यस्यास्तेन च तत्पुत्रो बभूवास्तीक एव च । जगाम तपसे विष्णोः पुष्करं शङ्कराज्ञया
From her, that son was born, and he was indeed Astika; he went to perform austerities for Vishnu at Pushkara, by the command of Shankara.
सम्प्राप्य च महामन्त्रं ततश्च परमात्मनः । दिव्यं वर्षत्रिलक्षं च तपस्तप्त्वा तपोधनः
Having obtained the great mantra from the Supreme Soul, the ascetic performed divine austerity for three hundred thousand years.
आजगाम महायोगी नमस्कर्तुं शिवं प्रभुम् । शङ्करं च नमस्कृत्य स्थित्वा तत्रैव बालकः
The great yogi came to bow to Shiva, the Lord; having bowed to Shankara, the boy remained there.
सा चाजगाम मनसा कश्यपस्याश्रमं पितुः । तां सपुत्रां सुतां दृष्ट्वा मुदं प्राप प्रजापतिः
She also went in her mind to the hermitage of Kashyapa, her father; seeing her with her son, the progenitor rejoiced.
शतलक्षं च रत्नानां बाह्मणेभ्यो ददौ मुने । ब्राह्मणान्भोजयामास सोऽसंख्यान् श्रेयसे शिशोः
He gave a hundred thousand gems to the Brahmins, O sage, and fed countless Brahmins for the welfare of the child.
अदितिश्च दितिश्चान्या मुदं प्राप परन्तप । सा सपुत्रा च सुचिरं तस्थौ तातालये सदा
Aditi and Diti, O scorcher of foes, were filled with joy; together with their sons, they dwelt for a long time in their father's abode.
तदीयं पुनराख्यानं वक्ष्यामि तन्निशामय । अथाभिमन्युतनये ब्रह्मशापः परीक्षिते
I will now relate their story; listen to it. Then, regarding the son of Abhimanyu, the curse of Brahma was tested.
बभूव सहसा ब्रह्मन् दैवदोषेण कर्मणा । सप्ताहे समतीते तु तक्षकस्त्वां च धक्ष्यति
Suddenly, O Brahmin, due to a divine fault in action, after seven days have passed, Takshaka will burn you.
शशाप शृङ्गी तत्रैव कौशिक्याश्च जलेन वै । राजा श्रुत्वा तत्प्रवृत्तिं निर्वातस्थानमागतः
Shringi cursed him there itself, using water from the Kausiki river. Hearing this news, the king went to a place of solitude.
तत्र तस्थौ च सप्ताहं देहरक्षणतत्परः । सप्ताहे समतीते तु गच्छन्तं तक्षकं पथि
There he stayed for seven days, intent on protecting his body. When seven days had passed, Takshaka was seen traveling on the path.
धन्वन्तरिर्नृपं भोक्तुं ददर्श गामुकः पथि । तयोर्बभूव संवादः सुप्रीतिश्च परस्परम्
Dhanvantari, wishing to eat, saw the king on the road. A conversation arose between them, and they were mutually delighted.
धन्वन्तरिर्मणिं प्राप तक्षकः स्वेच्छया ददौ । स ययौ तं गृहीत्वा तु सन्तुष्टो हृष्टमानसः
Dhanvantari obtained a jewel; Takshaka gave it to him willingly. Taking it, he departed, satisfied and joyful in heart.
तक्षको भक्षयामास नृपं तं मञ्चके स्थितम् । राजा जगाम तरसा देहं त्यक्त्वा परत्र च
Takshaka consumed the king as he lay upon his couch. The king swiftly departed, leaving his body for the next world.
संस्कारं कारयामास पितुर्वै जनमेजयः । राजा चकार यज्ञं च सर्पसत्रं ततो मुने
Janamejaya performed the funeral rites for his father. The king then conducted the serpent-sacrifice, O sage.
प्राणांस्तत्याज सर्पाणां समूहो ब्रह्मतेजसा । स तक्षको वै भीतस्तु महेन्द्रं शरणं ययौ
By the power of Brahma, the host of serpents surrendered their lives. Takshaka, terrified, sought refuge with Mahendra.
सेन्द्रं च तक्षकं हन्तुं विप्रवर्गः समुद्यतः । अथ देवाश्च सेन्द्राश्च सञ्जग्मुर्मनसान्तिकम्
The group of Brahmins prepared to slay Takshaka along with Indra. Then the gods, together with Indra, approached with their minds.
तां तुष्टाव महेन्द्रश्च भयकातरविह्वलः । तत आस्तीक आगत्य यज्ञं च मातुराज्ञया
Mahendra, overwhelmed by fear, praised her. Then Astika arrived at the sacrifice, by his mother's command.
महेन्द्रतक्षकप्राणान्ययाचे भूमिपं परम् । ददौ वरं नृपश्रेष्ठः कृपया ब्राह्मणाज्ञया
He requested the king for the lives of Mahendra and Takshaka. The foremost king granted the boon, out of compassion and at the Brahmin's command.
यज्ञं समाप्य विप्रेभ्यो दक्षिणां च ददौ मुदा । विप्राश्च मुनयो देवा गत्वा च मनसान्तिकम्
Completing the sacrifice, he joyfully gave gifts to the Brahmins. The Brahmins, sages, and gods departed, approaching with their minds.
मनसां पूजयामासुस्तुष्टुवुश्च पृथक् पृथक् । शक्रः सम्भृतसम्भारो भक्तियुक्तः सदा शुचिः
They worshipped the goddess with their minds and praised her individually. Shakra, always pure and devoted, prepared offerings with devotion.
मनसां पूजयामास तुष्टाव परमादरात् । नत्वा षोडशोपचारं बलिं च तत्प्रियं तदा
He worshipped the goddess with his mind and praised her with utmost reverence, bowing and offering sixteen kinds of service and beloved offerings.
प्रददौ परितुष्टश्च ब्रह्मविष्णुशिवाज्ञया । सम्पूज्य मनसां देवीं प्रययुः स्वालयं च ते
Satisfied, he gave gifts by the command of Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva. Having worshipped the goddess with their minds, they returned to their own abodes.
इत्येवं कथितं सर्वं किं भूयः श्रोतुमिच्छसि । नारद उवाच केन स्तोत्रेण तुष्टाव महेन्द्रो मनसां सतीम्
Thus everything has been told; what more do you wish to hear? Narada said: By which hymn did Mahendra praise the pure-minded Goddess?
पूजाविधिक्रमं तस्याः श्रोतुमिच्छामि तत्त्वतः । श्रीनारायण उवाच सुस्नातः शुचिराचान्तो धृत्वा धौते च वाससी
I wish to hear in detail the proper method of her worship. Shri Narayana said: Having bathed well, purified, and performed achamana, wearing clean, washed garments—
रत्नसिंहासने देवीं वासयामास भक्तितः । स्वर्गङ्गाया जलेनैव रत्नकुम्भस्थितेन च
With devotion, he seated the Goddess upon a jeweled throne, and with water from the heavenly river, placed in a jeweled vessel—
स्नापयामास मनसां महेन्द्रो वेदमन्त्रतः । वाससी वासयामास वह्मिशुद्धे मनोहरे
Mahendra, with his mind and Vedic mantras, bathed the Goddess; he dressed her in garments purified by fire, beautiful and pleasing.
सर्वाङ्गे चन्दनं कृत्वा पादार्घ्यं भक्तिसंयुतः । गणेशं च दिनेशं च वह्निं विष्णुं शिवं शिवाम्
He anointed all her limbs with sandalwood, and with devotion offered water for washing her feet; he worshipped Ganesha, the Sun, Agni, Vishnu, Shiva, and Shivā.
सम्पूज्यादौ देवषट्कं पूजयामास तां सतीम् । ॐ ह्रीं श्रीं मनसादेव्यै स्वाहेत्येवं च मन्त्रतः
After worshipping the six deities at the outset, he worshipped the pure Goddess; with the mantra 'Om Hrim Shrim Manasadevyai Svaha,'
दशाक्षरेण मूलेन ददौ सर्वं यथोचितम् । दत्त्वा षोडशोपचारान्दुर्लभान्देवनायकः
With the ten-syllable root mantra, he offered everything as appropriate; having given the sixteen rare offerings, the Lord of the gods—
पूजयामास भक्त्या च विष्णुना प्रेरितो मुदा । वाद्यं नानाप्रकारं च वादयामास तत्र वै
Worshipped her with devotion, prompted by Vishnu and with joy; there, various kinds of music were played.