न तेन लभ्यते विद्या ललिता परमेश्वरी
By that, knowledge is not obtained; Lalitā, the supreme goddess.
तद्वंश्याः सर्व एव स्युर्मुक्तास्तृप्ता न संशयः
All her descendants become liberated and fulfilled, without doubt.
वेदाः समस्तशास्त्राणि स्तुवन्ति ललितेश्वरीम्
The Vedas and all scriptures praise Laliteśvarī.
इयमेव महत्तीर्थमियमेव महत्फलम्
This alone is the great pilgrimage, this alone is the great fruit.
अर्चन्तीमां सुरश्रेष्ठा ब्रह्माद्याः पञ्चसिद्धिदाम्
The foremost of the gods, beginning with Brahma, worship me as the bestower of the five accomplishments.
दैवबाह्यैर्वृथातर्कैर्वृथा विभ्रान्त बुद्धिभिः
By those outside the divine, with futile arguments and minds led astray in vain,
दर्शनद्वेषिभिः पापशीलैराचारनिन्दकैः
By those who hate true vision, who are of sinful conduct, and who revile proper practice,
एतादृशानां मर्त्यानां देवानां चातिदुर्लभा
For such mortals, and even for the gods, I am exceedingly difficult to attain.
भण्डासुर वधायैषा प्रादुर्भूता चिदग्नितः
For the slaying of Bhaṇḍāsura, she has manifested from the fire of consciousness.
कामाक्षीति विधात्रा तु प्रस्तुता ललितेश्वरी
She who is called Kāmākṣī, the sovereign Lalitā, was presented by the Creator.
सदाशिवस्य मनसो लालनाल्ललिताभिधा
Because she is cherished in the mind of Sadāśiva, she is known as Lalitā.
खण्डान्तरे वदिष्यामि तद्विलासं महाद्भुतम्
In another section, I will speak of her wondrous play.
आनन्दबोधैकरसं तन्महन्मन्महे महः
That radiance is of the nature of bliss and pure consciousness alone.
श्रुतमेतन्महापुण्यं ललिताख्यानमुत्तमम्
This has been heard, this most auspicious and supreme narrative of Lalitā.
पाशाङ्कुशधनुर्बाण परिष्कृतचतुर्भुजा
Adorned with noose, goad, bow, and arrows, she is four-armed.
नवावरणमीशानी श्रीपरस्याधिदैवतम्
The sovereign of the nine enclosures, she is the supreme deity of Śrīpura.
केयं विभाति कल्याणी कामाक्षीत्यभिविश्रुता
Who is this radiant and auspicious one, renowned as Kāmākṣī?
अदृष्टपूर्वसैन्दर्या परज्योतिर्मयी परा
Of beauty never seen before, she is the supreme one, composed of the highest light.
इति ध्यात्वा नमस्कृत्य तमगस्त्यमथाब्रवीत्
Having meditated and bowed, he then spoke to Agastya.
रहस्यं संप्रवक्ष्यामि लोपामुद्रापते शृणु
I will now reveal the secret, O lord of Lopāmudrā; listen.
अन्ताख्येति तथा प्रोक्ता स्वरूपात्तत्त्वचिन्तकैः
She is also called Antākhyā by those who contemplate her true nature.
दक्षहस्ते योगमुद्रां वामहस्ते तु पुस्तकम्
In her right hand is the gesture of union; in her left, a book.
परापरा तृतीया स्याद्बा लार्कायुतसंमिता
The third, called Parāparā, is measured as ten million yojanas.
वामोरुन्यस्तहस्ता वा किरीटार्धेन्दुभूषणा
She may be depicted with her left hand raised, adorned with a crescent moon on her crown.
पाशाङ्कुशेक्षुकोदण्डपञ्चबाणलसत्करा
She holds a noose, goad, sugarcane bow, and five arrows shining in her hands.
सरस्वतीरमागौर्यस्तामेवाद्यामुपासते
Sarasvatī, Ramā, and Gaurī worship that very primordial goddess.
नेत्रद्वयं महेशस्य काशीकाञ्जीपुरद्वयम्
The two eyes of Maheśa are the two cities, Kāśī and Kāñchī.
काञ्चीक्षेत्रे पुरा धाता सर्वलोकपितामहः
In the field of Kāñchī, long ago, the Creator, the grandsire of all worlds,
आत्मैकध्यानयुक्तस्य तस्यव्रतवतो मुने
For that sage devoted to vows and absorbed in single-minded meditation,
पद्मासने च तिष्ठन्ती विष्णुना जिष्णुना सह
She sits upon a lotus seat together with Viṣṇu, the victorious one.