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.
देवानां दैत्यग्रस्तानां पुरा सेना बभूव सा । जयं ददौ सा तेभ्यश्च देवसेना च तेन सा
Long ago, she was the army of the gods, when they were beset by demons; she granted them victory, and thus was called Devasenā.
श्रीदेवसेनोवाच ब्रह्मणो मानसी कन्या देवसेनाहमीश्वरी । सृष्ट्वा तां मनसा धाता ददौ स्कन्दाय भूमिप
Devaseṇā said: I am Devaseṇā, the sovereign, the mind-born daughter of Brahmā; having created me by his mind, the Creator gave me to Skanda, O king.
मातृकासु च विख्याता स्कन्दभार्या च सुव्रता । विश्वे षष्ठीति विख्याता षष्ठांशा प्रकृतेः परा
Among the Mothers I am renowned, and as Skanda's virtuous wife; among all I am known as Ṣaṣṭhī, the sixth portion, transcending nature.
अपुत्राय पुत्रदाहं प्रियादात्री प्रियाय च । धनदाहं दरिद्रेभ्यः कर्मिभ्यश्च स्वकर्मदा
To the childless I grant sons, to the beloved I give affection; to the poor I bestow wealth, and to each according to their deeds.
सुखं दुःखं भयं शोको हर्षो मङ्गलमेव च । सम्पत्तिश्च विपत्तिश्च सर्वं भवति कर्मणा
Happiness, sorrow, fear, grief, joy, auspiciousness, prosperity and adversity—all arise from action.
कर्मणा बहुपुत्रश्च वंशहीनः स्वकर्मणा । कर्मणा मृतपुत्रश्च कर्मणा चिरजीवनः
By action one has many sons, or loses one's lineage; by action a son dies, or one lives long.
कर्मणा गुणवांश्चैव कर्मणा चाङ्गहीनकः । कर्मणा बहुभार्यश्च भार्याहीनश्च कर्मणा
By deeds, one becomes virtuous; by deeds, one becomes lacking in limbs; by deeds, one has many wives; by deeds, one is without a wife.
कर्मणा रूपवान्धर्मी रोगी शश्वत्स्वकर्मणा । कर्मणा च भवेद्व्याधिः कर्मणाऽऽरोग्यमेव च
By deeds, one is handsome and righteous; by one's own deeds, one is afflicted with disease; by deeds, illness arises, and by deeds, health as well.
तस्मात्कर्म परं राजन् सर्वेभ्यश्च श्रुतौ श्रुतम् । इत्येवमुक्त्वा सा देवी गृहीत्वा बालकं मुने
Therefore, O king, action is supreme, as is heard in all the scriptures; thus having spoken, the Goddess took the child, O sage.
महाज्ञानेन सा देवी जीवयामास लीलया । राजा ददर्श तं बालं सस्मितं कनकप्रभम्
With great wisdom, the Goddess revived the child by her play; the king saw the boy, smiling, radiant like gold.