Chapter 1 - On the description of Gāyatrī

1-7. Nārada said :-- O Deva! The rules of Sadācāra (right ways of living) and the all-sin-destroying unequalled Glories of the Devī Bhagavatī have been described by Thee. And I, too, have heard the nectar of the Glories of the Devī from Thy lotus mouth. The Cāndrāyaṇa and other Vratas; described by Thee, are very difficult to practise. So they are impracticable with the ordinary persons. Therefore, O Lord! Kindly describe those actions which can easily be carried out by common persons, at the same time, the Devī’s Grace and Siddhis can be obtained by those practices. Again what thou hast described about the Gāyatrī in connection with Sadācāra kindly say which are the chief and foremost as well as those that are more meritorious. O Best of the Munis! Thou hast told that there are the twenty-four syllables in the Gāyatrī. Kindly describe now their Ṛṣis, Chandas, Devatās and other things that should be known regarding them and thus satisfy my longings.

8-27. Śrī Nārāyaṇa said :-- O Nārada! The twice-born would have done what they ought to do if they be engaged in repeating their Gāyatrī only, whether they be able or not able to practise the Cāndrāyaṇa and the other vratas. Whichever Brāhmin repeats the Gāyatrī three thousand times and offers Arghya to the Sun in the three Sandhyā times, the Devas worship him; what to speak of other ordinary persons! Whether he practises Nyāsa or not, if anybody sincerely repeats the Gāyatrī Devī, Whose Nature is Existence, Intelligence, and Bliss and meditates on Her, even if he attains siddhi in one syllable even, then as a result of that, he can vie with the best of the Brāhmaṇas, the Moon, and the Sun; nay, with Brahmā, Viṣṇu, and Maheśvara even! O Nārada! Now I will tell in due order the Ṛṣis, Chandas, and the Devatās of the twenty-four syllables of the Gāyatrī. The Ṛṣis, in due order, are (1) Vāma Deva, (2) Attri, (3) Vaśiṣṭha, (4) Śukra, (5) Kaṇva, (6) Parāśara, (7) the very fiery Viśvamitra, (8) Kapila, (9) Śauṇaka, (10) Yājñavalkya, (11) Bharadvāja, (12) the ascetic Jamadagni, (13) Gautama, (14) Mudgala, (15) Vedavyāsa, (16) Lomaśa, (17) Agastya, (18) Kauśika, (19) Vatsya, (20) Pulastya, (21) Māṇḍuka, (22) the ascetic in chief Durvāsā, (23) Nārada and (24) Kaśyapa.

Now about the chandas :-- (1) Gāyatrī, (2) Uṣṇik, (3) Anuṣṭup, (4) Brihatī, (5) Pankti, (6) Tṛṣṇup, (7) Jagatī, (8) Atijagatī, (9) Śakkarī, (10) Ati Śakkarī, (11) Dhriti, (12) Ati Dhriti, (13) Virāṭ, (14) Prastārapankti, (15) Kṛti, (16) Prākriti, (17) Ākriti, (18) Vikṛti, (19) Samkṛti, (20) Akṣarapankti, (21) Bhuḥ, (22) Bhuvaḥ, (23) Svaḥ and (24) Jyotiṣmatī.

The Devatās of the several letters in due order, are :-- (1) Agni, (2) Prajāpati, (3) Soma, (4) Īśāna, (5) Savitā, (6) Āditya, (7) Brihaspati, (8) Maitrāvaruṇa, (9) Bhagadeva, (10) Aryamā, (11) Gaṇeśa, (12) Tvaṣṭrā, (13) Pūṣā, (14) Indrāgnī, (l5) Vāyu, (16) Vāmadeva, (17) Maitrā varunī (18) Viśvadeva, (19) Mātrikā, (20) Viṣṇu, (21) Vasu, (22) Rudra Deva, (23) Kuvera, and (24) the twin Aśvinī Kumāras. O Nārada! Thus I have described to you about the the Devatās of the twenty-four syllables. The hearing of this destroys all sins and yields the full results of repeating the mantra Gāyatrī.

(Note :-- The Devatās, mentioned in the Gāyatrī Brahmā Kalpa are different from those mentioned here.)

Here ends the first Chapter of the Twelfth Book on the description of Gāyatrī in the Mahāpurāṇam Śrī Mad Devī Bhāgavatam of 18,000 verses by Maharṣi Veda Vyāsa.