Once, O sage, you were known as Suśīlā, famed for your excellent and auspicious conduct. By great fortune, you descended from the celestial realm of Goloka and arrived here, a blessing upon my life. Among all those who act, O goddess, you alone unfailingly grant the fruits of their deeds. Just as a tree on earth is barren without branches to bear fruit, so too do the greatest beings—Brahmā, Viṣṇu, Maheśa, the guardians of the directions, and all others—depend upon you. For Brahmā himself is the very form of action, and Maheśvara embodies the form of its fruit. Yet the supreme Brahman, beyond all qualities and transcending nature itself, is the ultimate giver of fruits. O beloved, you alone are my power throughout all my births, again and again. Having spoken thus, the deity presiding over sacrifice stood before her in reverence. Whoever recites this sacred hymn of offering at the time of sacrifice—whether it be the Rājasūya, Vājapeya, Gomedha, or even human sacrifice, during the giving of wealth or land, in the month of Phalga, in the desire for sons, or in elephant sacrifice; in the worship of Shiva, in sacrifices to Rudra or Indra, or in times of bondage; in pure sacrifices, righteous sacrifices, acts of purification, or the removal of sins—at the very commencement, whoever recites this hymn, will find its power manifest. This hymn has been spoken, complete with meditation and the proper method of worship. I worship Dakṣiṇā, born from a portion of Lakṣmī, a radiant ray from the lotus. I adore her, the embodiment of Viṣṇu’s power, who is virtuous and bestows auspiciousness. Having offered water for the feet and other offerings to the goddess, as prescribed in the Vedas, O Nārada, one should worship Dakṣiṇā—honored by all—properly and with devotion. She grants happiness, delight, and the fruits of all actions. Any rite lacking this devotion does not succeed upon the earth of Bhārata. One who is without a wife obtains a virtuous, beautiful, and supreme companion—a wife devoted to her husband, steadfast in vows, pure, born in a noble family, and excellent. One who lacks land obtains land; one who is childless obtains offspring. By hearing this account for a month, one is freed from all obstacles—there is no doubt in this. Then Nārada spoke, “O Brahman, tell me of the deeds of the other goddesses, O best among those versed in the Vedas.” Nārāyaṇa replied, “Of the previously mentioned goddesses, which ones do you wish to hear about?” Nārada said, “I wish to hear, in truth, their origins and deeds.” Nārāyaṇa said, “The goddess who presides over children is Viṣṇumāyā, the bestower of offspring. Among the Mothers she is renowned, and she is also called Devasenā. She grants long life to children and is the vessel of their protection. O Brahman, listen to the ancient procedure for her worship. There was once a king named Priyavrata, son of Svāyambhuva Manu. At Brahmā’s command, and with great effort, he took a wife. Kaśyapa then performed for him the Putreṣṭi sacrifice. After the queen had partaken of the sacred oblation, she immediately conceived. In time, she gave birth to a boy shining with the radiance of gold. Yet, upon seeing him, all the women and female relatives wept. The king, his heart heavy, took the boy and went to the cremation ground, O sage.