Devishataka 5_1

5_1

(A group of verses [*kulaka*])
May the dust of the feet of that Mother of intellects serve for your perfection: the particles of dust from the feet of the Mother of intellects, that is, of intuitive wisdom, whose nature is about to be described, may they bring about your, that is to say, your, perfection, the attainment of focused composure.
"Whom Vedhas knows not": which Devī even the Creator does not know. If the creator does not know her, who else, poor wretch, will know? "He cannot comprehend the Dhātṛ": that is, even the Dhātṛ, Prajāpati, cannot comprehend [her]. What kind [of goddess]? "Who fills the universe with infinite majesty": Ananta is the blessed Viṣṇu; his majesty is his greatness; she by whom the universe, the three worlds, is pervaded, filled, by that [greatness]. For according to sacred tradition, the Blessed Lady fills the world through the majesty of Hari. Or else: she by whom the universe is filled with infinite, manifold, immeasurable glories. "And who, like a mother": like a progenitor, "shows compassion": nurtures tenderness, "to a human who bows": to a person who is humble, a devotee. This expresses that although her nature is difficult to know, she is easily attained through devotion by her devotees. She whom even Vedhas does not know is easily attained through devotion; thus there is fruitfulness in the effort of the hymn of praise. (1)

Another [qualification]: Her "solar body," that is, her solar form, is not not equal [to her], meaning it is indeed identical. *Tāpanī* means of the sun (*tapana*). Of what kind of Devī? "By whom the afflictions of those who bow are removed": by whom the afflictions, passion and the rest, of those who bow, the devotees, are removed, destroyed—of such a one. And of what kind is the solar body? "Tormenting the host of enemies of the gods": destroying the enemies of the gods; it has the nature of tormenting the enemies of the gods. The Devī also is just like this, hence their similarity. Likewise, "bringing about a state devoid of wretchedness": it causes one to obtain, brings about, non-meanness, that is, strength and dignity; it is a bestower of elevation. Thus it is common to both. (2)