Devi Upanishad

One of the later Upanishads (12th century?), being part of the Atharva veda.

All the gods waited upon the Goddess (and asked): ‘Great Goddess, who are You ?’

She replied:

I am essentially Brahman.

From Me (has proceeded) the world comprising Prakriti and Purusha, the void and the Plenum.

I am bliss and non-bliss.

Knowledge and ignorance are Myself.

Brahman and non-Brahman are to be known – says the scripture of the Atharvans.

I am the five elements as also what is different from them.

I am the entire world.

I am the Veda as well as what is different from it.

I am the unborn; I am the born.

Below and above and around am I.

I move with Rudras and Vasus, with Adityas and Visvedevas. Mitra and Varuna, Indra and Agni, I support, and the two Asvins. I uphold Soma, Tvastir, Pusan and Bhaga, The wide-stepping Vishnu, Brahma, Prajapati.

To the zealous sacrificer offering oblation and pressing the Soma-juice do I grant wealth; I am the state, the Bringer of Wealth; Above it all, place I its protector.

Who so knows my essence in the water of the inner sea, Attains he the Goddess’s abode. (verses 1-7)

Bibliographical notes

From the translation by Dr. A. G. Krishna Warrier (Chennai: Theosophical Publishing House) [1] See also the prose summary in N.S.Subrahmanian, Encyclopedia of the Upanisads (New Delhi: Sterling, 1985):303-304.

French translation: Devi Upanisad, publiee et traduite par Jean Varenne (Paris: Adrien Maisonneuve, 1971), reviewed in the Journal of the American Oriental Society v93(3) 1973:375-376.

[from Visions and Prophecies of the Divine Feminine]