bhavani tvam dase mayi

$½þÊ®ú&¸ÉÒMÉhÉ{ÉiÉªÉä xÉ¨É&

1

Bhavani tvam dase mayi....

Durgā-saptaśati in praise of the exploits of the Mother embodies the

navākṣarī mantra and also depicts spiritual wisdom in a symbolic,

cryptic language. Chapter IV begins with the song that Gods sung in

Her praise after the defeat of the buffalo-demon.

näù´ªÉÉ ªÉªÉÉ iÉiÉÊ¨ÉnÆù VÉMÉnùÉi¨É¶ÉCiªÉÉ ÊxÉ¶¶Éä¹Énäù´ÉMÉhÉ¶ÉÊHòºÉ¨ÉÚ½þ ÉÚkªÉÉÇ iÉÉ¨ÉÎ¨¤ÉEòÉ¨ÉÊJÉ±Énäù´É¨É½þÌ¹É{ÉÚVªÉÉÆ ¦ÉCiªÉÉ xÉiÉÉ& º¨É Ê´ÉnùvÉÉiÉÖ ¶ÉÖ¦ÉÉÊxÉ ºÉÉ xÉ& (4.2)

O’ Great Mother, we prostrate before you

Unified prowess of all Gods in splendor

Ambika bowed by the Gods and Sages

Bestow upon us your infinite Grace

ªÉºªÉÉ& |É¦ÉÉ´É¨ÉiÉÖ±ÉÆ ¦ÉMÉ´ÉÉxÉxÉxiÉÉä ¥ÉÀÉ½þ®ú¶SÉ xÉÊ½þ ´ÉHÖò¨É±ÉÆ ¤É±ÉÆ SÉ ºÉÉ SÉÎhb÷EòÉÊJÉ±ÉVÉMÉ±{ÉÊ®ú{ÉÉ±ÉxÉÉªÉ xÉÉ¶ÉÉªÉ SÉ +¶ÉÖ¦É¦É´ÉºªÉ ¨ÉËiÉ Eò®úÉäiÉÖ (4.3)

Brahma, Hari and Sambhu fall short of words

To offer praise of your grace and glory

O’ Chandika, make all the space auspicious

And let all miseries perish by your boons

ªÉÉ ¸ÉÒ º´ÉªÉÆ ºÉÖEÞòÊiÉxÉÉÆ, ¦É´ÉxÉä¹´É±ÉÎI¨É – {ÉÉ{ÉÉi¨ÉxÉÉÆ, EÞòiÉÊvÉªÉÉÆ ¿nùªÉä¹ÉÖ ¤ÉÖÊrù& ¸ÉrùÉ ºÉiÉÉÆ EÖò±ÉVÉxÉ|É´ÉºªÉ ±ÉVVÉÉ

i´ÉÉÆ i´ÉÉÆ xÉiÉÉ& º¨É {ÉÊ®ú{ÉÉ±ÉªÉ näùÊ´É Ê´É·ÉÆ (4.4)

O’ Srī! synonym of good luck to all devotees

And perpetual misery to all the wicked ones

Modesty of the women of dignified lineage

Luminous intellect and discipline of the wise

We have sought refuge at your lotus feet


2

ËEò ´ÉhÉÇªÉÉ¨É iÉ´É°ü{É¨ÉÊSÉxiªÉ¨ÉäiÉiÉÂ ËEò SÉ +ÊiÉ´ÉÒªÉÇ ÉºÉÖ®úIÉªÉEòÉÊ®ú ¦ÉÚÊ®ú ËEò SÉ +É½þ Éä¹ÉÖ SÉÊ®úiÉÉÊxÉ iÉ´ÉÉÊiÉ ªÉÉÊxÉ ºÉ´Éæ¹ÉÖnäù´ªÉºÉÖ®únäù ÉMÉhÉÉÊnùEäò¹ÉÖ (4.5)

How can your incomprehensible form-

Meet with sufficient expression in words

The might that crushed the devilish clans

And your valiant deeds in the great war

O’ Mother! it is rare indeed and unheard of

½äþiÉÖ& ºÉ¨ÉºiÉVÉMÉiÉÉÆ ÊjÉMÉÖhÉÉÊ{ÉnùÉä¹Éè®ú- xÉ YÉÉªÉºÉä ½þÊ®ú½þ®úÉÊnùÊ¦É®ú{ªÉ{ÉÉ®úÉ ºÉ´ÉÉÇ ÉªÉÉÊJÉ±ÉÊ¨ÉnÆù VÉMÉnÆù¶É¦ÉÚiÉÆ +´ªÉÉEÞòiÉÉ Ê½þ {É®ú¨ÉÉ |ÉEÞòÊiÉºi´É¨ÉÉtÉ (4.6)

You are the incomprehensible cause

And the beginning beyond the trinity

Despite your three-fold evolution

You are the essence of everything

And the primordial Mother of time

ªÉºªÉÉ& ºÉ¨ÉºiÉºÉÖ®úiÉÉ ºÉ¨ÉÖnùÒ®úhÉäxÉ iÉÞÏ{iÉ |ÉªÉÉÊiÉ ºÉEò±Éä¹ÉÖ ¨ÉJÉä¹ÉÖ näùÊ´É! º´ÉÉ½þÉÊºÉ ´Éè Ê{ÉiÉÞMÉhÉºªÉ SÉ iÉÞÎ{iÉ½äþiÉÖ ¯ûSSÉÉªÉÇºÉäi´É¨ÉiÉ B´É VÉxÉè& º´ÉvÉÉ SÉ (4.7)

It is you who make the Gods happy

Svāhā the syllable offering of the sacrifice

And for those who have ascended to moon

As Svadhā you carry the rice and water


3

ªÉÉ ¨ÉÖÊHò½äþiÉÖ®úÊ´ÉÊSÉxiªÉ ¨É½þÉ´ÉÞiÉÉi´É- ¨É¦ªÉºªÉºÉä ºÉÖÊxÉªÉiÉäÎxpùªÉ iÉk´ÉºÉÉ®èú& ¨ÉÉäIÉÉÌlÉÊ¦É¨ÉÖÇÊxÉÊ¦É®úºiÉºÉ¨ÉºiÉnùÉä¹Éè®Âú Ê´ÉtÉÊºÉ ºÉÉ ¦ÉMÉ´ÉiÉÒ {É®ú¨ÉÉ Ê½þ näùÊ´É (4.8)

Sages of vows beyond our comprehension

Find their ultimate refuge in your name

To transcend the senses and all blemishes

Your spell Sri Vidya is the last resort

¶É¤nùÉÎi¨ÉEòÉ ºÉÖÊ´É¨É±ÉMªÉÇVÉÚ¹ÉÉÆ ÊxÉvÉÉxÉ- ¨ÉÖnÂùMÉÒlÉ®ú ªÉ{Énù{ÉÉ`ö´ÉiÉÉÆ SÉ ºÉÉ¨xÉÉÆ näù´ÉÒ jÉªÉÒ ¦ÉMÉ´ÉiÉÒ ¦É´É¦ÉÉ´ÉxÉÉªÉ ´ÉÉkÉÉÇ SÉ ºÉ´ÉÇVÉMÉiÉÉÆ {É®ú¨ÉÉÌkÉ½þxjÉÒ (4.9)

Primordial whole of the divine spells

And the best of all musical hymns

Embodiment of the three fold wisdom

Mother, all the miseries perish at your glance

¨ÉävÉÉÊºÉ näùÊ´É! Ê´ÉÊnùiÉÉÊJÉ±É¶ÉÉºjÉºÉÉ®úÉ nÖùMÉÉÇÊºÉ nÖùMÉÇ¦É´ÉºÉÉMÉ®úxÉÉè®úºÉÆMÉÉ ¸ÉÒ Eèò]õ¦ÉÉÊ®ú ¿nùªÉèEòEÞòiÉÉÊvÉ´ÉÉºÉÉ MÉÉè®úÒ i´É¨Éä É ¶ÉÊ¶É¨ÉÉèÊ±ÉEÞòiÉ |ÉÊiÉ¹`öÉ (4.10)

Intelligence that beholds the infinite wisdom

And the sail to go beyond the sea of existence

You have seated yourself in the heart of Hari

O’ Gauri I am finding you beside Hara too


4

<Ç¹É±É ºÉ½þÉºÉ¨É¨É±ÉÆ {ÉÊ®ú{ÉÚhÉÇSÉxpù- Ë¤É¤ÉÉxÉÖEòÉÊ®ú EòxÉEòÉäkÉ¨ÉEòÉÎxiÉEòÉxiÉÆ +iªÉi¦ÉÖiÉÆ |É¾þiÉ¨ÉÉkÉ¯û¹ÉÉ iÉlÉÉÊ{É

´ÉCjÉÆ Ê´É±ÉÉäCªÉ ºÉ½þºÉÉ ¨ÉÊ½þ¹ÉÉºÉÖ®äúhÉ (4.11)

Your smiling face that defeats the full moon

Golden hue that captivates the whole world

O’ Gauri, it is indeed a great surprise to us

How the Buffalo-demon could strike upon you?

où¹]Âõ ÉÉ iÉÖ näùÊ´É EÖòÊ{ÉiÉÆ §ÉÖEÖò]õÒEò®úÉ³ý- ¨ÉÖtSUô¶ÉÉRÂóEòºÉoù¶ÉSUôÊ´É ªÉzÉ ºÉt& |ÉÉhÉÉxÉÂ ¨ÉÖ ÉÉäSÉ ¨ÉÊ½þ¹ÉºiÉnùiÉÒ´É ÊSÉjÉÆ EèòVÉÔ´ªÉiÉä Ê½þ EÖòÊ{ÉiÉÉxiÉEònù®ú¶ÉxÉäxÉ (4.12)

O’ Mother, we wonder how the demon survived

Despite seeing the tumultous anger on your face

Turned blood red like the rising moon of dark night

And the twitched eyebrows giving the sight of death

näùÊ´É! |ÉºÉÒnù {É®ú¨ÉÉ ¦É´ÉiÉÒ ¦É´ÉÉªÉ ºÉtÉä Ê´ÉxÉÉ¶ÉªÉÊºÉ EòÉä{É´ÉiÉÒ EÖò±ÉÉÊxÉ Ê´ÉYÉÉiÉ¨ÉäiÉnùvÉÖxÉè É ªÉnùºiÉ¨ÉäiÉ- zÉÒiÉÆ ¤É±ÉÆ ºÉÖÊ´É{ÉÖ±ÉÆ ¨ÉÊ½þ¹ÉÉºÉÖ®úºªÉ (4.13)

Be Gracious, O’ Mother to enhance our fortune

Your anger destroys even the kith and kin

We are witness to your destructive prowess

In the doom of the lineage of the Buffalo demon


5

iÉä ºÉ¨¨ÉiÉÉ VÉxÉ{Énäù¹ÉÖ vÉxÉÉÊxÉ iÉä¹ÉÉÆ iÉä¹ÉÉÆ ªÉ¶ÉÉÆÊºÉ xÉ SÉ ºÉÒnùÊiÉ vÉ¨ÉÇ ÉMÉÇ& vÉxªÉÉºiÉ B´É ÊxÉ¦ÉÞiÉÉi¨ÉVÉ ¦ÉÞiªÉnùÉ®úÉ&

ªÉä¹ÉÉÆ ºÉnùÉ¦ªÉÖnùªÉnùÉ ¦É´ÉiÉÒ |ÉºÉzÉÉ (4.14) Upon whom you are pleased to grant boons

They have become the abodes of all happiness

The rich and famous, the holy and the graceful

And the families which abound in joys

vÉ¨¨ªÉÉÇÊhÉ näùÊ´É ºÉEò±ÉÉÊxÉºÉnèù´É Eò¨¨ÉÉÇ- hªÉiªÉÉoùiÉ& |ÉÊiÉÊnùxÉÆ ºÉÖEÞòiÉÒ Eò®úÉäÊiÉ º´ÉMÉÈ |ÉªÉÉÊiÉ SÉ iÉiÉÉä ¦É´ÉiÉÒ |ÉºÉÉnùÉ±ÉÂ

±ÉÉäEòjÉªÉäƒÊ{É ¡ò±ÉnùÉ xÉxÉÖ näùÊ´É iÉäxÉ- (4.15) O’ Gauri, your blessings lead the world

Along good and holy deeds every moment

Your devotees ascend to heavens and beyond

In all the three worlds you are the only refuge

nÖùMÉæ º¨ÉÞiÉÉ ½þ®úÊºÉ ¦ÉÒÊiÉ¨É¶Éä¹ÉVÉxiÉÉä& º´ÉºlÉè& º¨ÉÞiÉÉ¨ÉÊiÉ¨ÉiÉÒ´É ¶ÉÖ¦ÉÉ nùnùÉÊºÉ nùÉÊ®úpù¬nÖù&JÉ¦ÉªÉ½þÉÊ®úÊhÉ EòÉ i´ÉnùxªÉÉ ºÉ´ÉÉæ{ÉEòÉ®úEò®úhÉÉªÉ ºÉnùÉpÇùÊSÉkÉÉ (4.16) Beings in anguish find their deliverance

And mind turns gracious for the devoted

O’ Durgā, your name plays such miracles

Who else to save us from the perils of life

BÊ¦É½ÇþþiÉèVÉÇMÉnÖù{ÉèÊiÉ ºÉÖJÉÆ iÉlÉèiÉä EÖò´ÉÇxiÉÖ xÉÉ¨É xÉ®úEòÉªÉ ÊSÉ®úÉªÉ {ÉÉ{ÉÆ ºÉÆOÉÉ¨É¨ÉÞiªÉÖ ÉÊvÉMÉ¨ªÉ Ênù´ÉÆ |ÉªÉÉxiÉÖ ¨Éi´ÉäÊiÉ xÉÚxÉ¨ÉÊ½þiÉÉxÉÂ Ê´ÉÊxÉ½ÆþÊºÉ näùÊ´É (4.17) Let the world free of demons enjoy peace

And the beings desist from all evil deeds

Let the demons who died in war rise to heaven

O’ Mother, your kindness is beyond words


6

où¹]èõ É ËEò xÉ ¦É´ÉiÉÒ |ÉEò®úÉäÊiÉ ¦Éº¨É ºÉ´ÉÉÇºÉÖ®úÉxÉÊ®ú¹ÉÖ ªÉ±|ÉÊ½þhÉÉäÊ¹É ¶ÉºjÉÆ ±ÉÉäEòÉxÉÂ |ÉªÉÉxiÉÖÊ®ú{É´ÉÉäƒÊ{É Ê½þ ¶ÉºjÉ{ÉÚiÉÉ <ilÉÆ ¨ÉÊiÉ¦ÉÇ ÉÊiÉ iÉä¹´ÉÊ½þiÉä¹ÉÖ º´ÉÉvÉÒ (4.18)

Your concern for the demons is evident

O’ Gauri you have not reduced them to ashes

You have wielded weapons to engage them in war

To kill them gracefully with the sword in your hand

JÉbÂ÷MÉ|É¦ÉÉ ÊxÉEò®úÊ´Éº¡Öò®úhÉèºiÉlÉÉäOÉè& ¶ÉÚ±ÉÉOÉEòÉÎxiÉ ÊxÉ´É½äþxÉ où¶ÉÉäƒºÉÖ®úÉhÉÉÆ ªÉzÉÉMÉiÉÉ Ê´É±ÉªÉ¨ÉÆ¶ÉÖÊ¨ÉxnÖùJÉhb÷- ªÉÉäMªÉÉxÉxÉÆ iÉ´É Ê´É±ÉÉäEòªÉiÉÉÆ iÉnäùiÉ±ÉÂ (4.19)

Lustrous hue of the edges of your swords

And the silver shine of the tips of spears

O’ Gauri, fell short to blind the fiery demons

As their eyes were stuck on your golden face

nÖù´ÉÞÇkÉ´ÉÞkÉ¶É¨ÉxÉÃÆ iÉ´É näùÊ´É ¶ÉÒ±ÉÆ °ü{ÉÆ iÉnèù´É¨ÉÊSÉxiªÉ¨ÉiÉÖ±ªÉ¨ÉxªÉè& ´ÉÒªÉÈ SÉ ½þxiÉÞ¿iÉnäù´É {É®úÉGò¨ÉÉhÉÉÆ ´ÉèÊ®ú¹´ÉÊ{É |ÉEòÊ]õiÉè É nùªÉÉ i´ÉªÉäilÉÆ (4.20) Your grace dispells the vice of the wicked

Unthinkable and unmatched is your form

Your prowess drive to doom of all the evils

Yet you are kind even to those demons

EäòxÉÉä{É¨ÉÉ ¦É´ÉiÉÖ iÉäƒºªÉ {É®úÉGò¨ÉºªÉ °ü{ÉÆ SÉ ¶ÉjÉÖ¦ÉªÉEòÉªÉÇÊiÉ½þÉÊ®ú EÖòjÉ ÊSÉkÉä EÞò{ÉÉºÉ¨É®úÊxÉ¹`Öö®úiÉÉ SÉ où¹]õÉ i´ÉªªÉä É näùÊ´É ´É®únäù ¦ÉÖ ÉxÉjÉªÉäƒÊ{É (4.21) What simile can be given for your valour

And the enchanting form evoking fear in demons

You are kind and brutal in competing spirits

O’ Graceful, no equal in all the three worlds


7

jÉè±ÉÉäCªÉ¨ÉäiÉnùÊJÉ±ÉÆ Ê®ú{ÉÖxÉÉ¶ÉxÉäxÉ jÉÉiÉÆ i´ÉªÉÉ ºÉ¨É®ú¨ÉÚvÉÇÊxÉ iÉäƒÊ{É ½þi´ÉÉ xÉÒiÉÉ Ênù´ÉÆ Ê®ú{ÉÖMÉhÉÉ¦ÉªÉ¨É{ªÉ{ÉÉºiÉ- ¨Éº¨ÉÉEò¨ÉÖx¨ÉnùºÉÖ®úÉÊ®ú¦É´ÉÆ xÉ¨ÉºiÉä (4.22)

You have freed the three worlds from evils

Wicked who died too have taken refuge in you

We have been rescued of the fear of the demons

O’ Mother, we prostrate before you in delight

¶ÉÚ±ÉäxÉ {ÉÉÊ½þxÉÉä näùÊ´É! {ÉÉÊ½þ JÉbÂ÷MÉäxÉ SÉ +Î¨¤ÉEäò PÉhb÷Éº´ÉxÉäxÉ xÉ& {ÉÉÊ½þ SÉÉ{ÉVªÉÉÊxÉº´ÉxÉäxÉ SÉ |ÉÉSªÉÉÆ ®úIÉ |ÉiÉÒSªÉÉÆ SÉ SÉÎhb÷Eäò! ®úIÉ nùÊIÉhÉä §ÉÉ¨ÉhÉäxÉÉi¨É¶ÉÚ±ÉºªÉ =kÉ®úºªÉÉÆ iÉlÉä·É®úÒ (4.23)

O’ Isvarī, spin the spear and the sword all around

To protect us from east and west and all sides

Let the sound of your bell and that of the bow

Serve us to be the guards in all directions

Demons, wars and terror existed all the times. Men fought those evils

with their spirits surrendered to Bhavani. Vande Mataram, the

National Song of India had been the background music of Indian life

and Bankim Chandra presented it against the right backdrop of sensitive

times in which he lived. Great nationalist poet he was and had portrayed

the Yogis as spearheading a revolution under the grace of Great Mother.

Mother Earth is the most benign manifestation of the Great Mother

Chandikā. These verses are in praise of all her boons and a tribute to

Her blessings that we go on unearthing...

bhavani tvam dase mayi

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