1. All the gods waited upon the Goddess (and asked): ‘Great Goddess, who art Thou ?’
2. She replied: I am essentially Brahman. From Me (has proceeded) the world comprising Prakriti and Purusha, the void and the Plenum. I am (all forms of) bliss and non-bliss.
Knowledge and ignorance are Myself. Brahman and non-Brahman are to be known – says the scripture of the Atharvans.
3. I am the five elements as also what is different from them. I am the entire world. I am the Veda as well as what is different from it. I am the unborn; I am the born. Below and above and around am I.
4. I move with Rudras and Vasus, with Adityas and Visvedevas.
Mitra and Varuna, Indra and Agni, I support, and the two Asvins.
5. I uphold Soma, Tvastir, Pusan and Bhaga,
The wide-stepping Vishnu, Brahma, Prajapati.
6. To the zealous sacrificer offering oblation
And pressing the Soma-juice do I grant wealth;
I am the state, the Bringer of Wealth;
Above it all, place I its protector.
7. Whoso knows my essence in the water of the inner sea,
Attains he the Goddess’s abode.
8. Those gods said:
Salutation to the Goddess, the great Goddess !
To Siva, the auspicious, salutation, for ever more.
To blessed Prakriti, salutation !
Ever to Her we bow.
9. Refuge I seek in Her who is the colour of fire,
Burning with ascetic ardour, Goddess resplendent,
Delighting in actions’ fruits; O Thou, hard to reach,
Dispel Thy gloom.
10. The gods engendered divine Speech;
Her, beasts of all forms speak;
The cow that yields sweet fruits and vigour –
To us may lauded Speech appear.
11. To holy Siva, to Daksha’s daughter,
To Aditi and Sarasvati,
To Skanda’s Mother, Vishnu’s Power,
To Night of death by Brahma lauded,
We render obeisance.
12. Know we Great Lakshmi,
Goddess of good Fortune;
On all fulfilment do we meditate.
May the Goddess inspire us !
...
32. Reading it in the morning one destroys the sins of the night;
reading it in the evening one destroys the sins committed by day.
Thus, reading both in the evening and morning, the sinner becomes sinless.
Reading it midnight, too, the fourth ‘junction’, there results perfection of speech.
Its recitation before a new image brings to it the presence of the deity.
Its recitation at the time of consecration (of an image) makes it a centre of energy.
Reciting it on Tuesday under the asterism Ashvini, in the presence of the great Goddess, one overcomes fell death
– one who knows thus. This is the secret.
Om ! Gods ! With ears let us hear what is good;
Adorable ones ! With eyes let us see what is good.
With steady limbs, with bodies, praising,
Let us enjoy the life allotted by the gods.
May Indra, of wide renown, grant us well-being;
May Pusan, and all-gods, grant us well-being.
May Tarksya, of unhampered movement, grant us well-being.
May Brihaspati grant us well-being.
Om ! Peace ! Peace ! Peace !
Devi Upanishad
Translated by Dr. A. G. Krishna Warrier
Published by The Theosophical Publishing House, Chennai
