Chapter 4 · Caturtho’dhyāyaḥ (Fourth Chapter)
Verse 11
मेधासि देवि विदिताखिलशास्त्रसारा दुर्गासि दुर्गभवसागरनौरसङ्गा। श्रीः कैटभारिहृदयैककृताधिवासा गौरी त्वमेव शशिमौलिकृतप्रतिष्ठा ॥ ११ ॥
mēdhāsi dēvi viditākhilaśāstrasārā durgāsi durgabhavasāgaranaurasaṅgā | śrīḥ kaiṭabhārihṛdayaikakṛtādhivāsā gaurī tvamēva śaśimaulikṛtapratiṣṭhā || 11 ||
Translation
O Goddess, you are Medhā (intellect), the knower of the essence of all scriptures. You are Durgā, the boat for crossing the ocean of worldly existence, which is difficult to cross. You are Śrī (prosperity), who resides in the heart of the enemy of Kaiṭabha (Vishnu). You are indeed Gaurī, who finds her abode on the one who has the moon as his crest (Shiva).
Word by word
- medhā
- intellect, power of retention
- asi
- you are
- devi
- O Goddess
- viditākhilaśāstrasārā
- who knows the essence of all scriptures
- durgā
- Durga (the inaccessible one)
- durgabhavasāgaranauram
- the boat for crossing the ocean of worldly existence
- aṅgā
- which is difficult to cross
- śrīḥ
- prosperity
- kaiṭabhārihṛdayaikakṛtādhivāsā
- who resides in the heart of the enemy of Kaiṭabha (Vishnu)
- gaurī
- Gaurī (the fair-complexioned one)
- tvam
- you
- eva
- indeed
- śaśimaulikṛtapratiṣṭhā
- who finds her abode on the one who has the moon as his crest (Shiva)
Meaning
The gods praise the Goddess by identifying her with various divine forms and attributes: As Medhā: She is the very power of intelligence and wisdom needed to understand sacred knowledge. As Durgā: She is the sole refuge (nauḥ - boat) for souls trapped in the cycle of birth and death (bhavasāgara). As Śrī/Lakṣmī: She is the prosperity that dwells in Vishnu's heart, indicating her role as the sustaining power of the universe. As Gaurī/Pārvatī: She is the benevolent consort of Shiva, representing marital bliss and ascetic power.