एतस्य स्मरणात्सद्यः सर्वं पापं विनश्यति । प्राणोत्क्रमणसन्धौ तु स्मृत्वा तत्रैव गच्छति
By remembering this, all sins are instantly destroyed; and at the time of death, remembering it, one goes there.
अध्यायपञ्चकं त्वेतत्पठेन्नित्यं समाहितः । भूतप्रेतपिशाचादिबाधा तत्र भवेन्न हि
Whoever recites these five chapters daily with concentration will not be troubled by spirits, ghosts, or demons.
नवीनगृहनिर्माणे वास्तुयागे तथैव च । पठितव्यं प्रयत्नेन कल्याणं तेन जायते
When building a new house or performing a consecration, one should recite this diligently; by that, auspiciousness arises.
जनमेजयेनाम्बामखकरण-देवीभागवतश्रवणपूर्वकं स्वपित्रुद्धारवर्णनम् व्यास उवाच इति ते कथितं भूप यद्यत्पृष्टं त्वयानघ । नारायणेन यत्प्रोक्तं नारदाय महात्मने
Janamejaya performed the Ambā sacrifice; the story of rescuing his father was told after listening to the Devī Bhāgavata.
श्रुत्वैतत्तु महादेव्याः पुराणं परमाद्भुतम् । कृतकृत्यो भवेन्मर्त्यो देव्याः प्रियतमो हि सः
Vyāsa said: Thus, O King, I have told you all that you asked, as spoken by Nārāyaṇa to the great sage Nārada.
कुरु चाम्बामखं राजन् स्वपित्रुद्धरणाय वै । खिन्नोऽसि येन राजेन्द्र पितुर्ज्ञात्वा तु दुर्गतिम्
Hearing this most wonderful Purāṇa of the Great Goddess, a mortal becomes fulfilled and is most dear to the Goddess.
गृहाण त्वं महादेव्या मन्त्रं सर्वोत्तमोत्तमम् । यथाविधिविधानेन जन्मसाफल्यदायकम्
O King, perform the Ambā sacrifice for the deliverance of your father, for you are distressed after learning of his misfortune.
सूत उवाच तच्छ्रुत्वा नृपशार्दूलः प्रार्थयित्वा मुनीश्वरम् । तस्मादेव महामन्त्रं देवीप्रणवसंज्ञकम्
Receive from the Great Goddess the highest of all mantras, which, when performed according to proper rules, grants the fulfillment of birth.
दीक्षाविधिं विधानेन जग्राह नृपसत्तमः । तत आहूय धौम्यादीन्नवरात्रसमागमे
Sūta said: Hearing this, the best of kings requested the great sage and received from him the great mantra called the Devī Praṇava.
अम्बायज्ञं चकाराशु वित्तशाढ्यविवर्जितः । ब्राह्मणैः पाठयामास पुराणं त्वेतदुत्तमम्
The best of kings received initiation according to the proper rite; then, summoning Dhaumya and others at the festival of nine nights,
श्रीदेव्यग्रेऽम्बिकाप्रीत्यै देवीभागवतं परम् । ब्राह्मणान्भोजयामासाप्यसंख्यातान्सुवासिनीः
He quickly performed the sacrifice to the Mother, free from miserliness, and had this excellent Purāṇa recited by brāhmaṇas.
कुमारीर्वटुकादींश्च दीनानाथांस्तथैव च । द्रव्यप्रदानैस्तान्सर्वान् सन्तोष्य वसुधाधिपः
He satisfied all the young girls, boys, the poor, and the helpless as well, by giving them gifts and offerings, O ruler of the earth.
समाप्य यज्ञं संस्थाने संस्थितो यावदेव हि । तावदेव हि चाकाशान्नारदः समवातरत्
Having completed the sacrifice, he remained at the site for as long as necessary; then, at that very moment, Narada descended from the sky.
रणयन्महतीं वीणां ज्वलदग्निशिखोपमः । ससम्भमः समुत्थाय दृष्ट्वा तं नारदं मुनिम्
Playing his great vina, blazing like a flaming fire, Narada the sage appeared, and the king rose up with respect upon seeing him.
आसनाद्युपचारैश्च पूजयामास भूमिपः । कृत्वा तु कुशलप्रश्नं पप्रच्छागमकारणम्
The king honored him with seat and other offerings, and after inquiring about his well-being, asked the reason for his arrival.
राजोवाच कुत आगमनं साधो ब्रूहि किं करवाणि ते । सनाथोऽहं कृतार्थोऽहं त्वदागमनकारणात्
The king said: 'From where have you come, O holy one? Tell me, what may I do for you? I am blessed and fulfilled by the cause of your arrival.'
इति राज्ञो वचः श्रुत्वा प्रोवाच मुनिसत्तमः । अद्याश्चर्यं मया दृष्टं देवलोके नृपोत्तम
Hearing the king's words, the best of sages replied: 'Today I have witnessed a wonder in the world of the gods, O best of kings.'
तन्निवेदयितुं प्राप्तस्त्वत्सकाशे सुविस्मितः । पिता ते दुर्गतिं प्राप्तो निजकर्मविपर्ययात्
'I have come to you, amazed, to report this: your father fell into misfortune due to the reversal of his own deeds.'
स एवायं दिव्यरूपवपुर्भूत्वाधुनैव हि । देवदेवैः स्तुतः सम्यगप्सरोभिः समन्ततः
'Now, having assumed a divine form, he is praised by the gods and surrounded on all sides by the Apsaras.'
विमानवरमारुह्य मणिद्वीपं गतोऽभवत् । देवीभागवतस्यास्य श्रवणोत्थफलेन च
'Ascending a splendid celestial chariot, he has gone to the jeweled island, as the result of hearing this Devi Bhagavata.'
अम्बामखफलेनापि पिता ते सुगतिं गतः । धन्योऽसि कृतकृत्योऽसि जीवितं सफलं तव
'By the fruit of the Ambika sacrifice as well, your father has attained a good state. You are blessed, accomplished, and your life is fruitful.'
नरकादुद्धृतस्तातस्त्वया तु कुलभूषण । देवलोके स्फीतकीर्तिस्तवाद्य विपुलाभवत्
'Your father has been lifted from hell by you, O ornament of your lineage; today your fame has become great in the world of the gods.'
सूत उवाच नारदोक्तं समाकर्ण्य प्रेमगद्गदितान्तरः । पपात पादाम्बुजयोर्व्यासस्याद्भुतकर्मणः
Suta said: Hearing Narada's words, his heart overflowing with love, he fell at the lotus feet of Vyasa, performer of wondrous deeds.
तवानुग्रहतो देव कृतार्थोऽहं महामुने । किं मया प्रतिकर्तव्यं नमस्कारादृते तव
'By your grace, O sage, I am fulfilled; what can I do in return for you, except offer my salutations?'
अनुग्राह्यः सदैवाहमेवमेव त्वया मुने । इति राज्ञो वचः श्रुत्वाप्याशीर्भिरभिनन्द्य च
'I am always to be favored by you in this way, O sage.' Hearing the king's words, he blessed him and rejoiced.
उवाच वचनं श्लक्ष्णं भगवान् बादरायणः । राजन्सर्वं परित्यज्य भज देवीपदाम्बुजम्
The blessed Badarayana spoke gentle words: 'O king, renounce everything and worship the lotus feet of the goddess.'
देवीभागवतं चैव पठ नित्यं समाहितः । अम्बामखं सदा भक्त्या कुरु नित्यमतन्द्रितः
'Recite the Devi Bhagavata always with concentration, and perform the Ambika sacrifice constantly with devotion and diligence.'
अनायासेन तेन त्वं मोक्ष्यसे भवबन्धनात् । सन्त्यन्यानि पुराणानि हरिरुद्रमुखानि च
'By this, you will easily be freed from the bondage of worldly existence. There are other Puranas as well, concerning Hari and Rudra.'
देवीभागवतस्यास्य कलां नार्हन्ति षोडशीम् । सारमेतत्पुराणानां वेदानां चैव सर्वशः
Not even a sixteenth part of the Devī Bhāgavata can be matched by the other Purāṇas or by all the Vedas in their entirety; this is their very essence.
मूलप्रकृतिरेवैषा यत्र तु प्रतिपाद्यते । समं तेन पुराणं स्यात्कथमन्यन्नृपोत्तम
This alone is the original Prakṛti, which is established here; how can any other Purāṇa be equal to it, O best of kings?