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.
यत्प्रभावा च सा देवी यत्स्वरुपा यदुद्भवा । सत्सर्वं श्रोतुमिच्छामस्त्वं ब्रूहि नृवरोत्तम
What is the power of that Goddess, what is her true form, and what is her origin? We wish to hear all this; please speak, O best of kings.
व्यास उवाच इति पृष्टस्तदा तैस्तु ध्रुवसन्धिसुतो नृपः । विचिन्त्य मनसा देवीं तानुवाच मुदान्वितः
Vyasa said: Thus questioned by them, the king, son of Dhruvasandhi, after reflecting in his mind on the Goddess, spoke to them with joy.
सुदर्शन उवाच किं ब्रवीमि महीपालास्तस्याश्चरितमुत्तमम् । ब्रह्मादयो न जानन्ति सेशाः सुरगणास्तथा
Sudarshana said: What can I say, O kings, of her supreme deeds? Even Brahma and the other gods, along with the hosts of deities, do not know them.
सर्वस्याद्या महालक्ष्मीर्वरेण्या शक्तिरुत्तमा । सात्त्विकीयं महीपाला जगत्पालनतत्परा
She is the primal Mahalakshmi of all, the most excellent and venerable power, of sattvic nature, O kings, intent on the protection of the world.
सृजते या रजोरूपा सत्त्वरूपा च पालने । संहारे च तमोरूपा त्रिगुणा सा सदा मता
She who creates in the form of rajas, protects in the form of sattva, and destroys in the form of tamas—she is always considered to be threefold in nature.
निर्गुणा परमा शक्तिः सर्वकामफलप्रदा । सर्वेषां कारणं सा हि ब्रह्मादीनां नृपोत्तमाः
She is the supreme power, beyond qualities, bestower of all desired fruits; she is the cause of all, even of Brahma and the others, O best of kings.
निर्गुणा सर्वथा ज्ञातुमशक्या योगिभिर्नृपाः । सगुणा सुखसेव्या सा चिन्तनीया सदा बुधैः
The attribute-less One cannot be known in any way by yogis, O kings; the One with attributes is easily served and should always be contemplated by the wise.
राजान ऊचुः बाल एव वनं प्राप्तस्त्वं तु नूनं भयातुरः । कथं ज्ञाता त्वया देवी परमा शक्तिरुत्तमा
The kings said: You reached the forest while still a child, and surely you were fearful; how did you come to know the supreme Goddess, the highest Power?
उपासिता कथं चैव पूजिता च कथं नृप । या प्रसन्ना तु साहाय्यं चकार त्वरयान्विता
How was She worshipped by you, and how was She honored, O king? When pleased, how did She swiftly grant you assistance?
सुदर्शन उवाच बालभावान्मया प्राप्तं बीजं तस्याः सुसम्मतम् । स्मरामि प्रजपन्नित्यं कामबीजाभिधं नृपाः
Sudarshana said: In my childhood, I received Her seed mantra, which was highly approved; I remember and recite always, O kings, the mantra called the seed of desire.