ब्राह्मणः शूद्रयाजी च याति देवी च तद्गृहात् । अवीरान्नं च यो भुङ्क्ते तस्माद्याति जगत्प्रसूः
The Brahmin who performs rituals for Shudras, the goddess departs from that house; whoever eats food lacking in vigor, the mother of the world leaves from there.
तृणं छिनत्ति नखरैस्तैर्वा यो विलिखेन्महीम् । निराशो ब्राह्मणो यत्र तद्गृहाद्याति मत्प्रिया
Whoever cuts grass with nails or scratches the earth, and where a Brahmin is hopeless, my beloved departs from that house.
सूर्योदये द्विजो भुङ्क्ते दिवास्वापी च ब्राह्मणः । दिवा मैथुनकारी च यस्तस्माद्याति मत्प्रिया
The Brahmin who eats at sunrise, who sleeps during the day, or who engages in intercourse by day, my beloved departs from that house.
आचारहीनो विप्रो यो यश्च शूद्रप्रतिग्रही । अदीक्षितो हि यो मूढस्तस्माद्वै याति मत्प्रिया
The Brahmin who lacks proper conduct, who accepts gifts from Shudras, or who is foolish and uninitiated, my beloved departs from that house.
स्निग्धपादश्च नग्नो हि यः शेते ज्ञानदुर्बलः । शश्वद्वदति वाचालो याति सा तद्गृहात्सती
He whose feet are oily, who sleeps naked, who is weak in knowledge, who is always talkative, the virtuous goddess leaves that house.
शिरस्नातस्तु तैलेन योऽन्याङ्गं समुपस्पृशेत् । स्वाङ्गं च वादयेद्वाद्यं रुष्टा सा याति तद्गृहात्
He who bathes his head with oil and then touches another limb, or who plays music on his own body, angered, she departs from that house.
व्रतोपवासहीनो यः सन्ध्याहीनोऽशुचिर्द्विजः । विष्णुभक्तिविहीनस्तु तस्माद्याति च मत्प्रिया
The Brahmin who neglects vows and fasting, who neglects the twilight worship, who is impure, and who lacks devotion to Vishnu, my beloved departs from that house.
ब्राह्मणं निन्दयेद्यो हि तं च यो द्वेष्टि सन्ततम् । जीवहिंस्रो दयाहीनो याति सर्वप्रसूस्ततः
Whoever reviles a Brahmin or continually hates him, who harms living beings and lacks compassion, the mother of all departs from there.
यत्र यत्र हरेरर्चा हरेरुत्कीर्तनं तथा । तत्र तिष्ठति सा देवी सर्वमङ्गलमङ्गला
Wherever there is worship of Hari and glorification of Hari, there the goddess, the source of all auspiciousness, resides.
यत्र प्रशंसा कृष्णस्य तद्भक्तस्य पितामह । सा च कृष्णप्रिया देवी तत्र तिष्ठति सन्ततम्
Where there is praise of Krishna and his devotee, O Grandfather, there the goddess beloved of Krishna always resides.
यत्र शङ्खध्वनिः शङ्खः शिला च तुलसीदलम् । तत्सेवा वन्दनं ध्यानं तत्र सा परितिष्ठति
Where there is the sound of a conch, a conch itself, a stone, or a leaf of tulasi, where there is service, worship, or meditation—there she abides.
शिवलिङ्गार्चनं यत्र तस्य चोत्कीर्तनं शुभम् । दुर्गार्चनं तद्गुणाश्च तत्र पद्मनिवासिनी
Where there is worship of the Shiva-linga and auspicious praise of it, where there is worship of Durga and her virtues—there dwells the Lotus-dwelling Goddess.
विप्राणां सेवनं यत्र तेषां च भोजनं शुभम् । अर्चनं सर्वदेवानां तत्र पद्ममुखी सती
Where there is service to the Brahmins and auspicious feeding of them, where there is worship of all the gods—there is the Lotus-faced Goddess, the Virtuous One.
इत्युक्त्वा च सुरान्सर्वान् रमामाह रमापतिः । क्षीरोदसागरे जन्म कलयाकलयेति च
Having spoken thus to all the gods, the Lord of Lakshmi said to Rama: 'Birth in the ocean of milk is by a portion, not in full.'
इत्युक्त्वा तां जगन्नाथो ब्रह्माणं पुनराह च । मथित्वा सागरं लक्ष्मीं देवेभ्यो देहि पद्मज
Having said this, the Lord of the Universe again spoke to Brahma: 'After churning the ocean, O Lotus-born, give Lakshmi to the gods.'
इत्युक्त्वा कमलाकान्तो जगामान्तःपुरं मुने । देवाश्चिरेण कालेन ययुः क्षीरोदसागरम्
Having said this, the Beloved of Lakshmi went to his inner chambers, O sage, and after a long time the gods went to the ocean of milk.
मन्थानं मन्दरं कृत्वा कूर्मं कृत्वा च भाजनम् । कृत्वा शेषं मन्थपाशं ममन्थुरसुराः सुराः
Using Mandara as the churning rod, the tortoise as the base, and Shesha as the churning rope, the gods and asuras churned.
धन्वन्तरिं च पीयूषमुच्चैःश्रवसमीप्सितम् । नानारत्नं हस्तिरत्नं प्रापुर्लक्ष्मीं सुदर्शनम्
They obtained Dhanvantari, nectar, the desired Ucchaihshravas, various jewels, the elephant-jewel, Lakshmi, and the Sudarshana.
वनमालां ददौ सा च क्षीरोदशायिने मुने । सर्वेश्वराय रम्याय विष्णवे वैष्णवी सती
She gave the garland of forest flowers to the Lord who lies upon the ocean of milk, to the beautiful Lord of all, to Vishnu, the Vaishnavi, the Virtuous One.
देवैः स्तुता पूजिता च ब्रह्मणा शङ्करेण च । ददौ दृष्टिं सुरगृहे ब्रह्मशापविमोचनात्
Praised and worshipped by the gods, by Brahma, and by Shankara, she bestowed her glance upon the house of the gods, freeing them from Brahma's curse.
प्रापुर्देवाः स्वविषयं दैत्यग्रस्तं भयङ्करम् । महालक्ष्मीप्रसादेन वरदानेन नारद
By the grace and boon of Mahalakshmi, O Narada, the gods regained their own realms, which had been seized by the terrifying daityas.
इत्येवं कथितं सर्वं लक्ष्म्युपाख्यानमुत्तमम् । सुखदं सारभूतं च किं भूयः श्रोतुमिच्छसि
Thus has the entire excellent story of Lakshmi been told, which brings happiness and is full of essence. What more do you wish to hear?
महालक्ष्म्याः ध्यानस्तोत्रवर्णनम् नारद उवाच हरेरुत्कीर्तनं भद्रं श्रुतं तज्ज्ञानमुत्तमम् । ईप्सितं लक्ष्म्युपाख्यानं ध्यानं स्तोत्रं वद प्रभो
narada said: The auspicious praise of Hari has been heard, and that supreme knowledge. Tell me, O Lord, the desired story of Lakshmi, her meditation and hymn.
श्रीनारायण उवाच स्नात्वा तीर्थे पुरा शक्रो धृत्वा धौते च वाससी । घटं संस्थाप्य क्षीरोदे षड्देवान् पर्यपूजयत्
śrī-nārāyaṇa said: Once, having bathed at a sacred place and put on clean garments, Indra set up a pot at the ocean of milk and worshipped the six gods.
गणेशं च दिनेशं च वह्निं विष्णुं शिवं शिवाम् । एतान् भक्त्या समभ्यर्च्य पुष्पगन्धादिभिस्तदा
He worshipped Ganesha, the Sun, Fire, Vishnu, Shiva, and the Divine Mother, offering them flowers, fragrance, and the like with devotion.
आवाह्य च महालक्ष्मीं परमैश्वर्यरूपिणीम् । पूजाञ्चकार देवेशो ब्रह्मणा च पुरोधसा
Invoking Mahalakshmi, who is the form of supreme sovereignty, the Lord of the gods performed worship, with Brahma as the chief priest.
पुरःस्थितेषु मुनिषु ब्राह्मणेषु गुरौ हरौ । देवादिषु सुदेशे च ज्ञानानन्दं शिवे मुने
With sages, Brahmins, the guru, Hari, and other gods present in a holy place, there was knowledge and bliss, O sage.
पारिजातस्य पुष्पं च गृहीत्वा चन्दनोक्षितम् । ध्यात्वा देवीं महालक्ष्मीं पूजयामास नारद
Taking a flower of the parijata tree anointed with sandalwood, and meditating on the Goddess Mahalakshmi, O Narada, he worshipped her.
ध्यानं च सामवेदोक्तं यद्दत्तं ब्रह्मणे पुरा । हरिणा तेन ध्यानेन तन्निबोध वदामि ते
Now listen as I tell you the meditation described in the Sama Veda, which Hari once gave to Brahma long ago.
सहस्रदलपद्मस्थकर्णिकावासिनीं पराम् । शरत्पार्वणकोटीन्दुप्रभामुष्टिकरां पराम्
Meditate upon the supreme one dwelling in the pericarp of the thousand-petaled lotus, whose radiance equals countless autumn moons.