The stories of the Devi, drawn from the Gita Press edition of the Shrimad Devi Bhagavata Mahapurana and retold as living narrative. This collection will keep growing as more stories join it.
First and Second Skandhas: The Lineage of Vyasa and the Origin Tales
Madhu, Kaitabha, and the Goddess YoganidraTwo demons are born from the wax of Vishnu’s ears as he sleeps under the spell of Yoganidra, and the moment the Goddess lifts her maya a war of five thousand years breaks out.
The Birth and Renunciation of ShukadevaBorn from the fire-kindling wood, the dispassionate Shukadeva refuses to marry, and King Janaka shows him how to stay free even while living as a householder.
The Birth of Matsyagandha, Parashara, and VyasaMatsyagandha is born from the womb of an apsara whom a curse had turned into a fish, and from her, with Parashara, comes the birth of Vyasa.
Third Skandha: The Tridevi, the Devotee Sudarshan, and Navaratri
The Tridevi: Mahakali, Mahalakshmi, and MahasaraswatiReaching the world of the Goddess, Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva behold countless triads exactly like themselves, and Jagadamba entrusts to them Mahakali, Mahalakshmi, and Mahasaraswati.
Sudarshan the Devotee and ShashikalaThe Kamaraja seed-mantra that the forest boy Sudarshan received in a dream bears fruit, and when the svayamvara turns into a battlefield, Durga appears on her lion and destroys his enemies.
Rama’s Navaratra VowBroken by the abduction of Sita, Shri Rama is counseled by Narada to keep the Navaratri vow, and the pleased Goddess grants him the boon of victory.
Fourth and Fifth Skandhas: Nara-Narayana and the War Form of Shakti
Nara-Narayana and the Appearance of UrvashiWhen the apsaras Indra sends arrive to break the austerities of Nara and Narayana, Narayana shapes Urvashi from his own thigh and shatters their pride.
Durga Takes Form from the Radiance of the GodsThe radiance streaming from the bodies of the gods defeated by Mahishasura gathers into a single mass of light and appears as the many-armed Goddess.
The Slaying of MahishasuraMahishasura, wearing the shape of a buffalo, changes form again and again, yet in the end the Goddess’s trident comes to rest on his throat.
The Slaying of Raktabija, Nishumbha, and ShumbhaFrom every drop of Raktabija’s blood a fresh demon rises, so Kali drinks his blood dry, and the end of Shumbha and Nishumbha draws near.
Sixth Skandha: Vritrasura and the Mysteries of Maya
The Slaying of Vritrasura and the Fall of NahushaThe sin of slaying Vritrasura by trickery closes in on Indra, and the arrogant Nahusha who takes his throne is cursed by the sages into a serpent.
Narada Becomes a Woman: The Secret of MayaDetermined to understand Vishnu’s maya, Narada becomes a woman, keeps a household for years, and returns to his true form weeping in grief for his lost sons.
Seventh Skandha: Tales of the Royal Sages and the Devi Gita
Sukanya and ChyavanaThe princess Sukanya, who unknowingly pierced the eyes of the aged ascetic Chyavana, serves him in penance, and the Ashvini twins restore the sage’s youth.
The Trial of King HarishchandraHaving lost his kingdom, his wife, and his son, and now a slave to a chandala, Harishchandra is forced at the cremation ground to demand from his own queen the fee for their son’s funeral fire.
The Origin of the Shakti-pithasFrom the fallen limbs of Sati, one Shakti-pitha after another is born upon the earth, where the Goddess remains enshrined to this day.
The Devi GitaPromising to be born as the daughter of the Himalaya, the Goddess herself unveils her cosmic form, the method of yoga, and the secret of devotion, and delivers the Devi Gita.
Eighth and Ninth Skandhas: The Geography of Creation and the Legends of the Devi
The World-Sphere and the Descent of the GangaThe map of the world-sphere unfolds with its seven continents, its mountains, and its rivers, and the Ganga descends upon the peak of Sumeru.
The Descent of Ganga and the Curse of Shri RadhaIn Goloka, the Ganga, terrified by Radha’s fury, dissolves into the feet of Shri Krishna, then descends to earth and becomes the holy stream that washes away sins.
Tulsi, Shankhachud, and the ShalagramMade unkillable by the chastity of his devoted wife Tulsi, Shankhachud dies only when Hari takes his armor by a ruse, and from the curse of the deceived Tulsi the Shalagram comes into being.
Savitri and SatyavanFollowing close behind Yama as he carries away the life of her husband Satyavan, Savitri wins back his life through her reasoning and her devotion.
Mangalachandi and the Goddess ManasaFrom portions of Prakriti arise Mangalachandi and Manasa, mother of the serpents, and Manasa’s son Astika saves the serpents from burning in the snake-sacrifice.
Tenth to Twelfth Skandhas: The Manvantaras, Worship, and Manidvipa
The Pride of Vindhya and AgastyaAs the Vindhya mountain rises toward the sky to block the sun’s path, Agastya takes from it a promise to stay bowed until he returns, and leaves it bent forever.
Bhramari Devi and the Slaying of ArunasuraAgainst Arunasura, made unkillable by the power of the Vedas, the Goddess falls in the form of countless bees and comes to be called Bhramari.
The Glory of the Rudraksha, and GunanidhiAmid the origin and glory of the rudraksha, the story of the wayward Gunanidhi shows how even a single rudraksha can carry a soul across.
Uma Haimavati and the Humbling of the GodsWhen the gods, drunk on the pride of victory, cannot so much as move a single blade of grass, Uma Haimavati appears and reveals that all the power was ever hers.
A Description of ManidvipaAbove all the worlds, within Manidvipa and its nine ramparts of jewels, opens the supreme abode of the Goddess from which the whole of creation is run.
Janamejaya’s Amba-yajna and the ConclusionKing Janamejaya performs the Amba-yajna, and Vyasa, recounting the glory of the Shrimad Devi Bhagavata, brings this Mahapurana to its close.