Dasakam 1 Devi Mahima- the greatness of the Goddess.

Dasakam 1  Devi Mahima-  the greatness of the  Goddess.

Translated  by

P.R,Ramachander

(This is the first chapter   of  the book  and here the poet  tells us about the greatness  of the goddess. The Goddess  about  him, he deals with is Parasakthi(the  divine power) . She is the one who  grants to gods,  devas, human beings  asuras , the power to act. If she does  not give power to them, they would not be able to do anything..Though I am referring to her as “she” , the poet clearly brings out   the fact, that she is neither, “she “ nor”he”.   This is the   summary  of Chapter Iv of book I   of Devi Bhagwatha.)

1.Yasmin idham   yatha idham  yadasmath ,

Utheerna roopam abhipasyathi yath samastham,

No drusyathe  cha vachasaam  manasascha dhoore,

Yad bhathi  cha aadhi mahase pranamaami  thasmai

1,Salutations to that primeval  power , Which this world  is,

From which the world has originated, In which this  world exists,

Which  existed  before  everything, which is  all  that we see,

Which shines beyond   everything we see, which is invisible ,

To the  words   and the mind and which is far away from them. 

2.Na sthree pumaan  na  sura daithya nara aadhayo na,

Kleebam na bhoothamapi  karma gunaadhayascha,

Bhomam sthvameva sadnaadhya vikaryanantham,

Sarva thwayaa jagadhidham  vithatham vibhathi.

2,Oh great  opulence  , you are  neither woman nor man  ,

Neither  deva, nor Rakshasa nor   human being ,

Neither eunuch nor ghost   and  Neither action  nor properties,

But you are  the one  who does not have beginning , change  or end,

And all over  the universe  your luster is shining.

3.Roopam na thepi   baha roopa brudatha  sakthir,

Naatyam  thanoshi natavath khalu viswa range,

Varshaani   the sarasa naatya kalaa vileenaa,

Bhakthaa aho   sahrudhayaa Kshana vannayanthi

3.Though  you do not have a form , due to your power ,

By  assuming various  forms you   dance  like an actress,

In the   stage  of the universe, your  good hearted devotees who are,

Connoisseurs  of art  are spending years like minutes, What a  wonder?

4. Roopaanusari    khalu nama  khalo budhai sthwam,

Deveethi deva ithi chaasi nigadhya maanaa,

Devyaam   thwayeeryasa umaaKamalaadha vaag vaa,

Deve  thu  ShanumukhaUmapathir achyutho vaa

4.You assume special intelligent  names  as per  your form that you take

And people with wisdom see  you as  God as well as Goddess,

And when you are Goddess  you take names  of Uma, Lakshmi  and Saraswathi,

And when you are  God you take names like Shanmuka, Lord Shiva and Achyutha.

5.Thwam Brahma  sakthir api dhathru Ramesa  Rudrai,

Brahmanda  sarga  pari palana  samhrutheescha ,

Rajneeva kaarayasi   subroo  nijajnayaiva,

Bhaktheshva anya   anya   saraneshu  krupaavathi cha.

5.You are Lord Brahma , Goddess Shakthi, Lord Vishnu and Lord Rudra,

And carry on the creation upkeep and destruction of the universe,

Just like an action of a queen,  by your orders and you  show  mercy,

On your devotees  who do not have   any other support  to depend.

6.Matha  karothi thanayasya kruthe  shubhaani,

Karmaani thasya pathane  brusamathi dukham,

Vrudhou  sukham cha thava karmana na api dukham,

THwam hyeva karma phaladhaa Jagathaam Vidhathri.

6.Mother   does   good   acts   towards  her sons

 And  she attains great sorrow   at his   fall,

As well as  happiness   at   his  progress,

Though  you do not have action nor sorrow

As  you are  the creator  of universe who grants,

Proper   result   to the actions    done.

7.Sarvathra  varshasi  Dhaya, matha yeva  vrushtyaa,

Siktha  subheeja  yiva vrudhim upaithi bhaktha ,

Durbheejavath vrajathi naasam  Abhakthe yeva  ,

THwam  nirgrunaa na vishamaa na cha  Loka  matha.

7.You  cause rain of mercy   every where and so  your devotees,

Like  the good   seed  exposed  to rain  attain progress,

But he  who is not a devotee   definitely attains  destruction like  a bad seed,

And so Oh  mother  of the world you are not one without mercy nor you have bias.

8.Sravopareeswari  vibhathi  sudhaa   samudhra-

Sthan madhyatha parivruthe vividhai sudurgai,

Chathrayithe trijagathaam  bhavathi mani dwee-,

PakhyeShive nija padhe hasi thaananasthe

8.In  the middle  of   the shining  ocean of nectar ,

Surrounded   by  different types   of forts,

The manidhweepa(Gem island)  exists  like an umbrella,

In  between the three  worlds, Oh Goddess Parvathi,

You  are  shining there in your own seat  with a smiling face.

9.Yasthe pumaan abhidhadhi mahathwa muchchaira ,

Ye nama  gayathi srunothi  cha they vilajja,

Yaschaa aathanothi brusam aathma  nivedhanam they,

Sa swaanyadhaani vidhunothi yadhaa  thamo arka.

9,Thse sins of  that  man who describes  your greatness  in a loud voice  ,

Who without  sense of shame hears and sings   your name,

And Who  greatly offers  himself before   you,

Would   be taken away   just like  Sun  takes away  darkness.

10.THwam nirgunaam  cha sagunaam  cha pumaan viraktho,

Jaanaathi kinchid api no vishayeshu   saktha,

Jneyaa bhava thwamiha may bhavathapa hanthrim,

BHakthim   dadadhaswa varadhe paripahi  maam thwam,

10.Those who are detached  from pleasures of senses,

Recognizes you   as one with   and without   qualities,

And those  who are attached  are not able  to understand you at all,

And I wish to understand you  here  and now,

Oh Goddess who destroys sorrow of Samsara,

Grant me devotion to you and OH goddess,

Who grants  me boons , You  please  take care of me.