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.
तथा विशेषेण मुने नृपाणां धर्मार्थकामेषु सदा रतानाम् । मुक्ताश्च यस्मात्खलु तत्पिबन्ति कथं न पेयं रहितैश्च तेभ्यः
Thus, especially for kings, O sage, who are always devoted to righteousness, wealth, and desire, and even for the liberated who drink it—how could it not be drunk by those deprived of these?
यैः पूजिता पूर्वभवे भवानी सत्कुन्दपुष्पैरथ चम्पकैश्च । बैल्वैर्दलैस्ते भुवि भोगयुक्ता नृपा भवन्तीत्यनुमेयमेवम्
Those kings who, in a previous birth, worshipped Bhavānī with fresh jasmine or campaka flowers, or with bilva leaves, are seen to enjoy pleasures on earth—thus it is to be inferred.
ये भक्तिहीना समवाप्य देहं तं मानुषं भारतभूमिभागे । यैर्नार्चिता ते धनधान्यहीना रोगान्विताः सन्ततिवर्जिताश्च
Those who, lacking devotion, obtain a human body in the land of Bharata, but do not worship Her, remain deprived of wealth and grain, afflicted by disease, and without offspring.
भ्रमन्ति नित्यं किल दासभूता आज्ञाकराः केवलभारवाहाः । दिवानिशं स्वार्थपराः कदापि नैवाप्नुवन्त्यौदरपूर्तिमात्रम्
They wander constantly, indeed as servants, obeying orders, bearing only burdens; day and night, intent on their own interests, yet never attaining even the mere satisfaction of hunger.
अन्धाश्च मूका बधिराश्च खञ्जाः कुष्ठान्विता ये भुवि दुःखभाजः । तत्रानुमानं कविभिर्विधेयं नाराधिता तैः सततं भवानी
Those who are blind, mute, deaf, lame, or afflicted with leprosy, who suffer misery on earth—by inference of the wise, it is to be understood that they have not constantly worshipped Bhavani.
ये राजभोगान्वितऋद्धिपूर्णाः संसेव्यमाना बहुभिर्मनुष्यैः । दृश्यन्ति ये वा विभवैः समेता- स्तैः पूजिताम्बेत्यनुमेयमेव
Those who are seen endowed with royal enjoyments, full of prosperity, served by many people, or possessed of wealth—by them, it is to be inferred, the Mother is worshipped.
तस्मात्सत्यवतीसूनो देव्याश्चरितमुत्तमम् । कथयस्व कृपां कृत्वा दयावानसि साम्प्रतम्
Therefore, O son of Satyavati, out of compassion, narrate the supreme deeds of the Goddess; you are merciful at this time.
हत्वा तं महिषं पापं स्तुता सम्पूजिता सुरैः । क्व गता सा महालक्ष्मीः सर्वतेजःसमुद्भवा
Having slain that wicked Mahisha, praised and worshipped by the gods, where did that Mahalakshmi, source of all radiance, go?
कथितं ते महाभाग गतान्तर्धानमाशु सा । स्वर्गे वा मृत्युलोके वा संस्थिता भुवनेश्वरी
O fortunate one, I have told you: she quickly became invisible; whether in heaven or in the mortal world, the Lady of the Universe abides.
लयं गता वा तत्रैव वैकुण्ठे वा समाश्रिता । अथवा हेमशैले सा तत्त्वतो मे वदाधुना
Or she may have dissolved there itself, or taken refuge in Vaikuntha, or perhaps at Hemashaila—tell me truly now.