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.
श्मशानं च ययौ राजा गृहीत्वा बालकं मुने । रुरोद तत्र कान्तारे पुत्रं कृत्वा स्ववक्षसि
The king went to the cremation ground, O sage, carrying the child; there, in that wilderness, he wept, holding his son to his chest.
नोत्सृजद् बालकं राजा प्राणांस्त्यक्तुं समुद्यतः । ज्ञानयोगं विसस्मार पुत्रशोकात्सुदारुणात्
The king would not release the boy, though ready to give up his own life; stricken by intense grief for his son, he forgot his knowledge and yoga.
एतस्मिन्नन्तरे तत्र विमानं च ददर्श सः । शुद्धस्फटिकसंकाशं मणिराजविनिर्मितम्
Meanwhile, he saw there a celestial chariot, shining like pure crystal, crafted from precious gems.
तेजसा ज्वलितं शश्वच्छोभितं क्षौमवाससा । नानाचित्रविचित्राढ्यं पुष्पमालाविराजितम्
It was always ablaze with brilliance, adorned with fine silk garments, resplendent with many wondrous decorations and garlands of flowers.
ददर्श तत्र देवीं च कमनीयां मनोहराम् । श्वेतचम्पकवर्णाभां शश्वत्सुस्थिरयौवनाम्
There he saw the Goddess, beautiful and captivating, with the hue of white campaka flowers, ever steadfast in youthful grace.
ईषद्धास्यप्रसन्नास्यां रत्नभूषणभूषिताम् । कृपामयीं योगसिद्धां भक्तानुग्रहकातराम्
Her face was gently smiling and serene, adorned with jeweled ornaments; she was full of compassion, accomplished in yoga, eager to grant favor to devotees.
दृष्ट्वा तां पुरतो राजा तुष्टाव परमादरात् । चकार पूजनं तस्या विहाय बालकं भुवि
Seeing her before him, the king worshipped her with utmost reverence, performing her adoration, leaving the boy upon the ground.
पप्रच्छ राजा तां तुष्टां ग्रीष्मसूर्यसमप्रभाम् । तेजसा ज्वलितां शान्तां कान्तां स्कन्दस्य नारद
The king questioned her, radiant as the summer sun, blazing with splendor, tranquil and lovely, O Narada, like Skanda's consort.
राजोवाच का त्वं सुशोभने कान्ते कस्य कान्तासि सुव्रते । कस्य कन्या वरारोहे धन्या मान्या च योषिताम्
The king said: Who are you, O splendid and charming one? Whose beloved are you, O virtuous lady? Whose daughter are you, O beautiful and honored among women?
नृपेन्द्रस्य वचः श्रुत्वा जगन्मङ्गलचण्डिका । उवाच देवसेना सा देवानां रणकारिणी
Hearing the king's words, Caṇḍikā, the auspicious one of the world, spoke; Devasenā, the warrior of the gods, replied.