इदं तु गीताशास्त्रं मे नाशिष्याय वदेत् क्वचित् । नाभक्ताय प्रदातव्यं न धूर्ताय च दुर्हृदे
This song-scripture of mine should never be spoken for the sake of a student; it must not be given to one without devotion, nor to a rogue or one with a wicked heart.
एतत्प्रकाशनं मातुरुद्घाटनमुरोजयोः । तस्मादवश्यं यत्नेन गोपनीयमिदं सदा
The revelation of this is the opening of the Mother's breasts; therefore, it must always be carefully concealed.
देयं भक्ताय शिष्याय ज्येष्ठपुत्राय चैव हि । सुशीलाय सुवेषाय देवीभक्तियुताय च
It should be given to a devotee, a student, or indeed to the eldest son; to one of good conduct, well-dressed, and endowed with devotion to the Goddess.
श्राद्धकाले पठेदेतद्ब्राह्मणानाम् समीपतः । तृप्तास्तत्पितरः सर्वे प्रयान्ति परमं पदम्
At the time of śrāddha, let this be recited in the presence of brāhmaṇas; all the ancestors, satisfied, attain the supreme state.
व्यास उवाच इत्युक्त्वा सा भगवती तत्रैवान्तरधीयत । देवाश्च मुदिताः सर्वे देवीदर्शनतोऽभवन्
Vyāsa said: Having spoken thus, the Blessed One vanished right there; and all the gods became joyful upon seeing the Goddess.
ततो हिमालये जज्ञे देवी हैमवती तु सा । या गौरीति प्रसिद्धासीद्दत्ता सा शङ्कराय च
Then, in the Himalayas, the Goddess was born as the daughter of Himavat; she became known as Gaurī, and was given to Śaṅkara.
ततः स्कन्दः समुद्भूतस्तारकस्तेन पातितः । समुद्रमन्थने पूर्वं रत्नान्यासुर्नराधिप
Then Skanda was born, and Tāraka was slain by him; previously, during the churning of the ocean, the jewels were given, O king of men.
तत्र देवैः स्तुता देवी लक्ष्मीप्राप्त्यर्थमादरात् । तेषामनुग्रहार्थाय निर्गता तु रमा ततः
There, the Goddess was praised by the gods for the sake of obtaining Lakṣmī; for their benefit, Ramā emerged from there.
वैकुण्ठाय सुरैर्दत्ता तेन तस्य शमोऽभवत् । इति ते कथितं राजन् देवीमाहात्म्यमुत्तमम्
By the gods, Vaikuṇṭha was given to him, and thus he attained peace; thus, O King, the supreme glory of the Goddess has been told to you.
गौरीलक्ष्म्योः समुद्भूतिविषयं सर्वकामदम् । न वाच्यं त्वेतदन्यस्मै रहस्यं कथितं यतः
This account of the origin of Gaurī and Lakṣmī grants all desires; it must not be spoken to anyone else, for it is a secret that has been revealed.
गीता रहस्यभूतेयं गोपनीया प्रयत्नतः । सर्वमुक्तं स्मसेन यत्पृष्टं तत्त्वयानघ । पवित्रं पावनं दिव्यं किं भूयः श्रोतुमिच्छसि
This is the song that is the very essence of secrecy, and must be carefully guarded; all that you asked has been told to you, O sinless one—pure, purifying, and divine. What more do you wish to hear?
भुवनकोशप्रसङ्गे देव्या मनवे वरदानवर्णनम् जनमेजय उवाच सूर्यचन्द्रान्वयोत्थानां नृपाणां सत्कथाश्रितम् । चरितं भवता प्रोक्तं श्रुतं तदमृतास्पदम्
Janamejaya said: The noble deeds of kings born in the lines of the Sun and Moon, which you have narrated, have been heard by me—they are the very source of immortality.
अधुना श्रोतुमिच्छामि सा देवी जगदम्बिका । मन्वन्तरेषु सर्वेषु यद्यद्रूपेण पूज्यते
Now I wish to hear how that Goddess, the Mother of the Universe, is worshipped in all the different ages of Manu, in whatever forms she is revered.
यस्मिन्यस्मिंश्च वै स्थाने येन येन च कर्मणा । (शरीरेण च देवेशी पूजनीया फलप्रदा । येनैव मन्त्रबीजेन यत्र यत्र च पूज्यते
In whatever places and by whatever actions, with whatever body the great Goddess is to be worshipped and grants results, and with which seed-mantra, wherever she is worshipped—
येन ध्यानेन तत्सूक्ष्मे स्वरूपे स्यान्मतेर्गतिः । तत्सर्वं वद विप्रर्षे येन श्रेयोऽहमाप्नुयाम्
By which meditation, in her subtle form, does the mind attain its goal? Tell me all this, O best of sages, by which I may attain the highest good.
व्यास उवाच शृणु राजन् प्रवक्ष्यामि देव्याराधनमुत्तमम् । यत्कृतेन श्रुतेनापि नरः श्रेयोऽत्र विन्दते
Vyāsa said: Listen, O King, I shall declare the supreme worship of the Goddess; by performing or even hearing it, a person attains the highest good here.
एवमेतन्नारदेन पृष्टो नारायणः पुरा । तस्मै यदुक्तवान्देवो योगचर्याप्रवर्तकः
Long ago, Nārada asked Nārāyaṇa about this very matter; and to him, the Lord, the originator of yogic discipline, spoke.
एकदा नारदः श्रीमान्पर्यटन्पृथिवीमिमाम् । नारायणाश्रमं प्राप्तो गतखेदश्च तस्थिवान्
Once, the illustrious Nārada, wandering over this earth, reached the hermitage of Nārāyaṇa and, his fatigue gone, stood there.
तस्मै योगात्मने नत्वा ब्रह्मदेवतनूद्भवः । पर्यपृच्छदिमं चार्थं यत्पृष्टो भवतानघ
Having bowed to him who is the very soul of yoga, Nārada, born from the body of Brahmā, asked him the same question you have asked, O sinless one.
नारद उवाच देवदेव महादेव पुराणपुरुषोत्तम । जगदाधार सर्वज्ञ श्लाघनीयोरुसद्गुण
Nārada said: O God of gods, great god, supreme person of the ancients, foundation of the universe, all-knowing, praiseworthy for your great virtues—
जगतस्तत्त्वमाद्यं यत्तन्मे वद यथेप्सितम् । जायते कुत एवेदं कुतश्चेदं प्रतिष्ठितम्
Tell me, as you wish, the original truth of the universe: from where is this born, and upon what is it established?
कुतोऽन्तं प्राप्नुयात्काले कुत्र सर्वफलोदयः । केन ज्ञातेन मायैषा मोहभूर्नाशमाप्नुयात्
From where does it attain its end in time? Where do all results arise? By knowing what does this delusion, born of Māyā, come to an end?
कयार्चया किं जपेन किं ध्यानेनात्महृत्कजे । प्रकाशो जायते देव तमस्यर्कोदयो यथा
By what worship, what recitation, or what meditation in the lotus of the heart, O God, does light arise, as the sun rises in darkness?
एतत्प्रश्नोत्तरं देव ब्रूहि सर्वमशेषतः । यथा लोकस्तरेदन्धतमसं त्वञ्जसैव हि
O God, answer all these questions completely, so that the world may cross over this dense darkness quickly, by your grace.
व्यास उवाच एवं देवर्षिणा पृष्टः प्राचीनो मुनिसत्तमः । नारायणो महायोगी प्रतिनन्द्य वचोऽब्रवीत्
Vyāsa said: Thus questioned by the divine sage, the ancient, best of sages, the great yogin Nārāyaṇa, having welcomed his words, spoke.
श्रीनारायण उवाच शृणु देवर्षिवर्यात्र जगतस्तत्त्वमुत्तमम् । येन ज्ञातेन मर्त्यो हि जायते न जगद्भ्रमे
Śrī Nārāyaṇa said: Listen, O best of divine sages, to the supreme truth of the universe; by knowing this, a mortal is never subject to the delusion of the world.
जगतस्तत्त्वमित्येव देवी प्रोक्ता मयापि हि । ऋषिभिर्देवगन्धर्वैरन्यैश्चापि मनीषिभिः
The essence of the universe is indeed called the Goddess, as declared by me, by sages, by gods, by Gandharvas, and by other wise ones.
सा जगत्सृजते देवी तया च प्रतिपाल्यते । तया च नाश्यते सर्वमिति प्रोक्तं गुणत्रयात्
She, the Goddess, creates the universe, she sustains it, and by her, all is destroyed; thus it is said, through the three qualities.
तस्याः स्वरूपं वक्ष्यामि देव्याः सिद्धर्षिपूजितम् । स्मरतां सर्वपापघ्नं कामदं मोक्षदं तथा
I will describe the true nature of the Goddess, revered by accomplished sages; remembering her destroys all sins, grants desires, and bestows liberation.
मनुः स्वायम्भुवस्त्वाद्यः पद्मपुत्रः प्रतापवान् । शतरूपापतिः श्रीमान्सर्वमन्वन्तराधिपः
Manu, the first born of the lotus, illustrious and powerful, husband of Śatarūpā, lord of all Manvantaras.