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.
बभूव पुष्पवृष्टिश्च नभसो मनसोपरि । देवप्रियाज्ञया तत्र बह्मविष्णुशिवाज्ञया
There was a shower of flowers from the sky above the assembly; by the command of the beloved of the gods, and by the order of Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva—
तुष्टाव साश्रुनेत्रश्च पुलकाङ्कितविग्रहः । पुरन्दर उवाच देवि त्वां स्तोतुमिच्छामि साध्वीनां प्रवरां वराम्
He praised her, his eyes filled with tears, his body thrilled with joy. Purandara said: O Goddess, I wish to praise you, the foremost and best among the virtuous women.
परात्परां च परमां न हि स्तोतुं क्षमोऽधुना । स्तोत्राणां लक्षणं वेदे स्वभावाख्यानतत्परम्
You who are supreme beyond the supreme, the highest—yet I am not able to praise you now; the nature of hymns in the Veda is to declare your essential being.
न क्षमः प्रकृते वक्तुं गुणानां गणनां तव । शुद्धसत्त्वस्वरूपा त्वं कोपहिंसादिवर्जिता
I am not able, by my nature, to recount the measure of your qualities; you are of pure sattva, free from anger, violence, and the like.
न च शक्तो मुनिस्तेन त्यक्तुं याञ्चा कृता यतः । त्वं मया पूजिता साध्वी जननी मे यथादितिः
Nor is any sage able to abandon the request he has made, for you have been worshipped by me, O virtuous one, as Aditi is by her son.
दयारूपा च भगिनी क्षमारूपा यथा प्रसूः । त्वया मे रक्षिताः प्राणाः पुत्रदाराः सुरेश्वरि
You are compassion embodied, like a sister; you are patience embodied, like a mother; by you, my life, my sons, and my wife have been protected, O Queen of the gods.
अहं करोमि त्वत्पूजां प्रीतिश्च वर्धतां सदा । नित्या यद्यपि पूज्या त्वं सर्वत्र जगदम्बिके
I perform your worship, and may my love for you ever increase; though you are always worthy of worship everywhere, O Mother of the world—
तथापि तव पूजां च वर्धयामि सुरेश्वरि । ये त्वामाषाढसङ्क्रान्त्यां पूजयिष्यन्ति भक्तितः
Still, I increase your worship, O Queen of the gods; those who worship you with devotion at the time of Ashadha Sankranti—
पञ्चम्यां मनसाख्यायां मासान्ते वा दिने दिने । पुत्रपौत्रादयस्तेषां वर्धन्ते च धनानि वै
On the fifth day called Manasa, at the end of the month or every day—their sons, grandsons, and wealth will increase.
यशस्विनः कीर्तिमन्तो विद्यावन्तो गुणान्विताः । ये त्वां न पूजयिष्यन्ति निन्दन्त्यज्ञानतो जनाः
They will be renowned, celebrated, learned, and endowed with virtues; but those who do not worship you, and who, out of ignorance, speak ill—