Shloka 3

Adhyaya 92 — Devi’s Assurance of Protection and the Fruits of Reciting the Devi Mahatmyam

Sanskrit

अष्टम्यां च चतुर्दश्यां नवम्यां चैकचेतसः ।

स्तोष्यन्ति चैव ये भक्त्या मम माहात्म्यमुत्तमम् ॥

Transliteration

aṣṭamyāṃ ca caturdaśyāṃ navamyāṃ caikacetasaḥ |

stoṣyanti caiva ye bhaktyā mama māhātmyam uttamam ||

Translation

Те, кто с однонаправленным умом, благоговейно восхваляют Моё высшее Махатмья в восьмой, четырнадцатый и девятый лунные дни,—(получают обещанные благословения).

Word by Word

• अष्टम्याम्: on the eighth (lunar day)
• अष्टम्याम्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location-time)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अष्टमी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (feminine), सप्तमी-विभक्ति (locative/7th), एकवचन (singular)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• चतुर्दश्याम्: on the fourteenth (lunar day)
• चतुर्दश्याम्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location-time)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चतुर्दशी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (feminine), सप्तमी-विभक्ति (locative/7th), एकवचन (singular)

• नवम्याम्: on the ninth (lunar day)
• नवम्याम्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location-time)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नवमी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (feminine), सप्तमी-विभक्ति (locative/7th), एकवचन (singular)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• एक-चेतसः: single-minded
• एक-चेतसः: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier of 'ye')
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एक (प्रातिपदिक) + चेतस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (nominative/1st), बहुवचन (plural); कर्मधारय: 'एकं चेतः येषाम्' (single-minded)

• स्तोष्यन्ति: they will praise
• स्तोष्यन्ति: Kriya (क्रिया/Verbal action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्तु (धातु)
• Form: लृट्-लकार (Simple Future), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन (plural), परस्मैपद

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• एव: indeed, certainly
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण-अव्यय (particle of emphasis)

• ये: who (those who)
• ये: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (nominative/1st), बहुवचन (plural)

• भक्त्या: with devotion
• भक्त्या: Karana (करण/Means)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (feminine), तृतीया-विभक्ति (instrumental/3rd), एकवचन (singular)

• मम: my
• मम: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Possessor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-विभक्ति (genitive/6th), एकवचन (singular)

• माहात्म्यम्: greatness, glory
• माहात्म्यम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: माहात्म्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (accusative/2nd), एकवचन (singular)

• उत्तमम्: supreme, excellent
• उत्तमम्: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier of 'māhātmyam')
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (accusative/2nd), एकवचन (singular)

Speakers

• Devī

Primary Deities

• Devī

Shakti Aspects

• Devī honored on key tithis associated with Śākta observance (esp. Aṣṭamī/Navamī; also Caturdaśī)

Key Themes

• Shaktism
• Vrata/observance
• Bhakti
• Sacred calendar (tithi)

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

The text integrates devotion with disciplined time—holy days become supports for steadiness and remembrance, training the mind toward one-pointedness and gratitude rather than fear-driven worship.

How does this fit the Pancalakṣaṇa (5 characteristics)?

Dharma: it prescribes devotional observances (vrata-like guidance) grounded in Purāṇic narrative authority.

What is the esoteric significance?

The specified tithis are liminal points in the lunar cycle, traditionally suited for śakti-upāsanā; ‘eka-cetas’ indicates that the true rite is inner concentration, with calendar observance as an outer scaffold.