तौ मृतौ स्वकृतेनैव कारणं त्वं तयोर्न च । नाहं शोचामि तं पुत्रं सदा शोचामि तत्कृतम्
Those two died by their own actions; you were not the cause of their deaths. I do not grieve for that son, but always grieve for what was done.
पुत्र त्वमसि कल्याण भगिनी मे मनोरमा । न क्रोधो न च शोको मे त्वयि पुत्र मनागपि
Son, you are auspicious, and my sister is Manorama; I have neither anger nor sorrow toward you, not even the slightest.
कुरु राज्यं महाभाग प्रजाः पालय सुव्रत । भगवत्याः प्रसादेन प्राप्तमेतदकण्टकम्
Rule the kingdom, O greatly fortunate one, protect the subjects, O virtuous one; by the grace of the Goddess, you have obtained this realm free from affliction.
तदाकर्ण्य वचो मातुर्नत्वा तां नृपनन्दनः । जगाम भवनं रम्यं यत्र पूर्वं मनोरमा
Hearing his mother's words, the prince bowed to her and went to his delightful palace, where he had previously resided.
न्यवसत्तत्र गत्वा तु सर्वानाहूय मन्त्रिणः । दैवज्ञानथ पप्रच्छ मुहूर्तं दिवसं शुभम्
Arriving there, he summoned all his ministers, then asked the astrologers about an auspicious moment and day.
सिंहासनं तथा हैमं कारयित्वा मनोहरम् । सिंहासने स्थितां देवीं पूजयिष्ये सदाऽप्यहम्
Having a splendid golden throne made, I will always worship the Goddess seated upon the throne.
स्थापयित्वाऽऽसने देवीं धर्मार्थकाममोक्षदाम् । राज्यं पश्चात्करिष्यामि यथा रामादिभिः कृतम्
Placing the Goddess upon the seat, who grants righteousness, wealth, pleasure, and liberation, I will then rule the kingdom as was done by Rama and others.
पूजनीया सदा देवी सर्वैर्नागरिकैर्जनैः । माननीया शिवा शक्तिः सर्वकामार्थसिद्धिदा
The Goddess should always be worshipped by all the citizens; the auspicious Shakti is to be honored, as she grants fulfillment of all desires and aims.
इत्युक्ता मन्त्रिणस्ते तु चक्रुर्वै राजशासनम् । प्रासादं कारयामासुः शिल्पिभिः सुमनोरमम्
Thus instructed, the ministers enacted the royal decree and had a beautiful palace constructed by artisans.
प्रतिमां कारयित्वाऽथ मुहूर्तेऽथ शुभे दिने । द्विजानाहूय वेदज्ञान्स्थापयामास भूपतिः
Having a statue made, then on an auspicious day and moment, the king summoned the Brahmins learned in the Vedas and installed it.
हवनं विधिवत्कृत्वा पूजयित्वाऽथ देवताम् । प्रासादे मतिमान् देव्याः स्थापयामास भूमिपः
Performing the ritual offering according to the prescribed method and worshipping the deity, the wise king placed the Goddess in the palace.
उत्सवस्तत्र संवृत्तो वादित्राणाञ्च निःस्वनैः । ब्राह्मणानां वेदघोषैर्गानैस्तु विधिधैर्नृप
A festival was held there, with the sounds of instruments, the chanting of Vedic hymns by Brahmins, and songs performed according to tradition, O king.
व्यास उवाच प्रतिष्ठाप्य शिवां देवीं विधिवद्वेदवादिभिः । पूजां नानाविधां राजा चकारातिविधानतः
Vyasa said: Having properly installed the auspicious Goddess by Vedic scholars, the king performed various kinds of worship with great care.
कृत्वा पूजाविधिं राजा राज्यं प्राप्य स्वपैतृकम् । विख्यातश्चाम्बिका देवी कोसलेषु बभूव ह
Having performed the worship ritual, the king obtained his ancestral kingdom and became renowned for the Goddess Ambika in Kosala.
राज्यं प्राप्य नृपः सर्वं सामन्तकनृपानथ । वशे चक्रेऽतिधर्मिष्ठान्सद्धर्मविजयी नृपः
Having attained the entire kingdom, the king brought all the subordinate rulers under his control; the king, victorious in righteous conduct, subdued them.
यथा रामः स्वराज्येऽभूद्दिलीपस्य रघुर्यथा । प्रजानां वै सुखं तद्वन्मर्यादाऽपि तथाऽभवत्
Just as Rama was in his own kingdom, and as Raghu was for Dilipa, so was the happiness of the subjects, and the proper order prevailed likewise.
धर्मो वर्णाश्रमाणां च चतुष्पादभवत्तथा । नाधर्मे रमते चित्तं केषामपि महीतले
Righteousness prevailed in all four aspects of the social order and stages of life; no one's mind was inclined toward unrighteousness anywhere on earth.
ग्रामे ग्रामे च प्रासादांश्चक्रुः सर्वे जनाधिपाः । देव्याः पूजा तदा प्रीत्या कोसलेषु प्रवर्तिता
In every village, all the rulers built temples; the worship of the Goddess was then joyfully established throughout Kosala.
सुबाहुरपि काश्यां तु दुर्गायाः प्रतिमां शुभाम् । कारयित्वा च प्रासादं स्थापयामास भक्तितः
Subahu also, in Kashi, had a beautiful image of Durga made, and with devotion installed it in a temple.
तत्र तस्या जनाः सर्वे प्रेमभक्तिपरायणाः । पूजां चक्रुर्विधानेन यथा विश्वेश्वरस्य ह
There, all the people became devoted to love and faith, and performed worship according to the prescribed method, just as for Lord Vishveshvara.
विख्याता सा बभूवाथ दुर्गादेवी धरातले । देशे देशे महाराज तस्या भक्तिर्व्यवर्धत
Then, O King, Durgā Devī became renowned upon the earth; in every region, devotion to her increased.
सर्वत्र भारते लोके सर्ववर्णेषु सर्वथा । भजनीया भवानी तु सर्वेषामभवत्तदा
Throughout the land of Bhārata, among all people and all castes, Bhavānī was to be worshipped by everyone in every way.
शक्तिभक्तिरताः सर्वे मानिनश्चाभवन्नृप । आगमोक्तैरथ स्तोत्रैर्जपध्यानपरायणाः
All became devoted to the worship of Śakti, O King, and were filled with reverence; they engaged in recitation, praise, and meditation as prescribed in the scriptures.
नवरात्रेषु सर्वेषु चक्रुः सर्वे विधानतः । अर्चनं हवनं यागं देव्या भक्तिपरा जनाः
During all the Navarātras, all the devoted people performed worship, offerings, and sacrifices to the Goddess according to the proper rites.
कुमारीपूजावर्णनम् जनमेजय उवाच नवरात्रे तु सम्प्राप्ते किं कर्तव्यं द्विजोत्तम । विधानं विधिवद्ब्रूहि शरत्काले विशेषतः
Description of Kumārī Pūjā Janamejaya said: When Navarātra arrives, O best of twice-born, what should be done? Tell me the proper procedure, especially in the autumn season.
किं फलं खलु कस्तत्र विधिः कार्यो महामते । एतद्विस्तरतो ब्रूहि कृपया द्विजसत्तम
What is the result, what is the prescribed rite, and who should perform it, O wise one? Please explain all this in detail, O best of Brāhmaṇas.
व्यास उवाच शृणु राजन्प्रवक्ष्यामि नवरात्रव्रतं शुभम् । शरत्काले विशेषेण कर्तव्यं विधिपूर्वकम्
Vyāsa said: Listen, O King, I will tell you the auspicious vow of Navarātra, which should be performed with proper rites, especially in the autumn season.
वसन्ते च प्रकर्तव्यं तथैव प्रेमपूर्वकम् । द्वावृतू यमदंष्ट्राख्यौ नूनं सर्वजनेषु वै
It should also be performed in the spring, with devotion in the same manner; these two seasons, known as the fangs of Yama, are indeed difficult for all people.
शरद्वसन्तनामानौ दुर्गमौ प्राणिनामिह । तस्माद्यत्नादिदं कार्यं सर्वत्र शुभमिच्छता
The two seasons called autumn and spring are difficult for living beings here; therefore, one who desires auspiciousness should diligently perform this rite.
द्वावेव सुमहाघोरावृतू रोगकरौ नृणाम् । वसन्तशरदावेव सर्वनाशकरावुभौ
These two seasons, autumn and spring, are extremely dreadful and cause disease among people; both bring about destruction.