पीडाऽथ भूपतिभयं ज्ञानप्राप्तिः क्रमात्फलम् । पुराणश्रवणे चक्रं शोधयेच्छिवभाषितम्
Then, relief from suffering, fear of rulers, attainment of knowledge, and other fruits occur in sequence; in the hearing of the Purana, purify the circle as spoken by Shiva.
अथवा प्रीतये देव्या नवरात्रचतुष्टये । शृणुयादन्यमासेऽपि तिथिवारर्क्षशोधिते
Alternatively, for the pleasure of the Goddess, one may listen during any month, especially in the four Navaratri festivals, after purifying the date, day, and star.
संभारं तादृशं कार्यं विवाहादौ च यादृशम् । नवाह्यज्ञे चाप्यस्मिन्विधेयं यत्नतो बुधैः
The necessary arrangements should be made, as are done for weddings and other ceremonies; in this sacrifice, the wise should perform all required acts with care.
सहाया बहवः कार्या दम्भलोभविवर्जिताः । चतुराश्च वदान्याश्च देवीभक्तिपरा नराः
Many companions should be engaged, free from deceit and greed, clever and generous, devoted to the Goddess.
प्रेष्या यत्नेन वार्तेयं देशे देशे जने जने । आगन्तव्यमिहावश्यं कथा देव्या भविष्यति
Messengers should diligently spread the word in every region and among all people; everyone must come here, for the Goddess's narrative will take place.
सौराश्च गाणपत्याश्च शैवाः शाक्ताश्च वैष्णवाः । सर्वेषामपि सेव्येयं यतो देवाः सशक्तयः
Followers of Surya, Ganapati, Shiva, Shakti, and Vishnu—all should participate, for the gods together with their powers are served here.
श्रीमद्देवीभागवतपीयूषरसलोलुपैः । आगंतव्यं विशेषेण कथार्थं प्रेमतत्परैः
Those who are eager for the nectar-like essence of the glorious Devi Bhagavata, especially those devoted to love for the narrative, should come.
ब्राह्मणाद्याश्च ये वर्णाः स्त्रियश्चाश्रमिणस्तथा । सकामाश्चापि निष्कामाः पातव्यं तैः कथामृतम्
Brahmins and other castes, women, and those in various stages of life, whether desiring or free from desire, should drink the nectar of the narrative.
नावकाशः कदाचित्स्यान्नवाहश्रवणेऽपि तैः । आगंतव्यं यथाकालं यज्ञे पुण्या क्षणस्थितिः
At no time should there be any opportunity for them even to hear about eating; they should arrive at the proper time for the sacrifice, and their stay should be only for a meritorious moment.
विनयेनैव कर्त्तव्यमेवमाकारणं नृणाम् । आगतानां च कर्त्तव्यं वासस्थानं यथोचितम्
All such matters concerning people should be conducted only with humility; and for those who have arrived, suitable places for lodging should be arranged as appropriate.
कथास्थानं प्रकर्त्तव्यं भूमौ मार्जनपूर्वकम् । लेपनं गोमयेनाथ विशालायां मनोरमम्
The place for the narration should be prepared on the ground, after first cleaning it; it should be smeared with cow dung, and in a spacious and pleasing area.
कार्यस्तु मण्डपो रम्यो रंभास्तंभोपशोभितः । वितानमुपरिष्ठात्तु पताकाध्वज राजितः
A beautiful pavilion should be constructed, adorned with plantain pillars; above, it should be decorated with canopies, banners, and flags.
वक्तुश्चैवासनं दिव्यं सुखास्तरणसंयुतम् । रचितव्यं प्रयत्नेन प्राङ्मुखं वाप्युदङ्मुखम्
A divine seat, furnished with comfortable coverings, should be carefully arranged for the speaker, facing either east or north.
यथोचितानि कुर्वीत श्रोतॄणामासनानि च । नृणां चैवाथ नारीणां कथाश्रवणहेतवे
Appropriate seats should also be provided for the listeners, both men and women, for the purpose of hearing the narration.
वाग्मी दांतश्च शास्त्रज्ञो देव्याराधनतत्परः । दयालुनिस्पृहो दक्षो धीरो वक्तोत्तमो मतः
The best speaker is considered to be eloquent, self-controlled, learned in scripture, devoted to the worship of the Goddess, compassionate, unattached, skillful, and steadfast.
ब्रह्मण्यो देवताभक्तः कथारसपरायणः । उदारोऽलोलुपो नम्रः श्रोता हिंसादिवर्जितः
The listener should be devoted to Brahman, a worshipper of the gods, intent on the essence of the narration, generous, not greedy, humble, and free from violence and the like.
पाखण्डनिरतो लुब्धः स्त्रैणो धर्मध्वजस्तथा । निष्ठुरः क्रोधनो वक्ता देवीयज्ञे न शस्यते
One who is engaged in heresy, greedy, lustful, a hypocrite, harsh, or prone to anger is not recommended as a speaker in the sacrifice to the Goddess.
संशयच्छेदनायैक: पण्डितश्च तथागुणः । श्रोतृबोधकृदव्यग्रः कार्य्यो वक्तुः सहायकृत्
For resolving doubts, there should be a learned and virtuous person, who instructs the listeners, remains undistracted, and serves as an assistant to the speaker.
मुहूर्तं दिवसादर्वाग्वक्तृश्रोतादिभिर्जनैः । कर्त्तव्यं क्षौरकर्मादि ततो नियमकल्पनम्
At an auspicious time during the day, the speaker, listeners, and others should perform shaving and similar rites, and then undertake the prescribed observances.
अरुणोदयवेलायां स्नायाच्छौचं विधाय च । संध्या तर्पणकार्यं च नित्यं संक्षेपतश्चरेत्
At sunrise, after bathing and performing purification, one should briefly carry out the daily rites of twilight worship and offerings to the ancestors.
कथाश्रवणयोग्यत्वसिद्धये गाश्च दापयेत् । समस्तविघ्नहर्तारमादौ गणपतिं यजेत्
To attain fitness for hearing the narration, cows should be given as gifts, and at the outset, Ganapati should be worshipped as the remover of all obstacles.
कलशांश्चापि संस्थाप्य पूजयेत्तत्र दिग्भवान् । वटुकं क्षेत्रपालं च योगिनीर्मातृकास्तथा
After installing water pots, one should worship the guardians of the directions there, as well as the boy-deity, the protector of the field, the Yoginis, and the Mothers.
तुलसीं चापि संपूज्य ग्रहान्विष्णुं च शंकरम् । नवाक्षरेण मनुना पूजयेज्जगदम्बिकाम्
Having worshipped the tulasi plant, the planets, Vishnu, and Shankara, one should worship the World-Mother with the nine-syllabled mantra.
सर्वोपचारैः संपूज्य श्रीभागवतपुस्तकम् । श्रीदेव्या वाङ्मयीं मूर्तिं यथावच्छोभनाक्षरम्
Having worshipped the sacred Bhāgavata book with all offerings, one should properly honor the Goddess's embodiment in words, with beautiful and auspicious letters.
कथाविघ्नोपशांत्यर्थं वृणुयात्तं च वाडवान् । जाप्यो नवार्णमंत्रस्तैः पाठ्यः सप्तशतीस्तवः
To remove obstacles to the narration, one should choose a learned Brahmin; the nine-syllabled mantra should be recited, as well as the Saptaśatī hymn.
प्रदक्षिणनमस्कारान्कृत्वांते स्तुतिमाचरेत् । कात्यायनि महामाये भवानि भुवनेश्वरि
After performing circumambulation and salutations, one should finally recite the hymn: 'O Kātyāyanī, Great Power, Bhavānī, Sovereign of the Worlds.'
संसारसागरे मग्नं मामुद्धर कृपामये । ब्रह्मविष्णुशिवाराध्ये प्रसीद जगदंबिके
O Compassionate One, lift me up who am sunk in the ocean of worldly existence; O Mother of the Universe, worshipped by Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva, be gracious.
मनोभिलषितं देवि वरं देहि नमोऽस्तु ते । इति संप्रार्थ्य शृणुयात्कथां नियतमानसः
O Goddess, grant the boon my mind desires; I bow to you. Having thus prayed, one should listen to the story with a steady mind.
वक्तारं चापि संपूज्य व्यासबुद्ध्या तदात्मवान् । माल्यालंकारवस्त्राद्यैः संभूष्य' प्रार्थयेच्च तम्
One should also duly honor the narrator, regarding him as Vyasa, adorning him with garlands, ornaments, cloth, and the like, and then request him.
सर्वशास्त्रेतिहासज्ञ व्यासरूप नमोऽस्तु ते । कथाचंद्रोदयेनांतस्तमःस्तोमं निराकुरु ॥ ३५ तदग्रे तु नवाहान्तं कर्त्तव्या नियमास्तदा । विप्रादीनुपवेश्यादौ संपूज्योपविशेत्स्वयम्
O knower of all scriptures and histories, embodiment of Vyasa, I bow to you. Dispel the dense darkness within by the moonrise of the story. Thereafter, for nine days, the prescribed observances should be performed; first, having seated and honored the Brahmins and others, one should sit down oneself.