Devi Bhagavatam 9.47.23 — Devotion & Grace of the Goddess, Skandha 9, Adhyaya 47, Shloka 23

Mangalachandi and Manasa Upakhyana

Devanagari script

देवीं षोडशवर्षीयां शश्वत्सुस्थिरयौवनाम् । बिम्बोष्ठीं सुदतीं शुद्धां शरत्पद्मनिभाननाम्

Transliteration

devīṃ ṣoḍaśavarṣīyāṃ śaśvatsusthirayauvanām . bimboṣṭhīṃ sudatīṃ śuddhāṃ śaratpadmanibhānanām

Translation

मी त्या देवीचे ध्यान करतो जी सोळा वर्षांची आहे, जिचे यौवन सदैव स्थिर असते, जिचे ओठ बिंब फळासारखे आहेत, जिचे दात सुंदर आहेत, जी शुद्ध आहे आणि जिचा चेहरा शरद ऋतूतील कमळासारखा आहे.

Word by Word

• devīm: the Goddess
• devīm: karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: devī
• Form: Accusative Singular Feminine

• ṣoḍaśavarṣīyām: sixteen years old
• ṣoḍaśavarṣīyām: viśeṣaṇa
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ṣoḍaśavarṣīya
• Form: Accusative Singular Feminine

• śaśvat: eternally
• śaśvat: null
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: śaśvat
• Form: Adverb

• susthirayauvanām: having stable youth
• susthirayauvanām: viśeṣaṇa
• Type: Adjective
• Root: susthirayauvana
• Form: Accusative Singular Feminine

• bimboṣṭhīm: having lips like Bimba fruit
• bimboṣṭhīm: viśeṣaṇa
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bimboṣṭhī
• Form: Accusative Singular Feminine

• sudatīm: having beautiful teeth
• sudatīm: viśeṣaṇa
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sudatī
• Form: Accusative Singular Feminine

• śuddhām: pure
• śuddhām: viśeṣaṇa
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śuddha
• Form: Accusative Singular Feminine

• śaratpadmanibhānanām: face resembling an autumn lotus
• śaratpadmanibhānanām: viśeṣaṇa
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śaratpadmanibhānana
• Form: Accusative Singular Feminine

Speaker

Narayana (reciting the Dhyana)

Shakti Theology

Devi Form: Mangala Chandika

Mahavidya Connection: Shodashi

Shakti Manifestation: Eternal Youth (Nitya Yauvana)

Tattva Discussed: null

Devi Narrative

Demon Antagonist: null

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: Dhyana

Bhakti & Stuti

Stuti Type: Dhyanam

Recitation Occasion: Daily

Phala Shruti: null

Devotee Offering Stuti: Devotee

Cosmic Feminine

Maya Aspect: null

Creation Role: null

Shakti Philosophy: null

Relation To Brahman: null

Vyasa-Janamejaya Dialogue

Narrator: Narayana

Listener: Narada

Dialogue Context: Describing the physical form of Devi for meditation

Narrative Layer: embedded

Ritual Context

Text: The beginning of the formal Dhyana (mental visualization) required before chanting the mantra.

Philosophical Significance

Text: The age of sixteen (Shodashi) represents perfection, fullness, and the peak of vibrant creative energy in Shakta theology.

Characters & Entities

• Devi

FAQs

How old does the Goddess appear in this meditation?

She is visualized as a sixteen-year-old girl (shodasha-varshiyam) who possesses eternal and steadfast youth.

How are her facial features described?

She has lips red like the Bimba fruit, beautiful teeth, and a radiant face resembling a blooming autumn lotus.