यथा शम्भुर्वैष्णवेषु यथा देवेषु माधवः
As Shambhu is among Vaishnavas, as Madhava is among the gods.
शिशब्दो मङ्गलार्थश्च वकारो दातृवाचकः
The syllable 'śi' signifies auspiciousness, and 'va' denotes the giver.
नराणां सन्ततं विश्वे शं कल्याणं करोति यः
He who always brings welfare and auspiciousness to all people in the world.
ब्रह्मादीनां सुराणां च मुनीनां वेदवादिनाम्
Among Brahma and other gods, among sages and Veda-knowers.
महती पूजिता विश्वे मूलप्रकृतिरीश्वरी
The great, worshipped by all, is the primal nature, the sovereign goddess.
विश्वस्थानां च सर्वेषां महतामीश्वरः स्वयम्
He himself is the lord of all great beings and of all who sustain the universe.
हे ब्रह्मपुत्र धन्योऽसि यद्गुरुश्च महेश्वरः
O son of Brahma, you are blessed, for your teacher is Maheshvara.
नारद उवाच अधुना श्रोतुमिच्छामि दुर्गोपाख्यानमुत्तमम्
Narada said: Now I wish to hear the supreme account of Durga.
दुर्गा नारायणीशाना विष्णुमाया शिवा सती
Durga, Narayani, Ishana, Vishnumaya, Shiva, Sati.
अम्बिका वैष्णवी गौरी पार्वती च सनातनी
Ambika, Vaishnavi, Gauri, Parvati, the eternal one.
अर्थं षोडशनाम्नां च सर्वेषामीप्सितं वरम्
The meaning of all sixteen names and the boon desired by all.
केन वा पूजिता साऽऽदौ द्वितीये केन वा पुरा
By whom was she worshipped at first, and by whom again in ancient times?
नारायण उवाच ज्ञात्वा पुनः पृच्छसि त्वं कथयामि यथागमम्
Narayana said: Knowing, you ask again; I shall tell you according to the tradition.
दुर्गो दैत्ये महाविघ्ने भवबन्धे च कर्म्मणि
Durga is in the demon, in the great obstacle, in bondage to worldly action.
महाभयेऽतिरोगे चाप्याशब्दो हन्तृवाचकः
In great danger and severe illness, the sound 'ā' signifies the destroyer.
यशसा तेजसा रूपैर्नारायणसमा गुणैः
By fame, by brilliance, by forms, and by virtues, she is equal to Nārāyaṇa.
ईशानः सर्वसिद्ध्यर्थे चाशब्दो दातृवाचकः 2.57.
Īśāna, for the sake of all accomplishments, the sound 'ā' signifies the giver.
सृष्टा माया पुरा सृष्टौ विष्णुना परमात्मना
Māyā was created in the beginning of creation by Viṣṇu, the Supreme Self.
शिवे कल्याणरूपा च शिवदा च शिवप्रिया
In Śiva, she is of auspicious form, bestower of auspiciousness, and beloved of Śiva.
सद्बुद्ध्यधिष्ठातृदेवी विद्यमाना युगे युगे
The goddess who presides over right understanding exists in every age.
यथा नित्यो हि भगवान्नित्या भगवती तथा
Just as the Lord is eternal, so too is the Goddess eternal.
आब्रह्मस्तम्बपर्यन्तं सर्वं मिथ्यैव कृत्रिमम्
Everything from Brahmā down to a blade of grass is indeed false and artificial.
सिद्धैश्वर्यादिकं सर्वं यस्यामस्ति युगे युगे
All perfections and powers exist in her in every age.
सर्वान्मोक्षं प्रापयति जन्ममृत्युजरादिकम्
She leads all to liberation from birth, death, old age, and the rest.
मङ्गलं मोक्षवचनं चाशब्दो दातृवाचकः
Auspiciousness and the word of liberation—the sound 'ā' signifies the giver.
हर्षे सम्पदि कल्याणे मंगलं परिकीर्तितम्
In joy, in prosperity, in auspiciousness, it is called maṅgala, 'blessing.'
अम्बेति मातृवचनो वन्दने पूजने सदा 2.57.
The word 'amba,' meaning 'mother,' is always used in salutation and worship.
विष्णुभक्ता विष्णुरूपा विष्णोः शक्तिस्वरूपिणी
Devoted to Viṣṇu, of Viṣṇu's form, she is the very embodiment of Viṣṇu's power.
गौरः पीते च निर्लिप्ते परे ब्रह्मणि निर्मले
She is fair, clothed in yellow, untouched, supreme, pure, and the highest Brahman.
गुरुः शम्भुश्च सर्वेषां तस्य शक्तिः या सती
Guru and Śambhu of all—she who is Satī is his power.