The Vaikritika Rahasya (the Rahasya of the vikriti, the changed or developed forms) is the second of the three Rahasyas of the Saptashati. Where the Pradhanika Rahasya names the first form, this one describes the three goddesses as they appear in the three episodes of the Devi Mahatmya, with their weapons, and then says how they are to be worshipped. This page gives all 39 verses as the Nirnaya Sagar print of 1958 has them, with a transliteration and a meaning for every verse.
What the Vaikritika Rahasya says
The whole text is spoken by the sage to the king. It has four parts.
| Verses | What they do |
|---|---|
| 1 to 6 | Mahakali, the dark goddess of Vishnu's sleep, ten-faced and ten-armed, praised by Brahma against Madhu and Kaitabha |
| 7 to 13 | Mahalakshmi, the slayer of Mahisha, with eighteen arms and the list of her weapons |
| 14 to 16 | Sarasvati, born from Gauri, with eight arms, the destroyer of Shumbha and Nishumbha |
| 17 to 39 | How to place and worship the three forms, the offerings, the recitation and its limits, and the closing advice to the king |
How the worship is laid out
Verses 18 to 24 describe an arrangement for a worship image or diagram. Mahalakshmi stands in the middle with Mahakali and Sarasvati on her two sides, and the three divine couples behind. When the worship is for a different form, the other forms change place. We report this arrangement as the text gives it. It is meant for a trained priest or a family that already has a lineage of practice, and we do not give instructions for performing it.
Verse 28 names offerings that include blood, meat and spirits. This belongs to the tantric stream of the tradition and is not followed by many families, who offer flowers, fruit, lamps, incense and sweet food. The next verses also name the demon, the lion and the buffalo as figures to be honoured in the arrangement.
The rule about episodes
Verses 31 and 32 refer to the three episodes of the Devi Mahatmya as the first, middle and last. They say the middle episode may be recited alone, but not one of the other two alone, and that an episode should not be broken in the middle. Many reciters read the whole text, so this is a rule for those who recite only part.
The final verses say that the goddess honours a daily worshipper and withdraws merit from one who gives no worship. We report this as the text’s own claim. It is a devotional statement, and this site makes no promise about results.
The text, transliteration and meaning
त्रिगुणा तामसी देवी सात्त्विकी या त्वयोदिता
सा शर्वा चण्डिका दुर्गा भद्रा भगवतीर्यते ॥ १ ॥
Triguna tamasi devi sattviki ya tvayodita
Sa sharva chandika durga bhadra bhagavatiryate
MeaningThe sage says: The goddess of the three qualities, dark, bright and active, of whom you were told, is called Sharva, Chandika, Durga, Bhadra and Bhagavati.
योगनिद्रा हरेरुक्ता महाकाली तमोगुणा
मधुकैटभनाशार्थं यां तुष्टावाम्बुजासनः ॥ २ ॥
Yoganidra harerukta mahakali tamoguna
Madhukaitabhanashartham yam tushtavambujasanah
MeaningThe goddess of yogic sleep, said to belong to Vishnu, is Mahakali, of the dark quality. Brahma praised her in order to destroy Madhu and Kaitabha.
दशवक्त्रा दशभुजा दशपादाञ्जनप्रभा
विशालया राजमाना त्रिंशल्लोचनमालया ॥ ३ ॥
Dashavaktra dashabhuja dashapadanjanaprabha
Vishalaya rajamana trimshallochanamalaya
MeaningShe has ten faces, ten arms and ten feet, and the dark gleam of collyrium. She shines with a wide garland of thirty eyes.
स्फुरद्दशनदंष्ट्रा सा भीमरूपापि भूमिप
रूपसौभाग्यकान्तीनां सा प्रतिष्ठा महाश्रियाम् ॥ ४ ॥
Sphuraddashanadamshtra sa bhimarupapi bhumipa
Rupasaubhagyakantinam sa pratishtha mahashriyam
MeaningHer teeth flash and her fangs are bright. Though her look is terrifying, she is the ground of beauty, good fortune and radiance, and of great prosperity.
खड्गबाणगदाशूलशङ्खचक्रभुशुण्डिभृत्
परिघं कार्मुकं शीर्षं निश्चोतद्रुधिरं दधौ ॥ ५ ॥
Khadgabanagadashulashankhachakrabhushundibhrit
Parigham karmukam shirsham nishchotadrudhiram dadhau
MeaningShe holds a sword, arrow, mace, spear, conch, discus and bhushundi (a kind of club or sling), together with an iron-bound club, a bow and a severed head dripping blood.
एषा सा वैष्णवी माया महाकाली दुरत्यया
आराधिता वशीकुर्यात् पूजाकर्तुश्चराचरम् ॥ ६ ॥
Esha sa vaishnavi maya mahakali duratyaya
Aradhita vashikuryat pujakartushcharacharam
MeaningShe is the divine power of Vishnu, Mahakali, hard to cross. When she is satisfied by worship, she brings the world of moving and unmoving beings under the worshipper's care.
सर्वदेवशरीरेभ्यो याविर्भूताऽमितप्रभा
त्रिगुणा सा महालक्ष्मीः साक्षान्महिषमर्दिनी ॥ ७ ॥
Sarvadevasharirebhyo yavirbhuta'mitaprabha
Triguna sa mahalakshmih sakshanmahishamardini
MeaningThe one who appeared with boundless splendour from the bodies of all the gods is Mahalakshmi of the three qualities, the very slayer of Mahisha.
श्वेतानना नीलभुजा सुश्वेतस्तनमण्डला
रक्तमध्या रक्तपादा रक्तजङ्घोरुरुन्मदा ॥ ८ ॥
Shvetanana nilabhuja sushvetastanamandala
Raktamadhya raktapada raktajanghorurunmada
MeaningHer face is white, her arms dark blue and her breasts very white. Her waist is red, and so are her feet, ankles and thighs, and she is full of joyful abandon.
सुचित्रजघना चित्रमाल्याम्बरविभूषणा
चित्रानुलेपना कान्तिरूपसौभाग्यशालिनी ॥ ९ ॥
Suchitrajaghana chitramalyambaravibhushana
Chitranulepana kantirupasaubhagyashalini
MeaningHer hips are beautiful, and she is adorned with bright garlands and garments. Her ointments are bright, and she is endowed with radiance, beauty and good fortune.
अष्टादशभुजा पूज्या सा सहस्रभुजा सती
आयुधान्यत्र वक्ष्यन्ते दक्षिणाधःकरक्रमात् ॥ १० ॥
Ashtadashabhuja pujya sa sahasrabhuja sati
Ayudhanyatra vakshyante dakshinadhahkarakramat
MeaningShe is to be worshipped with eighteen arms, though she is also said to have a thousand. Her weapons are named here, beginning from the lower right hand.
अक्षमाला च कमलं बाणोऽसिः कुलिशं गदा
चक्रं त्रिशूलं परशुः शङ्खो घण्टा च पाशकः ॥ ११ ॥
Akshamala cha kamalam bano'sih kulisham gada
Chakram trishulam parashuh shankho ghanta cha pashakah
MeaningThey are a rosary, lotus, arrow, sword, thunderbolt, mace, discus, trident, axe, conch, bell and noose.
शक्तिर्दण्डश्चर्म चापं पानपात्रं कमण्डलुः
अलङ्कृतभुजामेभिरायुधैः कमलासनाम् ॥ १२ ॥
Shaktirdandashcharma chapam panapatram kamandaluh
Alankritabhujamebhirayudhaih kamalasanam
MeaningThen a spear, a staff, a shield, a bow, a drinking vessel and a water pot. Her arms are adorned with these weapons, and she sits on a lotus.
सर्वदेवमयीमीशां महालक्ष्मीमिमां नृप
पूजयेत्सर्वलोकानां स देवानां प्रभुर्भवेत् ॥ १३ ॥
Sarvadevamayimisham mahalakshmimimam nripa
Pujayetsarvalokanam sa devanam prabhurbhavet
MeaningO king, one who worships this Mahalakshmi, who contains all the gods and is sovereign over all worlds, becomes a lord even among the gods.
गौरीदेहात्समुद्भूता या सत्त्वैकगुणाश्रया
साक्षात्सरस्वती प्रोक्ता शुम्भासुरनिबर्हिणी ॥ १४ ॥
Gauridehatsamudbhuta ya sattvaikagunashraya
Sakshatsarasvati prokta shumbhasuranibarhini
MeaningThe one born from the body of Gauri, whose nature rests wholly on sattva, is called Sarasvati herself, the destroyer of Shumbha and Nishumbha.
दधौ चाष्टभुजा बाणमुसलं शूलचक्रभृत्
शङ्खं घण्टां लाङ्गलं च कार्मुकं वसुधाधिप ॥ १५ ॥
Dadhau chashtabhuja banamusalam shulachakrabhrit
Shankham ghantam langalam cha karmukam vasudhadhipa
MeaningThe eight-armed one holds an arrow, a pestle, a spear and a discus, a conch, a bell, a plough and a bow, O lord of the earth.
एषा सम्पूजिता भक्त्या सर्वज्ञत्वं प्रयच्छति
निशुम्भमथिनी देवी शुम्भासुरनिबर्हिणी ॥ १६ ॥
Esha sampujita bhaktya sarvajnatvam prayachchhati
Nishumbhamathini devi shumbhasuranibarhini
MeaningWorshipped with devotion, she grants all-knowing wisdom. She is the crusher of Nishumbha and the destroyer of Shumbha.
इत्युक्तानि स्वरूपाणि मूर्तीनां तव पार्थिव
उपासनं जगन्मातुः पृथगासां निशामय ॥ १७ ॥
Ityuktani svarupani murtinam tava parthiva
Upasanam jaganmatuh prithagasam nishamaya
MeaningI have now told you the forms of the three goddesses. Now hear the separate ways of worshipping the Mother of the world.
महालक्ष्मीर्यदा पूज्या महाकाली सरस्वती
दक्षिणोत्तरयोः पूज्ये पृष्ठतो मिथुनत्रयम् ॥ १८ ॥
Mahalakshmiryada pujya mahakali sarasvati
Dakshinottarayoh pujye prishthato mithunatrayam
MeaningWhen Mahalakshmi is the one worshipped, Mahakali and Sarasvati are worshipped on her two sides, and the three divine couples are placed behind them.
विरिञ्चिः स्वरया मध्ये रुद्रो गौर्या च दक्षिणे
वामे लक्ष्म्या हृषीकेशः पुरतो देवतात्रयम् ॥ १९ ॥
Virinchih svaraya madhye rudro gaurya cha dakshine
Vame lakshmya hrishikeshah purato devatatrayam
MeaningBrahma with Sarasvati in the middle, Rudra with Gauri on the right, and Hrishikesha with Lakshmi on the left. The group of three goddesses stands in front.
अष्टादशभुजा मध्ये वामे चास्या दशानना
दक्षिणेऽष्टभुजा लक्ष्मीर्महतीति समर्चयेत् ॥ २० ॥
Ashtadashabhuja madhye vame chasya dashanana
Dakshine'shtabhuja lakshmirmahatiti samarchayet
MeaningThe eighteen-armed goddess is worshipped in the middle, the ten-faced one on her left, and the eight-armed Lakshmi on her right, as the Great One.
अष्टादशभुजा चैषा यदा पूज्या नराधिप
दशानना चाष्टभुजा दक्षिणोत्तरयोस्तदा ॥ २१ ॥
Ashtadashabhuja chaisha yada pujya naradhipa
Dashanana chashtabhuja dakshinottarayostada
MeaningWhen this eighteen-armed form is the one worshipped, O king, the ten-faced and the eight-armed forms are then on her right and left.
कालमृत्यू च सम्पूज्यौ सर्वारिष्टप्रशान्तये
यदा चाष्टभुजा पूज्या शुम्भासुरनिबर्हिणी ॥ २२ ॥
Kalamrityu cha sampujyau sarvarishtaprashantaye
Yada chashtabhuja pujya shumbhasuranibarhini
MeaningTime and Death are also to be honoured, to quieten every ill omen. And when the eight-armed destroyer of Shumbha is the one worshipped, the next verse applies.
नवास्याः शक्तयः पूज्यास्तदा रुद्रविनायकौ
नमो देव्या इति स्तोत्रैर्महालक्ष्मीं समर्चयेत् ॥ २३ ॥
Navasyah shaktayah pujyastada rudravinayakau
Namo devya iti stotrairmahalakshmim samarchayet
MeaningHer nine powers are then worshipped, together with Rudra and Vinayaka. Mahalakshmi is honoured with hymns that begin with Namo Devyai.
अवतारत्रयार्चायां स्तोत्रमन्त्रास्तदाश्रयाः
अष्टादशभुजा चैषा पूज्या महिषमर्दिनी ॥ २४ ॥
Avataratrayarchayam stotramantrastadashrayah
Ashtadashabhuja chaisha pujya mahishamardini
MeaningIn the worship of the three descents, hymns and mantras follow the form being honoured. The eighteen-armed goddess is the slayer of Mahisha.
महालक्ष्मीर्महाकाली सैव प्रोक्ता सरस्वती
ईश्वरी पुण्यपापानां सर्वलोकमहेश्वरी ॥ २५ ॥
Mahalakshmirmahakali saiva prokta sarasvati
Ishvari punyapapanam sarvalokamaheshvari
MeaningMahalakshmi, Mahakali and Sarasvati are said to be one. She rules over merit and sin and is the great queen of all the worlds.
महिषान्तकरी येन पूजिता स जगत्प्रभुः
पूजयेज्जगतां धात्रीं चण्डिकां भक्तवत्सलाम् ॥ २६ ॥
Mahishantakari yena pujita sa jagatprabhuh
Pujayejjagatam dhatrim chandikam bhaktavatsalam
MeaningOne who worships the slayer of Mahisha becomes lord of the world. Worship her, the nurse of the worlds, Chandika, who loves her devotees.
अर्घ्यादिभिरलङ्कारैर्गन्धपुष्पैस्तथोत्तमैः
धूपैर्दीपैश्च नैवेद्यैर्नानाभक्ष्यसमन्वितैः ॥ २७ ॥
Arghyadibhiralankarairgandhapushpaistathottamaih
Dhupairdipaishcha naivedyairnanabhakshyasamanvitaih
MeaningOffer water, ornaments, scents and the best flowers, with incense, lamps and food of many kinds.
रुधिराक्तेन बलिना मांसेन सुरया नृप
प्रणामाचमनीयेन चन्दनेन सुगन्धिना ॥ २८ ॥
Rudhiraktena balina mamsena suraya nripa
Pranamachamaniyena chandanena sugandhina
MeaningThe print goes on to name an offering smeared with blood, meat and spirits, together with water for rinsing the mouth and fragrant sandalwood. This belongs to the tantric stream of the tradition. Many families offer only vegetarian things.
सकर्पूरैश्च ताम्बूलैर्भक्तिभावसमन्वितैः
वामभागेऽग्रतो देव्याश्छिन्नशीर्षं महासुरम् ॥ २९ ॥
Sakarpuraishcha tambulairbhaktibhavasamanvitaih
Vamabhage'grato devyashchhinnashirsham mahasuram
MeaningWith camphor and betel, offered in a spirit of devotion, one also worships the great demon whose head was cut off, placed in front on the goddess's left.
पूजयेन्महिषं येन प्राप्तं सायुज्यमीशया
दक्षिणे पुरतः सिंहं समग्रं धर्ममीश्वरम् ॥ ३० ॥
Pujayenmahisham yena praptam sayujyamishaya
Dakshine puratah simham samagram dharmamishvaram
MeaningOne worships the buffalo, who gained union with the goddess through her. On the right, in front, one worships the lion, who is the whole of dharma, the Lord.
वाहनं पूजयेद्देव्या धृतं येन चराचरम्
ततः कृताञ्जलिर्भूत्वा स्तुवीत चरितैरिमैः ॥ ३१ ॥
Vahanam pujayeddevya dhritam yena characharam
Tatah kritanjalirbhutva stuvita charitairimaih
MeaningWorship her mount, by whom the moving and unmoving world is borne. Then, with joined palms, praise her with these episodes.
एकेन वा मध्यमेन नैकेनेतरयोरिह
चरितार्धं तु न जपेज्जपञ्छिद्रमवाप्नुयात् ॥ ३२ ॥
Ekena va madhyamena naikenetarayoriha
Charitardham tu na japejjapanchhidramavapnuyat
MeaningOne may praise her with the middle episode alone, but not with just one of the other two. Do not recite half of an episode, or the recitation is left with a gap.
स्तोत्रमन्त्रैः स्तुवीतेमां यदि वा जगदम्बिकाम्
प्रदक्षिणानमस्कारान् कृत्वा मूर्ध्नि कृताञ्जलिः ॥ ३३ ॥
Stotramantraih stuvitemam yadi va jagadambikam
Pradakshinanamaskaran kritva murdhni kritanjalih
MeaningOr praise the Mother of the world with hymns and mantras. Circle her, bow, and hold joined palms on the head.
क्षमापयेज्जगद्धात्रीं मुहुर्मुहुरतन्द्रितः
प्रतिश्लोकं च जुहुयात् पायसं तिलसर्पिषा ॥ ३४ ॥
Kshamapayejjagaddhatrim muhurmuhuratandritah
Pratishlokam cha juhuyat payasam tilasarpisha
MeaningAsk the mother of the world to forgive you again and again, without drowsiness. After each verse offer rice pudding with sesame and ghee.
जुहुयात्स्तोत्रमन्त्रैर्वा चण्डिकायै शुभं हविः
नमो नमः पदैर्देवीं पूजयेत्सुसमाहितः ॥ ३५ ॥
Juhuyatstotramantrairva chandikayai shubham havih
Namo namah padairdevim pujayetsusamahitah
MeaningOr offer a pure oblation to Chandika with hymns and mantras. Worship the goddess with a steady mind, using the words namo namah.
प्रयतः प्राञ्जलिः प्रह्वः प्राणानारोप्य चात्मनि
सुचिरं भावयेद्देवीं चण्डिकां तन्मयो भवेत् ॥ ३६ ॥
Prayatah pranjalih prahvah prananaropya chatmani
Suchiram bhavayeddevim chandikam tanmayo bhavet
MeaningRestrained, with joined palms and bowed, drawing the breaths within, meditate on the goddess Chandika for a long time and become absorbed in her.
एवं यः पूजयेद्भक्त्या प्रत्यहं परमेश्वरीम्
भुक्त्वा भोगान् यथाकामं देवीसायुज्यमाप्नुयात् ॥ ३७ ॥
Evam yah pujayedbhaktya pratyaham parameshvarim
Bhuktva bhogan yathakamam devisayujyamapnuyat
MeaningOne who worships the supreme goddess every day with devotion enjoys pleasures as he wishes and gains union with the goddess.
यो न पूजयते नित्यं चण्डिकां भक्तवत्सलाम्
भस्मीकृत्यास्य पुण्यानि निर्दहेत्परमेश्वरी ॥ ३८ ॥
Yo na pujayate nityam chandikam bhaktavatsalam
Bhasmikrityasya punyani nirdahetparameshvari
MeaningThe text says the goddess burns up the merit of one who does not worship Chandika, who loves her devotees, every day, and reduces it to ashes.
तस्मात्पूजय भूपाल सर्वलोकमहेश्वरीम्
यथोक्तेन विधानेन चण्डिकां सुखमाप्स्यसि ॥ ३९ ॥
Tasmatpujaya bhupala sarvalokamaheshvarim
Yathoktena vidhanena chandikam sukhamapsyasi
MeaningTherefore, O king, worship the queen of all the worlds by the method laid down, and you will find happiness.
मार्कण्डेयपुराणे वैकृतिकं रहस्यम्
Markandeyapurane vaikritikam rahasyam
MeaningColophon: the Vaikritika Rahasya, as the print places it, in the Markandeya Purana.
Summary
The Vaikritika Rahasya describes the three goddesses of the Saptashati by form and by weapon, then says how they should be worshipped together or one at a time. It gives the three-part order of the recitation, the offerings, the circling and bowing, and a closing line to the king: worship the queen of all the worlds by the method laid down.
Where the print needs a note
The print’s verse numbers run from 1 to 39, and we keep them. The colophon has no number in the print.
Verse 5. The print reads nishchota-rudhiram (the word for “dripping” in the second half of the verse is printed with a conjunct that we read as shcho, without the y we would expect in nishchyota). We checked an enlarged image of the line. We print what the print shows and note that the usual spelling elsewhere is nishchyota, from the same root.
Verse 33. The print reads stuviteman (praise this one), and the machine-read Naval Kishore text of 1948 reads the same.
Other witnesses. The 1948 machine-read text is too noisy to settle a word, and we found no verse in this Rahasya where it clearly reads a different word. 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 Vaikritika Rahasya begins on printed page 247 (scan image 130, lower page) and ends on printed page 255 (scan image 134, upper page, just above the heading of the Murti Rahasya). Printed pages 247 to 255 fall on scan images 130 to 134; 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
- Pradhanika Rahasya: the first Rahasya, on the primary form of the goddess
- 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