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.
वदनात्तव सम्प्राप्य देवीमन्त्रं नवाक्षरम् । स्मरणं च करिष्यावो निराहारौ धृतव्रतौ
Receiving from your lips the nine-syllabled mantra of the Goddess, we will practice remembrance, fasting, and firm vows.
व्यास उवाच। इति सञ्चोदितस्ताभ्यां सुमेधा मुनिसत्तमः । ददौ मंत्रं शुभं ताभ्यां ध्यानबीजपुरःसरम्
Vyāsa said: Thus urged by them, the wise and eminent sage Sumedhas gave them the auspicious mantra, preceded by meditation and seed-syllable.
तौ च प्राप्य मुनेर्मंत्रं सम्मन्त्र्य गुरुदैवतौ । जग्मतुर्वैश्यराजानौ नदीतीरमनुत्तमम्
Having received the mantra from the sage and having honored their teacher and deity, the merchant and the king went to a supreme riverbank.
एकांते विजने स्थाने कृत्वासनपरिग्रहम् । उपविष्टौ स्थिरप्रज्ञौ तावतीव कृशोदरौ
In a secluded and solitary place, having prepared their seats, they sat down, steadfast in mind, their bellies greatly emaciated.
मन्त्रजाप्यरतौ शान्तौ चरित्रत्रयपाठकौ । निन्यतुर्मासमेकं तु तत्र ध्यानपरायणौ
Engaged in recitation of the mantra, peaceful, reciters of the threefold conduct, they spent one month there, devoted to meditation.
तयोर्मासव्रतेनैव जाता प्रीतिरनुत्तमा । पदाम्बुजे भवान्यास्तु स्थिरा बुद्धिस्तथाप्यलम्
By their month-long vow, supreme devotion arose in them for the lotus feet of Bhavānī, and their minds became firmly established.
कदाचित्पादयोर्गत्वा मुनेस्तस्य महात्मनः । कृतप्रणामावागत्य तस्थतुश्च कुशासने
Once, going to the feet of that great-souled sage, having offered obeisance, they came and sat on seats of sacred grass.
नान्यकार्य परौ क्वापि बभूवतुः कदाचन । देवीध्यानपरौ नित्यं जपमन्त्ररतौ सदा
They never engaged in any other activity; always intent on meditation upon the Goddess and constant in recitation of the mantra.
एवं जाते तदा पूर्णे तत्र संवत्सरे नृप । बभूवतुः फलाहारं त्यक्त्वा पर्णाशनौ नृप
When a year had thus been completed there, O king, they gave up fruit as food and subsisted on leaves, O king.
वर्षमेकं तपस्तत्र चक्रतुर्वैश्यपार्थिवौ । शुष्कपर्णाशनौ दान्तौ जपध्यानपरायणौ
For one year, the merchant and the king practiced austerity there, eating dry leaves, self-restrained, devoted to recitation and meditation.
पूर्णे वर्षद्वये जाते कदाचिद्दर्शनं च तौ । प्रापतुः स्वप्नमध्ये तु भगवत्या मनोहरम्
When two full years had passed, at some time, both of them obtained a delightful vision of the Goddess in a dream.
रक्ताम्बरधरां देवीं चारुभूषणभूषिताम् । कदाचिन्नृपतिः स्वप्नेऽप्यपश्यज्जगदम्बिकाम्
Once, even in a dream, the king saw the World-Mother adorned in red garments and beautiful ornaments.
वीक्ष्य स्वप्ने च तौ देवीं प्रीतियुक्तौ बभूवतुः । जलाहारैस्तृतीये तु स्थितौ संवत्सरे तु तौ
Having seen the Goddess in a dream, both became filled with joy; in the third year, they subsisted on water alone.
एवं वर्षत्रयं कृत्वा ततस्तौ वैश्यपार्थिवौ । चक्रतुस्तौ तदा चिंतां चित्ते दर्शनलालसौ
Thus, after three years, the king and the merchant became eager for a vision, and began to contemplate this intensely.
प्रत्यक्षदर्शनं देव्या न प्राप्तं शांतिदं नृणाम् । देहत्यागं करिष्यावो दुःखितौ भृशमातुरौ
Not having attained the direct, peace-giving vision of the Goddess, both, greatly afflicted and sorrowful, resolved to abandon their bodies.
इति संचिन्त्य मनसा राजा कुण्डं चकार ह । त्रिकोणं सुस्थिरं सौम्यं हस्तमात्रप्रमाणतः
Thinking thus in his mind, the king made a pit—triangular, firm, and gentle, measuring the span of a hand.
संस्थाप्य पावकं राजा तथा वैश्योऽतिभक्तिमान् । गुहावासो निजं मांसं छित्त्वा छित्त्वा पुनःपुनः
Having kindled a fire, the king and the deeply devoted merchant, dwelling in a cave, repeatedly cut their own flesh.
तथा वैश्योऽपि दीप्तेऽग्नौ स्वमांसं प्रापक्षिपत्तदा । रुधिरेण बलिं चास्यै ददतुस्तौ कृतोद्यमौ
Likewise, the merchant cast his own flesh into the blazing fire, and both, intent on sacrifice, offered blood as an oblation to her.
तदा भगवती दत्त्वा प्रत्यक्षं दर्शनं तयोः । प्राह प्रीतिभरोद्भ्रांतौ दृष्ट्वा तौ दुःखितौ भृशम् ॥ श्रीदेव्युवाच। वरं वरय भो राजन् यत्ते मनसि वांछितम् । तुष्टाऽहं तपसा तेऽद्य भक्तोऽसि त्वं मतो मम
Then, the Goddess granted them a direct vision, and seeing them overwhelmed with suffering, spoke with overflowing affection: 'Choose a boon, O king, whatever you desire in your heart. I am pleased with your austerity today; you are my devotee, favored by me.'
वैश्यं प्राह तदा देवी प्रसन्नाऽहं महामते । किं तेऽभीष्टं ददाम्यद्य प्रार्थयाशु मनोगतम्
Then the Goddess said to the merchant, 'I am pleased, O wise one. What do you wish? I will grant it today; quickly ask whatever is in your mind.'