Thursday, January 30, 2014

Devi Bhagvatam 4:13:1:62


MAHĀKĀLI DHYANAM
Meditation on Mahākāli
From the Devī Mahātmyam [Mārkendeya Purana]

Om Namaś Chaṇḍikāyai.
Om khaḍgaṁ chakra-gadeṣu-chāpa-parighāñ
chūlaṃ bhuśuṇḍīṁ śiraḥ
śaṅkhaṁ saṃda-dhatīṁ karai-stri-nayanāṁ
sarvāṅga-bhūṣāvṛitām
Nīlāśma-dyutimāsya pāda-daśakāṁ
seve Mahākālikāṁ
yāmastaut-svapite harau kamalajo
hantuṁ madhuṁ kaiṭabham.
Om Namaś Chaṇḍikāyai.

Om, I bow to the Goddess Chaṇḍikā.

Om, holding a scimitar, disk, mace, arrows and bow, lance, club, a skull and a conch shell in Her ten hands. The three-eyed goddess, Her body covered with ornaments, Her countenance with the brilliance of blue diamonds, with ten limbs. We offer our service to Mahākāli, She who Brahma praised for protection from the demons Madhu and Kaitava, when Vishnu was in sleep.


Om, I bow to the Goddess Chaṇḍikā.

Book 4/Chapter 13/1:62
On cheating the Daityas

1. The king said :-- What did the intelligent Brihaspatî do after he had assumed falsely the appearance of S’ukrâchârya, and lived there as the spiritual guide of the Demons.

2. O Muni! Brihaspatî is the Guru of the Devas; he also devotes his time in studying the Vedas; and is the ocean of all knowledge; he is the son of the Maharsi Angirâ and he is himself a Muni. Endorsed with all these good qualifications, how could he deceive the Demons.

3-4. In all the religious S’âstras, Truth is declared to be the essence of Dharma; and the Supreme Self is attained through Truth, so the wise sages say. How can we expect an ordinary householder to be true when such a man as Brihaspatî takes recourse to falsehood with the Demons.

5. If one acquires, as one’s wealth, the whole Universe, still one does not require anything more than what is required in feeding one’s belly; how
is it that Brihaspatî could speak falsehood merely for the sake of his belly?

6. O Muni! The words sung by the ancient virtuous and respectable sages were true and had their corresponding objects denoted by those words; now they employed the term S’ista meaning that there were virtuous, respectable persons as denoted by them. When Brihaspatî can even commit such condemnable deceitful acts and speak falsehood, we can expect no virtuous respectable persons in the world. Where then do you find the S’ista persons, denoted by the word S’ista, sung by the ancient sages? The word S’ista is now meaningless!

7. The Devas are sprung from the Sâttvic qualities, men from Râjasic qualities and birds, etc. from the Tâmasic qualities.

8. When the Guru of the Immortals, the incarnate of Sâttvic qualities, can become a liar, how can one expect those who are Râjasic or Tâmasic to follow rigorously the truth?

9. Oh! This Trilokî is all pierced with falsehood! Where is the Religion! And what will be the ultimate goal of all these creatures!

10. When Bhagavân Harî, Brahmâ, Indra and the best of the Devas when all can betake to pretext, fraud and trickery and show cleverness in them; what to speak of men!

11-12. O Giver of honour! When all the Devas, Vas’istha, Vâmadeva, Vis’vamitrâ, Brihaspatî and other ascetic Munis get themselves overpowered by lust and anger, when their intelligence gets destroyed by covetousness and avarice, when they are addicted to vices and are expert in fraud, pre-text and trickery, then what fate, alas! Can you expect of Dharma and what help is there of any religious persons!

13. Alas! lndra, Agni, Moon, and Brahmâ when these get overpowered by the strong influence of lust, are in illicit love with others’ wives, where is the goodness and virtuous behaviour in this Trilokî?

14. O Sinless One! To whom, then, can we look upon as our spiritual guide and our advice and law givers when all the Devas and Munis are corrupt with avarice?

15. Vyâsa said :-- O king! Be he Indra, Brihaspatî, Brahmâ, Visnu or Mahes’a, whoever is embodied or will put on bodies, he will have to be in touch with the previously mentioned Ahamkâra, and covetousness and other vices due to name and form.

16. O king! Brahmâ, Visnu and Mahes’a are all attached to sensual objects; and what improper and sinful actions there can be that cannot be committed by persons devoted to sensual objects!

17. It is through cleverness and fraud that any one devoted to sensual objects can easily make oneself as cleverly free from Mâyâ; but when difficulty comes, then his trickery gets discovered and the respective qualities hidden in him are brought to bear their respective results. Know, then, the three qualities to be conjointly the cause of all these actions; as without any cause, no action gets visible.

18. These discrepancies in the case of Brahmâ and others are caused by the three qualities; their bodies are all created from Pradhân Mahat and the other 25 Tattvas (essences).

19-20. O king! Brahmâ and others are subject to death; then how can you doubt on other things? In advising others, everybody gives, as it were, good and virtuous advices; but the burden falls upon their own heads; they fall off from their advices and act according to their hidden natures; then they yield to lust, anger, envy, egoism and fascination.

21. No one who is embodied can get rid of passions, born of the 3 qualities. O king! Thus the Trilokî goes, is the saying of the Maharsis.

22-29. This Trilokî, auspicious, inauspicious, mixed, never gets any serious change; its nature remains always uniform. See Bhagavân Visnu sometimes practises severe asceticism; Indra, the lord of the Devas sometimes follows the practices of religious sacrifices. Again you find Visnu Bhagavân, full of youth, fond of the Leela, enjoying the company of Ramâ in Vaikuntha; sometimes He is the ocean of mercy, is fighting dreadful battles with the Demons and being severely afflicted with their clusters of arrows; sometimes he gains victories, sometimes he gets defeat through the irony of Fate; thus he gets undoubtedly pleasures and pains. O king! some time Nârâyana draws all the worlds into his belly and takes his yogic sleep on the thousand headed serpent S’es’a and again he gets himself awakened by Prakriti. O king! Brahmâ, Visnu, Mahes’a, Indra, the Devas, and Munis all of them, live up to the limit of their ordained time and when the time of Pralaya, the Universal dissolution, ends, this whole Universe, moving and nonmoving, again comes into existence as before; there is no doubt in this. O king, at the expiry of the ordained time, Brahmâ and all others will die , no doubt.

30-31. Again, in due course, Brahmâ, Visnu, and Mahes’a and the other Devas come out and assume bodies and get all the passions, lust, etc., as ordained. O King! You need not be astonished; this Trilokî always goes on accompanied by lust, anger, etc.

32-34. Persons free from lust, anger and other passions are very rare in this world. He who is afraid of this world does not marry, and thus being free from the attachments to any worldly object, becomes free and roams fearless. The Moon stole away the wife of Brihaspatî, and Brihaspatî himself
stole away the wife of his younger brother. Thus in this wheel of Samsâra, all the creatures are ever passioned with attachment, avarice, etc.

35. The householder can never expect to obtain freedom. Therefore those who want to be free, should carefully relinquish the idea of the stability of the world and worship the Eternal Mother Full and Sat, Chit and Ânandam.

36. This world, moving and unmoving, O Mahes’ânî, rolls in madness, overpowered by Her Mâyâ.

37. Intelligent persons worshipping Her, trample down the three qualities and become free. O king! No other Path exists for Freedom.

38-39. Until one gets the Grace from the Mahes’ânî, one never gets happiness. True mercy is not found anywhere else but from Her. Then one should worship the All merciful, being of pure heart. For Her worship leads to freedom, even in this bodyhood.

40. He who getting a human frame fails to worship Mahes’ânî, gets down from the highest rung of the ladder. This is my opinion.

41-42. This Universe, composed of the three qualities, is encompassed with Ahamkâra and fastened to untruth; therefore freedom can never be expected without the worship of That Potent Goddess, O Muni! O king! Renounce every worldly object and serve the Goddess Bhuvanes’varî; this is the highest duty of all.

43. The king said :-- What did, then, the Devaguru do in the disguise of S’ukrâchârya?  And when did the real S’ukrâchârya come there? O respected Muni! Speak on these points.

44. Vyâsa said :-- Please hear what the disguised Brihaspatî in the shape of
S’ukrâchârya did afterwards.

45. The demons were made to understand clearly by Brihaspatî; and then they took him for S’ukrâchârya and placed implicit faith on him and began to think of him and him alone.

46. The Daityas, enchanted and deceived by the magic of Brihaspatî, took now his refuge for acquiring the knowledge from him, since they mistook him for S’ukrâchârya.  Who is there that is not enchanted by the idea of gaining something?

47. On the other hand, when the term of ten years was over, S’ukrâchârya, the real Guru of the Daityas, ceased enjoying Jayantî and began to emember his disciples, the Daityas.

48. He now began to think that “My disciples, the Daityas, are expecting every instant my return; and I would now go and see them, bewildered with fear.

49-51. They are my devotees and I ought to do such that they might not be afraid of the Devas.” And then he exclaimed to Jayantî, “O beautiful one! Let my sons take the shelter of the Gods; your term of ten years is today over; I now go therefore, to see my disciples; soon I will again come to you.”

52. “Be it so”, replied Jayantî, the best of those who know religion, “you can go where you like; I am not to destroy your Dharma.”

53-54. Hearing these words, S’ukrâchârya went hurriedly to the Demons and saw the Devaguru Brihaspatî sitting before them in the guise of S’ukrâchârya. He was explaining to them the Jaina doctrines, compiled by himself and finding fault with the act of envy, taking revenge and killing and cursing the sacrifices, etc.

55. He was telling them “O Enemies of Gods! Truly, I am telling you words that will, no doubt, prove good to you. Non-killing is the highest virtue; even the enemies ought never to be killed.

56. It is the Brâhmanas, addicted to enjoyments and pleasures of the senses, who want to satisfy their tastes and pleasures that are found in the Veda’s injunctions to kill animals; but there is no virtue higher than non-killing animals.”

57-58. O king! S’ukrâchârya was perfectly astonished to hear Brihaspatî, the Guru of the Devas, speaking against the Vedas and began to think that Brihaspatî is certainly my enemy. My disciples have been duped by this cheat; there is no doubt in this.

59. Fie to Avarice! It is the seed of sin; very strong and the veritable gate to hell; Brihaspatî, even, the Guru of the Devas, is speaking lies, bound under the influence of this heinous avarice!


60. Oh! What wonder is this that the Guru of the Devas, who is the promulgator of all the religious S’âstras and whose word is accepted as the final decision, is now expounding the doctrines of atheists.

61. When Brihaspatî can become the expounder of atheistic doctrines, impelled by covetousness what to speak of those whose minds are not pure and whose intelligence is not sharp?

62. This Deva Guru, though a Brâhmin, is acting today like a rogue, wanting to take away all and is deceiving my disciples the Daityas, who have been confounded by his magic.

Here ends the Thirteenth Chapter in the Fourth Book of S’rî Mad Devî Bhâgavatam, the Mahâpurânam of 18,000 verses on cheating the Daityas by Maharsi Veda Vyâsa.

Source:  Translation of The Srimad Devi Bhagvatam by Swami Vijnanananda  

Sunday, January 26, 2014

Devi Bhagvatam 4:12:1:58


MAHĀKĀLI DHYANAM
Meditation on Mahākāli
From the Devī Mahātmyam [Mārkendeya Purana]

Om Namaś Chaṇḍikāyai.
Om khaḍgaṁ chakra-gadeṣu-chāpa-parighāñ
chūlaṃ bhuśuṇḍīṁ śiraḥ
śaṅkhaṁ saṃda-dhatīṁ karai-stri-nayanāṁ
sarvāṅga-bhūṣāvṛitām
Nīlāśma-dyutimāsya pāda-daśakāṁ
seve Mahākālikāṁ
yāmastaut-svapite harau kamalajo
hantuṁ madhuṁ kaiṭabham.
Om Namaś Chaṇḍikāyai.

Om, I bow to the Goddess Chaṇḍikā.

Om, holding a scimitar, disk, mace, arrows and bow, lance, club, a skull and a conch shell in Her ten hands. The three-eyed goddess, Her body covered with ornaments, Her countenance with the brilliance of blue diamonds, with ten limbs. We offer our service to Mahākāli, She who Brahma praised for protection from the demons Madhu and Kaitava, when Vishnu was in sleep.


Om, I bow to the Goddess Chaṇḍikā.

Book 4/Chapter 12/1:58
On Bhrigu's curse and the dialogue between Shukracharya and the Daityas


1.   Vyâsa said :-- O king!  On seeing Visnu killing his wife, and thus committing a
dreadful atrocious act, the Bhagavân Bhrigu was very sorry and began to tremble with anger and addressed Madhusûdana thus. 

2.   Bhrigu said :-- O Visnu!  You have done an extremely sinful act.   O intelligent one!   Knowing it, you have done so; what a great wonder!  Nobody dreams of the murder of this Brâhman’s daughter; and you have committed it in deed, black and white. 

3.   O Deva!  The Mahârsis declare you to be Sâttvic, engaged in preservation; Brahmâ to be Râjasic (creator) and S’ambhu S’iva to be Tâmasic (destroyer).   Why then is the contrary thing visible in this case?

4.   Why have you become Tâmasic? Why have you done this heinous crime? O Visnu!  The females are never to be killed; this is a known fact; then why have you killed this woman without any fault. 

5-6.   You have done a very execrable act.   What shall I do to you? It is mete that I would curse you.   O Great Sinner!  You have pained me very much and made me very weary.   I will not curse Indra.   You always assume a deceitful appearance and behave like a black cruel serpent; your mind is all full of wickedness; I will curse you. 

7.   O Janârdana.   Those Munis who call you Sâttvic are fools; I have seen today that your ways are exceptionally vicious and Tâmasic. 

8.   O Visnu!  I curse you now to take frequent births, suffer very frequently in different wombs, in the earth and thus suffer the pains of remaining in the wombs. 

9.   O king!  Therefore whenever religion subsides in the world, Bhagavân Visnu incarnates frequently in this human world, due to the curse of Bhrigu. 

10.   The king said :-- O best of the Munis!  Did that Mahâtmâ Bhrigu again marry and lead a householder’s life when his wife was thus killed by the lustrous disc Sudars’ana. 

11.   Vyâsa said :-- O king!  The sacrificer Bhrigu angrily cursed Hari and next took that severed head and quickly placed it over the body as before and said :--

12-14.   O Devî!  Visnu has slain you today; I will make you regain your life just now.   If I am acquainted with all the Dharmas and if I have practised these in my life and if I have spoken truth always, then dost thou regain your life by my religious merit.   Let all the Devas witness my power and strength.   If I know the True, if I have studied all the Vedas and if I have realised the Knowledge of the Vedas, then I, sprinkling your body with this cold water, charged with my mantras, will revive you. 

15.   Vyâsa said :-- O king!  Sprinkled by the water by Bhrigu, his wife regained her life and rose up at once and felt herself glad and smiled. 

16.   All the persons and living creatures seeing her stand, as if awoken from her sleep, at once exclaimed from all sides ?  well done, well done!?   thanked Bhrigu and his wife very much and highly praised them. 

17.   Thus seeing the fair complexioned wife regain her life through Bhrigu, Indra and all the Devas were very much struck with wonder. 
NOTE :-- Thought power and inhalation of some medicines might have revived her. 

18.   Indra then adressed the Devas :-- Now the mother of S’ukra has regained her life through Bhrigu; but when S’ukrâchârya will receive the mantra after his severe tapasyâ, we do not know what terrible harm; he would do to us!

19.   Vyâsa said :-- O king!  Though the deep sleep that overtook Indra had now left him, yet he became very unhappy, remembering the severe asceticism of S’ukra’s tapasyâ and his receiving mantras. 

20.   Thinking over deeply in his mind, Indra called his daughter Jayantî and spoke to her with affection.

21-22.   Go!  Daughter!  I have given thee over to the ascetic Kâvya.   Do this service for me, go to Kâvya and help him in his asceticism and bring him under your control.   By whatever acts the Muni be pleased, dost thou do at once and please him in every way and thus remove my fear. 

23.   The large-eyed beautiful Jayantî, hearing her father’s words, went to the hermitage and there saw the Risi inhaling or drinking the smoke. 

24.   On seeing the body of the ascetic, and remembering her father’s words she brought the leaves of the plantain trees and began to fan him.

25.   The intelligent Jayantî with no excitement used to bring the pure, clear, cool, and well scented water and place it, with great devotion, before the sage for his drinking. 
NOTE: Here Indra bribed by giving away his daughter. 

26.   When the sun was over his head, she used to prepare some protection, with her clothes, from the sun and thus made the shade for him.   Thus, in various ways, did she begin to serve the Muni, herself remaining steady in her religion? 

27.   She brought sweet and ripe fruits proper according to the S’âstras and used to place them before him for his repast. 

28.   In the performance of his daily duties, she used to collect the Kus’a grass of the span of thumb and fore finger, and flowers, white and yellow and placed them before him. 

29.   For the Muni’s bedding to lie down and sleep, she used to gather soft, green leaves and with them she used to keep his bed ready; and when the Muni laid himself down, she used to fan him gently. 

30.   Never did she exhibit for fear of curse, any gesture or posture calculated to disturb his mind. 

31.   The sweet-tongued, thin lady used to praise S’ukrâchârya in pleasing and
favourable terms.
 
32.   When the Muni awoke, she placed water before him to wash his face and hands.   Thus serving the Muni, did she stay in the hermitage. 

33.   The fear stricken Indra used to send messengers to fathom the mind of that self controlled Muni. 

34.   Thus did Jayantî serve for good many years the Muni, being void of anger and observing duly her celibacy. 

35.   In this way one thousand years passed duly, the God Mahâdeva was very pleased and addressed S’ukrâchârya that He had come to give him boons that he desire. 

36-37.   The God Mahâdeva said :-- Whatever there exists in this universe, whatever you see with your eyes and whatever cannot be described in words, you will be the lord of  all these and the conqueror of all.   There is no doubt in this.   You cannot be killed by any creature; you will be the ruler of all beings and will be reckoned as the best of theBrâhmanas. 

38-39.   Vyâsa said :-- The God Mahâdeva disappeared then and there, after granting him the boons.   Then S’ukrâchârya saw Jayantî and said to her :-- O lady of beautiful hips!  Who and whose daughter art thou? What is the desire in your mind?  What for you have come here? O one of beautiful thighs!  what is your duty?

40.   O beautiful eyed!  I am very pleased with all that you have done for me.   What do you want? O one of good vows!  Ask boons from me; I will grant them even if they be difficult. 

41.   On hearing this, Jayantî’s face became bright with joy; she said :-- whatever I desire, you know that already by force of your Tapasyâ. 

42.   The Kâvya said :-- Your mental desires I know; still mention them yourself
particularly; I will do good to you in any way you like; I am pleased with your services. 

43-44.   Jayantî said :-- O Brâhmin!  I am the daughter of Indra and I am the younger of my brother Jayanta.   Father has given me over to you; I now like to live with you.   Kindly fulfil my desires now.   O blessed one!  You better take me and enjoy me according to Dharma.   This is my desire. 

45.   S’ukrâchârya said :-- O thou of large and handsome hips!  Better enjoy with me for ten years, according to your liking, without being visible to anybody. 

46-48.   Vyâsa said :-- Thus saying, S’ukrâchârya went to his home and, according to religious observances, married Jayantî and lived with her for ten years under the shade  of Mâyâ and unobserved by anybody.   On the other hand, the Daityas, hearing that S’ukrâchârya returned home successful getting his desired Mantra, were very glad and went to his house to pay their respects to him.   But S’ukra was then living with Jayantî; hence the Asuras could not see him. 

49.   Then they got very much dejected, sorry and were drooped in spirits; they searched for him again and again. 

50.   Not being able to see S’ukra under the shade of Mâyâ, the Daityas were very sorry and got afraid and then returned to their own residences. 

51.   On the other hand, the Devas, knowing that S’ukra was holding intercourses with Jayantî, Indra, the God of Devas, spoke to the Deva Guru Brihaspatî.   O Guru!  Advise us what to do under the present circumstances and relieve us from the impending difficulties. 

52.   O Brâhmana.   Better go today to the Dânavas and do that by which our honour may be maintained.   You better put the Dânavas under some charm by your magical spell and think and do good to us. 

53.   On hearing Indra’s words and knowing that S’ukra is now enjoying with Jayantî, Brihaspatî went to the Dânavas, putting on the appearance of S’ukrâchârya. 

54.   Going to the Demons, he called on them very politely and sweetly.   The Asuras said that S’ukrâchârya had come in presence of them. 

55.   The Demons were very glad and bowed down before S’ukrâchârya and could not make out that he was the false S’ukrâchârya, under the mâyic charm of Brihaspatî. 

56.   Then the false S’ukrâchârya asked the welfare of the Daityas and said :-- I went so long for your good; I performed severe tapasyâ and satisfied the God S’ambhu and acquired from him the Mantra, the sacred knowledge, and that I will frankly explain to you. 

57.   On hearing this, the Demons were very pleased and, knowing that the Guru had been successful, were filled with joy. 

58.   They saluted him with joy and began to live quietly and freely and without pains, having got rid of fear from the Devas. 

Here ends the twelfth Chapter in the Fourth Book of S’rî Mad Devî Bhâgavatam, the Mahâpurânam of 18,000 verses by Mahârsi Veda Vyâsa on Bhrigu’s curse and the dialogue between S’ukrâchârya and the Daityas.  

Source:  Translation of The Srimad Devi Bhagvatam by Swami Vijnanananda  

Saturday, January 18, 2014

Devi Bhagvatam 4:11:1:57



MAHĀKĀLI DHYANAM
Meditation on Mahākāli
From the Devī Mahātmyam [Mārkendeya Purana]

Om Namaś Chaṇḍikāyai.
Om khaḍgaṁ chakra-gadeṣu-chāpa-parighāñ
chūlaṃ bhuśuṇḍīṁ śiraḥ
śaṅkhaṁ saṃda-dhatīṁ karai-stri-nayanāṁ
sarvāṅga-bhūṣāvṛitām
Nīlāśma-dyutimāsya pāda-daśakāṁ
seve Mahākālikāṁ
yāmastaut-svapite harau kamalajo
hantuṁ madhuṁ kaiṭabham.
Om Namaś Chaṇḍikāyai.

Om, I bow to the Goddess Chaṇḍikā.

Om, holding a scimitar, disk, mace, arrows and bow, lance, club, a skull and a conch shell in Her ten hands. The three-eyed goddess, Her body covered with ornaments, Her countenance with the brilliance of blue diamonds, with ten limbs. We offer our service to Mahākāli, She who Brahma praised for protection from the demons Madhu and Kaitava, when Vishnu was in sleep.


Om, I bow to the Goddess Chaṇḍikā.

Book 4/Chapter 11/1:57
On Shukracharya going to Mahadeva to get the Mantra

1.   Vyâsa said :-- When the Devas retired from the battlefield, S’ukrâchârya addressed the Demons thus :-- O best of the Demons!  Please hear, what had been told to me by Brahmâ in days of yore. 

2-3.   Janârdan Visnu is coming here to slay all the Demons, He killed before Hiranyâksa, the king of the Asuras, in His Boar incarnation.   He killed Hiranyakasipu by assuming His Man-Lion appearance; now too, he will kill all the Daityas, no doubt, with great enthusiasm. 

4-5.   Now my mantra force will not be of any avail before S’rî Hari.  And without my help you will not be able to conquer the Devas.  Therefore, O Demons, wait for some time for me; I will start today to the presence of S'iva Mahâdeva to obtain from him the Mantra S’akti. 

6.   I will return, as early as possible, getting the Mantra from S’rî Mahâdeva; and with the help of the power of those great Mantras I will be able to protect you thoroughly.
 
7.   The Daityas said :-- O best of the Munis!  We are now defeated and our forces are well nigh exhausted; how will we be able to stay on this earth and expect your return for so long a time?

8.   Those who were of great strength amongst us, they all are slain; now we are left very few in number.   In this crisis it is not advisable and auspicious for us to remain here in this battlefield. 

9.   S’ukrâchârya said :-- Better you all stay here until I return, getting the requisite Mantra; remain peaceful and engaged in asceticism. 

10.   The heroes apply one or other of the following four measures :-- conciliation, alliance, gifts and bribery, partitions and sowing dissensions and punishment or open attack according to the conditions of time, place strength and circumstances.
 
11.   Intelligent and well wishing persons do serve their enemies even in time of distress; but no sooner they find that their strength and army have increased, than they try at once to kill all their enemies. 

12.   Now, therefore, pretend your meekness and allegiance and adopt peace and remain in your own place until my arrival. 

13.   O Demons!  I will come back with the Mantra from Mahâdeva.   I will fight again with the Devas, by that veritable mantra power. 

14.   O king!  Thus firmly making up his mind to have the Mantra, S’ukrâchârya went to Mahâdeva. 

15.   The Dânavas sent Prahlâda to the Devas for conciliation.   The Devas regarded Prahlâda truthful and they all trusted on him. 

16.   Prahlâda with Asuras addressed thus the Devas with gentleness and humility. 

17.   O Immortals!  We all have abandoned our weapons and armour.   Now we desire to wear barks of trees and practise asceticism. 

18.   The Devâs took Prahlâda's words to be true and deserted from further fight; were freed of anxiety and felt all delighted. 

19.   On the Daitya’s leaving their weapons, the Gods desisted from battle, went to their respective places and freely gave themselves up to pleasure and amusements.
 
20.   The Daityas controlled themselves and practised asceticism in the Kas’yapa’s hermitage, expecting the return of S’ukrâchârya. 

21.   S’ukrâchârya went to Kailâsa and made respectful obeisance to the God Mahâdeva.   Mahâdeva enquired of the cause of his coming. 

22.   S’ukrâchârya said :-- I ask for Mantras, O Deva!  from you that are not possessed by Brihaspatî, for the defeat of the Devas, and the victory of the Asuras. 

23.   Vyâsa said :-- On hearing his words, the all-knowing S’ankara S’iva began to think what He would do in this matter.

24.   Certainly, this is with the revengeful object of attacking the Devas, for their defeat and for the victory of the Asuras that this Muni has come. 

25.   The Devas ought to be protected by me; thus thinking, S’ankara Mahes’vara advised him an entirely difficult tapasyâ to practise. 

26.   Full one thousand years he would practise tapasyâ with feet upwards and head downwards, he will have to inhale the smoke of burnt husk.   Then he will get the Mantra and his desires will be fulfilled. 

27.   That would be done; thus saying to S’ankara, S’ukrâchârya practised that excellent vow, peaceful and inhaling the smoke of husk to get that Mantra. 

28-29.   The Devas came to know that S’ukrâchârya is practising his vow and the Daityas have become arrogant.   They then counselled. 

30.   And came to the conclusion, took up weapons and arms and went to the Daityas, ready to fight. 

31.   The Daityas, seeing the Devas dressed in armour and holding weapons and coming from all sides, became very much afraid and anxious. 

32.   The Daityas, seeing this all on a sudden, were attacked with fear and began to address the Devas, proud with their army, in words, full of good meanings and morals.  

33.   O Devas!  We have abandoned our arms; we are now armless; our spiritual guide is in his tapasyâ, you gave us words of fearlessness; why then you have come now dressed in full armour and with armies to kill us. 

34.   O Devas!  Where is your truth.   And where is your religion according to S’ruti? It is stated in S’ruti never to kill the weaponless, the fear stricken, and the refugees. 

35.   The Devas said :-- You sent your good S’ukrâchârya, out of pretence to acquire the Mantras; your asceticism is veiled under a deceitful object.   Therefore we will fight with you certainly. 

36.   Be ready now and dress yourself with your arms and ammunitions, ?  Lo!  Whenever you get any loop hole in your enemies, catch hold of it and kill your enemy?  This is the eternal religion. 

37.   Vyâsa said :-- On thus hearing the reply from the Devas, the Daityas after consideration quitted that place and fled away with terror. 

38.   And they took refuge under the S’ukrâchârya’s mother.   She saw the Daityas very much fearstricken and at once guaranteed to them protection from fear.

39.   The mother of Kâvya S’ukrâchârya said :-- Don’t fear; don’t fear; cast away fear.   O Dânavas!  In my presence, no fear can overtake you. 

40.   The Asuras on hearing her words were free from anxiety and pain and remained in that hermitage, in no way now bewildered or agitated, though they had no arms. 

41-42.   Here the Devas, seeing the Daityas flying away, pursued them and entering the hermitage were ready to kill the Daityas, not taking into account what strength they gained there.   The mother of S’ukrâ warned the Devas not to kill; but, inspite of her hindrance, they began to slay the Daityas. 

43.   Seeing the Daityas thus attacked, the mother was furiously irritated and told them she would make all of them overpowered by sleep by her tapas strength, clarified intellectual force.
 
Note :--Is it by the asphyxiating gas? Or, by poisonous vapours or liquids?

44.   So saying she sent the Goddess of sleep who at once overpowered the Gods and made them all lie down on the grounds senseless.   Indra with the other Devas lay there dumb, and miserable. 

45.   On seeing Indra thus stupefied by sleep, the Bhagavân Visnu told Indra to enter into His body.   He would then carry him to another place and he will be better. 

46-47.   Indra entered into the Visnu’s body; and, under His protection, he became free  from sleep and fear.   On seeing Indra thus sheltered by Visnu and fearless, the mother of Kâvya spoke.

48.   O Indra!  I will devour you with Visnu today by my Tapas force.   All the Devas will presently see all this and my extraordinary power. 

N.  B.  : Is it by making the earth go down, causing a fissure, thus engulfing the whole army? Or by blowing them up? Or by showering jets of poisonous gas or hot water or vapour from all sides. 

49.   Vyâsa said :-- O king!  No sooner the mother spoke thus, than both Indra and Visnu were both stupefied under her magical spell, superior thought power, and a thorough learning of the art of warfare.

50.   The Devas, seeing them very much overpowered and bewildered, were greatly struck with wonder; they became desperate and began to cry aloud. 

51.   Indra, on hearing the Devas cry aloud, told Visnu, O Madhusûdana!  I am more bewildered in particular than yourself. 

52.   O Mâdhava!  No need of any further consideration.   Before this wretch, inflated with pride by her tapasyâ, burns us, better cause her death as early as possible. 

53.   When thus requested by Indra who was very much perplexed, Bhagavân Visnu quickly remembered his Sudars’ana disc, casting aside the thought that it is hateful to kill a woman. 

54-55.   The disc, the ever obedient weapon of Visnu appeared instantly at his remembrance; and Visnu, becoming angry as prompted by Indra held the disc in His hand, and, hurling it off on the S’ukrâ’s mother, severed off her head quickly.   The god Indra became very glad at this. 

56.   The Devas became free from sorrow, got very much pleased and heartily exclaimed victory to Hari and worshipped Him and began to chant His praises. 

57.   Indra and Visnu then became free from all troubles; but they began to fear that Bhrigu (S’ukrâ’s father) would curse them terribly and without fail. 

Here ends the Eleventh Chapter in the Fourth Book of S’rî mad Devî Bhâgavatam, the Mahâ Purânam of 18,000 verses by Maharsi Veda Vyâsa, on S’ukrâ’s going to Mahâdeva to get the Mantra. 

Source:  Translation of The Srimad Devi Bhagvatam by Swami Vijnanananda