Vidyah Samastas Tava Devi Bhedah Meaning — Line by Line

विद्याः समस्तास्तव देवि भेदाः

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Meaning — Line by Line

Every verse of Vidyah Samastas Tava Devi Bhedah with its English meaning. Tap any word to hear it, or ▶ to recite the verse.

Verse 1#

विद्याः समस्तास्तव देवि भेदाः स्त्रियः समस्ताः सकला जगत्सु । त्वयैकया पूरितमम्बयैतत् का ते स्तुतिः स्तव्यपरापरोक्तिः ॥

vidyāḥ samastāstava devi bhedāḥ striyaḥ samastāḥ sakalā jagatsu tvayaikayā pūritamambayaitat kā te stutiḥ stavyaparāparoktiḥ

MeaningAll the branches of knowledge are Your aspects, O Devi; all women in all the worlds are Your forms. By You alone, O Mother, is this universe pervaded. What praise can there be for You, who are beyond praise, the supreme utterance itself?

Verse 2#

सर्वभूता यदा देवी भुक्तिमुक्तिप्रदायिनी । त्वं स्तुता स्तुतये का वा भवन्तु परमोक्तयः ॥

sarvabhūtā yadā devī bhuktimuktipradāyinī tvaṃ stutā stutaye kā vā bhavantu paramoktayaḥ

MeaningWhen You, the Devi who has become all beings, the giver of enjoyment and liberation, are thus praised — what words, however lofty, can ever suffice for Your praise?

Word-by-Word Breakdown

विद्याः समस्ताः

vidyāḥ samastāḥ

all the branches of knowledge and learning

तव देवि भेदाः

tava devi bhedāḥ

are Your aspects (differentiations), O Goddess

स्त्रियः समस्ताः

striyaḥ samastāḥ

all women

सकला जगत्सु

sakalā jagatsu

all (of them) in all the worlds (are Your forms)

त्वया एकया

tvayā ekayā

by You alone

पूरितम् अम्बया एतत्

pūritam ambayā etat

is this (universe) filled and pervaded, O Mother

का ते स्तुतिः

kā te stutiḥ

what praise can there be for You

स्तव्यपरापरोक्तिः

stavyaparāparoktiḥ

who are beyond praise, the supreme utterance itself

सर्वभूता

sarvabhūtā

having become all beings (the all-pervading one)

यदा देवी

yadā devī

when the Devi

भुक्तिमुक्तिप्रदायिनी

bhuktimuktipradāyinī

the giver of worldly enjoyment (bhukti) and liberation (mukti)

त्वं स्तुता

tvaṃ stutā

You are (thus) praised

स्तुतये का वा

stutaye kā vā

what words then can suffice for Your praise

भवन्तु परमोक्तयः

bhavantu paramoktayaḥ

let (even) the loftiest utterances (be — they are not enough)

Origin & History

Source: Durga Saptashati Chapter 11

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, narrates the Divine Mother's victories over Madhu-Kaitabha, Mahishasura, and Shumbha-Nishumbha. After Shumbha is slain in Chapter 11, Indra and the gods, their faces beaming with joy, pour out the Narayani Stuti. In these verses they marvel that all learning and all women are her aspects, that she alone fills the universe, and that she is beyond all praise — the supreme utterance from which speech itself arises. Humbled, they confess that no words can ever truly hymn the one who grants both enjoyment and liberation.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where do these verses come from?▼

They are verses 5 and 6 of the Narayani Stuti in Chapter 11 of the Devi Mahatmya (Durga Saptashati), part of the Markandeya Purana. The gods sing this hymn after the Goddess slays Shumbha and Nishumbha.

What is the central teaching of 'Vidyah samastas tava devi bhedah'?▼

It teaches that every form of knowledge and every woman in the worlds is a manifestation of the one Divine Mother, and that she alone pervades the whole universe. Because she is the very source of speech, no words can fully praise her.

Why is this verse recited for wisdom?▼

Because it declares the Goddess to be the totality of all vidyas (knowledge). Devotees, especially students and seekers, recite it to seek her blessing for learning, clarity and understanding.

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