Mahabharata Katha

Devika Ashtakam

[Author's note: Ashtakam is a collection of eight verses that glorifies a particular God or Goddess. Here is my attempt to compose a eight-verses poem on Maharani Devika. This poem follows her life journey chronologically from beginning to end. Translation is provided along with each verse. I'm a beginner in Sanskrit writing so please ignore my mistakes. This is just written out of pure love.]
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Yamapriyaa swarupini Ushinarasya kule jaata
Govasana Nandini twam Devi Shivi raajasutaa. (1)

[You are the form of Lord Yama's beloved wife. You were born in the glorious clan of King Ushinara. Devi, you are the daughter of Govasana and the Princess of Shivi.]

Dharmarakshitaa twam praja bhaya harini
Keshavasya Priya shishyaa adharma samharini. (2)

[You are the protector of Dharma. You remove the fear of your subjects. You are the dear student of Shri Krishna and the destroyer of adharma.]

Swayamvare vrita Dharma tadparshwe sushobhitaa
Rajni Indraprasthasya twam Yudhishthirasya dayitaa. (3)

[You chose Dharma in your swayamvara and adorned him by being on his side. You are the Queen of Indraprastha and beloved consort of Yudhishthira.]

Dharmaraja samyuktaa twam Dharmashakti pradayini
Snehamayischa Pandu kule kulalakshmirupini. (4)

[You are always united with Dharmaraja. You are the provider of the power of Dharma. You are the Kula Lakshmi of Pandu household and are always loving to the family.]

Pati virahini twam varsha trayodasha pura
Yaudheya Janani Devi tapaswini veerangana. (5)

[You have remained seperated from your husband for thirteen long years. Devi! You are mother of Yaudheya, who has stayed in her austerity, mastering her own battle.]

Mahayuddhe pati parshwe sahadharmacharini
Kaalarupaa astramukhe Shalya raaja vinashini. (6)

[You have been the Sahadharmini of your husband in the great war. O form of Kaala! You have destroyed King Shalya, staying at the tip of Yudhishthira's weapon (as his Shakti).]

Mritavatsa shokatura priyaviyoga duhkhini
Pati Dharme sthita chitta pati karya sadhini. (7)

[You have suffered the anguish of losing your children. O grieved mother! You have also endured the pain of separation from your loved ones (after Pandavas' Mahaprasthan). Still, you kept on performing your husband's duties, keeping your mind steady in his Dharma.]

Rajamata Kurunaam Parikshit palayini
Swa swarupe veelina twam Yama parshwe virajini. (8)

[You are the Raajmata of the Kurus (in Hastinapura). You have taken care of Parikshit. Again you returned to your own eternal form (after death) and adorned the side of Lord Yama.]

Iti Devika Ashtakam samaptam.

||Namami Govasana sutaam namami Yudhishthira priyaam||

(I bow to the daughter of Govasana. I bow to the darling of Yudhishthira.)