काली कालयते सर्वं ब्रह्माण्डं सचराचरम् । कल्पान्तसमये या तां कालिकां पूजयाम्यहम्
Kali, who measures out all the universe, both moving and unmoving, at the end of the aeon—I worship that Kalika.
तां चण्डपापहरणीं चण्डिकां पूजयाम्यहम्
I worship that Chandika who destroys terrible sins.
अकारणात्समुत्पत्तिर्यन्मयैः परिकीर्तिता । यस्यास्तां सुखदां देवीं शाम्भवीं पूजयाम्यहम्
She whose origin is said by the wise to be without cause, who bestows happiness—I worship that goddess Shambhavi.
दुर्गात्त्रायति भक्तं या सदा दुर्गातिनाशिनी । दुर्ज्ञेया सर्वदेवानां तां दुर्गां पूजयाम्यहम्
She who always saves the devotee from danger, who destroys difficulties, who is hard to know even for all the gods—I worship that Durga.
सुभद्राणि च भक्तानां कुरुते पूजिता सदा । अभद्रनाशिनीं देवीं सुभद्रां पूजयाम्यहम्
She who always brings auspiciousness to devotees when worshipped, who destroys inauspiciousness—I worship that goddess Subhadra.
एभिर्मन्त्रैः पूजनीयाः कन्यकाः सर्वदा बुधैः । वस्त्रालङ्करणैर्माल्यैर्गन्धैरुच्चावचैरपि
With these mantras, maidens should always be worshipped by the wise, with garments, ornaments, garlands, fragrances, whether simple or elaborate.
देवीपूजामहत्त्ववर्णनम् व्यास उवाच हीनाङ्गीं वर्जयेत्कन्यां कुष्ठयुक्तां व्रणाङ्किताम् । गन्धस्फुरितहीनाङ्गीं विशालकुलसम्भवाम्
One should avoid a maiden who is deformed, afflicted with leprosy, marked by wounds, lacking fragrance or with swollen limbs, or born in a widely known family.
जात्यन्धां केकरां काणां कुरूपां बहुरोमशाम् । सन्त्यजेद्रोगिणीं कन्यां रक्तपुष्पादिनाङ्किताम्
One should reject a maiden who is blind by birth, has a shrill voice, is one-eyed, ugly, excessively hairy, diseased, or marked by red flowers and the like.
क्षामां गर्भसमुद्भूतां गोलकां कन्यकोद्भवाम् । वर्जनीयाः सदा चैताः सर्वपूजादिकर्मसु
One who is emaciated, born from pregnancy complications, or of round form, or born from a maiden—these should always be avoided in all acts of worship and the like.
अरोगिणीं सुरूपाङ्गीं सुन्दरीं व्रणवर्जिताम् । एकवंशसमुद्भूतां कन्यां सम्यक्प्रपूजयेत्
A maiden who is healthy, with beautiful limbs, lovely, free from wounds, and born in a single lineage, should be properly worshipped.
ब्राह्मणी सर्वकार्येषु जयार्थे नृपवंशजा । लाभार्थे वैश्यवंशोत्था मता वा शूद्रवंशजा
A Brahmin maiden is for all rites aiming at victory, one born in a royal line for kingship, one from a merchant family for gain, and one from a Shudra family as desired.
ब्राह्मणैर्ब्रह्मजाः पूज्या राजन्यैर्ब्रह्मवंशजाः । वैश्यैस्त्रिवर्गजाः पूज्याश्चतस्रः पादसम्भवैः
Brahmin girls are to be worshipped by Brahmins, those of royal lineage by Kshatriyas, those born in merchant families by Vaishyas, and the four types by those of corresponding origins.
कारुभिश्चैव वंशोत्था यथायोग्यं प्रपूजयेत् । नवरात्रविधानेन भक्तिपूर्वं सदैव हि
One should worship, according to propriety, with artisans and those born in the lineage, always with devotion, following the procedure of Navaratri.
अशक्तो नियतं पूजां कर्तुञ्चेन्नवरात्रके । अष्टम्यां च विशेषेण कर्तव्यं पूजनं सदा
If one is unable to perform regular worship during Navaratri, then especially on the eighth day, worship must always be done.
पुराऽष्टम्यां भद्रकाली दक्षयज्ञविनाशिनी । प्रादुर्भूता महाघोरा योगिनी कोटिभिः सह
Long ago, on the eighth day, Bhadrakali, the destroyer of Daksha's sacrifice, appeared, most fierce, together with millions of yoginis.
अतोऽष्टम्यां विशेषेण कर्तव्यं पूजनं सदा । नानाविधोपहारैश्च गन्धमाल्यानुलेपनैः
Therefore, worship must always be performed especially on the eighth day, with various offerings, fragrant substances, garlands, and unguents.
पायसैरामिषैर्होमैर्ब्राह्मणानां च भोजनैः । फलपुष्पोपहारैश्च तोषयेज्जगदम्बिकाम्
With sweet rice, meat, fire offerings, and feeding Brahmins, as well as offerings of fruits and flowers, one should please Jagadambika.
उपवासे ह्यशक्तानां नवरात्रव्रते पुनः । उपोषणत्रयं प्रोक्तं यथोक्तफलदं नृप
For those unable to fast during the Navaratri vow, three days of fasting are prescribed, which yield the stated results, O king.
सप्तम्यां च तथाऽष्टम्यां नवम्यां भक्तिभावतः । त्रिरात्रकरणात्सर्वं फलं भवति पूजनात्
On the seventh, eighth, and ninth days, with devotion, by performing the three-day observance, all the fruits of worship are obtained.
पूजाभिश्चैव होमैश्च कुमारिपूजनैस्तथा । सम्पूर्णं तद्व्रतं प्रोक्तं विप्राणां चैव भोजनैः
With worship, fire offerings, and the worship of maidens, as well as feeding Brahmins, the vow is said to be complete.
व्रतानि यानि चान्यानि दानानि विविधानि च । नवरात्रव्रतस्यास्य नैव तुल्यानि भूतले
Whatever other vows and various gifts there may be, none on earth are equal to the Navaratri vow.
धनधान्यप्रदं नित्यं सुखसन्तानवृद्धिदम् । आयुरारोग्यदं चैव स्वर्गदं मोक्षदं तथा
It always bestows wealth and grain, increases happiness and progeny, grants longevity and health, and also gives heaven and liberation.
विद्यार्थी वा धनार्थी वा पुत्रार्थी वा भवेन्नरः । तेनेदं विधिवत्कार्यं व्रतं सौभाग्यदं शिवम्
Whether a man desires knowledge, wealth, or sons, he should properly perform this auspicious vow, which bestows good fortune.
विद्यार्थी सर्वविद्यां वै प्राप्नोति व्रतसाधनात् । राजभ्रष्टो नृपो राज्यं समवाप्नोति सर्वदा
A seeker of knowledge attains all knowledge through the observance of the vow; a king deprived of his kingdom always regains his realm.
पूर्वजन्मनि यैर्नूनं न कृतं व्रतमुत्तमम् । ते व्याधिनो दरिद्राश्च भवन्ति पुत्रवर्जिताः
Those who certainly did not perform this excellent vow in a previous birth become afflicted with disease, poverty, and are deprived of children.
वन्ध्या च या भवेन्नारी विधवा धनवर्जिता । अनुमा तत्र कर्तव्या नेयं कृतवती व्रतम्
A woman who is barren, widowed, or deprived of wealth should be understood as one who did not perform the vow.
नवरात्रव्रतं प्रोक्तं न कृतं येन भूतले । स कथं विभवं प्राप्य मोदते च तथा दिवि
Whoever on earth has not performed the Navaratri vow, how can he, having attained prosperity, rejoice either here or in heaven?
रक्तचन्दनसंमिश्रैः कोमलैर्बिल्वपत्रकैः । भवानी पूजिता येन स भवेन्नृपतिः क्षितौ
He who worships Bhavani with tender bilva leaves mixed with red sandalwood becomes a king upon the earth.
नाराधिता येन शिवा सनातनी दुःखार्तिहा सिद्धिकरी जगद्वरा । दुःखावृतः शत्रुयुतश्च भूतले नूनं दरिद्रो भवतीह मानवः
He who has not worshipped Shiva, the eternal, remover of suffering, bestower of success, and supreme in the world, surely becomes poor, afflicted by sorrow and enemies on earth.
यां विष्णुरिन्द्रो हरपद्मजौ तथा वह्निः कुबेरो वरुणो दिवाकरः । ध्यायन्ति सर्वार्थसमाप्तिनन्दिता- स्तां किं मनुष्या न भजन्ति चण्डिकाम्
Her whom Vishnu, Indra, Hara, Brahma, Agni, Kubera, Varuna, and the Sun meditate upon, fulfilled in all desires and rejoicing, why do humans not worship Chandika?