सर्वेषां च परा त्वं हि सर्वबान्धवरूपिणी
You are supreme among all, and you take the form of every relative.
त्वया हीनो बन्धुहीनस्त्वया युक्तः सबान्धवः
One deprived of you is deprived of kin; one united with you is with all relatives.
स्तनन्धयानां त्वं माता शिशूनां शैशवे यथा
You are the mother of infants, just as for children in their infancy.
त्यक्तस्तनो मातृहीनः स चेज्जीवति दैवतः
If an infant is deprived of its mother's breast, it lives only by divine grace.
सुप्रसन्नस्वरूपा त्वं मे प्रसन्ना भवाम्बिके
You are of supremely gracious nature; O Ambika, be gracious to me.
वयं यावत्त्वया हीना बन्धुहीनाश्च भिक्षुकाः
As long as we are deprived of you, we are deprived of kin and are beggars.
राज्यं देहि श्रियं देहि बलं देहि सुरेश्वरि 2.39.
Grant me kingdom, grant me wealth, grant me strength, O goddess of the gods.
कामं देहि मतिं देहि भोगान्देहि हरिप्रिये
Grant me desire, grant me wisdom, grant me enjoyments, O beloved of Hari.
सर्वाधिकारमेवं वै प्रभावं च प्रतापकम्
Such is the supreme authority, the power, and the brilliance.
इत्युक्त्वा तु महेन्द्रश्च सर्वैः सुरगणैः सह
Having spoken thus, Mahendra, together with all the hosts of gods,
ब्रह्मा च शंकरश्चैव शेषो धर्मश्च केशवः
Brahma, Shankara, Shesha, Dharma, and Keshava,
देवेभ्यश्च वरं दत्त्वा पुष्पमालां मनोहराम्
Having granted a boon to the gods, and a charming garland of flowers,
ययुर्देवाश्च सन्तुष्टाः स्वं स्वं स्थानं च नारद
The gods, satisfied, departed each to their own abode, O Narada.
ययतुस्तौ स्वस्वगृहं ब्रह्मेशानौ च नारद
Brahma and Ishana also returned to their own homes, O Narada.
इदं स्तोत्रं महापुण्यं त्रिसन्ध्यं यः पठेन्नरः
Whoever recites this highly meritorious hymn at the three junctions of the day,
सिद्धस्तोत्रं यदि पठेत्सोऽपि कल्पतरुर्नरः
If one recites the accomplished hymn, he too becomes like the wish-fulfilling tree.
सिद्धिःस्तोत्रं यदि पठेन्मासमेकं च संयतः 2.39.
If one recites the hymn for success, with restraint, for a month,
नारद उवाच तस्य सर्वा पुरःपूजेत्युक्तं पूर्वं त्वया प्रभो
Narada said: You previously declared, O Lord, that all worship is performed in his presence.
तदेव स्थापितं पुष्पं गजेन्द्रस्यैव मस्तके
That very flower was placed upon the head of Gajendra.
मूर्ध्नि च्छिन्ने गणपतेः शनेर्दृष्ट्या पुरा मुने
When the head of Ganapati was severed, by Shani's gaze, long ago, O sage,
अधुनोक्तं देवषट्कं संपूज्य च पुरन्दरः
Now, having worshipped the six gods as told, Purandara,
अहो पुराणवक्तॄणां दुर्बोधं वचनं नृणाम्
Ah! The words of the speakers of the Puranas are difficult for men to understand.
श्रीनारायण उवाच तदा नास्त्येव तज्जन्म पूजाकाले बभूव सः
Shri Narayana said: At that time, there was no such birth; it occurred at the time of worship.
सुचिरं दुःखिता देवा बभ्रमुर्ब्रह्मशापतः
For a long time, the gods wandered in sorrow, due to Brahma's curse.
नारद उवाच रूपेण च गुणैश्चैव यशसा तेजसा त्विषा
Narada said: By form, by qualities, by fame, by brilliance, and by radiance,
त्वमेव ज्ञानिनां श्रेष्ठः सिद्धानां योगिनां तथा महालक्ष्म्या उपाख्यानं विज्ञातं महदद्भुतम्
You alone are the foremost among the wise, the accomplished, and the yogis; the tale of Mahalakshmi is known, wondrous and great.
अन्यत्किञ्चिदुपाख्यानं निगूढं वद साम्प्रतम् अप्रकाश्यं पुराणेषु वेदोक्तं धर्मसंयुतम्
Now tell some other hidden story, one not revealed in the Purāṇas, but spoken of in the Vedas and connected with dharma.
श्रीनारायण उवाच श्रुतौ कतिविधं गूढमास्ते ब्रह्मन्सुदुर्लभम्
Śrī Nārāyaṇa said: O brāhmaṇa, there exists in the Vedas a secret that is very difficult to obtain.
तेषु यत्सारभूतं च श्रोतुं किंवा त्वमिच्छसि
Among these, do you wish to hear that which is the very essence?
नारद उवाच पितृदाने स्वधा शस्ता दक्षिणा सर्वतो वरा
Nārada said: In offerings to the ancestors, svadhā is praised, and the gift (dakṣiṇā) is superior to all.