वृक्षशाखासु रम्यासु नवमेघेषु वस्तुषु । वैकुण्ठे पूजिता साऽऽदौ देवी नारायणेन च
In lovely tree branches, in new clouds, in objects; at the beginning, the goddess was worshipped in Vaikuṇṭha by Nārāyaṇa.
द्वितीये ब्रह्मणा भक्त्या तृतीये शङ्करेण च । विष्णुना पूजिता सा च क्षीरोदे भारते मुने
In the second age, worshipped by Brahmā with devotion; in the third, by Śaṅkara; she was worshipped by Viṣṇu in the ocean of milk and in Bhārata, O sage.
स्वायम्भुवेन मनुना मानवेन्द्रेश्च सर्वतः । ऋषीन्द्रैश्च मुनीन्द्रैश्च सद्भिश्च गृहिभिर्भवे
By Svāyambhuva Manu, by the kings among men everywhere; by the foremost sages and ascetics, and by householders in existence.
गन्धर्वैश्चैव नागाद्यैः पातालेषु च पूजिता । शुक्लाष्टम्यां भाद्रपदे कृता पूजा च ब्रह्मणा
By Gandharvas and Nāgas and others, worshipped in the netherworld; on the bright eighth day in Bhādrapada, worship was performed by Brahmā.
भक्त्या च पक्षपर्यन्तं त्रिषु लोकेषु नारद । चैत्रे पौषे च भाद्रे च पुण्ये मङ्गलवासरे
With devotion, throughout the fortnight, in the three worlds, O Nārada; in Caitra, Pauṣa, and Bhādra, on auspicious holy days.
विष्णुना पूजिता सा च त्रिषु लोकेषु भक्तितः । वर्षान्ते पौषसङ्क्रान्त्यां माध्यामावाह्य मङ्गले
She was worshipped by Viṣṇu in the three worlds with devotion; at the end of the year, at the Pauṣa solstice, the middle one was invoked in auspiciousness.
मनुस्तां पूजयामास सा भूता भुवनत्रये । पूजिता सा महेन्द्रेण मङ्गलेनैव मङ्गला
Manu worshipped her, and she became the being revered in the three worlds; she was honored by Mahendra, the auspicious one, as the bringer of auspiciousness.
केदारेणैव नीलेन सुबलेन नलेन च । ध्रुवेणोत्तानपादेन शक्रेण बलिना तथा
She was worshipped by Kedara, Nila, Subala, Nala, Dhruva, Uttanapada, Shakra, and Bali as well.
कश्यपेन च दक्षेण कर्दमेन विवस्वता । प्रियव्रतेन चन्द्रेण कुबेरेणैव वायुना
She was honored by Kashyapa, Daksha, Kardama, Vivasvat, Priyavrata, Chandra, Kubera, and Vayu.
यमेन वह्निना चैव वरुणेनैव पूजिता । एवं सर्वत्र सर्वेषु पूजिता वन्दिता सदा । सर्वेश्वर्याधिदेवी सा सर्वसम्पत्स्वरूपिणी
She was worshipped by Yama, Agni, and Varuna; thus, everywhere and by all, she is always worshipped and revered. She is the supreme goddess of all lords, the very embodiment of all prosperity.
ति श्रीमद्देवीभागवते महापुराणेऽष्टादशसाहस्र्यां संहितायां नवमस्कन्धे लक्ष्म्युपाख्यानवर्णनं नामैकोनचत्वारिंशोऽध्यायः
Thus ends the forty-first chapter, entitled 'The Account of Lakshmi,' in the Ninth Book of the great Purana, the Srimad Devi Bhagavata, consisting of eighteen thousand verses.
लक्ष्म्युत्पत्तिवर्णनम् नारद उवाच नारायणप्रिया सा च परा वैकुण्ठवासिनी । वैकुण्ठाधिष्ठातृदेवी महालक्ष्मीः सनातनी
The Description of the Origin of Lakshmi. Narada said: She who is dear to Narayana, the supreme one dwelling in Vaikuntha, is the eternal Mahalakshmi, the presiding goddess of Vaikuntha.
कथं बभूव सा देवी पृथिव्यां सिन्धुकन्यका । पुरा केन स्तुताऽऽदौ सा तन्मे व्याख्यातुमर्हसि
How did that goddess, the daughter of the ocean, come to be on earth? By whom was she praised in the beginning? Please explain this to me.
श्रीनारायण उवाच पुरा दुर्वाससः शापाद् भ्रष्टश्रीश्च पुरन्दरः । बभूव देवसङ्घश्च मर्त्यलोके हि नारद
Sri Narayana said: Long ago, due to the curse of Durvasa, Purandara lost his fortune, and the host of gods, O Narada, came to dwell in the world of mortals.
लक्ष्मीः स्वर्गादिकं त्यक्त्वा रुष्टा परमदुःखिता । गत्वा लीना तु वैकुण्ठे महालक्ष्मीश्च नारद
Lakshmi, angered and deeply distressed, abandoned heaven and the like, and withdrew into Vaikuntha, O Narada, as Mahalakshmi.
तदा शोकाद्ययुः सर्वे दुःखिता ब्रह्मणः सभाम् । ब्रह्माणं च पुरस्कृत्य ययुर्वैकुण्ठमेव च
Then, all those afflicted by grief went to the assembly of Brahma, and, led by Brahma, they proceeded to Vaikuntha.
वैकुण्ठे शरणापन्ना देवा नारायणे परे । अतीव दैन्ययुक्ताश्च शुष्ककण्ठोष्ठतालुकाः
In Vaikuntha, the gods, having taken refuge in the Supreme Narayana, were filled with great misery, their throats, lips, and palates parched.
तदा लक्ष्मीश्च कलया पुराणपुरुषाज्ञया । बभूव सिन्धुकन्या सा सर्वसम्पत्स्वरूपिणी
Then Lakshmi, by a portion of herself and by the command of the ancient Purusha, became the daughter of the ocean, the very embodiment of all prosperity.
तथा मथित्वा क्षीरोदं देवा दैत्यगणैः सह । सम्प्राप्ताश्च महालक्ष्मीं विष्णुस्तां च ददर्श ह
Thus, after churning the ocean of milk together with the hosts of demons, the gods obtained Mahalakshmi, and Vishnu beheld her.
सुरादिभ्यो वरं दत्त्वा वनमालां च विष्णवे । ददौ प्रसन्नवदना तुष्टा क्षीरोदशायिने
Pleased and smiling, she granted boons to the gods and gave the garland of forest flowers to Vishnu, the one who lies upon the ocean of milk.
देवाश्चाप्यसुरग्रस्तं राज्यं प्रापुश्च नारद । तां सम्पूज्य च सम्भूय सर्वत्र च निरापदः
The gods, having regained their kingdom from the asuras, O Narada, worshipped her everywhere, and, united, were free from all danger.
नारद उवाच कथं शशाप दुर्वासा मुनिश्रेष्ठः कदाचन । केन दोषेण वा ब्रह्मन् ब्रह्मिष्ठस्तत्त्ववित्पुरा
Narada said: How did Durvasa, the best of sages, once pronounce a curse? For what fault, O Brahman, did that knower of truth do so in ancient times?
ममन्थुः केनरूपेण जलधिं ते सुरादयः । केन स्तोत्रेण वा देवी शक्रं साक्षाद्बभूव सा
In what form did the gods and others churn the ocean? By what hymn did the goddess directly become manifest to Shakra?
को वा तयोश्च संवादो बभूव तद्वद प्रभो । श्रीनारायण उवाच मधुपानप्रमत्तश्च त्रैलोक्याधिपतिः पुरा
What conversation took place between the two? Tell me that, O Lord. Sri Narayana said: Once, the ruler of the three worlds became intoxicated with wine.
क्रीडां चकार रहसि रम्भया सह कामुकः । कृत्वा क्रीडां तया सार्धं कामुक्या हृतमानसः
Indra, overcome with desire, engaged in secret play with Rambha; his mind was captivated by her as they sported together.
तस्थौ तत्र महारण्ये कामोन्मथितमानसः । कैलासशिखरे यान्तं वैकुण्ठादृषिसत्तमम्
His mind agitated by passion, he remained there in the great forest; and as he was heading toward the peak of Kailāsa from Vaikuṇṭha, the best of sages—
दुर्वाससं ददर्शेन्द्रो ज्वलन्तं ब्रह्मतेजसा । ग्रीष्ममध्याह्नमार्तण्डसहस्रप्रभमीश्वरम्
Indra saw Durvāsas, blazing with the radiance of Brahman, shining like a thousand suns at midday in the heat of summer.
प्रतप्तकाञ्चनाकारं जटाभारमहोज्ज्वलम् । शुक्लयज्ञोपवीतं च चीरदण्डौ कमण्डलुम्
He appeared like molten gold, with a mass of matted hair brilliantly shining, wearing a white sacred thread, bark garments, staff, and water pot.
महोज्ज्वलं च तिलकं बिभ्रन्तं चेन्दुसन्निभम् । समन्वितं शिष्यलक्षैर्वेदवेदाङ्गपारगैः
He bore a most radiant tilaka, resembling the moon, and was surrounded by thousands of disciples accomplished in the Vedas and their branches.
दृष्ट्वा ननाम शिरसा सम्प्रमत्तः पुरन्दरः । शिष्यवर्गं तदा भक्त्या तुष्टाव च मुदान्वितम्
Seeing this, Purandara, though distracted, bowed his head; then, filled with joy, he praised the group of disciples with devotion.