श्राद्धकाले स्वधास्तोत्रं यः शृणोति समाहितः । स लभेच्छ्राद्धसम्भूतं फलमेव न संशयः
Whoever listens with concentration to the hymn of Svadhā at the time of Śrāddha surely obtains the fruit arising from Śrāddha—there is no doubt.
स्वधा स्वधा स्वधेत्येवं त्रिसन्ध्यं यः पठेन्नरः । प्रियां विनीतां स लभेत्साध्वीं पुत्रगुणान्विताम्
Whoever recites 'Svadhā, Svadhā, Svadhe' at the three junctions of the day will obtain a beloved, virtuous, faithful wife endowed with the qualities of a good son.
पितॄणां प्राणतुल्या त्वं द्विजजीवनरूपिणी । श्राद्धाधिष्ठातृदेवी च श्राद्धादीनां फलप्रदा
You are as dear as life to the ancestors, the very embodiment of the livelihood of Brāhmaṇas, the presiding goddess of Śrāddha, and the bestower of the fruits of Śrāddha and related rites.
नित्या त्वं सत्यरूपासि पुण्यरूपासि सुव्रते । आविर्भावतिरोभावौ सृष्टौ च प्रलये तव
O virtuous one, you are eternal, the embodiment of truth and virtue; your manifestation and withdrawal occur at creation and dissolution.
ॐ स्वस्तिश्च नमः स्वाहा स्वधा त्वं दक्षिणा तथा । निरूपिताश्चतुर्वेदैः प्रशस्ताः कर्मिणां पुनः
Oṃ, Svasti, Namaḥ, Svāhā, Svadhā, and Dakṣiṇā—you are thus established by the four Vedas and praised by those who perform rites.
कर्मपूर्त्यर्थमेवैता ईश्वरेण विनिर्मिताः । इत्येवमुक्त्वा स ब्रह्मा ब्रह्मलोके स्वसंसदि
These were created by the Lord solely for the fulfillment of rituals; having thus spoken, Brahmā remained in his own assembly in Brahmaloka.
तस्थौ च सहसा सद्यः स्वधा साऽऽविर्बभूव ह । तदा पितृभ्यः प्रददौ तामेव कमलाननाम्
Then, suddenly, Svadhā appeared there; at that time, he gave her, with a lotus face, to the ancestors.
तां सम्प्राप्य ययुस्ते च पितरश्च प्रहर्षिताः । स्वधास्तोत्रमिदं पुण्यं यः शृणोति समाहितः । स स्नातः सर्वतीर्थेषु वाञ्छितं फलमाप्नुयात्
Having received her, the ancestors rejoiced; whoever listens with concentration to this auspicious hymn to Svadhā, having bathed in all holy waters, attains the desired fruit.
इति श्रीमद्देवीभागवते महापुराणेऽष्टादशसाहस्र्यां संहितायां नवमस्कन्धे नारायणनारदसंवादे स्वधोपाख्यानवर्णनं नाम चतुश्चत्वारिशोऽध्यायः
Thus ends the forty-fourth chapter, named 'The Description of the Story of Svadhā,' in the dialogue between Nārāyaṇa and Nārada, in the ninth book of the great Purāṇa, Śrīmad Devī Bhāgavata, comprising eighteen thousand verses.
दक्षिणोपाख्यानवर्णनम् श्रीनारायण उवाच उक्तं स्वाहास्वधाख्यानं प्रशस्तं मधुरं परम् । वक्ष्यामि दक्षिणाख्यानं सावधानो निशामय
The Description of the Story of Dakṣiṇā. Śrī Nārāyaṇa said: The account of Svāhā and Svadhā has been told, excellent and supremely sweet; now, listen attentively as I narrate the story of Dakṣiṇā.
गोपी सुशीला गोलोके पुराऽऽसीत्प्रेयसी हरेः । राधा प्रधाना सध्रीची धन्या मान्या मनोहरा
The virtuous Gopi, beloved of Hari, once dwelled in Goloka; Radha was foremost, equal among them, blessed, honored, and enchanting.
अतीव सुन्दरी रामा सुभगा सुदती सती । विद्यावती गुणवती चातिरूपवती सती
She was exceedingly beautiful, charming, fortunate, with lovely teeth, pure, learned, virtuous, and of surpassing form, steadfast in chastity.
कलावती कोमलाङ्गी कान्ता कमललोचना । सुश्रोणी सुस्तनी श्यामा न्यग्रोधपरिमण्डिता
She was skilled in arts, tender-bodied, lovely, lotus-eyed, with graceful hips, beautiful breasts, dark complexion, and shaped like a banyan tree.
ईषद्धास्यप्रसन्नास्या रत्नालङ्कारभूषिता । श्वेतचम्पकवर्णाभा बिम्बोष्ठी मृगलोचना
Her face was gently smiling and serene, adorned with jeweled ornaments; her hue resembled white champaka flowers, her lips were red as bimba fruit, and her eyes like those of a deer.
कामशास्त्रेषु निपुणा कामिनी हंसगामिनी । भावानुरक्ता भावज्ञा कृष्णस्य प्रियभामिनी
She was adept in the arts of love, passionate, moving like a swan; devoted in feeling, knowing emotions, and the beloved of Krishna.
रसज्ञा रसिका रासे रासेशस्य रसोत्सुका । उवासादक्षिणे क्रोडे राधायाः पुरतः पुरा
She was expert in rasa, a connoisseur, eager for the delight of the dance, and once sat at the right side of Radha in front.
सम्बभूवानम्रमुखो भयेन मधुसूदनः । दृष्ट्वा राधां च पुरतो गोपीनां प्रवरोत्तमाम्
Madhusudana, seeing Radha before him—the most eminent among the Gopis—became humble-faced and fearful.
कामिनीं रक्तवदनां रक्तपङ्कजलोचनाम् । कोपेन कम्पिताङ्गीं च कोपेन स्फुरिताधराम्
He saw her as a passionate woman, with reddened face and lotus-red eyes, her body trembling in anger, her lips quivering with wrath.
वेगेन तां तु गच्छन्तीं विज्ञाय तदनन्तरम् । विरोधभीतो भगवानन्तर्धानं चकार सः
Recognizing her swift departure, and fearing opposition, the Blessed Lord vanished at once.
पलायन्तं च कान्तं च शान्तं सत्त्वं सुविग्रहम् । विलोक्य कम्पिता गोप्यः सुशीलाद्यास्ततो भिया
Seeing their beloved fleeing, his tranquil nature and splendid form, the virtuous Gopis, trembling with fear, gazed upon him.
विलोक्य लम्पटं तत्र गोपीनां लक्षकोटयः । पुटाञ्जलियुता भीता भक्तिनम्रात्मकन्धराः
Beholding the playful one there, millions of Gopis, hands joined in reverence, fearful, bowed their necks in devotion.
रक्ष रक्षेत्युक्तवन्त्यो देवीमिति पुनः पुनः । ययुर्भयेन शरणं यस्याश्चरणपङ्कजे
Crying out again and again, 'Protect, protect!' to the Goddess, they sought refuge in the lotus feet of her whose feet they revered out of fear.
त्रिलक्षकोटयो गोपाः सुदामादय एव च । ययुर्भयेन शरणं तत्पादाब्जे च नारद
Three million Gopas, including Sudama and others, out of fear, sought refuge at her lotus feet, O Narada.
पलायन्तं च कान्तं च विज्ञाय परमेश्वरी । पलायन्तीं सहचरीं सुशीलां च शशाप सा
Knowing her beloved was fleeing, the Supreme Lady cursed her companion Suśīlā, who was also fleeing.
अद्यप्रभृति गोलोकं सा चेदायाति गोपिका । सद्यो गमनमात्रेण भस्मसाच्च भविष्यति
From this day onward, if that Gopi enters Goloka, she will instantly, merely by arrival, be reduced to ashes.
इत्येवमुक्त्वा तत्रैव देवदेवेश्वरी रुषा । रासेश्वरी रासमध्ये रासेशमाजुहाव ह
Having spoken thus, the Goddess of gods, enraged, in the midst of the rasa, summoned the Lord of the dance.
नालोक्य पुरतः कृष्णं राधा विरहकातरा । युगकोटिसमं मेने क्षणभेदेन सुव्रता
Not seeing Krishna before her, Radha, afflicted by separation, considered a single moment to be equal to an age of millions of years.
हे कृष्ण प्राणनाथेशागच्छ प्राणाधिकप्रिय । प्राणाधिष्ठातृदेवेश प्राणा यान्ति त्वया विना
O Krishna, Lord of my life, come, beloved dearer than life; Lord presiding over life, my life departs without you.
स्त्रीगर्वः पतिसौभाग्याद्वर्धते च दिने दिने । सुखं च विपुलं यस्मात्तं सेवेद्धर्मतः सदा
A woman's pride increases day by day through her husband's good fortune; therefore, she should always serve him according to dharma, for this brings her abundant happiness.
पतिर्बन्धुः कुलस्त्रीणामधिदेवः सदागतिः । परसम्पत्स्वरूपश्च मूर्तिमान् भोगदः सदा
For women of noble families, the husband is a friend, a guardian deity, and a constant refuge; he is the embodiment of prosperity and always the giver of enjoyment.