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.
स मनुः पितरं देवं प्रजापतिमकल्मषम् । भक्त्या पर्यचरत्पूर्वं तमुवाचात्मभूः सुतम्
That Manu, with devotion, served his father, the sinless god and progenitor; and the self-born one spoke to his son.
पुत्र पुत्र त्वया कार्यं देव्याराधनमुत्तमम् । तत्प्रसादेन ते तात प्रजासर्गः प्रसिद्ध्यति
Son, son, you must perform the supreme worship of the Goddess; by her grace, O dear one, the creation of beings will be accomplished for you.
एवमुक्तः प्रजास्रष्ट्रा मनुः स्वायम्भुवो विराट् । जगद्योनिं तदा देवीं तपसातर्पयद् विभुः
Thus addressed by the creator of beings, Manu Svāyambhuva, the mighty, then satisfied the Goddess, the source of the universe, through austerity.
तुष्टाव देवीं देवेशीं समाहितमतिः किल । आद्यां मायां सर्वशक्तिं सर्वकारणकारणाम्
With concentrated mind, he praised the Goddess, the ruler of gods, the primordial Māyā, the possessor of all powers, the cause of all causes.
मनुरुवाच नमो नमस्ते देवेशि जगत्कारणकारणे । शङ्खचक्रगदाहस्ते नारायणहृदाश्रिते
Manu said: Salutations, salutations to you, O ruler of gods, cause of the causes of the universe, holding conch, discus, and mace, abiding in the heart of Nārāyaṇa.
वेदमूर्त्ते जगन्मातः कारणस्थानरूपिणि । वेदत्रयप्रमाणज्ञे सर्वदेवनुते शिवे
Embodiment of the Vedas, mother of the world, form of the place of causes, knower of the authority of the three Vedas, praised by all gods, auspicious one.
माहेश्वरि महाभागे महामाये महोदये । महादेवप्रियावासे महादेवप्रियंकरि
Great goddess, of great fortune, great Māyā, of great glory, dwelling in the beloved abode of Mahādeva, bestower of Mahādeva’s favor.
गोपेन्द्रस्य प्रिये ज्येष्ठे महानन्दे महोत्सवे । महामारीभयहरे नमो देवादिपूजिते
Beloved and eldest of the lord of cows, of great joy and great festivity, remover of the fear of great pestilence, salutation to you, worshipped by the foremost gods.
सर्वमङ्गलमाङ्गल्ये शिवे सर्वार्थसाधिके । शरण्ये त्र्यम्बके गौरि नारायणि नमोऽस्तु ते
O source of all auspiciousness, O auspicious one, accomplisher of all aims, refuge, three-eyed, fair one, Nārāyaṇī, salutations to you.
यतश्चेदं यया विश्वमोतं प्रोतं च सर्वदा । चैतन्यमेकमाद्यन्तरहितं तेजसां निधिम्
From whom and by whom this universe is always woven and interwoven, the one consciousness, without beginning or end, the treasury of radiance.
ब्रह्मा यदीक्षणात्सर्वं करोति च हरिः सदा । पालयत्यपि विश्वेशः संहर्ता यदनुग्रहात्
By whose glance Brahmā creates all, Hari always sustains, and the lord of the universe destroys, by her grace.
मधुकैटभसम्भूतभयार्तः पद्मसम्भवः । यस्याः स्तवेन मुमुचे घोरदैत्यभवाम्बुधेः
Padmasambhava, afflicted by the fear born of Madhu and Kaitabha, was freed from the terrible ocean of demon existence by her praise.
त्वं ह्रीः कीर्तिः स्मृतिः कान्तिः कमला गिरिजा सती । दाक्षायणी वेदगर्भा सिद्धिदात्री सदाभया
You are Hrī, fame, memory, beauty, Kamalā, Girijā, Satī, Dākṣāyaṇī, womb of the Vedas, giver of accomplishments, always fearless.
स्तोष्ये त्वां च नमस्यामि पूजयामि जपामि च । ध्यायामि भावये वीक्षे श्रोष्ये देवि प्रसीद मे
I will praise you, salute you, worship you, recite your name, meditate, contemplate, behold, and listen, O Goddess, be gracious to me.
ब्रह्मा वेदनिधिः कृष्णो लक्ष्यावासः पुरन्दरः । त्रिलोकाधिपतिः पाशी यादसाम्पतिरुत्तमः
Brahmā is the repository of the Vedas, Kṛṣṇa is the abiding goal, Purandara is the dwelling place, the lord of the three worlds is the wielder of the noose, and the foremost among the lords of the Yādavas.
कुबेरो निधिनाथोऽभूद्यमो जातः परेतराट् । नैर्ऋतो रक्षसां नाथः सोमो जातो ह्यपोमयः
Kubera became the lord of treasures, Yama was born as the king of the departed, Nairṛta became the lord of the Rākṣasas, and Soma was born, indeed, from the waters.
त्रिलोकवन्द्ये लोकेशि महामाङ्गल्यरूपिणि । नमस्तेऽस्तु पुनर्भूयो जगन्मातर्नमो नमः
O Lady of the worlds, revered by the three worlds, embodiment of supreme auspiciousness, I bow to you again and again, Mother of the universe, my salutations to you.
श्रीनारायण उवाच एवं स्तुता भगवती दुर्गा नारायणी परा । प्रसन्ना प्राह देवर्षे ब्रह्मपुत्रमिदं वचः
Śrī Nārāyaṇa said: Thus praised, the supreme Goddess Durgā Nārāyaṇī, being pleased, spoke these words to the sage, son of Brahmā.
देव्युवाच वरं वरय राजेन्द्र ब्रह्मपुत्र यदिच्छसि । प्रसन्नाहं स्तवेनात्र भक्त्या चाराधनेन च
The Goddess said: Choose a boon, O king, son of Brahmā, whatever you desire. I am pleased here by your hymn, devotion, and worship.
मनुरुवाच यदि देवि प्रसन्नासि भक्त्या कारुणिकोत्तमे । तदा निर्विघ्नतः सृष्टिः प्रजायाः स्यात्तवाज्ञया
Manu said: If, O Goddess, you are pleased by my supreme devotion and compassion, then, by your command, may the creation of beings proceed without obstacles.