शिशुना बलिना दातुर्हन्ति पुत्रं च चण्डिका
By offering a strong child, the donor's son is slain by Caṇḍikā.
घुटिकेन भवेन्मृत्युर्विघ्नं स्याच्चित्रमस्तकैः
Death results from a doll; obstacles arise from those with strange heads.
मायातीनां स्वरूपं च श्रूयतां मुनिसत्तम 2.64.
Now hear, O best of sages, the true nature of those who have transcended illusion.
पितृमातृविहीनं च युवकं व्याधिवर्जितम्
A young man, bereft of father and mother, and free from disease.
अजारजं विशुद्धं च सच्छूद्रपरिपोषितम्
Unborn from adultery, pure, and well-nourished by good Śūdras.
स्नापयित्वा च तं कर्त्ता पूजयेद्वस्त्रचन्दनैः
After bathing him, the performer should worship him with cloth and sandalwood.
तं च वर्षं भ्रामयित्वा भृत्यद्वारेण यत्नतः
Having made him wander for a year, carefully, through a servant.
अष्टमीनवमीसन्धौ दद्यान्मायातिमेव च
At the conjunction of the eighth and ninth lunar days, one should offer to Māyātī.
बलिं स्तुत्वा च दत्त्वा च धृत्वा च कवचं बुधः
Having praised and given the offering, and having worn the armor, the wise one.
नारद उवाच स्तोत्रं च कवचं पूजाफलं कालं वद प्रभो
Nārada said: Tell me, O Lord, the hymn, the armor, the fruit of worship, and the proper time.
नारायण उवाच उत्तरेणार्च्चयित्वा तां श्रवणायां विसर्जयेत्
Nārāyaṇa said: After worshipping her in the north, one should immerse her during the Śravaṇā star.
आर्द्रायुक्तनवम्यां तु कृत्वा देव्याश्च बोधनम्
On the ninth day joined with the Ārdrā star, one should awaken the goddess.
मूलायां तु प्रवेशे च नरमेधफलं लभेत्
On entering the Mūlā star, one attains the fruit of a human sacrifice.
कृत्वा विसर्जनं देव्याः श्रवणायां च मानवः
Having performed the immersion of the goddess during the Śravaṇā star, a man...
भुवः प्रदक्षिणं पुण्यं पूजायां लभते नरः
A man attains the merit of circumambulating the earth by performing worship.
नवम्यां बोधनं कृत्वा पक्षं संपूज्य मानवः
On the ninth day, after awakening the deity and duly honoring the fortnight, a person should perform worship.
सप्तम्यां पूजनं कृत्वा बलिं दद्याद्विचक्षणः
On the seventh day, having performed worship, the wise should offer a sacrificial oblation.
अष्टम्यां बलिदानेन विपत्तिर्जायते नृणाम्
On the eighth day, by giving a sacrificial oblation, misfortune arises for people.
बलिदानेन विप्रेन्द्र दुर्गाप्रीतिर्भवेन्नृणाम् 2.65.
By giving a sacrificial oblation, O best of Brahmins, the goddess Durgā becomes pleased with people.
उत्सर्गकर्त्ता दाता च च्छेत्ता पोष्टा च रक्षकः
The one who performs the offering, the giver, the one who cuts, the nourisher, and the protector—
यो यं हन्ति स तं हन्ति नेति वेदोक्तमेव च
Whoever kills another, kills himself; this is indeed what is declared in the Veda.
एवं संपूज्य सुरथः पूर्णं वर्षं च भक्तितः
Thus, Suratha worshipped with devotion for a full year.
स्तोत्रेण परितुष्टा सा तस्य साक्षाद्बभूव ह
Pleased by his hymn of praise, she appeared before him directly.
तेजस्वरूपां परमां सगुणां निर्गुणां वराम्
She was of the form of radiance, supreme, possessed of qualities and beyond qualities, the best.
स्वेच्छामयीं कृपारूपां भक्तानुग्रहकारिणीम्
She was of her own will, the embodiment of compassion, and the granter of favor to devotees.
स्तवेन परितुष्टा सा सस्मिता भक्तिपूर्वकम्
Pleased by his hymn, she, smiling, spoke with devotion.
प्रकृतिरुवाच ददामि तुभ्यं विभवं साम्प्रतं वाञ्छितं तव
Prakriti said: I grant you now the wealth you desire.
निर्जित्य सर्वाञ्छत्रूंश्च लब्ध्वा राज्यमकण्टकम्
Having conquered all enemies and obtained a kingdom free from trouble—
दास्यामि तुभ्यं ज्ञानं च परिणामे नराधिप 2.65.
I will grant you knowledge as well, O king, in due course.
वृणोति विभवं यो हि साक्षान्मां प्राप्य मन्दधीः
He who, having directly attained me, asks for wealth is of dull understanding.