देवसेनोवाच। ब्रह्मणो मानसी कन्या देवसेनाऽहमीश्वरी
Devasena said: I am Devasena, the mind-born daughter of Brahma, the sovereign.
मातृकासु च विख्याता स्कन्दसेना च सुव्रता
Among the Mothers I am renowned, and as Skanda's army, steadfast in vows.
पुत्रदाऽहमपुत्राय प्रियदात्री प्रियाय च
I grant sons to the sonless, and beloved gifts to the beloved.
सुखं दुःखं भयं शोकं हर्षं मंगलमेव च
Happiness, sorrow, fear, grief, joy, and auspiciousness as well,
कर्मणा बहुपुत्री च वंशहीनश्च कर्मणा
By action, one has many sons; by action, one is without lineage.
कर्मणा मृतपुत्रश्च कर्मणा चिरजीविनः 2.43.
By action, one's sons die; by action, some live long lives.
तस्मात्कर्म परं राजन्सर्वेभ्यश्च श्रुतौ श्रुतम्
Therefore, O king, action is supreme, as has been heard in all scriptures.
इत्येवमुक्त्वा सा देवी गृहीत्वा बालकं मुने
Thus speaking, the goddess took the child in her arms, O sage.
राजा ददर्श तं बालं सस्मितं कनकप्रभम्
The king saw that child, smiling, with a golden radiance.
गृहीत्वा बालकं देवी गगनं गन्तुमुद्यता
Taking the child, the goddess prepared to ascend to the sky.
नृपस्तोत्रेण सा देवी परितुष्टा बभूव ह
That goddess became pleased by the king's hymn of praise.
देवसेनोवाच मम पूजां च सर्वत्र कारयित्वा स्वयं कुरु
Devasena said: Arrange my worship everywhere and perform it yourself.
तदा दास्यामि पुत्रं ते कुलपद्मं मनोहरम्
Then I will give you a son, a charming lotus of your lineage.
जातिस्मरं च योगीन्द्रं नारायणपरायणम्
He will remember his previous births, be a master of yoga, and devoted to Narayana.
मत्तमातङ्गलक्षाणां धृतवन्तं बलं शुभम्
He will possess auspicious strength equal to a hundred intoxicated elephants.
योगिनं ज्ञानिनं चैव सिद्धरूपं तपस्विनम् 2.43.
He will be a yogi, a knower, endowed with the form of a siddha and devoted to austerity.
इत्येवमुक्त्वा सा देवी तस्मै तद्बालकं ददौ
Having spoken thus, the goddess gave that child to him.
जगाम देवी स्वर्गं च दत्त्वा तस्मै शुभं वरम् आगत्य कथयामास वृत्तान्तं पुत्रहेतुकम्
The goddess went to heaven, granting him an auspicious boon, and having returned, narrated the story concerning the son.
तुष्टा बभूवुः सन्तुष्टा नरा नार्यश्च नारद । देवीं च पूजयामास ब्राह्मणेभ्यो धनं ददौ
The men and women became pleased and satisfied, O Narada; they worshipped the goddess and gave wealth to the Brahmins.
राजा च प्रतिमासेषु शुक्लषष्ठ्यां महोत्सवम्
The king, on every sixth day of the bright fortnight, held a great festival.
बालानां सूतिकागारे षष्ठाहे यत्नपूर्वकम्
On the sixth day, with great effort, in the birthing chamber of the children.
बालानां शुभकार्ये च शुभान्नप्राशने तथा
And likewise at auspicious ceremonies for children and at their first feeding of rice.
ध्यानं पूजाविधानं च स्तोत्रं मत्तो निशामय
Listen from me to the meditation, the method of worship, and the hymn.
शालग्रामे घटे वाऽथ वटमूलेऽथवा मुने
In a Shalagrama, a pot, or at the root of a banyan tree, O sage.
षष्ठांशां प्रकृतेः शुद्धां सुप्रतिष्ठां च सुव्रताम्
Meditate on Shashthi, pure in nature, firmly established, and of virtuous vows.
श्वेतचम्पकवर्णाभां रत्नभूषणभूषिताम् 2.43.
Her radiance is like white champaka flowers, adorned with jeweled ornaments.
इति ध्यात्वा स्वशिरसि पुष्पं दत्त्वा विचक्षणः
Thus meditating, the wise one places a flower on his own head.
पाद्यार्घ्याचमनीयैश्च गन्धधूपप्रदीपकैः
With water for washing the feet, offerings, sipping water, and with fragrances, incense, and lamps.
मूलमों ह्रीं षष्ठीदेव्ये स्वाहेति विधिपूर्वकम्
With the root mantra 'om hrīṃ', to the goddess Ṣaṣṭhī, with 'svāhā', according to the prescribed rite.
तत्र स्तुत्वा च नमते भक्तियुक्तः समाहितः
There, having praised and bowed, with devotion and concentration.