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.
हर्षेणोत्फुल्लनयनावूचतुर्वाक्यकोविदौ । कृताञ्जलिपुटौ शान्तौ भक्तिप्रवणचेतसौ
Their eyes blossoming with joy, skilled in speech, with joined palms, peaceful and devoted in heart, they spoke.
भगवन्पावितावद्य शान्तौ दीनौ शुचान्वितौ । तव सूक्तसरस्वत्या गङ्गयेव भगीरथः
O Lord, we, now purified, peaceful, afflicted and sorrowful, have been sanctified by your wise words, just as Bhagiratha was by the Ganges.
साधवः सम्भवन्तीह परोपकृतितत्पराः । अकृत्रिमगुणारामाः सुखदाः सर्वदेहिनाम्
The virtuous arise here, devoted to the welfare of others, delighting in unfeigned virtues, and bring happiness to all beings.
पूर्वपुण्यप्रसङ्गेन प्राप्तोऽयमाश्रयः शुभः । तवावाभ्यां महाभाग महादुःखविनाशकः
By the influence of previous merit, this auspicious refuge has been attained by us, O highly fortunate one, which destroys great suffering.
भवन्ति मानवा भूमौ बहवः स्वार्थतत्पराः । परार्थसाधने दक्षाः केचित्क्वापि भवादृशाः
Many people on earth are intent on their own interests; but those like you, skilled in working for the good of others, are rare indeed.
दुःखितोऽहं मुनिश्रेष्ठ वैश्योऽयं चातिदुःखितः । उभौ संसारसंतप्तौ तवाश्रमपदे मुदा
I am afflicted, O best of sages, and this merchant is greatly distressed; both of us, scorched by worldly existence, have joyfully come to your hermitage.
दर्शनादेव हे विद्वन्गतं दुःखमिहावयोः । देहजं मानसं वाक्यश्रवणादेव साम्प्रतम्
O learned one, by merely seeing you, our bodily and mental suffering has departed here; and now, by hearing your words.
धन्यावावां कृतकृत्यौ जातौ सूक्तिसुधारसात् । पावितौ भवता ब्रह्मन्कृपया करुणार्णव
We are blessed and fulfilled, having been purified by the nectar of your noble sayings, O Brahmin, ocean of compassion, by your grace.
गृहाणास्मत्करौ साधो नय पारं भवार्णवात् । मग्नौ श्रांताविति ज्ञात्वा मंत्रदानेन सांप्रतम्
O virtuous one, take our hands and lead us across the ocean of worldly existence, knowing that we are both submerged and exhausted, by giving us the mantra now.
तपः कृत्वाऽतिविपुलं समाराध्य सुखप्रदाम् । संप्राप्य दर्शनं भूयो यास्यावो निजमंदिरम्
Having performed great austerity and worshipped the giver of happiness, upon attaining her vision again, we will return to our own abode.