स्वयं महद्विराड्रूपं विश्वौघं यस्य लोमसु
He himself is the great cosmic form, in whose hairs the multitude of universes abide.
नानावतारं बिभ्रन्तं बीजं तेषां सनातनम् 1.18.
He bears various incarnations, the eternal seed of them all.
प्राणरूपं प्राणिनां च परमात्मानमीश्वरम्
He is the very life of all living beings, the supreme soul, the Lord.
निर्लक्ष्यं च निरीहं च सारं वाङ्मनसोः परम्
He is unperceivable and unattached, the essence beyond speech and mind.
पञ्चवक्त्रश्चतुर्वक्त्रो गजवक्त्रः षडाननः
He is five-faced, four-faced, elephant-faced, and six-faced.
यं स्तोतुं न क्षमा श्रीश्च जडीभूता सरस्वती
Whom even Śrī and Sarasvatī, rendered speechless, are unable to praise.
किं स्तौमि तमनीहं च शोकार्त्ता स्त्री परात्परम्
Why should I praise Him here, I who am a sorrowful woman, to the Supreme beyond all?
कृपानिधिं प्रणनाम भयार्ता च पुनः पुनः
Afflicted by fear, I bow again and again to the ocean of compassion.
भर्तुरस्यान्तरे तस्याः परमात्मा निराकृतिः
In her husband's absence, the Supreme Soul, for her, is formless.
प्रणनाम देवसंघं ब्राह्मणं पुरतः स्थितम्
She bowed to the assembly of gods and to the brāhmaṇa standing before her.
दृष्ट्वा चोपरि दम्पत्योः प्रददुः परमाशिषम्
Seeing the couple, they bestowed the highest blessings upon them.
जीवितं पुरतः प्राप देवानां च वरेण च 1.18.
She regained her life before them, by the boon of the gods.
उपबर्हणगन्धर्वो गन्धर्वनगरं पुनः
Upabarhaṇa the Gandharva returned to the city of the Gandharvas again.
प्रददौ ब्राह्मणेभ्यश्च भोजयामास तान्सती
She gave to the brāhmaṇas and Sati fed them.
महोत्सवं च विविधं हरेर्नामैकमङ्गलम्
There was a great and varied festival, with the auspicious chanting of Hari's name alone.
एतत्ते कथितं सर्वं स्तवराजं च शौनक
O Śaunaka, all this has been told to you, along with the king of hymns.
हरिभक्तिं हरेर्दास्यं लभते वैष्णवोजनः
A devotee of Viṣṇu attains devotion to Hari and the service of Hari.
धर्मार्थकाममोक्षाणां निश्चितं लभते फलम्
He certainly attains the fruits of dharma, artha, kāma, and mokṣa.
भार्य्यार्थी लभते भार्य्यां पुत्रार्थी लभते सुतम्
One desiring a wife obtains a wife; one desiring a son obtains a son.
भ्रष्टराज्यो लभेद्राज्यं प्रजाभ्रष्टः प्रजां लभेत्
One who has lost a kingdom regains a kingdom; one bereft of subjects regains subjects.
भयान्मुच्येत भीतस्तु धनं नष्टधनो लभेत् दावाग्निदग्धो मुच्येत निमग्नश्च जलार्णवे
One who is afraid is freed from fear; one who has lost wealth regains wealth; one burned by forest fire is freed; and one submerged in the ocean is saved.
सौतिरुवाच चकार विविधं वेशं स्वात्मनः स्वामिनः कृते
Sauti said: She assumed various appearances for the sake of her lord.
भर्तुश्चकार शुश्रूषां पूजां च समयोचिताम्
She served her husband and worshipped him as appropriate to the time.
महापुरुषस्तोत्रं च पूजां च कवचं मनुम्
She performed the great hymn of praise to the Supreme Person, the worship, the protective charm, and the mantra.
पुरा दत्तं वसिष्ठेन स्तोत्रपूजादिकं हरेः
Long ago, Vasiṣṭha gave the worship, praise, and related rites of Hari.
विस्मृतं स्तोत्रकवचं वसिष्ठश्च कृपानिधिः
The hymn and protective charm were forgotten, yet Vasiṣṭha, the ocean of compassion,
एवं चकार राज्यं च कुबेरभवनोपमे
Thus he ruled the kingdom, which was comparable to the abode of Kubera.
यथातथा गताभिश्च स्त्रीभिरन्याभिरेव च
With women who had come and gone in various ways, and with others as well.
शौनक उवाच दत्तो विशिष्टस्ताभ्यां च तं भवान्वक्तुमर्हति
Śaunaka said: The two of them gave something special to Datta; you are worthy to speak of that.
द्वादशाक्षरमन्त्रं च शूलिनः कवचादिकम्
The twelve-syllable mantra and the protective charm of the wielder of the trident—