चकार देवीयज्ञं स पुरा दक्षः प्रजापतिः । धर्मश्च कश्यपश्चैव शेषश्चापि च कर्दमः
That Prajāpati Dakṣa formerly performed the Devī’s sacrifice, as did Dharma, Kaśyapa, Śeṣa, and Kardama.
स्वायम्भुवो मनुश्चैव तत्पुत्रश्च प्रियव्रतः । शिवः सनत्कुमारश्च कपिलश्च ध्रुवस्तथा
Svāyambhuva Manu, his son Priyavrata, Śiva, Sanatkumāra, Kapila, and likewise Dhruva also performed it.
राजसूयसहस्राणां फलमाप्नोति निश्चितम् । देवीयज्ञात्परो यज्ञो नास्ति वेदे फलप्रदः
One certainly attains the fruit of a thousand Rājasūya sacrifices; there is no sacrifice in the Veda superior in fruit to the Devī’s sacrifice.
वर्षाणां शतजीवी च जीवन्मुक्तो भवेद्ध्रुवम् । ज्ञानेन तेजसा चैव विष्णुतुल्यो भवेदिह
He lives for a hundred years and is certainly liberated while living; by knowledge and splendor, he becomes like Viṣṇu here.
देवानां च यथा विष्णुर्वैष्णवानां च नारद । शास्त्राणां च यथा वेदा वर्णानां ब्राह्मणो यथा
Just as Viṣṇu is foremost among the gods, Nārada among the Vaiṣṇavas, the Vedas among the scriptures, and the brāhmaṇa among the castes,
तीर्थानां च यथा गङ्गा पवित्राणां शिवो यथा । एकादशी व्रतानां च पुष्पाणां तुलसी यथा
Just as the Gaṅgā is supreme among holy places, Śiva among the pure, Ekādaśī among vows, and the tulasī among flowers,
नक्षत्राणां यथा चन्द्रः पक्षिणां गरुडो यथा । यथा स्त्रीणां च प्रकृती राधा वाणी वसुन्धरा
Just as the moon is chief among stars, Garuḍa among birds, and among women, Prakṛti, Rādhā, Vāṇī, and Vasundharā,
शीघ्राणां चेन्द्रियाणां च चञ्चलानां मनो यथा । प्रजापतीनां ब्रह्मा च प्रजानां च प्रजापतिः
Just as the mind is swiftest among the senses and the most restless, Brahmā is chief among the progenitors, and Prajāpati among all creatures,
वृन्दावनं वनानां च वर्षाणां भारतं यथा । श्रीमतां च यथा श्रीश्च विदुषां च सरस्वती
Just as Vṛndāvana is best among forests, Bhārata among lands, Śrī among the prosperous, and Sarasvatī among the learned,
पतिव्रतानां दुर्गा च सौभाग्यानां च राधिका । देवीयज्ञस्तथा वत्से सर्वयज्ञेषु भामिनि
Just as Durgā is foremost among devoted wives, Rādhikā among the fortunate, and the Devī-yajña among all sacrifices, O beautiful one,
अश्वमेधशतेनैव शक्रत्वं च लभेद्ध्रुवम् । सहस्रेण विष्णुपदं सम्प्राप्तः पृथुरेव च
By a hundred Aśvamedha sacrifices, one certainly attains the status of Indra; by a thousand, King Pṛthu attained the abode of Viṣṇu.
स्नानं च सर्वतीर्थानां सर्वयज्ञेषु दीक्षणम् । सर्वेषां च व्रतानां च तपसां फलमेव च
Bathing in all holy waters, initiation in all sacrifices, and the fruit of all vows and austerities—
पाठे चतुर्णां वेदानां प्रादक्षिण्यं भुवस्तथा । फलभूतमिदं सर्वं मुक्तिदं शक्तिसेवनम्
The recitation of the four Vedas, circumambulation of the earth—all these fruits are gained, and liberation is attained, by worship of Śakti.
पुराणेषु च वेदेषु चेतिहासेषु सर्वतः । निरूपितं सारभूतं देवीपादाम्बुजार्चनम्
In all the Purāṇas, Vedas, and histories, it is established everywhere that the worship of the lotus feet of the Goddess is the very essence.
तद्वर्णनं च तद्ध्यानं तन्नामगुणकीर्तनम् । तत्स्तोत्रस्मरणं चैव वन्दनं जपमेव च
Describing Her, meditating on Her, singing Her names and virtues, remembering Her hymns, offering praise, and reciting Her mantras—
तत्पादोदकनैवेद्यं भक्षणं नित्यमेव च । सर्वसम्मतमित्येवं सर्वेप्सितमिदं सति
Partaking daily of Her foot-water and offerings—this is universally approved and desired by all.
भज नित्यं परं ब्रह्म निर्गुणं प्रकृतिं पराम् । गृहाण स्वामिनं वत्से सुखं वस च मन्दिरे
Constantly worship the Supreme Brahman, the attributeless, the highest Prakṛti; accept the Lord, my child, and dwell happily in the home.
अयं ते कथितः कर्मविपाको मङ्गलो नृणाम् । सर्वेप्सितः सर्वमतस्तत्त्वज्ञानप्रदः परः
This auspicious result of karma has been told to you, which is most desired by people, supreme, and bestows true knowledge.
यमाष्टकवर्णनम् श्रीनारायण उवाच शक्तेरुत्कीर्तनं श्रुत्वा सावित्री यमवक्त्रतः । साश्रुनेत्रा सपुलका यमं पुनरुवाच सा
Description of the Yamāṣṭaka Śrī Nārāyaṇa said: Hearing the praise of Śakti from Yama’s mouth, Sāvitrī, her eyes filled with tears and her body bristling with joy, spoke again to Yama.
सावित्र्युवाच शक्तेरुत्कीर्तनं धर्म सकलोद्धारकारणम् । श्रोतॄणां चैव वक्तॄणां जन्ममृत्युजराहरम्
Sāvitrī said: The praise of Śakti, O Dharma, is the cause of deliverance for all, and for those who hear or speak it, it removes birth, death, and old age.
दानवानां च सिद्धानां तपसां च परं पदम् । योगानां चैव वेदानां कीर्तनं सेवनं विभो
For the Dānavas, the Siddhas, and those who perform austerities, it is the supreme goal; for yogas and Vedas, O Lord, it is praise and service.
मुक्तित्वममरत्वं च सर्वसिद्धित्वमेव च । श्रीशक्तिसेवकस्यैव कलां नार्हन्ति षोडशीम्
Liberation, immortality, and all accomplishments—even the sixteenth part of these cannot be attained without service to Śrī Śakti.
भजामि केन विधिना वद वेदविदांवर । शुभकर्मविपाकं च श्रुतं नॄणां मनोहरम्
By what method should I worship? Tell me, O best among knowers of the Veda. I have heard of the delightful results of virtuous actions among people.
कर्माशुभविपाकं च तन्मे व्याख्यातुमर्हसि । इत्युक्त्वा च सती ब्रह्मन् भक्तिनम्रात्मकन्धरा
And also the results of unvirtuous actions—please explain that to me. Having spoken thus, O Brahman, she stood with devotion, her head bowed in reverence.
तुष्टाव धर्मराजं च वेदोक्तेन स्तवेन च । सावित्र्युवाच तपसा धर्ममाराध्य पुष्करे भास्करः पुरा
She praised the Lord of Dharma with a hymn from the Vedas. Sāvitrī said: By austerity, worshipping Dharma at Puṣkara, the Sun once obtained Dharma as a son.
धर्मं सूर्यः सुतं प्राप धर्मराजं नमाम्यहम् । समता सर्वभूतेषु यस्य सर्वस्य साक्षिणः
I bow to Dharmarāja, the son whom Sūrya obtained. He is equal toward all beings, the witness of everything.
अतो यन्नाम शमनमिति तं प्रणमाम्यहम् । येनान्तश्च कृतो विश्वे सर्वेषां जीविनां परम्
Therefore, I bow to him whose name is Śamana (the pacifier). By whom the end is brought to all living beings in the universe.
कामानुरूपं कालेन तं कृतान्तं नमाम्यहम् । बिभर्ति दण्डं दण्डाय पापिनां शुद्धिहेतवे
I bow to that Kṛtānta (the end-maker), who, in accordance with desires and at the proper time, brings about the end for all. He holds the staff for punishment, for the purification of sinners.
नमामि तं दण्डधरं यः शास्ता सर्वजीविनाम् । विश्वं च कलयत्येव यः सर्वेषु च सन्ततम्
I bow to that wielder of the staff, who is the ruler of all living beings. He continually perceives the entire universe in all.
अतीव दुर्निवार्यं च तं कालं प्रणमाम्यहम् । तपस्वी ब्रह्मनिष्ठो यः संयमी सञ्जितेन्द्रियः
I bow to that Kāla (Time), who is extremely difficult to withstand. He is austere, established in Brahman, self-restrained, and has conquered his senses.