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{{Hindu scriptures}}
: This article is about the Devīsūktam in the [[Ṛgveda]]. This is different from [[Devīsūktam (Chandipatha)|''Devisuktam/ Chandipath'']] in ''Durgāsaptaśatī'' of ''Mārkaṃḍeyapurāṇa''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.speakingtree.in/blog/devi-sukta-or-vak-sukta-proclamation-by-the-primordial-goddess|title=Devi Suktam or Vak Suktam - Proclamation by the Primordial Goddess|last=|first=|date=|website=|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200130052748/https://www.speakingtree.in/blog/devi-sukta-or-vak-sukta-proclamation-by-the-primordial-goddess |archive-date=2020-01-30 |access-date=}}</ref>

The '''''{{IAST|Devīsūktam}}''''', also called the '''''{{IAST|Aṃbhṛnīsūktam}}''''', is the 125th ''{{IAST|sūkta}}'' (hymn) occurring in the 10th mandala of the ''[[Rigveda|{{IAST|Ṛgveda}}]]''.<ref>Rao, P. Venkata (1955): {{IAST|Ṛgveda Saṃhitā}} with {{IAST| Sāyaṇa's bhāṣya}}, Vol. 30. {{IAST|Śṛī Śāradā}} Press, [[Mysore]], [[Karnataka]], [[India]], (Published by The {{IAST|Mahāṛāja}} of Mysore, for free public perusal). p. 689</ref> In the present day, the ''{{IAST|sūkta}}'' is popularly chanted during the worship of the ''{{IAST|[[Devi|Devī]]}}'' (Universal Goddess in any form), in the daily rituals of temples, and also in various Vedic sacrificial ceremonies like ''{{IAST|iṣti, hōma, havana}}'', etc. It is also chanted at the end of [[Devi Mahatmya|''{{IAST|Devīmāhātmya}}'']].

== Text's Sequential Index ==

The proper sequential occurrence of ''{{IAST|Devīsūkta}}'', in the ''[[Rigveda|{{IAST|Ṛgveda}}]]'' text is:

{{font color||#A3BABF|'''''{{IAST|Maṇḍala}}''''': X; '''''{{IAST|Anuvāka}}''''': X; '''''{{IAST|Sūkta}}''''': CXXV; '''''{{IAST|Aṣtaka }}''''': VIII; '''''{{IAST|Adhyāya}}''''': VII; '''''Varga''''': XI, XII}}

== ''[[Anukramaṇī|{{IAST|Anukramaṇī}}]]'' (Indices of the seer, deity number of verses & metre) ==

Since tradition mandates that all the ''{{IAST|sūkta}}''s in the ''Veda''s must specify the ''{{IAST|Ṛṣi}}'' (m.) or ''{{IAST|Ṛṣikā }}'' (fe.) (the sage who envisioned the ''{{IAST|sūkta}}''), the ''{{IAST|devatā}}'' (deity being invoked), number of verses in it, and the ''{{IAST|chandah}}'' (metre of the verses), the same follows below:

{{font color||#A3BABF|'''''{{IAST|Ṛṣikā }}''''':{{IAST|Vāgāmbhṛṇī}}; '''''{{IAST|Devatā}}''''': {{IAST|Vāgāmbhṛṇī}}; '''''{{IAST|chandah}}''''': this ''{{IAST|sūkta}}'' has eight ''{{IAST|ṛk}}s'' (verses) of which ''{{IAST|ṛk}}s'' 1 & 3-8 are in ''{{IAST|Tṛṣṭup chandah}}'', and ''{{IAST|ṛk}} 2'' is in ''{{IAST|Jagatī chandah}}''.}}
[[File:Devi Mookambika for wiki.jpg|frame|right|{{IAST|[[Mookambika|Śrī Mūkāṃbikā]]}}, a form of ''{{IAST|[[Devi|Devī]]}}'' worshipped at [[Kollur, Udupi district|Kollur]] in [[Karnataka]], as the synchronized form of [[Lakshmi|{{IAST|Mahālakṣmī]], [[Saraswati|Mahāsarasvatī]] and [[Kali|Mahākāḷī]]}}. ]]

This is one of the very few ''{{IAST|sūkta}}''s in the ''[[Rigveda|{{IAST|Ṛgveda}}]]'' for which the ''{{IAST|Ṛṣikā }}'' and ''{{IAST|devatā}}'' are one and the same.

== Text and meaning ==

The ''{{IAST|sūkta}}'', in its apparent, general sense, is the proclamation by the ''{{IAST|[[Devi|Devī]]}}'' of her own power, glory, pervasiveness, and actions.

{{IAST|Sāyaṇācārya}}, in his commentary, states that {{IAST|Vāgāmbhṛṇī}}, ({{IAST|Vāk}}, the daughter of {{IAST|Ṛṣi Aṃbhṛṇa}}) – a ''{{IAST|brahmaviduṣi}}'' (one who has realized {{IAST|''Bṛahman''}}) – has eulogized herself in this ''{{IAST|sūkta}}''. {{IAST|Vāk}}, having dissolved her individuality – the ego – has hence identified herself with the ''{{IAST|Paramātman }}'' (''Brahman'' who is none other than the ''{{IAST|[[Devi|Devī]]}}''), the all pervasive ''{{IAST|saccidānañda}}'' (the indivisible Existence-Knowledge-Bliss-Absolute), and thus with all the forms in the universe and the functionaries thereof, has praised herself.

Hence, she is the ''{{IAST|ṛṣikā }}'' of this ''{{IAST|sūkta}}'' and also the ''{{IAST|devatā}}''.<ref>Rao (1955), p. 690</ref>

The 'I' {{IAST|Vāgāmbhṛṇī}} refers to, in the ''{{IAST|sūkta}}'', is no more the narrow, limited ego which identifies itself with the microcosmic body-mind complex. It is the illimitable, eternal, residual Pure Consciousness – the Substratum of both the ego (subject) and the universe (object).

Her words, perhaps, remain the boldest, uncompromising proclamations of the realisation of ''Advaitic'' (non-dualistic) Truth by any seer in the entire realm of the ''Veda''s.

=== '' The {{IAST|Devīsūkta}}:'' ===

[[File:Devisukta prathama shloka.png]]

'''1. ''I proceed with the'' Rudras'', with the'' Vasu''s, with the ''{{IAST|Āditya}}''s and the ''{{IAST|Viśhvadeva}}''s; I support both'' Mitra ''and'' {{IAST|Varuṇa}}, Agni ''and'' {{IAST|Iñdra}}, ''and the two'' {{IAST|Aśvins}}.'''<ref>Rao (1955), p. 692</ref>

[[File:Devisukta corrected dwitiya shloka.png]]

'''2. ''I support the foe-destroying'' {{IAST|Tvaśtṛ, Pūśan}} ''and'' Bhaga; ''I bestow wealth upon the institutor of the rite offering the oblation'' (''havis'') - ''(who is) pouring forth the libation and deserving of careful protection''.''' <ref>Rao (1955), p. 693</ref>

[[File:Devisukta tritiya shloka.png]]

'''''3. I am the sovereign queen (of all Existence), the collectress of treasures, cognizant of (the Supreme Being), the chief object of worship; as such, the gods have put me in many places, abiding in manifold conditions, entering into numerous (forms).'''''<ref>Rao (1955), p. 694 - 695</ref>

[[File:Devisukta chaturtha shloka.png]]

'''''4. He who eats food (eats) through me; he who sees, who breathes, who hears what is spoken, does so through me; those who are ignorant of me, perish; hearken who is capable of hearing, I tell you that which is deserving of belief.''''' <ref>Rao (1955), p. 696</ref>

[[File:Devisukta panchama shloka.png]]

'''''5. I verily myself declare this which is approved of by both gods and men; whomsoever I choose, I render him an exalted one, make him a {{IAST|''ṛṣi''}}, make him'' Brahman ''or make him highly intelligent.''''' <ref>Rao (1955), p. 697</ref>

[[File:Devisukta shashtha shloka.png]]

'''''6. I bend the bow (to fasten the bow string at its ends) for'' Rudra, ''to slay the tormenting,'' Brahman''-hating enemy. I wage war against (hostile) men (to protect the praying ones); I have pervaded the Heaven and earth.''''' <ref>Rao (1955), p. 698</ref>

[[File:Devisukta sapthama shloka.png]]

'''''7. I bring forth the paternal (heaven - abode of the manes) upon the crown (brows) of (this Supreme Being); my genesis is from the waters (cosmic - the all pervading Entity); from thence, I pervade through all beings and reach this heaven with my body.''''' <ref>Rao (1955), p. 700</ref>

[[File:Devisukta ashtama shloka.png]]

'''''8. I verily myself breathe forth like the wind, issuing out form to all the created worlds; beyond the heaven, beyond the world (I Exist eternally - beyond space & time) - so vast am I in my greatness.''''' <ref>Rao (1955), p. 703</ref>

== Recitation ==
An audio recording of the recitation of the Devīsūkta:
[[File:04-DEVI SUKTHAM-MANTRA MANJUSHA.ogg|left|Devīsūkta]]

== References ==
{{wikisource|The Rig Veda/Mandala 10/Hymn 125}}
*[http://www.vedarahasya.net/devisuk.htm ''{{IAST|Devīsūkta}}'']
*[http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/rigveda/rv10125.htm {{IAST|Ṛgveda}} Online]

{{Reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Devīsūkta}}
[[Category:Hindu texts]]
[[Category:Sanskrit texts]]
[[Category:Rigveda]]
[[Category:Vedic hymns]]

Devīsūkta - Revision history

UpdateBot at 22:32, 6 February 2022