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.
व्यास उवाच इत्युक्त्वान्तर्हिता देवी दुर्गा दुर्गार्तिनाशिनी । नता सुदर्शनेनाथ स्तुता च बहुविस्तरम्
Vyasa said: Having spoken thus, the Goddess Durga, destroyer of difficulties, became invisible; and then, having been bowed to by Sudarshana, she was praised at great length.
अन्तर्हितां तु तां दृष्ट्वा राजानः सर्व एव ते । प्रणेमुस्तं समागम्य यथा शक्रं सुरास्तथा
Seeing her become invisible, all those kings together bowed to him, just as the gods bow to Indra.
सुबाहुरपि तं नत्वा स्थितश्चाग्रे मुदान्वितः । ऊचुः सर्वे महीपाला अयोध्याधिपतिं तदा
Subahu also, after bowing to him, stood before him filled with joy; and then all the kings addressed the lord of Ayodhya.
त्वमस्माकं प्रभुः शास्ता सेवकास्ते वयं सदा । कुरु राज्यमयोध्यायां पालयास्मान्नृपोत्तम
You are our lord and ruler; we are always your servants. Rule the kingdom of Ayodhya and protect us, O best of kings.
त्वत्प्रसादान्महाराज दृष्टा विश्वेश्वरी शिवा । आदिशक्तिर्भवानी सा चतुर्वर्गफलप्रदा
By your grace, O great king, the universal Goddess, Shiva, the primordial power, Bhavani, who grants the fruits of the four aims of life, was seen.
धन्यस्त्वं कृतकृत्योऽसि बहुपुण्यो धरातले । यस्माच्च त्वत्कृते देवी प्रादुर्भूता सनातनी
You are blessed, your purpose is fulfilled, and you are greatly virtuous on earth, because for your sake the eternal Goddess manifested.
न जानीमो वयं सर्वे प्रभावं नृपसत्तम । चण्डिकायास्तमोयुक्ता मायया मोहिताः सदा
We all do not know the power of Chandika, O best of kings; always deluded by her maya, filled with darkness.
धनदारसुतानां च चिन्तनेऽभिरताः सदा । मग्ना महार्वणे घोरे कामक्रोधझषाकुले
Always absorbed in thoughts of wealth, wives, and sons, we are immersed in the terrible ocean, filled with the fish of desire and anger.
पृच्छामस्त्वां महाभाग सर्वज्ञोऽसि महामते । केयं शक्तिः कुतो जाता किं प्रभावा वदस्व तत्
We ask you, O greatly fortunate one, you are all-knowing and wise; who is this Shakti, from where did she arise, and what is her power? Please tell us that.
भव त्वं नौश्च संसारे साधवोऽति दयापराः । तस्मान्नो वद काकुत्स्थ देवीमाहात्म्यमुत्तमम्
Be compassionate to us in this world, as the good are exceedingly merciful; therefore, O Kakutstha, tell us the supreme glory of the Goddess.