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.
एवं गच्छति काले वै सुशिलो नामतो गुणैः । दारिद्र्यार्तो द्विजं शान्तं पप्रच्छातिबुभुक्षितः
As time passed in this way, a man named Suśīla, virtuous by nature, afflicted by poverty and extremely hungry, approached a peaceful brāhmaṇa and questioned him.
सुशील उवाच भो भूदेव कृपां कृत्वा वदस्वाद्य महामते । कथं दारिद्र्यनाशः स्यादिति मे निश्चयेन वै
Suśīla said: 'O lord of the earth, please show me compassion and tell me today, O wise one, how can poverty be destroyed? This I ask you with certainty.'
धनैषणा मे नैवास्ति धनी स्यामिति मानद । कुटुम्बभरणार्थं वै पृच्छामि त्वां द्विजोत्तम
'I do not desire wealth for myself, nor do I wish to become rich, O honorable one; I ask you, best of brāhmaṇas, only for the sake of supporting my family.'
पुत्री सुतस्तु मे बालो भक्षार्थी रोदते भृशम् । तावन्मात्रं गृहे नान्नं मुष्टिमेकां ददाम्यहम्
'My daughter and young son cry bitterly for food; there is only enough in the house for a single handful, which I give.'
विसर्जितो यतो गेहाद्गतो बालो रुदन्मया । अतो मे दह्यतेऽत्यर्थं किं करोमि धनं विना
'Because the child, crying, was sent out from the house by me, I am greatly tormented; what can I do without wealth?'
विवाहोऽस्ति सुताया मे नास्ति वित्तं करोमि किम् । दशवर्षाधिकायास्तु दानकालोऽपि यात्यलम्
'There is a marriage for my daughter, but I have no means—what can I do? She is over ten years old, and the time for her marriage is passing by.'
तेन शोचामि विप्रेन्द्र सर्वज्ञोऽसि दयानिधे । तपो दानं व्रतं किञ्चिद्ब्रूहि मन्त्रजपं तथा
'For this reason I grieve, O best of brāhmaṇas; you are all-knowing and an ocean of compassion. Tell me of some austerity, charity, vow, or mantra-recitation.'
येनाहं पोष्यवर्गस्य करोमि द्विज पोषणम् । तावन्मे स्याद्धनप्राप्तिर्नाधिकं प्रार्थये किल
'By which, O brāhmaṇa, I may provide for those dependent on me; let me obtain just enough wealth for this—I do not ask for more.'
त्वत्प्रसादात्कुटुम्बं मे सुखितं प्रभवेदिह । तत्कुरुष्व महाभाग ज्ञानेन परिचिन्त्य च
By your grace, may my family prosper happily here; therefore, O greatly fortunate one, please do this, having considered it with wisdom.
व्यास उवाच इति पृष्टस्तथा तेन ब्राह्मणः संशितव्रतः । उवाच परमप्रीतस्तं वैश्यं नृपसत्तम
Vyāsa said: Thus questioned by him, the brāhmaṇa of firm vows, being greatly pleased, spoke to that Vaiśya, O best of kings.