Devibhagavatapurana 11.1: prathamo'dhyāyaḥ | manukṛtaṃ devīstavanam

11.1.1

nārada uvāca |
bhagavan bhūtabhavyeśa nārāyaṇa sanātana |
ākhyātaṃ paramāścaryaṃ devīcāritramuttamam ||

11.1.2

prādurbhāvaḥ paro mātuḥ kāryārthamasuradruhām |
adhikārāptiruktātra devīpūrṇakṛpāvaśāt ||

11.1.3

adhunā śrotumicchāmi yena prīṇāti sarvadā |
svabhaktānparipuṣṇāti tamācāraṃ vada prabho ||

11.1.4

śrīnārāyaṇa uvāca |
śṛṇu nārada tattvajña sadācāravidhikramam |
yadanuṣṭhānamātreṇa devī prīṇāti sarvadā ||

11.1.5

prātarutthāya kartavyaṃ yad dvijena dine dine |
tadahaṃ sampravakṣyāmi dvijānāmupakārakam ||

11.1.6

udayāstamayaṃ yāvad dvijaḥ satkarmakṛdbhavet |
nityanaimittikairyuktaḥ kāmyaiścānyairagarhitaiḥ ||

11.1.7

ātmanaśca sahāyārthaṃ pitā mātā na tiṣṭhati |
na putradārā na jñātirdharmastiṣṭhati kevalam ||

11.1.8

tasmāddharmaṃ sahāyārthaṃ nityaṃ sañcinu sādhanaiḥ |
dharmeṇaiva sahāyāttu tamastarati dustaram ||

11.1.9

ācāraḥ prathamo dharmaḥ śrutyuktaḥ smārta eva ca |
tasmādasminsamāyukto nityaṃ syādātmano dvijaḥ ||

11.1.10

ācārāllabhate cāyurācārāllabhate prajāḥ |
ācārādannamakṣayyamācāro hanti pātakam ||

11.1.11

ācāraḥ paramo dharmo nṛṇāṃ kalyāṇakārakaḥ |
iha loke sukhī bhūtvā paratra labhate sukham ||

11.1.12

ajñānāndhajanānāṃ tu mohitairbhrāmitātmanām |
dharmarūpo mahādīpo muktimārgapradarśakaḥ ||

11.1.13

ācārātprāpyate śraiṣṭhyamācārātkarma labhyate |
karmaṇo jāyate jñānamiti vākyaṃ manoḥ smṛtam ||

11.1.14

sarvadharmavariṣṭho'yamācāraḥ paramaṃ tapaḥ |
tadeva jñānamuddiṣṭaṃ tena sarvaṃ prasādhyate ||

Right way of living is the best of all the Dharmas and is great Tapasyâ (asceticism). The knowledge comes from this Right Living. Everything is attained thereby. He who is devoid of Sadâchâra, is like a S’ûdra, even if he comes of a Brâhmin family. There is no distinction whatsoever betwen him and a S’ûdra. Right conduct is of two kinds:-- (1) as dictated by the S’âstras, (2) as dictated by the popular custom (Laukika). Both these methods should be observed by him who wants welfare for his Self. He is not to forsake one of them. O Muni! The village Dharma, the Dharma of one's own caste, the Dharma of one's own family and the Dharma of one's own country all should be observed by men. Never, never he is to do anything otherwise. With great loving devotion that is to be preserved. Men who practise wrong ways of living, are censured by the public; they always suffer from diseases. Avoid wealth and desires that have no Dharma in them. Why? If in the name of dharma, painful acts (e. g. killing animals in sacrifices) are to be committed, those are blamed by the people; so never commit them. Avoid them by all means. Nârada said:-- “O Muni! The S’âstras are not one, they are many and they lay down different rules and contradictory opinions, How then Dharma is to be followed? And according what Dharma S’âstra?” Nârâyana said:-- S’ruti and Smriti are the two eyes of God; the Purânam is His Heart. Whatever is stated in S’ruti, the Smriti and the Purânams is Dharma; whatever else is written in other S’âstras is not Dharma. Where you will find differences between S’ruti, Smriti and Purânas, accept the words of the S’rutis as final proofs. Wherever Smriti disagrees with the Purânas, know the Smritis more authoritative.
And where differences will crop up in the S’rutis themselves, know that Dharma, too, is of two kinds. And where the differences will crop up in the Smritis themselves, consider, then, that different things are aimed at. In some Purânas, the Dharma of the Tantras is duly described; but of these, which go against the Vedas, they are not to be accepted any means.

11.1.15

yastvācāravihīno'tra vartate dvijasattamaḥ |
sa śūdravad bahiṣkāryo yathā śūdrastathaiva saḥ ||

11.1.16

ācāro dvividhaḥ proktaḥ śāstrīyo laukikastathā |
ubhāvapi prakartavyau na tyājyau śubhamicchatā ||

11.1.17

grāmadharmā jātidharmā deśadharmāḥ kulodbhavāḥ |
parigrāhyā nṛbhiḥ sarvairnaiva tām̐llaṅghayenmune ||

11.1.18

durācāro hi puruṣo loke bhavati ninditaḥ |
duḥkhabhāgī ca satataṃ vyādhinā vyāpta eva ca ||

11.1.19

parityajedarthakāmau yau syātāṃ dharmavarjitau |
dharmamapyasukhodarkaṃ lokavidviṣṭameva ca ||

11.1.20

nārada uvāca |
bahutvādiha śāstrāṇāṃ niścayaḥ syātkathaṃ mune |
kiyatpramāṇaṃ tad brūhi dharmamārgavinirṇaye ||

11.1.21

śrīnārāyaṇa uvāca |
śrutismṛtī ubhe netre purāṇaṃ hṛdayaṃ smṛtam |
etattrayokta eva syāddharmo nānyatra kutracit ||

11.1.22

virodho yatra tu bhavettrayāṇāṃ ca parasparam |
śrutistatra pramāṇaṃ syād dvayordvaidhe smṛtirvarā ||

11.1.23

śrutidvaidhaṃ bhavedyatra tatra dharmāvubhau smṛtau |
smṛtidvaidhaṃ tu yatra syādviṣayaḥ kalpyatāṃ pṛthak ||

11.1.24

purāṇeṣu kvaciccaiva tantradṛṣṭaṃ yathātatham |
dharmaṃ vadanti taṃ dharmaṃ gṛhṇīyānna kathañcana ||

11.1.25

vedāvirodhi cettantraṃ tatpramāṇaṃ na saṃśayaḥ |
pratyakṣaśrutiruddhaṃ yattatpramāṇaṃ bhavenna ca ||

Tantra is accepted as the authoritative proof then and then only when it contradicts not the Vedas. Whatever goes clearly against the Vedas can in no way be accepted as a proof. In matters concerning Dharma, the Vedas is the Sole Proof. Therefore that which is not against the Vedas can be taken as proof; otherwise not. Whoever acts Dharma according to other proofs than what is ordained in the Vedas, goes to the hell in the abode of Yama to get his lesson. So the Dharma that is by all means to be accepted as such, is what is stated in the Vedas. The Smritis, the Purânas, or the Tantra S’âstras can be taken also as authoritative when they are not conflicting to Vedas. Any other S’âstras can be taken as authoritative when it is fundamentally coincident with the Vedas. Else it can never be accepted.
Those who do injury to others even by the blade of a Kus'a grass used as a weapon, go to hell with their heads downwards and their feet upwards. Those that follow their own sweet free will, that take up any sort of dress (e. g. Bauddhas), those that follow the philosophical doctrines called Pâs'upatas, and the other hermits and saints and persons that take up other vows contrary to the religions of the Vedas, for example, the Vaikhânasa followers, those who brand their bodies by the hot Mudrâs, at the places of pilgrimages, e. g. Dvârkâ, etc., they go to hell with their bodies scorched by red hot brands (Tapta Mudrâs). So persons should act according to the excellent religions commanded by the Vedas. Everyday he should get up from his bed early in the morning and think thus:-- “What good acts have I done, what have I given as charities? Or what I advised others to do charities what greater sins (Mahâpâtakas) and what smaller sins have I committed?” At the last quarter of the night he should think of Para Brahmâ. He should place his right leg on his left thigh and his left on his right thigh crosswise keeping his head straight up and touching the breast with his chin, and closing his eyes, he should sit steadily so that the upper teeth should not touch the lower jaw.
He should join his tongue with his palate and he should sit quiet, restraining his senses. He should be S’uddha Sattva. His seat should not be very low. First of all he should practice Prânâyâma twice or thrice; and within his heart he should meditate the Self of the shape of the Holy Flame or the Holy Light. (Om Mani Padma Hum.)

11.1.26

sarvathā veda evāsau dharmamārgapramāṇakaḥ |
tenāviruddhaṃ yatkiñcittatpramāṇaṃ na cānyathā ||

11.1.27

yo vedadharmamujjhitya vartate'nyapramāṇataḥ |
kuṇḍāni tasya śikṣārthaṃ yamaloke vasanti hi ||

11.1.28

tasmātsarvaprayatnena vedoktaṃ dharmamāśrayet |
smṛtiḥ purāṇamanyadvā tantraṃ vā śāstrameva ca ||

11.1.29

tanmūlatve pramāṇaṃ syānnānyathā tu kadācana |
ye kuśāstrābhiyogena vartayantīha mānavān ||

11.1.30

adhomukhordhvapādāste yāsyanti narakārṇavam |
kāmācārāḥ pāśupatāstathā vai liṅgadhāriṇaḥ ||

11.1.31

taptamudrāṅkitā ye ca vaikhānasamatānugāḥ |
te sarve nirayaṃ yānti vedamārgabahiṣkṛtāḥ ||

11.1.32

vedoktameva saddharmaṃ tasmātkuryānnaraḥ sadā |
utthāyotthāya boddhavyaṃ kiṃ mayādya kṛtaṃ kṛtam ||

11.1.33

dattaṃ vā dāpitaṃ vāpi vākyenāpi ca bhāṣitam |
upapāpeṣu sarveṣu pātakeṣu mahatsvapi ||

11.1.34

avāpya rajanīyāmaṃ brahmadhyānaṃ samācaret |
ūrusthottānacaraṇaḥ savye corau tathottaram ||

11.1.35

uttānaṃ kiñciduttānaṃ mukhamavaṣṭabhya corasā |
nimīlitākṣaḥ sattvastho dantairdantānna saṃspṛśet ||

11.1.36

tālusthācalajihvaśca saṃvṛtāsyaḥ suniścalaḥ |
sanniruddhendriyagrāmo nātinimnasthitāsanaḥ ||

11.1.37

dviguṇaṃ triguṇaṃ vāpi prāṇāyāmamupakramet |
tato dhyeyaḥ sthito yo'sau hṛdaye dīpavatprabhuḥ ||

11.1.38

dhārayettatra cātmānaṃ dhāraṇāṃ dhārayedbudhaḥ |
sadhūmaśca vidhūmaśca sagarbhaścāpyagarbhakaḥ ||

He should fix his heart for a certain time to that Luminous Self whose Eyes are everywhere. So the intelligent man should practise Dhâranâ. Prânâyâma is of six kinds:-- (1) Sadhûma (when the breaths are not steady), (2) Nirdhûma(better than the Sadhûma), (3) Sagarbha (when united with one's mantra), (4) Agarbha (when the practice is without the thought of any mantra), (5) Salaksya (when the heart is fixed on one's Deity) and (6) Alaksya (when the heart is not fixed on one's Deity). No yoga can be compared with Prânâyâma. This is equal to itself. Nothing can be its equal. This Prânâyâma is of three kinds, called Rechaka, Pûraka and Kumbhaka. The Prânâyâma consists of three letters, A, U, M, i. e. of the nature of “Om”. Or, in other words the letter A, of the Pranava Om indicates Pûraka, the letter “U” denotes Kumhhaka and the letter “M” denotes Rechaka. By the Îdâ Nâdi (by the left nostril) inhale as long as you count “A” (Visnu) thirty-two times; then withold breath, i.e., do Kumbhaka as long as you count “U” (S’iva) sixtyfour times and by the Pingalâ Nâdi (the right nostril) do the Rechaka, i.e., exhale the breath as long as you count “M" (Brahmâ) for sixteen times. O Muni! Thus I have spoken to you of the Sadhûma Prânâyâma. After doing the Prânâyâma as stated above, pierce the Six Chakras (i.

e., plexuses) (called Sathakra bheda) and carry the Kula Kundalinî to the Brahmâ Randhra, the brain aperture, or to the thousand petalled lotus in the head and meditate in the heart the Self like a Steady Flame. (The Nâdis are not those which are known to the Vaidya or the Medical S’âstras. The latter are the gross physical nerves, The Nâdis here are the Yoga Nâdis, the subtle channels (Vivaras) along which the Prânik currents flow. Now the process of piercing the six Chakras (or nerve centres or centres of moving Prânik forces) is being described. Within this body, the six nerve centres called Padmas (Lotuses) exist. They are respectively situated at the (1) Mûlâdhâra (half way between Anus and Linga Mûla), called the Sacral Plexus; (2) Linga Mûla (the root of the genital organs); called postatic plexus; (this is also called Svâdhisthâna) (3) Navel, the Solar Plexus (4) Heart, the cardiac Plexus, (5) Throat (6) Forehead, between the eye brows there; the lotus in the forehead, called the cavernous plexus (Âjnâ Chakra) has two petals; in these two petals, the two letters “Ham” “Ksam” exist in the right hand direction (with the bands of the watch; going round from left to right keeping the right side towards one circumambulated as as a mark of respect). I bow down to these which are the two-lettered Brahmâ. The lotus that exists in the throat laryngeal or pharyngeal plexus has sixteen petals (vis’uddhâ chakra);

in these are in due order in right hand direction the sixteen letters (vowels) a, â, i, î, u, û, ri, rî, lri, lrî, e, ai, o, au, am, ah; I bow down to these which are the sixteen lettered Brahmâ. The lotus that exists in the heart, the cardiac plexus (anâhata chakra), has twelve petals; wherein are the twelve letters k, kh, g, gh, n, ch, chh, j, jh, ñ, t, th; I bow to to these twelve lettered Brahmâ. The Solar plexus forms the Great Junction of the Right and Left sympathetic chains Îdâ and Pingalâ with the Cerebro spinal Axis. The lotus that exists in the navel, called the Solar Plexus, or Epigastric plexus (Manipura Chakra) has ten petals wherein are the ten letters d, dh, n, t, th, d, dh, n, p, ph, counting in the right hand direction (that is clockwise) (and the action of this clock is vertical in the plane of the spinal cord; also it may be horizontal). The lotus that exists at the root of the genital organ, the genital plexus or postatic plexus has six petals. The petals are the configurations made by the position of Nâdis at any particular centre. Svâdhisthâna chakra or Svayambhu Linga, wherein are situated the six letters, b, bh, m, y, r, l; I bow down to this six-lettered Brahmâ. (These are the Laya Centres). The lotus that exists in the Mûlâdhâra, called the sacral or sacrococcygeal plexus has four petals, wherein are the four letters v, s', s, s. I bow down to these four-lettered Brahmâ.

In the above six nerve centres or Laya Centres, or lotuses, all the letters are situated in the right hand direction (clockwise). (Note:-- All the nerves of the body combine themselves in these six nerve centres or Laya Centres. Each of these centres is spheroidal and is of the Fourth Dimension. At each centre many transitions take place, many visions take place, many forces are perceived and wonderful varieties of knowledge are experienced. These are called the Laya Centres. For many things vanish into non-existence and many new Tattvas are experienced.) Thus meditating on the Six Chakras or plexuses, meditate on the Kula Kundalinî, the Serpent Fire. She resides on the four petalled lotus (Centre of S’akti) called Mûlâdhâra Chakra (Coccygeal plexus); She is of Rajo Guna; She is of a blood red colour, and She is expressed by the mantra “Hrîm,” which is the Mâyâvîja; she is subtle as the thread of the fibrous stock of the water lily. The Sun is Her face; Fire is Her breasts; he attains Jîvan mukti (liberation while living) within whose heart such a Kula Kundalinî arises and awakens even once. Thus meditating on Kula Kundalinî, one should pray to Her:-- Her sitting, coming, going, remaining, the thought on Her, the realisation of Her and chanting hymns to Her, etc., all are Mine, Who is of the nature of all in all; I am that Bhagavatî; O Bhagavatî! All my acts are Thy worship; I am the Devî; I am Brahmâ, I am free from sorrow.

I am of the nature of Everlasting Existence, Intelligence and Bliss. Thus one should meditate of one's own-self. I take refuge of that Kula Kundalinî, who appears like lightning and who holds the current thereof, when going to Brahmârandhra, in the brain, who appears like nectar when coming back from the brain to the Mûlâdhâra and who travels in the Susumnâ Nâdi in the spinal cord. Then one is to meditate on one's own Guru, who is thought of as one with God, as seated in one's brain and then worship Him mentally. Then the Sâdhaka, controlling himself is to recite the following Mantra “The Guru is Brahmâ, the Guru is Visnu, it is the Guru again that is the Deva Mahes'vara; it is Guru that is Para Brahmâ. I bow down to that S’rî Guru.” Here ends the First Chapter of the Eleventh Book on what is to be thought of in the morning in the Mahâ Purânam S’rî Mad Devî Bhâgavatam of 18,000 verses by Mahârsi Veda Vyâsa.

11.1.39

salakṣyaścāpyalakṣyaśca prāṇāyāmastu ṣaḍvidhaḥ |
prāṇāyāmasamo yogaḥ prāṇāyāma itīritaḥ ||

11.1.40

prāṇāyāma iti prokto recapūrakakumbhakaiḥ |
varṇatrayātmakā hyete recapūrakakumbhakāḥ ||

11.1.41

sa eva praṇavaḥ proktaḥ prāṇāyāmaśca tanmayaḥ |
iḍayā vāyumāropya pūrayitvodare sthitam ||

11.1.42

śanaiḥ ṣoḍaśamātrābhiranyayā taṃ virecayet |
evaṃ sadhūmaḥ prāṇānāmāyāmaḥ kathito mune ||

11.1.43

ādhāreliṅganābhiprakaṭitahṛdaye tālumūle lalāṭe dve patre ṣoḍaśāre dvidaśadaśadaladvādaśārdhe catuṣke |
vāsānte bālamadhye ḍaphakatasahite kaṇṭhadeśe svarāṇāṃ haṅkṣantattvārthayuktaṃ sakaladalagataṃ varṇarūpaṃ namāmi ||

11.1.44

aruṇakamalasaṃsthā tadrajaḥpuñjavarṇā haraniyamitacihnā padmatantusvarūpā |
ravihutavaharākānāyakāsyastanāḍhyā sakṛdapi yadi citte saṃvasetsyātsa bhuktaḥ ||

11.1.45

sthitiḥ saiva gatiryātrā matiścintā stutirvacaḥ |
ahaṃ sarvātmako devaḥ stutiḥ sarvaṃ tvadarcanam ||

11.1.46

ahaṃ devī na cānyo'smi brahmaivāhaṃ na śokabhāk |
saccidānandarūpo'haṃ svātmānamiti cintayet ||

11.1.47

prakāśamānāṃ prathame prayāṇe pratiprayāṇe'pyamṛtāyamānām |
antaḥpadavyāmanusañcarantī-mānandarūpāmabalāṃ prapadye ||

11.1.48

tato nijabrahmarandhre dhyāyettaṃ gurumīśvaram |
upacārairmānasaiśca pūjayettu yathāvidhi ||

11.1.49

stuvītānena mantreṇa sādhako niyatātmavān |
gururbrahmā gururviṣṇurgururdevo maheśvaraḥ |
gurureva paraṃ brahma tasmai śrīgurave namaḥ ||

11.1.49.c1

iti śrīmaddevībhāgavate mahāpurāṇe'ṣṭādaśasāhasryāṃ saṃhitāyāmekādaśaskandhe manukṛtaṃdevīstavanaṃ nāma prathamo'dhyāyaḥ ||