Chapter 1 · Prathamo’dhyāyaḥ (First Chapter)
Verse 76
त्वयैतत्पाल्यते देवि त्वमत्स्यन्ते च सर्वदा। विसृष्टौ सृष्टिरूपा त्वं स्थितिरूपा च पालने ॥ ७६ ॥
tvayaitatpālyatē dēvi tvamatsyantē ca sarvadā | visṛṣṭau sṛṣṭirūpā tvaṁ sthitirūpā ca pālanē || 76 ||
Translation
'O Goddess, by you this (world) is protected, and by you it is always consumed (at the time of dissolution). You assume the form of creation during emission, and you assume the form of preservation during protection.'
Word by word
- tvayā
- by you
- etat
- this
- pālyatē
- is protected, is maintained
- dēvi
- O Goddess
- tvam
- you
- atsyantē
- is eaten, is consumed (at the time of dissolution)
- ca
- and
- sarvadā
- always
- visṛṣṭau
- in dissolution
- sṛṣṭirūpā
- having the form of creation
- tvaṁ
- you
- sthitirūpā
- having the form of preservation
- pālanē
- in protection
Meaning
Brahmā completes the description of the Goddess's role in the cosmic cycle. She is not only the creator and sustainer but also the dissolver (atsyantē). She is the one who withdraws the universe back into herself. She is the embodiment of the entire cycle of sṛṣṭi (creation), sthiti (preservation), and saṁhāra (dissolution).