गुरुणा हृतदारेण कृतमेतन्महाव्रतम् । तस्मात्त्वं कुरु राजेन्द्र रावणस्य वधाय च
This great vow was performed by the preceptor whose wife was taken; therefore, O king of kings, you too should undertake it for the destruction of Ravana.
इन्द्रेण वृत्रनाशाय कृतं व्रतमनुत्तमम् । त्रिपुरस्य विनाशाय शिवेनापि पुरा कृतम्
This unsurpassed vow was performed by Indra for the destruction of Vritra, and formerly by Shiva for the annihilation of Tripura.
हरिणा मधुनाशाय कृतं मेरौ महामते । विधिवत्कुरु काकुत्स्थ व्रतमेतदतन्द्रितः
O wise one, this vow was performed by Hari on Mount Meru for the destruction of Madhu; O descendant of Kakutstha, perform this vow properly and without fatigue.
श्रीराम उवाच का देवी किं प्रभावा सा कुतो जाता किमाह्वया । व्रतं किं विधिवद्ब्रूहि सर्वज्ञोऽसि दयानिधे
Shri Rama said: Who is this Goddess? What is her power? Where was she born, and by what name is she known? Tell me the proper method of the vow, for you are all-knowing and compassionate.
नारद उवाच शृणु राम सदा नित्या शक्तिराद्या सनातनी । सर्वकामप्रदा देवी पूजिता दुःखनाशिनी
Narada said: Listen, O Rama. She is the eternal, primordial Shakti, ever-existent, the bestower of all desires, the Goddess who, when worshipped, destroys all suffering.
कारणं सर्वजन्तूनां ब्रह्मादीनां रघूद्वह । तस्याः शक्तिं विना कोऽपि स्पन्दितुं न क्षमो भवेत्
She is the cause of all beings, including Brahma and the others, O descendant of Raghu. Without her power, no one is able to move.
विष्णोः पालनशक्तिः सा कर्तृशक्तिः पितुर्मम । रुद्रस्य नाशशक्तिः सा त्वन्याशक्तिः परा शिवा
She is the power of preservation for Vishnu, the creative power for my father, and the power of destruction for Rudra; she is the supreme, transcendent Shakti.
यच्च किञ्चित्क्वचिद्वस्तु सदसद्भुवनत्रये । तस्य सर्वस्य या शक्तिस्तदुत्पत्तिः कुतो भवेत्
Whatever exists anywhere, whether manifest or unmanifest, in the three worlds—whatever power belongs to all that, from where could its origin be?
न ब्रह्मा न यदा विष्णुर्न रुद्रो न दिवाकरः । न चेन्द्राद्याः सुराः सर्वे न धरा न धराधराः
At that time, there was neither Brahma, nor Vishnu, nor Rudra, nor the sun; nor all the gods beginning with Indra, nor the earth, nor the mountains.
तदा सा प्रकृतिः पूर्णा पुरुषेण परेण वै । संयुता विहरत्येव युगादौ निर्गुणा शिवा
Then, that complete Prakriti, united with the supreme Purusha, abides, free from qualities and auspicious, at the beginning of the age.
सा भूत्वा सगुणा पश्चात्करोति भुवनत्रयम् । पूर्वं संसृज्य ब्रह्मादीन्दत्त्वा शक्तीश्च सर्वशः
Afterwards, becoming endowed with qualities, she creates the three worlds; first creating Brahma and the others, she bestows all powers upon them.
तां ज्ञात्वा मुच्यते जन्तुर्जन्मसंसारबन्धनात् । सा विद्या परमा ज्ञेया वेदाद्या वेदकारिणी
Knowing her, a being is freed from the bondage of birth and worldly existence; she is the supreme knowledge to be known, the originator of the Vedas and other scriptures.
असंख्यातानि नामानि तस्या ब्रह्मादिभिः किल । गुणकर्मविधानैस्तु कल्पितानि च किं ब्रुवे
Her names are countless, indeed, as conceived by Brahma and the others, based on her qualities and actions—what more can I say?
अकारादिक्षकारान्तैः स्वरैर्वर्णैस्तु योजितैः । असंख्येयानि नामानि भवन्ति रघुनन्दन
O delight of the Raghus, with combinations of vowels and consonants from 'a' to 'ksha', her names are innumerable.
राम उवाच विधिं मे ब्रूहि विप्रर्षे व्रतस्यास्य समासतः । करोम्यद्यैव श्रद्धावाञ्छ्रीदेव्याः पूजनं तथा
Rama said: O best of sages, tell me briefly the procedure for this vow; I will perform the worship of Shri Devi today itself with faith.
नारद उवाच पीठं कृत्वा समे स्थाने संस्थाप्य जगदम्बिकाम् । उपवासान्नवैव त्वं कुरु राम विधानतः
Narada said: Having prepared a seat in a level place and installing the Mother of the Universe, you, O Rama, should properly observe a fast for nine days.
आचार्योऽहं भविष्यामि कर्मण्यस्मिन्महीपते । देवकार्यविधानार्थमुत्साहं प्रकरोम्यहम्
I will be your preceptor in this rite, O king, and I will exert myself for the proper performance of the Goddess's worship.
व्यास उवाच तच्छ्रुत्वा वचनं सत्यं मत्वा रामः प्रतापवान् । कारयित्वा शुभं पीठं स्थापयित्वाम्बिकां शिवाम्
Vyasa said: Hearing these truthful words and considering them, the mighty Rama had an auspicious seat prepared and installed the auspicious Mother.
विधिवत्पूजनं तस्याश्चकार व्रतवान् हरिः । सम्प्राप्ते चाश्विने मासि तस्मिन्गिरिवरे तदा
Hari, devoted to his vow, performed her worship according to the prescribed rites, when the month of Ashvina arrived at that great mountain.
उपवासपरो रामः कृतवान्व्रतमुत्तमम् । होमञ्च विधिवत्तत्र बलिदानञ्च पूजनम्
Rama, intent on fasting, observed the supreme vow, and there performed the ritual offerings, oblations, and worship as prescribed.
भ्रातरौ चक्रतुः प्रेम्णा व्रतं नारदसम्मतम् । अष्टम्यां मध्यरात्रे तु देवी भगवती हि सा
The two brothers, with devotion, undertook the vow approved by Narada; and on the eighth night, at midnight, the blessed Goddess herself—
सिंहारूढा ददौ तत्र दर्शनं प्रतिपूजिता । गिरिशृङ्गे स्थितोवाच राघवं सानुजं गिरा
Mounted on a lion, she appeared there, having been duly worshipped, and standing on the mountain peak, she spoke to Raghava and his brother.
मेघगम्भीरया चेदं भक्तिभावेन तोषिता । देव्युवाच राम राम महाबाहो तुष्टाऽस्म्यद्म व्रतेन ते
Pleased by their devotion, she spoke with a voice deep as a cloud:
प्रार्थयस्व वरं कामं यत्ते मनसि वर्तते । नारायणांशसम्भूतस्त्वं वंशे मानवेऽनघे
"Rama, Rama, mighty-armed one, I am satisfied with your vow; ask for any boon you desire, whatever is in your heart. You, born from a portion of Narayana, are sinless in the Manu lineage.
रावणस्य वधायैव प्रार्थितस्त्वमरैरसि । पुरा मत्स्यतनुं कृत्वा हत्वा घोरञ्च राक्षसम्
You have been sought by the gods for the destruction of Ravana; formerly, taking the form of a fish, you slew a terrible demon.
त्वया वै रक्षिता वेदाः सुराणां हितमिच्छता । भूत्वा कच्छपरूपस्तु धृतवान्मन्दरं गिरिम्
You protected the Vedas, wishing for the welfare of the gods; becoming a tortoise, you bore the Mandara mountain.
अकूपारं प्रमन्थानं कृत्वा देवानपोषयः । कोलरूपं परं कृत्वा दशनाग्रेण मेदिनीम्
Making your back the churning rod, you nourished the gods; then, taking the form of a boar, you lifted the earth on your tusk.
धृतवानसि यद्राम हिरण्याक्षं जघान च । नारसिंहीं तनुं कृत्वा हिरण्यकशिपुं पुरा
You, Rama, bore that form and slew Hiranyaksha; formerly, taking the form of Narasimha, you—
प्रह्लादं राम रक्षित्वा हतवानसि राघव । वामनं वपुरास्थाय पुरा छलितवान्बलिम्
protected Prahlada, Rama, and slew Hiranyakashipu; then, assuming the form of Vamana, you deceived Bali.
भूत्वेन्द्रस्यानुजः कामं देवकार्यप्रसाधकः । जमदग्निसुतस्त्वं मे विष्णोरंशेन सङ्गतः
Becoming the younger brother of Indra, you accomplished the gods' purpose; as the son of Jamadagni, you were united with a portion of Vishnu.