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.
नमो देवि विश्वेश्वरि प्राणनाथे सदानन्दरूपे सुरानन्ददे ते । नमो दानवान्तप्रदे मानवाना- मनेकार्थदे भक्तिगम्यस्वरूपे
Salutations to you, O Goddess, ruler of the universe, mistress of life, embodiment of eternal bliss, giver of joy to the gods; salutations to you, who brings an end to the demons, who grants many blessings to humans, whose true form is accessible through devotion.
न ते नामसंख्यां न ते रूपमीदृ- क्तथा कोऽपि वेदादिदेवस्वरूपे । त्वमेवासि सर्वेषु शक्तिस्वरूपा प्रजासृष्टिसंहारकाले सदैव
There is no counting of your names, nor is your form such as can be described; who indeed knows you, the original form of the gods and the Vedas? You alone are the embodiment of power in all, always present at the time of creation and dissolution of beings.
स्मृतिस्त्वं धृतिस्त्वं त्वमेवासि बुद्धि- र्जरा पुष्टितुष्टी धृतिः कान्तिशान्ती । सुविद्या सुलक्ष्मीर्गतिः कीर्तिमेधे त्वमेवासि विश्वस्य बीजं पुराणम्
You are memory, you are fortitude, you are intelligence, old age, nourishment, satisfaction, courage, beauty, and peace; you are true knowledge, auspicious fortune, progress, fame, and wisdom; you alone are the ancient seed of the universe.
यदा यैः स्वरूपैः करोषीह कार्यं सुराणां च तेभ्यो नमामोऽद्य शान्त्यै । क्षमा योगनिद्रा दया त्वं विवक्षा स्थिता सर्वभूतेषु शस्तैः स्वरूपैः
In whatever forms you perform actions here for the gods, to those forms we bow today for peace; you are forgiveness, yogic sleep, compassion, and eloquence, abiding in all beings in auspicious forms.
कृतं कार्यमादौ त्वया यत्सुराणां हतोऽसौ महारिर्मदान्धो हयारिः । दया ते सदा सर्वदेवेषु देवि प्रसिद्धा पुराणेषु वेदेषु गीता
The work you did at first for the gods, when you slew the arrogant demon Hayagrīva, is well known; your compassion for all the gods, O Goddess, is celebrated in the ancient texts and sung in the Vedas.
किमत्रास्ति चित्रं यदम्बा सुतं स्वं मुदा पालयेत्पोषयेत्सम्यगेव । यतस्त्वं जनित्री सुराणां सहाया कुरुष्वैकचित्तेन कार्यं समग्रम्
What is surprising if a mother joyfully protects and nourishes her own child properly? For you are the mother and helper of the gods; therefore, with one-pointed mind, accomplish this task completely.
न वा ते गुणानामियत्तां स्वरूपं वयं देवि जानीमहे विश्ववन्द्ये । कृपापात्रमित्येव मत्वा तथास्मा- न्भयेभ्यः सदा पाहि पातुं समर्थे
O Goddess, revered by the universe, we do not know the extent of your qualities or your true nature; considering us as worthy of your compassion, always protect us from fears, for you are able to protect.
विना बाणपातैर्विना मुष्टिघातै- र्विनाशूलखड्गैर्विना शक्तिदण्डैः । रिपून्हन्तुमेवासि शक्ता विनोदा- त्तथापीह लोकोपकाराय लीला
Without arrows, without blows of the fist, without tridents, swords, spears, or staffs, you are able to destroy enemies by your will alone; yet, even so, you act here playfully for the welfare of the world.
इदं शाश्वतं नैव जानन्ति मूढा न कार्यं विना कारणं सम्भवेद्वा । वयं तर्कयामोऽनुमानं प्रमाणं त्वमेवासि कर्तास्य विश्वस्य चेति
The deluded do not know this eternal truth: that no effect arises without a cause; we reason and infer as proof, but you alone are the doer and the cause of this universe.
अजः सृष्टिकर्ता मुकुन्दोऽवितायं हरो नाशकृद्वै पुराणे प्रसिद्धः । न किं त्वत्प्रसूतास्त्रयस्ते युगादौ त्वमेवासि सर्वस्य तेनैव माता
The unborn creator, Mukunda the preserver, and Hara the destroyer are renowned in the ancient texts; but at the beginning of the ages, these three were born from you alone; thus, you are the mother of all.
त्रिभिस्त्वं पुराराधिता देवि दत्ता त्वया शक्तिरुग्रा च तेभ्यः समग्रा । त्वया संयुतास्ते प्रकुर्वन्ति कामं जगत्पालनोत्पत्तिसंहारमेव
You were worshipped by the three (Brahmā, Viṣṇu, Śiva), O Goddess, and you granted them your full and fierce power; united with you, they accomplish at will the creation, preservation, and destruction of the world.
ते किं न मन्दमतयो यतयो विमूढा- स्त्वां ये न विश्वजननीं समुपाश्रयन्ति । विद्यां परां सकलकामफलप्रदां तां मुक्तिप्रदां विबुधवृन्दसुवन्दिताङ्घ्रिम्
Why would not those of dull mind, the deluded ascetics, who do not seek refuge in you, the universal mother, miss out? You are the supreme knowledge, bestower of all desired fruits, giver of liberation, whose feet are praised by hosts of gods.
ये वैष्णवाः पाशपताश्च सौरा दम्भास्त एव प्रतिभान्ति नूनम् । ध्यायन्ति न त्वां कमलाञ्च लज्जां कान्तिं स्थितिं कीर्तिमथापि पुष्टिम्
Those who are Vaiṣṇavas, Pāśupatas, and Sauras, they alone appear as hypocrites; they do not meditate on you, nor on Lakṣmī, modesty, beauty, stability, fame, or nourishment.
हरिहरादिभिरप्यथ सेविता त्वमिह देववरैरसुरैस्तथा । भुवि भजन्ति न येऽल्पधियो नरा जननि ते विधिना खलु वञ्चिताः
Even Hari, Hara, and other gods, as well as the best of demons, serve you here; but those men of little understanding on earth who do not worship you, O Mother, are indeed deceived by fate.
जलधिजापदपङ्कजरञ्जनं जतुरसेन करोति हरिः स्वयम् । त्रिनयनोऽपि धराधरजाङ्घ्रिपं- कजपरागनिषेवणतत्परः
Hari himself colors his body with the dust of the lotus feet of Lakṣmī, born from the ocean; even the three-eyed one is intent on serving the dust of the lotus feet of the daughter of the mountain.
किमपरस्य नरस्य कथानकै- स्तव पदाब्जयुगं न भजन्ति के । विगतरागगृहाश्च दयां क्षमां कृतधियो मुनयोऽपि भजन्ति ते
What need is there to speak of other men who do not worship your pair of lotus feet? Even sages, whose hearts are free from passion, who are established in compassion and forgiveness, worship you.
देवि त्वदङ्घ्रिभजने न जना रता ये संसारकूपपतिताः पतिताः किलामी । ते कुष्ठगुल्मशिरआधियुता भवन्ति दारिद्र्यदैन्यसहिता रहिताः सुखौघैः
O Goddess, those who are not devoted to the worship of Your feet fall into the pit of worldly existence, truly fallen and exhausted. They become afflicted with leprosy, tumors, headaches, and sorrows, beset by poverty and misery, deprived of all happiness.
ये काष्ठभारवहने यवसावहारे कार्ये भवन्ति निपुणा धनदारहीनाः । जानीमहेऽल्पमतिभिर्भवदङ्घ्रिसेवा पूर्वे भवे जननि तैर्न कृता कदापि
Those who are skilled only in carrying loads of wood or eating coarse grain, who are without wealth or spouse—we know, O Mother, that in their previous lives, due to their limited understanding, they never once served Your feet.
व्यास उवाच एवं स्तुता सुरैः सर्वैरम्बिका करुणान्विता । प्रादुर्बभूव तरसा रूपयौवनसंयुता
Vyasa said: Thus praised by all the gods, Ambika, filled with compassion, suddenly appeared, endowed with beauty and youth.
दिव्याम्बरधरा देवी दिव्यभूषणभूषिता । दिव्यमाल्यसमायुक्ता दिव्यचन्दनचर्चिता
The Goddess was adorned with divine garments, decorated with celestial ornaments, garlanded with heavenly flowers, and anointed with divine sandalwood paste.