The Pradhanika Rahasya (the Rahasya of the primary or pradhana) is the first of the three short texts known together as the Rahasya Traya, the three secrets of the Saptashati. Rahasya means a secret or hidden teaching. In the printed recitation books the three Rahasyas come after the thirteen chapters of the Devi Mahatmya and the two hymns to the goddess, and they are followed by the Vaikritika Rahasya and the Murti Rahasya. This page gives all 29 verses of the Pradhanika Rahasya as the Nirnaya Sagar print of 1958 has them, with a transliteration and a meaning for every verse.
What the Pradhanika Rahasya says
The text is a talk between a king and a sage. The king asks for the root of the goddess’s many descents and for the form he should worship. The sage replies that the answer is a secret, and then gives it. The text has four parts.
| Verses | What they do |
|---|---|
| Opening formula | The sages, deities, metre, seed and power of all three Rahasyas, and the purpose of the recitation |
| 1 to 3 | The king's two questions and the sage's reply that this is a secret |
| 4 to 15 | Mahalakshmi, the first form, fills the empty world, then takes a dark form (Mahakali) and a bright form (Mahasarasvati), and gives each her names |
| 16 to 29 | The three goddesses bring forth three divine couples, the consorts are assigned, the cosmic egg is made and opened, and the one goddess is described as with form and without form |
How the text is used
In the traditional order of a full recitation, the Rahasyas are said at the end, after the thirteen chapters, as the print’s own table of contents shows. The opening formula says they are used after the Saptashati for the fulfilment of the reciter’s wish. Practice differs among families and teachers, and some omit the Rahasyas, so follow your own tradition.
Three goddesses, one goddess
The central idea of the text is that Mahalakshmi is the primary form, and that Mahakali and Mahasarasvati are forms she takes from herself. The first chapter of the Devi Mahatmya shows Vishnu’s yogic sleep as the dark goddess, the middle episode shows Mahalakshmi as the slayer of Mahisha, and the last shows Sarasvati as the slayer of Shumbha and Nishumbha. This Rahasya gives the reasoning behind that arrangement: it says the three are one goddess, seen through the three qualities (gunas) of sattva, rajas and tamas. Verse 29 says she is formless and with form, and that no one name describes her.
The text also gives names to each form. We report them as the text lists them. The verses about consorts (21 to 25) are a Puranic account of how the creator, the destroyer and the protector each received a wife, and they should be read as tradition, not as history.
The text, transliteration and meaning
अस्य श्रीसप्तशतीरहस्यत्रयस्य ब्रह्मविष्णुरुद्रा ऋषयः । महाकालीमहालक्ष्मीमहासरस्वत्यो देवताः । अनुष्टुप्छन्दः । नवदुर्गा महालक्ष्मीर्बीजम् । श्रीं शक्तिः । मम अभीष्टफलसिद्धये सप्तशतीपाठान्ते जपे विनियोगः ।
Asya shrisaptashatirahasyatrayasya brahmavishnurudra rishayah, mahakalimahalakshmimahasarasvatyo devatah, anushtupchhandah, navadurga mahalakshmirbijam, shrim shaktih, mama abhishtaphalasiddhaye saptashatipathante jape viniyogah
MeaningThe opening formula (viniyoga) for all three Rahasyas. The sages are Brahma, Vishnu and Rudra, the deities are Mahakali, Mahalakshmi and Mahasarasvati, the metre is the anushtubh, the seed is Mahalakshmi of the Nine Durgas and the power is Shrim. It is to be used in the recitation said after the Saptashati, for the fulfilment of the wish the reciter holds.
भगवन्नवतारा मे चण्डिकायास्त्वयोदिताः
एतेषां प्रकृतिं ब्रह्मन् प्रधानं वक्तुमर्हसि ॥ १ ॥
Bhagavannavatara me chandikayastvayoditah
Etesham prakritim brahman pradhanam vaktumarhasi
MeaningThe king says: Revered one, you have told me of the descents of the goddess Chandika. Now tell me their root, the primary form behind them.
आराध्यं यन्मया देव्याः स्वरूपं येन वै द्विज
विधिना ब्रूहि सकलं यथावत्प्रणतस्य मे ॥ २ ॥
Aradhyam yanmaya devyah svarupam yena vai dvija
Vidhina bruhi sakalam yathavatpranatasya me
MeaningTell me also, teacher, in proper order and exactly as it is, which form of the goddess I should worship and by what method. I come to you as a pupil.
इदं रहस्यं परममनाख्येयं प्रचक्षते
भक्तोऽसीति न मे किञ्चित्तवावाच्यं नराधिप ॥ ३ ॥
Idam rahasyam paramamanakhyeyam prachakshate
Bhakto'siti na me kinchittavavachyam naradhipa
MeaningThe sage says: This is called a great secret, not to be told to anyone. But you are a devotee, so there is nothing I should hold back from you, O king.
सर्वस्याद्या महालक्ष्मीस्त्रिगुणा परमेश्वरी
लक्ष्यालक्ष्यस्वरूपा सा व्याप्य कृत्स्नं व्यवस्थिता ॥ ४ ॥
Sarvasyadya mahalakshmistriguna parameshvari
Lakshyalakshyasvarupa sa vyapya kritsnam vyavasthita
MeaningThe first of all is Mahalakshmi, the supreme goddess of the three qualities (gunas). Her nature is both what can be seen and what cannot, and she stands pervading everything.
मातुलिङ्गं गदां खेटं पानपात्रं च बिभ्रती
नागं लिङ्गं च योनिं च बिभ्रती नृप मूर्धनि ॥ ५ ॥
Matulingam gadam khetam panapatram cha bibhrati
Nagam lingam cha yonim cha bibhrati nripa murdhani
MeaningShe holds a citron, a mace, a shield and a drinking vessel. On her head she carries a serpent, a linga and a yoni.
तप्तकाञ्चनवर्णाभा तप्तकाञ्चनभूषणा
शून्यं तदखिलं स्वेन पूरयामास तेजसा ॥ ६ ॥
Taptakanchanavarnabha taptakanchanabhushana
Shunyam tadakhilam svena purayamasa tejasa
MeaningShe shines like heated gold and wears ornaments of heated gold. With her own radiance she filled all that emptiness.
शून्यं तदखिलं लोकं विलोक्य परमेश्वरी
बभार रूपमपरं तमसा केवलेन हि ॥ ७ ॥
Shunyam tadakhilam lokam vilokya parameshvari
Babhara rupamaparam tamasa kevalena hi
MeaningSeeing the whole world empty, the supreme goddess took another form, made of darkness alone.
सा भिन्नाञ्जनसङ्काशा दंष्ट्राञ्चितवरानना
विशाललोचना नारी बभूव तनुमध्यमा ॥ ८ ॥
Sa bhinnanjanasankasha damshtranchitavaranana
Vishalalochana nari babhuva tanumadhyama
MeaningThat form was a woman dark as broken collyrium, with a lovely face marked by fangs, wide eyes and a slender waist.
खड्गपात्रशिरःखेटैरलङ्कृतचतुर्भुजा
कबन्धहारं शिरसा बिभ्राणाऽहिशिरःस्रजम् ॥ ९ ॥
Khadgapatrashirahkhetairalankritachaturbhuja
Kabandhaharam shirasa bibhrana'hishirahsrajam
MeaningShe had four arms, adorned with a sword, a vessel, a severed head and a shield. Round her neck hung a garland of headless trunks, and on her head she wore a wreath of snake heads.
तां प्रोवाच महालक्ष्मीस्तामसीं प्रमदोत्तमाम्
ददामि तव नामानि यानि कर्माणि तानि ते ॥ १० ॥
Tam provacha mahalakshmistamasim pramadottamam
Dadami tava namani yani karmani tani te
MeaningMahalakshmi spoke to that dark and most beautiful woman: I give you names, and they match your acts.
महामाया महाकाली महामारी क्षुधा तृषा
निद्रा तृष्णा चैकवीरा कालरात्रिर्दुरत्यया ॥ ११ ॥
Mahamaya mahakali mahamari kshudha trisha
Nidra trishna chaikavira kalaratrirduratyaya
MeaningThey are Mahamaya, Mahakali, Mahamari, Hunger, Thirst, Sleep, Craving, Ekavira, Kalaratri and Duratyaya, the One Hard to Cross.
इमानि तव नामानि प्रतिपाद्यानि कर्मभिः
एभिः कर्माणि ते ज्ञात्वा योऽधीते सोऽश्नुते सुखम् ॥ १२ ॥
Imani tava namani pratipadyani karmabhih
Ebhih karmani te jnatva yo'dhite so'shnute sukham
MeaningThese names are explained by your deeds. One who learns your deeds together with the names enjoys happiness.
तामित्युक्त्वा महालक्ष्मीः स्वरूपमपरं नृप
सत्त्वाख्येनातिशुद्धेन गुणेनेन्दुप्रभं दधौ ॥ १३ ॥
Tamityuktva mahalakshmih svarupamaparam nripa
Sattvakhyenatishuddhena gunenenduprabham dadhau
MeaningHaving said this, Mahalakshmi took yet another form, bright as the moon, made of the pure quality called sattva.
अक्षमालाङ्कुशधरा वीणापुस्तकधारिणी
सा बभूव वरा नारी नामान्यस्यै च सा ददौ ॥ १४ ॥
Akshamalankushadhara vinapustakadharini
Sa babhuva vara nari namanyasyai cha sa dadau
MeaningShe held a rosary and a goad, and carried a vina and a book. She became a lovely woman, and Mahalakshmi gave her names as well.
महाविद्या महावाणी भारती वाक् सरस्वती
आर्या ब्राह्मी कामधेनुर्वेदगर्भा सुरेश्वरी ॥ १५ ॥
Mahavidya mahavani bharati vak sarasvati
Arya brahmi kamadhenurvedagarbha sureshvari
MeaningThey are Mahavidya, Mahavani, Bharati, Vak, Sarasvati, Arya, Brahmi, Kamadhenu, Vedagarbha and Sureshvari.
अथोवाच महालक्ष्मीर्महाकालीं सरस्वतीम्
युवां जनयतां देव्यौ मिथुने स्वानुरूपतः ॥ १६ ॥
Athovacha mahalakshmirmahakalim sarasvatim
Yuvam janayatam devyau mithune svanurupatah
MeaningThen Mahalakshmi said to Mahakali and Sarasvati: Between you two, bring forth pairs, each suited to your own nature.
इत्युक्त्वा ते महालक्ष्मीः ससर्ज मिथुनं स्वयम्
हिरण्यगर्भौ रुचिरौ स्त्रीपुंसौ कमलासनौ ॥ १७ ॥
Ityuktva te mahalakshmih sasarja mithunam svayam
Hiranyagarbhau ruchirau stripumsau kamalasanau
MeaningHaving said so, Mahalakshmi herself brought forth a pair, a man and a woman, golden-wombed, radiant and seated on lotuses.
ब्रह्मन् विधे विरिञ्चेति धातरित्याह तं नरम्
श्रीः पद्मे कमले लक्ष्मीत्याह माता स्त्रियं च ताम् ॥ १८ ॥
Brahman vidhe virincheti dhatarityaha tam naram
Shrih padme kamale lakshmityaha mata striyam cha tam
MeaningShe called the man Brahma, Vidhi, Virinchi and Dhatri. His mother called the woman Shri, Padma, Kamala and Lakshmi.
महाकाली भारती च मिथुने सृजतः सह
एतयोरपि रूपाणि नामानि च वदामि ते ॥ १९ ॥
Mahakali bharati cha mithune srijatah saha
Etayorapi rupani namani cha vadami te
MeaningMahakali and Sarasvati also brought forth pairs. I will tell you their forms and names as well.
नीलकण्ठं रक्तबाहुं श्वेताङ्गं चन्द्रशेखरम्
जनयामास पुरुषं महाकाली सितां स्त्रियम् ॥ २० ॥
Nilakantham raktabahum shvetangam chandrashekharam
Janayamasa purusham mahakali sitam striyam
MeaningMahakali produced a man with a blue throat, red arms, a white body and the moon on his head, and with him a fair woman.
स रुद्रः शङ्करः स्थाणुः कपर्दी च त्रिलोचनः
त्रयीविद्या कामधेनुः सा स्त्री भाषास्वराक्षरा ॥ २१ ॥
Sa rudrah shankarah sthanuh kapardi cha trilochanah
Trayividya kamadhenuh sa stri bhashasvarakshara
MeaningThe man is Rudra, also called Shankara, Sthanu, Kapardin and Three-eyed. The woman is the threefold Veda, the cow of plenty, the source of speech, vowels and letters.
सरस्वती स्त्रियं गौरीं कृष्णं च पुरुषं नृप
जनयामास नामानि तयोरपि वदामि ते ॥ २२ ॥
Sarasvati striyam gaurim krishnam cha purusham nripa
Janayamasa namani tayorapi vadami te
MeaningSarasvati produced a fair woman, Gauri, and a dark man, Krishna. I will tell you their names too.
विष्णुः कृष्णो हृषीकेशो वासुदेवो जनार्दनः
उमा गौरी सती चण्डी सुन्दरी सुभगा शुभा ॥ २३ ॥
Vishnuh krishno hrishikesho vasudevo janardanah
Uma gauri sati chandi sundari subhaga shubha
MeaningThe man is Vishnu, Krishna, Hrishikesha, Vasudeva and Janardana. The woman is Uma, Gauri, Sati, Chandi, Sundari, Subhaga and Shubha.
एवं युवतयः सद्यः पुरुषत्वं प्रपेदिरे
चक्षुष्मन्तोऽनुपश्यन्ति नेतरेऽतद्विदो जनाः ॥ २४ ॥
Evam yuvatayah sadyah purushatvam prapedire
Chakshushmanto'nupashyanti netare'tadvido janah
MeaningIn this way the young women at once took on the male form. Those with true sight perceive it, but others who lack this knowledge do not.
ब्रह्मणे प्रददौ पत्नीं महालक्ष्मीर्नृप त्रयीम्
रुद्राय गौरीं वरदां वासुदेवाय च श्रियम् ॥ २५ ॥
Brahmane pradadau patnim mahalakshmirnripa trayim
Rudraya gaurim varadam vasudevaya cha shriyam
MeaningMahalakshmi gave the threefold Veda to Brahma as his wife, Gauri to Rudra, and Shri to Vasudeva.
स्वरया सह सम्भूय विरिञ्चोऽण्डमजीजनत्
बिभेद भगवान् रुद्रस्तद्गौर्या सह वीर्यवान् ॥ २६ ॥
Svaraya saha sambhuya virincho'ndamajijanat
Bibheda bhagavan rudrastadgaurya saha viryavan
MeaningBrahma joined with Sarasvati and brought forth the cosmic egg. The mighty Rudra, with Gauri, broke it open.
अण्डमध्ये प्रधानादि कार्यजातमभून्नृप
महाभूतात्मकं सर्वं जगत् स्थावरजङ्गमम् ॥ २७ ॥
Andamadhye pradhanadi karyajatamabhunnripa
Mahabhutatmakam sarvam jagat sthavarajangamam
MeaningInside the egg appeared Pradhana, the primal matter, and all that comes from it, the whole world of great elements, moving and unmoving.
पुपोष पालयामास तल्लक्ष्म्या सह केशवः
महालक्ष्मीरेवमजा राजन् सर्वेश्वरेश्वरी ॥ २८ ॥
Puposha palayamasa tallakshmya saha keshavah
Mahalakshmirevamaja rajan sarveshvareshvari
MeaningKeshava, with Lakshmi, nourished and protected it. In this way Mahalakshmi is unborn, the queen over all lords.
निराकारा च साकारा सैव नानाभिधानभृत्
नामान्तरैर्निरूप्यैषा नाम्ना नान्येन केनचित् ॥ २९ ॥
Nirakara cha sakara saiva nanabhidhanabhrit
Namantarairnirupyaisha namna nanyena kenachit
MeaningShe is formless and she has form, and she bears many names. She can be described by other names, but not by any single name alone.
मार्कण्डेयपुराणे प्राधानिकं रहस्यम्
Markandeyapurane pradhanikam rahasyam
MeaningColophon: the Pradhanika Rahasya, as the print places it, in the Markandeya Purana.
Summary
The Pradhanika Rahasya answers a king’s question about the root of the goddess’s forms. Mahalakshmi, of the three qualities, is the first. She fills the empty world with her light, takes a dark form and a bright form, and names them. The three then bring forth three couples, the creator and the goddess of speech, the destroyer and Gauri, and the protector and Shri, and through them the cosmos is made and set in order. The text ends by saying that the goddess is both with form and without form, known by many names and by no single name.
Where the print needs a note
The print’s verse numbers run from 1 to 29, and we keep them. The opening formula and the colophon have no number in the print.
Verse 9. The print reads bibhrana ‘hishirah srajam (a wreath of snake heads), checked on an enlarged image. Some other recitation books read the line differently. We have not collated other editions word by word.
Other witnesses. We compared the reading with the machine-read text of the Naval Kishore print of 1948. That text is too noisy to settle a word, and we found no verse where it clearly reads a different word from the 1958 print for this Rahasya. We do not claim a word-by-word collation against it.
Source of the text on this page. The Sanskrit is the text of the Saptashati printed by the Nirnaya Sagar Press, Bombay (Shaka 1879, which is 1958 CE; printer and publisher Lakshmibai Narayan Chaudhari), read from the page images of the scan on archive.org (identifier durga-saptashathi-nirnayasagar-1958). That print was made before 1960 and we follow its readings. We put spaces between words and write the nasals in the usual style of this site, and we do not count that as a difference. The Pradhanika Rahasya begins on printed page 240 (scan image 127 of the archive.org PDF, third line from the top of the lower page) and ends on printed page 246 (scan image 130). Printed pages 240 to 246 fall on scan images 127 to 130; each scan image holds two printed pages. The three Rahasyas are called part of the Markandeya Purana in the print's colophons, but they are not among the thirteen chapters, and we cannot say who composed them or when. The transliteration is a simple guide to sound and the meanings are our own wording. See the Devi Mahatmya hub for the note on the prints used on this site.
Related pages
- The Devi Mahatmya (Durga Saptashati): the thirteen chapters and the traditional order of recitation
- Vaikritika Rahasya: the second Rahasya, on the changed forms and how to worship them
- Murti Rahasya: the third Rahasya, on the forms Nanda, Raktadantika, Shakambhari, Bhima and Bhramari
- Devi Kavacha: the armour said before the chapters
- Ratri Suktam: the hymns to Night
- Sharad Navratri: the nine nights
- All mantras, stotras and sacred texts: the full list