Devi Bhagavatam 9.18.97 — Devotion & Grace of the Goddess, Skandha 9, Adhyaya 18, Shloka 97

The Meeting and Union of Tulasi and Shankhachuda

Devanagari script

यथा बृहस्पतौ तारा शतरूपा मनौ यथा । यथा च दक्षिणा यज्ञे यथा स्वाहा हुताशने

Transliteration

yathā bṛhaspatau tārā śatarūpā manau yathā | yathā ca dakṣiṇā yajñe yathā svāhā hutāśane

Translation

যেমন বৃহস্পতির সাথে তারা, মনুর সাথে শতরূপা, যজ্ঞে দক্ষিণা এবং অগ্নিতে স্বাহা থাকে...

Word by Word

• bṛhaspatau: in Brihaspati
• bṛhaspatau: Adhikarana (Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bṛhaspati
• Form: Locative Singular Masculine

• tārā: Tara
• tārā: Kartri (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tārā
• Form: Nominative Singular Feminine

• śatarūpā: Shatarupa (she of a hundred forms)
• śatarūpā: Kartri (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śatarūpā
• Form: Nominative Singular Feminine

• manau: in Manu
• manau: Adhikarana (Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: manu
• Form: Locative Singular Masculine

• yajñe: in the sacrifice
• yajñe: Adhikarana (Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yajña
• Form: Locative Singular Masculine

• svāhā: Svaha
• svāhā: Kartri (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: svāhā
• Form: Nominative Singular Feminine

• hutāśane: in the fire (eater of oblations)
• hutāśane: Adhikarana (Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hutāśana
• Form: Locative Singular Masculine

Speaker

Brahma

Shakti Theology

Devi Form: Tulasi

Mahavidya Connection: null

Shakti Manifestation: Divine consorts (Tara, Shatarupa, Dakshina, Svaha)

Tattva Discussed: Prakriti

Devi Narrative

Demon Antagonist: Shankhachuda

Devi Weapon Used: null

Narrative Source: null

Story Arc Position: setup

Tantra Dimension

Mantra Referenced: null

Yantra Referenced: null

Kundalini Element: null

Chakra Referenced: null

Tantric Practice Type: null

Bhakti & Stuti

Stuti Type: null

Recitation Occasion: null

Phala Shruti: null

Devotee Offering Stuti: null

Cosmic Feminine

Maya Aspect: null

Creation Role: Sustenance through divine pairing

Shakti Philosophy: Shakta Advaita

Relation To Brahman: Shakti as inseparable consort

Vyasa-Janamejaya Dialogue

Narrator: Narayana

Listener: Narada

Dialogue Context: Brahma blessing Tulasi

Narrative Layer: embedded

Ritual Context

Text: The chanting of 'Svaha' during Homa is personalized here as a divine marriage.

Philosophical Significance

Text: Shows that ritual actions (Yajna, Agni) are inert without their animating feminine powers (Dakshina, Svaha).

Characters & Entities

• Tara
• Brihaspati
• Shatarupa
• Manu
• Dakshina
• Yajna
• Svaha
• Agni (Hutashana)

FAQs

Why is Svaha paired with Agni?

Svaha is the Goddess of oblations; offerings made into the sacred fire (Agni) are only accepted by the gods when accompanied by the utterance of 'Svaha'.