प्रणनाम साश्रुनेत्रो मूर्ध्ना चैव पुनः पुनः । ब्रह्मा च शङ्करश्चैव शेषो धर्मश्च केशवः
Bowed down with tearful eyes, touching his head to the ground again and again; and so too did Brahma, Shankara, Shesha, Dharma, and Keshava.
सर्वे चक्रुः परीहारं सुरार्थे च पुनः पुनः । देवेभ्यश्च वरं दत्त्वा पुष्पमालां मनोहराम्
All of them repeatedly offered their respects for the sake of the gods; and after granting a boon to the gods, she gave them a charming garland of flowers.
केशवाय ददौ लक्ष्मीः सन्तुष्टा सुरसंसदि । ययुर्देवाश्च सन्तुष्टाः स्वं स्वं स्थानं च नारद
Satisfied in the assembly of the gods, she gave Lakshmi to Keshava; and the gods, pleased, returned each to their own abode, O Narada.
देवी ययौ हरेः स्थानं हृष्टा क्षीरोदशायिनः । ययतुश्चैव स्वगृहं ब्रह्मेशानौ च नारद
The Goddess, delighted, went to the abode of Hari, who lies upon the ocean of milk; and Brahma and Ishana also returned to their own homes, O Narada.
दत्त्वा शुभाशिषं तौ च देवेभ्यः प्रीतिपूर्वकम् । इदं स्तोत्रं महापुण्यं त्रिसन्ध्यं यः पठेन्नरः
Having given their auspicious blessings to the gods with affection, whoever recites this most meritorious hymn at the three junctions of the day—
कुबेरतुल्यः स भवेद्राजराजेश्वरो महान् । पञ्चलक्षजपेनैव स्तोत्रसिद्धिर्भवेन्नृणाम्
He becomes as wealthy as Kubera, a great lord of kings; by reciting this hymn five hundred thousand times, its perfection is attained by men.
सिद्धस्तोत्रं यदि पठेन्मासमेकं तु सन्ततम् । महासुखी च राजेन्द्रो भविष्यति न संशयः
If one recites this perfected hymn continuously for a month, he will become supremely happy and a king among kings, without doubt.
स्वाहोपाख्यानवर्णनम् नारद उवाच नारायण महाभाग नारायण महाप्रभो । रूपेणैव गुणेनैव यशसा तेजसा त्विषा
The narration of Svāhā’s story.
त्वमेव ज्ञानिनां श्रेष्ठः सिद्धानां योगिनां मुने । तपस्विनां मुनीनां च परो वेदविदांवर
You alone are the best among the wise, the perfected, the yogis, O sage; supreme among ascetics and sages, foremost among knowers of the Veda.
महालक्ष्म्या उपाख्यानं विज्ञातं महदद्भुतम् । अन्यत्किञ्चिदुपाख्यानं निगूढं वद साम्प्रतम्
The account of Mahalakshmi has been understood, wondrous and great; now tell me another story, one that is hidden and secret.
अतीव गोपनीयं यदुपयुक्तं च सर्वतः । अप्रकाश्यं पुराणेषु वेदोक्तं धर्मसंयुतम्
This is exceedingly secret, always to be used with care; it is not revealed in the Purāṇas, though it is spoken of in the Vedas and is joined with righteousness.
श्रीनारायण उवाच नानाप्रकारमाख्यानमप्रकाश्यं पुराणतः । श्रुतं कतिविधं गूढमास्ते ब्रह्मन् सुदुर्लभम्
Śrī Nārāyaṇa said: There are many kinds of accounts, unrevealed in the Purāṇas; what has been heard is of various sorts, hidden and extremely rare, O Brāhmaṇa.
तेषु यत्सारभूतं च श्रोतुं किं वा त्वमिच्छसि । तन्मे ब्रूहि महाभाग पश्चाद्वक्ष्यामि तत्पुनः
Of these, what is essential and worthy of hearing—what is it that you wish to know? Tell me that, O highly fortunate one, and I will speak of it again afterwards.
नारद उवाच स्वाहा देवी हविर्दाने प्रशस्ता सर्वकर्मसु । पितृदाने स्वधा शस्ता दक्षिणा सर्वतो वरा
Nārada said: The goddess Svāhā is praised in all sacrificial offerings and in every rite; in offerings to the ancestors, Svadhā is esteemed, and Dakṣiṇā is the best in every respect.
एतासां चरितं जन्मफलं प्राधान्यमेव च । श्रोतुमिच्छामि त्वद्वक्त्राद्वद वेदविदांवर
I wish to hear from your lips, O foremost knower of the Vedas, the stories, the fruits of birth, and the preeminence of these goddesses.
सूत उवाच नारदस्य वचः श्रुत्वा प्रहस्य मुनिसत्तमः । कथां कथितुमारेभे पुराणोक्तां पुरातनीम्
Sūta said: Hearing Nārada’s words, the best of sages smiled and began to tell the ancient story as it is spoken in the Purāṇas.
श्रीनारायण उवाच सृष्टेः प्रथमतो देवाः स्वाहारार्थं ययुः पुरा । ब्रह्मलोकं ब्रह्मसभामाजग्मुः सुमनोहराम्
Śrī Nārāyaṇa said: In the beginning of creation, the gods once went to Brahmā’s world, to the delightful assembly of Brahmā, for the sake of obtaining Svāhā.
गत्वा निवेदनं चक्रुराहारहेतुकं मुने । ब्रह्मा श्रुत्वा प्रतिज्ञाय निषेवे श्रीहरिं परम्
Having gone there, they made their request to the sage for the sake of food; Brahmā, hearing this, promised and then worshipped the supreme Śrī Hari.
नारद उवाच यज्ञरूपो हि भगवान् कलया च बभूव ह । यज्ञे यद्यद्धविर्दानं दत्तं तेभ्यश्च ब्राह्मणैः
Nārada said: The Lord, in the form of sacrifice, manifested himself by his portion; whatever offering was given in the sacrifice by the Brāhmaṇas to them—
श्रीनारायण उवाच हविर्ददति विप्राश्च भक्त्या च क्षत्रियादयः । सुरा नैव प्राप्नुवन्ति तद्दानं मुनिपुङ्गव
Śrī Nārāyaṇa said: When Brāhmaṇas and Kṣatriyas and others offer oblations with devotion, the gods do not obtain that offering, O best of sages.
देवा विषण्णास्ते सर्वे तत्सभां च ययुः पुनः । गत्वा निवेदनं चक्रुराहाराभावहेतुकम्
All the gods, disheartened, went again to that assembly; having arrived, they made their request, citing the lack of food.
ब्रह्मा श्रुत्वा तु ध्यानेन श्रीकृष्णं शरणं ययौ । पूजाञ्चकार प्रकृतेध्यानेनैव तदाज्ञया
Brahmā, hearing this, sought refuge in Śrī Kṛṣṇa through meditation; by his command, he performed worship with meditation on Prakṛti.
प्रकृतेः कलया चैव सर्वशक्तिस्वरूपिणी । अतीव सुन्दरी श्यामा रमणीया मनोहरा
By a portion of Prakṛti, who is the embodiment of all powers, there appeared an exceedingly beautiful, dark-complexioned, charming, and captivating goddess.
ईषद्धास्यप्रसन्नास्या भक्तानुग्रहकातरा । उवाचेति विधेरग्रे पद्मयोने वरं वृणु
With a gentle smile and a gracious face, eager to bestow favor upon devotees, she spoke thus before Brahmā, the lotus-born: 'Choose a boon.'
विधिस्तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा सम्भ्रमात्समुवाच ताम् । प्रजापतिरुवाच त्वमग्नेर्दाहिका शक्तिर्भव यातीव सुन्दरी
Brahmā, hearing her words, spoke to her with reverence: 'O most beautiful one, become the burning power of Agni.'
दग्धुं न शक्तः प्रकृतीर्हुताशश्च त्वया विना । त्वन्नामोच्चार्य मन्त्रान्ते यो दास्यति हविर्नरः
Without you, neither Prakṛti nor Agni is able to burn; whoever, at the end of the mantra, offers oblation while uttering your name—
सुरेभ्यस्तत्प्राप्नुवन्ति सुराः सानन्दपूर्वकम् । अग्नेः सम्पत्स्वरूपा च श्रीरूपा सा गृहेश्वरी
The gods will receive that offering with joy; she, as the embodiment of Agni’s prosperity, as beauty itself, is the mistress of the house.
देवानां पूजिता शश्वन्नरादीनां भवाम्बिके । ब्रह्मणश्च वचः श्रुत्वा सा विषण्णा बभूव ह
O Mother, worshipped always by the gods and by men, hearing Brahmā’s words, she became dejected.
तमुवाच ततो देवी स्वाभिप्रायं स्वयम्भुवम् । स्वाहोवाच अहं कृष्णं भजिष्यामि तपसा सुचिरेण च
Then the Goddess spoke her intention to the Self-born; she said: I will worship Krishna with prolonged austerity.
ब्रह्मंस्तदन्यं यत्किञ्चित्स्वप्नवद् भ्रममेव च । विधाता जगतस्त्वं च शम्भुर्मृत्युञ्जयो विभुः
Whatever else is called Brahman is but illusion, like a dream; you are the creator of the world, and Shambhu, the mighty conqueror of death.