Devibhagavatapurana 1.5: pañcamo'dhyāyaḥ | hayagrīvāvatārakathanam

1.5.1

ṛṣaya ūcuḥ |
sūtāsmākaṃ manaḥ kāmaṃ magnaṃ saṃśayasāgare |
yathoktaṃ mahadāścaryaṃ jagadvismayakārakam ||

1.5.2

yanmūrdhā mādhavasyāpi gato dehātpunaḥ param |
hayagrīvastato jātaḥ sarvakartā janārdanaḥ ||

1.5.3

vedo'pi stauti yaṃ devaṃ devāḥ sarve yadāśrayāḥ |
ādidevo jagannāthaḥ sarvakāraṇakāraṇaḥ ||

1.5.4

tasyāpi vadanaṃ chinnaṃ daivayogātkathaṃ tadā |
tatsarvaṃ kathayāśu tvaṃ vistareṇa mahāmate ||

1.5.5

sūta uvāca |
śṛṇvantu munayaḥ sarve sāvadhānāḥ samantataḥ |
caritaṃ devadevasya viṣṇoḥ paramatejasaḥ ||

Sûta said:-- O Munis! Hear all attentively the glorious deeds of the supremely energetic Visnu, the Deva of the Devas. Once on a time the eternal Deva Janârdana became tired after the terrible continuous battle for ten thousand years. After this the Lord Nârâyana seated Himself on Padmâsan (a kind of posture) in some lovely place on a level plot of ground and placing his head on the front of his bow with the bow strung and placed erect on the ground fell fast asleep. Visnu, the Lord of Ramâ, was exceedingly tired and thus he fell soon into deep sleep. At this time Indra and the other Devas, with Brahmâ and Mahesâ began a sacrifice.

1.5.6

kadāciddāruṇaṃ yuddhaṃ kṛtvā devaḥ sanātanaḥ |
daśavarṣasahasrāṇi pariśrānto janārdanaḥ ||

1.5.7

same deśe śubhe sthāne kṛtvā padmāsanaṃ vibhuḥ |
avalambya dhanuḥ sajyaṃ kaṇṭhadeśe dharāsthitam ||

1.5.8

dattvā bhāraṃ dhanuṣkoṭyāṃ nidrāmāpa ramāpatiḥ |
śrāntatvāddaivayogācca jātastatrātinidritaḥ ||

1.5.9

tadā kālena kiyatā devāḥ sarve savāsavāḥ |
brahmeśasahitāḥ sarve yajñaṃ kartuṃ samudyatāḥ ||

1.5.10

gatāḥ sarve'tha vaikuṇṭhaṃ draṣṭuṃ devaṃ janārdanam |
devakāryārthasiddhyarthaṃ makhānāmadhipaṃ prabhum ||

Then they, for the sake of success in Deva's well, went to the region of Vaikuntha to meet with the Deva Janârdana, the Lord of sacrifices. There the Devas, not finding Visnu, came to know by their Dhyân (meditation) where Bhagavân Visnu was staying and thither they went. They saw that the Lord Visnu, the Deva of the Devas was lying unconscious, being under the arms of Yoganidrâ (the yogic sleep). Therefore they took their seats there. Seeing the Lord of the universe asleep, Brahmâ, Rudra and the other Devas became anxious.

1.5.11

adṛṣṭvā taṃ tadā tatra jñānadṛṣṭyā vilokya te |
yatrāste bhagavān viṣṇurjagmustatra tadā surāḥ ||

1.5.12

dadṛśuste tadeśānaṃ yoganidrāvaśaṃ gatam |
vicetanaṃ vibhuṃ viṣṇuṃ tatrāsāñcakrire surāḥ ||

1.5.13

sthiteṣu sarvadeveṣu nidrāsupte jagatpatau |
cintāmāpuḥ surāḥ sarve brahmarudrapurogamāḥ ||

1.5.14

tānuvāca tataḥ śakraḥ kiṃ kartavyaṃ surottamāḥ |
nidrābhaṅgaḥ kathaṃ kāryaścintayantu surottamāḥ ||

Indra then addressed the Devas:--“O best of the Suras! Now what is to be done! How shall we rouse Bhagavân from His sleep? Now think of the means by which this can be effected”. Hearing Indra's words S’ambhu said:-- “O good Devas! Now we must finish our sacrificial work. But if the sleep of Bhagavân be disturbed, He would get angry.” Hearing S’ankara's words, Paramesthî Brahmâ created Vamrî insects (a sort of white ants) so that they might eat up the forepart of the bow that was lying on the ground causing the other end rise up and thus break His sleep. Thus the Deva's purpose will, no doubt, be fulfilled. Thus settling his mind, the eternal Deva Brahmâ ordered the white ants Vamrîs to cut the bow string.

1.5.15

tamuvāca tadā śambhurnidrābhaṅge'sti dūṣaṇam |
kāryaṃ caiva prakartavyaṃ yajñasya surasattamāḥ ||

1.5.16

utpāditā tadā vamrī brahmaṇā parameṣṭhinā |
tayā bhakṣayituṃ tatra dhanuṣo'graṃ dharāsthitam ||

1.5.17

bhakṣite'gre tadā nimnaṃ gamiṣyati śarāsanam |
tadā nidrāvimukto'sau devadevo bhaviṣyati ||

1.5.18

devakāryaṃ tadā sarvaṃ bhaviṣyati na saṃśayaḥ |
sa vamrīṃ sandideśātha devadevaḥ sanātanaḥ ||

1.5.19

tamuvāca tadā vamrī devadevasya māpateḥ |
nidrābhaṅgaḥ kathaṃ kāryo devasya jagatāṃ guroḥ ||

Hearing this order of Brahmâ, Vamrî spoke to Brahmâ, thus:-- “O Brahmân! How can I disturb the sleep of the Devadeva, Lord of Laksmî, the World Guru? To rouse one from one's deep sleep, to interrupt one in one's speech, to sever the love between a couple husband and wife, to separate a child from one's mother, all these are equivalent to Brahmâhatyâ (murdering a Brahmân). Therefore, O Deva! how can I interrupt the happiuess of sleep of the Devadeva? And what benefit shall I derive by eating the bowstring, so that I may incur this vicious act? But a man can commit a sin if there be any interest of his; I am ready to eat this, if I get a personal interest”.

1.5.20

nidrābhaṅgaḥ kathācchedo dampatyoḥ prītibhedanam |
śiśumātṛvibhedaśca brahmahatyāsamaṃ smṛtam ||

1.5.21

tatkathaṃ devadevasya karomi sukhanāśanam |
kiṃ phalaṃ bhakṣaṇāddeva yena pāpaṃ karomyaham ||

1.5.22

sarvaḥ svārthavaśo lokaḥ kurute pātakaṃ kila |
tasmādahaṃ kariṣyāmi svārthameva prabhakṣaṇam ||

1.5.23

brahmovāca |
tava bhāgaṃ kariṣyāmo makhamadhye yathā śṛṇu |
tena tvaṃ kuru kāryaṃ no viṣṇuṃ bodhaya māciram ||

Brahmâ said:-- We will give you, too, share in this our Yajña (sacrifice); so hear me; do our work and rouse Visnu from His sleep. During the time of performing Homa whatever ghee will fall outside the Homa-Kund (the sacrificial pit) will fall to your share; so be quick and do this.

1.5.24

homakarmaṇi pārśve ca havirdānātpatiṣyati |
tatte bhāgaṃ vijānīhi kuru kāryaṃ tvarānvitā ||

1.5.25

sūta uvāca |
ityuktā brahmaṇā vamrī dhanuṣo'graṃ tvarānvitā |
cakhāda saṃsthitaṃ bhūmau vimuktā jyā tadābhavat ||

Sûta said:-- Thus ordered by Brahmâ, the Vamrî insect soon ate away the fore end of the bow that rested on the ground. Immediately the string gave way and the bow went up; the other end became free and a terrible sound took place. The Devas bcame afraid; the whole universe got agitated; the earth trembled. The sea became swollen; the aquatic animals became startled; violent wind blew; the mountains shook; ominous meteors fell. The quarters assumed a terrific aspect; the Sun went down the horizon. In that time of distress the Devas became anxious what evil might come down. O ascetics! while the Devas were thus cogitating, the head with crown on it of the Devadeva Visnu vanished away; no body knew where it fell.

1.5.26

pratyañjāyāṃ vimuktāyāṃ muktā koṭistathottarā |
śabdaḥ samabhavadghorastena trastāḥ surāstadā ||

1.5.27

brahmāṇḍaṃ kṣubhitaṃ sarvaṃ vasudhā kampitā tadā |
samudrāśca samudvignāstresuśca jalajantavaḥ ||

1.5.28

vavurvātāstathā cogrāḥ parvatāśca cakampire |
ulkāpātā mahotpātā babhūvurduḥkhaśaṃsinaḥ ||

1.5.29

diśo ghoratarāścāsansūryo'pyastaṅgato'bhavat |
cintāmāpuḥ surāḥ sarve kiṃ bhaviṣyati durdine ||

1.5.30

evaṃ cintayatāṃ teṣāṃ mūrdhā viṣṇoḥ sakuṇḍalaḥ |
gataḥ samukuṭaḥ kvāpi devadevasya tāpasāḥ ||

1.5.31

andhakāre tadā ghore śānte brahmaharau tadā |
śirohīnaṃ śarīraṃ tu dadṛśāte vilakṣaṇam ||

When the awful darkness disappeared, Brahmâ and Mahâdeva saw the disfigured body of Visnu with its head off. Seeing that headless figure of Visnu they were greatly surprised; they were drowned in the ocean of cares and, overwhelmed with grief, began to weep aloud. O Lord! O Master! O Devadeva! O Eternal one! what unforeseen extraordinary mishap occurred to us to-day! O Deva! Thou canst not be pierced nor cut asunder, nor capable of being burnt; how is it then that Thy head has been taken away! Is this the Mâyâ (majic) of some. Deva? O all pervading one! The Devas cannot live when Thy condition is thus; we do not know what affection dost Thou have towards us. We are crying because of our selfish ends; perhaps this therefore has occurred. The Daityas, Yaksas, or Râkhsasas have not done this; O Lord of Laksmî! Whose fault will we ascribe this to? The Devas themselves have committed this loss to themselves?

1.5.32

dṛṣṭvā kabandhaṃ viṣṇoste vismitāḥ surasattamāḥ |
cintāsāgaramagnāśca ruruduḥ śokakarśitāḥ ||

1.5.33

hā nātha kiṃ prabho jātamatyadbhutamamānuṣam |
vaiśasaṃ sarvadevānāṃ devadeva sanātana ||

1.5.34

māyeyaṃ kasya devasya yayā te'dya śiro hṛtam |
acchedyastvamabhedyo'si apradāhyo'si sarvadā ||

1.5.35

evaṃ gate tvayi vibho mariṣyanti ca devatāḥ |
kīdṛśastvayi naḥ snehaḥ svārthenaiva rudāmahe ||

1.5.36

nāyaṃ vighnaḥ kṛto daityairna yakṣairna ca rākṣasaiḥ |
devaireva kṛtaḥ kasya dūṣaṇaṃ ca ramāpate ||

1.5.37

parādhīnāḥ surāḥ sarve kiṃ kurmaḥ kva vrajāma ca |
śaraṇaṃ naiva deveśa surāṇāṃ mūḍhacetasām ||

O Lord of the Devas! The Devas are. now dependent! They are under Thee. Now where are we to go? What are we to do? There is none to save the dull stupid Devas!
At this juncture, seeing S’iva and the other Devas crying, Brihaspati, supremely versed in the Vedas, consoled them thus:-- “O highly fortunate one! what use there will be in thus crying and repenting? it ought you now to consider the means that you should adopt to redress your calamities. O Lord of the Devas! Fate and one's own exertion and intelligence are equal; if the success comes not through Fate (Luck or chance) one is certainly to show one's prowess and merit”.

1.5.38

na caiṣā sāttvikī māyā rājasī na ca tāmasī |
yayā chinnaṃ śiraste'dya māyeśasya jagadguroḥ ||

1.5.39

krandamānāṃstadā dṛṣṭvā devāñchivapurogamān |
bṛhaspatistadovāca śamayanvedavittamaḥ ||

1.5.40

ruditena mahābhāgāḥ kranditena tathāpi kim |
upāyaścātra kartavyaḥ sarvathā buddhigocaraḥ ||

1.5.41

daivaṃ puruṣakāraśca deveśa sadṛśāvubhau |
upāyaśca vidhātavyo daivātphalati sarvathā ||

1.5.42

indra uvāca |
daivameva paraṃ manye dhikpauruṣamanarthakam |
viṣṇorapi śiraśchinnaṃ surāṇāṃ caiva paśyatām ||

Indra said:-- Fie to your exertion when, before our eyes, the head of Bhagavân Visnu Himself has been carried off! Fie, Fie to your prowess and intelligence! Fate is in my opinion, the supreme.
Brahmâ said:-- Whatever, auspicious or inauspicious, is ordained Daiva (Fate), every one must bear that; no one can go beyond the Daiva. When one has taken up a body, one must experience pleasure and pain; there is no manner of doubt in this. See, in long-past days, by the irony of Fate, S’ambhu severed my head; His generative organ, too, dropped down through curse. Similarly Hari's head has, to-day, fallen into the salt ocean. By the influence of time, Indra, the Lord of Sachi, had thousand genital marks over his body, was expelled from Heaven and had to live in the Mânas sarovar in the lotuses and had to suffer many other miseries.

1.5.43

brahmovāca |
avaśyameva bhoktavyaṃ kālenāpāditaṃ ca yat |
śubhaṃ vāpyaśubhaṃ vāpi daivaṃ ko'tikrametpunaḥ ||

1.5.44

dehavānsukhaduḥkhānāṃ bhoktā naivātra saṃśayaḥ |
yathā kālavaśātkṛttaṃ śiro me śambhunā purā ||

1.5.45

tathaiva liṅgapātaśca mahādevasya śāpataḥ |
tathaivādya harermūrdhā patito lavaṇāmbhasi ||

1.5.46

sahasrabhagasamprāptirduḥkhaṃ caiva śacīpateḥ |
svargādbhraṃśastathā vāsaḥ kamale mānase sare ||

1.5.47

ete duḥkhasya bhoktāraḥ kena duḥkhaṃ na bhujyate |
saṃsāre'sminmahābhāgāstasmācchokaṃ tyajantu vai ||

O Glorious ones! When such personages have suffered pains, then who else is there in the world, that dues not suffer! so you all cease sorrows and meditate on the Eternal Mahâmâyâ; who is the Mother of all, who is supporter of all, who is of the nature of Brahmâvidyâ (the Supreme Knowledge) and who is beyond the Gunas, who is the Prime Prâkriti, and who pervades the three Lokas, the whole universe, moving and unmoving; She will dispense our welfare. Sûta said:-- Thus saying to the Devas, Brahmâ ordered all the Vedas, that were incarnate there in their forms, for the successful issue of the Deva's work.

1.5.48

cintayantu mahāmāyāṃ vidyādevīṃ sanātanīm |
sā vidhāsyati naḥ kāryaṃ nirguṇā prakṛtiḥ parā ||

1.5.49

brahmavidyāṃ jagaddhātrīṃ sarveṣāṃ jananīṃ tathā |
yayā sarvamidaṃ vyāptaṃ trailokyaṃ sacarācaram ||

1.5.50

sūta uvāca |
ityuktvā vai surānvedhā nigamānādideśa ha |
dehayuktānsthitānagre surakāryārthasiddhaye ||

1.5.51

brahmovāca |
stuvantu paramāṃ devīṃ brahmavidyāṃ sanātanīm |
gūḍhāṅgīṃ ca mahāmāyāṃ sarvakāryārthasādhanīm ||

Brahmâ said:-- “OVedas! Now go on and chant hymns to the Sacred Highest Devî Mahâmâyâ, who is Brahmâvidyâ, who brings all issues to their successful issues, who is hidden in all forms.” Hearing His words, the all-beautiful Vedas began to chant hymns to Mahâmâyâ who can be comprehended by Jñân, and who pervades the world.
The Vedas said:-- Obeisance to the Devî! to the Mahâmâyâ! to the Auspicious One! to the Creatrix of the Universe! We bow down to Thee, who is beyond the Gunas, the Ruler of all the Beings! O Mother! Thou givest to S’ankara even His desires. Thou art the receptacle of all the things; Thou art the Prâna of all the living beings; Thou art Buddhi, Laksmî (wealth), S’obhâ, Ks'hamâ (forgiveness), S’ânti (peace), Sraddhâ (faith), Medhâ (intellect), Dhriti (fortitude), and Smriti (recollection).

1.5.52

tacchrutvā vacanaṃ tasya vedāḥ sarvāṅgasundarāḥ |
tuṣṭuvurjñānagamyāṃ tāṃ mahāmāyāṃ jagatsthitām ||

1.5.53

vedā ūcuḥ |
namo devi mahāmāye viśvotpattikare śive |
nirguṇe sarvabhūteśi mātaḥ śaṅkarakāmade ||

1.5.54

tvaṃ bhūmiḥ sarvabhūtānāṃ prāṇāḥ prāṇavatāṃ tathā |
dhīḥ śrīḥ kāntiḥ kṣamā śāntiḥ śraddhā medhā dhṛtiḥ smṛtiḥ ||

1.5.55

tvamudgīthe'rdhamātrāsi gāyatrī vyāhṛtistathā |
jayā ca vijayā dhātrī lajjā kīrtiḥ spṛhā dayā ||

Thou art the vindu (m) over the Prânava (om) and thou art of the nature of semi-moon; Thou art Gâyattri, Thou art Vyârhiti; Thou art Jayâ, Vijayâ, Dhâtri (the supportress), Lajjâ (modesty), Kîrti (fame), Ichchâ (will) and Dayâ (mercy) in all beings.

1.5.56

tvāṃ saṃstumo'mba bhuvanatrayasaṃvidhāna-dakṣāṃ dayārasayutāṃ jananīṃ janānām |
vidyāṃ śivāṃ sakalalokahitāṃ vareṇyāṃ vāgbījavāsanipuṇāṃ bhavanāśakartrīm ||

O Mother! Thou art the merciful Mother of the three worlds; Thou art the adorable auspicious Vidyâ (knowledge) benefitting all the Lokas; Thou destroyest the Universe and Thou skilfully residest (hidden) in the Vîja mantras. Therefore we are praising Thee. O Mother! Brahmâ, Visnu, Mahes’vara, Indra, Sûrya, Fire, Sarasvatî and other Regents of the Universe are all Thy creation; so none of them is superior to Thee. Thou art the Mother of all the things, moving and non-moving.

1.5.57

brahmā haraḥ śaurisahasranetra-vāgvahnisūryā bhuvanādhināthāḥ |
te tvatkṛtāḥ santi tato na mukhyā mātā yatastvaṃ sthirajaṅgamānām ||

1.5.58

sakalabhuvanametatkartukāmā yadā tvaṃ sṛjasi janani devānviṣṇurudrājamukhyān |
sthitilayajananaṃ taiḥ kārayasyekarūpā na khalu tava kathañciddevi saṃsāraleśaḥ ||

O Mother! When Thou dost will to create this visible Universe, Thou createst first Brahmâ, Visnu and Mahes'vara and makest them create, preserve and destroy this universe; but Thou remainest quite unattached to the world. Ever Thou remainest constant in Thy one form. No one in this Universe is able to know Thy nature; nor there is any body who can enumerate Thy names. How can he promise to jump across the illimitable ocean, who cannot jump across an ordinary well.
O Bhagavatî! No one amongst the Devas even knows particularly Thy endless power and glory. Thou art alone the Lady of the Universe and the Mother of the world.

1.5.59

na te rūpaṃ vettuṃ sakalabhuvane ko'pi nipuṇo na nāmnāṃ saṅkhyāṃ te kathitumiha yogyo'sti puruṣaḥ |
yadalpaṃ kīlālaṃ kalayitumaśaktaḥ sa tu naraḥ kathaṃ pārāvārākalanacaturaḥ syādṛtamatiḥ ||

1.5.60

na devānāṃ madhye bhagavati tavānantavibhavaṃ vijānātyeko'pi tvamiha bhuvanaikāsi jananī |
kathaṃ mithyā viśvaṃ sakalamapi caikā racayasi pramāṇaṃ tvetasminnigamavacanaṃ devi vihitam ||

1.5.61

nirīhaivāsi tvaṃ nikhilajagatāṃ kāraṇamaho caritraṃ te citraṃ bhagavati mano no vyathayati |
kathaṅkāraṃ vācyaḥ sakalanigamāgocaraguṇa-prabhāvaḥ svaṃ yasmātsvayamapi na jānāsi paramam ||

1.5.61.p1

na kiṃ jānāsi tvaṃ janani madhujinmaulipatanam ||

1.5.61.p2

śive kiṃ vā jñātvā vividiṣasi śaktiṃ madhujitaḥ |
hareḥ kiṃ vā mātarduritatatireṣā balavatī ||

1.5.62

bhavatyāḥ pādābje bhajananipuṇe kvāsti duritam ||

The Vedas all bear testimony how thou alone hast created all this unreal and fleeting universe. O Devî! Thou without any effort and having no desires hast become the cause of this visible world, thyself remaining unchanged. This is a great wonder. We cannot conceive this combination of contrary varieties in one. O Mother! How can we understand thy power, unknown to all the Vedas even, when thou thyself dost not know thy nature! We are bewildered at this. O Mother! It is that thou dost know nothing about the falling off of the Visnu's head! Or knowingly thou wanted to examine Visnu's prowess. Is it that Hari incurred any heinous sin. How can that be! Where is sin to thy followers who serve Thee! O Mother! Why art Thou so much indifferent to the Devas! It is a great wonder that the head of Visnu is severed! Really, we are merged in great misfortunes. Thou art clever in removing the sorrows of Thy devotees. Why art Thou delaying in fixing again the head on Visnu's body.
O Devî! Is it that Thou taking offence on the gods hast cast that on Visnu! or was it that Visnu became proud and to curb that, Thou hast played thus! or is it that the Daityas, having suffered defeat from Visnu went and practised severe tapasya in some beautiful holy place, and have got some boons; and so Visnu's head has thus fallen off!
Or is it, O Bhagavatî! that Thou wert very eagerly interested to see Visnu's headless body and therefore Thou hast seen thus! O Prime Force! Is it that Thou art angry on the daughter of the Sindhu (ocean); Laksmî Devî! Else, why hast Thou deprived Her of Her husband? Laksmî is born as a part of Thine; So Thou oughtest to forgive Her offence.
Therefore dost Thou gladden Her by giving back Her husband's life.
The principal Devas, engaged in Thy service, always make their Prânams (bow down) to Thee; O Devî! Beest Thou kind enough and make alive the Deva Visnu, the Lord of all and crossest us across this ocean of sorrows. O Mother! We cannot make out anything whatsoever where Hari's head has gone. We have no other protectress than Thee who canst give back His life? O Devî! Dost Thou give life to the whole world as the nectar gives life to all the Devas.

1.5.62.p1

upekṣā kiṃ ceyaṃ tava surasamūhe'tiviṣamā ||

1.5.62.p2

harermūrdhno nāśo matamiha mahāścaryajanakam |
mahadduḥkhaṃ mātastvamasi jananacchedakuśalā ||

1.5.63

na jānīmo maulervighaṭanavilambaḥ kathamabhūt ||

1.5.64

jñātvā doṣaṃ sakalasuratāpāditaṃ devi citte kiṃ vā viṣṇāvamarajanitaṃ duṣkṛtaṃ pātitaṃ te |
viṣṇorvā kiṃ samarajanitaḥ ko'pi garvo'tivegā-cchettuṃ mātastava vilasitaṃ naiva vidmo'tra bhāvam ||

1.5.65

kiṃ vā daityaiḥ samaravijitaistīrthadeśe suramye ghoraṃ taptvā bhagavati varaṃ labdhavadbhirbhavatyāḥ |
antardhānaṃ gamitamadhunā viṣṇuśīrṣaṃ bhavāni draṣṭuṃ kiṃ vā vigataśirasaṃ vāsudevaṃ vinodaḥ ||

1.5.66

sindhoḥ putryāṃ roṣitā kiṃ tvamādye kasmādenāṃ prekṣase nāthahīnām |
kṣantavyaste svāṃśajātāparādho vyutthāpyainaṃ moditā māṃ kuruṣva ||

1.5.67

ete surāstvāṃ satataṃ namanti kāryeṣu mukhyāḥ prathitaprabhāvāḥ |
śokārṇavāttāraya devi devā-nutthāpya devaṃ sakalādhinātham ||

1.5.68

mūrdhā gataḥ kvāmba harerna vidmo nānyo'styupāyaḥ khalu jīvane'dya |
yathā sudhā jīvanakarmadakṣā tathā jagajjīvitadāsi devi ||

1.5.69

sūta uvāca |
evaṃ stutā tadā devī guṇātītā maheśvarī |
prasannā paramā māyā vedaiḥ sāṅgaiśca sāmagaiḥ ||

Sûta said:-- Thus praised by the Vedas with their Angas, with Sâmagânas (the songs from the Sâma Veda), the Nirgunâ Mahes'vari Devî Mahâmâyâ became pleased. Then the auspicious voice came to them from the Heavens, gladdening all, and pleasing to the ears though no form was seen: “O Suras! Do not care anything about it; you are immortal (what fear can you have?) Come to your senses. I am very much pleased by the praise sung by the Vedas. There is no doubt in this. Amongst men, whoever will read this My stotra with devotion, will get all what he desires. Whoever will hear this devotedly, during the three Sandhyas, will lie freed from troubles and become happy. When this stotra has been sung by the Vedas, it is equivalent to the Vedas.

1.5.70

tānuvāca tadā vāṇī cākāśasthāśarīriṇī |
devānprati sukhaiḥ śabdairjanānandakarī śubhā ||

1.5.71

mā kurudhvaṃ surāścintāṃ svasthāstiṣṭhantu cāmarāḥ |
stutāhaṃ nigamaiḥ kāmaṃ santuṣṭāsmi na saṃśayaḥ ||

1.5.72

yaḥ pumānmānuṣe loke stautyetāṃ māmakīṃ stutim |
patiṣyati sadā bhaktyā sarvānkāmānavāpnuyāt ||

1.5.73

śṛṇoti vā stotramidaṃ madīyaṃ bhaktyā trikālaṃ satataṃ naro yaḥ |
vimuktaduḥkhaḥ sa bhavetsukhī ca vedoktametannanu vedatulyam ||

1.5.74

śṛṇvantu kāraṇaṃ cādya yadgataṃ vadanaṃ hareḥ |
akāraṇaṃ kathaṃ kāryaṃ saṃsāre'tra bhaviṣyati ||

Does anything take place in this world without any cause? Now hear why Hari's head was cut off. Once on a time, seeing the beautiful face of His dear wife Laksmî Devî, Hari laughed in presence of Her.

1.5.75

udadhestanayāṃ viṣṇuḥ saṃsthitāmantike priyām |
jahāsa vadanaṃ vīkṣya tasyāstatra manoramam ||

1.5.76

tayā jñātaṃ harirnūnaṃ kathaṃ māṃ hasati prabhuḥ |
virūpaṃ hariṇā dṛṣṭaṃ mukhaṃ me kena hetunā ||

At this Laksmî Devî came to understand that “He has seen surely something ugly in my face and therefore He laughed; otherwise why my Husband would laugh at seeing me. But what reason can there be as to see ugliness in my face after so long a time. And why shall He laugh without seeing something ugly, without any cause. Or it may be, He has made some other beautiful woman as my co-wife”. Thus arguing variously in her mind, Mahâ Laksmî gradually got angry and Tamo guna slowly possessed Her. Then, by turn of Fate, in order that god’s work might be completed, very fierce Tamas Sakti entered into Her body. She got very angry and slowly said:-- “Let Thy head fall off”. Thus, owing to feminine nature and the destiny of Bhagvan, Laksmî cursed without any thought of good or bad, causing Her own suffering. By the Tâmasî S’akti possessing Her, she thought that a co-wife would be more painful than Her widowhood and thus She cursed Him.

1.5.77

vināpi kāraṇenādya kathaṃ hāsyasya sambhavaḥ |
sapatnīva kṛtā tena manye'nyā varavarṇinī ||

1.5.78

tataḥ kopayutā jātā mahālakṣmī tamoguṇā |
tāmasī tu tadā śaktistasyā dehe samāviśat ||

1.5.79

kenacitkālayogena devakāryārthasiddhaye |
praviṣṭā tāmasī śaktistasyā dehe'tidāruṇā ||

1.5.80

tāmasyāviṣṭadehā sā cukopātiśayaṃ tadā |
śanakaiḥ samuvācedamidaṃ patatu te śiraḥ ||

1.5.81

strīsvabhāvācca bhāvitvātkālayogādvinirgataḥ |
avicārya tadā dattaḥ śāpaḥ svasukhanāśanaḥ ||

1.5.82

sapatnīsambhavaṃ duḥkhaṃ vaidhavyādadhikaṃ tviti |
vicintya manasetyuktaṃ tāmasīśaktiyogataḥ ||

1.5.83

anṛtaṃ sāhasaṃ māyā mūrkhatvamatilobhatā |
aśaucaṃ nirdayatvaṃ ca strīṇāṃ doṣāḥ svabhāvajāḥ ||

Falsehood, vain boldness, craftiness, stupidity, impatience, over-greediness, impurity, and harshness are the natural qualities of women. Owing to that curse, the head of Vasudeva has fallen into the salt ocean. Now I will fix the head on His body as before. O Sura Sattamas! There is another cause, also, regarding this affair. That will bring you great success. In ancient days a famous Daitya, named Hayagrîva practised severe tapasya on the bank of the Sarasvatî river.

1.5.84

saśīrṣaṃ vāsudevaṃ taṃ karomyadya yathā purā |
śiro'sya śāpayogena nimagnaṃ lavaṇāmbudhau ||

1.5.85

anyacca kāraṇaṃ kiñcidvartate surasattamāḥ |
bhavatāṃ ca mahatkāryaṃ bhaviṣyati na saṃśayaḥ ||

1.5.86

purā daityo mahābāhurhayagrīvo'tiviśrutaḥ |
tapaścakre sarasvatyāstīre paramadāruṇam ||

1.5.87

japannekākṣaraṃ mantraṃ māyābījātmakaṃ mama |
nirāhāro jitātmā ca sarvabhogavivarjitaḥ ||

Abandoning all sorts of enjoyments, with control over his senses and without any food, the Daitya did Japam of the (repeated) one syllabled Mâyâ-Vija-mantra and, meditating the form of the Utmost Sakti of Mine, adorned with all ornaments, practised very terrible austerities for one thousand years. I, too, went to the place of austerities in My Tâmasî form, meditated by the Daitya and appeared before him. There, seated on the lion's back, feeling compassion for his tapasya I spoke to him:-- “O glorious One! O one of good vows! I have come to grant boon to Thee!” Hearing the words of the Devî, the Daitya instantly got up and falling down with devotion at Her feet, circumambulated Her. Looking at My form, his large eyes became cheerful with feelings of love and filled with tears; shedding tears, then, he began to chant hymns to Me.

1.5.88

dhyāyanmāṃ tāmasīṃ śaktiṃ sarvabhūṣaṇabhūṣitām |
evaṃ varṣasahasraṃ ca tapaścakre'tidāruṇam ||

1.5.89

tadāhaṃ tāmasaṃ rūpaṃ kṛtvā tatra samāgatā |
darśane puratastasya dhyātaṃ tattena yādṛśam ||

1.5.90

siṃhopari sthitā tatra tamavocaṃ dayānvitā |
varaṃ brūhi mahābhāga dadāmi tava suvrata ||

1.5.91

iti śrutvā vaco devyā dānavaḥ premapūritaḥ |
pradakṣiṇāṃ praṇāmaṃ ca cakāra tvaritastadā ||

1.5.92

dṛṣṭvā rūpaṃ madīyaṃ sa premosphullavilocanaḥ |
harṣāśrupūrṇanayanastuṣṭāva sa ca māṃ tadā ||

1.5.93

hayagrīva uvāca |
namo devyai mahāmāye sṛṣṭisthityantakāriṇi |
bhaktānugrahacature kāmade mokṣade śive ||

Hayagrîva said:-- “Obeisance to the Devî Mahâmaye! I bow down to Thee, the Creatrix, the Preserver, and the Destructrix of the universe! Skilled in shewing favour to Thy devotees! Giver of the devotee's desires! Obeisance to Thee! O Thou, the giver of liberation! O Thou! The auspicious one! I bow down to Thee. Thou art the cause of the five elements -- earth, water, fire, air, and Akasa! Thou art the cause of form, taste, smell, sound and touch. O Mahes’vari! the five jñânendriyas (organs of perception) eyes, ears, nose, tongue, and skin and the five organs of action Karmendriyas:-- hands, feet, speech, arms, and the organ of generation are all created by Thee.

1.5.94

dharāmbutejaḥpavanakhapañcānāṃ ca kāraṇam |
tvaṃ gandharasarūpāṇāṃ kāraṇaṃ sparśaśabdayoḥ ||

1.5.95

ghrāṇaṃ ca rasanā cakṣustvakśrotramindriyāṇi ca |
karmendriyāṇi cānyāni tvattaḥ sarvaṃ maheśvari ||

1.5.96

devyuvāca |
kiṃ te'bhīṣṭaṃ varaṃ brūhi vāñchitaṃ yaddadāmi tat |
parituṣṭāsmi bhaktyā te tapasā cādbhutena ca ||

The Devî said:-- “O child! I am very much satisfied with your wonderful tapasya and devotion. Now say what boon do you want. I will give you the boon that you desire”. Hayagrîva said;-- “O Mother! grant me that boon by which death will not come to me, and I be invincible by the Suras and Asuras, I may be a Yogi and immortal”.
The Devî said:-- “ Death brings in birth and birth brings in death; this is inevitable.” This order of things is extant in this world; never its violation takes place. O best of the Râksasas! Thus knowing death sure, think in your mind and ask another boon.
Hayagrîva said: -- “O Mother of the universe! If it be that Thou art not willing at all to grant me immortality, then grant me this boon that my death may not occur from any other than from one who is horse-faced. Be merciful and grant me this boon that I desire.”

1.5.97

hayagrīva uvāca |
yathā me maraṇaṃ mātarna bhavettattathā kuru |
bhaveyamamaro yogī tathājeyaḥ surāsuraiḥ ||

1.5.98

devyuvāca |
jātasya hi dhruvaṃ mṛtyurdhruvaṃ janma mṛtasya ca |
maryādā cedṛśī loke bhavecca kathamanyathā ||

1.5.99

evaṃ tvaṃ niścayaṃ kṛtvā maraṇe rākṣasottama |
varaṃ varaya ceṣṭaṃ te vicārya manasā kila ||

1.5.100

hayagrīva uvāca |
hayagrīvācca me mṛtyurnānyasmājjagadambike |
iti me vāñchitaṃ kāmaṃ pūrayasva manogatam ||

1.5.101

devyuvāca |
gṛhaṃ gaccha mahābhāga kuru rājyaṃ yathāsukham |
hayagrīvādṛte mṛtyurna te nūnaṃ bhaviṣyati ||

O highly fortunate one! “Go home and govern your kingdom at your ease; death won't occur to you from any other beings then from one who is horse-faced.” Thus granting the boon, the Devî vanished. Becoming very glad on getting this boon, Hayagrîva went to his residence. Since then the wicked Daitya is troubling very much all the Devas and Munis. There is none in the three worlds to kill him. So let Visvakarmâ take a horse's head and fix it on the headless body of Visnu. Then Bhagavân Hayagrîva will slay the vicious wicked Asura, for the good of the Devas”.

1.5.102

iti dattvā varaṃ tasmā antardhānaṃ gatā tathā |
mudaṃ paramikāṃ prāpya so'pi svabhavanaṃ gataḥ ||

1.5.103

sa pīḍayati duṣṭātmā munīn vedāṃśca sarvaśaḥ |
na ko'pi vidyate tasya hantādya bhuvanatraye ||

1.5.104

tasmācchīrṣaṃ hayasyāsya samuddhṛtya manoharam |
dehe'tra viśiroviṣṇostvaṣṭā saṃyojayiṣyati ||

1.5.105

hayagrīvo'tha bhagavānhaniṣyati tamāsuram |
pāpiṣṭhaṃ dānavaṃ krūraṃ devānāṃ hitakāmyayā ||

1.5.106

sūta uvāca |
evaṃ surāṃstadābhāṣya śarvāṇī virarāma ha |
devāstadātisantuṣṭāstamūcurdevaśilpinam ||

Sûta said:-- Thus speaking to the Devas, Bhagavatî S’arvânî remained silent. The Devas became very glad and spoke this to Visvakarmâ:-- “Kindly do this Deva work and fix Visnu's head. He will become Hayagrîva and kill the indomitable Dânava.” Sûta said:-- Hearing these words, Visvakarmâ quickly cut off with his axe, the head of a horse, brought it before the Devas and fixed it on the headless body of Visnu. By the grace of Mahâmâyâ, Bhagavân became horse-faced or Hayagrîva. Then, a few days after, Bhagavân. Hayagrîva killed that proud Dânava, the Deva's enemy, by sheer force. Any man, hearing this excellent anecdote, becomes freed, certainly of all sorts of difficulties. Hearing or reading Mahâmâyâ's glorious deeds, pure and sin destroying, gives all sorts of wealth.
Thus ends the fifth chapter of the first Skandha on the description of the narrative of Hayagrîva in the Mahâ Purâna S’rimad Devî Bhâgavatam of 18,000 verses.

1.5.107

devā ūcuḥ |
kuru kāryaṃ surāṇāṃ vai viṣṇoḥ śīrṣābhiyojanam |
dānavapravaraṃ daityaṃ hayagrīvo haniṣyati ||

1.5.108

sūta uvāca |
iti śrutvā vacasteṣāṃ tvaṣṭā cātitvarānvitaḥ |
vājiśīrṣaṃ cakartāśu khaḍgena surasannidhau ||

1.5.101_2

viṣṇoḥ śarīre tenāśu yojitaṃ vājimastakam |
hayagrīvo harirjāto mahāmāyāprasādataḥ ||

1.5.110

kiyatā tena kālena dānavo madadarpitaḥ |
nihatastarasā saṅkhye devānāṃ ripurojasā ||

1.5.111

ya idaṃ śubhamākhyānaṃ śṛṇvanti bhuvi mānavāḥ |
sarvaduḥkhavinirmuktāste bhavanti na saṃśayaḥ ||

1.5.112

mahāmāyācaritrañca pavitraṃ pāpanāśanam |
paṭhatāṃ śṛṇvatāṃ caiva sarvasampattikārakam ||

1.5.112.c1

iti śrīmaddevībhāgavate mahāpurāṇe'ṣṭādaśasāhasryāṃ saṃhitāyāṃ prathamaskandhe hayagrīvāvatārakathanaṃ nāma pañcamo'dhyāyaḥ ||