PRATHAMA CHARITRA · MAHAKALI
Chapter 1 of 13
Madhu-Kaitabha Vadha
मधुकैटभवधः
Awakening from Yoga Nidra
KEY SHLOKA
या देवी सर्वभूतेषु निद्रारूपेण संस्थिता । नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमो नमः ॥
yā devī sarvabhūteṣu nidrārūpeṇa saṃsthitā | namastasyai namastasyai namastasyai namo namaḥ ||
To the Goddess who dwells in all beings as sleep — salutations, salutations, salutations again and again.
Sanskrit recitation
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FULL TRANSCRIPT
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The Story
King Suratha, robbed of his kingdom, and the merchant Samadhi, cast out by his family, meet in the forest hermitage of Sage Medhas. Both still ache for what they lost. The sage explains that this attachment is Mahamaya's veil. He tells how, at the end of an age, the demons Madhu and Kaitabha arose from Vishnu's ears to kill Brahma. Brahma praised Yoga Nidra, the Devi, who withdrew from Vishnu's eyes. Vishnu awoke, fought for five thousand years, and slew the demons on his thigh where there was no water.
Teachings
- ✦Attachment persists even when we know it hurts — this is Mahamaya.
- ✦The same Devi who veils us is the one who awakens us.
- ✦Madhu and Kaitabha are 'sweetness' and 'bitterness' — craving and aversion.
TODAY'S SADHANA
Before sleep tonight, name one thing you are still clinging to. Offer it to the Devi in a single breath.
Reflect & Remember
1. Who narrates the Devi Mahatmyam to Suratha and Samadhi?
2. Which form of the Devi awakens Vishnu?
3. Which guna does the first charitra transmute?