स्वप्ने पश्यत्यसौ देवीं विष्णुमायामखण्डिताम् । विश्वमातरमव्यक्तां सर्वसम्पत्कराम्बिकाम्
In a dream, he beheld the Goddess—Vishnumaya, undivided, the Mother of the Universe, unmanifest, Ambika who bestows all prosperity.
शृङ्गवेरपुराध्यक्षो निषादः समुपेत्य तम् । ददौ रथवरं तस्मै सर्वोपस्करसंयुतम्
Then, the chief of the Nishadas from the city of Sringavera approached him and gave him a splendid chariot equipped with all accessories.
चतुर्भिस्तुरगैर्युक्तं पताकावरमण्डितम् । जैत्रं राजसुतं ज्ञात्वा ददौ चोपायनं तदा
The chariot was yoked with four horses and adorned with excellent banners; recognizing him as the prince, he presented this as a gift of honor.
सोऽपि जग्राह तं प्रीत्या मित्रत्वेन सुसंस्थितम् । वन्यैर्मूलफलैः सम्यगर्चयामास शम्बरम्
He too accepted it gladly, regarding him as a true friend, and properly honored Shambara with wild roots and fruits.
कृतातिथ्ये गते तस्मिन्निषादाधिपतौ तदा । मुनयः प्रीतियुक्तास्ते तमूचुस्तापसा मिथः
When the Nishada chief, having been received as a guest, departed, the ascetics, filled with affection, spoke to him among themselves.
राजपुत्र ध्रुवं राज्यं प्राप्स्यसि त्वं च सर्वथा । स्वल्पैरहोभिरव्यग्रः प्रतापान्नात्र संशयः
"Prince, you will certainly obtain the kingdom very soon; be free from anxiety and confident in your prowess—there is no doubt about this."
प्रसन्ना तेऽम्बिका देवी वरदा विश्वमोहिनी । सहायस्तु सुसम्पन्नो न चिन्तां कुरु सुव्रत
"Ambika, the Goddess, is pleased with you, O steadfast one, and grants boons, enchanting the world. Your ally is well-endowed; do not worry."
मनोरमां तथोचुस्ते मुनयः संशितव्रताः । पुत्रस्तेऽद्य धराधीशो भविष्यति शुचिस्मिते
The ascetics, firm in their vows, also said to Manorama: "Today your son, O bright-smiling one, will become lord of the earth."
सा तानुवाच तन्वङ्गी वचनं वोऽस्तु सत्फलम् । दासोऽयं भवतां विप्राः किं चित्रं सदुपासनात्
The slender-limbed lady replied to them: "May your words bear good fruit. I am your servant, O Brahmins—what wonder comes from true devotion?"
न सैन्यं सचिवाः कोशो न सहायश्च कश्चन । केन योगेन पुत्रो मे राज्यं प्राप्तुमिहार्हति
"There is no army, no ministers, no treasury, nor any ally—by what means can my son be worthy to obtain the kingdom here?"
आशीर्वादैश्च वो नूनं पुत्रोऽयं मे महीपतिः । भविष्यति न सन्देहो भवन्तो मन्त्रवित्तमाः
"Surely, by your blessings, my son will become king—there is no doubt. You are all most learned in mantras."
व्यास उवाच रथारूढः स मेधावी यत्र याति सुदर्शनः । अक्षौहिणीसमावृत्त इवाभाति स तेजसा
Vyasa said: Mounted on the chariot, that wise Sudarshana shone with splendor wherever he went, like one surrounded by an entire army division.
प्रतापो मन्त्रबीजस्य नान्यः कश्चन भूपते । एवं वै जपतस्तस्य प्रीतियुक्तस्य सर्वथा
O King, there is no power like that of the mantra-seed; thus, as he chanted with complete devotion, it was so.
सम्प्राप्य सद्गुरोर्बीजं कामराजाख्यमद्भुतम् । जपेद्यस्तु शुचिः शान्तः सर्वान्कामानवाप्नुयात्
Having obtained the wondrous Kamaraja seed from the true teacher, whoever is pure and peaceful and recites it attains all desires.
न तदस्ति पृथिव्यां वा दिवि वापि सुदुर्लभम् । प्रसन्नायाः शिवायाश्च यदप्राप्यं नृपोत्तम
There is nothing on earth or in heaven that is truly unattainable for one who has the favor of Shiva and the Goddess, O best of kings.
ते मन्दास्तेऽतिदुर्भाग्या रोगैस्ते समभिद्रुताः । येषां चित्ते न विश्वासो भवेदम्बार्चनादिषु
Those who lack faith in the worship of the Mother are dull, extremely unfortunate, and afflicted by disease.
या माता सर्वदेवानां युगादौ परिकीर्तिता । आदिमातेति विख्याता नाम्ना तेन कुरूद्वह
She who, at the beginning of the ages, is proclaimed as the Mother of all the gods, is renowned as the Primal Mother by name, O best of the Kurus.
बुद्धिः कीर्तिर्धृतिर्लक्ष्मीः शक्तिः श्रद्धा मतिः स्मृतिः । सर्वेषां प्राणिनां सा वै प्रत्यक्षं वै विभासते
Intelligence, fame, fortitude, prosperity, power, faith, discernment, and memory—she alone shines forth manifestly in all living beings as these.
न जानन्ति नरा ये वै मोहिता मायया किल । न भजन्ति कुतर्कज्ञा देवीं विश्वेश्वरीं शिवाम्
Those men who are deluded by her Māyā truly do not know her, and, being attached to false reasoning, do not worship the Divine Lady, the Ruler of the Universe, the Auspicious One.
ब्रह्मा विष्णुस्तथा शम्भुर्वासवो वरुणो यमः । वायुरग्निः कुबेरश्च त्वष्टा पूषाश्विनौ भगः
Brahmā, Viṣṇu, Śambhu, the Vasus, Varuṇa, Yama, Vāyu, Agni, Kubera, Tvaṣṭṛ, Pūṣan, the Aśvins, and Bhaga—
आदित्या वसवो रुद्रा विश्वेदेवा मरुद्गणाः । सर्वे ध्यायन्ति तां देवीं सृष्टिस्थित्यन्तकारिणीम्
The Ādityas, Vasus, Rudras, Viśvadevas, and hosts of Maruts—all meditate upon that Goddess who creates, sustains, and dissolves the universe.
को न सेवेत विद्वान्वै तां शक्तिं परमात्मिकाम् । सुदर्शनेन सा ज्ञाता देवी सर्वार्थदा शिवा
Who, being wise, would not serve that Supreme Power? By Sudarśana she was known—the Goddess, the Auspicious One, who grants all desires.
ब्रह्मैव साऽतिदुष्प्राप्या विद्याविद्यास्वरूपिणी । योगगम्या परा शक्तिर्मुमुक्षूणां च वल्लभा
She is verily Brahman, exceedingly difficult to attain, embodying both knowledge and ignorance, accessible through yoga, the supreme power, and beloved of those who seek liberation.
परमात्मस्वरूपं को वेत्तुमर्हति तां विना । या सृष्टिं त्रिविधां कृत्वा दर्शयत्यखिलात्मने
Who is able to know the true nature of the Supreme Self without her, who, having created the threefold world, reveals it to all beings?
सुदर्शनस्तु तां देवीं मनसा परिचिन्तयन् । राज्यलाभात्परं प्राप्य सुखं वै कानने स्थितः
Sudarśana, contemplating that Goddess in his mind, attained happiness greater than kingship, dwelling in the forest.
सापि चन्द्रकलात्यर्थं कामबाणप्रपीडिता । नानोपचारैरनिशं दधार दुःखितं वपुः
She, overwhelmed by the crescent moon’s beauty and pierced by the arrows of desire, endured various attentions day and night, bearing a sorrowful form.
तावत्तस्याः पिता ज्ञात्वा कन्यां पुत्रवरार्थिनीम् । सुबाहुः कारयामास स्वयंवरमतन्द्रितः
Meanwhile, her father, knowing his daughter desired an excellent husband, diligently arranged a svayaṃvara for her.
स्वयंवरस्तु त्रिविधो विद्वद्भिः परिकीर्तितः । राज्ञां विवाहयोग्यौ वै नान्येषां कथितः किल
The learned declare that there are three kinds of svayaṃvara, but only two are considered suitable for the marriage of kings, not for others.
इच्छास्वयंवरश्चैको द्वितीयश्च पणाभिधः । यथा रामेण भग्नं वै त्र्यम्बकस्य शरासनम्
One is the svayaṃvara of choice, the second is called the wager, as when Rāma broke the bow of Tryambaka.
तृतीयः शौर्यशुल्कश्च शूराणां परिकीर्तितः । इच्छास्वयंवरं तत्र चकार नृपसत्तमः
The third, known as the valor-price, is spoken of among heroes. There, the best of kings arranged a svayaṃvara of choice.