Shrimad Devi Bhagwat Puran

Shrimad Devi Bhagwat Purana - Skand 3

The third Skand of the Shrimad Devi Bhagwat Purana delves into profound cosmological and spiritual revelations. It provides insights into the origin of the universe, detailing the roles and relationships of key deities. This section narrates the battle of Brahma and Vishnu against the demons Madhu and Kaitabha. It reveals Goddess Durga as the mother of Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva, while also highlighting their mortality within the cycle of birth and death. Furthermore, it identifies Brahm Kaal as the father of these deities, offering a unique perspective on creation and the cosmic hierarchy.

Contents (Devi Bhagwat Puran by Gita Press Gorakhpur)

• Knowledge about Origin of Universe
• Brahma's & Vishnu's fight with Madhu and Kaitabha
• Goddess Durga is the mother of Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva
• Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva are in birth and death
• Brahm Kaal is the father of Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva
• Shrimad Devi Bhagwat Puran Skand 3 - Video - Full skandha 3 of Devi Purana can be seen in the video at the end of this page

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Shrimad Devi Bhagwat Puran - Page 113

Question about Origin of Universe

Janmeyajay puts a question to Maharishi Ved Vyas about the mystery of creation of the Universe. Vyas ji says that he had once posed the same question to Narad Muni. 

1-10. Janamejaya said :-- “O Bhagavan! What is the great Yajna called Amba Yajna, which you mentioned earlier? Who is Amba? Where and how was She born, and for what purpose? What are Her attributes, form, and nature? O Ocean of Mercy, you are all-knowing; please explain everything comprehensively. Additionally, describe the origin of the Brahmanda (cosmic egg) in detail.

O learned Brahmana, I have heard that Brahma, Vishnu, and Rudra are the three deities responsible for creating, preserving, and destroying the Universe. Are these high-souled entities independent, or do they perform their duties under the command of a higher authority? I am eager to understand all this. So Parasara's son! Are Brahma, Vishnu, and Maheshvara subject to death like ordinary beings, or are they eternal, embodying Existence, Intelligence, and Bliss?

Do they experience the threefold afflictions—arising from their own nature, external elements, or divine influences? Are they affected by Time? How and from whom were they born? Do they experience pleasure, pain, sleep, or lethargy? Are their bodies composed of the seven Dhatus (elements like blood, etc.), or are they made of some other substance? What qualities shape their senses, and how do they enjoy worldly pleasures?

What is their lifespan? Where do Brahma, Vishnu, and Maheshvara, the foremost among gods, reside? What are their powers and prosperity? I am deeply curious about all these matters. O great sage, please describe them to me in detail.”

11-24. Vyasa said :-- “O wise and intelligent king! The questions you have asked—about the origin and nature of Brahma and others—are profound and intricate. Long ago, I had similar doubts and posed such questions to the sage Narada. At first, he was greatly surprised by my inquiries, but later, he provided insightful answers. O king, I will now share with you the knowledge he imparted; listen attentively.

Once, I came across the all-knowing, serene, and Veda-wise Narada Muni sitting on the banks of the sacred Ganges. Overwhelmed with joy, I bowed at his feet. At his kind invitation, I took a respectful seat beside him. After inquiring about his well-being, I saw him seated on the sands, radiating peace. Encouraged by his gracious presence, I asked him:

'O revered sage! Who is the Supreme Architect behind this vast Universe? From where has this Brahmanda (cosmic egg) originated? Is it eternal, or is it transient? If it is an effect, then it must have a cause, for nothing comes into existence without one. Now, if there is indeed a cause or creator, is it a singular entity, or are there many? O sage, these questions weigh heavily on my mind regarding this expansive Samsara (worldly existence). Kindly reveal the truth and dispel my doubts.'”

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Shrimad Devi Bhagwat Puran - Page 114

Devi Bhagwat - English text contd:-

Many believe Maha Deva, the Lord of all the other Devas as the Supreme God, the Cause of all. He is the source of deliverance to all the Jivas; devoid of birth and death; always auspicious; peaceful in Himself and the controller of the three gunas. He is the one and only cause of creation, preservation and destruction. Some Pundits believe Vishnu as the God of all and praise Him as such. It is Vishnu that is the powerful Supreme Self, the Lord of all and the First Person Adipurusa. It is He that has no birth nor death, the Deliverer of the whole Jivas, Omnipresent; His faces are everywhere; He is the Granter of enjoyments and liberation to the devotees. Some others call again Brahma, the Cause of all. It is He that is omniscient and the Stimulator of all beings.

The four-faced Brahma, the best of all the Devas is born from the navel lotus of some One of endless force. He resides in Satyaloka; He is the Creator of all and the Lord of all the Devas. Again some other Pundits call the Sun, Surya as God. In the morning and in the evening they chant His hymns, without any lack of slackness and laziness. Again there are some others, who say that Indra is the lord of all the Jivas; He is thousand-eyed; it is Indra, the husband of Sachi, that is the God of all. Those who perform Yajnas (sacrifices) worship Vasava, the king of the Devas. He drinks Soma juice Himself and those who drink Soma are his beloved. He is the one and only Lord of Sacrifices. Thus all men worship, according to their respective wishes, Varuna, Soma, Agni, Pavana (wind), Yama (the god of Death), Kuvera, the lord of wealth; there are some again who worship the elephant-faced Ganapati, the Fructifier of all actions, the Granter of desires of all the devotees, and the Giver of success to all in all enterprises, no sooner He is remembered. Some Acharyas (professors) say again that the All auspicious the Adi Maya, the Great Shakti Bhavani, the Giver of everything, Who is the nature of with and without attributes. Who is not different from Brahma, who is both Purusa and Prakriti, the Creatrix, the Preservatrix and the Destructrix of all, the Mother of all the gods, beings and lokas, is the Great Goddess of this Brahmanda. She is without beginning and end, full, present in all the beings and everywhere. It is this Bhavani that assumes the various endless forms such as Vaisnavi Shankari, Brahmi, Vasavi, Varuni, Varahi, Nara Simhi, Maha Laksmi the one and secondless Vedamata, and others. It is this Vidya nature that is the One and the only Root of this tree of Samsara (universe).The mere act of remembering Her destroys heaps of afflictions of the devotees and fulfills all their desires. She gives Moksa to those who are desirous of liberation and gives rewards to those who want such. She is beyond the three Gunas and still She emanates them.

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Shrimad Devi Bhagwat Puran - Page 115

Therefore the Yogis that want rewards meditate Her, Who is of the nature of Vidya and Who is devoid of attributes. The best Munis, the knowers of the truths of Vedanta meditate on Her as formless, immutable, stainless, omnipresent Brahma devoid of all Dharma. She is described in some Vedas and Upanishads as full of Light (Tejas). Some intelligent persons describe God as of infinite hands, infinite ears, infinite legs, infinite faces, peaceful, Virat Purusa and describe sky as the Pada (place) of Vishnu. Other knowers of the Puranas describe Him as Purusottama. There are some others again who declare that this creation cannot be done by a single individual. Some atheists say that this inconceivable infinite Universe can never be created by one God. So there is no such definite God that can be called its Creator. Though without any creator, this Brahmanda is sprung from the Nature and conducted by Her. The followers of the Samkhya system say that Purusa is not the creator of this Universe; they declare that Prakriti is the Mistress of this Universe O Muni! Thus I have expressed to you what the Muni Kapila, the Acharya of the Sankhyas and the other philosophers declare as their opinions; various doubts, thus, reign always in my breast. Owing to these doubts my mind is so confused that I cannot arrive at any definite conclusion. My mind is very much unsettled as to what is Dharma and what is Adharma. What are the characteristics of Dharma? I cannot make out them. For the Devas are all sprung from the Sattva Guna and are always attached to the true Dharma; yet they are frequently troubled by the sinful Danavas. How, then, can I place my confidence on the permanence of the Dharma? My forefathers, the Pandavas were always endowed with good behaviours and good actions and they remained always in the path of the Dharma; yet they suffered a good deal of troubles and sufferings. In these cases it is very difficult understand the greatness of Dharma. So, O Father! Seeing all these, my mind is thrown into a sea of doubts and troubles. O Great Muni!

There is nothing impracticable with you; so remove my doubts. O Muni! I am always plunged and raised and plunged again in this sea of delusion. So save me by lifting me on a boat of wisdom and carry me across this ocean of samsara (this world).

Vyasa said :-- O mighty armed Kuru! What you have asked me just now, I also asked the same thing to Narada, the lord of the Munis and he gave me the following reply :--

Narada's Question to Brahma Ji and Brahma Ji's Answer

Narada Ji says that the same doubt arose in his mind once and he therefore put this question to his father Lord Brahma.

Narad ji said, "how has this creation come to the fore, who is its creator, is it you or Vishnu ji or Shiva?"

Brahma ji says - Son Narada, I don't know how to answer this question, it is an unanswerable question. You can get its complete solution from Lord Vishnu. Only the one who is unique can answer this question.

Brahma ji says, that in earlier times there was water everywhere. There was no creation at all. Then I originated from a lotus stalk. At that time I did not see any sun, moon or the stars.

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Shrimad Devi Bhagwat Puran - Page 116

Fight with Madhu and Kaitabha

Brahma Ji says that I started wondering how I have appeared on this lotus flower, who is my Saviour. Who is the one capable of doing this creation and destroying it. There is no earth to be seen on which this water is resting. How did this lotus appear?

In an attempt to find answers to his questions, Brahma Ji  descended holding on to the lotus stalk and for 1000 years continued his quest but could not find any shore to the endless water. Then an ether voice came which said "Tap karo, tap karo" (perform meditation through penance).

Brahma Ji says that I performed penance for 5000 years. Then an ether voice came which said, "Do creation". On hearing that ether voice, I got bewildered and wondered what should I create and what is my role.

At that very moment two demons named Madhu and Kaitabha appeared and they expressed a desire to fight with me. I got scared and therefore I descended into the water holding on to the lotus stalk. There I saw a remarkable person, his body was dark like clouds, was wearing yellow clothes, had four arms, was sleeping on Shesh Nag couch. He was in deep slumber, completely listless. 

Brahma ji says to Narad that I got worried after witnessing Shri Hari. Then I remembered Goddess Durga. Goddess Durga appeared from the body of Vishnu ji and mounted in the sky. She was adorned with ornaments. Once Goddess Durga left the body of Vishnu ji, he became conscious. He then fought a fierce battle with Madhu and Kaitabha for 5000 years and then those demons were slayed. First they got attracted towards Goddess Durga and as they lost concentration, Vishnu ji killed them. 

At that very moment, Lord Shiva also appeared at the scene. All three of us started praising her. She then said to us.

“O Brahma! O Vishnu! O Rudra! The two great demons are slain. Now forsake your laziness and do your respective works of creating, preserving, and destroying the Universe;”

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Goddess Durga made Brahma Vishnu and Shiv board an airplane

Shrimad Devi Bhagwat Puran - Page 117

1-5. Brahma said :-- “We were very much astonished not to find water where our beautiful aeroplane landed us. We saw earth resonated with the sweet cooings of the cuckoos, filled with beautiful fruit-laden trees, forests and gardens. Big rivers, wells, tanks, ponds, watersprings, small pools, women, men all are there. Next we saw, in front of us, a nice city enclosed by a divine wall, containing many sacrificial halls and various palatial buildings and magnificent edifices. Oh! We thought :-- It is Heaven! What a great wonder! Who built this?

6-11. Next we saw a king looking like a Deva is going out on a hunting excursion in the forest. The Devi Ambika, Whom we saw before, is staying on the chariot. In an instant, our aeroplane, propelled by air got high up above the sky and reached in the twinkling of an eye at a lovely place. We saw there a divine Nandana garden. There Surabhi, the cow of plenty, was staying under the shade of the Parijata tree. Close by her, there was an elephant having four tusks; and Menaká and other hosts of Apsaras were there with their various gestures and postures, playing, dancing and singing. There were hundred of Yaksas, Gandharbhas, Vidyadharas within that Mandara garden playing and singing. Within this there was the Lord Satakratu with S'achi, the daughter of Puloma.

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Astonished Brahma, Vishnu and Shiv on seeing another Brahma, Vishnu and Shiv

Shrimad Devi Bhagwat Puran - Page 118

12-34. With great wonder, we next beheld Varuna, the lord of aquatic creatures, along with Kuvera, Yama, Surya (the Sun), Agni (Fire), and the other Devas. Soon, we saw Indra, the lord of the Devas, emerging from a beautifully adorned city. Seated calmly in a palanquin carried by attendants, Indra appeared composed and regal.

Our chariot then ascended rapidly into the sky, and in the blink of an eye, we arrived at Brahma Loka, a realm revered by all Devas. There, Shiva and Vishnu were astonished to encounter another Brahma presiding over that place. In Brahma's grand council hall, we saw the Vedas with their branches, along with serpents, mountains, oceans, and rivers.

Seeing this extraordinary sight, Vishnu and Shiva turned to me and asked, “O Four-faced one, who is this eternal Brahma?” To this, I replied, “I do not know who this Brahma is, nor do I know who I truly am. Why has this confusion arisen in me? You too are divine beings; perhaps you can contemplate this mystery better.”

Next, our chariot, swift as thought, carried us in the blink of an eye to the magnificent and auspicious Kailash mountain, encircled by the blissful Yaksas. The mountain was adorned with the lush Mandara garden, filled with the melodious cooing of S'ukas and cuckoos, and resonated with the harmonious sounds of lutes, small drums, and tabors.

As we arrived, we beheld the five-faced, three-eyed Bhagavan Shankara, with ten hands, draped in a tiger skin and an elephant-skin upper garment. He was emerging from his abode, mounted on a bull. His two sons, the valiant Ganesha and Kartikeya, stood beside Him, beautifully adorned and serving as His bodyguards. Nandi and an entourage of celestial beings followed Him, chanting praises of His glory.

O Muni Narad! to our amazement, we saw another Shankara surrounded by the Matrikas. Overwhelmed by doubt and wonder at this extraordinary sight, I sat down in confusion, pondering the mystery before me.

Our celestial aircraft, propelled by the force of the wind, swiftly carried us to Vaikuntha, the divine abode of Lakshmi, in an instant. O Suta! In Vaikuntha, we witnessed a remarkable display of divine power that left us awestruck. Even our companion, Vishnu, was amazed by the magnificence of that splendid city.

There, we beheld the four-armed Vishnu, radiant like the Atasi flower, draped in yellow garments, and adorned with divine ornaments, majestically seated on Garuda. Lakshmi Devi, with grace and devotion, was fanning Him with a marvelous chowry. Astonished by the sight of this eternal Vishnu, we seated ourselves in the aircraft, exchanging glances filled with wonder and contemplation.

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Shrimad Devi Bhagwat Puran - Page 119

Next the balloon ascended with the swiftness of wind; and, in the twinkling of an eye, reached to the ocean of nectar, the Sudha-Sagar, with waves playing sweetly on it. This ocean Sudha Sagara is filled with aquatic animals and agitated with ripples. We saw and went along and came to a very wonderful place called the Mani Dvipa (the island of gems) in the midst of the Ocean. It was adorned with Mandara and Pàrijata an other heavenly flower trees (plants?), with various beautiful carpets, with variegated trees As'oka, Vakula, Ketaki, Champaka, Kuravaka, etc., adorned with lustrous gems and pearls. It was resonated with the sweet cooings of the cuckoos and the humming sounds of bees; and it presented the sight of a sweet harmonious music playing there.

35-67. Sitting on our aeroplane, we saw, from a distance, within that Dwipa, a beautiful cot known as S'ivakara (i.e. whose four legs represent Brahma, Vishnu, Rudra, etc., and whose top portion represents Sada S’iva looking like a rainbow, with exquisitely beautiful carpet spread over it and decked with various gems and jewels and inlaid with pearls. We saw a Divine Lady, sitting on the cot, wearing a red garment and a garland of red cloth and bedewed with red sandal paste. Her eyes were dark-red; that beautiful faced red-lipped lady looked more beautiful than ten millions of lightnings and ten millions of Laksmis and lustrous like the Sun. The Bhagavati Bhuvanes'vari was sitting with a sweet smile on Her lips and holding in Her four hands noose, goad, and signs indicating as if She was ready to grant boons and asking Her devotees discard all fear. We never saw before such a form. Even the birds of that place repeat the mystic incantation Hrim and serve that Lady, Who is of the colour of the rising Sun, all merciful, and in the full bloom of youth. That lotus-faced smiling lady was adorned with all the beauties of Nature. Her high breasts defied the lotus bud. She was holding various jewelled ornaments, e.g., armplates, bracelets, diadems, etc. Her lotus-face looked exceedingly beautiful with jewelled ear-rings of the shape of the S’ri Yantra (yantra of Tripura Sundari). Hrillekha and other Deva girls were surrounding Her. There were Sakhis on the four sides -- always chanting hymns to Mahes'vari, the Lady of the world. She was surrounded on Her all sides by Ananga kusuma and other Devis. She was sitting in the middle of the Satkona (six angled) Yantra. We were all wondered at the sight of this Wonderful Form never seen before and we thought :-- “Who is this Lady? What is Her name? we know nothing of Her, from such a distance.” Thus while we were gazing at Her, that four armed Lady became gradually thousand eyed, with thousand hands and thousand feet; so it seemed to us. O Narada! We became very much embarrassed with doubts and thought within ourselves “Is She Apsara (nymph) or a Gandharva daughter or any other Deva Girl? who is She ?” At this juncture Bhagavan Vishnu saw closely the sweet smiling Devi and by his intelligence came to a definite conclusion and spoke to us :-- “This is the Devi Bhagavati Mahavidya Maha Maya, undecaying and eternal; She is the Full, the Prakriti; She is the Cause of us all. This Devi is inconceivable to those who are of dull intellects; only the Yogis can see Her by their Yoga-powers. She is eternal (Brahma) and also non-eternal (Maya). She is the Will-force of the Supreme Self. She is the First Creatrix of this world. This Devi with wide eyes, the Lady of the Universe, has produced the Vedas. The lessfortunate persons cannot worship Her. During the time of Pralaya, She destroys all the Universe, draws within Her body all the subtle bodies (Linga-Sariras), and plays.

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Shrimad Devi Bhagwat Puran - Page 120

Vishnu Ji says: 

She is the Mula Prakriti, the primordial nature, united with the Chidananda (Consciousness and Bliss) Person. It is She who creates this Brahmanda (cosmic egg) and presents it to the Paramatma (Supreme Self). O divine beings, this entire Universe—along with all the seers, the seen, and everything contained within—owes its existence to Her as the sole cause. She is Maya, assuming countless forms, the Goddess of all creation.

Who am I, compared to Her greatness? What are the Devas, Lakshmi, and the other deities? None of us can compare to even a hundred-thousandth part of Her grandeur. It is this supreme and divine Mother whom I saw in the great Ocean, where She looked upon me as an infant with immense joy and affection.

In those ancient days, as I lay on a cradle fashioned from the immovable leaves of a banyan tree, I played like an ordinary baby—licking my toe and drawing it into my mouth. This benevolent Lady, our Mother, gently rocked my tiny body to and fro, singing soothing songs.

Now, as I recall those divine moments, I recognize Her as the Bhagavati, the Supreme Goddess. This truth I share with you now—listen attentively. She is that divine Mother, the source of all creation, and the essence of our existence."

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Shrimad Devi Bhagwat Puran - Page 121

 

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Shrimad Devi Bhagwat Puran - Page 122

 

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Shrimad Devi Bhagwat Puran - Page 123

Vishnu ji says: 

O Bestower of Boons! Through Your power and radiance, the Sun shines and becomes visible. Though You are the attributeless Self, through Your Mayic power, You manifest as this Prapancha Universe. When even Brahma, Mahesh, and I are born through Your power and are not eternal, what can be said of Indra and other Devas, who are mere temporary creations? You alone are eternal, the primordial Prakriti, and the Mother of this Universe.

Brahma said: O Narada, after Vishnu finished speaking, Shiva, the Destroyer, stepped forward. Bowing respectfully to the Devi, he spoke:

Shiva said: O Devi, if Vishnu has been born through your power and Brahma emerged from you, then why should I, associated with Tamo Guna, not also be born from you? O Auspicious One, you are the creator of all the worlds—there is no surprise in my existence being your creation as well.

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O Mother! When Brahma, Vishnu, and I wish to create the world, we perform our duties using the dust from Your lotus feet.

Without Your grace, how could Brahma possess Rajoguna, Vishnu Sattvaguna, and I Tamoguna?

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Shrimad Devi Bhagwat Puran - Page 124

 

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Shrimad Devi Bhagwat Puran - Page 125

Brahma ji is saying

Without Your support, we are powerless. None in this world—past, present, or future—is free from doubt as we are. This wondrous, diverse universe, filled with Your divine play (Leela), is the subject of endless debates among imperfect intellects. Who can remain undeluded here?

In this Samsara, full of visible and invisible things, there exists another being, more ancient than You—the Supreme Person, who is Your substratum. Upon deeper analysis, it becomes evident that no third entity can be proven to exist beyond You and this Supreme.

The wise, versed in the eternal laws, assert that there is one God—attributeless, inactive, without motive or adjunct, without parts—who is the witness of Your vast Leela. The Vedas declare (Ekam evadvitiyam brahm), "One alone exists; that is Brahman, and there is nothing else."

However, this Vedic assertion gives rise to a doubt in my mind. I cannot consider the Vedas untrue, so I ask: Are You the Brahman, the one and secondless reality mentioned in the Vedas, or is there another entity as Brahman?

Please resolve this doubt of mine. My mind, though striving for clarity, still oscillates between duality and oneness. I seek Your words to dispel my confusion. Are You male or female? Kindly explain in detail, so I may understand the Supreme Shakti and be liberated from the ocean of Samsara.

Brahma said: When I humbly posed my question, the Devi Bhagavati, the Supreme Shakti, responded to me in sweet, divine words:

"There is eternal oneness between Me and the Purusha (the Supreme Self); at no time is there any true distinction between us. I am the Purusha, and the Purusha is Me. The perceived difference between force (Shakti) and the receptacle of force (Purusha) arises from illusion.

One who understands the subtle unity between us is truly wise and is liberated from the bondage of Samsara. There is no doubt about this."

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Shrimad Devi Bhagwat Puran - Page 126

 

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Shrimad Devi Bhagwat Puran - Page 127

 

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Shrimad Devi Bhagwat Puran - Page 128

 

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Shrimad Devi Bhagwat Puran - Page 129

Devi Durga is saying: 

Thus, I have briefly explained the creation to you, O Devas. Now, rise into your celestial vehicles and return to your respective realms to carry out your duties. Whenever you face severe distress, remember Me; I shall appear before you. Always keep the Eternal Supreme God and Me in your thoughts. With this remembrance, all your endeavors will undoubtedly succeed.

Brahma said: Bhagavati Durga granted us divine Shaktis, radiant with beauty and splendor—Maha Lakshmi to Vishnu, Maha Kali to Shiva, and Maha Sarasvati to me. She then bid us farewell.

After taking leave of the Devi, we departed and were reborn as males in another realm. Marveling at the wondrous power and influence of the Devi, we boarded our celestial aeroplane. As we ascended, we saw that Manidvipa, the Devi, the ocean of nectar—everything—had vanished. Apart from our aeroplane, nothing else remained visible.

We then journeyed in our divine vehicle to the place where Vishnu had slain the two formidable Daityas in the great ocean, and where I had emerged from the lotus.

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Shrimad Devi Bhagwat Purana - Skand 3 - Video

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