"Devi Stotra" by Abhinavagupta

In his commentary on Bhagavad Gita, chapter 15 verse 19, Abhinavagupta inserted this verse about the supreme Goddess–Para Devi.

"Devi Stotra" by Abhinavagupta

tava ca kacana na stutir-ambike

sakala-shabda-mayi kila te tanuh /

nikhila-murtishu me bhavadanvayo

manasijasu bahish-prasarasu ca //

It is Devi Stotra by Abhinavagupta.

Tava ca kacana na stutir ambike, O mother, O mother, tava ca kacana na stutir na, by going, by sitting in meditation room aloof, leaving all activities aside and thinking of you–om paravak devi namah . . . om paravak devi namah . . . ompara vak devi namah . . . parabhairavaya namah . . . parabhairavaya namah . . . (like this)–and reciting thy name, that is not your stuti [hymn]! Abhinavagupta says. That is actually not your stuti, i.e., one who sings glory in the secluded corner of puja room with all doors shut. Why? Why it is not that?

Sakala shabda mayi kila te tanuh, O mother, O great mother svatantrya shakti; this is jug . . . this is paneer [cheese] . . . this is lime juice . . . this is ghee . . . this is parantha; sakala shabda mayi, this is also your stuti! When I perceive this, this is also your stuti; sakala shabda you are not excluded there. Sakala shabda mayi kila te tanuh, this is existing in the body of your . . . in your universal body, O mother!

So, nikhila murtishu me bhavadanvayo, and murti [form], you have got four arms and eighteen heads, like this–this is not your body! Nikhila murtishu me bhavadanvayo, when I see Viresh, I see mother; when I see Jonathan, I see mother; when I see George, I see mother; when I see that shikas, that mad [person], I see mother; nikhila murtishu me bhavadanvayo, I am united in thee, O mother!

Manasijasu bahish prasarasu ca, and while thinking of thoughts, in those thoughts also you are existing for me.

 iti vicintya shive shamitashive

jagati jatamayatnavashadidam /

stutijaparcanacintanavarjita

nakhalu kacana kalakalapi me //

(not recited)

Iti vicintya shive shamitashive, going in the depth myself, after going in the depth of this secret of thee, jagati jatamayatnavashadidam, I find that in this universe it has happened automatically. What?

Stuti japarcana cintana varjita, nakhalu kacana kalakalapi me, each and every moment I am adoring you, thinking of you, O divine mother! I have no one in view, only you. You are existing in me, in each and every murti [form], in each and every step, in each and every movement of this world.

So, this way you should think this state of Parabhairava, not only in individual shikas [limited] way.

(source: Bhagavad Gita (chapter 15, verse 19, commentary). Abhinavagupta's verse from Devi Stotra, as revealed by Swami Lakshmanjoo) available soon!
DVDs with original transcript containing diacritical marks and verses in Devanagri script. 

(view and download a pdf sample here)

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