एवं त्रिनवरात्रं तु महद्युद्धमभूत्तयोः । कृष्णागमप्रतीक्षास्ते तस्थुर्द्वारि पुरौकसः
Thus, for twenty-one days, a great battle took place between the two; the citizens waited at the cave entrance, expecting Krishna's return.
द्वादशाहं ततो भीत्या प्रतिजग्मुर्निजालयम् । तत्र ते कथयामासुर्वृत्तांतं सर्वमादितः
After twelve days, out of fear, they returned to their own homes; there, they narrated the entire story from the beginning.
सत्राजितं शपंतस्ते सर्वे शोकाकुला भृशम् । वासुदेवो महाभागः श्रुत्वा पुत्रस्य तां कथाम्
All of them cursed Satrājit, overwhelmed with deep sorrow. The illustrious Vāsudeva, upon hearing the story concerning his son,
मुमोह सपरीवारस्तदा परमया शुचा । चिन्तयामास बहुधा कथं श्रेयो भवेन्मम
became unconscious along with his family, stricken by intense grief. He pondered in many ways how he might attain what is best for himself.
अथाजगाम भगवान्देवर्षिर्ब्रह्मलोकतः । उत्थाय तं प्रणम्यासौ वसुदेवोऽभ्यपूजयत्
Then the revered sage Nārada arrived from the world of Brahma. Rising and bowing to him, Vāsudeva honored him.
नारदोऽनामयं पृष्ट्वा वासुदेवं महामतिम् । प्रपच्छ च यदुश्रेष्ठं किं चितयसि तद्वद
Nārada, after inquiring about Vāsudeva's well-being, questioned the foremost among the Yadus: 'What are you thinking about? Tell me.'
वसुदेव उवाच। पुत्रो मेऽतिप्रियः कृष्णः प्रसेनान्वेषणाय तु । पौरैः साकं वनं गत्वा निहतं तं तदैक्षत
Vasudeva said: 'My son Kṛṣṇa, who is exceedingly dear to me, went with the townspeople into the forest to search for Prasena, and there he saw him slain.'
प्रसेनघातकं दृष्ट्वा बिलद्वारे मृतं हरिम् । द्वारि पौरानधिष्ठाय बिलांतर्गतवान्स्वयम्
Seeing Hari, the killer of Prasena, dead at the entrance of the cave, the townspeople stood at the door while he himself entered within.
बहवो दिवसा याता नायात्यद्यापि मे सुतः । अतः शोचामि तद् ब्रूहि येन लप्स्ये सुतं मुने
Many days have passed, and my son has still not returned. Therefore I grieve; tell me, O sage, by what means I may recover my son.
नारद उवाच। पुत्रप्राप्त्यै यदुश्रेष्ठ देवीमाराधयांबिकाम् । तस्या आराधनेनैव सद्यः श्रेयो ह्यवाप्स्यसि
Nārada said: 'O foremost of the Yadus, to obtain your son, worship the goddess Ambikā. By her worship alone, you will immediately attain what is best.'
वसुदेव उवाच। भगवन्का हि सा देवी किंप्रभावा महेश्वरी । कथमाराधनं तस्या देवर्षे कृपया वद
Vasudeva said: 'O revered one, who is this goddess, what is her power, O great lord? Tell me, O divine sage, by what method her worship is performed.'
नारद उवाच। वसुदेव महाभाग शृणु संक्षेपतो मम । देव्या माहात्म्यमतुलं को वक्तुं विस्तरात्क्षमः
Nārada said: 'O Vasudeva, illustrious one, listen briefly to me. Who is capable of describing in detail the incomparable greatness of the goddess?'
या सा भगवती नित्या सच्चिदानन्दरूपिणी । परात्परतरा देवी यया व्याप्तमिदं जगत्
She is the eternal, blessed one, whose form is existence, consciousness, and bliss; the goddess who is higher than the highest, by whom this world is pervaded.
यदाराधनतो ब्रह्मा सृजतीदं चराचरम् । यां च स्तुत्वा विनिर्मुक्तो मधुकैटभजाद्भयात्
By whose worship Brahmā creates this moving and unmoving world; whom he praised and thereby was freed from fear of Madhu and Kaitabha.
विष्णुर्यत्कृपया विश्वं बिभर्ति भगवानिदम् । रुद्रः संहरते यस्याः कृपापांगनिरीक्षणात्
By whose grace the blessed Viṣṇu sustains this universe; and Rudra, by a glance of her compassion, brings about its dissolution.
संतारबंधहेतुर्या सैव मुक्तिप्रदायिनी । सा विद्या परमा देवी सैव सर्वेश्वरेश्वरी
She is the cause of bondage and liberation, the giver of freedom; she is the supreme knowledge, the highest goddess, the ruler of all rulers.
नवरात्रविधानेन सम्पूज्य जगदंबिकाम् । नवाहोभिः पुराणं च देव्या भागवतं शृणु
By worshipping the World-Mother according to the rite of Navarātra, and listening for nine days to the ancient Bhāgavata of the goddess,
यस्य श्रवणमात्रेण सद्यः पुत्रमवाप्स्यसि । भुक्तिर्मुक्तिर्न दूरस्था पठतां शृण्वतां नृणाम्
By merely hearing it, you will immediately obtain a son; for those who recite or listen, enjoyment and liberation are not far off.
इत्युक्तो नारदेनासौ वसुदेवः प्रणम्य तम् । उवाच परया प्रीत्या नारदं मुनिसत्तमम्
Thus addressed by Nārada, Vasudeva bowed to him and, with great affection, spoke to the eminent sage Nārada.
वसुदेव उवाच। भगवंस्तव वाक्येन संस्मृतं वृत्तमात्मनः । श्रूयतां तच्च वक्ष्यामि देवीमाहात्म्यसंभवम्
Vasudeva said: 'O revered one, by your words I have recalled the events of my life. Listen as I now relate the origin of the goddess's greatness.'
पुरा नभोगिरा कंसो देवक्यष्टमगर्भतः । ज्ञात्वात्ममृत्युं पापो मां सभार्यां न्यरुणद्भिया
Long ago, by the word of heaven, Kamsa, learning that his own death would come from Devaki's eighth child, wickedly imprisoned me and my wife out of fear.
कारागारेऽहमवसं देवक्या सह भार्यया । जातं जातं समवधीत्पुत्रं कंसोऽपि पापकृत्
I dwelled in the prison together with Devaki, my wife, while Kamsa, the evildoer, killed each son as soon as he was born.
षट् पुत्रा निहतास्तेन तदा शोकाकुला भृशम् । अतप्यद्देवकी देवी नक्तंदिवमनिन्दिता
Six sons were slain by him, and at that time Devaki, the noble lady, was overwhelmed with grief and suffered day and night.
तदाऽहं गर्गमाहूय मुनिं नत्वाऽभिपूज्य च । निवेद्य देवकीदुःखमवोचं पुत्रकाम्यया
Then, summoning the sage Garga, I bowed and honored him, and, desiring a son, I revealed Devaki's sorrow to him.
भगवन्करुणासिन्धो यादवानां गुरुर्भवान् । आयुष्मत्पुत्रसंप्राप्तिसाधनं वद मे मुने
O revered one, ocean of compassion, you are the guru of the Yadavas; tell me, O sage, the means to obtain a long-lived son.
ततो गर्गः प्रसन्नात्मा मामुवाच दयानिधिः । वसुदेव महाभाग शृणु तत्साधनं परम्
Then Garga, whose heart was pleased, spoke to me, the treasury of mercy: 'O Vasudeva, greatly fortunate, listen to the supreme means.'
या सा भगवती दुर्गा भक्तदुर्गतिहारिणी । तामाराधय कल्याणीं सद्यः श्रेयो ह्यवाप्स्यसि
That blessed Goddess Durga, who removes the misfortune of devotees—worship her, the auspicious one, and you will quickly attain prosperity.
यदाराधनतः सर्वे सर्वान्कामानवाप्नुयुः । न किचिद्दुर्लभं लोके दुर्गार्चनवतां नृणाम्
By worshipping her, all people obtain every desire; nothing is difficult in this world for those who worship Durga.
इत्युक्तोऽहं मुदा युक्तः सभार्यो मुनिपुङ्गवम् । प्रणम्य परया भक्त्या प्रावोचं विहितांजलिः
Thus addressed, I, filled with joy, together with my wife, bowed to the eminent sage with utmost devotion and spoke with hands joined.
वसुदेव उवाच। यद्यस्ति भगवन्प्रीतिर्मयि ते करुणानिधे । तदा पुरा मदर्थे त्वं समाराधय चण्डिकाम्
Vasudeva said: 'If you, O Lord, ocean of mercy, have affection for me, then for my sake please worship Chandika.'