शम्भोः पपात भुवि लिङ्गमिदं प्रसिद्धं शापेन तेन च भृगोर्विपिने गतस्य । तं ये नरा भुवि भजन्ति कपालिनं तु तेषां सुखं कथमिहापि परत्र मातः
The famous liṅga of Śambhu fell to earth by Bhṛgu's curse when he wandered in the forest. Those men who worship the skull-bearing one on earth—how can they find happiness here or hereafter, O Mother?
योऽभूद् गजाननगणाधिपतिर्महेशा- त्तं ये भजन्ति मनुजा वितथप्रपन्नाः । जानन्ति ते न सकलार्थफलप्रदात्रीं त्वां देवि विश्वजननीं सुखसेवनीयाम्
Those humans who worship Gajānana, the lord of the hosts, born from Maheśa, approach in vain. They do not know you, O Devi, the universal mother, bestower of all desired fruits, worthy of joyful service.
चित्रं त्वयारिजनतापि दयार्द्रभावा- द्धत्वा रणे शितशरैर्गमिता द्युलोकम् । नोचेत्स्वकर्मनिचिते निरये नितान्तं दुःखातिदुःखगतिमापदमापतेत्सा
It is remarkable that, even toward enemies, you are moved by compassion; having slain them in battle with sharp arrows, you send them to heaven. Otherwise, if consigned to hell by their own deeds, they would attain extreme suffering and misery.
ब्रह्मा हरश्च हरिरप्युत गर्वभावा- ज्जानन्ति तेऽपि विबुधा न तव प्रभावम् । केऽन्ये भवन्ति मनुजा विदितुं समर्थाः सम्मोहितास्तव गुणैरमितप्रभावैः
Even Brahma, Shiva, and Hari, due to pride, do not know your power, O goddess. Who else among humans is capable of understanding you, bewildered as they are by your immeasurable qualities?
क्लिश्यन्ति तेऽपि मुनयस्तव दुर्विभाव्यं पादाम्बुजं न हि भजन्ति विमूढचित्ताः । सूर्याग्निसेवनपराः परमार्थतत्त्वं ज्ञातं न तैः श्रुतिशतैरपि वेदसारम्
Even sages struggle, unable to comprehend your lotus feet; those whose minds are deluded do not worship you. Absorbed in worship of the sun and fire, they do not know the highest truth, nor the essence of the Vedas, even after hearing hundreds of scriptures.
मन्ये गुणास्तव भुवि प्रथितप्रभावाः कुर्वन्ति ये हि विमुखान्ननु भक्तिभावात् । लोकान्स्वबुद्धिरचितैर्विविधागमैश्च विष्ण्वीशभास्करगणेशपरान्विधाय
I think your qualities, renowned on earth, cause those who turn away from you, lacking devotion, to create worlds with their own intellect, through various scriptures, making followers of Vishnu, Shiva, the sun, and Ganesha.
कुर्वन्ति ये तव पदाद्विमुखान्नराग्र्या- न्स्वोक्तागमैर्हरिहरार्चनभक्तियोगैः । तेषां न कुप्यसि दयां कुरुषेऽम्बिके त्वं तान्मोहमन्त्रनिपुणान्प्रथयस्यलं च
Those excellent men who turn away from your feet, relying on their own scriptures and devotion to Vishnu and Shiva, you do not become angry with them, O Ambika; you show compassion and skillfully spread delusion among them.
तुर्ये युगे भवति चातिबलं गुणस्य तुर्यस्य तेन मथितान्यसदागमानि । त्वां गोपयन्ति निपुणाः कवयः कलौ वै त्वत्कल्पितान्सुरगणानपि संस्तुवन्ति
In the fourth age, the power of the fourth quality becomes very strong, and thus false scriptures are churned up. In Kali, skillful poets conceal you, and even the gods created by you praise you.
ध्यायन्ति मुक्तिफलदां भुवि योगसिद्धां विद्यां पराञ्च मुनयोऽतिविशुद्धसत्त्वाः । ते नाप्नुवन्ति जननीजठरे तु दुःखं धन्यास्त एव मनुजास्त्वयि ये विलीनाः
Sages of pure mind meditate on you, the giver of liberation and perfection in yoga, and supreme knowledge. They do not suffer in the womb of birth; truly blessed are those humans who dissolve in you.
चिच्छक्तिरस्ति परमात्मनि येन सोऽपि व्यक्तो जगत्सु विदितो भवकृत्यकर्ता । कोऽन्यस्त्वया विरहितः प्रभवत्यमुष्मिन् कर्तुं विहर्तुमपि सञ्चलितुं स्वशक्त्या
Consciousness-power exists in the Supreme Self, by which even He is manifest in the worlds and known as the doer of creation. Who else, apart from you, is able to act, play, or even move by their own power?
तत्त्वानि चिद्विरहितानि जगद्विधातुं किं वा क्षमाणि जगदम्ब यतो जडानि । किं चेन्द्रियाणि गुणकर्मयुतानि सन्ति देवि त्वया विरहितानि फलं प्रदातुम्
Are the principles devoid of consciousness capable of creating the world, O Mother, since they are inert? And do the senses, endowed with qualities and actions, give results without you, O Devi?
देवा मखेष्वपि हुतं मुनिभिः स्वभागं गृह्णीयुरम्ब विधिवत्प्रतिपादितं किम् । स्वाहा न चेत्त्वमसि तत्र निमित्तभूता तस्मात्त्वमेव ननु पालयसीव विश्वम्
Do the gods in sacrifices, even when their share is properly offered by sages according to rule, actually receive it, O Mother? If you, as Svāhā, are not the cause there, then truly you alone protect the universe.
सर्वं त्वयेदमखिलं विहितं भवादौ त्वं पासि वै हरिहरप्रमुखान्दिगीशान् । कालेऽत्सि विश्वमपि ते चरितं भवाद्यं जानन्ति नैव मनुजाः क्व नु मन्दभाग्याः
All this is accomplished by you at the beginning of creation; you protect Hari, Hara, and the lords of the directions. In time, you consume the universe. Your deeds from creation onward are unknown to humans—where, indeed, are those of little fortune?
हत्वासुरं महिषरूपधरं महोग्रं मातस्त्वया सुरगणः किल रक्षितोऽयम् । कां ते स्तुतिं जननि मन्दधियो विदामो वेदा गतिं तव यथार्थतया न जग्मुः
Having slain the fierce demon Mahisha, O Mother, you protected the host of gods. What praise can we, dull-minded, offer you, O Mother? Even the Vedas did not reach your true path.
कार्यं कृतं जगति नो यदसौ दुरात्मा वैरी हतो भुवनकण्टकदुर्विभाव्यः । कीर्तिः कृता ननु जगत्सु कृपा विधेया- प्यस्मांश्च पाहि जननि प्रथितप्रभावे
The deed is done in the world, for that wicked one, the enemy, who was a thorn to all realms and impossible to overcome, has been slain. Your fame is established everywhere; indeed, compassion should now be shown. Protect us, O Mother, whose glory is renowned.
व्यास उवाच एवं स्तुता सुरैर्देवी तानुवाच मृदुस्वरा । अन्यत्कार्यं च दुःसाध्यं ब्रुवन्तु सुरसत्तमाः
Vyāsa said: Thus praised by the gods, the Goddess spoke to them in a gentle voice: 'Let the foremost of the gods declare any other task, however difficult, that remains to be accomplished.'
यदा यदा हि देवानां कार्यं स्यादतिदुर्घटम् । स्मर्तव्याहं तदा शीघ्रं नाशयिष्यामि चापदम्
Whenever there is a task among the gods that is exceedingly hard to achieve, you should remember me at that time; I will swiftly destroy the calamity.
देवा ऊचुः सर्वं कृतं त्वया देवि कार्यं नः खलु साम्प्रतम् । यदयं निहतः शत्रुरस्माकं महिषासुरः
The gods said: All our tasks have truly been accomplished by you, O Goddess, for this enemy of ours, Mahiṣāsura, has been slain.
स्मरिष्यामो यथा तेऽम्ब सदैव पदपङ्कजम् । तथा कुरु जगन्मातर्भक्तिं त्वय्यप्यचञ्चलाम्
We shall always remember your lotus feet, O Mother; grant, O Mother of the world, that our devotion to you may be unwavering.
अपराधसहस्राणि मातैव सहते सदा । इति ज्ञात्वा जगद्योनिं न भजन्ते कुतो जनाः
A mother always endures thousands of offenses; knowing this, why do people not worship the Source of the world?
द्वौ सुपर्णो तु देहेऽस्मिंस्तयोः सख्यं निरन्तरम् । नान्यः सखा तृतीयोऽस्ति योऽपराधं सहेत हि
In this body, there are two birds, whose friendship is unbroken; there is no third friend who would endure another's offense.
तस्माज्जीवः सखायं त्वां हित्वा किं नु करिष्यति । पापात्मा मन्दभाग्योऽसौ सुरमानुषयोनिषु
Therefore, what will the soul do, abandoning you as friend? That wicked and unfortunate one wanders among divine and human births.
प्राप्य देहं सुदुष्प्रापं न स्मरेत्त्वां नराधमः । मनसा कर्मणा वाचा ब्रूमः सत्यं पुनः पुनः
Having attained this body, which is so hard to obtain, if a base man does not remember you—by mind, deed, or word—we declare this truth again and again.
सुखे वाप्यथवा दुःखे त्वं नः शरणमद्भुतम् । पाहि नः सततं देवि सर्वैस्तव वरायुधैः
Whether in happiness or in sorrow, you are our wondrous refuge; always protect us, O Goddess, with all your excellent weapons.
अन्यथा शरणं नास्ति त्वत्पादाम्बुजरेणुतः । व्यास उवाच एवं स्तुता सुरैर्देवी तत्रैवान्तरधीयत । विस्मयं परमं जग्मुर्देवास्तां वीक्ष्य निर्गताम्
Otherwise, there is no refuge apart from the dust of your lotus feet. Vyāsa said: Thus praised by the gods, the Goddess vanished there itself. The gods, seeing her departure, were filled with utmost wonder.
महिषवधानन्तरं पृथिवीसुखवर्णनम् जनमेजय उवाच - अथाद्भुतं वीक्ष्य मुने प्रभावं देव्या जगच्छान्तिकरं परञ्च । न तृप्तिरस्ति द्विजवर्य शृण्वतः कथामृतं ते मुखपद्मजातम्
Janamejaya said: O sage, having witnessed the wondrous power of the Goddess, which brings peace to the world and is supreme, I am not satisfied, O best of twice-born, as I listen to the nectar of your words, which arise from your lotus mouth.
अन्तर्हितायां च तदा भवान्या चक्रुश्च किं देवपुरोगमास्ते । देव्याश्चरित्र परमं पवित्रं दुरापमेवाल्पपुण्यैर्नराणाम्
And when Bhavānī had disappeared, what did the foremost of the gods do at that time? The supreme and most pure deeds of the Goddess are unattainable for those of little merit.
कस्तृप्तिमाप्नोति कथामृतेन भिन्नोऽल्पभाग्यात्पटुकर्णरन्ध्रः । पीतेन येनामरतां प्रयाति धिक्तान्नरान् ये न पिबन्ति सादरम्
Who attains satisfaction from the nectar of these stories, unless his ear-holes are blocked by misfortune? By drinking it, one attains immortality—shame on those men who do not drink it with reverence.
लीलाचरित्रं जगदम्बिकाया रक्षान्वितं देवमहामुनीनाम् । संसारवार्धेस्तरणं नराणां कथं कृतज्ञा हि परित्यजेयुः
The playful deeds of the Mother of the world, filled with protection for gods and great sages, are a means for people to cross the ocean of existence—how could the grateful ever abandon them?
मुक्ताश्च ये चैव मुमुक्षवश्च संसारिणो रोगयुताश्च केचित् । तेषां सदा श्रोत्रपुटैश्च पेयं सर्वार्थदं वेदविदो वदन्ति
Those who are liberated, those who seek liberation, and those who are bound in worldly life or afflicted by disease—such people should always drink this, which bestows all aims, through the channels of their ears, as the knowers of the Veda declare.