere Glance enables the Prakriti work Her Gunas in the Creation, Preservation and Destruction of this Universe! Him Whose nature has no beginning nor end; Who though One, has created all this Prapañcha (the universe of five elements) as a covering to the Ātman (the True Self). He has made the Sat and Asat, out of his infinite compassion, this universe, full of cause and effect, visible in His One and only one Suddha Sattva nature where even the very powerful lion is imitating his Leelā (Pastime), void of all defects, to bring under His control the minds of His own kinsmen. (Note :-- This Ananta Deva is the Ruling Principle in the Fourth Dimensional Space.) To Whom else, then, the persons, desirous of Moksa, will take refuge, the mere hearing or reciting Whose Name, in a fallen or a distressed condition, or merely in jest, takes away instantly all the sins! He is upholding the earth with the mountains, oceans, rivers and all the beings as if an atom on his thousand heads. He is infinite. His power knows no decrease in any time. No one can describe his actions even if one had thousand tongues to speak. He is of an infinite strength, of the endless high qualities and of unlimited understanding. Thus staying at the bottom of the earth, the Bhagavān Ananta Deva is upholding with ease this earth for her protection, unaided and independent. O Muni! The people get the fruits of their actions and desires as they want and as they have followed the paths laid down in the Sāstras and become accordingly kings, men, deer or birds or other creatures in other states. O Nārada! This I have described, as you questioned me before, the various and dissimilar fruits of various actions, done according to the dictates of the Dharma and the Sāstras.
10. Nārada said :-- O Bhagavān! Kindly describe to me now why has the Bhagavān created so many diversities, when the Karmas, done by the Jīvas, are the same.
11-28. Nārayana said :-- O Nārada! So many different states arise because the Sraddhās of the doers are so very different. The fruits differ because the Sraddhās vary, some being Sāttvik, some Rājasik and some Tāmasik. If the Sraddhā be Sāttvik, happiness comes always; if it be Rājasik, incessant pain and misery is the result; if it be Tāmasik, misery comes and the loss of the knowledge of good or bad is the result. Thus the fruits differ as the Sraddhā varies. O Best of Dvījas! Thousands and thousands of states occur to a man as the result of their Karmas, done under the influence of the beginningless Avidyā (Nescience). O Dvījottama! I will now deal in detail with their varieties; hear. Behind this Triloki, below this earth and over the Atala, the Pitris named Agnisvāttas and other forefathers live. Those Pitris stay there, and, practising deep Samādhis, they offer always, to their best blessings to their own Gotra (families) respectively. There Yama, the God of the Pitris gives punishment to the dead brought there by His messengers according to their Karmas and faults. By the command of the Bhagavān, the Yama, surrounded by his own Ganas (persons), judges and does full justice according to the Karmas that they had done and the sins they had committed. He sends always those of his messengers who obey his order and know the Tattva of Dharma, and who are posted to their respective duties to carry out what He commands. The writers of the Sāstras describe twenty-one Narakas or hells; others say there are twenty-eight hells. Now hear their names :-- Tāmisra, Andha Tāmisra, Raurava, Mahāraurava, Kumbhīpāka, Kālasûtra, Asipatrakānana, Sûkaramukha, Andhakûpa, Krimibhojana, Taptamûrti, Samdamsa, Vajrakantaka, Sālmalī, Vaitaranī, Pûyoda, Prānarodha, Visasana, Lālābhaksa, Sārameyādana, Avīchi, Apahpāna, Ksārakardama, Raksogana, Sambhoja, Sûlaprota, Dandasûka, Avatārodha, Paryāvartanaka, and Sûchimukha. These are the twenty-eight Narakas or hells. (N.B. These are 29).
These hells are very tormenting. O Son of Brahmā! The embodied beings (jīvas) suffer these according to their own Karmas respectively.
Here ends the Twenty-first Chapter of the Eighth Book on the narrative of hells in the Mahā Purānam, Srī Mad Devī Bhāgavatam, of 18,000 verses, by Maharsi Veda Vyāsa.
Chapter XXII
On the narrative of the sins leading to hells
1. Nārada said :-- O Everlasting One! O Muni! Now describe the various actions that lead to these tormenting hells. I like to hear about them in detail.
2-52. Nārāyana said :-- O Devarsi! He who steals others sons, wives, and riches, the wicked fellow is taken to Yama by His messengers. Tied down hard and fast by the terrible messengers of Yama, by the Kāla rope (rope of time), he is taken to the Tāmisra hell, the place of many torments. There the Yamas attendants punish him, beat him and threaten him; and he becomes stupefied, and feels himself very weak, distressed and ultimately faints. He who deceives anothers husband and enjoys his wives; the Yamas servants drag him down to Andha Tāmisra hell. There he suffers any amount of pain and suffering. He loses instantly his eyesight and his brain gets upset. His state resembles that of a tree when its trunk is broken. For this reason the ancient sages called this Andha Tāmisra. He who being subject to My and Mine quarrels with others and being very much attached, maintains his family, leaves his families here and goes with his bad tendencies to the Raurava hell, very horrible to all. The animals whom he injured and killed before in this world, assume the form of Ruru animal and torment him in the next. For this reason, the intelligent knowers of Purāna, call this Raurava. The ancients say, that Ruru is more cruel and ferocious than snakes. These animals live in that hell; hence it is termed Mahāraurava. He who torments others, goes to this hell and these Rurus, the flesh-eaters, spring on his body and bite and eat his flesh. He who cooks other animals and birds, that cruel and ferocious, thus deluded, is cooked in return on the hot oil in the Kumbhīpāka hell by the Yama Dûtas for thousand years. He who quarrels with his Pitris and the Brāhmanas, is taken by the Yama Dûtas to the Kālasûtra hell and there be burnt by the fire and Sun. There that hellish person, being troubled very much, inside and outside by hunger and thirst, sometimes sits, sometimes sleeps, sometimes walks, and sometimes runs hither and thither. O Devarsi! He who transgresses the path of the Vedas in times other than those of calamity and danger and follows other paths even to a trifling distance, that sinner is taken by Yamadûtas to Asipatra Kānana and there whipped severely. Not being able to bear that, he runs wildly to and fro and is pierced by the sharpedged Asi leaves on both his sides. His whole body being cut asunder, he cries Oh! I am killed!and faints away. Then feeling himself pained very much, he tumbles down at every step. Thus the sinner suffers for violating the path of the Vedas. The King or that royal personage who gives orders of punishment, not approved by Dharma, and hurts or punishes the body of a Brāhmana, the Yamas servants throw him down into the Sûkaramukha Hell and grind down his body with great force as a sugarcane is ground down. He then cries aloud bitterly, he gets fainted and becomes stupefied. He is crushed by them and suffers all sorts of pains and miseries. Again he who knows the feelings of others when they are tormented, pains those insects who live on others blood as bugs, etc., and who does not realise others pains, goes, as a punishment for that fault to the Andhakûpa Hell. There he is pained by the beasts, birds, deers, reptiles, mosquitoes, bugs, louses, flies and Dandasûkas and various other cruel animals. There he lives in his ugly body and roams like a beast. The man who, getting even a trifling wealth and food-stuff, does not perform the five Mahā Yajñās and gives not a share of that to the Devas and feeds his own belly with that like a crow, is taken by the ferocious Yamadûtas to the worst Krimibhojana Naraka for his sinful deeds. This hell is one lakh Yoyanas wide and is the reservoir of worms. It causes terror to the inhabitants of the hell. That sinner assumes the form of an insect and is eaten up on return by the insects and thus passes his time there. When a man does not give any share to the Atithis or the guests and does not offer oblations to the Fire and eats his food, he, too, goes to the above hell. When a man in times other than that of great danger and distress, follows the livelihood of a thief and robs gold and jewels forcibly of a Brāhmin or any other person, he is taken to this hell and the Yamas servants pierce and cut off his skin by a fiery hot iron cutter. When a man goes for an illicit cohabitation to one who is not fit to be approached and when a woman goes similarly to an unapproachable man, both of them are taken, being whipped, to this hell by the servants of Yama! Where the man is obliged to embrace a fiery hot iron figure of woman and vice versa. When a man goes to all sorts of wombs for unnatural crimes, he is taken to Vajra Kantaka Naraka and placed on the top of an iron Salmalī wood. When a King or any royal personage, subject to the Pāsanda Dharma (i.e., the unrighteous path) breaks the boundary of a law, he for that sin goes to Vaitaranī, the ditch round that hell. There the aquatic animals eat his body all around. O Nārada! Yet neither his life nor his body parts with him. He is thrown, for his Karma, into the rivers filled with faeces, urine, puss, blood, hairs, bones, nails, flesh, marrow, fat, etc., and he becomes very much troubled. Those who are the husbands of Vrisalīs (girls under twelve years of age, who have attained menstruation; or the barren women), void of any Saucha (cleanliness) or shame and without any Āchāra Vyavahāra (the following of ones natural customs and rites) and those who follow Pasvāchāra (like beasts), they meet with a very hard fate and are thrown into this hell filled with faeces, urine, cough, blood and other impurities and when they feel hungry, are forced to eat the above things. When those persons that are twice born, maintain dogs and asses, etc., and when they are addicted to hunting, and kill daily, for nothing, beasts, birds and deer, those evildoers are specially watched by the servants of Yama and when they retire, they tear them asunder by shooting bows at them. He who kills animals, engaged vainly in a sacrifice and addicted to haughty tempers and habits, is thrown into this hell by the Yamas servants and whipped very severely. The twice-born that copulates blindly with a savarnā wife, is taken by the Yamas messengers into the hell filled with semen and he is made to drink that. Those who are addicted to robbery, who put fire to others houses, who make others drink poison, those that are treacherous, and who destroy the interest of the villagers and other persons, those kings or the royal personages are taken after their death by the Yamadûtas to the Sārameyādana hell. There seven hundred and twenty dogs, very wonderful to behold, come furiously and with great force and energy, over them and feed on them. O Nārada! This hell is denominated as Sārameyādana Naraka and it is very horrible. Now I will describe to you the other hells Avīchi and others.
Here ends the Twenty-second Chapter of the Eighth Book on the narrative of the sins leading to hells in the Mahā Purānam Srī Mad Devī Bhāgavatam, of 18,000 verses, by Maharsi Veda Vyāsa.
Chapter XXIII
On the description of the remaining hells
1-31. Nārāyana said :-- O Nārada! When persons, impelled by sinful motives, always speak false at the time of giving evidence or at the time of taking or giving money, they, after their death, go to the terrible hell, named Avīchi. There, from the summit of a mountain, one hundred Yojanas high they are dropped at once down below with their heads inverted down. Here the solid ground looks like water and appears like waves. Therefore it is called Avīchi, resembling like Avīchi waves. Here if the sinners body be cut to small pieces, still he does not die; rather he gets a new body when his body is all cut to pieces. O Son of Brahmā! When a man, be he a Brāhmin, Ksattriya, or a Vaisya, drinks the Soma (wine) or due to inadvertence drinks wine, he is thrown into this hell. O Muni! The Yamas servants make him drink the molten iron. When a vile person being maddened by the pride of his self-learning, birth, austerities or Vārna and Āsrama, does not pay his respect duly to his superiors, he is thrown into the Ksārakardama hell with his head downwards. He suffers a tremendous pain there. When a man or woman out of delusion, performs the human sacrifices (where men are immolated as victims), he or she has to eat the human flesh here. Those that killed before all sorts of beasts, come after their death into this abode of Yama, all united and like butchers, cut each others flesh by pickaxes, etc., and drink their blood and dance and sing repeatedly. They do, in fact, what the terrible Rāksasas do. When persons meet with the innocent persons, wishing to live in villages or forests and raise their confidence by various such means and make them attached and finally pierce them by pointed Sûlas (trident) or pointed swords and kill them as if they were ordinary play things, they are taken after their death by the Yama dûtas and thrown into Sûlādi Naraka (pierced by Sûlas). They are pierced there by Sûlas and become overpowered by hunger and thirst. Herons and cranes, with their sharp beaks hunt after them to and fro. Thus tormented, they remember all their sins done in their previous lives. Those who follow stray paths and trouble the other beings as the serpents do, they fall into the Dandasûka hell. Here worms with five faces and seven faces come from all sides and eat them as a fierce serpent devours a mouse. Those who confine persons in dark holes, a dark room or a dark cave they are taken by the Death servants with their arms uplifted and confined to similar dark caves, filled with poison, fire and smoke. When a Brāhmin householder, seeing a guest coming to his house in a reasonable (proper) time, casts a furious sinful glance at him as if to burn him, the Deaths attendants, the herons with thunderbolt like beaks, the crows and the Vatas and other birds and very fierce vultures all come and forcibly take out the eyes of that person who committed the aforesaid sins. When person elated with vanity of his riches become too haughty and doubt over their Gurus and when their hearts and faces wither withal away, as it were, with the thoughts of their income and expenditure, and being always unhappy, hoard up money always like the Brahmā Pisāchas, the Deaths officers take them for these Karmas to Sûchimukha Narakas and pierce all over his body with pins, as a tailor does with his cloth. O Devarsi! True, sinful persons thus suffer hundred thousand hells. All these are very painful and tormenting. Out of these the abovenamed twenty hells give the greatest sufferings. O Devarsi! The sinners suffer various pains in hells and virtuous persons go to the several spheres where all sorts of happinesses and pleasures reign. O Maharsi! I have described to you many forms of practising ones Sva Dharma; yet know this verily that the worship of the Devīs Gross Form and of Her Virāt Form is the Chief Dharma of all the persons. By worshipping the Devī, the persons have not to go to the hells. In fact, when the Devī Bhagavatī is worshipped, She Herself arranges for crossing the person to the other shore of this ocean of transmigration of existence.
Here ends the Twenty-third Chapter of the Eighth Book on the description of the remaining hells in the Mahā Purānam Srī Mad Devī Bhāgavatam, of 18,000 verses, by Maharsi Veda Vyāsa.
Chapter XXIV
On the worship of the Devī
1-2. Nārada said :-- O Bhagavān! Of what sort is the Dharma, i.e., the worship of the Devī? In what way shall we worship Her, so that She gives us the Highest Place? What are the methods and forms of Her Worship? Where and when shall we worship Her! So that the Durgā Devī saves us from the above mentioned hells.
3-20. Nārāyana said :-- O Devarsi! You are the foremost of the Knowers of Truth. I will therefore tell you how the Devī gets pleased and how Her worship is conducted according to the Dharma. Hear attentively. O Nārada! I will also describe the nature of Sva Dharma. Hear that also. When one worships, with due rites and ceremonies, the Devī in this beginningless world, She Herself removes all the terrible dangers and difficulties. Hear the rules how the people worship the Devī. When the Pratīpat Tithi (the first day after the Full or New Moon) comes, one should worship the Devī with a present of rice, etc., with ghee (clarified butter) and give that to the Brāhmins. Then one becomes completely free from any disease. On the second day (Dvītiyā Tithi), one must serve the Mother of the Universe with sugar and give that to the Brāhmins; he then becomes long-lived. On the third (tithi) on commencing with the Poojā, the worshipper must give milk to the Devī and give that to a best Brāhmin; he is then freed from all his troubles and ailings. On the fourth (tithi) the worshipper is to offer a cake of flour to the Devī and then give that to a Brāhmin; no obstacles come to that man. On the fifth tithi, the worshipper is to offer plantains to the Devī and then to give that to the Brāhmins; he thus becomes intelligent. On the sixth tithi, the worshipper gives honey to the Devī and then that to a Brāhmin; he gets thus the beauty of his body. On the seventh tithi, the Brāhmin gives to the Devī the Naivedya (an offering of rice, etc.) with Gur (sugarcandy) and then that to the Brāhmins; he then becomes freed from his mental sorrows. On the eighth day, if one gives cocoanut, one is freed of ones remorse, etc.; on the ninth, if anybody gives fried rice (Lāj), he will have his happiness increased both in this world and in the next. O Muni! If on the tenth tithi, one offers to the Devī black Til (sesamum) and then to the Brāhmin, he becomes free from the fear of death. If, on the eleventh tithi, (ekādasī) one gives the curd to the Devī and then to the Brāhmin, one becomes a great favourite of the Devī. If on the twelfth day, one offers to the Devī and to the Brāhmin the Chipitaka rice or grain (well parched and flattened) one becomes a favourite of the Devī. If, on the thirteenth day one gives to the Bhagavatī grains and then that to a Brāhmin, one gets progeny. If, on the fourteenth day, one gives to the Devī the flour of fried barley or other grains (Saktu) and then that to a Brāhmin, one becomes a favourite of Siva. If on the Full Moon day, one offers to the Devī Pāyasa and then that to a Brāhmin, then ones Pitris are uplifted to the higher regions.
21-42. O Muni! On the above tithis, if one forms daily Homas, as stated in the Pûjā Chapter, the Devī becomes very pleased. The articles corresponding to the tithi as mentioned above destroy all the evils and inauspicious omens.
On Sunday, it is a rule to give an offering of Pāyasam (a food prepared of rice, milk, and sugar). On Monday, the milk; on Tuesday, the nice plantains; on Wednesday, the fresh butter; on Thursday, the gud or sugarcandy, Friday, the white sugar, and on Saturday, it is a rule to give the clarified butter of cows milk. Now hear what should be offered on the Naksattras. The following are the Naivedyas given to each of the Naksattras, in due order, from Asvinī :-- Clarified butter (ghee), sesamum (Til), sugar, curd, milk, Kilātak (Mālāi, milk), Dadhikûrchi (Mālāi Curd), Modaka (a kind of sweetmeat, a confection) Phenikā, Ghrita Mandaka, a sort of sweet meat of wheaten flour and gur, Vatapattra, Ghritapura (Ghior), Vataka, Kharjura juice (of the datepalm), a sort of sweet meat of Gur and gram, honey, Sûrana, Gur Prithuka, grapes, datepalms, Chārakās, Apûpa, Navanīta (fresh butter), mudga, modaka, and Mātulinga. Now hear what are given in the Viskambha and the other Yogas. The World Mother becomes very much pleased when one offers to Her the following things :-- Gur, honey, ghee, milk, curd, Takra, apûpa, fresh butter, Karkatī, Kusmānda, Modaka, Panasa, plantain, Jambu (rose-apple), mangoe, sesamum, oranges, Dādima, (pomegranate) Vadarī (Jujube) the Dhātrī (Āmalaki) fruit, Pāyasa, Prithuka, gram, cocoanut, Jambīra. Kaseru, and Sûrana. The auspicious events occur when these are offered. The intelligent persons have thus decided to give the above on Viskambha and the other Yogas. Now hear :-- I will describe the things that are offered on the respective Karanas :-- Kamsāra, Mandaka, Phenī, Modaka, Vatapattraka, Ladduka, Ghritapûra, Til (Sesamun), curd, ghee, and honey. These are to be offered devotedly to the Devī on the respective Karanas. Now I will describe to you the other offerings very pleasing to the Devī. Hear. O Nārada! Hear it with great attention and love. On the third tithi of the bright fortnight, in the month of Chaitra, one is to worship duly the Madhûka tree and offer Pañcha Khādya (the five sorts of food). So hear what articles are to be offered according to the rules that are laid down on the third day of the white fortnight of the other months. The Gur, in the month of Vaisākh; the honey, in Jyaistha; the fresh butter, in Āsādha; the curd, in Srāvana; the Sarkarā, in Bhādra; the Pāyasa, in Ās'vin; the pure milk, in Kārtik; the Phenī, in Agrahāyana; the Dadhi Kûrchīkā in Pausa; the clarified butter of cows milk, in Māgha, and the cocoanut offerings, in the month of Phālguna. Thus with these twelve sorts of offerings, one is to worship the Devī in the twelve months respectively.
43-69. One should worship the Devī in the Madhûka tree with these names :-- Mangalā, Vaisnavī, Māyā, Kāla-rātri, Duratyayā, Mahāmāyā, Mātangī, Kālī, Kamalavāsinī, S'ivā, Sahasracharanā, and Sarva mangalarûpinī (One name for each of the 12 months). Finally, to bring the vow to a good issue and to have ones desires fulfilled with greater success, one is to sing stotras (hymns) to the Māhes'varī, the Controller of all the gods, in that Madhûka tree, thus :-- Thou art lotus-eyed; obeisance to Thee! Thou art Jagaddhātrī, the Upholdress of the Universe, I bow down to Thee; Thou art Mahesvarī, Mahā Devī, and Mahāmangalarûpinī (Thou art the great Devī, and Thou dost great good to all). Thou destroyest the sins, Thou givest Moksa or final liberation. Thou art Paramesvarī, Thou art the World Mother and Thou art of the nature of the Highest Brahmā. Thou art Madadātrī (the giver of Mada, the Supreme Felicity and rapture or excessive delight), Thou art maddened with Mada the (Excessive Joy); Thou canst be reached when Thou art given proper veneration; Thou art the the Most High. Thou art Intelligent; Thou art meditated upon by the Munis; and Thou dwellest in the Sun. Thou art the Lord of the several Lokas (worlds); Thou art endowed with the Highest Knowledge; and Thou art of the colour of water at the time of Pralaya (the Universal Dissolution). Thou art worshipped by the Gods and the Asuras for the destruction of the Great Moha. So Great Victory to Thee! Thou art the Rescuer of one from the abode of Death; Thou art worshipped by Yama, Thou art the elder of Yama, Thou art the Controller of Yama and Thou art worshipped by all. Obeisance to Thee! Thou art impartial; Thou controllest all; Thou art perfectly unattached; Thou destroyest the peoples worldly attachments; Thou art The One to whom all look for the fructification of their desires; and Thou art the Compassion Incarnate. Thou art, worshipped by the names :-- Kankāla Krûra, Kāmāksī; Mīnaksī Marma bhedinī, Mādhûryarûpasālinī; and Thou art worshipped with the Pranava Om prefixed to all the Stotras and the Mantras. Thou art of the nature of the Seed Māyā (māyāvīja); Thou canst be realised by repeating the mantra and Thou canst be pleased by the deep concentration (Nididyāsana) on Thee. Thou canst be reached by all men through their minds and Thou dost things that are pleasing to the Mahā Deva. Thou dwellest in the trees Asvattha, Vata (Peepul tree), Neem, Mangoe, Kapittha (wood apple tree), and the tree Kul (Jujube) trees. Thou art the Palms (Jack) tree, Thou art Arka, Karīra and Ksīra trees. Thou residest in Dugdha vallī (the milky juice of plants); Thou art the Compassion Incarnate; and fit to shew mercy. Thou art sincerity and kindness and Thou art the Consort of the Omniscient. So Victory to Thee! O Nārada! After the worship, if one performs the stotra above described, to the Devī, the worshipper derives all sorts of Punyams (merits). He who reads daily the Stotra, pleasing to the Devī, becomes freed of all sorts of diseases, pain and freed of his fear of passions, so hard to conquer! What more than this that he who wants money, gets money; who wants Dharma, gets Dharma; he who wants Kāma, gets his Kāma (objects of desires); and he who wants Moksa, gets Moksa. The Devī is the Awarder of the Chatur Varga fourfold fruits.
If this Stotra be read, the Brāhmin becomes Vedavit, the knower of the Vedas; the Ksattriya gets the victory; the Vaisya gets wealth and the Sûdra gets happiness. If this Stotra be read with devotion and attention, the Pitris get undying satisfaction, lasting till Pralaya (the time of universal dissolution). Thus I have described to you the method of worshipping the Devī. The Devas consider it with great attention. He gets the Devī Loka, who performs the worship of the Devī, as above described, with devotion. O Brāhmana! When the Devī is thus worshipped, all the desires are fulfilled; all sins are destroyed; and, in the end, ones mind becomes pure and the worshipper is respected and worshipped everywhere. O Son of Brahmā! His fear of going into hell is destroyed by the Grace of the Devī; even in dreams, he does not fear anything. By the Grace of Mahā Māyā, his sons and his grandsons, riches and grains multiply and multiply. He becomes a great and steadfast devotee of the Devī; there is no doubt in this. Now I have described to you completely the rules of worship of the Devī. When one performs this, one becomes freed of the Narakas; and all sorts of good things come to him. O Muni! The Madhûka worship and the monthly worship have been described also. He who performs this Madhûka worship fully, never meets with any disease or obstacles. Now I will describe to you the other five aspects of the Great Devī of the nature of Prakriti. Her Name, Form and Origin give pleasure to all the worlds. O Muni! Now hear this Prakriti Pañchaka, its narrative and the greatness thereof. Know that this is as curious as it gives liberation.
Here ends the Twenty-fourth Chapter of the Eighth Book on the worship of the Devī in the Mahā Purānam, Srī Mad Devī Bhāgavatam, of 18,000 verses, by Maharsi Veda Vyāsa.
[The Eighth Book completed.]
Here ends the Second Volume.
SANSKRIT:
ā, ī, û - are read like long a, i, u
s' - is like soft sh or z in another Sanskrit transliteration
s - is like sh or S in another Sanskrit transliteration
1-4. Janamejaya asked :-- O Lord! I have heard all that you have described about the sweet nectar-like characters of the Kings of the Solar and the Lunar dynasties. Now kindly describe the real Tattva of the Virāt Form of the Great Devī and how She was worshipped in every Manvantara by the Regent of that Manvantara and the Kings thereof. In what part of the year and in which place, under what circumstances and in what form and with what Mantras was the Devī worshipped? I am very anxious to hear all this. O Guru! In fact describe the gross forms of the Ādyā S'akti, the Devī Bhagavatī by concentrating attention to Which, I can have the power to understand the subtle forms of the Devī and I can get the highest good in this world.
5-7. Vyāsa said :-- O King! Now hear. I am describing to you in detail about the worship of the Devī Bhagavatī that leads to the welfare of the Whole World; the hearing of which or the practice of which enables one to get the highest good. In days of yore, the Devarsi Nārada asked Nārāyana about this very point; I will now tell you what the Bhagavān, the Promulgator of the Yoga Tattva, advised Nārada. Once on a time the all powerful Devarsi Nārada entitled with all the Yogic powers, and born from the body of Brahmā was travelling all over this earth and came to the hermitage of the Risi Nārāyana. Resting a while, and the troubles of the journey over, he bowed down to the Yogi Nārāyana and asked Him what you ask me now. Nārada said :-- O Deva Deva Mahādeva! O Thou, the Ancient Purusa, the Excellent One!
8-9. O Omniscient ! O Thou, the Holder of the Universe! O Thou Who art the repository of the good qualities and Who art praised by all!
10-12. O Deva! Now tell me what is the ultimate cause of this Universe: whence has this Universe its origin? And how does it rest? To whom does it take refuge? Where does it dissolve in the time of Pralaya? Where do all the Karmas of these beings go to? And what Object is that whose knowledge destroys forever the Māyā, the Cause of all this Moha (illusion)? Whose worship, what Japam, and Whose meditation in the lotus of heart are to he made, by which, O Deva! the knowledge of Paramātman rises in the heart, as the darkness of the night vanishes by the rising of the Sun.
13. O Deva! Kindly reply to these my questions in such a clear manner as the ignorant people in this Samsāra can understand and get themselves across this ocean of Samsāra.
14-15. Vyāsa said :-- Thus asked by the Devarsi, the ancient Nārāyana, the Best of the Munis, the great Yogi gladly spoke :-- O Devarsi! Hear I will now speak to you all the Tattvas of this world, knowing which the mortal never falls into the illusion of this world.
16. O Child! The original cause of this Universe is the Devī Mahā Māyā (the image of the Supreme Chaitanya Para Brahmā); this is the opinion of the Risis, the Devas, Gandharvas, and other intelligent persons.
17-23. It is written in the Vedas and other S'āstras that the Devī Bhagavatī, worshipped by all in the Universe, creates, preserves and destroys the Universe by the influence of Her three Gunas. I now describe to you the nature of the Devī, worshipped by the Siddhas, Gandharbas and Risis, the mere remembering of Whom destroys all sins, and gives final liberation Moksa (and Dharma, Artha, and Kama also). The powerful Svāyambhuva Manu, the First, the husband of S'atarûpā, the prosperous and the Ruler of all the Manvantaras worshipped the sinless Prajāpati Brahmā, his Father with due devotion and satisfied Him when the Grandsire of the Lokas, the Hiranyagarbha spoke to his son :-- The excellent worship of the Devī should be done by you. By Her Grace, O Son, your work of creating worlds will be successful. Thus spoken by Brahmā, the Bibhu Svāyambhuva Manu, the Virāt incarnate, worshipped the World Mother with great austerities. And with his concentrated devotion, he satisfied the Devī Deves'ī and began to chant hymns to Her, the First-born, the Māyā, the S'akti of all, and the Cause of all causes.
24-36. Manu said :-- Thou art Brahmā, the ocean of the Vedas, Krisna, the abode of Laksmī, Purandara. I bow down again and again to Thee, the Deves'ī, the Cause of Māyā, the Cause of this Universe. Thou holdest s'ankha (the conchshell), chakra, gadā, etc., in Thy hands and Thou residest in the heart of Nārāyana; Thou art the Vedas incarnate, the World Mother, the Auspicious One, bowed down by all the Devas, and the Knower of the Three Vedas. O Thou, endowed with all powers and glory! O Mahāmāye! Mahābhāge! Mahodaye! (the Self-manifested). Thou residest as the better half of Mahā Deva, and Thou dost all what are dear to Him. Thou art the most beloved of Nanda, the Cow-herd (in the form of Mahā Māyā, the daughter who concealed Krisna and slipped from the hands of Kamsa and got up in the air and remained as Vindhyāvāsinī; also in the form of S'rī Krisna). Thou gavest much pleasure and wert the cause of all the festivities; Thou takest away the fear due to plague, etc.; Thou art worshipped by the Devas. O Thou, the auspicious Bhagavatī! Thou art the welfare of all incarnate; Thou fructifiest the desires of all to success! Thou art the One to Whom all take refuge and Thou removest their all the dangers; O Thou the three-eyed! Gaurī! Nārāyanī! Obeisance to Thee. I bow down to that ocean of all brightness and splendour, without beginning or end, the One Consciousness, wherein this endless Universe rises and remains interwoven therein. I bow down to the Devī, whose Gracious Glance enables Brahmā, Visnu, and Mahes'vara to do their respective works of creating, preserving, and destroying the Universe. O Devī! Thou art the Only One, whom all can bow, since the lotus-born Brahmā, terrified by the horrible Daityas, was freed by Thy prowess only. O Bhagavatī! Thou art modesty, fame, memory, lustre; Thou art Laksmī, Girijā, the daughter of Himālayā, Thou art Satī, the Daksa's daughter; Thou art the Sāvitrī the Mother of the Vedas, Thou art the intelligence of all and Thou art the cause of fearlessness. So I now engage myself reciting Thy Japam, Thy hymns and Thy worship. I meditate on Thee and see Thy form within my heart and hear Thy praises. Be graciously pleased on me, O Devī! It is by Thy Grace that Brahmā is the Revealer of the Four Vedas, Visnu is the Lord of Laksmī, Indra is the Lord of the Devas and of the three worlds; Varuna is the Lord of waters, Kuvera is the Lord of wealth, Yama is the Lord of the dead, Nairrita is the Lord of the Rāksasas, and Soma is the Lord of the water element and praised by the three worlds. Therefore, O Auspicious World Mother! I bow down again and again to Thee.
37-45. Nārāyana said :-- O Child! When Svayambhuva Manu, the son of Brahmā, chanted thus the hymns to the Ādyā S'akti Bhagavatī Nārāyanī, She became pleased and spoke to him thus :-- The Devī said :-- O King, the Brahmā's son! I am pleased with your devoted worship and hymns; so ask boon from Me that you desire. Manu said :-- O Devī! If Thou art graciously pleased, grant that my creation be finished without any hitch. The Devī said :-- O King of Kings! By My blessing, your work of creation will be completed without any obstruction. And by your punya (merits) they will no doubt multiply on and on. He who reads with devotion this hymn (stotra) composed by you, will get sons, fame and beauty in the world and, in the end, he will be entitled to get the Highest Place. The people will have powers unopposed by anybody, will get wealth and grains, will get victory everywhere and happiness; and his enemies will be ruined. Nārāyana said :-- O Child! The Devī Bhagavatī Ādyā S'akti granted thus the desired boon to Svāyambhuva Manu and vanished away at once from his sight. Then the powerful Manu, obtaining thus the boon, spoke to his father :-- O Father! Now give me a solitary place where I can worship the Devī with sacrifices and do my work of creating a good number of people.
46-48. Hearing thus the words of the son, the Prajāpati, the Lord thought over the matter for a long time :-- How this work would be done? Alas! I have spent an endless time in this work of creation; but as yet nothing has been done. For the Earth, the receptacle of all the Jivās is submerged in water and has gone down to the Rasātala. What is to be done now? There is only one hope and that is this :-- If the Bhagavān, the Primeval Person, under Whose Command I am engaged in this work of creation, helps me in this work of mine, no doubt it will be accomplished then and then only.
Here ends the First Chapter of the Eighth Book on the description of the worlds in the Mahāpurānam, S'rī Mad Devī Bhāgavatam, of 18,000 verses, by Maharsi Veda Vyāsa.
Chapter II
On the uplifting of the Earth by the Sacrificial Boar
1-10. Nārāyana said :-- O Child! When you have got your senses controlled and have overcome lust, anger, etc., and other enemies, then you are certainly entitled to hear this secret. While Brahmā was discussing on this subject with Marīchi and the other Brahmārsis and with Svāyambhuva Manu, suddenly there came out of the nose of the meditative Brahmā, one young boar (the child of a boar) of the dimension of one finger only. That little boar, that was just in the air, soon became, while they were looking at it, enlarged to a very big elephant, in an instant; a very strange sight, indeed! Seeing this, the Kumāras Sanaka, etc., Marīchi and the other Seven Risis, and the Creator Brahmā were struck with wonder and Brahmā began to discuss thus :-- Oh! This young boar has come out suddenly of My nose; though it is a very small one, it is certainly, come under a disguise and it has all made us merge in an ocean of wonder. Is this something Divine, of a Sāttvic quality under the guise of this boar? It was of the size of a thumb and it is now like the Himālayā Mountain? Oh! Is this the Bhagavān, the Yajña Purusa? While they were thus discussing, the Bhagavān, in the shape of the boar, began to make loud sounds, like the rolling of the mountain clouds at the time of the Pralaya resounding all the quarters. At this Brahmā and all the Risis assembled there became very glad. Hearing the ghurghura noise of the Boar, their troubles ended and the people of Janarloka, Taparloka, Satyaloka and all the Devas being very much gladdened began to chant sweet hymns with Chhandas of Rik, Yajus, Sāma and Atharva Vedas, to that Ādi Purusa, the Bhagavān, from all sides.
11-20. Hearing their praises, the Bhagavān Hari graciously looked on them and immediately merged Himself in the ocean. The ocean was very much agitated with the fierce striking of the hairs of the Boar, when He entered into the waters, and spoke thus :-- O Deva ! O Thou, the destroyer of the afflictions of your refuges! Protect me. Hearing the words of the ocean, the God Hari tore asunder all the aquatic animals and went down beneath the waters. Searching violently hither and thither, He knew the earth by her smell. At once the Bhagavān Hari, the Lord of all, went to Her and rescued the earth by raising Her up on his big teeth, the Earth that was the abode of all the beings. When the Bhagavān, the Lord of all the sacrifices, came up with the Earth on the top of His teeth, He looked beautiful like the elephant of a quarter taking out by the root and holding a thousand petalled lotus upon his tusks. When the Bhagavān rescued thus the Earth, raising Her up on His tusks, Brahmā and Indra, the Lord of the Devas, the powerful Manu began praise to Him with sweet words :-- Brahmā said :-- O Lotus-eyed! O Bhagavān! Thou art victorious everywhere; O Thou, the Destroyer of the sufferings of the Bhaktas! Thou hast, by Thy own prowess, humiliated the Heaven, the abode of the gods upto Satyaloka! Thou, the Giver all the desires! O Deva! This earth shines so beautiful on Thy teeth as the thousand petalled lotus, taken up by the root by a mad elephant, shines on his two tusks. O Bhagavān! This Form, i. e., that of Thy sacrificial Boar, with earth on Thee looks so very beautiful as the lotus looks beautiful on the tusks of an elephant.
21-22. O Lord! We bow down to Thee, the Creator and the Destroyer of everything; Thou assumest many forms for the purpose of destroying the Dānavas; Thou dost do many acts that redound to Thy Glory, We bow down to Thee, to Thy Front and to Thy Back. (Really thou hast no front nor back. Thou art everywhere.) Thou art the Upholder of all the Celestials and the Immortals! Thy eyes shine equally everywhere.
23-25. O Deva! By Thy power I am brought up and engaged in the work of creation and by Thy order I create in every Kalpa this Universe and destroy it. O Lord of Immortals! In the ancient times the Devas united churned the vast ocean by Thy help and got according to their merits their due shares. O Hari! Indra, the Lord of the Devas is enjoying the vast kingdom of Heaven, the Trilokas, by Thy Will and appointment. All the Devas worship him.
26-27. So the God of Fire has got his burning power and is residing in the bellies of the Devas, the Asuras, men and all other beings and penetrating their bellies, is satisfying all. Yama, the King of Dharma, by Thy appointment, is the Lord of the southern quarters, is presiding over the Pitris and being the witness of all the actions of the Jivās, is awarding duly to them the fruits thereof.
28-33. Nairrita, the Lord of the Raksasas, the witness of all the actions of all the beings, by Thy commandment, is the destroyer of all the obstacles of the devotees that take refuge unto thee, though he is a Yaksa. The Varuna Deva, by Thy order, has become duly the Lord of the waters, and the Regent of the Loka (Dikpāla). The Vāyu, the Life of all, the carrier of the smell, has become by Thy order Lokāpāla and the Guru of the universe. Kuvera, obedient to Thy order, has become the Lord of the Yaksas and the Kinnaras and is holding a respectful position like other Lokapālas. Īs'āna, Who is the destroyer of all the Jīvas, has got his Lordship over a quarter by Thy order and is being praised by all the Rudras, the Devas, Gandharbas, Yaksas, Kinnaras, the men and all the beings. O Bhagavān! We bow down to Thee, the Lord of the Universe; the innumerable Devas that are seen are merely the small fractions of Thy powers.
34-38. Narayana said :-- O Child Nārada! When Brahmā, the Creator and the Grandsire of the Lokas, praised thus the Ādi Purusa Bhagavān, He cast a side long glance at them, offering His Grace. When the Bhagavān, the Sacrificial Boar, was coming up with earth, rescued and placed on his teeth, the awful Hiranyaksa, the chief of the Daityas came before Him and obstructed His passage when He killed him by one violent stroke of his club. He was besmeared all over his body with the blood of the Daitya; and thus He came up from the Rasātala and placed the earth on the waters. He then went away to His Vaikuntha abode.
O Child Nārada! He who hears or reads devotedly this glorious deed of the Bhagavān and the deliverance of the Earth, will certainly be freed of all his sins and goes to the highest holiest place of Visnu, the Lord of all. There is no doubt in this.
Here ends the Second Chapter of the Eighth Book on the uplifting of the Earth by the Sacrificial Boar in the Mahāpurānam S'rī Mad Devī Bhāgavatam, of 18,000 verses, by Maharsi Veda Vyāsa.
Chapter III
On the description of the family of Manu
1-23. Nārāyana said :-- O Nārada! When the Bhagavān went away to Vaikuntha, establishing the Earth in due position and equilibrium, Brahmā spoke thus to his son :-- O Powerful Son of mine, O Svāyamhhuva! The best of those that are filled with Teja (energy) and Tapas! Now go on with your work of creation, as you think proper, on this earth, the Upholdress of all the Jīvas. And worship the Purusa, the Lord of Sacrifices, according to the division of place and time, and with all the necessary materials of various kinds, high and low, and those that will be useful in performing your sacrifices. Do Dharma according to the S'āstras, and according to the Varna(the different castes) and Āsrama (Brahmācharya, etc.); thus by gradually going on step by step in the path of Yoga, your progeny will be multiplied. Beget lovely sons and daughters, of good fame, culture, modesty and ornamented with various other good qualifications, like yourself; then marry your daughters when they will come to the marriageable age, to proper persons of good qualifications and then fix your mind thoroughly on the Excellent Purusa that is the very Best. O Child! Now go and serve the Bhagavān with devotion as I have advised you; and you will certainly attain that which is difficult to be worshipped and obtained. Advising thus his son Svāyambhuva Manu, and starting him in his work; of creation, the Lotus-born, the Lord of all the subjects, Brahmā went away to His own abode. When Brahmā went away, having ordered his son to create progeny and subjects, Manu, took that seriously in his heart and began to do that work. In due time, he had two powerful sons named Priyavrata and Uttānapāda and three lovely beautiful daughters endowed with various good qualities. Hear the names of the three daughters. The first daughter, the purifier of the world, was named Ākûti; the second was named Devahûti and the third was Prasûti. The first daughter Ākûti was married to the Maharsi Ruchi; the second was married to the Prajapati Karddama; and the third was married to the Prajapati Daksa. And know that all the beings in this world had their origin from this last daughter. Now hear the progeny of these three daughters and the Maharsis respectively :-- By Maharsi Ruchi was born one son named Yajña, in the womb of Ākûti; he is the part of the Bhagavān Ādi Purusa Visnu; by Maharsi Karddama, in the womb of Devahûti was born the Bhagavān Kapila Deva, the famous author of the S'ānkhya S'āstra; and in the womb of Prasûti, by the Prajāpati Daksa were born some daughters only; know that the Devas, men, beasts and birds were all created by this Prajāpati Daksa. These offsprings were the first promulgators in the work of creation. In the Svāyambhuva Manvantara, the powerful Bhagavān Yajña, by the help of the Deva named Yāma, saved his mother's Father Manu from the attacks of the Raksasas; and the great Lord of the Yogis, the Bhagavān Kapila, remained for a while in his Āsrama and gave spiritual instructions to his mother Devahûti, by which Avidyā could be at once destroyed, and disclosed his S'ānkhya S'āstra, the great work on the Spiritual Philosophy and the special Dhyāna Yoga in all its details and finally went for Samādhi to the Āsrama of Pulaha where the great Deva Sāmkhyā chārya lives up to today. Oh! I bow down to the great Yogāchārya, the Bhagavān Kapila Deva, the Fructifier of all desires, the more remembrance of Whose Name makes easily the Yogi realise the meaning of the Sāmkhya Jñāna. The sins are immediately destroyed of those that hear or read the holy anecdote of the progeny of the daughters of Manu. O Child! Now I describe to you the progeny of the sons of Svāyambhuva Manu. Hear attentively. The hearing of which will enable one to enter into the highest place. Now is being described the history about the progeny of those who formed those Dvipas (islands) Varsas(countries) and oceans for the welfare and happiness of all the creation and for the use of them. Hear.
Here ends the Third Chapter of the Eighth Book on the description of the family of Manu in S'rī Mad Devī Bhāgavatam, the Mahā Purānam, of 18,000 verses, by Maharsi Veda Vyāsa.
Chapter IV
On the narration of the family of Priyavrata
1-28. The Risi Nārāyana said :-- The eldest son of Svāyambhuva, Priyavrata served always his father and was very truthful. He married the daughter of the Prajāpati Vis'va Karmā, the exceedingly lovely and beautiful Barhismatī, resembling like him, adorned with modesty, good nature and various other qualifications. He begat ten sons, very spiritual and well qualified and one daughter named Ûrjasvatī. This daughter was the youngest of all. The names of the ten sons are respectively :-- (1) Āgnīdhra, (2) Idhmajibha, (3) Jajñabāhu, (4) Mahāvīra, (5) Rukmas'ukra (Hiranyaretā), (6) Ghritapristha, (7) Savana, (8) Medhātithi, (9) Vītihotra and (10) Kavi. The name Agni was attached to each of the above names. Out of these ten, the three sons named Kavi, Savana, and Mahāvīra were indifferent and dispassionate to the world. In due time, these became extremely free from all desires and they were proficient in Ātmavidyā (Self-Knowledge). They were all Ûrdharetā (of perpetual chastity; who has subdued all their passions) and took gladly to the Paramahamsa Dharma. Priyavrata had by his other wife three sons, named Uttama, Tāmasa, and Raivata. These were all widely known; each of them in due time became endowed with great prowess and splendour and became the Lord of one Manvatara. Priyavrata, the son of Svāyambhuva, the King-Emperor enjoyed with his sons and relations, this earth for eleven Arvuda years; the wonder was this, that he lived so long and there was seen no decay in his strength as regards his body or his senses. Once on an occasion, the King observed that when the sun appeared on the horizon and got up, one part of the earth was illumined and the remaining part was enveloped in darkness. Seeing this discrepancy, he thought over for a long time and exclaimed, What! Will the Darkness be seen in my kingdom, while I am reigning? This can never be. I will stop this by my Yogic powers. Thus thinking, the King Priyavrata mounted on a luminous chariot, as big as the Sun, to illumine the whole world and circumambulated round the earth seven times. Whatever portion of the earth was trodden by the wheel on each occasion, became an ocean. Thus the seven oceans had their origins. And the portion of the earth, that was included within the ruts, became the seven islands (Dvīpas). 0 Child! Now hear about the seven Dvīpas and the seven Oceans :-- The first is the Jambu Dvīpa; the second is Plaksa, the third is S'almalī; the fourth is the Kus'a Dvīpa; the fifth is Krauncha; the sixth is the S'aka Dvīpa; and the seventh is the Puskara Dvīpa. The second Dvīpa Plaksa is twice the first Jambu Dvīpa and so on; each succeeding Dvīpa is twice as large as its previous one. Now hear the names of the oceans. The first ocean is named Ksāroda (the salt water ocean); the second is Iksurasa (the sugarcane ocean); the third is Surā (the wine ocean), the fourth is Ghritoda (the clarified butter ocean) the fifth is Ksīroda (the ocean of milk); the sixth is Dadhi Manda (the ocean of curds); and the seventh is that of the ordinary water. The Jambu Dvīpa is surrounded by Ksīra Samudra. The King Priyavrata made his son Āgnīdhra, the lord of this Dvīpa. He gave to his Idhmajibha, the Plaksa Dvīpa surrounded by Iksu Sāgara; so he gave to Jajñabāhu the S'ālmalī Dvīpa surrounded by Surā Sāgara and he gave the lordship of Kus'a Dvīpa to Hiranyaretā. Then he gave to his powerful son Ghritapristha the Krauncha Dvīpa surrounded by Ksīra Samudra and to his son Medhātithi the S'āka Dvīpa surrounded by Dadhimanda Sāgara. Finally he gave to his Vītihotra, the Puskara Dvīpa surrounded by the ordinary water. Thus distributing duly amongst his sons, the separate divisions of the earth, he married his daughter, the youngest Ûrjasvatī to the Bhagavān Us'anā. In the womb of Ûrjasvatī the Bhagavān S'ukrāchārya had his famous daughter Devayānī. O Child! Thus giving the charge of each Dvīpa to each of his sons and marrying his daughters to the worthy hands, he took to Viveka (discrimination) and adopted the path of Yoga.
Here ends the Fourth Chapter of the Eighth Book on the narration of the family of Priyavrata in the Mahā Purānam, S'rī Mad Devī Bhāgavatam of 18,000 verses by Maharsi Veda Vyāsa.
Chapter V
On the description of the receptacle of beings
and on the mountains and on the origin of rivers
1-31. S'rī Nārāyana said :-- O Child Nārada! Now hear in detail about the divisions of the earth into the Dvīpas and the Varsas as marked out by the Devas. In brief, I describe about them; no one can speak about this in details. First, the Jambu Dvīpa is one lākh Yoyanas in its dimensions. This Jambu Dvīpa is round like a lotus. There are nine Varsas in it and excepting the Bhadrās'va and Ketumāla, each is nine thousand Yoyanas in its dimensions (i.e., in its diameter or circumference?) and there are eight very lofty mountains, in those Varsas, forming their boundaries. Of the Varsas, the two Varsas that are situated in the North and South, are of the size of a bow (segmental); and the four others are elongated in their size. The centre of all these Varsas is named Īlāvrita Varsa and its size is rectangular. In the centre of this Īlāvarsa is situated the golden Sumeru Mountain, the King of all the mountains, one lakh Yoyanas high. It forms the pericarp of the lotus earth. The top of this mountain is thirty Yoyanas wide. O Child! The sixteen thousand Yoyanas of this mountain is under the ground and the eighty four Yoyanas are visible outside. In the north of this Īlāvarsa are the three mountains the Nīlagiri, the S'vetagiri and the S'ringavau, forming the boundaries respectively of the three Varsas named Ramyaka, Hiranmaya and Kuru respectively. These run along from the east and gradually extend at their base and towards the salt ocean (Lavana Samudra).
These three mountains, that form the boundaries, are each two thousand Yoyanas wide. The length of each from the east towards north is less by one-tenth (1/10) of the above dimensions. Many rivers take their source and flow from them. On the south of Īlāvarsa three beautiful mountain ranges, named Nisadha, Hemakûta, and Himālayās, are situated, extending from the east. They are each one Ayuta Yoyanas high. These three mountains form the boundaries again of Kimpurusa and Bhārata Varsa.
To the west of Īlāvrita is situated the mountain called Mālyavān and to the east are situated the mountains Gandhamādan, Nīla, and Nisadha, the centres of the highest sublime grandeur and beauty. The length and breadth of these the boundary (limiting) mountains are each two thousand Yoyanas. Then the mountains Mandara, Supārs'vak, and Kumuda and others are situated in the Ketumāla and Bhadrās'va Varsas; but these all are reckoned as the Pāda Parvatas (mountains at the foot) of the Sumeru mountain. The height and breadth of each of these is one Ayuta Yoyanas. These form the pillars, as it were, of Meru on the four sides. On these mountains, the mangoe, the jack, plantain, and the fig trees and various others are situated, four hundred (400) Yoyanas wide and eleven hundred (1,100) Yoyanas high; they seem to extend to the Heavens and form, as it were, the flagstaffs on the top. The roots, bases of these trees as well as their branches are wonderfully equally thick and extend to enormous distances. On those mountain tops are situated again, the four very capacious lakes. Of these, one lake is all milk; the other lake is all honey; the third lake is all sugarcane juice and the fourth lake is all sweet water. There are, then, again the four very lovely gardens named Nandana, Chaitrarath, Vaibhrājaka, and Sarvatobhadra, very lovely, enchanting and pleasing to the delicate female sex and where the Devas enjoy the wealth and prosperity and their other Yogic powers. Here the Devas live always with numerous hordes of women and have their free amorous, dealings with them, to their heart's contents and they hear the sweet songs sung by the Gandharbas and Kinnaras, the Upa Devatās about their own glorious deeds. On the top of the Mandara mountain, there are the Heavenly mangoe trees eleven hundred Yoyanas high; the sweet delicious nectarlike mangoe fruits, very soft and each of the size as the summit of a mountain, fall to the ground; and out of their juices of a colour of the rising sun, a great river named Arunodā takes her origin. Here the Devas always worship the great Devī Bhagavatī named Arunā, the Destructrix of all sins, the Grantrix of all desires, and the Bestower of all fearlessness with various offerings and with the lovely water of this Arunodā river, with great devotion. O Child! In ancient days, the King of the Daityas worshipped always this Mahā Māyā Arunā Devī (and obtained immense wealth and prosperity). He who worships Her becomes cured of all diseases, gets his health and other happiness by Her grace. Therefore She is named Ādyā, Māyā, Atulā, Anantā, Pustī, Īs'varamālinī, the Destroyer of the wicked and the Giver of lustre and beauty and thus remembered on this capacious earth. The river Jāmbûnada has come out, as a result of Her worship, containing divine gold.
Here ends the Fifth Chapter of the Eighth Book on the description of the receptacle of beings and on the mountains and on the origin of rivers in the Mahā Purānam S'rī Mad Devī Bhāgavatam, of 18,000 verses, by Maharsi Veda Vyāsa.
Chapter VI
On the rivers and the mountains Sumeru and others
1-32. Nārāyana said :-- O Nārada! This Arunodā river that I mentioned to you rises from the Mandara mountain and flows by the east of Ilāvarsa. The Pavana Deva (the God of wind) takes up the nice smell from the bodies of the wives of the Yaksas and Gandharbas, etc., and the attendants of the Devī Bhavānī and keeps the surroundings of the earth there filled with nice smell for ten Yoyanas around. Again the rose-apples with their nuts, of the size of an elephant, fall down upon the earth from the high peaks of the mountain Mandara and break into pieces; the sweet scented juices flow down as a river. This is called the Jambû river and this flows by the south of Ilāvarsa. The Devī Bhagavatī there is pleased with the Juice of that rose-apple (Jambû) and is known by the name of Jambādinī. The Devas, Nāgas, and Risis all always worship with great devotion, the lotus-feet of the merciful Devī, wishing the welfare of all the Jīvas. The mere remembering of the name of the Devī destroys all the disease, and all the sins of the sinner. Therefore the Devas always worship and chant the names of the Devī, the Remover of all obstacles. She is installed on both the banks of the Jambû river. If men recite Her names Kokilāksī, Karunā, Kāmapûjītā, Kathoravigrahā, Devapûjyā, Dhanyā, Gavastinī and worship, so they get their welfare both in this world and in the next. With the juice of the Jambû fruit aided by the combination of the wind and the rays of the Sun, is created the gold. Out of this are made the ornaments for the wives of the Immortals and the Vidyādharas. This gold, created by the Daiva, is known by the name of the Jāmbûnada gold. The love-stricken Devas make their crowns, waist bands and armlets out of this gold for their sweet-hearts. There is a big Kadamba tree on the mountain Supars'va; the five streams of honey called Madhu Dhārā get out from its cavities and running by the west of Ilãvrita Varsa, flow over the land. The Devas drink its waters; and their mouths become filled with the sweet fragrance. The air carries this sweet fragrant smell to a distance of even one hundred Yoyanas. The Dhāres'varī Mahā Devī dwells there, the Fulfiller of the desires of the Bhaktas, highly energetic, of the nature of Kāla (the Time, the Destroyer), and having large face (Mahānanā), faces everywhere, worshipped by the Devas and is the presiding Deity of the woods and forests all around. The Devī, the Lady of the Devas, is to be worshipped by the names Karāla Dehā, Kālāmgī, Kāmakotipravartinī. The great Banyan tree named S'atabala is situated on the top of the Kumud mountain. From its trunk many big rivers take their origin. These rivers possess such influences as to give to the holy persons there, the milk, curd, honey, clarified butter, raw sugar, rice, clothing, ornaments, seats, and beddings, etc., whatever they desire. Therefore these rivers are called Kāmadugh. They come gradually down the earth and flow by the north of Ilāvarsa. The Bhagavatī Mīnāksi dwell there and is worshipped by the Suras and the Asuras alike. That Deity clothed blue, of fearful countenance, and ornamented with hairs of blue colour, always fulfil the desires of the Devas dwelling in the Heavens. Those that worship Her, remember Her or praise Her by the names Atimānyā, Atipûjyā, Mattamātanga Gāminī, Madanonmādinī, Mānapriyā, Mānapriyatarā, Mārabegadharā, Marapûjitā, Māramādinī, Mayûravaras'obhādhyā, S'ikhivāhanagarbhabhû, etc., are honoured by the Deity Mīnalochanā Ekāngarûpinī and the Parames'vara and get all sorts of happiness. Those drink the clear waters of these rivers become free from old age or decay, worry, perspiration, bad smell, from any disease, or premature death. They do not suffer anything from error, from cold, heat, or rains, or from any paleness in their colour. They enjoy extreme happiness as long as they live and no dangers come to them. O Child! Now hear the names of the other twenty mountains that encircle the Golden Sumeru mountain at its base, as if they were the filaments round the pericarp of a flower. The first is Kuranga; they come in order Kuraga, Kus'umbha, Vikankata, Trikûta, S'is'ira, Patanga, Ruchaka, Nisadha, S'itīvāsa, Kapila, S'amkha, Vaidûrya, Chārudhi, Hamsa, Risabha, Naga, Kālanjara and lastly Nārada. The central one is the twentieth.
Here ends the Sixth Chapter of the Eighth Book on the rivers and the mountains Sumeru and others in the Mahāpuranam S'rī Mad Devī Bhāgavatam, of 18,000 verses, by Maharsi Veda Vyāsa.
Chapter VII
On the Ganges and the Varsas
1-37. Nārāyana said :-- Jathara and Devakûta are the two mountains situated on the east of Sumeru; their dimensions towards the north are eighteen thousand Yoyanas wide and two thousand Yoyanas high. On the west of Meru, are situated the two famous lofty mountains Pavamāna and Pāriyātra; their length and height are well known. On the south of Meru are situated the two lofty mountains Kailāsa and Karavira. On the north, again, of the Sumeru mountain, are situated the mountains S'ringagiri and Makaragiri. Thus the golden Sumeru mountain, shines like the Sun, surrounded by these eight mountains. In the centre of the Sumeru, there is a Divine city built of the Creator Brahmā, ten thousand Yoyanas in dimensions. The learned sages that know everything from the highest to the lowest, describe that as square in dimensions and all made of gold. On the top of the Sumeru, are situated the world known eight golden cities, subservient to the Brahmapurī, for the eight Lokapālas. The Lords of the four directions, east, west, north and south and of the four corners, north-east, north-west, south-west, south-east, occupy these. The dimensions of each of these eight cities are two thousand Yoyanas and a half. In fact, there are nine cities there including the Brahmapurī. Now hear the names of these nine cities in due order. The First is Manovatī, the second is Amarāvatī, the third is Tejovatī, next come in order Samyamanī, Krisnānganā, S'raddhāvatī, Gandhavatī, and Mahodayā, the ninth is Yas'ovatī. The Lords of the Purīs are Brahmā, Indra, Fire and the other Dikpālas in due order. When Visnu Bhagavān assumed the Tri Vikrama Form in His Dwarf Incarnation and went at the sacrifice, to get back the Kingdom of the Heavens from the demon Vali, there was created one hole or cavity over this Brahmānda Katāha (skull) by the nails of the toes of that foot that went up towards his left; and through that cavity, the famous river Bhagavatī Gangā flowed on the top of those heavenly Kingdoms, the clear waters of which are ever ready to destroy the sins of the whole people. For this reason, She is known in the three Lokas as the Visnupadī manifested. This took place long long ago, many thousand Yugas ago, a period difficult to determine. The Ganges fell first on the top of the Indra's Heavens, near the place called Visnudhāma, known in the three worlds. Here the pure-souled Dhruva, the son of Uttānapāda, observed within his heart the lotus-feet of Srī Visnu Bhagavān and exists still there taking refuge on that immoveable position. There the high-souled Seven Risis, knowing the highest purifying influence of the Ganges, circumambulate the river, wishing for the welfare of all the Lokas. This is the great place where one gets success, and final liberation, the success-giving place of the ascetics and where the Munis with clots of hairs on their heads daily take their dip in the Ganges with the greatest pleasure and admiration. The Ganges flows thence from the Dhruva Mandala, the abode of Visnu, in Kotis and Kotis of Divine Channels, interspersed with many Vimānas or carriages, deluges the Chandra Mandala (the Moon Sphere), comes gradually to the Brahmā Loka. Here She is divided into the four channels, Sītā, Alakanandā, Bhadrā, and Chaturbhadrā and irrigating many countries, mountains, and forests ultimately falls in the oceans. The Sītā, the famous Dhārā, purifying all, while falling down from the Brahmāloka, passes round the mountains that form as it were the filaments of the flower-like Sumeru mountain, and falls on the top of the Gandhamādana range. Thence She, worshipped by the Devas, irrigates the Bhadras'vavarsa and falls eastward into the salt ocean. The second Dhārā (stream), named Chaksu, getting out of the Malyavān range, gradually gains strength and assumes great force and flows by Ketumālavarsa to the western ocean. The third Dhārā (stream), the very pure Alakananda, getting out of the Brahmā Loka, passes through the Girikûta mountain and other forests, falls to Hemakûta; next She flows through the Bhārata Varsa and meets with the southern ocean. No words can describe the glory and the purifying effect of this river; suffice it to say that those who march out to bathe in this river get at each of their steps, the fruits of doing the great sacrifices, Rājasûya and As'vamedha, etc. The fourth Dhārā of the Trailokyapavanī Ganga Devi, named Bhadrā, falling from the mountain S'ringavān, become swift and capacious, flows by the Northern Kuru country and satisfying the people there flows down into the ocean. Many other rivers, getting out from the mountains, Meru, Mandara and others, flow through the various Varsas or continents, but of all the Varsas, continents, this Bhārata Varsa is called the Karma Ksettra (or the field of actions). The other eight Varsas, though on earth, give the pleasures of the Heavens. The reason for this is that when the period of the persons enjoyments in the Heavens cease, they come and take their birth in the one or other of these eight Varsas. The people here live for ten thousand years; their body is hard like thunderbolt and all are endowed with powers of Ayuta elephants. No one is satisfied with a little of the pleasures of sexes; so all men live happily with their wives, etc. It is not that the males alone are so happy; the females also are full of youth throughout their lives and become pregnant, when they are less than one year old. In short, the inhabitants of the Varsas enjoy for ever as the persons of Tretā Yuga do.
Hear ends the Seventh Chapter of the Eighth Book on the story of the Ganges and the continents in Srī Mad Devī Bhāgavatam, the Mahā Purānam, of 18,000 verses, by Maharsi Veda Vyāsa.
Chapter VIII
On the description of Ilāvrita
1-11. Nārāyana said :-- In those Varsas, Visnu and the other Devas used to worship always the Great Devī with Japam and meditation and to chant hymns to Her. The forests there are ornamented with all sorts of fruits, flowers and leaves, in all the seasons. In those excellent forests, and on the mountains, in those Varsas and on the clear waters interspersed with full blewn lotuses and S'ārasas (cranes) and in those countries where varieties of mountain trees are standing and where varieties of birds frequent and echo all around, the people play in waters and engage themselves with a great many pleasant occupations; and the beautiful women, as well, roam there with the knitting of their eyebrows. The people there enjoy as they like, surrounded by young women; Nārāyana, the Ādipurusa Bhagavān Himself, worships the Devī there, to shew his extreme grace to all the inhabitants of the Navavarsa. The people also worship the Deity. By worshipping the Devī only, the Bhagavān remains there in Samādhi, surrounded with Aniruddha and his other Vyûhachatustaya (the four forms). But in Ilāvrita Varsa, the Bhagavān Rudra, originated from the eye-brows of Brahmā, resides only with women. No other person can enter there; for the Bhāvanī, the S'akti of Rudra has cursed that any male entering there would be transformed into a female. The Lord of Bhavanī, surrounded by innumerable women, remains here engaged in the worship of the unmanifested unborn Bhagavān Samkarsana. For the good of humanity, with intense meditation, He worships His Own Turīya Form of the nature of Tamas, thus :--
12-19. S'rī Bhagavāna said :-- Obeisance to Thee! the Bhagavān, the Great Purusa, endowed with all the qualities (the principal six Ais'varyas or prosperities), the Ananta (the Infinite) and to the Unmanifested! We worship Thee, Whose lotus feet are the refuge of all. Thou art the great storehouse of all the superhuman powers and the divine faculties of omnipotence, etc. Thou art always present to the Bhaktas. Thou art creating all these beings. Thou givest Moksa to the Bhaktas and destroyest their attachment to the world and Thou bindest Thy non-devotees in bondage to this world. Thou art the Lord. We worship Thee. We are entirely under the control of the passions, anger, etc., and our minds are always attached to the senses; but though Thou art always looking at this world for its creation, etc., Thy mind is not a bit attached to it. So who will not turn to Thee, desirous to conquer his self. Thou art appearing by Thy Māyā as one whose sight is ignorant; Thou lookest dreadful with Thy eyes reddened with the drink of Madhu (wine). By the touch of Thy feet, the mental faculties are very much enchanted; hence the women folk of the Nāgas cannot in any way worship Thee, out of bashfulness. The Risis say that though Thou art the Only One to create, preserve and destroy, yet Thou art quite unconcerned with them. Thou art Infinite and Thou hast innumerable heads. This vast universe is like the mustard seed resting somewhere on one of these heads, which Thou canst not feel even. The Mahat Tattva is Thy body manifested first. It is built of Sattva, Raja and Tamo Gunas. Brahmā has come out of this and I again have sprung from this Brahmā and am nurtured by the Sattva and the other Gunas and with the help of the Teja, created these elements and the senses. These Mahat Tattvas and we all are controlled by Thy Extraordinary Form. Thou hast kept us in our respective places by Thy Kriyā S'akti as birds are kept duly by the strings through them. Mahat Tattva, Ahamkāra, and the Devas, elements and the senses, before mentioned all united create this Universe by Thy Grace. Thy creation is very big and grand; for this reason the gross thinkers, deluded by Thy power, never understand it. This Māyā is the only means to get the Samsāra Nivritti, Moksa, the real Goal of man: and this Māyā, again involves them in the Karma entanglements, very hard to get through. Coming in and going out, both of these are Thy forms; so we bow down to Thee.
20-23. Nārāyana said :-- Thus the Bhagavān Rudra, with His Own persons in Ilāvrita Varsa used to worship the Devī and the Sankarsana, the Controller of all the Lokas. The son of Dharma, well known by the name of Bhadras'rava and all the persons born of his family and his attendants, worship thus the Devī. This form is well known to all by the name of Hayagrīva and worshipped thus. All the persons there worship Him with the intense meditation and Samādhi and realise Him thoroughly. Then they praise Him, according to due customs and get the thorough Siddhis (success in getting extraordinary powers).
24-29. The Bhadras'ravās said :-- Obeisance to Thee, the Bhagavān, the Incarnate of Virtue, and to Him who destroys completely the desires, attachments, etc., to worldly objects! Ho! How wonderful are the feats of the Bhagavān! Death always destroys all, but people, seeing this, seem not to see this. Seeing that the son meets with death, the father desires to live long not for a virtuous purpose but for sense enjoyments, what is called Vikarma. Those who are skilled in Jñāna and Vijñāna say that this Universe that is seen is very transient. Moreover those Pundits who are endowed with much Jñāna, see vividly the transitoriness of this Universe. Still, O Unborn One! When practically they come to deal with this, they all become overpowered with the influence of Māyā. So Thy Pastime (Līla) is wonderfully variegated. (Instead of spending our time uselessly in discussing on S'āstras) we bow down to Thee, and Thee alone. Thou art the Self-manifest Chaitanya. Thou are not the object to be covered by Māyā. Thou dost not do anything in the sort of creation, etc. Thou remainest simply as the Witness thereof. Sill the Vedas declare that Thou createst, preservest and destroyest the Universe. It is quite reasonable and nothing to be wondered at. Thou art the Ātman of all. When the Pralaya (the time of great dissolution) comes, the Vedas were stolen by the Daityas and taken to the nether regions, the Rasātala. Thou, in the form of Hayagrīva (Horse-faced), rescued the Vedas and gave them to the Grandsire Brahmā who was very eager to get them back and understand their meanings. Thou art the true Sankalap (resolve); we bow down to Thee. Thus the Bhadras'ravās praise the Haiyagrīva form of Hari and sing the glorious deeds of Him. He who reads these narratives of the Mahā Purusa (the high-souled personage) or he who makes others hear these things, both of them, quitting their sinful bodies, go to the Devī Loka.
Here ends the Eighth Chapter of the Eighth Book on the description of Ilāvrīta in the Mahāpurānam S'rī Mad Devī Bhāgavatam, of 18,000 verses, by Maharsi Veda Vyāsa.
Chapter IX
On the narration of the division of the continents
1-2. Nārāyana said :-- In Harivarsa, the Bhagavān Hari is shining splendid as a Yogi in the form of Narasimha. The Mahā Bhāgavat (most devoted) Prahlāda, who knows the attributes of God worships and chants hymns with his whole hearted devotion, seeing that beautiful form, gladdening to all the people.
3-11. Prahlāda spoke :-- I bow down to Thee, the Bhagavān Nrisingha Deva. Thou art the Light of all Lights. Thy big teeth are like thunderbolts. Let Thee manifest in Thy most terrible form. Let Thee destroy the desires of the people to do Karma and let Thou devour the great Ignorance (Ajñāna) the Moha (delusion) of the people. Thou art the receptacle of the Sattva, Raja and Tamo Gunas. Let myself be always free from any fear by Thy Grace. Om Khraum! Let this whole world rest completely in peace and happiness. Let the cheats quit their guiles and be pure and simple. Let all the people quit completely their animosities towards each other and think of their welfare. Let all the people be free from making injuries to others and be peaceful; and let them have their control over their passions. Let our mind be completely free from desires and rest entirely and devotedly to Thy lotus-feet. Let us not be attached to sons, wives, wealth, house or to any other worldly objects. If there be any attachment, let it be to the objects dear to the Bhagavān. He who barely sustains his body and soul and controls himself completely, success is very near to him; not so to the persons that are attached to the senses. The dirt of the mind, that is not washed away by bathing in the Ganges or by taking recourse to the Tīrthas, etc., is removed by the company of the devotees to the God and by their influence, hearing, thinking, and meditating on the attributes of the Bhagavān. So who is there that does not serve the Bhagavān! He who has got Niskāma Bhakti (devotion without regard to any fruits thereof) to the Bhagavān, to him come always the Devatā, Dharma and Jñāna and other higher qualities. But he who indulges in various mental phantasms, without any Bhakti to the Bhagavān, he follows the worldly happiness that is certainly to be hated and never he gets Vairāgyan and other higher qualities. As water is life to the fish, so the Bhagavān Hari is the self of all embodied beings and so He is to be specially prayed for. So if a high-souled person be attached to household happiness, without thinking of God, then his greatness dwindles into a trifling insignificance like the ordinary pleasures of man and woman when they are full of youth. So leave, at once, the home that is the source of Birth and Death and leave Trisnā (thirst, desire), clinging to life, low-spiritedness, name, and fame, egoism, shame, fear, poverty and loss of one's honour and worship the Lotus-Feet of the Bhagavān Nrisingha Deva and be entirely fearless. Thus Prahlāda, the Lord of the Daityas, daily worships devotedly the Bhagavān Nrisingha, resplendent in his lotus heart, the death blow, the lion to all the elephant sins. In the Ketumāla Varsa, the Bhagavān Nārāyana is reigning in the form of the Kāma Deva, the God of Love. The people there always worship Him. The daughter of Ocean, the Indirā Devī, who confers honour and glory to the Mahatmas, is the presiding Deity of the Varsa. She always worships the Kama Deva with the following verses :--
12-18. The Laksmī Devī spoke :-- Om, Hrām, Hrīm, Hrûm, Om namo Bhagavate Hrisikesāya! Thou art the Bhagavān of the nature of Om. Thou are the Director, the Lord of the senses: Thy Ātman is the Highest and the Receptacle of all the good things. All the Karma Vrittis, all the Jñāna Vrittis, and effort and resolution and other faculties of the mind, act in their respective channels by Thy looking and by their being constantly practised in Thee. And the elements over which they get their masteries are subservient to Thy Laws. The mind and the other eleven Indriyas, and touch, taste and other five senses are but Thy parts. All the rites and ceremonies observed in the Vedas are found in Thee. Thou art the infinite store of all the foodings of the Jīvas. From Thee flows the Paramānanda, the Highest Bliss. Thou art All, Thou art the Substance, Purity incarnate; Thou art the Energy, the Strength manifest in all. Thou art the Finish of all the happiness and Thou art the Only One Substance, that can be desired by the people. So obeisance to Thee! This Thy Lordship is not dependent on any other body. The women that know Thee, the Lord of all and worship other bodies for their husbands, those husbands can never save them, their lives, their wealth, progeny or other dear things as those are controlled by Kāla (Time) and Karma. So they cannot be termed husbands at all; Thou art the Real Husband; and no other. For Thou art naturally fearless and Thou protectest in every way the persons that become afraid. Thou art the Lord of all wealth; so no other is superior to Thee. How can then, they be independent whose happiness depends on others! The lady that desires to worship Thy lotus feet only and becomes subservient to no others, she attains all the desires. Again the lady who, desiring other desires than to get Thee, does not worship Thy lotus-feet, Thou fulfillest the desires of her too. But, O Bhagavān! When the period of enjoyment of these things ceases and when the objects of these enjoyments are destroyed, then she repents much due to the loss of those things. Brahmā, Mahādeva, the Suras and the Asuras practise hard Tapasyās to get me, impelled by their desires to attain the objects of sense enjoyments; but he only really gets me who worships and takes refuge of Thy lotus feet only, for my heart is entirely attached to Thee. So, O Achyuta! Kindly shew Thy Grace and put, on my head, Thy lotus palm, praised by the universal people that Thou placest on Thy Bhaktas. O Bhagavān! That Thou takest me in Thy Bosom is a sign of Thy Grace. No one can fathom the deeds of Thee, the Only Controller of all. Thus the Prajāpati and the Lords of that Varsa, worship the Bhagavān, the Friend of all, with a view to attain their respective desires and Siddhis. In Ramyak Varsa, the Matsya form of the Bhagavān is set up and consecrated. The Suras and the Asuras worship Him. The highly intelligent Manu always chant hymns to that Excellent Form thus :-- Obeisance to Him who is the Life of all, the Essence and Strength of all, to that Great Fish Form, the Body Incarnate of Sattva Guna, who is of the nature of Om and Bliss.
19-23. Thou art the Lord of all the Lokapālas and of the form of the Vedas. Thou art within and without all this universe, moving and non-moving; still all the beings are unable to see Thy form. As the people bring under their control the wooden dolls, so Thou controllest the universe by the rules and prohibitions under the names of the Brāhmanas, etc. Thou art the God. The Lokapālas, being overcome by the fever of jealousy and pride, become quite unable, either individually or collectively, to quit their jealousies and to protect the tripeds, quadrupeds, reptiles and snakes; so Thou art the God. Thou hadst upheld this earth along with me and with the medicinal plants and creepers; and Thou shewedest the highest luminous light in the great ocean, at the time of Pralaya, tossed with surging waves and didst roam there. Thou art the Self of all the beings in the universe. So we bow down to Thee. Thus the Manu, the best of the mortal beings, used to praise the Bhagavān, who took His incarnation in the shape of the Fish, the Remover of all doubts. Manu, the foremost of the Bhāgavatas (the devotees) is reigning there in the service of the Fish Incarnation of the Bhagavān, with intense meditation and expurging all sins and with great devotion.
Here ends the Ninth Chapter of the Eighth Book on the narration of the division of the continents in the Mahā Purānam S'rī Mad Devī Bhāgavatam of 18,000 verses by Maharsi Veda Vyāsa.
Chapter X
On the description of Bhuvanakosa
1-7. Nārāyana said :-- In Hiranmaya Varsa, the Bhagavān is remaining in the form of Kurma, the Tortoise, as the Lord of Yoga. He is thus praised and worshipped by Aryamā, the Ruler of the Pitris. Aryamā said :-- Om namo Bhagavate Akûpārāya; (King of tortoises, sustaining the world) Obeisance to Thee, the Lord of all prosperities, in the form of Tortoise (Kurma); Thou art built of Sattva Guna Incarnate; no one can make out where Thou dost dwell; Thou art not encompassed by Time; (Thou art in the Present, Past and Future); so obeisance to Thee. Thou dost pervade all things; we bow down to Thee. All are established in Thee; so obeisance to Thee. By Thy extraordinary Māyā (power) Thou hast made manifest this universe that is seen. This is Thy Form. It is by no means distinct from Thee. This Thy Form is seen in so many forms. So the true reality being not known like the mirage, these cannot be counted really speaking, what is Thy form, no one can definitely say. The beings generated by heat and moisture (said of insects and worms), those that are born of eggs, from wombs and the plants and other moving, non-moving beings, the Devas, Risis, Pitris, Bhûtas, and these senses; the sky, the heavens, earth, mountains, rivers, oceans, islands, planets, and stars all these art Thou and Thou alone. Thy name, form, and appearance, are as varied; and their numbers cannot be counted. Still, Kapila and others have determined their numbers, by the knowledge of which Thou canst become visible to the Eye of Knowledge. Thy form and nature are determined by these Sānkhyas ascertained by Kapila. So we bow down to Thee. Thus Aryamā, and the other rulers of the Varsa all united sing, praise, and worship the Bhagavān Kurma Deva, the Controller of all and the Generator of all. All Hail to Thee! The Bhagavān Yajña Purusa is manifest in Uttara Kuru Mandala in the form of Ādi Varāha. The Earth Herself worships Him always. The Goddess Earth praises Hari, the Yajña Varāha, the Destroyer of the Daityas and worships duly that Deva, with Her heart lotus, naturally devoted, rendered more devoted by Her attachment to the Lord.
8-13. The Goddess Earth spoke :-- Om Namo Bhagavate Mantratattva Lingāya Yajña Kratave I bow down to the Bhagavān, the Great Boar; Thou art Om; Thy real form and nature can be known by only the Mantra and Tattva. Thou art Yajña and Kratu (sacrifice) incarnate; therefore all the great sacrifices are Thy limbs. Thou art the Three Yugas (there being no Yajña in the Satya Yuga); Thou art that which is left as Pure, after doing Karma (so as to be fit for performing Yajñas). So obeisance to Thee. The sages, versed in Jñāna and Vijñāna say that Thou art hidden in the body and in the senses as fire is hidden in the wood. So they, ardent to see Thee, seek for Thee with a discriminative and dispassionate mind, judging Karmas and their fruits; and then Thy Nature is revealed, I bow down to Thee, Thy Form can be ascertained by the cause and effect of the Karmas and other Gunas of Māyā, sense objects, senses, actions, Devas, body, time, Ahamkāra and others. I bow down to Thee, Those can see thus Thy form, whose mind is firmly established in Thee, by their discrimination and Yama, Niyama, etc., and who have abandoned all sorts of fickleness and changeability of their tempers. So obeisance to Thee. As iron goes attracted towards the magnet, so Māyā dances before Thee with Her Gunas and Her works in the way of the creation, preservation and destruction of this universe; but Thou art totally indifferent to it. For the sake of the Jīvas (embodied souls), desire comes to Thee, though Thou art not quite willing! Thou art the Witness of the Jīvas and their Adrista (the Fate). I bow down to Thee. The Yajña Varāha, the Cause of this universe, has lifted me up from the Rasātala and placing me on His big tusks, has come out from the Pralaya, the great ocean, after overpowering in battle His enemy, the powerful Daitya, like an elephant, I bow down to that Controller of all, to Thee. In the Kimpurusa Varsa, the Bhagavān Ādi Purusa (the Prime Man), the Self-manifest, and the Lord of all, is residing in the form of Rāma, the son of Das'aratha and the Joy of the heart of Sītā Devī.
14-18. S'rī Hanumāna thus spoke:-- Om namo Bhagavate Uttama Slokaya I bow down to the Bhagavān, who art sung by the excellent verses, purifying all. I bow down to Thee, the incarnate of modesty, good temper, vow and good signs; Thy mind is always under control; Thou dost imitate, as Thy nature is good, the actions of all persons; obeisance to Thee. Thou art the Supreme Place to award praise. Obeisance to Thee. Thou art Brahmanya Deva (in the creation of the universe), the high souled Person Mahāpurusa. Thou gettest the First Share, above all the persons! Thou art the One Tattva and That Alone, as established in the Vedānta. The holy realisation is the only guide to it. This Tattva dominates over all the Gunas. It can never be an object. Only by pure intellect, It can be realised. There is no name, no form of It. It is always beyond the pale of Ahamkāra. I take refuge to this Tattva, the most Peaceful, with my body and mind. Thy incarnation in human shape in this world is not simply for killing Rāvana but for giving instructions to the mortals. The contact with woman and the suffering thereof are very difficult to avoid; to give this lesson also He took this incarnation, He Who is merged in enjoying the Supreme Bliss of His Own Nature and He Who is the Lord of all, how can He suffer miseries in the bereavement of Sītā. He is the best friend and the very Ātman of those who have conquered their minds and senses. Especially He is the receptacle of all the qualities and is in enjoyment of other divine extraordinary powers. So He is not attached to the worldly objects. How can the delusion due to His wife come and darken Him? and why will He send Laksmana in exile? He is the Mahat Tattva and the Parama Purusa; so good birth, beauty, intelligence, oratory or good form, nothing can please Him. Bhakti (devotion) can only attract Him. If that be not the case, then why will He, the elder of Laksmana, the Bhagavān, the son of Das'aratha make friendship with us, the wanderers of the forest and who are by nature, not the receptacles of any beauty, etc. So everyone, be he a Sura or Asura, man, or not man, should worship the Hari manifest in Rāma, in the human body with all his heart. He is so good that if anybody worships Him even to a very small extent, He always considers it to be much; what more can be said than this that He took all the inhabitants of Kos'ala to Heaven!
19-20. Nārāyana said :-- Thus Hanumān, the best of monkeys, sings the praises and worships duly in Kimpurusa Varsa, the lotus-eyed Rāma, truthful, and determined in his vows. He who hears this wonderful description of Rāma, is freed of all his sins and goes with his body pure to the abode of Rāma.
Here ends the Tenth Chapter of the Eighth Book on the description of Bhuvanakosa in the Mahāpurānam S'rī Mad Devī Bhāgavatam, of 18,000 verses, by Maharsi Veda Vyāsa.
Chapter XI
On the description of the continents and of Bhāratavarsa
1. Nārāyana said :-- In this Bhāratavarsa (India) I am present, as the First of all, in the shape of the Man, at present existing before you. Let you praise Me incessantly thus:--
2-28. Nārada said :-- Thou art the Bhagavān. Obeisance to Thee. Thou art completely free from attachment and envy and Thou art the incarnate of Dharma, Jñāna and Vairāgyam (Dispassion). No trace of Ahamkara (egoism) is in Thee. Obeisance to Thee. Thou hast nothing of wealth; Thou art the foremost of the family of Risis; Thou art Nara Nārāyana. Thou art the Parama Hamsa (the highest class of ascetics and renouncers of the world). Thou art the Highest Guru; Thou art happy with Thyself and the Leader of all; I bow down to Thee. Thou art the Lord of all, yet not mixed in the work of creation, etc. Though Thou residest in every embodied being, yet no hunger and thirst can press Thee; though Thou art the Witness, yet Thy sight is not at all disturbed by the proximity. Thou art not at all connected and no desires can come to Thee; Thou art the Witness. So I bow down to Thee. This path of Yoga had come out of Thee and it is established in Thee. The Bhagavān Hiranyagarbha has given instructions on the cleverness in Yoga, thus :-- That leaving aside the egoism of this body, the seat of all evils, the people at last will take resort to the path of Bhakti and set their minds on Thee, Who art beyond the pale of the three Gunas. If, like the ignorant persons very much attached to this world as well as the next, the wise pass their time in the thoughts of their sons, wives, and riches and ultimately become very much pained on the destruction of this ugly body, persons, versed in Jñāna and Vijñāna be afraid in the end of their separation fron the body, then their study of the S'āstras and all their labours become labours merely, without any effect. When such a thing occurs to the learned, then O Thou, the Subduer of the knowledge of senses! Thou Thyself givest us instructions that we may easily think of Thee. Then this terrible clinging to this ugly body that Thy Māyā brings about and which it is very difficult to discard by other means, will leave us quickly. Nārada, the seer of all, well qualified with the knowledge of all the Tattvas, the foremost of the Munis, thus worships it and praises Nārāyana Who is unaffected by any of the Ûpādhis and who corresponds to Nitya and Leelā (both Permanent and the Pastime-making). O Devarsi! I now describe to you the rivers and mountains in Bhāratvarsa. Hear attentively. Malaya, Mangalaprastha, Maināka, Chitrakûta, Risabha, Kûtaka, Kolla, Sahya, Devagiri, Risyamûka, S'ris'aila, Vyankata, Mahendra, Vāridhāra, Vindhya, S'uktimān, Riksa, Pāriyātra, Drona, Chitrakûta, Gobardhana, Raivataka, Kakubha, Nīla, Gaurmukha, Indrakīla, Kāmagiri and many other mountains, that cannot be numbered. Great merits accrue on seeing these mountains. Hundreds and thousands of rivers issue from these mountains. Drinking their waters, bathing in them and visiting them and singing their praises completely destroy the sins of mind, word and body. The names of the rivers are :-- Tāmraparnī, Chandravas'ā, Kritamālā, Vatodakā, Vaihāyasī, Kāverī, Venā, Payasvini, Tungabhadrā, Krisnavenā, S'arkarā, Vartakā, Godāvarī, Bhīmarathī, Nirbindhyā, Payosnikā, Tāpī, Revā, Surasā, Narmadā, Sarasvatī, Charmanvatī, and the Indus, Andha, and Sone, Risikulyā, Trisāmā, Vedasmriti, Mahānadī, Kaus'ikī, Yamunā, Mandākini, Drisadvatī, Gomatī, Sarayû, Oghavatī, Saptavatī, Susamā, S'atadru, Chandrabhāgā, Marudbridhā, Vitastā, Asiknī and Vis'vā and many other rivers. Those persons that take their births in this Varsa enjoy the (Divya) Divine, human, and the lower enjoyments, as the effects of their Karmas, in accordance with their Sāttvik, Rājasik, and Tāmasik qualities. All the inhabitants of this Varsa take their Sannyāsa, Vānaprasthas, etc., in accordance with the rules of their Varnas (castes) respectively and enjoy beatitudes as dictated (in their S'āstras). The Vedavādis (the propounders of the Vedas), the Risis, and the Devas declare that this Varsa is superior to all the other Varsas as the Grace of God is easily obtained here. They say: Oh! What an amount of good works, the inhabitants of Bhārata Varsa did in their previous lives, that by their influence, the Bhagavān Hari has become pleased with them without their having any Sādhanās (good Yogic practices). Therefore we also desire to have our births there, for there if we be born amidst the persons there, we would be able serve Hari, Mukunda in every way. What will severe austerities, gifts, sacrifices, and practising vows avail us? Even if we go to Heaven, what benefit we will derive there? Then we would never be able to bring our mind to the lotus-feet of the Bhagavān Nārāyana. Our tastes for sense enjoyments would increase and we would be wholly deprived of Bhagavān. Far better it is to be born in this Bhārata Varsa as short-lived persons, than to acquire other places where one can live up to the period of Kalpa and then be reborn. For the intelligent people of Bhārata, getting this mortal coil can within a short period devote themselves to the Bhagavān Hari and be free from rebirth. That place is never to be visited and served, even if that be Svarga Loka where the nectar-like ocean of the sayings of Vaikuntha are not heard; where there are no assemblages of saints who take refuge of the Lotus feet of Bhagavān; where the great sacrifices and festivities of the Bhagavān Visnu are not celebrated. Those persons, that do not try for Moksa, when they get human births and when they possess Jñāna, Kriyā (methods of doing sacrifices and other works for the help of Jñāna) and Dravya (materials for those sacrifices), are certainly like beasts and get themselves repeatedly entanged into bondages. The people of Bhārata Varsa offer oblations to Indra and other deities, invoking their names separately, with proper rules (Vidhis), mantras, and purodāsas (a sacrificial oblation made of ground rice and offered in Kapālas or vessels); but the All sufficient Bhagavān Hari, the Giver of blessings accepts those very gladly.
True that He grants unto the people what they ask from Him; but He hardly gives anybody the Paramārtha, the Highest Goal. The reason being that the people ask again and again after receiving what they had asked. So He gives of Himself His own lotus-feet to those who, having abandoned all their desires, worship Him and Him only with the idea of love. (1) Thus :-- We are living very happily in the Heavens as the fruit of the Istāpûrta that we performed fully; yet we want that we may also be born in Bhārata Varsa with our memory all renewed with the thought of the Bhagavān Hari. The Bhagavān residing in this Bhāratvarsa, awards the highest welfare to its inhabitants.
29-32. Nārāyana said :-- O Devarsi! Thus the Devas of the Heavens, the Siddhas, the Highest Risis, sing the excellent merits of this Bhāratavarsa. There are the eight Upadvīpas of this Jambudvīpa :-- When the sons of the King Sagara were searching for the footprints of the stolen horse (for As'vamedha sacrifice), they found these Upadvīpas; so it is definitely stated. The names of out and made these are :-- Svarnaprastha, Chandras'ukra, Āvartana, Ramānaka, Mandaropākhya, Harina, Pānchajanya, and Ceylon. The length and breadth of Jambudvīpa have been described; now the other six Dvīpas, Plaksa and others will be described. Hear.
Here ends the Eleventh Chapter of the Eighth Book on the description of the continents and of Bhāratavarsa in the Mahāpurānam, S'rī Mad Devī Bhāgavatam, of 18,000 verses, by Maharsi Veda Vyāsa.
Chapter XII
On the narration of Plaksa, Sālmala and Kusa Dvīpas
1-37. Nārāyana said :-- The Jambudvīpa has been described, how it is and what is its width. It is surrounded on all sides by the salt ocean. As Meru is surrounded by Jambudvīpa, so the salt ocean is surrounded by Plaksadvīpa, twice its size. As the ditch is surrounded by gardens, so the salt ocean is surrounded by gardens. As the Jambu tree exists in Jambudvīpa, so the Plaksa tree exists in the Plaksa Dvīpa and of the same size. The name Plaksa Dvīpa is derived from the name of this Plaksa tree. This tree is of a golden colour. Fire exists at its bottom with form incarnate. This is, named Saptajihva. The Ruler of this island is Idhmajihva, the son of Priyavrata. He divided his island into the seven Varsas and distributed them, to each of his seven sons and he himself took refuge of the path of Yoga, so much liked by the Knowers of Self and he got the Bhagavān Vāsudeva. The names of those seven Dvīpas are :-- S'iva, Yavas, Subhadra, Sānti, Ksema, Amrita, and Abhaya. Seven rivers and seven mountains exist respectively in the seven islands. The rivers are :-- Arunā, Nrimnā, Angirasī, Sāvitrī, Suprabhātikā, Ritambharā, and Satyambharā. The names of the mountains are Manikûta, Vajrakûta, Indrasena, Jyotismāna, Suparna, Hiranyasthīva, and Meghamāla. The seeing and drinking the waters of these rivers take away all sins and all darkness due to ignorance. The four castes live here, Hamsa, Patanga, Ûrdhāyana, and Satyānga, corresponding to the four castes Brāhmana, etc. The inhabitants of this Plaksa Dvīpa live for one thousand years and all are of variegated wonderful appearances. They follow the customs and usages dictated by the Vedas and worship the God Sun for the attainment of Heaven. The mantra by which the worship is done is this :-- We take refuge unto that Sun, Who is the Body Manifest of the Ancient Person Visnu and Who is the Ordainer of Satya (Truth), Ritā (Straight forwardness), Brahmā, Amrita (Immortality) and Mrityu (Death); O Nārada! All the persons here live long, of vigorous senses, energetic, powerful, intelligent, enthusiasts, and valorous; everyone gets extraordinary powers of themselves. Next to this Plaksa Dvīpa is the Ikshu Ocean. This Iksu Sāgara surrounds the Plaksa Dvīpa. Next comes S'almala Dvīpa. It is twice as large as Plaksa. This Dvīpa is surrounded by Surāsāgara (the ocean of wine). There is a tree named S'almalī in this island, which is as large as the Plaksa tree. The high-souled Garuda resides on that tree, Yajñavāhu is the Ruler of this place. He was born of Priyavrata; he divided his Varsa into the seven parts and distributed each of them to his seven sons respectively. Now hear the names of these Varsas :-- Surochana, Saumanasya, Ramana, Deva Varsa, Pāribhadra, Āpyāyana, and Vijñāta. Seven mountains and seven rivers exist there respectively. The names of the mountains are :-- Sarasa, S'atas'ringa, Vāma Deva, Kandaka, Kumuda, Puspavarsa, and Sahasra-S'ruti. Now hear the names of the rivers. Anumati, Sinībālī, Sarasvatī, Kûhu, Rajanī, Nandā, and Rākā; these are the seven rivers. The people are divided into the four castes :-- S'rutadhara, Vīryadhara, Vasundhara, Isundhara. These correspond to the Brāhmanas, etc. They worship the Bhagavān Moon, the Controller of all and the Creator of all the Vedas. They offer food duly in the black and white fortnight to their Pitris. The mantra for their worship is :-- Let Soma, the King of all, be pleased. O Nārada! Next to Surāsāgara is Kus'advīpa, surrounded by Ghritasāgara (the ocean of clarified butter). Its dimensions are twice as large. Here are blades of Kus'a grass, of a very resplendent colour. The name of the Dvīpa is from this Kus'astamba. This bundle of Kus'a, illumines all the quarters with their gentle rays. The Ruler of the Dvīpa is Hiranyaretā, the son of Priyavrata. He divided the Dvīpa into seven parts and distributed each of them to each of his seven sons respectively. The names of the seven sons are :-- Vasu, Vasudāna, Dhridharuchi, Nābhigupta, Stutyavrata, Vivikta, and Bhāmadevaka. There are seven mountains forming the seven boundaries and so are the seven rivers. Hear the names of these. The names of the mountains are :-- Chakra, Chatuhs'ringa, Kapila, Chitre Devānīka, Kûta, Ûrdharomā and Dravina. The names of the rivers are :-- Rasakulyā, Madhukulyā, Mitravindā, S'rutavindā, Devagarbhā, Ghritāchyut, and Mantramalikā. The inhabitants of the Kus'advīpa drink the waters of these rivers. There are the four castes here Kus'ala, Kovida, Abhiyukta, and Kulaka corresponding to the Brāhmanas, etc. They are all powerful like Indra and the other chief Devas; and all of them are omniscient. They worship the Fire God and perform various good works in honour of Him. Their mantra is this :-- O Fire! Thou carriest the oblations direct to Para Brahmā. In the sacrifices of the Devas, Thou worshippest that Personal God and offerest to Him whatever are given in oblations, mentioning the respective limbs of His Body. Thus the inhabitants of that Dvīpa worship the Fire God.
Here ends the Twelfth Chapter of the Eighth Book on the narration of Plaksa, S'ālmala, and Kus'a Dvīpas in the Mahāpurānam, S'rī Mad Devī Bhāgavatam, of 18,000 verses, by Maharsi Veda Vyāsa.
Chapter XIII
On the description of the remaining Dvīpas
1. Nārada said :-- Thou, the Knower of everything! Describe about the remaining Dvīpas, knowing which we will be highly delighted.
2-36. Nārāyana spoke thus :-- The very vast Ghrita Sāgara (the ocean of clarified butter) is encircling the Kusa Dvīpa. Next to it is the Krauncha Dvīpa. It is twice as large as Kusa. The Ksīra Sāgara (the ocean of milk) is surrounding this Dvīpa. The Krauncha mountain is standing here. The name of this Dvīpa is derived from this mountain. In days gone by, the highly intelligent Kārtikeya burst this mountain by his own prowess. This Dvīpa is washed by the Ksīra Sāgara; and Varuna is its Regent. The son of Priyavrata, Ghritapristha, respected by all and whose prosperity knows no end, is the Lord of this Dvīpa. He divided this Dvīpa into the seven parts and distributed them to his sons and named the Varsas after the names of his sons. He made his sons the rulers of those places and he himself took the refuge of the Bhagavān Nārāyana The names of the seven Varsas are respectively :-- Āma, Madhuruha, Meghapristha, Sudhāmaka, Bhrājistha, Lohitārna, and Vanaspati. O Nārada! The seven mountains and the rivers there are very celebrated throughout the worlds. The names of the mountains are :-- Sûkla, Vardhamāna, Bhojana, Upavarhana, Nanda, Nandana, and Sarvatobhadra. The names of the rivers are :-- Abhayā, Amritaughā, Āryakā, Tīrthavatī, Vrittirûpavatī, Suklā, and Pavitravatikā. The inhabitants there drink the highly pure water of these rivers. The people there are divided into four colours Purusa, Risabha, Dravina, and Vedaka and they worship the Bhagavān Varuna, of the form of water. Then they become very discriminative, and, with great devotion, and holding full within their folded palms the water, repeat the following mantra :-- O Water! Thou art the essence Vīrya of the Person Bhagavāna and Thou sanctifiest the Bhûrloka, Bhuvarloka, and Svarloka. Thou destroyest the sins of all. We all are touching it; purify our bodies. After finishing their mantrams, they sing various hymns to Varuna. Next to the Ksiroda Sāgara, is the Saka Dvīpa, thirty two lakh yoyanas wide, surrounded by the Dadhi Sāgara (the ocean of curds), of similar dimensions. Here the most excellent tree named the Saka tree exists. O Nārada! The Dvīpa is named so after the tree. Medhātithi, the son of Priyavrata is the Lord of this Dvīpa. He divided this land into the seven Varsas and distributed each to his seven sons respectively; and ultimately he took refuge to the path of Yoga. The names of the seven Varsas are Purojava, Manojava, Pavamānaka, Dhûmrānīka, Chitrarepha, Bahurûpa, and Visvadhrik. In these Varsas there are seven mountains, one in each Varsa, as forming their boundaries; and there are seven rivers also. The names of the mountains are :-- Īsana, Ûrusringa, Valabhadra, Sata Kesara, Sahasra-srotaka, Devapāla, and Mahāsana; the names of the rivers are :-- Anaghā, Āyurdā, Ubhayaspristi, Aparājitā, Pañchapadī, and Sahasrasruti and Nijadhriti. These seven rivers are all very big and resplendent with lustre. The people are divided into four classes :-- Varsas, Satyavrata, Kratuvrata, Dānavrata, and Anuvrata. They all take the Prānayāma exercise and thereby bring the Rājas, and Tamo Guna under their subjection and they worship Hari, of the nature of Prāna Vayu, Higher than the Highest. Their mantra is this :-- He has entered into all the living beings and nourishes them by the Prāna and other faculties; He is the Internal Ruler of all and the Supreme Controller; this Universe is under His control; let Him protect and nourish us. O Nārada! Next to this Dadhi Sāgara is Puskara Dvīpa; it is twice as large as Sāka Dvīpa. It is surrounded by the Dudha Sāgar (the ocean of milk) all twice as large. The leaves of Puskara tree that shines in the Puskara Dvīpa, are fiery like golden flames; they are as clean and pure. Crores and crores of leaves, golden in colour ornament this Tree. Vāsudeva, the Guru of all the Lokas, has created this Puskara Dvīpa as the seat of Paramesthī Brahmā, possessed of six extraordinary powers, for the purpose of creation. There is one mountain in this Dvīpa; it is divided into two parts, named Arvāchīna and Parāchīna. These form the boundaries of the two Varsas. The mountain is one Ayuta Yoyana high and one Ayuta Yoyana wide. There are four cities on the four sides. Indra and the three other Lokapālas are the lords of these cities. The Sun God comes out from their top and circumambulating Meru, goes there again. The whole year is his Chakram, circle of circuit; His path is Uttrāyanam and Daksināyanam. Vītihotra, the son of Priyavrata is the lord of this island. He distributed the two Varsas amongst his two sons, Ramana and Dhātakī. They rule over the two Varsas named also after them. Like the inhabitants of the above Varsas, the people also get powers of themselves and worship devotedly the God seated on the lotus and follow such path of the Yoga as leads them to the Brahmā Sālokyā, etc. The mantra runs thus :-- We bow down to that One God, without a Second, of the nature of Peace, Who is the Fruit of all the Karmas, Who is the seat of illumination of Brahmā, Who is established in Unity, and Who is worshipped by all the Lokas.
Here ends the Thirteenth Chapter of the Eighth Book on the description of the remaining Dvīpas in the Mahāpurānam Srī Mad Devī Bhāgavatam, of 18,000 verses, by Maharsi Veda Vyāsa.
Chapter XIV
On the description of the Lokāloka space
1-29. Nārāyana said :-- Next to the ocean of pure water, is the mountain, called Lokāloka. It marks the sphere between the two countries Loka and Aloka. O Devarsi! There is a land, all of pure gold (beyond this ocean of pure water) for a space equal to the distance between Mānasottara and Meru. This land is like a mirror; there are no beings here; the reason is, any substance placed on it would at once be converted into gold and nothing can be obtained out of it. O Nārada! No living beings can live there and therefore it is named Lokāloka. This is established always between the Loka and Aloka. The God himself has made this as the boundary of the three Lokas. The rays of the Sun, the Polar Star and all the planets are confined to this sphere; rather passing through its middle, the luminaries shed their lustre on the three Lokas. O Nārada! This great mountain is so lofty and capacious that the rays of the luminaries can never go out of it. The learned men say, that the size, form, and indications of this mountain are such as this is the one-fourth of five hundred times the size of the earth on its summit. The self-born Brahmā has placed very big elephants on all sides of it. Hear their names. These are Risabha, Puspachûda, Vāmana, and Aparājita. These four elephants are said to hold all the Lokas in their respective positions. The Bhagavān Hari gives strength to these elephants and to Indra and others who are reckoned to be His Vibhûtis (powers). He manifesting His Suddha Sattva and super-extraordinary powers, and united with Animā, Laghimā, etc., the eight Siddhis, is reigning there surrounded by His Pārisadas Visvaksena and others. He is the one God of all; He is without a second. For the welfare of all, He is holding Sudarsana and His various other weapons; and the powers of His arms are great. He is His own Cause and at all times He pervades all in and through. He is Eternal. This Universe is upheld by His extraordinary power Māyā for its preservation. He remains in this form till the end of a Kalpa. The inner width described above, determines the width of Āloka. For it is situated outside the above Loka. Beyond the mountain Lokāloka, is said to lie the pure path leading to Yogesvara within the egg-shaped ellipsoid formed by the Heaven and Earth. The inner dimension of this ellipsoid is twenty five Koti Yoyanas. When this egg becomes unconscious (lifeless), the Sun enters within it in the form of Vairāja. Hence the Sun is called Mārtanda. He is Hiranyagarbha, when He is born from this Golden Egg. It is this Sun that ordains the quarters, Ākāsa, Heaven and Earth, etc., in their proper spheres and divisions. This Sun is the Ātmā of Svarga and Moksa, hell and other lower regions, of the Devas, men, birds, reptiles, trees and all other living beings; and He is the Presiding Deity of their sight. O Nārada! Its width is Pañchāsat Koti Yoyanas and its height or depth is twenty-five Koti Yoyanas. If as the two halves of a gram are of the same size, so the Earth and Heaven are of equal size. The space enclosed between them is called Antarīksa; the Sun God, the foremost of the planets, being situated in the middle, gives light and illumines and heats the three Lokas. He goes by the path of Uttarāyana and therefore His motion becomes slow (His motion becomes Mandagati). The Sun then getting up higher prolongs the day time. Similarly when the Sun follows the path of Daksināyana, He gets Sīghra-gati and not going up so high, shortens the day time. Again when He comes at the Equator, He maintains an even position and the day and night become equal. When the Sun is in the signs Aries (Mesa) and Libra (Tulā), then the day and night become equal. When the Sun traverses the five signs Taurus, Gemini, etc., the day becomes longer and when the Sun traverses the five signs Scorpio and others, the day becomes shorter and the night becomes longer.
Here ends the Fourteenth Chapter of the Eighth Book on the description of the Lokāloka space in the Mahāpurānam S'rī Mad Devī Bhāgavatam, of 18,000 verses, by Maharsi Veda Vyāsa.
Chapter XV
On the motion of the Sun
1-45. Nārāyana said :-- O Nārada! I will now describe the motion of the Sun. Hear. It is of three kinds; Sīghra (perihelionic), Manda (Aphelionic), and even. O Surasattama! Every planet has three positions. The name of the Madhyagati position is Jāradgava, the name of the northern position is Airāvata; and the name of the southern position is Vaisvānara. The asterisms Asvinī Krittikā and Bharanī are known by the term Nāgavīthī. Rohinī, Ārdrā, and Mrigasirā are named Gaja Vīthī; Pusyā, Aslesā, and Punarvasu are named Airavatīvīthī. The three Vīthīs, above-mentioned are called Uttara Mārga. Purvaphalgunī, Uttara Phalgunī and Maghā are named Arsabhī Vīthī. Hastā, Chitrā and Svātī are called Govīthī; Jyesthā, Visākhā and Anurādhā are named Jāradgavī Vīthī. These three Vīthīs are named Madhyamā Mārga. Mûlā, Purbāsādhā, Uttarāsādhā are termed Ajavīthī Sravanā, Dhanisthā and Satabhisā are termed Mriga Vīthī. Uttara bhādrapada, Purvabhādrapada, and Revatī are called Vaisvānarīvīthī. These three Vīthīs (paths) are called Daksinamārga. During the Uttarāyana time, as the Dhruva attracts the rope of air from both the sides of the Yuga, orbit (or axis), the chariot of the Sun ascends, (i.e., is drawn up by the rope). Thus when the Sun enters within the sphere, the motion of the chariot becomes slower and the day is lengthened and the night is shortened. O Sura Sattama! Know this to be the course of the path of the Sun.
When the cord draws towards the south, the Chariot descends and as the Sun then comes out of the sphere, the motion becomes quick. The day shortens and the night is lengthened. Again when the cord is neither tightened nor is it slackened, rather its motion is exactly mid-way, the Sun also remains in a medium position and his Chariot enters within a sphere of equilibrium and the day and night become equal. When the cord of air, in a state of equilibrium is attracted by the Polar Star, then it is that the Sun and the Solar system revolves; and when the Polar Star slackens its attraction over the cord of air, the Sun coming out of the middle sphere, revolves; and the Solar system also revolves. On the east of Meru is established the city of Indra and the Devas dwell there. It is called therefore Devadhānikā. On the south of the Meru, is the famous city of Yama, the God of Death, named Samyamanī. On the west of Meru, is the great city of Varuna, named Nimnochanī. On the north of Meru is the city of the Moon, named Vibhāvarī. O Nārada! The Brahmavādīs say that the Sun first rises in the city of Indra. At noon the Sun goes to Samyamanī; at evening the Sun goes to Nimnochanī and He is said to set. In the night the Sun remains in Vibhāvarī. O Muni! The going of the Sun round Meru is the cause of all the beings getting themselves engaged in their respective duties. The inhabitants of the Meru see the Sun always in the central position. The Sun moves on, eastwards towards the stars, keeping the Meru to his left; but if the Zodiac be taken into account, it would appear that the Meru is left towards the south of the Sun. The rising and the setting of the Sun are always considered in front of Him. O Devarsi! Every point, every quarter, every person, seeing the Sun says that the Sun has risen there; again where he becomes invisible, He is considered to set there. The Sun always exists; so there is no rising nor setting for Him. It is His appearance and disappearance that make men say that the Sun rises or sets. When the Sun is in the Indras city, He illumines the three cities, those of Indra, Yama, and the Moon and illumines the north-east and east-west corners. So when He rests in the city of Fire, he illumines north-east, east-west, and south-west, the three corners, and at the same time the cities of Indra and Yama; and so on for the other cities and corners. O Nārada! The Mont Meru is situated towards the north of all the Dvīpas and Varsas. So whenever any person sees the Sun rise he calls that side east. But Meru exists towards the left of the Sun; so it is said. If the Sun travels in 15 (fifteen) Ghatikās, the distance from Indrapurī to Yamapurī, He is said to travel within that time a distance equal to 2¼ Kotis, 12½ lakhs and 25000 Yojanas (22695000 Yojanas). The thousand-eyed and thousand rayed Sun God is the Manifester of Time. He travels in the aforesaid way the cities of Varuna, Chandra and Indra respectively. He is the diadem of the Svarloka; and the Zodiac is his Ātman. He travels thus, to mark off time to all persons. O Nārada! The Moon and the other planets and stars rise and set in the aforesaid manner. Thus the powerful chariot of the Sun travels in a Muhûrta 142,00000 Yojanas. By the force of Pravaha Vāyu (air), the Sun God, the Incarnate of the Vedas travels round the cities, the Zodiac, in one Samvatsara (year). The wheel of the Suns Chariot is one year; twelve months are the spokes; three Chāturmāsyas are the nave and the six seasons are the outer ring or circumference of the wheel. The learned men call this chariot as the Samvatsara (one year). The axis or axle points to the Meru on one side and to Mānasottara mountain on the other. The end or circumference of the wheel marks off other divisions of the time as Kalā, Kāsthā, Muhûrta, Yāma, Parahara, day and night, and fortnights. The wheel is fixed on the nave. The Sun goes on this wheel, like an oilmans on his oil-machine, round and round the Mānasottara mountain. The eastern side of the wheel is on that axis and the other part is fixed on the Pole Star. The dimension of the first axis is (15750000 Yoyanas). The second axis measures one-fourth of the above (3937500 Yoyanas). It resembles the axis of an oil-machine. The upper side of that is considered to belong to the Sun. The seat of the Sun on his chariot measures 36 Lakh Yoyanas wide. The Yuga measures in length one fourth of the above dimensions, that of his seat. The Chariot is is moved by seven horses, consisting of the seven Chhandas, Gāyatrī, etc., driven by Aruna. The horses carry the Sun for the happiness of all. Though the charioteer sits in front of the Sun, his face is turned towards the west. He does his work as a charioteer in that state. Sixty thousand Vālakhilya Risis, of the size of a thumb, chant the sweet Vedic hymns before Him. Other Risis, Apsarās, Uragas, Grāmanīs, Rāksasas, and all the Devas, each divided in groups of seven, worship every month that highly lustrous Sun-god. The earth measures 90152000 Krosa Yuga Yoyanas (1 Krosa - ¼ Yoyana). The Sun passes over this distance in a moment. He does not take rest in his this work even for a day; no, not even for a moment.
Here ends the Fifteenth Chapter of the Eighth Book on the motion of the Sun in the Mahāpurānam, S'rī Mad Devī Bhāgavatam, of 18000 verses, by Maharsi Veda Vyāsa.
Chapter XVI
On the motion of the planets
Srī Nārāyana said :-- O Nārada! Now hear the wonderful movements of the planets and their positions. The auspicious and inauspicious events of the mankind, are due to the different movements of these planets. As in a potters wheel going round and round, the motion of the insects crawling on the wheel, appears in a contrary direction, so the motion of the Sun and other planets moving on the Zodiac composed of the Rāsīs (12 constellations) which again always moves round the Meru as an axle, appears different. Their motion from one star to another and from one constellation to another appears so likewise. These two motions therefore are not contradictory but are consistent; so it is settled everywhere by the learned Pundits (as being subservient to the Zodiac). O Nārada! He, Who is the Origin of all, Who is the Ādi Purusa, from Whom all these have sprung, Who is endowed with six extraordinary powers, in Whom all this Prapañcha, this material world composed of the five elements remains, that Nārāyana, roaming about, has divided the Trayī Ātmā into twelve parts for the perfect happiness of all and for Karma Suddhis (the purification of Karma, acts). The sages furnished with Jñān and Vijñāna have thus argued on the point, following the path as laid out in the Vedas. The Sûrya Nārāyana, moving on in the six seasons, spring, etc., has established, cold, heat, etc., as the Dharma of the seasons, duly for the fructification of the Karmas of the individual beings. Those persons that worship this Ādipurusa, with devotion, according to the knowledge of the Vedas the customs and usages of Varna (castes) and Āsrama (Brahmacharya, etc.), and with various performances of Yogas, get their fruits respectively according to their desires. This Sun is the Ātman of all the Lokas and resting on the Zodiac between the Heavens and the Earth, enjoys the twelve months in the twelve constellations, Aries, etc. These months are the limbs of the year. Two fortnights make one month. The 21 asterisms go to form one month according to the Solar measure, of the day and night.
The period that the Sun takes to travel over the two constellations is called Ritu or the Season (i.e., two months). The Scientists say that this season is the limb of one Samvatsara. The path that the Sun describes within the three seasons or half the year in the Zodiac is called one Ayanam. The time taken by the Sun with earth and heavens to make a circuit of the Zodiac is called one Vatsara or year. This year is reckoned into five divisions as :-- Samvatsara, Parivatsara, Idāvatsara, Anuvatsara, and Idvatsara. These are functioned by the Sīghra, Manda, and uniform motions of the Sun. So the Munis say. Thus far the motion of the Sun has been described. Now hear that of the Moon. The Moon is situated one lakh Yoyanas higher than the Sun and shares with the motion of the Sun for one year; and She enjoys as well every month with the Sun in the shape of the dark and bright fortnights. The Moon, the Lord of Night and of the medicinal plants also enjoys the day and night by the help of one constellation or 2¼ Naksattras. Thus, by Her Sīghragati, the Moon enjoys the Naksattras. During the bright fortnight, the Moon becomes more and more visible and gives pleasure to the Immortals by Her increasing phases; and, during the dark fortnight by Her waning phases, She delights the Pitris. She performs revolution in the day and night by Her both the phases of the bright and dark fortnights. Thus She becomes the Life and Soul of all the living beings. The Moon, endowed with the highest prosperity, travels one Naksattra in thirty Muhûrtas. She is Full and the Soul without any beginning. She fructifies the desires (Sankalpas) and resolves of all; hence She is called Manomaya. She is the Lord of all the medicinal plants (Osadhis); hence She is called Annamaya. She is filled with nectar; hence She is called the Abode of Immortality and She gives Nirvāna (the final liberation) to all. Hence She is called Sudhākara. She nourishes and satisfies the Devas, Pitris, men, reptiles and trees; hence She is called Sarvamaya. By Her influence the asterisms travel over the three lakh Yoyanas. The God Himself has made the Naksattra Abhijit to revolve round the Meru, along with the other Naksattras in the Zodiac; so this is reckoned as the twenty-eighth Naksattra. The planet Venus (Sukra) is situated above the Moon two lakh Yoyanas high. He sometimes goes before the Sun, sometimes behind and sometimes along with Him. He is very powerful. His motion is of three kinds :-- (1) Sīghra, (2) Manda, and (3) uniform. He is generally favourable to all the persons and does for them many auspicious things. So it is stated in the Sāstras. O Muni! Sukra, the illustrious scion of Bhrigu, removes the obstacles to the rains. Next to Sukra, the planet Mercury (Budha) is situated two lakh Yoyanas high. Like Sukra, he, too, goes sometimes in front sometimes behind and sometimes along with the Sun. And his motion too, is of three kinds :-- Sīghra, Manda, and uniform. When Mercury the Son of Moon, is away from the Sun, then Ativāta (strong winds, hurricanes), Abhrapāta (the falling of meteors from the clouds) and draught and other fears arise. The planet Mars, the son of the Earth is situated two lakh Yoyanas higher. Within three fortnights (45 days) he travels one Rāsī. This occurs when his motion is not retrograde. This Mars causes all sorts of mischief, evils, and miseries to mankind. The planet Jupiter is situated two lakh Yoyanas higher. He passes through one Rāsī in one year. When his motion is not retrograde, he is always in favour with the Brahmā Vādis. Next to Brihaspati, come the planet Saturn, the son of the Sun, two lakh Yoyanas higher. He takes thirty months to pass over one Rāsī. This planet causes all sorts of unrest and miseries to all. Therefore He is called a Manda Graha (a malefic planet). Next to it, is situated the Saptarsi mandala, the Great Bear, eleven lakh Yoyanas higher up. O Muni! The seven planets always do special favours to all. These circumambulate the Visnupada, the Polar Star.
Here ends the Sixteenth Chapter in the Eighth Book on the motion of the planets in the Mahā Purānam Srī Mad Devī Bhāgavatam of 18,000 verses by Maharsi Veda Vyāsa.
Chapter XVII
On the Dhruva Mandalam
1-29. Nārāyana said :-- Beyond the Saptarsi mandalam (the Great Bear), thirteen lakh Yojanas higher is situated, the Visnus Paramam Padam (the highest place of Visnu). The Great Bhāgavat (devotee of God), the most respectful, Srīmān Dhruva, the son of Uttānapāda, is established there with Indra, Agni, Kasyapa and Dharma and the Naksattras. The visitors pay to him always their respects. He is the patron of those who live till the end of a Kalpa. He is engaged in serving the lotus-feet of the Bhagavān. He has been made by God Himself the pillar round whom all the planets, stars, and the luminary bodies are revolving always and with great force in the Zodiac and in the celestial Heavens. The Devas also worship him. He, resplendent in his own glory, illumines and manifests all. As beasts tied to yoke go on tilling, so the planets and stars, fixed on the Zodiac, go quickly round and round this Dhruva, the Pole Star; some nearer, some further distant in spheres, propelled by Vāyu. As the hawks hover round the sky, so the above-mentioned planets, go completely round and round under their own Karmas and controlled by the Vāyu in the sky. Thus all the luminaries do not fall to the ground, as they are kept up in their respective positions by the favour of the union of Prakriti and Purusa. Some say that this Jyotischakra, the celestial Heavens (the Zodiac) is Sisumāra. It is kept duly in its position for the purpose of holding things up by the power of the Bhagavān. Hence it does not fall. It is resting with its body coiled round and with its head lower down. O Muni! Dhruva, the son of Uttānapāda is staying at the tail end. And, in addition to him, also at the tail rests Brahmā, the Sinless Prajāpati, worshipped by the Gods, Agni, Indra and Dharma. Thus the creation is at the tail and the Saptarsimandal is staying at his waist. Thus the celestial wheel (Jyotischakra) is resting with his coils turned in a right-hand direction. On his right side are found the Uttarāyana Naksattras, fourteen in number from Abhijit to Punarvasu and on his left side are found the other fourteen Daksināyanam Naksattras from Pusyā to Uttarāsādhā. O Son of Brahmā! Thus the Naksattras form the coil-shaped body of the Sisumāra, the Zodiac; half the Naksattras on the one side and the other half Naksattras on the other. His back is on the Heavenly Ganges named Ajavīthī. Punarvasu and Pusyā form the right and left side of the loins; Ārdrā and Aslesā form the right and left feet (westward); Abhijit and Uttarāsādha form the right and left nostrils. O Devarsi! Sravanā and Pûrvāsādhā form the right and left eyes respectively; so say the persons that form the Kalpanās (fancies). Dhanisthā and Mûlā form his right and left ears; Maghā, etc., the eight Daksināyanam Naksattras form the bones on the left side. O Muni! Mrigasīrsa, the Uttarāyana Naksattras form the bones on his right side, Satabhisā and Jyesthā form the right and left shoulders. Agasti (the Canopus) forms the upper jaw and Yama, the lower jaw. The planet Mars forms his face; Saturn forms his organ of generation; Brihaspati forms the hump on the shoulders; the Sun, the Lord of the planets, forms his breast; Nārāyana remains in the heart; and the Moon is in his mind. (Note :-- Sisumāra is also the constellation Dolphinus and is sometimes meant for the polar star.) O Nārada! The two Asvins form the nipples on his breast; Usanā forms his navel; the Mercury is his Prāna and Apāna; Rāhu is his neck and Ketu is all over his body and the stars are reigning all over the hairs of his body. This Zodiac is the body composed of the Devas of that All Pervading Bhagavān. So every intelligent person should daily meditate this Sisumāra in the Sandhyā time, with perfect purity and keeping himself Mauna (silent), and with his whole heart. Then he should repeat the following mantras and get up and say :-- Thou art the Substratum of all the luminaries, we bow down to Thee; Thou createst and destroyest all. Thou art the Lord of all the celestials. Thou art the Ādipurusa, the foremost of all the Purusas; we meditate fully on Thee. The planets, Naksattras, and the stars are Thy body. The Daiva is established in Thee alone. Thou destroyest the sins of those that compose the Mantras. The sins are completely destroyed for the time being of him who bows down or remembers Thee in the morning, afternoon and evening.
Here ends the Seventeenth Chapter of the Eighth Book on the Dhruva Mandalam in the Mahā Purānam S'rī Mad Devī Bhāgavatam of 18,000 verses, by Maharsi Veda Vyāsa.
Chapter XVIII
On the narrative of Rāhu Mandalam
1-9. Nārāyana said :-- O Devarsi! The Sphere of Rāhu (the ascending node) is situated one Ayuta Yoyanas below the Sun. Rāhu, the son of Simhikā is moving there like a Naksattra. This Rāhu swallows up both the Sun and the Moon and He has got immortality and capability to travel in the sky. The Suns rays go up to one Ayuta Yoyanas. The Asura Rāhu thus covers his rays. So the sphere of the Moon extends upto the twelve thousand Yoyanas. Rāhu covers the field of the thirteen thousand Yoyanas. So he covers both the Sun and the Moon. Desire to take the vengeance of the previous enmity, he covers them during the time of Parva (the festivals). This planet wants to cover them from a distance. Hearing this, the Bhagavān Visnu hurls His Sudarsan Chakra against Rāhu. This Chakra (disc) is encircled with the fiery flames and is very terrible. When all the quarters were filled with its violent flames, Rāhu became instantly alarmed and fled away from the distance. O Devarsi! This is known as the eclipse known amongst the mortals. Below the sphere of Rāhu, there are the other pure Lokas situated. O Sattama! The Siddhas, Chāranas, and Vidyādharas live in those Lokas. Their dimensions are one Ayuta Yoyanas.
10. O Devarsi! Below them live the Yaksas, Rāksasas, Pisāchas, Pretas and Bhûtas with their excellent Vihāras (residences).
11-34. The learned people call this Antarīksa. It extends upto where the wind blows violently and where the clouds appear. O Best of the twice-born! Below this Antarīksa is this earth, measuring one hundred Yoyanas. All the articles and things of the earth are found here; birds herons, cranes and ducks all fly over the earth. The earth extends upto this. Now is described the configuration of the earth. O Devarsi! At the lower part of this earth there are seven places (caves or nether regions). Their diameter is one Ayuta Yoyanas. In all the seasons, all sorts of enjoyments can be had at these places. The first is Atala; the second is Vitala. Next come in order :-- Sutala, Talātala, Mahātala. Rasātala, and lastly (the seventh) the Pātāla. O Vipra! Thus the seven holes or regions are reckoned. These are termed the Vila-Svargas and they yield the happinesses, greater than those of the Heavens. These are all filled with lovely amorous enjoyments, prosperity and happiness. They are crowded with gardens and Vihāras (the places of enjoyments). And these Vihāras are all decorated tastefully so as to furnish special tastes of enjoyments. The powerful Daityas, Dānavas, and Snakes enjoy here great happiness incessantly, united lovingly with their sons, wives and friends. The householders also pass their time in ease and enjoyments, surrounded by their friends and attendants. They are all Māyāvis (Magicians) and their resolves are not thwarted; they are more than God in this respect and they are filled with desires. They all live with joy and in enjoyments and they find pleasure in all the seasons. Māyā, the Lord of Māyā had built separate cities, as he liked, in those nether regions. Besides he has created thousands of dwelling-houses, palaces, and town-gates, studded with gems and jewels.
The assembly halls, Chatvaras, and Chaityas are elaborately decorated and rare even to the Suras. The Nāgas and Asuras live in those houses with their consorts; doves and pigeons and female Mayinā birds are hovering there. In those places many plots marked out artificially and excellent rows of palatial buildings of the Lords of those Vivaras adorn there. Very big gardens also exist there. All these cheer the minds; and, to add to their beauty, many places of fruits and flowers are close by, fit for the comfort and enjoyments of the ladies. The tanks and pools of water are crowded with various birds; the lakes are filled with clear waters and the Pāthīna fishes abound there. The aquatic animals move in the waters, violently agitating them. Various kinds of lotuses, Kumud, Utpala, Kahlāra, blue lotus, red lotus, are fully blown in these lakes or reservoirs of water. The gardens there are all overcrowded with the Vihāras of the inhabitants there and echoed with the sweet melodious music, pleasing to the senses. For there, these places seem to vie with the Heavens. No fear is there, whether during the day or during the night. The gems on the crest of snakes constantly illumine the environments and there is no darkness there at any time. The food there is prepared with the divine medicines and they drink and bathe with these medicinal plants; so no disease attacks them. Old age, fever, indigestion, paleness, sweats, bad smells, or loss of energy or any other source of trouble cannot trouble them. The people are always happy and good. Only they fear the Teja of the Bhagavān and His Sudarsan disc; and they fear nothing else. When the Teja of the Bhagavān enters, the womens abortions take place.
Here ends the Eighteenth Chapter of the Eighth Book on the narrative of Rāhu Mandalam in the Mahāpurānam Srī Mad Devī Bhāgavatam of 18,000 verses, by Maharsi Veda Vyāsa.
Chapter XIX
On the narrative of the Atala, etc.
1-32. Nārāyana said :-- O Vipra! In the first beautiful region Atala, the exceedingly haughty son of the Dānava Māyā, named Bala, is living. He has created the ninety-six Māyās. All the requisites of the inhabitants are obtained by them. The other Māyāvis know one or two of these. None of them are capable to know all, as they are exceedingly difficult to be carried out. When this powerful Bala yawned, the three classes of women were produced, fascinating to all the Lokas. They were named Pumschalī (or unchaste woman) Svairinī, (an adultress) and Kāminī (a lovely women). When any man, beautiful and lovely to them, enters into their Atala region, they, with the help of the Hātaka sentiment (of love), generate in him, while in solitude, the power to enjoy (copulate) and with their sweet smiles and amorous lovely looks and with great caution embrace him thoroughly and begin to converse with him and with amorous gestures and postures, and thus please him well. When the people enjoy this Hātakarasa, they think often and often, that they themselves have become gods, they have become Siddhas and powerful like Ayuta elephants; being blind with vanity and finding them endowed with powers and prosperity, they think themselves so repeatedly and constantly. O Nārada! Thus the position in Atala has been described. Now hear, the description of the second region Vitala. Vitala is situated below the earth. There the Bhagavān Bhava, worshipped by all the Devas, has assumed the name of Hātakesvara and is staying there coupled with Bhavānī, surrounded by His attendants specially for the increase of the creation of Brahmā. The river Hātaki flows there and has Her origin from the essences (Semen virile) of them both. Fire, augmented by the help of the wind, begins to drink it. When the Fire leaves that, making a Phutkāra noise (i.e., blowing out air through the mouth), the gold, named Hātaka, is created. This gold is very much liked by the Daityas. The Daitya women use this gold always for their ornaments. Below Vitala is Sutala. It is reckoned as of some special importance. O Muni! The highly meritorious Bali, the son of Virochana lives here. The Bhagavān Vāsudeva, brought down this Bali into Sutala, for the welfare of Indra. He assumed the body of Trivikrama and gave to Bali all the wealth of the three Lokas, all the Laksmī went to him and installed him in the position of the Lord of the Daityas. What more can be said than this, that what prosperity, wealth and riches that Indra could not obtain, that Srī Laksmī Devī Herself has followed Bali. Bali, as the Lord of Sutala, has become entirely fearless, remains here upto this day and is worshipping Vāsudeva. O Nārada! It is said by the high-minded persons that when Vāsudeva Himself, the Controller of all, appeared as a beggar, Bali gave him land, and, therefore, on account of making gift to a good person, he acquired so much prosperity. But this cannot be reasonable. For, it is not at all reasonable to cast the effects of making this gift on Nārāyana, O Nārada! Who is Self-manifest by His own Extraordinary Glory and Who is Himself filled with all Aisvarya (prosperity) and Who can bestow the Highest Goal of life and other requirements of men. This Nārāyana is the Deva of the Devas; if anybody takes His name, when in the greatest distress, he gets himself immediately freed from the Gunas, the cause of bondage due to his Karma. All persons perform many Yogas and follow the paths advised by the Sāmkhya method, with their minds directed to the All-Controller Bhagavān, to abandon all sorts of troubles and miseries. O Nārada! Know that the Bhagavān does not shew us His Favour when he gives us greatest wealth and prosperity. For the wealth and riches are the offspring of Māyā and the source of all worries, miseries and mental troubles; and one is liable to forget the Bhagavān when one gets such a wealth. The Bhagavān is pervading all this universe and is full of wisdom; and He is seeing always all the ways and means; He took away, in the way of begging, rather cheated all that Bali had, leaving only his body; and at last, finding no other means, fastened him by the Varuna Pāsa (noose), threw him in the middle of the mountain cleft (cave) and then has stationed Himself at his door as a Door-keeper. Once, out of his extreme devotion, Bali did not care at all for his difficulties, troubles, or miseries. Rather he gave out that Indra, whose minister is Brihaspati had acted very foolishly. For when the Bhagavān becomes very graciously pleased, he wanted from Him ordinary wealth. But what will the wealth of the Trilokas avail? It is a quite insignificant thing. Surely, He is an illiterate and stupid brute who, for mere wealth, leaves the Bhagavān, Who is the Fountain of all Good Wishes to the Humanity. My grandfather Prahlāda, who was highly fortunate, who was devoted to the God and who was always ready to do good to others, he did not ask for any other thing than the servantship of God (the Dāsya Bhāva). When his powerful father died, the Bhagavān wanted to give him unbounded wealth; but the Bhāgavata (devoted) Prahlāda did not want that. None of us, who are marked with so many deficiencies can know the nature of the Bhagavān Vāsudeva, Whose omnipotence cannot be compared and all these manifested worlds are but His Upādhis (adjuncts, limitations). O Devarsi! Thus Bali, the Lord of Daityas, the highly respected and renowned in all the Lokas, is reigning in Sutala. Hari Himself is his Door-keeper. Once the King Rāvana, the source of torment to all the people, went out to conquer the whole world; and when he entered Sutala, that Hari, ever ready to show Grace to His devoted, threw him at a distance of one Ayuta Yoyanas by the toe of His foot. Thus by the grace of the Devadeva Vāsudeva, Bali is reigning in Sutala, and enjoying all sorts of pleasures, without any equal anywhere.
Here ends the Nineteenth Chapter of the Eighth Book on the narrative of the Atala, etc., the Pātālas in Srī Mad Devī Bhāgavatam, the Mahā Purānam, of 18,000 verses, by Maharsi Veda Vyāsa.
Chapter XX
On the narrative of the Talātala
1-37. Nārāyana said :-- O Nārada! The cave lower down than Sutala is Talātala! The Lord of Tripura, (the three cities) the great Māyā Dānava is the Ruler of this region. Mahesvara, the Doer of good to the three Bhuvanas, burnt his three cities; but at last, being pleased with his devotion, He rescued him. Thus Māyā, by the favour of that God, has regained his own kingdom and the enjoyments thereof. This Māyā Dānava is the Teacher (Āchārya) of the Māyāvi sect and the cult thereof; and he is skilled in various Māyās or all sorts of the magic powers. All the fierce demons, of cruel temper, worship him for their prosperities in their various enterprises. Next to this Talātala is the most renowned Mahātala. The sons of Kadru, the very angry Snakes, live here. They are many headed. O Vipra! I now mention to you the names of the famous amongst them :-- Kuhaka, Taksaka, Susena, and Kāliya. These all have very wide hoods and they all are very strong; they all are of cruel temper. Their kinsmen also are so. They are always afraid of Garuda, the King of birds. Surrounded with their sons, wives, friends and acquaintances, they live happily, well skilled in various sports and pleasures. Lower down this Mahātala is Rasātala. The Daityas, Dānavas and Pani Asuras live here. Besides these, there live the Nivāta Kavachas of the Hiranyapura city and the Asuras named Kāleyas, the enemies of the Devas. These all are naturally very energetic and brave; their powers are baffled by the Tejas of the Bhagavān and they live like snakes in this region. The other Asuras that were driven and were afraid of the Mantras, uttered by Saramā, the messenger of Indra, live here too. O Nārada! Lower down is Pātāla, where live Vāsuki, the Chief of the snakes, and others named Sankha, Kulika, Sveta, Dhananjaya, Mahāsankha, Dhritarāstra, Sankhachûda, Kamvala, Asvatara, and Devopadattaka, all very angry, of wide hoods, and virulently poisonous. Some of these have five heads, some seven hoods, some ten; some hundred, some others have thousand heads, while some others have on their crests exceedingly luminous jewels. By their rays, they dispel the darkness of the nether regions; but they are awfully prone to anger. At the bottom of this Pātāla, and at a distance of the thirty Yoyanas; the Portion of Bhagavān in the shape of the infinite Darkness is reigning there. O Devarsi! All the Devas worship this Form. The devotees call Him by the name of Sanakarsana, as He is the manifested emblem of Aham and the common ground where the Seer and the Seen blend into one. He is the thousand-headed Controller of all, moving and non-moving; He is of infinite forms; He is Sesa; this whole universe is being held as a mustard bean on His head; He is of the Nature Intelligence and Bliss and He is Self-manifest. When he wants to destroy all this during the Pralaya, the very powerful Sankarsana Rudra, well arrayed with the eleven Vyûhas, military (squadrons) arrangements, springs up from Him. From His Central Eyebrow, looking wide with His Three Eyes and raising His Trident, resplendent with three flames. All the (prominent) principal snakes, ruling over many others, come to Him during the nights filled with devotion and surrounded with Bhaktas (devotees) and bow down to Him with their heads bent low and look at each others faces, enlightened with the lights from the jewels shining with clear lustre, on the nails of the red toes of His Lotus-Feet. At that time their faces become brilliant with the rays emitting from the jewels on the top of their very gay encircled hoods; and their cheeks look beautiful and shining. The daughters of the Nāga Rāja also do like this; when very beautiful rays come out of their perfectly excellent bodies. Their arms are wide extended; they look very clear and they are beautifully white. They use always Sandalpaste, Aguru and Kāsmīri unguents. Being overpowered by the amorous passion, due to their contact with those scented things, they look at Him with bashful glances and sweet smiles and expect Āsiss (benedictions) from Him. And then His eyes roll maddened with love and express signs of kindness and mercy. The Bhagavān Ananta Deva is of boundless strength; His attributes are infinite; He is the ocean of infinite qualities. He is the Ādi Deva, of a very good nature and His Nature is highly luminous. He has abandoned anger and envy and He wants the welfare of all. All the Devas worship Him and He is the repository of all Sāttvic qualities.
The Devas, Siddhas, Asuras, Uragas, Vidyādharas, Gandharbas, and Munis always meditate on Him. On account of His constant Mada Rāga the enthusiasm and intoxication, His sight appears intoxicated and His eyes look perturbed with emotions. He is always pleasing to those who surround him and to the Devas by His sweet nectar-like words.
The Vaijayantī garland hangs from His neck; it never wanes and it is always decorated with the fresh and clear Tulasī leaves. The maddened bees make their humming noises incessantly and thus add to the beauty. He is the Deva of the Devas and He wears a blue coloured cloth and He is ornamented with only one earring. He (the God Visnu) Undecaying and Immutable; resting His fleshy arms on the Halakakuda (the lofty portion of the plough), He is upholding the golden girdle as the elephant Airāvata of Indra upholds the golden girdle. O Nārada! The devotees describe Him as the Source of this Leelā of the Universe and the Controller of the Devas.
Here ends the Twentieth Chapter of the Eighth Book on the narrative of the Talātala in the Mahāpurānam Srī Mad Devī Bhāgavatam, of 18,000 verses, by Maharsi Veda Vyāsa.
Chapter XXI
On the narrative of hells
1-9. Nārāyana said :-- O Devarsi! Sanātana, the son of Brahmā, recites thus in the assembly of the Devas, the glories of the Bhagavān Ananta Deva, and worships Him, thus :-- How can one of ordinary sight and understanding grasp the real nature of Brahmā, Whose mere Glance enables the Prakriti work Her Gunas in the Creation, Preservation and Destruction of this Universe! Him Whose nature has no beginning nor end; Who though One, has created all this Prapañcha (the universe of five elements) as a covering to the Ātman (the True Self). He has made the Sat and Asat, out of his infinite compassion, this universe, full of cause and effect, visible in His One and only one Suddha Sattva nature where even the very powerful lion is imitating his Leelā (Pastime), void of all defects, to bring under His control the minds of His own kinsmen. (Note :-- This Ananta Deva is the Ruling Principle in the Fourth Dimensional Space.) To Whom else, then, the persons, desirous of Moksa, will take refuge, the mere hearing or reciting Whose Name, in a fallen or a distressed condition, or merely in jest, takes away instantly all the sins! He is upholding the earth with the mountains, oceans, rivers and all the beings as if an atom on his thousand heads. He is infinite. His power knows no decrease in any time. No one can describe his actions even if one had thousand tongues to speak. He is of an infinite strength, of the endless high qualities and of unlimited understanding. Thus staying at the bottom of the earth, the Bhagavān Ananta Deva is upholding with ease this earth for her protection, unaided and independent. O Muni! The people get the fruits of their actions and desires as they want and as they have followed the paths laid down in the Sāstras and become accordingly kings, men, deer or birds or other creatures in other states. O Nārada! This I have described, as you questioned me before, the various and dissimilar fruits of various actions, done according to the dictates of the Dharma and the Sāstras.
10. Nārada said :-- O Bhagavān! Kindly describe to me now why has the Bhagavān created so many diversities, when the Karmas, done by the Jīvas, are the same.
11-28. Nārayana said :-- O Nārada! So many different states arise because the Sraddhās of the doers are so very different. The fruits differ because the Sraddhās vary, some being Sāttvik, some Rājasik and some Tāmasik. If the Sraddhā be Sāttvik, happiness comes always; if it be Rājasik, incessant pain and misery is the result; if it be Tāmasik, misery comes and the loss of the knowledge of good or bad is the result. Thus the fruits differ as the Sraddhā varies. O Best of Dvījas! Thousands and thousands of states occur to a man as the result of their Karmas, done under the influence of the beginningless Avidyā (Nescience). O Dvījottama! I will now deal in detail with their varieties; hear. Behind this Triloki, below this earth and over the Atala, the Pitris named Agnisvāttas and other forefathers live. Those Pitris stay there, and, practising deep Samādhis, they offer always, to their best blessings to their own Gotra (families) respectively. There Yama, the God of the Pitris gives punishment to the dead brought there by His messengers according to their Karmas and faults. By the command of the Bhagavān, the Yama, surrounded by his own Ganas (persons), judges and does full justice according to the Karmas that they had done and the sins they had committed. He sends always those of his messengers who obey his order and know the Tattva of Dharma, and who are posted to their respective duties to carry out what He commands. The writers of the Sāstras describe twenty-one Narakas or hells; others say there are twenty-eight hells. Now hear their names :-- Tāmisra, Andha Tāmisra, Raurava, Mahāraurava, Kumbhīpāka, Kālasûtra, Asipatrakānana, Sûkaramukha, Andhakûpa, Krimibhojana, Taptamûrti, Samdamsa, Vajrakantaka, Sālmalī, Vaitaranī, Pûyoda, Prānarodha, Visasana, Lālābhaksa, Sārameyādana, Avīchi, Apahpāna, Ksārakardama, Raksogana, Sambhoja, Sûlaprota, Dandasûka, Avatārodha, Paryāvartanaka, and Sûchimukha. These are the twenty-eight Narakas or hells. (N.B. These are 29).
These hells are very tormenting. O Son of Brahmā! The embodied beings (jīvas) suffer these according to their own Karmas respectively.
Here ends the Twenty-first Chapter of the Eighth Book on the narrative of hells in the Mahā Purānam, Srī Mad Devī Bhāgavatam, of 18,000 verses, by Maharsi Veda Vyāsa.
Chapter XXII
On the narrative of the sins leading to hells
1. Nārada said :-- O Everlasting One! O Muni! Now describe the various actions that lead to these tormenting hells. I like to hear about them in detail.
2-52. Nārāyana said :-- O Devarsi! He who steals others sons, wives, and riches, the wicked fellow is taken to Yama by His messengers. Tied down hard and fast by the terrible messengers of Yama, by the Kāla rope (rope of time), he is taken to the Tāmisra hell, the place of many torments. There the Yamas attendants punish him, beat him and threaten him; and he becomes stupefied, and feels himself very weak, distressed and ultimately faints. He who deceives anothers husband and enjoys his wives; the Yamas servants drag him down to Andha Tāmisra hell. There he suffers any amount of pain and suffering. He loses instantly his eyesight and his brain gets upset. His state resembles that of a tree when its trunk is broken. For this reason the ancient sages called this Andha Tāmisra. He who being subject to My and Mine quarrels with others and being very much attached, maintains his family, leaves his families here and goes with his bad tendencies to the Raurava hell, very horrible to all. The animals whom he injured and killed before in this world, assume the form of Ruru animal and torment him in the next. For this reason, the intelligent knowers of Purāna, call this Raurava. The ancients say, that Ruru is more cruel and ferocious than snakes. These animals live in that hell; hence it is termed Mahāraurava. He who torments others, goes to this hell and these Rurus, the flesh-eaters, spring on his body and bite and eat his flesh. He who cooks other animals and birds, that cruel and ferocious, thus deluded, is cooked in return on the hot oil in the Kumbhīpāka hell by the Yama Dûtas for thousand years. He who quarrels with his Pitris and the Brāhmanas, is taken by the Yama Dûtas to the Kālasûtra hell and there be burnt by the fire and Sun. There that hellish person, being troubled very much, inside and outside by hunger and thirst, sometimes sits, sometimes sleeps, sometimes walks, and sometimes runs hither and thither. O Devarsi! He who transgresses the path of the Vedas in times other than those of calamity and danger and follows other paths even to a trifling distance, that sinner is taken by Yamadûtas to Asipatra Kānana and there whipped severely. Not being able to bear that, he runs wildly to and fro and is pierced by the sharpedged Asi leaves on both his sides. His whole body being cut asunder, he cries Oh! I am killed!and faints away. Then feeling himself pained very much, he tumbles down at every step. Thus the sinner suffers for violating the path of the Vedas. The King or that royal personage who gives orders of punishment, not approved by Dharma, and hurts or punishes the body of a Brāhmana, the Yamas servants throw him down into the Sûkaramukha Hell and grind down his body with great force as a sugarcane is ground down. He then cries aloud bitterly, he gets fainted and becomes stupefied. He is crushed by them and suffers all sorts of pains and miseries. Again he who knows the feelings of others when they are tormented, pains those insects who live on others blood as bugs, etc., and who does not realise others pains, goes, as a punishment for that fault to the Andhakûpa Hell. There he is pained by the beasts, birds, deers, reptiles, mosquitoes, bugs, louses, flies and Dandasûkas and various other cruel animals. There he lives in his ugly body and roams like a beast. The man who, getting even a trifling wealth and food-stuff, does not perform the five Mahā Yajñās and gives not a share of that to the Devas and feeds his own belly with that like a crow, is taken by the ferocious Yamadûtas to the worst Krimibhojana Naraka for his sinful deeds. This hell is one lakh Yoyanas wide and is the reservoir of worms. It causes terror to the inhabitants of the hell. That sinner assumes the form of an insect and is eaten up on return by the insects and thus passes his time there. When a man does not give any share to the Atithis or the guests and does not offer oblations to the Fire and eats his food, he, too, goes to the above hell. When a man in times other than that of great danger and distress, follows the livelihood of a thief and robs gold and jewels forcibly of a Brāhmin or any other person, he is taken to this hell and the Yamas servants pierce and cut off his skin by a fiery hot iron cutter. When a man goes for an illicit cohabitation to one who is not fit to be approached and when a woman goes similarly to an unapproachable man, both of them are taken, being whipped, to this hell by the servants of Yama! Where the man is obliged to embrace a fiery hot iron figure of woman and vice versa. When a man goes to all sorts of wombs for unnatural crimes, he is taken to Vajra Kantaka Naraka and placed on the top of an iron Salmalī wood. When a King or any royal personage, subject to the Pāsanda Dharma (i.e., the unrighteous path) breaks the boundary of a law, he for that sin goes to Vaitaranī, the ditch round that hell. There the aquatic animals eat his body all around. O Nārada! Yet neither his life nor his body parts with him. He is thrown, for his Karma, into the rivers filled with faeces, urine, puss, blood, hairs, bones, nails, flesh, marrow, fat, etc., and he becomes very much troubled. Those who are the husbands of Vrisalīs (girls under twelve years of age, who have attained menstruation; or the barren women), void of any Saucha (cleanliness) or shame and without any Āchāra Vyavahāra (the following of ones natural customs and rites) and those who follow Pasvāchāra (like beasts), they meet with a very hard fate and are thrown into this hell filled with faeces, urine, cough, blood and other impurities and when they feel hungry, are forced to eat the above things. When those persons that are twice born, maintain dogs and asses, etc., and when they are addicted to hunting, and kill daily, for nothing, beasts, birds and deer, those evildoers are specially watched by the servants of Yama and when they retire, they tear them asunder by shooting bows at them. He who kills animals, engaged vainly in a sacrifice and addicted to haughty tempers and habits, is thrown into this hell by the Yamas servants and whipped very severely. The twice-born that copulates blindly with a savarnā wife, is taken by the Yamas messengers into the hell filled with semen and he is made to drink that. Those who are addicted to robbery, who put fire to others houses, who make others drink poison, those that are treacherous, and who destroy the interest of the villagers and other persons, those kings or the royal personages are taken after their death by the Yamadûtas to the Sārameyādana hell. There seven hundred and twenty dogs, very wonderful to behold, come furiously and with great force and energy, over them and feed on them. O Nārada! This hell is denominated as Sārameyādana Naraka and it is very horrible. Now I will describe to you the other hells Avīchi and others.
Here ends the Twenty-second Chapter of the Eighth Book on the narrative of the sins leading to hells in the Mahā Purānam Srī Mad Devī Bhāgavatam, of 18,000 verses, by Maharsi Veda Vyāsa.
Chapter XXIII
On the description of the remaining hells
1-31. Nārāyana said :-- O Nārada! When persons, impelled by sinful motives, always speak false at the time of giving evidence or at the time of taking or giving money, they, after their death, go to the terrible hell, named Avīchi. There, from the summit of a mountain, one hundred Yojanas high they are dropped at once down below with their heads inverted down. Here the solid ground looks like water and appears like waves. Therefore it is called Avīchi, resembling like Avīchi waves. Here if the sinners body be cut to small pieces, still he does not die; rather he gets a new body when his body is all cut to pieces. O Son of Brahmā! When a man, be he a Brāhmin, Ksattriya, or a Vaisya, drinks the Soma (wine) or due to inadvertence drinks wine, he is thrown into this hell. O Muni! The Yamas servants make him drink the molten iron. When a vile person being maddened by the pride of his self-learning, birth, austerities or Vārna and Āsrama, does not pay his respect duly to his superiors, he is thrown into the Ksārakardama hell with his head downwards. He suffers a tremendous pain there. When a man or woman out of delusion, performs the human sacrifices (where men are immolated as victims), he or she has to eat the human flesh here. Those that killed before all sorts of beasts, come after their death into this abode of Yama, all united and like butchers, cut each others flesh by pickaxes, etc., and drink their blood and dance and sing repeatedly. They do, in fact, what the terrible Rāksasas do. When persons meet with the innocent persons, wishing to live in villages or forests and raise their confidence by various such means and make them attached and finally pierce them by pointed Sûlas (trident) or pointed swords and kill them as if they were ordinary play things, they are taken after their death by the Yama dûtas and thrown into Sûlādi Naraka (pierced by Sûlas). They are pierced there by Sûlas and become overpowered by hunger and thirst. Herons and cranes, with their sharp beaks hunt after them to and fro. Thus tormented, they remember all their sins done in their previous lives. Those who follow stray paths and trouble the other beings as the serpents do, they fall into the Dandasûka hell. Here worms with five faces and seven faces come from all sides and eat them as a fierce serpent devours a mouse. Those who confine persons in dark holes, a dark room or a dark cave they are taken by the Death servants with their arms uplifted and confined to similar dark caves, filled with poison, fire and smoke. When a Brāhmin householder, seeing a guest coming to his house in a reasonable (proper) time, casts a furious sinful glance at him as if to burn him, the Deaths attendants, the herons with thunderbolt like beaks, the crows and the Vatas and other birds and very fierce vultures all come and forcibly take out the eyes of that person who committed the aforesaid sins. When person elated with vanity of his riches become too haughty and doubt over their Gurus and when their hearts and faces wither withal away, as it were, with the thoughts of their income and expenditure, and being always unhappy, hoard up money always like the Brahmā Pisāchas, the Deaths officers take them for these Karmas to Sûchimukha Narakas and pierce all over his body with pins, as a tailor does with his cloth. O Devarsi! True, sinful persons thus suffer hundred thousand hells. All these are very painful and tormenting. Out of these the abovenamed twenty hells give the greatest sufferings. O Devarsi! The sinners suffer various pains in hells and virtuous persons go to the several spheres where all sorts of happinesses and pleasures reign. O Maharsi! I have described to you many forms of practising ones Sva Dharma; yet know this verily that the worship of the Devīs Gross Form and of Her Virāt Form is the Chief Dharma of all the persons. By worshipping the Devī, the persons have not to go to the hells. In fact, when the Devī Bhagavatī is worshipped, She Herself arranges for crossing the person to the other shore of this ocean of transmigration of existence.
Here ends the Twenty-third Chapter of the Eighth Book on the description of the remaining hells in the Mahā Purānam Srī Mad Devī Bhāgavatam, of 18,000 verses, by Maharsi Veda Vyāsa.
Chapter XXIV
On the worship of the Devī
1-2. Nārada said :-- O Bhagavān! Of what sort is the Dharma, i.e., the worship of the Devī? In what way shall we worship Her, so that She gives us the Highest Place? What are the methods and forms of Her Worship? Where and when shall we worship Her! So that the Durgā Devī saves us from the above mentioned hells.
3-20. Nārāyana said :-- O Devarsi! You are the foremost of the Knowers of Truth. I will therefore tell you how the Devī gets pleased and how Her worship is conducted according to the Dharma. Hear attentively. O Nārada! I will also describe the nature of Sva Dharma. Hear that also. When one worships, with due rites and ceremonies, the Devī in this beginningless world, She Herself removes all the terrible dangers and difficulties. Hear the rules how the people worship the Devī. When the Pratīpat Tithi (the first day after the Full or New Moon) comes, one should worship the Devī with a present of rice, etc., with ghee (clarified butter) and give that to the Brāhmins. Then one becomes completely free from any disease. On the second day (Dvītiyā Tithi), one must serve the Mother of the Universe with sugar and give that to the Brāhmins; he then becomes long-lived. On the third (tithi) on commencing with the Poojā, the worshipper must give milk to the Devī and give that to a best Brāhmin; he is then freed from all his troubles and ailings. On the fourth (tithi) the worshipper is to offer a cake of flour to the Devī and then give that to a Brāhmin; no obstacles come to that man. On the fifth tithi, the worshipper is to offer plantains to the Devī and then to give that to the Brāhmins; he thus becomes intelligent. On the sixth tithi, the worshipper gives honey to the Devī and then that to a Brāhmin; he gets thus the beauty of his body. On the seventh tithi, the Brāhmin gives to the Devī the Naivedya (an offering of rice, etc.) with Gur (sugarcandy) and then that to the Brāhmins; he then becomes freed from his mental sorrows. On the eighth day, if one gives cocoanut, one is freed of ones remorse, etc.; on the ninth, if anybody gives fried rice (Lāj), he will have his happiness increased both in this world and in the next. O Muni! If on the tenth tithi, one offers to the Devī black Til (sesamum) and then to the Brāhmin, he becomes free from the fear of death. If, on the eleventh tithi, (ekādasī) one gives the curd to the Devī and then to the Brāhmin, one becomes a great favourite of the Devī. If on the twelfth day, one offers to the Devī and to the Brāhmin the Chipitaka rice or grain (well parched and flattened) one becomes a favourite of the Devī. If, on the thirteenth day one gives to the Bhagavatī grains and then that to a Brāhmin, one gets progeny. If, on the fourteenth day, one gives to the Devī the flour of fried barley or other grains (Saktu) and then that to a Brāhmin, one becomes a favourite of Siva. If on the Full Moon day, one offers to the Devī Pāyasa and then that to a Brāhmin, then ones Pitris are uplifted to the higher regions.
21-42. O Muni! On the above tithis, if one forms daily Homas, as stated in the Pûjā Chapter, the Devī becomes very pleased. The articles corresponding to the tithi as mentioned above destroy all the evils and inauspicious omens.
On Sunday, it is a rule to give an offering of Pāyasam (a food prepared of rice, milk, and sugar). On Monday, the milk; on Tuesday, the nice plantains; on Wednesday, the fresh butter; on Thursday, the gud or sugarcandy, Friday, the white sugar, and on Saturday, it is a rule to give the clarified butter of cows milk. Now hear what should be offered on the Naksattras. The following are the Naivedyas given to each of the Naksattras, in due order, from Asvinī :-- Clarified butter (ghee), sesamum (Til), sugar, curd, milk, Kilātak (Mālāi, milk), Dadhikûrchi (Mālāi Curd), Modaka (a kind of sweetmeat, a confection) Phenikā, Ghrita Mandaka, a sort of sweet meat of wheaten flour and gur, Vatapattra, Ghritapura (Ghior), Vataka, Kharjura juice (of the datepalm), a sort of sweet meat of Gur and gram, honey, Sûrana, Gur Prithuka, grapes, datepalms, Chārakās, Apûpa, Navanīta (fresh butter), mudga, modaka, and Mātulinga. Now hear what are given in the Viskambha and the other Yogas. The World Mother becomes very much pleased when one offers to Her the following things :-- Gur, honey, ghee, milk, curd, Takra, apûpa, fresh butter, Karkatī, Kusmānda, Modaka, Panasa, plantain, Jambu (rose-apple), mangoe, sesamum, oranges, Dādima, (pomegranate) Vadarī (Jujube) the Dhātrī (Āmalaki) fruit, Pāyasa, Prithuka, gram, cocoanut, Jambīra. Kaseru, and Sûrana. The auspicious events occur when these are offered. The intelligent persons have thus decided to give the above on Viskambha and the other Yogas. Now hear :-- I will describe the things that are offered on the respective Karanas :-- Kamsāra, Mandaka, Phenī, Modaka, Vatapattraka, Ladduka, Ghritapûra, Til (Sesamun), curd, ghee, and honey. These are to be offered devotedly to the Devī on the respective Karanas. Now I will describe to you the other offerings very pleasing to the Devī. Hear. O Nārada! Hear it with great attention and love. On the third tithi of the bright fortnight, in the month of Chaitra, one is to worship duly the Madhûka tree and offer Pañcha Khādya (the five sorts of food). So hear what articles are to be offered according to the rules that are laid down on the third day of the white fortnight of the other months. The Gur, in the month of Vaisākh; the honey, in Jyaistha; the fresh butter, in Āsādha; the curd, in Srāvana; the Sarkarā, in Bhādra; the Pāyasa, in Ās'vin; the pure milk, in Kārtik; the Phenī, in Agrahāyana; the Dadhi Kûrchīkā in Pausa; the clarified butter of cows milk, in Māgha, and the cocoanut offerings, in the month of Phālguna. Thus with these twelve sorts of offerings, one is to worship the Devī in the twelve months respectively.
43-69. One should worship the Devī in the Madhûka tree with these names :-- Mangalā, Vaisnavī, Māyā, Kāla-rātri, Duratyayā, Mahāmāyā, Mātangī, Kālī, Kamalavāsinī, S'ivā, Sahasracharanā, and Sarva mangalarûpinī (One name for each of the 12 months). Finally, to bring the vow to a good issue and to have ones desires fulfilled with greater success, one is to sing stotras (hymns) to the Māhes'varī, the Controller of all the gods, in that Madhûka tree, thus :-- Thou art lotus-eyed; obeisance to Thee! Thou art Jagaddhātrī, the Upholdress of the Universe, I bow down to Thee; Thou art Mahesvarī, Mahā Devī, and Mahāmangalarûpinī (Thou art the great Devī, and Thou dost great good to all). Thou destroyest the sins, Thou givest Moksa or final liberation. Thou art Paramesvarī, Thou art the World Mother and Thou art of the nature of the Highest Brahmā. Thou art Madadātrī (the giver of Mada, the Supreme Felicity and rapture or excessive delight), Thou art maddened with Mada the (Excessive Joy); Thou canst be reached when Thou art given proper veneration; Thou art the the Most High. Thou art Intelligent; Thou art meditated upon by the Munis; and Thou dwellest in the Sun. Thou art the Lord of the several Lokas (worlds); Thou art endowed with the Highest Knowledge; and Thou art of the colour of water at the time of Pralaya (the Universal Dissolution). Thou art worshipped by the Gods and the Asuras for the destruction of the Great Moha. So Great Victory to Thee! Thou art the Rescuer of one from the abode of Death; Thou art worshipped by Yama, Thou art the elder of Yama, Thou art the Controller of Yama and Thou art worshipped by all. Obeisance to Thee! Thou art impartial; Thou controllest all; Thou art perfectly unattached; Thou destroyest the peoples worldly attachments; Thou art The One to whom all look for the fructification of their desires; and Thou art the Compassion Incarnate. Thou art, worshipped by the names :-- Kankāla Krûra, Kāmāksī; Mīnaksī Marma bhedinī, Mādhûryarûpasālinī; and Thou art worshipped with the Pranava Om prefixed to all the Stotras and the Mantras. Thou art of the nature of the Seed Māyā (māyāvīja); Thou canst be realised by repeating the mantra and Thou canst be pleased by the deep concentration (Nididyāsana) on Thee. Thou canst be reached by all men through their minds and Thou dost things that are pleasing to the Mahā Deva. Thou dwellest in the trees Asvattha, Vata (Peepul tree), Neem, Mangoe, Kapittha (wood apple tree), and the tree Kul (Jujube) trees. Thou art the Palms (Jack) tree, Thou art Arka, Karīra and Ksīra trees. Thou residest in Dugdha vallī (the milky juice of plants); Thou art the Compassion Incarnate; and fit to shew mercy. Thou art sincerity and kindness and Thou art the Consort of the Omniscient. So Victory to Thee! O Nārada! After the worship, if one performs the stotra above described, to the Devī, the worshipper derives all sorts of Punyams (merits). He who reads daily the Stotra, pleasing to the Devī, becomes freed of all sorts of diseases, pain and freed of his fear of passions, so hard to conquer! What more than this that he who wants money, gets money; who wants Dharma, gets Dharma; he who wants Kāma, gets his Kāma (objects of desires); and he who wants Moksa, gets Moksa. The Devī is the Awarder of the Chatur Varga fourfold fruits.
If this Stotra be read, the Brāhmin becomes Vedavit, the knower of the Vedas; the Ksattriya gets the victory; the Vaisya gets wealth and the Sûdra gets happiness. If this Stotra be read with devotion and attention, the Pitris get undying satisfaction, lasting till Pralaya (the time of universal dissolution). Thus I have described to you the method of worshipping the Devī. The Devas consider it with great attention. He gets the Devī Loka, who performs the worship of the Devī, as above described, with devotion. O Brāhmana! When the Devī is thus worshipped, all the desires are fulfilled; all sins are destroyed; and, in the end, ones mind becomes pure and the worshipper is respected and worshipped everywhere. O Son of Brahmā! His fear of going into hell is destroyed by the Grace of the Devī; even in dreams, he does not fear anything. By the Grace of Mahā Māyā, his sons and his grandsons, riches and grains multiply and multiply. He becomes a great and steadfast devotee of the Devī; there is no doubt in this. Now I have described to you completely the rules of worship of the Devī. When one performs this, one becomes freed of the Narakas; and all sorts of good things come to him. O Muni! The Madhûka worship and the monthly worship have been described also. He who performs this Madhûka worship fully, never meets with any disease or obstacles. Now I will describe to you the other five aspects of the Great Devī of the nature of Prakriti. Her Name, Form and Origin give pleasure to all the worlds. O Muni! Now hear this Prakriti Pañchaka, its narrative and the greatness thereof. Know that this is as curious as it gives liberation.
Here ends the Twenty-fourth Chapter of the Eighth Book on the worship of the Devī in the Mahā Purānam, Srī Mad Devī Bhāgavatam, of 18,000 verses, by Maharsi Veda Vyāsa.
[The Eighth Book completed.]
Here ends the Second Volume.
SANSKRIT:
ā, ī, û - are read like long a, i, u
s' - is like soft sh or z in another Sanskrit transliteration
s - is like sh or S in another Sanskrit transliteration
