Ekaivaham Jagaty Atra (I Alone Am — The Goddess's Non-Dual Declaration) — Word-by-Word Meaning
एकैवाहं जगत्यत्र (देवी की अद्वैत घोषणा)
Every Sanskrit word explained in English
Word-by-Word Breakdown
देव्युवाच
devyuvāca
The Devi (Goddess) said
एका एव अहम् जगति अत्र
ekā eva aham jagati atra
I alone am here in this world
द्वितीया का मम अपरा
dvitīyā kā mama aparā
Who else is there, a second, besides me?
पश्य एताः दुष्ट
paśya etāḥ duṣṭa
Behold these, O wicked one
मयि एव विशन्त्यः मद्विभूतयः
mayi eva viśantyaḥ mad-vibhūtayaḥ
My divine manifestations (vibhutis) entering back into Me
ततः समस्ताः ताः देव्यः
tataḥ samastāḥ tāḥ devyaḥ
Then all those goddesses
ब्रह्माणीप्रमुखाः
brahmāṇī-pramukhāḥ
Brahmani and the rest (the Matrikas)
लयम् तस्याः देव्याः तनौ जग्मुः
layam tasyāḥ devyāḥ tanau jagmuḥ
Were absorbed into the body of that Devi
एका एव आसीत् तदा अम्बिका
ekā eva āsīt tadā ambikā
Ambika alone then remained
अहम् विभूत्या बहुभिः रूपैः
aham vibhūtyā bahubhiḥ rūpaiḥ
I, by my power, in many forms
इह यत् आस्थिता
iha yat āsthitā
In which I stood here
तत् संहृतं मया
tat saṃhṛtaṃ mayā
These I have withdrawn
एका एव तिष्ठामि आजौ
ekā eva tiṣṭhāmi ājau
I stand alone in the battle
स्थिरः भव
sthiraḥ bhava
Be firm (steady yourself for the fight)!
Complete Translation
The Devi said: 'I am alone in the world here; who else is there besides me? Behold, O wicked one, these My divine manifestations (vibhutis) entering back into Me!' Then all those goddesses, Brahmani and the rest, were absorbed into the body of that Devi; Ambika alone then remained. The Devi said: 'The many forms in which I stood here by My power — these I have withdrawn, and I stand alone. Be firm in the battle!'
Origin & History
Source: Durga Saptashati Chapter 10
Author: Sage Markandeya (Markandeya Purana)
Period: c. 400–600 CE (Markandeya Purana)
After Nishumbha was slain, his brother Shumbha, grieving and enraged, accused the Goddess of fighting only with the help of the Matrika powers. The Goddess declared that she alone exists and that the Matrikas are her own manifestations; she then absorbed Brahmani and all the other goddesses back into herself, standing alone before Shumbha for their final, decisive duel.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the deeper meaning of 'I alone am here'?▼
It is a declaration of absolute non-duality (advaita). The Goddess affirms that she is the one and only Reality; all the gods, Matrikas and powers are merely her vibhutis — her own self-manifestations. To prove it, she draws the many goddesses back into her single form.
Why does Shumbha provoke this declaration?▼
Shumbha taunts the Goddess, saying she fights only because she relies on the strength of others (the Matrikas). In reply, she withdraws all those forms into herself and stands alone, showing that the 'others' were never separate from her at all.
Which chapter of the Durga Saptashati is this from?▼
These are verses 3 to 5 of the tenth chapter (Shumbha-Vadha) of the Durga Saptashati, part of the Uttama Charita presided over by the Goddess Mahasaraswati.
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