Listen, O wise one, to the wondrous account of the divine arts and the descent of the goddesses, as revealed in the sacred narrative. It is said that by skillfully shaping a doll from sweet rice flour, one may bring under control a king, a woman, or a man. Through the devoted recitation of a special mantra three thousand times, the practitioner attains the maiden of his desire. Further, by inscribing a magical figure with ashes upon boards, accompanied by the proper rites, one invokes the presence of a mighty goddess. This goddess is Bhuvaneshī, born from a thousand arms, resplendent and powerful. In the course of cosmic ages, when turmoil arises, Mahishasura sometimes manifests, bringing distress to the worlds. Afflicted by his oppression, the gods seek refuge in Vaikuntha, the supreme abode. Then, O best of sages, Shri herself appears, pervading the three worlds with her radiance. She arrives at the lotus grove, a place that bestows all blessings to those who worship with devotion. With the wrath of death, the teacher, adorned with a jeweled crown, stands forth. The sage Bhrigu, employing a special meter, invokes the goddess Shri. One should meditate upon Śrī, the knower of the world and bestower of prosperity. She is envisioned bathed with golden, nectar-filled vessels, abiding upon a radiant lotus. To achieve success, the mantra must be recited a hundred thousand times, accompanied by a thousand oblations. Upon the seat where Mahālakṣmī has manifested, one should establish her image with the root mantra. Alongside her, Vāsudeva, Saṅkarṣaṇa, Pradyumna, and Aniruddha are to be worshipped—those four-armed ones, bearing the conch, discus, mace, and lotus. With them are Damaka, Puṇḍarīka, Guggula, and Kuraṇṭaka, whose beauty resembles pearls and rubies, their faces like gently smiling lotuses. Their heads are adorned with conches from which streams of precious gems flow. To the left, one should worship the lord of lotuses together with his beloved, whose heads are marked by lotuses pouring forth jewels. At the tips of the lotus petals, Balā and her companions are worshipped all around: Vibhīṣikā, Mālikā, Śāṅkarī, and Vasumālikā. At the periphery, the lords of the worlds are honored, and beyond them, the powerful weapons, beginning with the Vajra. The devotee who follows these rites becomes abundant in wealth and grain, attaining flawless prosperity. By meditating upon the sun three hundred thousand times, he becomes the very abode of the lotus. Thus the practitioner gains the wealth he desires. Oblations are offered in the sacred fire with khadira wood and rice mixed with sweet substances, all performed under the shade of a bilva tree, partaking of offerings combined with bilva leaves. In this way, the foremost practitioner beholds Mahalakshmi herself with his own eyes. In those times, two asuras, Shumbha and Nishumbha, thorns to the world, were born. Then, the great goddess Sarasvati descended to the earth. After she slew Shumbha and the other asuras, she was worshipped by the grateful gods. Now, listen attentively, for I shall declare her mantra. With the seed-syllable of speech, the foremost practitioner should establish the limbs of the goddess. She, the deity of speech, grants the desired boons to her worshipper. One should constantly meditate on the goddess, adorned with divine ornaments, and worship her together with her attendants and protective circles. The second form is said to be with the Mothers, and the third with the eight powers. Thus, through these rites and meditations, the supreme blessings of the goddesses are attained, and prosperity flourishes in the world.