शङ्कुकर्णे ध्वनिः प्रोक्ता स्थूला स्यात्स्थूलकेश्वरे । ज्ञानिनां हृदयाम्भोजे हृल्लेखा परमेश्वरी
The sound is called 'Dhvani' in the ear of a conch-shell; in Sthulakeshvara it is gross; in the lotus-heart of the wise, the Supreme Lady appears as the subtle Hṛllekhā.
प्रोक्तानीमानि स्थानानि देव्याः प्रियतमानि च । तत्तत्क्षेत्रस्य माहात्म्यं श्रुत्वा पूर्वं नगोत्तम
These places, now described, are most dear to the Goddess; having first heard the greatness of each sacred site, O best of cities,
तदुक्तेन विधानेन पश्चाद्देवीं प्रपूजयेत् । अथवा सर्वक्षेत्राणि काश्यां सन्ति नगोत्तम
Afterwards, one should worship the Goddess according to the method prescribed for that place; or, O best of cities, all these sacred sites are present in Kāśī.
अतस्तत्र वसेन्नित्यं देवीभक्तिपरायणः । तानि स्थानानि सम्पश्यञ्जपन्देवीं निरन्तरम्
Therefore, one devoted to the worship of the Goddess should always reside there, beholding those places and constantly reciting the names of the Goddess.
ध्यायंस्तच्चरणाम्भोजं मुक्तो भवति बन्धनात् । इमानि देवीनामानि प्रातरुत्थाय यः पठेत्
Meditating on Her lotus feet, one becomes freed from bondage; whoever recites these names of the Goddess upon rising in the morning,
भस्मीभवन्ति पापानि तत्क्षणान्नग सत्वरम् । श्राद्धकाले पठेदेतान्यमलानि द्विजाग्रतः
His sins are instantly reduced to ashes, O best of cities; if these pure names are recited before the twice-born during the śrāddha ceremony,
मुक्तास्तत्पितरः सर्वे प्रयान्ति परमां गतिम् । अधुना कथयिष्यामि व्रतानि तव सुव्रत
All his ancestors become liberated and attain the highest state; now I shall tell you the vows, O virtuous one,
नारीभिश्च नरैश्चैव कर्तव्यानि प्रयत्नतः । व्रतमनन्ततृतीयाख्यं रसकल्याणिनीव्रतम्
Which should be diligently performed by both women and men: the vow called Anantatṛtīyā, the vow of Rasakalyāṇinī,
आर्द्रानन्दकरं नाम्ना तृतीयाया व्रतं च यत् । शुक्रवारव्रतं चैव तथा कृष्णचतुर्दशी
The vow of Ārdrānandakara by name, and the vow of Tṛtīyā; also the vow of Friday, and likewise Kṛṣṇacaturdaśī,
भौमवारव्रतं चैव प्रदोषव्रतमेव च । यत्र देवो महादेवो देवीं संस्थाप्य विष्टरे
The vow of Tuesday, and the vow of Pradoṣa as well; wherein the great Lord, having established the Goddess on a seat,
नृत्यं करोति पुरतः सार्धं देवैर्निशामुखे । तत्रोपोष्य रजन्यादौ प्रदोषे पूजयेच्छिवाम्
Performs dance before Her together with the gods at the beginning of night; there, having fasted at the start of the night, one should worship Śivā at twilight.
प्रतिपक्षं विशेषेण तद्देवीप्रीतिकारकम् । सोमवारव्रतं चैव ममातिप्रियकृन्नग
Especially on each fortnight, this brings delight to the Goddess; and the vow of Monday, O best of cities, is most dear to Me.
तत्रापि देवीं सम्पूज्य रात्रौ भोजनमाचरेत् । नवरात्रद्वयं चैव व्रतं प्रीतिकरं मम
There too, having worshipped the Goddess, one should take food at night; and the vow of two Navarātras is most pleasing to Me.
एवमन्यान्यपि विभो नित्यनैमित्तिकानि च । व्रतानि कुरुते यो वै मत्प्रीत्यर्थं विमत्सरः
In this way, O Lord, whoever performs these and other regular and occasional vows, without envy, for the sake of pleasing Me,
प्राप्नोति मम सायुज्यं स मे भक्तः स मे प्रियः । उत्सवानपि कुर्वीत दोलोत्सवसुखान्विभो
He attains union with Me; he is My devotee, he is dear to Me. He should also celebrate festivals, O Lord, enjoying the happiness of the swing festival.
शयनोत्सवं यथा कुर्यात्तथा जागरणोत्सवम् । रथोत्सवं च मे कुर्याद्दमनोत्सवमेव च
He should perform the festival of the bed, likewise the festival of keeping vigil, the chariot festival for Me, and also the festival of subduing.
पवित्रोत्सवमेवापि श्रावणो प्रीतिकारकम् । मम भक्तः सदा कुर्यादेवमन्यान्महोत्सवान्
He should also perform the festival of purification, and the festival of Śrāvaṇa which brings delight; My devotee should always celebrate such other great festivals as well.
मद्भक्तान्भोजयेत्प्रीत्या तथा चैव सुवासिनीः । कुमारीर्बटुकांश्चापि मद्बुद्ध्या तद्गतान्तरः
He should feed My devotees with affection, as well as married women, maidens, and young boys, regarding them as Myself, with his mind absorbed in Me.
वित्तशाठ्येन रहितो यजेदेतान्सुमादिभिः । य एवं कुरुते भक्त्या प्रतिवर्षमतन्द्रितः
One should worship these (deities) with Soma and other offerings, free from deceit regarding wealth; whoever does so with devotion, diligently, every year—
स धन्यः कृतकृत्योऽसौ मत्प्रीतेः पात्रमञ्जसा । सर्वमुक्तं समासेन मम प्रीतिप्रदायकम् । नाशिष्याय प्रदातव्यं नाभक्ताय कदाचन
He is blessed, accomplished, and truly a worthy recipient of My favor; all has been concisely declared that brings Me delight. This should never be given to the undeserving or to one without devotion.
देवीगीतायां श्रीदेव्याः पूजाविधिवर्णनम् हिमालय उवाच देवदेवि महेशानि करुणासागरेऽम्बिके । ब्रूहि पूजाविधिं सम्यग्यथावदधुना निजम्
Description of the method of worship of Śrī Devī in the Devī Gītā. Himalaya said: O Goddess of gods, great Lady, ocean of compassion, O Ambikā, please now properly tell me Your own method of worship.
श्रीदेव्युवाच वक्ष्ये पूजाविधिं राजन्नम्बिकाया यथा प्रियम् । अत्यन्तश्रद्धया सार्धं शृणु पर्वतपुङ्गव
Śrī Devī said: O King, I shall explain the method of worship of Ambikā as is dear to Me; listen with utmost faith, O best of mountains.
द्विविधा मम पूजा स्याद् बाह्या चाभ्यन्तरापि च । बाह्यापि द्विविधा प्रोक्ता वैदिकी तान्त्रिकी तथा
My worship is of two kinds: external and internal; and the external is also said to be of two types: Vedic and Tantric.
वैदिक्यर्चापि द्विविधा मूर्तिभेदेन भूधर । वैदिकी वैदिकैः कार्या वेददीक्षासमन्वितैः
Even the Vedic worship is of two kinds, depending on the form, O mountain; Vedic worship should be performed by those initiated in the Vedas.
तन्त्रोक्तदीक्षावद्भिस्तु तान्त्रिकी संश्रिता भवेत् । इत्थं पूजारहस्यं च न ज्ञात्वा विपरीतकम्
Tantric worship is to be undertaken by those who have received initiation as prescribed in the Tantras; thus, without knowing this secret of worship, if one acts otherwise—
करोति यो नरो मूढः स पतत्येव सर्वथा । तत्र या वैदिकी प्रोक्ता प्रथमा तां वदाम्यहम्
—the foolish person certainly falls. Now, of these, I shall first describe the Vedic worship.
यन्मे साक्षात्परं रूपं दृष्ट्वानसि भूधर । अनन्तशीर्षनयनमनन्तचरणं महत्
That supreme form of Mine which you have directly seen, O mountain—endless in heads and eyes, endless in feet, vast—
सर्वशक्तिसमायुक्तं प्रेरकं यत्परात्परम् । तदेव पूजयेन्नित्यं नमेद् ध्यायेत्स्मरेदपि
—endowed with all powers, the supreme of the supreme, the impeller—one should worship that alone always, bow to it, meditate on it, and remember it.
इत्येतत्प्रथमार्चायाः स्वरूपं कथितं नग । शान्तः समाहितमना दम्भाहङ्कारवर्जितः
Thus, the nature of the first worship has been described, O mountain; be peaceful, with mind collected, free from hypocrisy and pride.
तत्परो भव तद्याजी तदेव शरणं व्रज । तदेव चेतसा पश्य जप ध्यायस्व सर्वदा
Be devoted to That, be a worshipper of That, take refuge in That alone; see That with your mind, recite, and always meditate on That.