अष्टम्यां च चतुर्दश्यां नवम्यां च विशेषतः । कर्तव्यं पूजनं देव्या ब्राह्मणानां च भोजनम्
Especially on the eighth, fourteenth, and ninth days, worship of the Goddess and feeding of Brahmins should be performed.
निर्धनो धनमाप्नोति रोगी रोगात्प्रमुच्यते । अपुत्रो लभते पुत्राञ्छुभांश्च वशवर्तिनः
The poor obtain wealth, the sick are freed from illness, the childless gain sons who are auspicious and obedient.
राज्यभ्रष्टो नृपो राज्यं प्राप्नोति सार्वभौमिकम् । शत्रुभिः पीडितो हंति रिपुं मायाप्रसादतः
A king deprived of his kingdom regains universal sovereignty; one afflicted by enemies destroys his foes by the grace of the Goddess.
विद्यार्थी पूजनं यस्तु करोति नियतेंद्रियः । अनवद्यां शुभां विद्यां विंदते नात्र संशयः
A student who worships with controlled senses surely attains flawless and auspicious knowledge—there is no doubt of this.
ब्राह्मणः क्षत्रियो वैश्यः शूद्रो वा भक्तिसंयुतः । पूजयेज्जगतां धात्रीं स सर्वसुखभाग्भवेत्
A Brahmin, Kshatriya, Vaishya, or Shudra, endowed with devotion, who worships the Mother of the worlds, becomes the recipient of all happiness.
नवरात्रव्रतं कुर्यान्नरनारीगणश्च यः । वांछितं फलमाप्नोति सर्वदा भक्तितत्परः
Whoever, whether man or woman, performs the Navaratri vow, always devoted, attains the desired fruit.
आश्विने शुक्लपक्षे तु नवरात्रव्रतं शुभम् । करोति भावसंयुक्तः सर्वान्कामानवाप्नुयात्
Whoever, with sincere intent, observes the auspicious Navaratri vow in the bright fortnight of Ashvina, attains all desires.
विधिवन्मंडलं कृत्वा पूजास्थानं प्रकल्पयेत् । कलशं स्थापयेत्तत्र वेदमंत्रविधानतः
One should properly prepare a mandala and arrange the place of worship; there, establish a pot according to Vedic mantras and procedures.
यंत्रं सुरुचिरं कृत्वा स्थापयेत्कलशोपरि । वापयित्वा यवांश्चारून्पार्श्वतः परिवर्तितान्
Having made a beautiful yantra, it should be placed atop the pot; barley grains and cooked offerings should be scattered around its sides.
कृत्वोपरि वितानं च पुष्पमालासमावृतम् । धूपदीपसुसंयुक्तं कर्तव्यं चण्डिकागृहम्
Above, a canopy should be made, adorned with garlands of flowers; the house of Chandika should be prepared, complete with incense and lamps.
त्रिकालं तत्र कर्तव्या पूजा शक्त्यनुसारतः । वित्तशाठ्यं न कर्तव्यं चण्डिकायाश्च पूजने
There, worship should be performed three times daily according to one's capacity; deceit regarding wealth should not be practiced in the worship of Chandika.
धूपैर्दीपैः सुनैवेद्यैः फलपुष्पैरनेकशः । गीतवाद्यैः स्तोत्रपाठैर्वेदपारायणैस्तथा
With incense, lamps, excellent offerings, many fruits and flowers, with singing, instrumental music, recitation of hymns, and Vedic readings.
उत्सवस्तत्र कर्तव्यो नानावादित्रसंयुतैः । कन्यकानां पूजनं च विधेयं विधिपूर्वकम्
A festival should be held there, accompanied by various musical instruments; and the worship of young girls should be performed according to prescribed rules.
चन्दनैर्भूषणैर्वस्त्रैर्भक्ष्यैश्च विविधैस्तथा । सुगन्धतैलमाल्यैश्च मनसो रुचिकारकैः
With sandalwood, ornaments, garments, and various foods, as well as fragrant oils and garlands that delight the mind.
एवं सम्पूजनं कृत्वा होमं मन्त्रविधानतः । अष्टम्यां वा नवम्यां वा कारयेद्विधिपूर्वकम्
After performing such worship and the fire offering according to the prescribed mantras, one should carry it out with proper procedure either on the eighth or ninth day.
ब्राह्मणान्भोजयेत्पश्चात्पारणं दशमीदिने । कर्तव्यं शक्तितो दानं देयं भक्तिपरैर्नृपैः
Afterwards, on the tenth day, one should feed Brahmins and complete the observance; according to one's ability, kings devoted to devotion should give gifts.
एवं यः कुरुते भक्त्या नवरात्रव्रतं नरः । नारी वा सधवा भक्त्या विधवा वा पतिव्रता
Whoever, whether man or woman—be she married with her husband or a devoted widow—performs the Navaratri vow with devotion in this way,
इह लोके सुखं भोगान्प्राप्नोति मनसेप्सितान् । देहान्ते परमं स्थानं प्राप्नोति व्रततत्परः
Such a person, intent on the vow, attains happiness and the enjoyments desired by the mind in this world, and at the end of the body attains the highest state.
जन्मान्तरेऽम्बिकाभक्तिर्भवत्यव्यभिचारिणी। जन्मोत्तमकुले प्राप्य सदाचारो भवेद्धि सः
In a future birth, unwavering devotion to Ambika arises; being born in an excellent family, he indeed becomes of good conduct.
नवरात्रव्रतं प्रोक्तं व्रतानामुत्तमं व्रतम् । आराधनं शिवायास्तु सर्वसौख्यकरं परम्
The Navaratri vow has thus been described, the supreme among vows; it is the worship of Shiva's consort and brings all happiness.
अनेन विधिना राजन्समाराधय चण्डिकाम् । जित्वा रिपूनस्खलितं राज्यं प्राप्स्यत्यनुत्तमम्
O King, worship Chandika with this procedure; having conquered enemies, you will obtain an unrivaled and unshaken kingdom.
सुखं च परमं भूप देहेऽस्मिन्स्वगृहे पुनः । पुत्रदारान्समासाद्य लप्स्यसे नात्र संशयः
And, O King, in this very body and in your own house, you will again attain supreme happiness, acquiring sons and wives—of this there is no doubt.
वैश्योत्तम त्वमेवाद्य समाराधय कामदाम् । देवीं विश्वेश्वरीं मायां सृष्टिसंहारकारिणीम्
O best of merchants, you too should now worship the wish-fulfilling Goddess, the Mistress of the Universe, Māyā, who creates and destroys the worlds.
स्वजनानां च मान्यस्त्वं भविष्यसि गृहे गतः । सुखं सांसारिकं प्राप्य यथाभिलषितं पुनः
Returning home, you will be honored by your own people, and you will again obtain worldly happiness as you desire.
देवीलोके शुभे वासो भविता ते न संशयः । नाराधिता भगवती यैस्ते नरकभागिनः
There is no doubt that you will attain a blessed abode in the world of the Goddess; those who do not worship the Divine Mother become destined for hell.
इह लोकेऽतिदुःखार्ता नानारोगैः प्रपीडिताः । भवंति मानवा राजञ्छत्रुभिश्च पराजिताः
O King, in this world, those who are extremely afflicted by suffering, tormented by various diseases, or defeated by enemies,
निष्कलत्रा ह्यपुत्राश्च तृष्णार्ताः स्तब्धबुद्धयः । बिल्बीदलैः करवीरैः शतपत्रैश्च चम्पकैः
Those who are without wives, without sons, tormented by desire, or whose minds are rigid—by offering bilva leaves, oleander, hundred-petaled lotuses, and champaka flowers,
अर्चिता जगतां धात्री यैस्तेऽतीव विलासिनः । भवंति कृतपुण्यास्ते शक्तिभक्तिपरायणाः
Those who worship the Sustainer of the worlds with these, become exceedingly prosperous, devoted to the Goddess, and endowed with merit.
धनविभवसुखाढ्या मानवा मानवंतः सकलगुणगणानां भाजनं भारतीशाः । निगमपठितमन्त्रैः पूजिता यैर्भवानी नृपतितिलकमुख्यास्ते भवंतीह लोके
Those by whom Bhavani is worshipped with mantras recited from the Vedas become, in this world, kings adorned with all virtues, wealthy, prosperous, happy, and the foremost among men.
अथ पञ्चत्रिंशोऽध्यायः महिष उवाच। इति तस्य वचः श्रुत्वा दुःखितौ वैश्यपार्थिवौ । प्रणिपत्य मुनिं प्रीत्या प्रश्रयावनतौ भृशम्
Chapter Thirty-Five. Mahisha said: Hearing these words, the merchant and the king, both sorrowful, bowed deeply before the sage with affection and great humility.