वसुदेव उवाच। भगवन्का हि सा देवी किंप्रभावा महेश्वरी । कथमाराधनं तस्या देवर्षे कृपया वद
Vasudeva said: 'O revered one, who is this goddess, what is her power, O great lord? Tell me, O divine sage, by what method her worship is performed.'
नारद उवाच। वसुदेव महाभाग शृणु संक्षेपतो मम । देव्या माहात्म्यमतुलं को वक्तुं विस्तरात्क्षमः
Nārada said: 'O Vasudeva, illustrious one, listen briefly to me. Who is capable of describing in detail the incomparable greatness of the goddess?'
या सा भगवती नित्या सच्चिदानन्दरूपिणी । परात्परतरा देवी यया व्याप्तमिदं जगत्
She is the eternal, blessed one, whose form is existence, consciousness, and bliss; the goddess who is higher than the highest, by whom this world is pervaded.
यदाराधनतो ब्रह्मा सृजतीदं चराचरम् । यां च स्तुत्वा विनिर्मुक्तो मधुकैटभजाद्भयात्
By whose worship Brahmā creates this moving and unmoving world; whom he praised and thereby was freed from fear of Madhu and Kaitabha.
विष्णुर्यत्कृपया विश्वं बिभर्ति भगवानिदम् । रुद्रः संहरते यस्याः कृपापांगनिरीक्षणात्
By whose grace the blessed Viṣṇu sustains this universe; and Rudra, by a glance of her compassion, brings about its dissolution.
संतारबंधहेतुर्या सैव मुक्तिप्रदायिनी । सा विद्या परमा देवी सैव सर्वेश्वरेश्वरी
She is the cause of bondage and liberation, the giver of freedom; she is the supreme knowledge, the highest goddess, the ruler of all rulers.
नवरात्रविधानेन सम्पूज्य जगदंबिकाम् । नवाहोभिः पुराणं च देव्या भागवतं शृणु
By worshipping the World-Mother according to the rite of Navarātra, and listening for nine days to the ancient Bhāgavata of the goddess,
यस्य श्रवणमात्रेण सद्यः पुत्रमवाप्स्यसि । भुक्तिर्मुक्तिर्न दूरस्था पठतां शृण्वतां नृणाम्
By merely hearing it, you will immediately obtain a son; for those who recite or listen, enjoyment and liberation are not far off.
इत्युक्तो नारदेनासौ वसुदेवः प्रणम्य तम् । उवाच परया प्रीत्या नारदं मुनिसत्तमम्
Thus addressed by Nārada, Vasudeva bowed to him and, with great affection, spoke to the eminent sage Nārada.
वसुदेव उवाच। भगवंस्तव वाक्येन संस्मृतं वृत्तमात्मनः । श्रूयतां तच्च वक्ष्यामि देवीमाहात्म्यसंभवम्
Vasudeva said: 'O revered one, by your words I have recalled the events of my life. Listen as I now relate the origin of the goddess's greatness.'
पुरा नभोगिरा कंसो देवक्यष्टमगर्भतः । ज्ञात्वात्ममृत्युं पापो मां सभार्यां न्यरुणद्भिया
Long ago, by the word of heaven, Kamsa, learning that his own death would come from Devaki's eighth child, wickedly imprisoned me and my wife out of fear.
कारागारेऽहमवसं देवक्या सह भार्यया । जातं जातं समवधीत्पुत्रं कंसोऽपि पापकृत्
I dwelled in the prison together with Devaki, my wife, while Kamsa, the evildoer, killed each son as soon as he was born.
षट् पुत्रा निहतास्तेन तदा शोकाकुला भृशम् । अतप्यद्देवकी देवी नक्तंदिवमनिन्दिता
Six sons were slain by him, and at that time Devaki, the noble lady, was overwhelmed with grief and suffered day and night.
तदाऽहं गर्गमाहूय मुनिं नत्वाऽभिपूज्य च । निवेद्य देवकीदुःखमवोचं पुत्रकाम्यया
Then, summoning the sage Garga, I bowed and honored him, and, desiring a son, I revealed Devaki's sorrow to him.
भगवन्करुणासिन्धो यादवानां गुरुर्भवान् । आयुष्मत्पुत्रसंप्राप्तिसाधनं वद मे मुने
O revered one, ocean of compassion, you are the guru of the Yadavas; tell me, O sage, the means to obtain a long-lived son.
ततो गर्गः प्रसन्नात्मा मामुवाच दयानिधिः । वसुदेव महाभाग शृणु तत्साधनं परम्
Then Garga, whose heart was pleased, spoke to me, the treasury of mercy: 'O Vasudeva, greatly fortunate, listen to the supreme means.'
या सा भगवती दुर्गा भक्तदुर्गतिहारिणी । तामाराधय कल्याणीं सद्यः श्रेयो ह्यवाप्स्यसि
That blessed Goddess Durga, who removes the misfortune of devotees—worship her, the auspicious one, and you will quickly attain prosperity.
यदाराधनतः सर्वे सर्वान्कामानवाप्नुयुः । न किचिद्दुर्लभं लोके दुर्गार्चनवतां नृणाम्
By worshipping her, all people obtain every desire; nothing is difficult in this world for those who worship Durga.
इत्युक्तोऽहं मुदा युक्तः सभार्यो मुनिपुङ्गवम् । प्रणम्य परया भक्त्या प्रावोचं विहितांजलिः
Thus addressed, I, filled with joy, together with my wife, bowed to the eminent sage with utmost devotion and spoke with hands joined.
वसुदेव उवाच। यद्यस्ति भगवन्प्रीतिर्मयि ते करुणानिधे । तदा पुरा मदर्थे त्वं समाराधय चण्डिकाम्
Vasudeva said: 'If you, O Lord, ocean of mercy, have affection for me, then for my sake please worship Chandika.'
निरुद्धः कंसगेहेऽहं न किंचित्कर्तुमुत्सहे । अतस्त्वमेव दुःखाब्धेर्मामुद्धर महामते
Imprisoned in Kamsa's house, I am unable to do anything; therefore, O wise one, you alone must rescue me from this ocean of sorrow.
इत्युक्तस्तु मया प्रीतः प्रोवाच मुनिपुङ्गवः । वसुदेव तव प्रीत्या करिष्यामि हितं तव
Thus addressed by me, the eminent sage, pleased, said: 'O Vasudeva, out of affection for you, I will do what is beneficial for you.'
अथ गर्गमुनिः प्रीत्या मया संप्रार्थितोऽगमत् । आरिराधयिषुर्दुर्गां विंध्याद्रिं ब्राह्मणैः सह
Then, requested by me with affection, the sage Garga departed, intending to worship Durga, together with the Brahmins, at Mount Vindhya.
तत्र गत्वा जगद्धात्रीं भक्ताभीष्टप्रदायिनीम् । आराधयामास मुनिर्जपपाठपरायणः
There, having arrived, the sage, devoted to recitation and prayer, worshipped the World-Mother, who grants the wishes of devotees.
यतः समाप्ते नियमे वागुवाचाशरीरिणी । प्रसन्नाऽहं मुने कार्यसिद्धिस्तव भविष्यति
When the observance was completed, a bodiless voice spoke: 'I am pleased, O sage; your purpose will be accomplished.'
भूभारहरणार्थाय मया संप्रेषितो हरिः । वसुदेवस्य देवक्यां स्वांशेनावतरिष्यति
For the removal of the burden of the earth, Hari has been sent by me; he will descend, by his own portion, into Devaki, wife of Vasudeva.
कंसभीत्या तमादाय बालमानकदुंदुभिः । प्रापयिष्यति सद्यस्तु गोकुले नन्दवेश्मनि
Out of fear of Kamsa, Anakadundubhi will take the child and immediately deliver him to Nanda's house in Gokula.
यशोदातनयां नीत्वा स्वगृहे कंसभूभुजे । दास्यत्यथ च तां हंतुं कंस आक्षेप्स्यति क्षितौ
Taking Yashoda's daughter to his own house, Kamsa, ruler of the earth, will attempt to kill her, but she will escape.
सा तद्धस्ताद्विनिर्गत्य सद्यो दिव्यवपुर्द्धरा । मदंशभूता विंध्याद्रौ करिष्यति जगद्धितम्
She, emerging at once from his hand, assumed a divine form, and, becoming the embodiment of intoxication, will accomplish the good of the world on Mount Vindhya.
इति तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा प्रणम्य जगदम्बिकाम् । गर्गो मुनिः प्रसन्नात्मा मथुरामगमत्पुरीम्
Hearing these words, the sage Garga, with a serene heart, bowed to the Mother of the Universe and went to the city of Mathura.