Chapter 1 · Prathamo’dhyāyaḥ (First Chapter)
Verse 85
कारितास्ते यतोऽतस्त्वां कः स्तोतुं शक्तिमान् भवेत्। सा त्वमित्थं प्रभावैः स्वैरुदारैर्देवि संस्तुता ॥ ८५ ॥
kāritāstē yatō’tastvāṁ kaḥ stōtuṁ śaktimān bhavēt | sā tvamitthaṁ prabhāvaiḥ svairudārairdēvi saṁstutā || 85 ||
Translation
'Since we are all made to act by you, therefore, who can be powerful enough to praise you? O Goddess, thus you are praised by your own magnanimous and glorious powers.'
Word by word
- kāritāḥ
- made to act, impelled
- te
- by you
- yataḥ
- since
- ataḥ
- therefore
- tvām
- you
- kaḥ
- who
- stotum
- to praise
- śaktimān
- powerful, able
- bhavet
- can be
- sā
- she
- tvam
- you
- ittham
- thus
- prabhāvaiḥ
- by (your) glorious powers
- svaiḥ
- your own
- udāraiḥ
- magnanimous, great
- dēvi
- O Goddess
- saṁstutā
- are praised
Meaning
Brahmā concludes his philosophical argument. The act of praising her is itself her doing. The power of speech, the devotion in the heart, and the intelligence to comprehend her glory—all are her gifts. Therefore, true praise is not an individual's effort but her own energy (prabhāvaiḥ svaiḥ) flowing through a devotee. He humbly offers his hymn as her own self-praise.