Shloka 5

Adhyaya 84 — The Gods’ Hymn after the Slaying of Mahishasura and the Goddess’ Boon

Sanskrit

या श्रीः स्वयं सुकृतिनां भवनेष्वलक्ष्मीः पापात्मनां कृतधियां हृदयेषु बुद्धिः ।

श्रद्धा सतां कुलजनप्रभवस्य लज्जा तां त्वां नताः स्म परिपालय देवि विश्वम् ॥

Transliteration

yā śrīḥ svayaṃ sukṛtināṃ bhavaneṣvalakṣmīḥ pāpātmanāṃ kṛtadhiyāṃ hṛdayeṣu buddhiḥ | śraddhā satāṃ kulajanaprabhavasya lajjā tāṃ tvāṃ natāḥ sma paripālaya devi viśvam ||

Translation

సజ్జనుల గృహములలో మీరు స్వయంగా శ్రీ (సంపద)గా, పాపుల గృహములలో అలక్ష్మీ (దురదృష్టం)గా ఉన్నారు. విద్యావంతుల హృదయములో బుద్ధిగా, సత్పురుషుల హృదయములో శ్రద్ధగా, కులీనులలో లజ్జగా మీరు నిలిచియున్నారు. ఓ దేవీ, మేము మీకు నమస్కరిస్తున్నాము; దయచేసి జగత్తును రక్షించండి।

Speakers

• Indra and the Devas addressing the Goddess

Primary Deities

• Devi
• Mahalakshmi

Shakti Aspects

• Sri (Lakshmi)
• Alakshmi
• Buddhi
• Shraddha
• Lajja

Key Themes

• Shaktism
• Karma
• Divine Protection
• Moral Causality

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

This verse encapsulates the Law of Karma through the agency of the Divine Mother. She is not partial; rather, She manifests as Prosperity (Sri) or Misfortune (Alakshmi) strictly mirroring the ethical actions (sukrita vs. papa) of the householder.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana (5 characteristics)?

While the Markandeya Purana covers all five characteristics, this section falls under the Manvantara category, specifically detailing the events and the glorification of the Goddess during the period of the Savarni Manu.

What is the esoteric significance?

The verse acknowledges the non-dual nature of Shakti. She is the source of both the pleasant (Sri) and the unpleasant (Alakshmi). It also identifies Her as the internal psychological faculties—Intellect (Buddhi), Faith (Shraddha), and Modesty (Lajja)—suggesting that divinity resides within the psyche as virtues.