Devibhagavatapurana 6.8: aṣṭamo'dhyāyaḥ | indrāṇyā śakradarśanam

6.8.1

vyāsa uvāca |
nahuṣastvatha tāṃ śrutvā gurostu śaraṇaṃ gatām |
cukrodha smarabāṇārtastamāṅgirasamāśu vai ||

6.8.2

devānāhāṅgirāsūnurhantavyo'yaṃ mayā kila |
itīndrāṇīṃ gṛhe mūḍho rakṣatīti mayā śrutam ||

6.8.3

iti taṃ kupitaṃ dṛṣṭvā devāḥ sarṣipurogamāḥ |
abruvannahuṣaṃ ghoraṃ sāmapūrvaṃ vacastadā ||

6.8.4

krodhaṃ saṃhara rājendra tyaja pāpamatiṃ prabho |
nindanti dharmaśāstreṣu paradārābhimarśanam ||

6.8.5

śakrapatnī sadā sādhvī jīvamāne patau punaḥ |
kathamanye patiṃ kuryātsubhagātipativratā ||

6.8.6

trilokīśastvamadhunā śāstā dharmasya vai vibho |
tvādṛśo'dharmamātiṣṭhettadā naśyetprajā dhruvam ||

6.8.7

sarvathā prabhuṇā kāryaṃ śiṣṭācārasya rakṣaṇam |
vāramukhyāśca śataśo vartante'tra śacīsamāḥ ||

6.8.8

ratistu kāraṇaṃ proktaṃ śṛṅgārasya mahātmabhiḥ |
rasahānirbalātkāre kṛte sati tu jāyate ||

6.8.9

ubhayoḥ sadṛśaṃ prema yadi pārthivasattama |
tadā vai sukhasampattirubhayorupajāyate ||

6.8.10

tasmādbhāvamimaṃ muñca paradārābhimarśane |
sadbhāvaṃ kuru devendra padaṃ prāpto'syanuttamam ||

6.8.11

ṛddhikṣayastu pāpena puṇyenātivivardhanam |
tasmātpāpaṃ parityajya sanmatiṃ kuru pārthiva ||

6.8.12

nahuṣa uvāca |
gautamasya yadā bhuktā dārāḥ śakreṇa devatāḥ |
vācaspatestu somena kva yūyaṃ saṃsthitāstadā ||

Nahusa said:-- “O Devas! Where were you all when Indra stole away the wife of Gautama and when the Moon stole away the wife of Brihaspati? It is easy to give advice to others but to act according to that is very rare in this world. O Devas! Let the qualified Devî come to me you will derive much benefit from it and the Devî, too, will get Her highest happiness; there is no doubt in this. I tell you truly that in no other way I will be satisfied; bring Indrânî here quickly, whether by good words or by force.”

6.8.13

paropadeśe kuśalā prabhavanti narāḥ kila |
kartā caivopadeṣṭā ca durlabhaḥ puruṣo bhavet ||

6.8.14

māmāgacchatu sā devī hitaṃ syādadbhutaṃ hi vaḥ |
etasyāḥ paramaṃ devāḥ sukhameva bhaviṣyati ||

6.8.15

anyathā na hi tuṣye'haṃ satyametadbravīmi vaḥ |
vinayādvā balādvāpi tāmāśu prāpayantviha ||

6.8.16

iti tasya vacaḥ śrutvā devāśca munayastathā |
tamūcuścātisantrastā nahuṣaṃ madanāturam ||

The Devas and Munis heard the words of the king Nahusa, smitten by the Cupid's arrows, got terrified and said:-- “We will bring Indrânî to you by gentle words.” Saying thus, they went to the house of Brihaspati.

6.8.17

indrāṇīmānayiṣyāmaḥ sāmapūrvaṃ tavāntikam |
ityuktvā te tadā jagmurbṛhaspatiniketanam ||

6.8.18

vyāsa uvāca |
te gatvāṅgirasaḥ putraṃ procuḥ prāñjalayaḥ surāḥ |
jānīmaḥ śaraṇaṃ prāptāmindrāṇīṃ tava veśmani ||

Vyâsa said:-- O King! The Devas, going to the house of Brihaspati, spoke thus with folded hands:-- O Guru! We know that Indrânî has taken shelter in your house; we will have to hand her over today to the king Nahusa for we all united have made over the post of Indra to Nahusa. Let this beautiful Lady now choose and worship him. Hearing these awful words of the Devas, Brihaspati said to them:-- “O Devas! This chaste woman, devoted to her husband, has now taken my shelter; therefore I can never part with her.” The Devas said:-- “O Guru! Kindly advise then - if you do not part with S'achî Devî - how the king Nahusa be pleased; if he becomes angry, it will then be very difficult to please him.”

6.8.19

sā deyā nahuṣāyādya vāsavo'sau kṛto yataḥ |
vṛṇotviyaṃ varārohā patitve varavarṇinī ||

6.8.20

bṛhaspatiḥ surānāha tacchrutvā dāruṇaṃ vacaḥ |
nāhaṃ tyakṣye tu paulomīṃ satīṃ ca śaraṇāgatām ||

6.8.21

devā ūcuḥ |
upāyo'nyaḥ prakartavyo yena so'dya prasīdati |
anyathā kopasaṃyukto durārādhyo bhaviṣyati ||

6.8.22

gururuvāca |
tatra gatvā śacī bhūpaṃ pralobhya vacasā bhṛśam |
karotu samayaṃ bālā patiṃ jñātvā mṛtaṃ bhaje ||

Brihaspati said:-- “O Devas! Let S'achî now go to Nahusa, and tempt him with enticing words and make this condition that when her husband's death will be known to her, she will then accept Nahusa as her husband. How could she accept another husband when her husband was alive. Therefore let her now go in quest of her high-souled husband. Let S'achî thus make condition with him and, thus deceiving him, let her try her best to bring back her husband. O King! Then, after coming to this conclusion, Brihaspati and other Devas went with Indrânî to the king Nahusa. Seeing them come, especially looking at Indrânî the artificial king Nahusa became very glad and said to Indrânî:-- “O Beloved! Today I am become the real Indra. O beautiful-eyed One! Worship me as your husband; see the Devas now have made me to be worshipped by all the gods.” When Nahusa spoke thus, the Devî S'achî became filled with great shame; she began to tremble and said to the king:-- “O Lord of the Devas! I desire to ask a boon from you. Better wait till I ascertain whether Indra is dead or alive, there is this doubt in my heart whether he lives or whether he is dead. O King of kings! Let me, first of all, clear my doubts. Kindly excuse me and wait till then. I tell this truly that after I ascertain the fact, I will worship you. I do not know anything whether Indra is dead or whether he has gone any where else.” When S'achî Devî spoke thus, Nahusa became very glad and saying “let it be so” dismissed her.

6.8.23

indre jīvati me kānte kathamanyaṃ karomyaham |
anveṣaṇārthaṃ gantavyaṃ mayā tasya mahātmanaḥ ||

6.8.24

iti sā samayaṃ kṛtvā vañcayitvā ca bhūpatim |
bharturānayane yatnaṃ karotu mama vākyataḥ ||

6.8.25

iti sañcintya me sarve bṛhaspatipurogamāḥ |
nahuṣaṃ sahitā jagmurindrapatnyā divaukasaḥ ||

6.8.26

tānāgatānmamīkṣyāha tadā kṛtrimavāsavaḥ |
jaharṣa ca mudāyuktastāṃ vīkṣya mudito'bravīt ||

6.8.27

adyāsmi vāsavaḥ kānte bhaja māṃ cārulocane |
patitve sarvalokasya pūjyo'haṃ vihitaḥ suraiḥ ||

6.8.28

ityuktā sā nṛpaṃ prāha vepamānā trapāyutā |
varamicchāmyahaṃ rājaṃstvattaḥ prāptaṃ sureśvara ||

6.8.29

kiñcitkālaṃ pratīkṣasva yāvatkurve vinirṇayam |
indro'stīti na vāstīti sandeho me hṛdi sthitaḥ ||

6.8.30

tatastvāṃ samupasthāsye kṛtvā niścayamātmani |
tāvatkṣamasva rājendra satyametadbravīmi te ||

6.8.31

na hi vijñāyate śakro naṣṭaḥ kiṃ vā kva vā gataḥ |
evamuktaḥ sa cendrāṇyā nahuṣaḥ prītimānabhūt ||

6.8.32

vyasarjayatsa tāṃ devīṃ tathetyuktvā mudānvitaḥ |
sā visṛṣṭā nṛpeṇāśu gatvā prāha surānsatī ||

Thus having received permission from the King to depart, S'achî hurriedly went to the Devas and spoke to them to try their best to bring Indra back as soon as possible. O King! Hearing these sweet and holy words of Indrânî the Devas intently consulted with each other how they could get back Indra. They then went to Vaikuntha and began to praise with hymns the original Deva, the God Visnu, the Lord of the Universe, kind to those that seek His refuge. The Devas, skilled in speaking, spoke to Visnu with a very troubled heart:-- “O Lord! Indra, the Lord of the Devas, is very much troubled with his sin Brahmahattyâ. Where is he staying now, invisible to all the beings? O Lord! He is now overcome with the sin Brahmahattyâ by killing Vritra, the best of the Brâhmins. We ask your skilful and intelligent advice. O Lord! You are the sole refuge of him as well as of us. We are now involved in a great difficulty. Kindly show us the way how we, as well as Indra, can get out of this difficult crisis.” Hearing the pitiful words of the Devas, Visnu said:-- Let Indra perform the As'vamedha sacrifice (Horse sacrifice) for the purification of his sins. By this Yajña, that can destroy all sins, Indra will be purified and he will regain his Indraship; there is no doubt in this. The more so because the Devî, the Universal Mother, will be pleased with his Horse sacrifice and will destroy all his sins, Brahmahattyâ and others. Lo! Merely remembering Her destroys heaps of sins; and, if by this Horse sacrifice, She be pleased, what wonder is there that sins of a more grave nature would be destroyed! And let Indrânî worship Bhagavatî daily; happiness will undoubtedly be gained by worshipping that most Auspicious One! By this the King Nahusa will be particularly deluded by the World Mother and will then be quickly destroyed by the sin committed by himself. And Indra, purified by As'vamedha, will soon regain his position and all his wealth. O king! Thus hearing the sweet beneficial words of Visnu of indomitable prowess, the Devas went to the spot, where resided Indra. Brihaspati and the other Devas consoled the distressed Indra and made him celebrate duly in right order, the Horse sacrifice the greatest of all sacrifices. Indra then distributed his sin Brahmahattyâ amongst the trees, rivers, mountains, women, and the earth.

6.8.33

indrasyāgamane yatnaṃ kurutādya kṛtodyamāḥ |
śrutvā tadvacanaṃ devā indrāṇyā rasavacchuci ||

6.8.34

mantrayāmāsurekāgrāḥ śakrārthaṃ nṛpasattama |
te gatvā vaiṣṇavaṃ dhāma tuṣṭuvuḥ parameśvaram ||

6.8.35

ādidevaṃ jagannāthaṃ śaraṇāgatavatsalam |
ūcuścainaṃ samudvignā vākyaṃ vākyaviśāradāḥ ||

6.8.36

devadeva surapatirbrahmahatyāprapīḍitaḥ |
adṛśyaḥ sarvabhūtānāṃ kvāpi tiṣṭhati vāsavaḥ ||

6.8.37

tvaddhiyā nihate vipre brahmahatyā kutaḥ prabho |
tvaṃ gatistasya bhagavannasmākaṃ ca tathaiva hi ||

6.8.38

trāhi naḥ paramāpannānmokṣaṃ tasya vinirdiśa |
devānāṃ vacanaṃ śrutvā kātaraṃ viṣṇurabravīt ||

6.8.39

yajatāmaśvamedhena śakrapāpanivṛttaye |
puṇyena hayamedhena pāvitaḥ pākaśāsanaḥ ||

6.8.40

punareṣyati devānāmindratvamakutobhayaḥ |
hayamedhena santuṣṭā devī śrījagadambikā ||

6.8.41

brahmahatyādipāpāni nāśayiṣyatyasaṃśayam |
yasyāḥ smaraṇamātreṇa pāpajālaṃ vinaśyati ||

6.8.42

kiṃ punarvājimedhena tatprītyarthaṃ kṛtena ca |
indrāṇī kurutānnityaṃ bhagavatyāḥ prapūjanam ||

6.8.43

ārādhanaṃ śivāyāstu sukhakāri bhaviṣyati |
nahuṣo'pi jaganmāturmāyayā mohitaḥ kila ||

6.8.44

vināśaṃ svakṛtenāśu gamiṣyatyenasā surāḥ |
pāvitaścāśvamedhena turāṣāḍapi vaibhavam ||

6.8.45

prāpsyatyacirakālena svamāsanamanuttamam |
te tu śrutvā śubhāṃ vāṇīṃ viṣṇoramitatejasaḥ ||

6.8.46

jagmustaṃ deśamaniśaṃ yatrāste pākaśāsanaḥ |
tamāśvāsya surāḥ śakraṃ bṛhaspatipurogamāḥ ||

6.8.47

kārayāmāsurakhilaṃ hayamedhaṃ mahākratum |
vibhajya brahmahatyāṃ tu vṛkṣeṣu ca nadīṣu ca ||

6.8.48

parvateṣu pṛthivyāṃ ca strīṣu caivākṣipadvibhuḥ |
tāṃ visṛjya ca bhūteṣu vipāpaḥ pākaśāsanaḥ ||

Thus casting aside his sin on all the above things, Indra became again free from his sin, and, getting rid of his fever and uneasiness, abided by the time and remained there invisible in the tubular stem of the lotus. Doing that wonderful act, the Devas started from there and reached their own abodes. The daughter of Pulomâ, suffering from her bereavements from Indra, spoke then to Brihaspati with great sorrow:-- “O Lord! Why is my husband still invisible to me, when he has performed the As'vamedha sacrifice? Kindly show me the way how I can get a sight of him.”

6.8.49

vijvaraḥ samabhūdbhūyaḥ kālākāṅkṣī sthito jale |
adṛśyaḥ sarvabhūtānāṃ padmanāle vyatiṣṭhata ||

6.8.50

devāstu nirgatāḥ sthāne kṛtvā kāryaṃ tadadbhutam |
paulomī tu guruṃ prāha duḥkhitā virahākulā ||

6.8.51

kṛtayajño'pi me bhartā kimadṛśyaḥ purandaraḥ |
kathaṃ drakṣye priyaṃ svāmiṃstamupāyaṃ vadasva me ||

6.8.52

bṛhaspatiruvāca |
tvamārādhaya paulomi devīṃ bhagavatīṃ śivām |
darśayiṣyati te nāthaṃ devī vigatakalmaṣam ||

Brihaspati said:-- “O Devî! Worship the most Auspicious Bhagavatî; surely She will make your husband sinless and you will see him. The Devî Ambikâ, the Upholdress of the Universe, will desist the King Nahusa from doing the wrongful act and it is She that will delude him by Her Mâyâ and get his downfall from the Heavens. O King! When Brihaspati spoke thus, S'achî Devî got initiated by him in the Devî Mantram, capable to secure success in any undertaking. Thus getting the Mantram from her Guru, She began to worship the Devî Bhuvane'svarî duly with flowers, sacrificial victims and other necessary articles for worship. Thus Indrânî, with a view to see her husband, performed the worship of the Devî; she quitted all the articles of enjoyment and luxury and assumed the garb of an ascetic; thus some time passed away, when the Devî was pleased and appeared before her on the back of a Swan, in Her peaceful form, ready to grant boons to Indrânî. She looked, then, fiery like thousands of Moons; Her lovely beauty appeared in rays like thousands and thousands of fixed lightnings. The four Vedas personified began to praise Her in hymns from the four sides. Her two hands were adorned with a noose and a goad, and Her two other hands made signs to grant boons and to discard all fear. The Vaijayantî garland of clear crystal-like gems suspended from Her neck up to Her feet. Her face was adorned with smiles and signs as if she would grant favours. She had three eyes and was the ocean of mercy and the Mother of all the Jîvas from a worm up to Brahmâ. Her two heavy breasts were filled with unbounded ocean of nectar-like juice of Peace and Mukti. She was the Goddess of innumerable worlds, the Goddess of all and the Highest, endowed with all the knowledges and the Incarnate of the Undecaying and Immoveable Brahmâ. The Devî, then, began to address S'achî, the wife of Indra, in pleasant words and in voice deep like a rolling thunder.

6.8.53

ārādhitā jagaddhātrī nahuṣaṃ vārayiṣyati |
mohayitvā nṛpaṃ sthānātpātayiṣyati cāmbikā ||

6.8.54

ityuktā sā tadā tena pulomatanayā nṛpa |
jagrāha mantraṃ vidhivadgurordevyāḥ sasādhanam ||

6.8.55

vidyāṃ prāpya gurordevī devīṃ śrībhuvaneśvarīm |
samyagārādhayāmāsa balipuṣpārcanaiḥ śubhai ||

6.8.56

tyaktānyabhogasambhārā tāpasīveṣadhāriṇī |
cakāra pūjanaṃ devyāḥ priyadarśanalālasā ||

6.8.57

kālena kiyatā tuṣṭā pratyakṣaṃ darśanaṃ dadau |
saumyarūpadharā devī varadā haṃsavāhinī ||

6.8.58

sūryakoṭipratīkāśā candrakoṭisuśītalā |
vidyutkoṭisamānābhā caturvedasamanvitā ||

6.8.59

pāśāṅkuśābhayavarāndadhatī nijabāhubhiḥ |
āpādalambinīṃ svacchāṃ muktāmālāṃ ca bibhratī ||

6.8.60

prasantasmeravadanā locanatrayabhūṣitā |
ābrahmakīṭajananī karuṇāmṛtasāgarā ||

6.8.61

anantakoṭibrahmāṇḍanāyikā parameśvarī |
saumyānantarasairyuktastanadvayavirājitā ||

6.8.62

sarveśvarī ca sarvajñā kūṭasthākṣararūpiṇī |
tāmuvāca prasannā sā śakrapatnīṃ kṛtodyamām ||

6.8.63

meghagambhīraśabdena mudamādadatī bhṛśam |
devyuvāca |
varaṃ varaya suśroṇi vāñchitaṃ śakravallabhe ||

The Devî said:-- O Darling to Indra! Better now ask your desired boon. I am much pleased with your worship. O Beautiful One! I have come here to grant you boon. To see Me is not an easy task; by the collected merits, acquired in thousands and thousands of births one is able to See Me. Hearing the words of the Devî, S'achî Devî, the wife of Indra, fell prostrate before Her feet and began to speak to the Highest Goddess, the Bhagavatî, Who seemed graciously pleased:-- “O Mother! I now desire from Thee, that I may see my husband whom I attained after great difficulty, that I be freed from the fear arising out of King Nahusa and I want that Indra be reinstated as Indra as he was before.” The Devî said:-- “O Lady of the Devas! Better go with this My messenger (Dûtî) to Mânasarovara; there is installed My fixed form, named Vis'vakâmâ. You will see your Indra staying there very sorrowful and overwhelmed with terror. I will delude the King Nahusa within a very short period. O large-eyed One! Be calm and quiet; I will fulfil your desires; soon I will delude that king and deprive him of the seat of Indra.”

6.8.64

dadāmyadya prasannāsmi pūjitā subhṛśaṃ tvayā |
varadāhaṃ samāyātā darśanaṃ sahajaṃ na me ||

6.8.65

anekakoṭijanmotthapuṇyapuñjairhi labhyate |
ityuktā sā tadā devī tāmāha praṇatā puraḥ ||

6.8.66

śakrapatnī bhagavatīṃ prasannāṃ parameśvarīm |
vāñchāmi darśanaṃ mātaḥ patyuḥ paramadurlabham ||

6.8.67

nahuṣādbhayanāśaṃ ca svapadaprāpaṇaṃ tathā |
devyuvāca |
gaccha tvamanayā dūtyā sārdhaṃ śrīmānasaṃ saraḥ ||

6.8.68

yatra me mūrtiracalā viśvakāmābhidhā matā |
tatra paśyasi śakraṃ tvaṃ duḥkhitaṃ bhayavihvalam ||

6.8.69

mohayiṣyāmi rājānaṃ kālena kiyatā punaḥ |
svasthā bhava viśālākṣi karomi tava cepsitam ||

6.8.70

bhraṃśayiṣyāmi bhūpālaṃ mohitaṃ tridaśāsanāt |
vyāsa uvāca |
devīdūtī tāṃ gṛhītvā śakrapatnīṃ tvarānvitā ||

Vyâsa said:-- The wife of Indra accompanied the messenger of the Devî and quickly reached the presence of her husband Indra. She was very pleased to see her long-wished for husband, in the state disguise.
Here ends the Eighth Chapter of the Sixth Book on the praising of the Bhagavatî by the wife of Indra and on getting the sight of Indra in the Mahâpurânam, S'rî Mad Devî Bhâgavatam of 18,000 verses by Maharsi Veda Vyâsa.

6.8.71

prāpayāmāsa sānnidhyaṃ svapatyuḥ parameśvarīm |
sā dṛṣṭvā taṃ patiṃ bālā sureśaṃ guptasaṃsthitam |
muditābhūdvaraṃ vīkṣya bahukālābhivāñchitam ||

6.8.71.c1

iti śrīmaddevībhāgavate mahāpurāṇe'ṣṭādaśasāhasryāṃ saṃhitāyāṃ ṣaṣṭhaskandhe indrāṇyā śakradarśanaṃ nāmāṣṭamo'dhyāyaḥ ||