📖 Markandeya Purana — Durga Saptashati
Verse 1
ॐ नमश्चण्डिकायै ।
मार्कण्डेय उवाच ।
सावर्णिः सूर्यतनयो यो मनुः कथ्यते ऽष्टमः ॥
Om namashchandikayai |
Markandeya uvacha |
Savarnih suryatanayo yo manuh kathyate ashtamah ||
नमश्चण्डिकायै
salutation to Chandika Devi
मार्कण्डेय उवाच
the sage Markandeya spoke
सावर्णिः
one named Savarni
सूर्यतनयः
son of Surya (the sun)
अष्टमः मनुः
the eighth Manu
According to the Markandeya Purana, the sage Markandeya begins: the son of Surya named Savarni is known as the eighth Manu. With this opening salutation to Chandika, the Devi Mahatmya — the glory of the Divine Mother — begins.
Verse 2
विप्रचित्तिश्च चण्डश्च शुम्भो निशुम्भ एव च ।
महिषश्चैव दुर्गा च नमुचिश्चण्ड एव च ॥
Viprachittishcha chandashcha shumbho nishumbha eva cha |
Mahishashchaiva durga cha namuchishchanda eva cha ||
विप्रचित्तिः
the demon Viprachitti
शुम्भः निशुम्भः
Shumbha and Nishumbha — two great demons
The first chapter introduces the demons whom the Divine Mother overcame. Shumbha, Nishumbha, Mahishasura, and others are briefly named here — each of whom falls before the Devi's power in the chapters ahead.
Verse 3
देव्याः प्रसादात् तत्सर्वं सावर्णेश्च मनोर्बलम् ।
मम संश्रुणु वक्ष्यामि यथावदनुपूर्वशः ॥
Devyah prasadat tatsarvam savarneshcha manorbalam |
Mama samshruну vakshyami yathavadanupurvashaha ||
देव्याः प्रसादात्
by the grace of the Devi
सावर्णेः मनोः बलम्
the strength of Savarni Manu
संश्रुणु
listen carefully
यथावत्
just as it happened
अनुपूर्वशः
in proper order
The sage says: by the Devi's grace, Savarni Manu received his great strength. I will now tell that story in the right order — listen carefully.
Verse 4
योगनिद्रां गतस्तस्य जघने भगवान् हरिः ।
तदा महासुरौ घोरौ विख्यातौ मधुकैटभौ ॥
Yoganidram gatastasya jaghane bhagavan Harih |
Tada mahasurau ghorau vikhyatau Madhukaitabhau ||
योगनिद्राम्
in yogic sleep (deep divine rest)
गतः भगवान् हरिः
Bhagavan Vishnu, resting
महासुरौ घोरौ
two terrifying great demons
मधुकैटभौ
named Madhu and Kaitabha
At the very beginning of creation, Bhagavan Vishnu lay in yogic sleep. At that moment, two fearsome demons — Madhu and Kaitabha — appeared, threatening the newborn cosmos.
Verse 5
ब्रह्मणस्तु तदा जाग्रत् ज्ञानशक्तिः समागता ।
स्तोतुं प्रचक्रमे भक्त्या योगनिद्रामिश्वरीम् ॥
Brahmanastу tada jagrат gyanashaktih samagata |
Stotum prachakrame bhaktya yoganidramishvarim ||
ज्ञानशक्तिः
Gyanashakti — a form of the Devi
योगनिद्राम् ईश्वरीम्
the sovereign Devi of yogic sleep
Brahma was alarmed. He turned to the Devi who had drawn Vishnu into yogic sleep and began to praise her with devoted prayer — asking her to release Vishnu so creation could be protected.
Verse 6
त्वं स्वाहा त्वं स्वधा त्वं हि वषट्कारः स्वरात्मिका ।
सुधा त्वमक्षरे नित्ये त्रिधा मात्रात्मिका स्थिता ॥
Tvam svaha tvam svadha tvam hi vashatkarah svaratmika |
Sudha tvamakshare nitye tridha matratmika sthita ||
त्वं स्वाहा
you are Svaha — the energy of the ritual fire offering
त्वं स्वधा
you are Svadha — the offering to ancestors
वषट्कारः
the Vashat utterance of the Vedas
अक्षरे नित्ये
imperishable, eternal
त्रिधा मात्रात्मिका
present in the three syllables of Om
Brahma's praise reaches its first great height: O Devi, you are Svaha — the power in every fire offering. You are Svadha — the nourishment of ancestors. You are the sacred Vashat chant of the Vedas. You are the amrita, eternal and imperishable. You dwell in the three matra of Om itself.
Verse 7
या देवी सर्वभूतेषु विष्णुमायेति शब्दिता ।
नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमो नमः ॥
Ya devi sarvabhuteshu Vishnumayeti shabdita |
Namastasyai namastasyai namastasyai namo namah ||
विष्णुमाया इति शब्दिता
is called Vishnumaya
नमस्तस्यै
salutation to her
नमो नमः
again and again, we bow
This is among the most beloved shlokas of the entire text. The Devi who dwells in all living beings as Vishnumaya — to her, salutation, salutation, salutation, again and again we bow.
Verse 8
एवं स्तुता तदा देवी बोधयामास तं हरिम् ।
नेत्राभ्यां भ्रमरयुगम् त्यक्त्वा तुष्टाव तं हरिम् ॥
Evam stuta tada devi bodhayamasa tam Harim |
Netrabhyam bhramarayugam tyaktva tushtava tam Harim ||
नेत्राभ्यां भ्रमरयुगम् त्यक्त्वा
departing from his eyes in the form of a pair of bees
Pleased by Brahma's prayer, the Devi released Vishnu from his yogic sleep. Vishnu awoke and met the demons Madhu and Kaitabha in battle — finally overcoming them through the Devi's power.
Verse 9
अतिवीर्यौ महावीर्यौ तौ महासुरौ नृप ।
कृत्वा परिश्रमं युद्धे देवः पुनरुवाच ह ॥
Ativiryau mahAviryau tau mahasurau nripa |
Kritva parishramam yuddhe devah punaruvacha ha ||
अतिवीर्यौ
of immense strength
परिश्रमं युद्धे
after great effort in battle
Madhu and Kaitabha were extraordinarily powerful. The battle went on for a long time. Through the Devi's maya (divine illusion), Vishnu ultimately prevailed over them both.
References
According to the Markandeya Purana, the first chapter of the Durga Saptashati tells the story of the slaying of Madhu and Kaitabha. At the very beginning of creation, Bhagavan Vishnu lay in yogic sleep. Two mighty demons — Madhu and Kaitabha — appeared. Brahma prayed to the Devi, the sovereign of yogic sleep. Through her grace, Vishnu awakened and vanquished both demons.
This chapter establishes the Devi as the foundation of all creation itself — Svaha, Svadha, amrita, Om — all are her forms.
Durga Saptashati · 1 / 13