या देवी सर्वभूतेषु शक्ति-रूपेण संस्थिता। नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमो नमः॥
yā devī sarvabhūteṣu śakti-rūpeṇa saṃsthitā । namastasyai namastasyai namastasyai namo namaḥ ॥
Meaning of Ya Devi Sarvabhuteshu Shakti
Salutations again and again to the goddess who abides in all beings in the form of power.
Word by word
- याyā
who; the Goddess who
- देवीdevī
the Goddess
- सर्वभूतेषुsarvabhūteṣu
in all beings
Sarva, all, and bhūta, being; locative plural.
- शक्ति-रूपेणśakti-rūpeṇa
in the form of power
- संस्थिताsaṃsthitā
abiding; present
- नमस्तस्यैnamastasyai
salutation to her
Sandhi of namaḥ + tasyai, meaning salutation to her.
- नमस्तस्यैnamastasyai
salutation to her
Sandhi of namaḥ + tasyai, meaning salutation to her.
- नमस्तस्यैnamastasyai
salutation to her
Sandhi of namaḥ + tasyai, meaning salutation to her.
- नमोnamo
salutation
Sandhi form of namaḥ before the following namaḥ.
- नमःnamaḥ
salutation
Commentary
The prayer recognises the Goddess in the power present in every being. Sarvabhūteṣu means 'in all beings', while śakti-rūpeṇa names power as the form in which she abides. Saṃsthitā describes an abiding presence, so the worshipper encounters the divine within living existence. The three repetitions of namastasyai, followed by namo namaḥ, give the salutation its insistent, devotional rhythm. Read in daily life, the verse can encourage gratitude for our capacity to act and respect for the strength present in others.
Sources and textual variants
Original Post
More from Devi Mahatmyam
View source pageयैस्तु भक्त्या स्मृता नूनं तेषां वृद्धिः प्रजायते। ये त्वां स्मरन्ति देवेशि रक्षसे तान्न संशयः॥
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A prayer from Devi Kavacham linking devoted remembrance of the Goddess with growth and her protection.
सर्वमङ्गलमाङ्गल्ये शिवे सर्वार्थसाधिके। शरण्ये त्र्यम्बके गौरि नारायणि नमोऽस्तु ते॥
sarvamaṅgalamāṅgalye śive sarvārthasādhike । śaraṇye tryambake gauri nārāyaṇi namo’stu te ॥
A prayer from Devi Mahatmyam to Narayani, the auspicious Goddess who grants refuge and fulfils all aims.
त्वं वैष्णवी शक्तिरनन्तवीर्या विश्वस्य बीजं परमासि माया। सम्मोहितं देवि समस्तमेतत् त्वं वै प्रसन्ना भुवि मुक्तिहेतुः॥
tvaṃ vaiṣṇavī śaktiranantavīryā viśvasya bījaṃ paramāsi māyā । sammohitaṃ devi samastametat tvaṃ vai prasannā bhuvi muktihetuḥ ॥
A verse from Devi Mahatmyam praising the Goddess as the source of the universe and the cause of liberation through her grace.
More subhashitams on Power
View topic pageखद्योतो द्योतते तावद् यावन्नोदयते शशी। उदिते तु सहस्रांशौ न खद्योतो न चन्द्रमाः॥
khadyoto dyotate tāvad yāvannodayate śaśī। udite tu sahasrāṃśau na khadyoto na candramāḥ॥
A firefly shines until the moon rises; sunrise then outshines both. The verse depicts how greater radiance eclipses lesser light.
यैस्तु भक्त्या स्मृता नूनं तेषां वृद्धिः प्रजायते। ये त्वां स्मरन्ति देवेशि रक्षसे तान्न संशयः॥
yaistu bhaktyā smṛtā nūnaṃ teṣāṃ vṛddhiḥ prajāyate । ye tvāṃ smaranti deveśi rakṣase tānna saṃśayaḥ ॥
A prayer from Devi Kavacham linking devoted remembrance of the Goddess with growth and her protection.
तव च का किल न स्तुतिरम्बिके! सकलशब्दमयी किल ते तनुः। निखिलमूर्तिषु मे भवदन्वयो मनसिजासु बहिःप्रसरासु च॥
tava ca kā kila na stutirambike! sakalaśabdamayī kila te tanuḥ । nikhilamūrtiṣu me bhavadanvayo manasijāsu bahiḥprasarāsu ca ॥
A prayer to Ambika sees her form in every word, in the mind’s images and in the world outside.