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Sa cha Vaishyas Tapas Tepe — Word-by-Word Meaning

स च वैश्यस्तपस्तेपे

Every Sanskrit word explained in English

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Word-by-Word Breakdown

मार्कण्डेय उवाच
mārkaṇḍeya uvāca
Markandeya said
इति तस्य वचः श्रुत्वा
iti tasya vacaḥ śrutvā
having heard these words of his (the sage's)
सुरथः स नराधिपः
surathaḥ sa narādhipaḥ
Suratha, that ruler of men
प्रणिपत्य महाभागं तम् ऋषिं संशितव्रतम्
praṇipatya mahābhāgaṃ tam ṛṣiṃ saṃśitavratam
bowing to the highly blessed sage of firm vows
निर्विण्णः अतिममत्वेन राज्यापहरणेन च
nirviṇṇaḥ atimamatvena rājyāpaharaṇena ca
dejected by excessive attachment and by the seizure of his kingdom
जगाम सद्यः तपसे
jagāma sadyaḥ tapase
went at once to perform austerity
स च वैश्यो महामुने
sa ca vaiśyo mahāmune
and that merchant too, O great sage
सन्दर्शनार्थम् अम्बाया नदीपुलिनम् आस्थितः
sandarśanārtham ambāyā nadīpulinam āsthitaḥ
took his stand on a river's sandbank to obtain a vision of Amba (the Mother)
स च वैश्यः तपः तेपे देवीसूक्तं परं जपन्
sa ca vaiśyaḥ tapaḥ tepe devīsūktaṃ paraṃ japan
and the merchant performed austerity, reciting the supreme Devi-sukta (hymn)
तौ तस्मिन् पुलिने देव्याः कृत्वा मूर्तिं महीमयीम्
tau tasmin puline devyāḥ kṛtvā mūrtiṃ mahīmayīm
the two, having made on that sandbank an earthen image of the Devi
अर्हणां चक्रतुः तस्याः पुष्पधूपाग्नितर्पणैः
arhaṇāṃ cakratuḥ tasyāḥ puṣpadhūpāgnitarpaṇaiḥ
offered worship to her with flowers, incense, fire-offering and libations
निराहारौ यतात्मानौ तन्मनस्कौ समाहितौ
nirāhārau yatātmānau tanmanaskau samāhitau
abstaining from food, self-restrained, their minds fixed on her, concentrated
ददतुः तौ बलिं च एव
dadatuḥ tau baliṃ ca eva
the two also offered bali (sacrificial offering)
निजगात्रासृगुक्षितम्
nijagātrāsṛgukṣitam
sprinkled with blood from their own bodies
एवं समाराधयतोः त्रिभिः वर्षैः यतात्मनोः
evaṃ samārādhayatoḥ tribhiḥ varṣaiḥ yatātmanoḥ
thus, as the two self-restrained ones worshipped her for three years

Complete Translation

Markandeya said: Having heard these words of the sage, Suratha, that ruler of men, bowing to the highly blessed sage of firm vows — dejected by excessive attachment and by the seizure of his kingdom — went at once to perform austerity; and that merchant too, O great sage, took his stand on the sandbank of a river to obtain a vision of Amba (the Mother). And the merchant performed austerity, reciting the supreme Devi-sukta. The two, having made on that sandbank an earthen image of the Devi, offered worship to her with flowers, incense, fire-offering and libations; abstaining from food, self-restrained, their minds fixed on her, concentrated, the two also offered bali sprinkled with blood from their own bodies — thus the two self-restrained ones worshipped her for three years.

Origin & History

Source: Durga Saptashati Chapter 13

Author: Maharshi Markandeya (traditionally ascribed)

Period: Puranic period (c. 5th–6th century CE for the Devi Mahatmya)

The Devi Mahatmya (Durga Saptashati or Chandi), part of the Markandeya Purana, is framed by the tale of King Suratha, robbed of his kingdom, and the merchant Samadhi, cast out by his family, who come to the sage Medhas to understand why their hearts still cling to those who wronged them. Having heard the whole glory of the Goddess, in this closing chapter they go to a riverbank to worship her. Dispassionate at last, they fashion an earthen image of the Devi and worship her for three years with flowers, incense, fire-offerings, the recitation of the Devi-sukta and rigorous self-restraint — even offering bali sprinkled with their own blood — until the Goddess, well pleased, appears before them to grant their desires.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this passage about?▼
These are verses 5–10 of Chapter 13 — the final chapter of the Devi Mahatmya (Durga Saptashati). They describe how King Suratha and the merchant Samadhi went to a riverbank, fashioned an earthen image of the Goddess, and worshipped her for three years with deep devotion.
Who are Suratha and Samadhi?▼
Suratha is a king robbed of his realm by treacherous ministers, and Samadhi is a merchant cast out by his greedy family. They are the listeners of the entire Devi Mahatmya, told to them by the sage Medhas, and in this chapter they finally turn to worship the Goddess themselves.
What is the lesson of their worship?▼
Their story teaches that wholehearted, concentrated devotion — with dispassion toward worldly attachments and steady worship of the Mother — wins her direct grace. Pleased by their three years of austerity, the Goddess appears before them in person and grants their boons.

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