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?
स्वाहा स्वधा नाम मनुप्रभावै- स्तृप्यन्ति देवाः पितरस्तथैव । यज्ञेषु सर्वेषु मुदा हरन्ति यन्नाम युग्मश्रुतिभिर्मुनीन्द्राः
By the power of the mantras svāhā and svadhā, the gods and ancestors are satisfied in the same way; in all sacrifices, they joyfully receive what is offered in their names, which the great sages recite with both ears.
यस्येच्छया सृजति विश्वमिदं प्रजेशो नानावतारकलनं कुरुते हरिश्च । नूनं करोति जगतः किल भस्म शम्भु- स्तां शर्मदां न भजते नु कथं मनुष्यः
By whose will the Lord of creatures creates this universe, and Hari takes on various incarnations, and surely Śambhu can reduce the world to ashes—how could a human not worship Her, the giver of happiness?
नैकोऽस्ति सर्वभुवनेषु तया विहीनो देवो नरोऽथ विहगः किल पन्नगो वा । गन्धर्वराक्षसपिशाचनगेषु नूनं यः स्पन्दितुं भवति शक्तियुतो यथेच्छम्
There is not a single god, human, bird, or serpent in all the worlds who exists without Her; indeed, among gandharvas, rākṣasas, piśācas, and nāgas, whoever is able to move according to their will does so by Her power.
तां न सेवेत कश्चण्डीं सर्वकामार्थदां शिवाम् । व्रतं तस्या न कः कुर्याद्वाञ्छन्नर्थचतुष्टयम्
Who would not serve that Caṇḍī, the auspicious one who grants all desired objects? Who would not undertake a vow to her, desiring the four aims of life?
महापातकसंयुक्तो नवरात्रव्रतं चरेत् । मुच्यते सर्वपापेभ्यो नात्र कार्या विचारणा
Even one burdened with great sins who observes the Navarātra vow is freed from all sins—there is no doubt about this.
पुरा कश्चिद्वणिग्दीनो धनहीनः सुदुःखितः । कुटुम्बी चाभवत्कश्चित् कोसले नृपसत्तम
Long ago, there was a poor merchant, destitute and deeply troubled; and there was also a householder in Kosala, O best of kings.
अपत्यानि बहून्यस्याभवन्क्षुत्पीडितानि च । भक्ष्यं किञ्चित्तु सायाह्ने प्रापुस्तस्य च बालकाः
He had many children who were tormented by hunger; in the evening, his children obtained only a little food.
भुङ्क्ते स्म कार्यकर्ताऽसौ परस्याथ बुभुक्षितः । कुटुम्बभरणं तत्र चकारातिनिराकुलः
He, the head of the household, would eat, though still hungry, and with great difficulty managed to provide for his family.
सदा धर्मरतः शान्तः सदाचारश्च सत्यवाक् । अक्रोधनश्च धृतिमान्निर्मदश्चानसूयकः
He was always devoted to righteousness, peaceful, of good conduct, truthful in speech, free from anger, steadfast, humble, and without envy.
सम्पूज्य देवता नित्यं पितॄनप्यतिथींस्तथा । भुञ्जाने पोष्यवर्गेऽथ कृतवान्भोजनं वणिक्
He daily honored the gods, ancestors, and guests; after feeding those he was bound to support, the merchant would then take his own meal.