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.
मुनिना च सशिष्येण दत्तास्तस्मै शुभाशिषः । विष्णुदत्तं पारिजातपुष्पं च सुमनोहरम्
The sage, along with his disciples, bestowed auspicious blessings upon him, and gave him a most delightful Pārijāta flower granted by Viṣṇu.
तज्जरारोगमृत्युघ्नं शोकजं मोक्षकारकम् । शक्रः पुष्पं गहीत्वा च प्रमत्तो राज्यसम्पदा
That flower destroys old age, disease, and death, and grants liberation from sorrow; Indra, intoxicated by royal fortune, took the flower.
पुष्पं स न्यस्तयामास तदैव करिमस्तके । हस्ती तत्स्पर्शमात्रेण रूपेण च गुणेन च
He immediately placed the flower on the head of his elephant; by its mere touch, and by its qualities—
तेजसा वयसाकस्माद्विष्णुतुल्यो बभूव ह । त्यक्त्वा शक्रं गजेन्द्रश्च जगाम घोरकाननम्
The elephant suddenly became equal to Viṣṇu in brilliance and vigor; abandoning Indra, the lord of elephants went into a dreadful forest.
न शशाक महेन्द्रस्तं रक्षितुं तेजसा मुने । तत्पुण्यं त्यक्तवन्तं च दृष्ट्वा शक्रं मुनीश्वरः
O sage, Mahendra was unable to restrain him by his power; seeing Indra deprived of that merit, the lord of sages—
तमुवाच महारुष्टः शशाप च रुषान्वितः । मुनिरुवाच अरे श्रिया प्रमत्तस्त्वं कथं मामवमन्यसे
Addressed him with great anger and cursed him in wrath: The sage said: 'Hey! Intoxicated by prosperity, how could you disregard me?'
मद्दत्तपुष्पं दत्तं च गर्वेण करिमस्तके । विष्णोर्निवेदितं चैव नैवेद्यं वा फलं जलम्
'The flower I gave, given with pride, was placed on the elephant's head; what is offered to Viṣṇu—be it fruit, water, or food—'
प्राप्तिमात्रेण भोक्तव्यं त्यागेन ब्रह्महा भवेत् । भ्रष्टश्रीर्भ्रष्टबुद्धिश्च पुरभ्रष्टो भवेत्तु सः
'Must be consumed as soon as it is received; to discard it is like slaying a Brāhmaṇa. He will lose fortune, lose wisdom, and lose his city.'
यस्त्यजेद्विष्णुनैवेद्यं भाग्येनोपस्थितं शुभम् । प्राप्तिमात्रेण यो भुङ्क्ते भक्तो विष्णुनिवेदितम्
'Whoever discards Viṣṇu's consecrated offering, which has come to him by good fortune, or consumes it immediately without devotion—'
पुंसां शतं समुद्धृत्य जीवन्मुक्तः स्वयं भवेत् । नैवेद्यं भोजनं कृत्वा नित्यं यः प्रणमेद्धरिम्
'He rescues a hundred men and attains liberation while living; one who, after offering food to Viṣṇu, daily bows to Hari—'