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.'
व्यास उवाच। तच्छ्रुत्वा वचनं राजा तामुवाच मुदान्वितः । देहि मेऽद्य निजं राज्यं हतशत्रुबलं बलात्
Vyāsa said: Hearing her words, the king joyfully replied, 'Grant me today my own kingdom, with the strength of my enemies destroyed.'
तमुवाच तदा देवी गच्छ राजन्निजं गृहम् । शत्रवः क्षीणसत्त्वास्ते गमिष्यंति पराजिताः
Then the Goddess said to him, 'Go, O king, to your own home. Your enemies, their strength diminished, will depart defeated.'
मंत्रिणस्तु समागत्य ते पतिष्यंति पादयोः । कुरु राज्यं महाभाग नगरे स्वं यथासुखम्
Your ministers will come and bow at your feet; rule your own city, O fortunate one, as you wish.
कृत्वा राज्यं सुविपुलं वर्षाणामयुतं नृप । देहान्ते जन्म संप्राप्य सूर्याच्च भविता मनुः
Having ruled a vast kingdom for ten thousand years, O king, at the end of your life you will be born from the Sun and become a Manu.
व्यास उवाच। वैश्यस्तामप्युवाचेदं कृतांजलिपुट: शुचिः । न मे गृहेण कार्यं वै न पुत्रेण धनेन वा
Vyāsa said: The merchant, pure and with folded hands, spoke to her: 'I have no use for home, nor for son or wealth.'
सर्वं बंधकरं मातः स्वप्नवन्नश्वरं स्फुटम् । ज्ञानं मे देहि विशदं मोक्षदं बंधनाशनम्
Everything, O Mother, binds and is clearly perishable like a dream; grant me clear knowledge, liberating and freeing from bondage.
असारेऽस्मिंश्च संसारे मूढा मज्जंति पामराः । पंडिता: संतरंतीह तस्मान्नेच्छन्ति संसृतिम्
In this unsubstantial world, the ignorant sink, while the wise cross over; therefore, they do not desire worldly existence.
व्यास उवाच। तदाकर्ण्य महामाया वैश्यं प्राह पुरःस्थितम् । वैश्ववर्य तव ज्ञानं भविष्यति न संशयः
Vyāsa said: Hearing this, Mahāmāyā addressed the merchant standing before her, 'O best of merchants, you will attain knowledge—there is no doubt.'
इति दत्त्वा वरं ताभ्यां तत्रैवांतरधीयत । अदर्शनं गतायां तु राजा तं मुनिसत्तमम्
Having granted them the boon, she vanished right there; and when she became invisible, the king addressed that best of sages.
प्रणम्य हयमारुह्य गमनाय मनो दधे । तदैव तस्य सचिवास्तत्रागत्य नृपं प्रजाः
After bowing, he mounted his horse and set his mind on departing; at that very moment, his ministers and subjects arrived there.
प्रणेमुर्विनयोपेतास्तमूचुः प्रांजलिस्थिताः । राजंस्ते शत्रवः सर्वे पापाच्च निहता रणे
With humility, they bowed to him, standing with folded hands, and said: 'O King, all your wicked enemies have been slain in battle.'
राज्यं निष्कंटकं भूप कुरुष्व पुरमास्थितः । तच्छ्रुत्वा वचनं राजा नत्वा तं मुनिसत्तमम्
'O ruler, now that the kingdom is free from thorns, take up residence in the city and govern.' Hearing these words, the king bowed to that best of sages.
आपृच्छ्य निर्ययौ तत्र मंत्रिभिः परिवारितः । संप्राप्य च निजं राज्यं दारान्स्वजनबांधवान्
Taking leave, he departed from there, surrounded by his ministers; and having reached his own kingdom, he enjoyed his wives, relatives, and friends.
बुभुजे पृथिवीं सर्वां ततः सागरमेखलाम् । वैश्योऽपि ज्ञानमासाद्य मुक्तसंगः समंततः
He enjoyed the entire earth, girdled by the ocean; and the merchant, having attained knowledge, became free from all attachments.
कालातिवाहनं तत्र मुक्तबंधश्चकार ह। तीर्थेषु विचरन्गायन्भगवत्या गुणानथ
He transcended time and bondage, wandering among holy places, singing the virtues of the Blessed Goddess.
एतत्ते कथितं देव्याश्चरितं परमाद्भुतम् । आराधनफलप्राप्तिर्यथावद्भूपवैश्ययोः
Thus I have told you the wondrous deeds of the Goddess, and how the king and the merchant obtained the fruits of their worship.
दैत्यानां हननं प्रोक्तं प्रादुर्भावस्तथा शुभः । एवंप्रभावा सा देवी भक्तानामभयप्रदा
The slaying of the demons has been described, as well as her auspicious manifestation; such is the power of the Goddess, who grants fearlessness to her devotees.
यः शृणोति नरो नित्यमेतदाख्यानमुत्तमम् । संप्राप्नोति नरः सत्यं संसारसुखमद्भुतम्
Whoever hears this excellent narrative daily truly attains wondrous happiness in worldly life.
ज्ञानदं मोक्षदं चैव कीर्तिदं सुखदं तथा । पावनं श्रवणान्नूनमेतदाख्यानमद्भुतम्
This marvelous story, when heard, surely bestows knowledge, liberation, fame, and happiness, and purifies as well.
अखिलार्थप्रदं नॄणां सर्वधर्मसमावृतम् । धर्मार्थकाममोक्षाणां कारणं परमं मतम्
It grants all goals to people, is filled with every virtue, and is held to be the supreme cause of righteousness, prosperity, pleasure, and liberation.