Shloka 7

Adhyaya 85 — The Gods’ Hymn to the Goddess and the Emergence of Kaushiki; Shumbha Sends His Envoy

Sanskrit

देवा ऊचुः

नमो देव्यै महादेव्यै शिवायै सततं नमः ।

नमः प्रकृत्यै भद्रायै नियताः प्रणताः स्म ताम् ॥

Transliteration

devā ūcuḥ namo devyai mahādevyai śivāyai satataṃ namaḥ / namaḥ prakṛtyai bhadrāyai niyatāḥ praṇatāḥ sma tām

Translation

诸天说道：“敬礼女神，敬礼大女神；恒常敬礼湿婆（Śivā）。敬礼自性（Prakṛti），敬礼吉祥者（Bhadrā）。以心志调伏、俯首低眉，我等向她顶礼稽首。”

Word by Word

• devāḥ: the gods
• devāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masc), प्रथमा (1st/Nom), बहुवचन (pl)

• ūcuḥ: said
• ūcuḥ: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vac (वच् धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन (pl), परस्मैपद

• namaḥ: salutation
• namaḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: namaḥ (अव्यय/निपात)
• Form: निपात (particle of salutation), अव्यय; दत्तिवाचक-योगे चतुर्थी (with dative)

• devyai: to the Goddess
• devyai: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: devī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (fem), चतुर्थी (4th/Dative), एकवचन (sg)

• mahā-devyai: to the Great Goddess
• mahā-devyai: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā + devī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास: कर्मधारय ‘महती देवī’, स्त्रीलिङ्ग (fem), चतुर्थी (4th/Dative), एकवचन (sg)

• śivāyai: to Śivā (auspicious goddess)
• śivāyai: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śivā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (fem), चतुर्थी (4th/Dative), एकवचन (sg)

• satatam: always
• satatam: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: satatam (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, कालवाचक (adverb of time/continuity)

• namaḥ: salutation
• namaḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: namaḥ (अव्यय/निपात)
• Form: निपात (salutation particle), अव्यय

• namaḥ: salutation
• namaḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: namaḥ (अव्यय/निपात)
• Form: निपात (salutation particle), अव्यय

• prakṛtyai: to Prakṛti (Nature)
• prakṛtyai: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prakṛti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (fem), चतुर्थी (4th/Dative), एकवचन (sg)

• bhadrāyai: to the Auspicious One
• bhadrāyai: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhadrā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (fem), चतुर्थी (4th/Dative), एकवचन (sg)

• niyatāḥ: disciplined/controlled
• niyatāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ni-√yam (यम् धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त: क्त (past passive participle) / विशेषणरूपेण ‘नियत’ (disciplined), पुंलिङ्ग (masc), प्रथमा (1st/Nom), बहुवचन (pl)

• praṇatāḥ: bowed down
• praṇatāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pra-√nam (नम् धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त: क्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग (masc), प्रथमा (1st/Nom), बहुवचन (pl)

• sma: indeed/just (particle)
• sma: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sma (अव्यय)
• Form: स्म-निपात (particle, often with past sense/emphasis)

• tām: her
• tām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम (pronoun), स्त्रीलिङ्ग (fem), द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (sg)

Speakers

• Devas (collective hymn)

Primary Deities

• Devi

Shakti Aspects

• ['Mahadevi'
• 'Shiva (Shivaa)'
• 'Prakriti'
• 'Bhadra']

Key Themes

• Shaktism
• Devi as ultimate reality
• Prakriti doctrine
• Stuti/namaskara

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

The hymn frames Devi as both immanent (auspicious presence) and metaphysical principle (Prakṛti). Ethical posture: niyama (discipline) and praṇipāta (humble surrender) precede divine aid.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana (5 characteristics)?

A stotra embedded in itihāsa-like narrative; it serves the Purāṇic pedagogical function—teaching names, contemplation, and devotion—rather than enumerating sarga/manvantara.

What is the esoteric significance?

Calling her Prakṛti signals Śakti as the matrix of manifestation; ‘Śivā’ indicates auspiciousness and the power that makes even transcendence (Śiva) effective in the world.