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.
स्वतेजसा प्रज्वलन्तीं सुखदृश्यां मनोहराम् । प्रतप्तकाञ्चननिभशोभां मूर्तिमतीं सतीम्
She shines with her own brilliance, delightful to behold and captivating, her form resembling refined gold, embodying virtue.
रत्नभूषणभूषाढ्यां शोभितां पीतवाससा । ईषद्धास्यप्रसन्नास्यां शश्वत्सुस्थिरयौवनाम्
Adorned with precious jewels, resplendent in yellow garments, her face gently smiling and serene, eternally youthful and steadfast.
सर्वसम्पत्प्रदात्रीं च महालक्ष्मीं भजे शुभाम् । ध्यानेनानेन तां ध्यात्वा नानागुणसमन्विताम्
I worship Mahalakshmi, the auspicious giver of all prosperity; meditating upon her with this contemplation, endowed with many virtues.
सम्पूज्य ब्रह्मवाक्येन चोपचाराणि षोडश । ददौ भक्त्या विधानेन प्रत्येकं मन्त्रपूर्वकम्
He worshipped her with the words of Brahma and sixteen offerings, each given with devotion and proper ritual, preceded by mantras.
प्रशस्तानि प्रकृष्टानि वराणि विविधानि च । अमूल्यरत्नसारं च निर्मितं विश्वकर्मणा
He presented excellent, splendid gifts of many kinds, and priceless jewels crafted by Vishvakarma.
आसनं च विचित्रं च महालक्ष्मि प्रगृह्यताम् । शुद्धं गङ्गोदकमिदं सर्ववन्दितमीप्सितम्
O Mahalakshmi, accept this wondrous seat, and this pure, much-desired Ganga water, revered by all.
पापेध्मवह्निरूपं च गृह्यतां कमलालये । पुष्पचन्दनदूर्वादिसंयुतं जाह्नवीजलम्
O Kamala, accept this water from the Jahnavi, mixed with flowers, sandalwood, and durva grass, which removes the fuel of sin like fire.
शङ्खगर्भस्थितं स्वर्घ्यं गृह्यतां पद्मवासिनि । सुगन्धिपुष्पतैलं च सुगन्धामलकीफलम्
O Lotus-dweller, accept this heavenly water contained in a conch, fragrant flower oil, and aromatic amalaki fruit.
देहसौन्दर्यबीजं च गृह्यतां श्रीहरेः प्रिये । कार्पासजं च कृमिजं वसनं देवि गृह्यताम्
O beloved of Hari, accept this seed of bodily beauty, and O Devi, accept these garments made of cotton and silk.
रत्नस्वर्णविकारं च देहभूषाविवर्धनम् । शोभायै श्रीकरं रत्नं भूषणं देवि गृह्यताम्
O Devi, accept this jewel and ornament, fashioned from precious gold and gems, which enhances bodily adornment and brings prosperity.