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.
व्यास उवाच पूर्वं मया ते कथितं मणिद्वीपं मनोहरम् । क्रीडास्थानं सदा देव्या वल्लभं परमं स्मृतम्
Vyasa said: Previously I described to you the enchanting Mani-dvipa, always remembered as the supreme and beloved playground of the Goddess.
यत्र ब्रह्मा हरिः स्थाणुः स्त्रीभावं ते प्रपेदिरे । पुरुषत्वं पुनः प्राप्य स्वानि कार्याणि चक्रिरे
There, Brahma, Hari, and Sthanu assumed female forms; regaining their male forms, they performed their respective duties.
यः सुधासिन्धुमध्येऽस्ति द्वीपः परमशोभनः । नानारूपैः सदा तत्र विहारं कुरुतेऽम्बिका
In the midst of the nectar ocean is that most splendid island, where Ambika always delights in various forms.
स्तुता सम्पूजिता देवैः सा तत्रैव गता शिवा । यत्र संक्रीडते नित्यं मायाशक्तिः सनातनी
Praised and worshipped by the gods, She, the auspicious one, went there—where the eternal power of Maya ever sports.
देवास्तां निर्गतां वीक्ष्य देवीं सर्वेश्वरीं तथा । रविवंशोद्भवं चक्रुर्भूमिपालं महाबलम्
Seeing the Goddess, the Sovereign of all, depart, the gods then established a mighty king, born of the solar dynasty.
अयोध्याधिपतिं वीरं शत्रुघ्नं नाम पार्थिवम् । सर्वलक्षणसम्पन्नं महिषस्यासने शुभे
They made Shatrughna, the valiant lord of Ayodhya, a king endowed with all auspicious marks, seat him upon the noble throne of Mahisha.
दत्त्वा राज्यं तदा तस्मै देवा इन्द्रपुरोगमाः । स्वकीयैर्वाहनैः सर्वे जग्मुः स्वान्यालयानि ते
Then the gods, led by Indra, gave him the kingdom; all of them departed to their own abodes on their respective vehicles.
गतेषु तेषु देवेषु पृथिव्यां पृथिवीपते । धर्मराज्यं बभूवाथ प्रजाश्च सुखितास्तथा
When the gods had departed from the earth, O king, a righteous rule prevailed, and the people were likewise happy.
पर्जन्यः कालवर्षी च धरा धान्यगुणावृता । पादपाः फलपुष्पाढ्या बभूवुः सुखदाः सदा
The clouds rained in due season, the earth was rich with grain and virtue, and the trees, laden with fruit and flowers, always brought happiness.
गावश्च क्षीरसम्पना घटोध्न्यः कामदा नृणाम् । नद्यः सुमार्गगाः स्वच्छाः शीतोदाः खगसंयुताः
The cows were abundant in milk, yielding pots full, granting desires to men; the rivers flowed in good courses, clear, with cool waters, and filled with birds.