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.
कृत्वान्तं क्षत्रियाणां तु दानं भूमेरदाद्द्विजे । तथेदानीं तु काकुत्स्थ जातो दशरथात्मज
Having destroyed the Kshatriyas, you gave the earth in charity to the Brahmins; and now, O descendant of Kakutstha, you are born as the son of Dasharatha.
प्रार्थितस्तु सुरैः सर्वै रावणेनातिपीडितैः । कपयस्ते सहाया वै देवांशा बलवत्तराः
You have been sought by all the gods, greatly afflicted by Ravana; your allies, the monkeys, are portions of the gods and exceedingly strong.
भविष्यन्ति नरव्याघ्र मच्छक्तिसंयुता ह्यमी । शेषांशोऽप्यनुजस्तेऽयं रावणात्मजनाशकः
These, united with my power, will become tigers among men; your younger brother, a portion of Shesha, will destroy Ravana's sons.
भविष्यति न सन्देहः कर्तव्योऽत्र त्वयाऽनघ । वसन्ते सेवनं कार्यं त्वया तत्रातिश्रद्धया
There is no doubt this will come to pass, O sinless one; you must perform worship with great faith in the spring.
हत्वाऽथ रावणं पापं कुरु राज्यं यथासुखम् । एकादश सहस्राणि वर्षाणि पृथिवीतले
Then, having slain the sinful Ravana, rule the kingdom as you wish; for eleven thousand years on earth.
कृत्वा राज्यं रघुश्रेष्ठ गन्ताऽसि त्रिदिवं पुनः । व्यास उवाच इत्युक्त्वान्तर्दधे देवी रामस्तु प्रीतमानसः
Having ruled the kingdom, O best of the Raghu line, you will ascend again to heaven." Vyasa said: Having spoken thus, the Goddess disappeared, and Rama's heart was filled with joy.
समाप्य तद्व्रतं चक्रे प्रयाणं दशमीदिने । विजयापूजनं कृत्वा दत्त्वा दानान्यनेकशः
Having completed that vow, on the tenth day she set out, having performed the worship of victory and given many gifts.
कपिपतिबलयुक्तः सानुजः श्रीपतिश्च प्रकटपरमशक्त्या प्रेरितः पूर्णकामः । उदधितटगतोऽसौ सेतुबन्धं विधाया- प्यहनदमरशत्रुं रावणं गीतकीर्तिः
Endowed with the strength of the monkey army, accompanied by his brother, the glorious Lord, impelled by the manifest supreme power and with all desires fulfilled, went to the ocean shore, constructed the bridge, and, famed in song, slew Ravana, the enemy of the gods.
यः शृणोति नरो भक्त्या देव्याश्चरितमुत्तमम् । स भुक्त्वा विपुलान्भोगान्प्राप्नोति परमं पदम्
Whoever hears with devotion this supreme story of the Goddess, that person, after enjoying abundant pleasures, attains the highest state.
सन्त्यन्यानि पुराणानि विस्तराणि बहूनि च । श्रीमद्भागवतस्यास्य न तुल्यानीति मे मतिः
There are indeed many other ancient Purāṇas, vast in extent, but in my opinion, none are equal to this Śrīmad Bhāgavata.