इदं च दक्षिणास्तोत्रं यज्ञकाले च यः पठेत् । फलं च सर्वयज्ञानां प्राप्नोति नात्र संशयः
Whoever recites this Dakshina hymn at the time of sacrifice attains the fruit of all sacrifices—of this there is no doubt.
राजसूये वाजपेये गोमेधे नरमेधके । अश्वमेधे लाङ्गले च विष्णुयज्ञे यशस्करे
In the Rajasuya, Vajapeya, Gomedha, human sacrifice, Ashvamedha, Plough sacrifice, and the glorious Vishnu sacrifice,
धनदे भूमिदे पूर्ते फलदे गजमेधके । लोहयज्ञे स्वर्णयज्ञे रत्नयज्ञेऽथ ताम्रके
In the Dhanada, Bhumida, Purta, Phalada, Gajamedha, Iron sacrifice, Gold sacrifice, Jewel sacrifice, and also the Copper sacrifice,
शिवयज्ञे रुद्रयज्ञे शक्रयज्ञे च बन्धुके । वृष्टौ वरुणयागे च कण्डके वैरिमर्दने
In the Shiva sacrifice, Rudra sacrifice, Indra sacrifice, Bandhu sacrifice, in the rain and Varuna worship, in the Kandika and in the destruction of enemies,
शुचियज्ञे धर्मयज्ञेऽध्वरे च पापमोचने । ब्रह्माणीकर्मयागे च योनियागे च भद्रके
In the Pure sacrifice, Dharma sacrifice, in the ritual for removing sin, in the Brahmanical work worship, and in the auspicious Yoni worship,
एतेषां च समारम्भे इदं स्तोत्रं च यः पठेत् । निर्विघ्नेन च तत्कर्म सर्वं भवति निश्चितम्
Whoever recites this hymn at the commencement of these rituals, all those actions are certainly accomplished without obstacles.
इदं स्तोत्रं च कथितं ध्यानं पूजाविधिं शृणु । शालग्रामे घटे वापि दक्षिणां पूजयेत्सुधीः
This hymn has been spoken; now hear the meditation and the method of worship. The wise should worship Dakshina in a Shalagrama stone or a pot.
लक्ष्मीदक्षांससम्भूतां दक्षिणां कमलाकलाम् । सर्वकर्मसुदक्षां च फलदां सर्वकर्मणाम्
I worship Dakshina, born from Lakshmi's share, the portion of Kamala, who is highly skilled in all actions and the bestower of the fruits of all actions.
विष्णोः शक्तिस्वरूपां च पूजितां वन्दितां शुभाम् । शुद्धिदां शुद्धिरूपां च सुशीलां शुभदां भजे
I worship the auspicious one, the embodiment of Vishnu's power, who is worshipped and saluted, who grants purity, is of the form of purity, virtuous, and bestows good.
ध्यात्वानेनैव वरदां मूलेन पूजयेत्सुधीः । दत्त्वा पाद्यादिकं देव्यै वेदोक्तेनैव नारद
Having meditated on her as the granter of boons, the wise should worship her with this very root mantra, offering water for washing the feet and so on to the Goddess, as prescribed in the Vedas, O Narada.
ॐ श्रीं क्लीं ह्रीं दक्षिणायै स्वाहेति च विचक्षणः । पूजयेद्विधिवद् भक्त्या दक्षिणां सर्वपूजिताम्
The wise should worship Dakshina, revered by all, with devotion and proper ritual, using the mantra: 'Om shrim klim hrim dakshinaayai svaha.'
इत्येवं कथितं ब्रह्मन् दक्षिणाख्यानमेव च । सुखदं प्रीतिदं चैव फलदं सर्वकर्मणाम्
Thus, O Brahman, the account of Dakshina has been told; it brings happiness, delight, and fulfills all actions.
इदं च दक्षिणाख्यानं यः शृणोति समाहितः । अङ्गहीनं च तत्कर्म न भवेद्भारते भुवि
Whoever listens attentively to this narration of Dakshina, their actions will not be incomplete upon the earth of Bharata.
अपुत्रो लभते पुत्रं निश्चितं च गुणान्वितम् । भार्याहीनो लभेद्भार्यां सुशीलां सुन्दरीं पराम्
A childless person will certainly obtain a virtuous son; one without a wife will gain a noble, beautiful, and excellent spouse.
वरारोहां पुत्रवतीं विनीतां प्रियवादिनीम् । पतिव्रतां च शुद्धां च कुलजां च वधूं वराम्
She will be graceful, blessed with children, modest, sweet-spoken, devoted to her husband, pure, of good lineage, and an exceptional bride.
विद्याहीनो लभेद्विद्यां धनहीनो लभेद्धनम् । भूमिहीनो लभेद्भूमिं प्रजाहीनो लभेत्प्रजाम्
One lacking knowledge will obtain learning; one lacking wealth will gain riches; one without land will acquire land; one without offspring will be blessed with children.
सङ्कटे बन्धुविच्छेदे विपत्तौ बन्धने तथा । मासमेकमिदं श्रुत्वा मुच्यते नात्र संशयः
In adversity, separation from kin, calamity, or imprisonment, hearing this for one month brings liberation—there is no doubt.
षष्ठ्युपाख्यानवर्णनम् नारद उवाच अनेकानां च देवीनां श्रुतमाख्यानमुत्तमम् । अन्यासां चरितं ब्रह्मन् वद वेदविदांवर
Nārada said: I have heard the excellent accounts of many goddesses; O best of those versed in the Vedas, tell me the stories of others.
श्रीनारायण उवाच सर्वासां चरितं विप्र वेदेषु च पृथक्पृथक् । पूर्वोक्तानां च देवीनां कासां श्रोतुमिहेच्छसि
Śrī Nārāyaṇa said: The stories of all are separately described in the Vedas; among the previously mentioned goddesses, which do you wish to hear about now?
नारद उवाच षष्ठी मङ्गलचण्डी च मनसा प्रकृतेः कला । उत्पत्तिमासां चरितं श्रोतुमिच्छामि तत्त्वतः
Nārada said: Ṣaṣṭhī, Maṅgala, and Caṇḍī are aspects of Prakṛti; I wish to hear their origin and deeds in detail.
श्रीनारायण उवाच षष्ठांशा प्रकृतेर्या च सा च षष्ठी प्रकीर्तिता । बालकानामधिष्ठात्री विष्णुमाया च बालदा
Śrī Nārāyaṇa said: The sixth part of Prakṛti is known as Ṣaṣṭhī; she presides over children, is Viṣṇu's power, and grants offspring.
मातृकासु च विख्याता देवसेनाभिधा च या । प्राणाधिकप्रिया साध्वी स्कन्दभार्या च सुव्रता
Among the Mothers, she is renowned as Devasenā; she is the beloved, virtuous, and devoted wife of Skanda.
आयुःप्रदा च बालानां धात्री रक्षणकारिणी । सततं शिशुपार्श्वस्था योगेन सिद्धियोगिनी
She bestows life upon children, acts as their nurse and protector, always stays by their side, and is accomplished in yoga.
तस्याः पूजाविधिं ब्रह्मनितिहासमिदं शृणु । यच्छ्रुतं धर्मवक्येण सुखदं पुत्रदं परम्
Hear, O Brahman, the ritual of her worship and this history, which, when heard in accordance with dharma, brings happiness and supreme offspring.
राजा प्रियव्रतश्चासीत्स्वायम्भुवमनोः सुतः । योगीन्द्रो नोद्वहद्भार्यां तपस्यासु रतः सदा
There was a king named Priyavrata, son of Svāyambhuva Manu; he was a great yogi, always engaged in austerity, and did not marry.
ब्रह्माज्ञया च यत्नेन कृतदारो बभूव ह । सुचिरं कृतदारश्च न लेभे तनयं मुने
By Brahmā's command and with effort, he took a wife; yet, for a long time, though married, he did not obtain a child, O sage.
पुत्रेष्टियज्ञं तं चापि कारयामास कश्यपः । मालिन्यं तस्य कान्तायै मुनिर्यज्ञचरुं ददौ
Kaśyapa performed the Putreṣṭi sacrifice for him; the sage gave the sacrificial oblation to his beloved wife.
भुक्त्वा च तं चरुं तस्याः सद्यो गर्भो बभूव ह । दधार तं च सा देवी दैवं द्वादशवत्सरम्
After she ate the oblation, she immediately conceived; the goddess carried the divine child for twelve years.
ततः सुषाव सा ब्रह्मन् कुमारं कनकप्रभम् । सर्वावयवसम्पन्नं मृतमुत्तारलोचनम्
Then, O Brahman, she gave birth to a boy, radiant like gold, perfect in all limbs, with eyes closed in death.
तं दृष्ट्वा रुरुदुः सर्वा नार्यश्च बान्धवस्त्रियः । मूर्च्छामवाप तन्माता पुत्रशोकेन भूयसा
Seeing him, all the women—relatives and wives—cried aloud; his mother, overwhelmed by grief for her son, fell into a swoon.