चित्रमेतन्महाराज कालस्यैव विचेष्टितम् । यः करोति नरं तावद्राजानं भिक्षुकं ततः
This is a wonder, O great king, the activity of Time alone; it makes a man a king for a while, then a beggar thereafter.
दातारं याचकं चैव बलवन्तं तथाबलम् । पण्डितं विकलं कामं शूरं चातीव कातरम्
It turns a giver into a supplicant, the strong into the weak, the learned into the helpless, the passionate into the timid.
मखानाञ्च शतं कृत्वा प्राप्येन्द्रासनमुत्तमम् । पुनर्दुःखं परं प्राप्तं कालस्य गतिरीदृशी
Having performed a hundred sacrifices and attained the supreme throne of Indra, one again meets with great suffering; such is the course of Time.
कालः करोति धर्मिष्ठं पुरुषं ज्ञानसंयुतम् । तमेवातीव पापिष्ठं ज्ञानलेशविवर्जितम्
Time makes a virtuous and wise man exceedingly wicked and devoid of even a trace of wisdom.
न विस्मयोऽत्र कर्तव्यः सर्वथा कालचेष्टिते । ब्रह्मविष्णुहरादीनामपीदृक्कष्टचेष्टितम्
No wonder should be felt at all regarding the actions of Time; even Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva, and others have experienced such hardships.
विष्णुर्जननमाप्नोति सूकरादिषु योनिषु । हरः कपाली सञ्जातः कालेनैव बलीयसा
Vishnu undergoes birth in the wombs of boars and other creatures; Hara, the skull-bearer, is born by the power of Time alone.
देवकृतदेव्याराधनवर्णनम् व्यास उवाच पराजिताः सुराः सर्वे राज्यं शुम्भः शशास ह । एवं वर्षसहस्रं तु जगाम नृपसत्तम
Vyasa said: All the gods were defeated, and Shumbha ruled the kingdom; thus, O best of kings, a thousand years passed.
भ्रष्टराज्यास्ततो देवाश्चिन्तामापुः सुदुस्तराम् । गुरुं दुःखातुरास्ते तु पप्रच्छुरिदमादृताः
Deprived of their kingdoms, the gods then fell into deep distress; afflicted by sorrow, they respectfully questioned their guru.
किं कर्तव्यं गुरो ब्रूहि सर्वज्ञस्त्वं महामुनिः । उपायोऽस्ति महाभाग दुःखस्य विनिवृत्तये
"Tell us, O guru, what should be done; you are omniscient, O great sage. Is there a way, O greatly fortunate one, to end this suffering?"
उपचारपरा नूनं वेदमन्त्राः सहस्रशः । वाच्छितार्थकरा नूनं सूत्रैः संलक्षिताः किल
Surely, the Vedic mantras, accompanied by countless rituals, are indeed capable of fulfilling desired aims, being marked by their formulas.
इष्टयो विविधाः प्रोक्ताः सर्वकामफलप्रदाः । ताः कुरुष्व मुने नूनं त्वं जानासि च तत्क्रियाः
Various sacrifices have been described, which grant all desired results; O sage, you certainly know the procedures—perform them now.
विधिः शत्रुविनाशाय यथोद्दिष्टः सदागमे । तं कुरुष्वाद्य विधिवद्यथा नो दुःखसंक्षयः
A rite for the destruction of enemies has been prescribed in the scriptures; perform that today, properly, so that our suffering may come to an end.
भवेदांगिरसाद्यैव तथा त्वं कर्तुमर्हसि । दानवानां विनाशाय अभिचारं यथामति
Just as Angiras once did, so too should you act now; for the destruction of the demons, perform a ritual of enchantment as you see fit.
बृहस्पतिरुवाच सर्वे मन्त्राश्च वेदोक्ता दैवाधीनफलाश्च ते । न स्वतन्त्राः सुराधीश तथैकान्तफलप्रदाः
Bṛhaspati said: All the mantras spoken of in the Vedas yield results only by divine will; they are not independent, O lord of the gods, nor do they grant results on their own.
मन्त्राणां देवता यूयं ते तु दुःखैकभाजनम् । जाताः स्म कालयोगेन किं करोमि प्रसाधनम्
You are the deities of the mantras, but by the force of time you have become the sole recipients of suffering; what means of favor can I employ?
इन्द्राग्निवरुणादीनां यजनं यज्ञकर्मसु । ते यूयं विपदं प्राप्ताः करिष्यन्ति किमिष्टयः
The worship of Indra, Agni, Varuṇa, and others is done through sacrificial rites; but now that you have fallen into misfortune, what benefit will these sacrifices bring?
अवश्यम्भाविभावानां प्रतीकारो न विद्यते । उपायस्त्वथ कर्तव्य इति शिष्टानुशासनम्
There is no remedy for what must inevitably occur; yet, one must still seek a means, as the tradition of the wise instructs.
दैवं हि बलवत्केचित्प्रवदन्ति मनीषिणः । उपायवादिनो दैवं प्रवदन्ति निरर्थकम्
Some wise men say that destiny is powerful; those who advocate for effort declare destiny to be meaningless.
दैवं चैवाप्युपायश्च द्वावेवाभिमतौ नृणाम् । केवलं दैवमाश्रित्य न स्थातव्यं कदाचन
Both destiny and effort are accepted among people; one should never rely solely on destiny.
उपायः सर्वथा कार्यो विचार्य स्वधिया पुनः । तस्माद् ब्रवीमि वः सर्वान्संविचार्य पुनः पुनः
Effort must always be made, carefully considered with one's own understanding; therefore, I tell you all, having reflected again and again.
पुरा भगवती तुष्टा जघान महिषासुरम् । युष्माभिस्तु स्तुता देवी वरदानं ददावथ
Long ago, when the Goddess was pleased, she slew Mahiṣāsura; and when you praised her, she granted you a boon.
आपदं नाशयिष्यामि संस्मृता वा सदैव हि । यदा यदा वो देवेशा आपदो दैवसम्भवाः
She said, 'Whenever you remember me, I will surely destroy your calamity, whenever misfortunes of divine origin arise for you, O lords of the gods.'
प्रभवन्ति तदा कामं स्मर्तव्याहं सुरैः सदा । स्मृताहं नाशयिष्यामि युष्माकं परमापदः
'Whenever such troubles arise, you gods should always remember me as you wish; when remembered, I will destroy your greatest dangers.'
तस्माद्धिमाचले गत्वा पर्वते सुमनोहरे । आराधनं चण्डिकायाः कुरुध्वं प्रेमपूर्वकम्
Therefore, go to the Himalaya, to that most delightful mountain, and worship Caṇḍikā with devotion.
मायाबीजविधानज्ञास्तत्पुरश्चरणे रताः । जानाम्यहं योगबलात्प्रसन्ना सा भविष्यति
Those who know the practice of the seed-mantra of Māyā and are devoted to her worship—I know by the power of yoga that she will be pleased.
दुःखस्यान्तोऽद्य युष्माकं दृश्यते नात्र संशयः । तस्मिञ्छैले सदा देवी तिष्ठतीति मया श्रुतम्
Today, the end of your suffering is in sight—there is no doubt of this; I have heard that the Goddess always dwells on that mountain.
स्तुता सम्पूजिता सद्यो वाञ्छितार्थान् प्रदास्यति । निश्चयं परमं कृत्वा गच्छध्वं वै हिमालयम्
When praised and worshipped, she will immediately grant your desired aims; make a firm resolve and go to the Himalaya.
सुराः सर्वाणि कार्याणि सा वः कामं विधास्यति । व्यास उवाच इति तस्य वचः श्रुत्वा देवास्ते प्रययुर्गिरिम्
O gods, she will fulfill all your tasks as you wish. Vyāsa said: Hearing these words, the gods went to the mountain.
हिमालयं महाराज देवीध्यानपरायणाः । मायाबीजं हृदा नित्यं जपन्तः सर्व एव हि
O great king, all those devoted to the meditation of the Goddess in the Himalayas constantly recite the seed-mantra of Māyā in their hearts.
नमश्चक्रुर्महामायां भक्तानामभयप्रदाम् । तुष्टुवुः स्तोत्रमन्त्रैश्च भक्त्या परमया युताः
They bowed to Mahāmāyā, who grants fearlessness to her devotees, and praised her with hymns and mantras, filled with supreme devotion.