नमो विराट्स्वरूपिण्यै नमः सूत्रात्ममूर्तये । नमोऽव्याकृतरूपिण्यै नमः श्रीब्रह्ममूर्तये
Salutations to her of the cosmic form, salutations to her whose essence is the thread of existence; salutations to her of the unmanifest form, salutations to her who is the very form of Brahman.
यदज्ञानाज्जगद्भाति रज्जुसर्पस्रगादिवत् । यज्ज्ञानाल्लयमाप्नोति नुमस्तां भुवनेश्वरीम्
When there is ignorance, the world appears as a rope mistaken for a snake or a garland; through knowledge, it dissolves—salutations to that Mistress of the worlds.
नुमस्तत्पदलक्ष्यार्थां चिदेकरसरूपिणीम् । अखण्डानन्दरूपां तां वेदतात्पर्यभूमिकाम्
We bow to her who is indicated by the word 'That', whose nature is pure consciousness, who is the undivided form of bliss, who is the very ground of the meaning of the Vedas.
पञ्चकोशातिरिक्तां तामवस्थात्रयसाक्षिणीम् । नुमस्त्वंपदलक्ष्यार्थां प्रत्यगात्मस्वरूपिणीम्
We bow to her who is beyond the five sheaths, the witness of the three states, who is indicated by the word 'Thou', whose nature is the inner Self.
नमः प्रणवरूपायै नमो ह्रीङ्कारमूर्तये । नानामन्त्रात्मिकायै ते करुणायै नमो नमः
Salutations to her whose form is the sacred syllable Om, salutations to her whose form is Hrim, to her who is the essence of many mantras, to that compassion, salutations again and again.
इति स्तुता तदा देवैर्मणिद्वीपाधिवासिनी । प्राह वाचा मधुरया मत्तकोकिलनिःस्वना
Thus praised by the gods, the Dweller in the Jeweled Island spoke with a sweet voice, resonant like the song of a maddened cuckoo.
श्रीदेव्युवाच वदन्तु विबुधाः कार्यं यदर्थमिह सङ्गताः । वरदाहं सदा भक्तकामकल्पद्रुमास्मि च
The Goddess said: Let the wise ones declare the purpose for which you have gathered here; I am the granter of boons, always the wish-fulfilling tree for my devotees.
तिष्ठन्त्यां मयि का चिन्ता युष्माकं भक्तिशालिनाम् । समुद्धरामि मद्भक्तान्दुःखसंसारसागरात्
While I am present, what worry can there be for you, devoted ones? I lift my devotees from the ocean of suffering and worldly existence.
इति प्रतिज्ञां मे सत्यां जानीथ विबुधोत्तमाः । इति प्रेमाकुलां वाणीं श्रुत्वा सन्तुष्टमानसाः
Thus, know my promise to be true, O foremost among the gods; hearing these words, overflowing with love, their hearts were satisfied.
निर्भया निर्जरा राजन्नूचुर्दुःखं स्वकीयकम् । देवा ऊचुः नाज्ञातं किञ्चिदप्यत्र भवत्यास्ति जगत्त्रये
Without fear, the immortals, O King, spoke of their own suffering; the gods said: Nothing here in the three worlds is unknown to you.
सर्वज्ञया सर्वसाक्षिरूपिण्या परमेश्वरि । तारकेणासुरेन्द्रेण पीडिताः स्मो दिवानिशम्
O Supreme Lady, you are omniscient and witness all; we are afflicted day and night by Tāraka, the lord of the demons.
शिवाङ्गजाद्वधस्तस्य निर्मितो ब्रह्मणा शिवे । शिवाङ्गना तु नैवास्ति जानासि त्वं महेश्वरि
His death, from the body of Shiva, was ordained by Brahma and Shiva; but there is no woman from Shiva's body, you know this, O Great Goddess.
सर्वज्ञपुरतः किं वा वक्तव्यं पामरैर्जनैः । एतदुद्देशतः प्रोक्तमपरं तर्कयाम्बिके
What need is there for ordinary people to speak before the omniscient? This has been said for this purpose, O Ambika, the rest is for you to consider.
सर्वदा चरणाम्भोजे भक्तिः स्यात्तव निश्चला । प्रार्थनीयमिदं मुख्यमपरं देहहेतवे
May unwavering devotion always be at your lotus feet; this is the chief request, the rest is for the sake of the body.
इति तेषां वचः श्रुत्वा प्रोवाच परमेश्वरी । मम शक्तिस्तु या गौरी भविष्यति हिमालये
Hearing their words, the Supreme Goddess spoke: My power, Gauri, will be born in the Himalayas.
शिवाय सा प्रदेया स्यात्सा वः कार्यं विधास्यति । भक्तिर्यच्चरणाम्भोजे भूयाद्युष्माकमादरात्
She will be given to Shiva, and she will accomplish your purpose; may your devotion at my lotus feet increase with reverence.
हिमालयो हि मनसा मामुपास्तेऽतिभक्तितः । ततस्तस्य गृहे जन्म मम प्रियकरं मतम्
The Himalaya, with great devotion, worships me in his heart; therefore, my birth in his house is deemed pleasing.
व्यास उवाच हिमालयोऽपि तच्छ्रुत्वात्यनुग्रहकरं वचः । बाष्पैः संरुद्धकण्ठाक्षो महाराज्ञीं वचोऽब्रवीत्
Vyasa said: Hearing those words, so full of grace, the Himalaya, his throat and eyes choked with tears, spoke to the great Queen.
महत्तरं तं कुरुषे यस्यानुग्रहमिच्छसि । नोचेत्क्वाहं जडः स्थाणुः क्व त्वं सच्चित्स्वरूपिणी
You grant the greatest favor to whom you wish to bless; otherwise, where am I, dull and unmoving, and where are you, embodiment of truth and consciousness?
असम्भाव्यं जन्मशतैस्त्वत्पितृत्वं ममानघे । अश्वमेधादिपुण्यैर्वा पुण्यैर्वा तत्समाधिजैः
O stainless one, to be your father is impossible even in hundreds of births, whether by the merit of horse sacrifices or by merits gained through meditation.
अद्य प्रपञ्चे कीर्तिः स्याज्जगन्माता सुताभवत् । अहो हिमालयस्यास्य धन्योऽसौ भाग्यवानिति
Today, fame will arise in the world, for the Mother of the Universe has become my daughter; ah, how blessed and fortunate is this Himalaya!
यस्यास्तु जठरे सन्ति ब्रह्माण्डानां च कोटयः । सैव यस्य सुता जाता को वा स्यात्तत्समो भुवि
She whose womb contains millions of universes has become his daughter; who on earth could be equal to him?
न जानेऽस्मत्पितॄणां किं स्थानं स्यान्निर्मितं परम् । एतादृशानां वासाय येषां वंशेऽस्ति मादृशः
I do not know what place is made for my ancestors, for the residence of such as those who have one like me in their lineage.
इदं यथा च दत्तं मे कृपया प्रेमपूर्णया । सर्ववेदान्तसिद्धं च त्वद्रूपं ब्रूहि मे तथा
Just as this has been given to me by your grace, full of love, so too, tell me your form as established in all Vedanta.
योगं च भक्तिसहितं ज्ञानं च श्रुतिसम्मतम् । वदस्व परमेशानि त्वमेवाहं यतो भवेः
Speak of yoga with devotion, and knowledge approved by the scriptures; O Supreme Lady, tell me, for you alone are the source of all.
व्यास उवाच इति तस्य वचः श्रुत्वा प्रसन्नमुखपङ्कजा । वक्तुमारभताम्बा सा रहस्यं श्रुतिगूहितम्
Vyasa said: Hearing his words, with her lotus face radiant, the Mother began to speak the secret, hidden in the scriptures.
देव्या व्यष्टिसमष्टिर्पवर्णनम् श्रीदेव्युवाच शृण्वन्तु निर्जराः सर्वे व्याहरन्त्या वचो मम । यस्य श्रवणमात्रेण मद्रूपत्वं प्रपद्यते
The Blessed Goddess said: Let all the immortals listen as I speak these words; by merely hearing them, one attains my own form.
अहमेवास पूर्वं तु नान्यत्किञ्चिन्नगाधिप । तदात्मरूपं चित्संवित्परब्रह्मैकनामकम्
In the beginning, O Lord of Mountains, only I existed; there was nothing else. That essential nature is pure consciousness, known as the one Supreme Brahman.
अप्रतर्क्यमनिर्देश्यमनौपम्यमनामयम् । तस्य काचित्स्वतः सिद्धा शक्तिर्मायेति विश्रुता
It is beyond reasoning, indescribable, without comparison, and free from affliction; its inherent power, known as Māyā, is well established.
न सती सा नासती सा नोभयात्मा विरोधतः । एतद्विलक्षणा काचिद्वस्तुभूतास्ति सर्वदा
She is neither existent nor non-existent, nor of both natures, due to contradiction; there is a certain distinct entity, always present, which is real.