purana Shrimad Devi Bhagwat Puran

Shrimad Devi Bhagwat Puran

Shrimad Devi Bhagwat Purana - Skand 3

Gita Press Gorakhpur

For Hindi users, it will be easier to just watch the video at the end of the page to follow all the knowledge given about Shrimad Devi Bhagwat given on this page.

Contents

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

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 that great Yajna (sacrifice) named Amba Yajna about which you referred just now? Who is the Amba? Where was She born? From whom and what for did Her birth take place? What are Her qualities? What is Her form and nature? O Ocean of mercy! You are all-knowing; kindly describe everything duly. Along with this, describe in detail the origin of Brahmanda. O Brahmana! You know every thing of this whole Universe. I heard that Brahma, Vishnu and Rudra are the three Devatas, who are successively originated to create, preserve, and destroy this Universe. Are these three highsouled entities independent? or Do they do their respective duties, being subservient to another Person? Now I am very eager to know all these. So Paras'ara's son! Describe all these to me. Are these highly powerful Brahma, Vishnu and Maheshvara subject to Death like ordinary beings? Or are they of the nature of everlasting Existence, Intelligence and Bliss? Are they subject to the three fold pains arising from their own selves from elements and from those arising from gods? Are they subject Time? How and wherefrom were they originated? Do they feel the influence of pleasure, pain, sleep or laziness? O Muni! Do their bodies consist of seven Dhatus? (blood, etc.) or are they of some other kinds? A great doubt has arisen in me on all these points. If these bodies be not made up of five elements, then of what substance are they built of? And of what gunas are their senses built also? How do they enjoy objects of enjoyments? How long is their longevity? O Brahmana! where do they, Brahma, Vishnu, and Maheshvara, the best of the gods live? And of what nature are their powers and prosperities? I like very much to hear all these. So describe all these in detail to me.”

11-24. Vyasa said :-- “O highly intelligent king! The questions that you have asked me today whence and how Brahma, etc., were born ? etc., are very difficult. In ancient days, once, on an occasion, I asked many questions like you to the Muni Narada. At first he was greatly surprised to hear my queries, afterwards he gave due replies to them. O king! I will answer to you in the same way; listen. Once I saw that the all-knowing, peaceful Narada, the knower of the Vedas was sitting on the banks of the Ganges. I became very glad and fell at his feet. By his order I took one excellent seat. Hearing, then, of his welfare and seeing him sitting on the sands I asked him :-- “O highly intelligent One! Who is the Supreme Architect of this widely extended Universe? Whence is this Brahmanda born? Is it eternal or temporary? When it is an effect, then it is natural that it cannot be created without a cause. Now when the cause, the creator, is certain, is he one or many? O sage! as regards this wide Samsara, I have expressed my doubt; now answer me what is the Real and True, and thus remove my doubts.

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Shrimad Devi Bhagwat Puran - Page 114

Synopsis: Rishi Vyas ji says to Narada that some people address Lord Shankar as the supreme being, others consider Vishnu ji to be supreme, so consider Brahma to be supreme whereas some consider Devi Durga to be supreme. Some people call Brahm to be supreme lord. Please tell me the reality.

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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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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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;”

Shrimad Devi Bhagwat Purana Skand 3

Goddess Durga made Brahma Vishnu and Shiv sit in an airplane

Brahma Vishnu and Shiv sitting in a plane

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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.

Shrimad Devi Bhagwat Purana Skand 3

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

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Astonished Brahma Vishnu and Shiva

12-34. Next we saw with great wonder, Varuna, the lord of the aquatic animals, Kuvera, Yama, Surya (sun), fire and the other Devas; then we saw that in our front, Indra the Lord of the Devas, was coming out from a well decorated city. He was there situated in his palanquin, calm and quiet and carried by men. Then the car, where we were situated, began to get up high in the sky, and in the twinkling of an eye, we reached Brahma loka, that is saluted by all the Devas. There Shiva and Vishnu were greatly bewildered to see another Brahma of that place. In the council hall of Brahma, the Vedas with their Angas, the serpents, hills, oceans and rivers were seen. Seeing all these, Vishnu and Maheshvara asked me :-- “O Four-faced one! Who is this eternal Brahma? I replied :-- I do not know who is this Brahma? Who am I? and who is He? why has this error come over me? You, too, also are gods so you can better ponder over it.”

Next our car, going with the swiftness of mind went, in the twinkling of an eye, to the beautiful all auspicious Kailas'a mountain surrounded by bliss-giving Yaksas. It was beautified by the Mandara garden, resonated by the sweet cooings of S'ukas and cuckoos and the sweet sounds of lutes and small drums and tabors. When we reached there we saw the five faced, three-eyed Bhagavan Shankara, with ten hands, wearing tiger skin, and the upper garment of the elephant skin. He was then, getting out of his abode, riding on a bull. His two sons, the great heroes, Ganesha and Kartikeya, beautifully adorned, were attending Him as His body guards. Nandi and all other hosts were following Him, chanting victories to Him. O Muni Narada! we were greatly wondered to see another Shankara, surrounded by the Matrikas. So much so, that perplexed with doubts, I sat down there.

Next our aeroplane went on with the force of wind; and in an instant reached the abode of Vaikuntha, the amusement court of Laksmi. O Suta! There at Vaikuntha, we saw a wonderful manifestation of power. Our companion Vishnu was greatly surprised to see that excellent city. We saw there four-armed Vishnu, of the colour of Atasi flower, wearing yellow garments, adorned with divine ornaments sitting on Garuda. Laksmi Devi is fanning wonderful chowry to Him. Struck with wonder at the sight of the eternal Vishnu, we took our seat on the car and looked at one another's face.

Shrimad Devi Bhagwat Purana Skand 3

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.

Shrimad Devi Bhagwat Purana Skand 3

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Mother Durga cradling Vishnu

Vishnu ji says: - This is the same Goddess whom I saw where there was water everywhere. At that time I was a child. She was rocking my cradle. I was under a Banyan tree and while lying in the cradle sucking my toe.

Vishnu Ji says that this Goddess Durga is our Mother.

Shrimad Devi Bhagwat Purana Skand 3