ब्रह्माऽपि वाञ्छति सदैव हरो हरिश्च सेन्द्राः सुराश्च मुनयो विदितार्थतत्त्वाः । यद्दर्शनं जननि तेऽद्य मया दुरापं प्राप्तं विना दमशमादिसमाधिभिश्च
Even Brahma, Hara, Hari, Indra, the gods, and sages who know the essence of truth always desire your vision, O Mother. Today, I have attained this rare sight of you without the disciplines of self-control, tranquility, and meditation.
क्वाहं सुमन्दमतिराशु तवावलोकं क्वेदं भवानि भवभेषजमद्वितीयम् । ज्ञाताऽसि देवि सततं किल भावयुक्ता भक्तानुकम्पनपरामरवर्गपूज्या
Where am I, with very dull intellect, and where is your vision, O Bhavani, the peerless remedy for existence? You are always known, O Goddess, to those filled with devotion, devoted to compassion for devotees, and worshipped by the hosts of immortals.
किं वर्णयामि तव देवि चरित्रमेतद् यद्रक्षितोऽस्ति विषमेऽत्र सुदर्शनोऽयम् । शत्रू हतौ सुबलिनौ तरसा त्वयाद्य भक्तानुकम्पि चरितं परमं पवित्रम्
What can I describe of your deeds, O Goddess, that Sudarshana has been protected in this peril? The powerful enemies have been slain by you today; your conduct, compassionate to devotees, is supremely pure.
नाश्चर्यमेतदिति देवि विचारितेऽर्थे त्वं पासि सर्वमखिलं स्थिरजङ्गमं वै । त्रातस्त्वया च विनिहत्य रिपुर्दयातः संरक्षितोऽयमधुना ध्रुवसन्धिसूनुः
It is not surprising, O Goddess, when the matter is considered, that you protect all, both moving and unmoving. Having destroyed the enemy, you have rescued him; now the son of Dhruvasandhi is safeguarded by you.
भक्तस्य सेवनपरस्य स्वयशोऽतिदीप्तं कर्तुं भवानि रचितं चरितं त्वयैतत् । नोचेत्कथं सुपरिगृह्य सुतां मदीयां युद्धे भवेत्कुशलवाननवद्यशीलः
For the devotee who serves you, O Bhavani, your own fame is greatly increased by these deeds. Otherwise, how would my daughter, well-versed in battle and of flawless character, be so well received in war?
शक्ताऽसि जन्ममरणादिभयान्विहन्तुं किं चित्रमत्र किल भक्तजनस्य कामम् । त्वं गीयसे जननि भक्तजनैरपारा त्वं पापपुण्यरहिता सगुणाऽगुणा च
You are able to remove the fears of birth, death, and so forth; what wonder is there in this, O Goddess, for the devotee? You are sung by devotees, O Mother, as boundless; you are free from virtue and vice, with and without attributes.
त्वद्दर्शनादहमहो सुकृती कृतार्थो जातोऽस्मि देवि भुवनेश्वरि धन्यजन्मा । बीजं न ते न भजनं किल वेद्मि मात- र्ज्ञातस्तवाद्य महिमा प्रकटप्रभावः
By seeing you, O Goddess, I have become fortunate, fulfilled, born blessed in this world, O Queen of the earth. I do not know your seed or your worship, O Mother, but today your greatness and manifest power are known to me.
व्यास उवाच एवं स्तुता तदा देवी प्रसन्नवदना शिवा । उवाच च नृपं देवी वरं वरय सुव्रत
Vyasa said: Thus praised at that time, the Goddess, with a gracious face, Shiva, spoke to the king: 'Choose a boon, O virtuous one.'
देवीमहिमवर्णनम् व्यास उवाच तस्यास्तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा भवान्याः स नृपोत्तमः । प्रोवाच वचनं तत्र सुबाहुर्भक्तिसंयुतः
Vyasa said: Hearing those words of Bhavani, the best of kings, Subahu, filled with devotion, spoke there.
सुबाहुरुवाच एकतो देवलोकस्य राज्यं भूमण्डलस्य च । एकतो दर्शनं ते वै न च तुल्यं कदाचन
Subahu said: On one side is the sovereignty of the realm of the gods and the earth; on the other, your vision—never can they be equal.
दर्शनात्सदृशं किञ्चित्त्रिषु लोकेषु नास्ति मे । कं वरं देवि याचेऽहं कृतार्थोऽस्मि धरातले
There is nothing in the three worlds equal to the vision of you; what boon should I ask, O Goddess? I am fulfilled upon this earth.
एतदिच्छाम्यहं मातर्याचितुं वाञ्छितं वरम् । तव भक्तिः सदा मेऽस्तु निश्चला ह्यनपायिनी
This alone I wish to request, Mother: may I always have unwavering, unceasing devotion to you.
नगरेऽत्र त्वया मातः स्थातव्यं मम सर्वदा । दुर्गादेवीति नाम्ना वै त्वं शक्तिरिह संस्थिता
In this city, O Mother, you must always remain for my sake; here you are established as Shakti, known by the name Durga Devi.
रक्षा त्वया च कर्तव्या सर्वदा नगरस्य ह । यथा सुदर्शनस्त्रातो रिपुसंघादनामयः
You must always protect this city, just as Sudarshana was protected from hosts of enemies and calamities.
तथाऽत्र रक्षा कर्तव्या वाराणस्यास्त्वयाम्बिके । यावत्पुरी भवेद्भूमौ सुप्रतिष्ठा सुसंस्थिता
In the same way, O Ambika, you must protect Varanasi as long as the city stands firmly established upon the earth.
तावत्त्वयाऽत्र स्थातव्यं दुर्गे देवि कृपानिधे । वरोऽयं मम ते देयः किमन्यत्प्रार्थयाम्यहम्
Therefore, O Durga, O ocean of compassion, you must remain here for that time; grant me this boon—what else could I desire?
विविधान्सकलान्कामान्देहि मे विद्विषो जहि । अभद्राणां विनाशञ्च कुरु लोकस्य सर्वदा
Grant me all kinds of desires, destroy my enemies, and always bring about the destruction of all inauspiciousness in the world.
व्यास उवाच इति सम्प्रार्थिता देवी दुर्गा दुर्गार्तिनाशिनी । तमुवाच नृपं तत्र स्तुत्वा वै संस्थितं पुरः
Vyasa said: Thus petitioned, the Goddess Durga, destroyer of distress, spoke to the king who stood before her, having praised her.
दुर्गोवाच राजन्सदा निवासो मे मुक्तिपुर्यां भविष्यति । रक्षार्थं सर्वलोकानां यावत्तिष्ठति मेदिनी
Durga said: O King, my abode will always be in the city of liberation, for the protection of all the worlds, as long as the earth endures.
अथो सुदर्शनस्तत्र समागत्य मुदान्वितः । प्रणम्य परया भक्त्या तुष्टाव जगदम्बिकाम्
Then Sudarshana, filled with joy, arrived there, bowed with supreme devotion, and praised the Mother of the Universe.
अहो कृपा ये कथयाम्यहं किं त्रातस्त्वया यत्किल भक्तिहीनः । भक्तानुकम्पी सकलो जनोऽस्ति विमुक्तभक्तेरवनं व्रतं ते
Ah, what compassion! What can I say? I have been saved by you, though I was devoid of devotion. You show kindness to all devotees; for those without devotion, the forest is their vow.
त्वं देवि सर्वं सृजसि प्रपञ्चं श्रुतं मया पालयसि स्वसृष्टम् । त्वमत्सि संहारपरे च काले न तेऽत्र चित्रं मम रक्षणं वै
O Goddess, you create all this universe, I have heard; you protect what you have created. At the time of dissolution, you consume it. Therefore, my protection is not surprising.
करोमि किं ते वद देवि कार्यं क्व वा व्रजामीत्यनुमोदयाशु । कार्ये विमूढोऽस्मि तवाज्ञयाऽहं गच्छामि तिष्ठे विहरामि मातः
Tell me, O Goddess, what task should I do for you? Where should I go? With your permission, I will act at once. I am bewildered regarding my duty; by your command, I go, stay, or wander, O Mother.
व्यास उवाच तं तथा भाषमाणं तु देवी प्राह दयान्विता । गच्छायोध्यां महाभाग कुरु राज्यं कुलोचितम्
Vyasa said: As he spoke thus, the compassionate Goddess said to him: Go to Ayodhya, O highly fortunate one, and rule the kingdom of your lineage.
स्मरणीया सदाऽहं ते पूजनीया प्रयत्नतः । शं विधास्याम्यहं नित्यं राज्यं ते नृपसत्तम
You must always remember me and worship me with care; I will always ensure your welfare and your kingdom, O best of kings.
अष्टम्याञ्च चतुर्दश्यां नवम्याञ्च विशेषतः । मम पूजा प्रकर्तव्या बलिदानविधानतः
On the eighth, fourteenth, and especially the ninth days, my worship must be performed, with the prescribed offering of oblations.
अर्चा मदीया नगरे स्थापनीया त्वयाऽनघ । पूजनीया प्रयत्नेन त्रिकालं भक्तिपूर्वकम्
My image must be established by you in the city, O sinless one, and worshipped with devotion three times daily, with utmost care.
शरत्काले महापूजा कर्तव्या मम सर्वदा । नवरात्रविधानेन भक्तिभावयुतेन च
In autumn, my great worship must always be performed, according to the rite of Navaratri, imbued with devotion.
चैत्रेऽश्विने तथाऽऽषाढे माघे कार्यो महोत्सवः । नवरात्रे महाराज पूजा कार्या विशेषतः
In the months of Chaitra, Ashvina, Ashadha, and Magha, a great festival should be held; and especially, O great king, worship should be performed during Navaratri.
कृष्णपक्षे चतुर्दश्यां मम भक्तिसमन्वितैः । कर्तव्या नृपशार्दूल तथाऽष्टम्यां सदा बुधैः
On the fourteenth day of the dark fortnight, with devotion to me, O best of kings, worship should be done; and likewise, always by the wise, on the eighth day.