Rahasya Thrayam I-Pradhanika Rahasyam

Rahasya Thrayam I-Pradhanika Rahasyam
The triad of secrets- The important secrets

Translated by
P.R.Ramachander

(Devi Mahatmyam also called as Chandi /Durga Sapthasathi, is possibly the greatest book of prayers addressed to the goddess. This prayer is an appendix of that great book. In Devi Mahatmya after the sage completely relates the story of the Goddess, the king wants to know , who and what is the Goddess. Seeing his great devotion the sage tells him this secret of secrets , in a series of three prayers. In the first prayer he tells how Goddess Mahalakshmi was the primeval Goddess representing the three fold division of characters.. She herself transforms herself in to Maha Kali representing the baser characters and Goddess Saraswathi representing the noble Sath characters. Then each of these Goddess created a male and female . These three pairs are the trinity of Hindu religion and their wives. This great secret is related in this first prayer.)

Rajo uvacha:-
The king said

1.Bhagavannavathara Chandikaya sthwayoditha,
Yethosham prakruthim Brahman pradhaanaam vakthumarhasi.

You have told me about the different incarnations of Chandika,
Oh great among Brahmins , it is only proper that you tell me,
About the basic nature of the Goddess who is behind these.

2.AAradhyaam yanmayaa devyaa swaroopam yena thadwija,
Vidhunaa broohi sakalam yadhavath pranathasyame.

Hey Brahmin, kindly tell me, who salutes and worships the Goddess,
About that form of the Goddess which is fit to be worshipped as per rule.

Rishir Uvacha:-
The saint said:-

3.Idham rahasyam parama manakhyeyam prachakshathe ,
Bhakthoseethi na may kinchith vaavaachyam Naradhipa.

Oh king, this is a great secret which should not be told,
But since you are a devotee , there in nothing.
That should not be told you.

4.Sarvasyaadhyaa Maha Lakshmi sthree gunaa Parameswari,
Lakshyaa lakshya swaroopa saaavyaapya kruthsnam vyavasthidhaa.

She who is primeval became the form of the three fold characters,
And is the supreme Goddess who is called Mahalakshmi,
And she has a form that should and should not be seen,
And she exists spreading out herself in all places.


5.Mathulingam gadhaam Khedam panapathra cha bhibrathi,
Nagam, lingam cha yonim cha bhibrathi nrupa moordhani

6.Thaptha kanchana varnaabha , Thaptha kanchanca bhooshanam,
Soonyam thadakilam swena poorayamasa thejasa.

Oh king , Mahalakshmi who wears pomegranate , mace , shield and drinking goblet,
Who wears on her head, the serpent(Brahma) , the linga(Shiva) and Yoni (Vishnu)
Who is of the colour of highly purified gold,
And who wears ornaments made of purest gold,
Is filling the entire world which is empty with her power.

7.Soonyam thadakhilam lokam vilokya Parameswari ,
Bhabhara roopam aparam thamasa kevalena hi.

That great Goddess (Parvathi) seeing that the entire world was empty,
Assumed another form with the help of darkness(base nature).

8.Saabhinnanjana sangaasa dahtanjitha varanana ,
Visala lochana Nari bhaboova than Madhyama

9.Gadga pithra sira khedair alankrutha chathurbhuja,
Kabanda haaram sirasa bhibhrana sirasam srujam.

She whose colour was that of broken black stone,
She whose face was pretty due to her protruding teeth,
She who has broad eyes, She who is feminine with a narrow middle,
She who is armed in her four hands with sword, drinking goblet , severed head and shield,
Wore a garland of headless bodies on her hip and a garland of severed heads on her head.

10.Saa provacha Mahalakshmi thaamasi pramadhothama,
Namakarma cha may mathardehi thubhyam namo nama.

She who is of base nature and is the best among the pramadha Ganas ,
Requested Mahalakshmi, “Mother , give me a name.”

11.Thaam pravocha Mahalakshmi sthamasim pramadothama a,
Dadami thava naamani yaani karmani thaani they.

Mahalakshmi then told her who was of base nature,
And who was the chief of Pramada Ganas,
“I would give you a name and also duties to you.”

12.Mahamaya, Mahakali , Mahamari kshudhaathushaa,
Nidhraa , trushnaa chaikaveeras, kaala Rathrir durathyaya.

13. Imani thava naamani prathi padhyani karmabhi,
Eabhi karmani they jnathwaa yodhithe sosnuthe sukham

The great enchantress, the great black one , The great destroyer ,
The one who is interested in eating away ignorance ,
The one who is the form of the sleep of the Yoga ,
The one who is thirsty for devotion of her devotees,
The one who is the only valorous one ,
And the one who is pitch dark night and destroys,
Are the names of yours depending on your actions ,
And he who understands your duties from these names,
And keeps on repeating them , would get a pleasure filled life.

14. Thaam ithyukthwa Mahalakshmee swaroopam aparam nrupa,
Sathyaakhye natha shudhena gunenemdha prabham dhadhou.

Oh king, After telling like this that Goddess Mahalakshmi,
Took another great form, with the shine of the moon,
And which was filled up with all good qualities

15.Akshamalangusa dhaaraa , veena pusthaka dharini,
Saa bhabhuva varaa naari naamanyasyai cha saa dhadhou.

She was wearing a bead garland and a goad and was carrying a Veena and a book.
And was a blessedly pure lady and for her also Mahalakshmi gave names.

16.Mahavidhyaa, Mahavani , Bharathi , vak Saraswathi,
Aaryaa Brahmi kamadhenur Veda Garbha cha dheeswari.

The great knowledge , the great words , The goddess of Bharatha ,
The goddess of voice , the lady , the power of Brahma , The wish giver,
She who bears the Vedas and the Goddess of intelligence.

17. Adho vaacha Mahalakshmir Maha kalim Saraswathim,
Yuvaam , Janayathaam , divyou midhune swanuroopaththa.

Then Mahalakshmi told Maha Kali and Saraswathi,
“Please create young boy and girl resembling your forms.”

18.Ithukthwa they Mahalakshmi sasarjja midhunam swayam,
Hiranyagarbhou ruchirou Sthree pumsou kamalasanou.

Telling like this Mahalakshmi , herself from her capacity to create ,
Created a very pretty pair who were male and female.

19.Brahmanvidhe vinchedhi datharithyaaha tham naram,
Sri Padme kamaleLakshmithyaha matha sthreeyanchathaam.

That mother called that male,. Oh Brahma , Oh giver of fate , Oh creator,
And that lady Oh Lotus, Oh lotus born and Oh Lakshmi.

20. Mahakali, Bharathischa midhune swajathismaha,
Ethayorapi roopani naamani cha vadami they.

Mahakali and Saraswathi also created similar pairs,
And I would tell you about their forms and names.

21. Neelakandam , Rakthabaahum , swethangam , Chandra Shekaram,
Janayaamasa purusham Mahakali sithaam sthriyam.

Mahakali created a male with a blue neck , with red hands ,white body,
And one who wore crescent as ornament and a lady who is white.

22.Sa Rudra , Sankara , sthanu , kapardhee cha Trilochana ,
Trayee vidhyaa , Kamadhenu saa Sthree Bhashaa swaraaksharaa.

He was angry, one who does good, stable , one with uncut hair ,
One with three eyes , and she was knowledge personified,
Fulfiller of wishes , feminine , language , vowels and consonants.

23.Saraswathi sthreeyam Gowrim Krishnancha purusham nrupa,
Janayamasa naamaani thayorapi vadhami they.

Oh king, Goddess Saraswathi created a girl with golden colour,
And a male with colour of blue and I would tell you their names.

24.Vishnu, Krishno , Hrishikeso , Vasudevo, Janardhana ,
Uma , Gowri , sathee , Chandi , Sundari ,Subhagaa, Shivaa.


His names were The peaceful one , the black one , one controls senses,
One who is in all things , killer of bad people ,
Her names were the one who does penance , the white one ,
The virtuous one , She who is very angry , the pretty one ,
The one with all luck and the one who is very peaceful.

25.Evam yuva thaya sadhya purushathwam, prapedhire,
Chakshushmantho anupasyanthi nethare athadwidho janaa.

Those with eyes of Janana see this as those ladies attaining a state of male,
And others who are under the control of illusion do not see it.

26.Brahmane pradhadhou pathnem , Mahalakshmir nrupa thrayeem,
Rudraya gowrim varadhaam , Vasudevaya Sriyaam.

Oh king then that great Lakshmi , made Saraswathi the wife of Brahma,
The boon giver Gowri as wife of Rudra and Sri as the wife of Vishnu.

27.Swaraya saha sambhuya virincho andamajeejanal,
Bhibhedha Bhagawan Rudra sthath gouryaa saha veeryvaan.

Lord Brahma along with Goddess Saraswathi created the universe,
And the very valorous Rudra along with Gouri split it.

28. Anda madhye pradhanaadhi karya jathama bhoonyapa,
Maha bhoothathmakm sarvam jagat sthavara jangamam.

29.Pooposha palayaamaasa thath Lakshmya saha Kesava,
SAnjahara jagat sarvam saha Gaurua maheswara.

Oh king, in that earth in the middle of that universe.
The root cause , adamancy and egoism rose to the fore,
And the moving and non moving things of this great entity,
Was looked after by Lord Vishnu along with Lakshmi,
And Lord Shiva along with Gauri destroyed it at deluge.

30.Mahalakshmeereva mathaa rajan sarveswewareswari ,
Nirakaraa cha sakaaraa saiva naanaabhi dhanabhooth.

31, Naamantharair niroopyaishaa naamnaa naanyena kena chith.

Oh king, It is the general opinion that only Goddess Mahalakshmi,
Is the chief goddess of all other gods and Goddesses,
And she along with her form or without form,
Has adopted names such as Mahakali and that Mahalakshmi herself,
Has already been proved by various other names and is it not true,
That she has been proved by all the names that we use.

Pradhanika Rahasyam samaptham
Thus ends the important secret.