Devi Bhagavatam 9.46.72 — Devotion & Grace of the Goddess, Skandha 9, Adhyaya 46, Shloka 72

Shashthi Upakhyana Varnanam: The Story of Goddess Shashthi

Devanagari script

काकवन्ध्या च या नारी मृतवत्सा च या भवेत् । वर्षं श्रुत्वा लभेत्पुत्रं षष्ठीदेवीप्रसादतः

Transliteration

kākavandhyā ca yā nārī mṛtavatsā ca yā bhavet . varṣaṃ śrutvā labhetputraṃ ṣaṣṭhīdevīprasādataḥ

Translation

Eine Frau, die nur ein Kind hat (Kakavandhya) oder deren Kinder nach der Geburt sterben (Mritavatsa), wird einen Sohn erhalten, wenn sie dies ein Jahr lang hört, durch die Gnade der Göttin Shashthi.

Word by Word

• kākavandhyā: a woman who bears only one child
• kākavandhyā: karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: kākavandhyā
• Form: Nominative Singular Feminine

• yā: who
• yā: visheshana
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: yad
• Form: Nominative Singular Feminine

• nārī: woman
• nārī: karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: nārī
• Form: Nominative Singular Feminine

• mṛtavatsā: one whose children die
• mṛtavatsā: karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: mṛtavatsā
• Form: Nominative Singular Feminine

• bhavet: should be / is
• bhavet: kriya
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhū
• Form: 3rd Person Singular Potential Active

• śrutvā: having heard
• śrutvā: purvakala-kriya
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: śru
• Form: Gerund (Ktva)

• labhet: would obtain
• labhet: kriya
• Type: Verb
• Root: labh
• Form: 3rd Person Singular Potential Active

• putram: son
• putram: karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: putra
• Form: Accusative Singular Masculine

• ṣaṣṭhīdevīprasādataḥ: by the grace of Goddess Shasthi
• ṣaṣṭhīdevīprasādataḥ: hetu
• Type: Noun
• Root: ṣaṣṭhīdevīprasāda
• Form: Ablative Singular (with suffix -tas)

Speaker

Narayana

Shakti Theology

Devi Form: Shashthi

Mahavidya Connection: null

Shakti Manifestation: Protector of infants, curer of barrenness

Tattva Discussed: null

Devi Narrative

Demon Antagonist: null

Devi Weapon Used: null

Narrative Source: null

Story Arc Position: resolution

Tantra Dimension

Mantra Referenced: null

Yantra Referenced: null

Kundalini Element: null

Chakra Referenced: null

Tantric Practice Type: null

Bhakti & Stuti

Stuti Type: Stotra

Recitation Occasion: Daily

Phala Shruti: Kakavandhya or Mritavatsa obtains a son

Devotee Offering Stuti: null

Cosmic Feminine

Maya Aspect: null

Creation Role: null

Shakti Philosophy: null

Relation To Brahman: null

Vyasa-Janamejaya Dialogue

Narrator: Narayana

Listener: Narada

Dialogue Context: Narrating the origin and worship of Goddess Shashthi

Narrative Layer: embedded

Ritual Context

Text: Specific vows taken by mothers experiencing recurrent miscarriages or infant loss.

Philosophical Significance

Text: Addresses specific, deep-seated psychological and physical traumas of women in the ancient world, offering hope through divine intervention.

Characters & Entities

• Shashthi Devi
• Kakavandhya
• Mritavatsa

FAQs

What do the terms 'Kakavandhya' and 'Mritavatsa' mean?

'Kakavandhya' refers to a woman who has only one child and cannot conceive again, while 'Mritavatsa' refers to a woman whose children die shortly after birth.

How can these afflictions be overcome?

By listening to the Shashthi Stotra with devotion for one year.