अखिलानां च लोकानां शास्तू राज्ञः क्षयं विना । केषां क्षुद्रतराणां हि गृहे गच्छामि सांप्रतम्
Without the downfall of the king, who is the ruler of all the worlds, why should I now go to the house of those who are even more insignificant?
इति संचिंत्य मनसा गता राजनिकेतनम् । सुवर्णभित्तिभिर्युक्तं पताकाभिरलंकृतम्
Thinking thus in her mind, she went to the royal palace, adorned with golden walls and decorated with banners.
सिंहद्वारमतिक्रम्य प्राह दौवारिकीं ततः । द्वारं जहि हि भो द्वारि नियुक्ते शुभलक्षणे
Passing through the lion-gate, she then addressed the gatekeeper: 'O doorkeeper of auspicious marks, open the door!'
यामि वेगेन पश्यामि राज्ञीं सुरतिचंद्रिकाम् । तच्छ्रुत्वा वचनं तस्या रत्नदंडकरा च सा । कोकिलावाक्यवन्मुक्तं परमं हर्षमाययौ
'I am going quickly to see the queen Suraticandrikā.' Hearing her words, the one holding the jeweled staff, delighted as if hearing the voice of a cuckoo, felt great joy.
द्वारनियुक्तोवाच- किं नाम वहसे वृद्धे कः पतिस्तावकः पुनः । आगतासि कथं किं ते कार्य्यं राज्ञ्याश्च दर्शने । कस्मात्किं ब्रूहि विप्रे त्वं श्रोतुं कौतुहलं हि मे
The gatekeeper said: 'Old woman, what is your name? Who is your husband? How have you come here? What business do you have, and why do you wish to see the queen? Tell me, brahmin, for I am curious to hear.'
वृद्धोवाच- शृणु पोष्ये महाराज पत्न्या दंडकरे यदा । श्रोतुं कौतूहलं तेऽस्ति मदागमनकारणम्
The old woman said: 'Listen, O nourisher, to what my wife Daṇḍakarā did. Since you are curious, I will tell you the reason for my coming.'
प्रसिद्धा कमला नाम्ना चाहं प्राणेश्वरो मम । भुवनेश इति ख्यातो नाम्ना द्वारवतीपुरी
'I am well known by the name Kamalā, and my husband is called Bhuvaneśa. The city is known by the name Dvāravatī.'
तस्यां वै वर्त्तते पोष्ये मम प्राणेश्वरस्ततः । आगताहं रत्नवेत्रकरे शृणु सकौतुकम्
'In that city, my husband resides, O nourisher. Therefore, I have come, holding a jeweled staff. Listen with curiosity.'
ममागमनकार्यं हि वच्मीदानीं तवाग्रतः । पुरासीद्वैश्यकुलजा राज्ञी तव च दुःखिनी
'Now, in your presence, I will tell you the reason for my coming. Formerly, the queen, born in a merchant family, was unhappy.'
एकस्मिन्दिवसे पोष्ये पतिना कलहः कृतः । तया नार्या च दुःखिन्या ततो वै भर्तृपीडिता
'One day in Poṣya, a quarrel arose with her husband. That woman, being distressed, was tormented by her husband.'
बहिर्भूय द्रुतं गेहाद्रुदंती च पुनः पुनः । तस्याश्च रोदनं श्रुत्वा चागताहं समीपतः
'She repeatedly ran out of the house, weeping again and again. Hearing her cries, I approached her.'
अपृच्छं सर्ववृत्तांतं कथितो वै यथार्थतः । तया ततो व्रतवरमुपदेशं ददाम्यहम्
'I inquired about the whole matter, and she told me everything truthfully. Then I gave her instruction in a noble vow.'
ममोपदेशतः सा वै चक्रे व्रतवरं मुदा । तस्य प्रसादाद्भो द्वाःस्थे संजाता सुखिता च सा
'By my instruction, she joyfully undertook the noble vow. O doorkeeper, by its grace, she became happy.'
कदाचिद्वैश्यकुलजा पत्या मृत्योर्वशं गता । समानेतुं ततस्तौ तु विहिताखिलघातकौ
'Once, the merchant's daughter was claimed by death through her husband. Then, the two were destined for total destruction.'
किंकरान्प्रेषयामास चंडाद्यान्धर्मराट्प्रभुः । यमाज्ञया समायाता यमदूता भयंकराः
'The lord of Dharma, Yama, sent his fierce servants, Caṇḍa and others. By Yama's command, the terrifying messengers arrived.'
बद्ध्वा तौ चर्मपाशेन लोहमुद्गरपाणयः । उद्यमं चक्रिरे गंतुं यमस्य शरणं प्रति
'Binding them with leather straps and holding iron clubs, they prepared to take them to the refuge of Yama.'
अत्रांतरे च लक्ष्म्यास्ते दूता विष्णुपरायणाः । समानेतुं समायाताः शंखचक्रगदाधराः
'Meanwhile, Lakṣmī's messengers, devoted to Viṣṇu, arrived to bring them back, bearing conch, discus, and mace.'
दृष्ट्वा तथाविधांस्तांश्च यमदूताः पलायिताः । लक्ष्मीदूता महात्मानः स्वप्रकाशादयस्तथा
'Seeing those messengers in such a form, the messengers of Yama fled. The great-souled messengers of Lakṣmī, shining with their own radiance, stood there.'
पाशं छित्त्वा समारोप्य राजहंसयुते रथे । जग्मुर्लक्ष्मीपुरं सर्वे सहसाकाशवर्त्मना
Having cut the noose, they mounted a chariot drawn by royal swans and all proceeded to the city of Lakshmi by the celestial path.
यावद्वारं व्रतवरं कृत्वा वैश्या च सा तदा । तावत्कल्पसहस्राणि तस्थतुः कमलापुरे
As long as the excellent vow was performed by that merchant woman at the gate, for that many thousands of aeons they remained in the city of the Lotus.
पुण्यशेषस्य भोगार्थं जातौ राजान्वयेऽधुना । व्रतं च विस्मृतौ द्वाःस्थे राजसंपत्तिगर्वितौ । तस्माच्च तव तस्यापि चोपदेशार्थमागता
For the sake of enjoying the remaining merit, they have now been born in a royal lineage; but, proud of royal wealth, both the doorkeeper and she have forgotten the vow; therefore, I have come to instruct you and her.
द्वाःस्थोवाच- केनैव तु विधानेन वृद्धे व्रतवरं कृतम् । कस्मिन्मासे व्रतं श्रेष्ठं देवता का च पूज्यते
The doorkeeper said: By what procedure, O aged one, was the excellent vow performed? In which month is the vow supreme, and which deity is to be worshipped?
एतन्मे पृच्छतो मातर्यथावद्वक्तुमर्हसि । कमलोवाच- कार्त्तिके च व्यतिक्रांते मार्गशीर्षे समागते । तस्मिन्मासे च भो पोष्ये वासरे गुरुसंज्ञके
As I ask this, Mother, you should tell me properly. Kamala said: When Karttika has passed and Margashirsha arrives, in that month, O dear one, on the day called Guru (Thursday)...
ततः पूर्वाह्णसमये सकलैर्व्रतिभिर्वृता । नारायणेन सहितां लक्ष्मीं संपूजयेत्ततः
Then, in the forenoon, surrounded by all the vow-observers, one should worship Lakshmi together with Narayana.
मिष्टैः पायसयुक्तैश्च भुक्तैश्च खंडमिश्रितैः । लक्ष्मीं संतोषयेत्प्रेष्ये ततः संप्रार्थयेदिदम्
With sweet foods, rice pudding, and offerings mixed with sugar, one should satisfy Lakshmi, and then make this request:
त्रैलोक्यपूजिते देवि कमले विष्णुवल्लभे । यथा त्वमचला कृष्णे तथा भव मयि स्थिता
"O goddess worshipped by the three worlds, O Kamala, beloved of Vishnu, as you are steadfast with Krishna, so may you remain with me."
ईश्वरी कमले देवि शरणं च भवानघे । नानोपहारद्रव्यैश्च लक्ष्मीमाज्ञाप्य तोषयेत्
"O sovereign, O Kamala, O sinless goddess, be my refuge. With various offerings and gifts, one should propitiate Lakshmi."
शास्त्रैश्च पूजयेद्देवीं महोत्सवसमन्विताम् । ततो नैवेद्यशेषांश्च दत्वा ब्राह्मणसत्तमम्
With scriptures, one should worship the goddess, accompanied by a great festival; then, giving the remnants of the offering to an excellent Brahmin...
आत्मानं स्वपतिं पुत्रान्पोष्येऽन्यानपि सेवकान् । द्वितीये तु गुरोर्वारे विशेषं शृणु सुंदरि
...to oneself, one's husband, sons, dependents, and other servants. Now, on the second Thursday, listen, O beautiful one, to the special observance.
चित्रधूलीप्रशस्तैश्च भ्राष्ट्रैर्गोधूमनिर्मितैः । तोषयेत्कमलादेव्याः कुर्य्याद्वै भक्तिभावतः
With pans made of fine rice-flour dust, prepared from wheat flour, one should, with devotion, satisfy the goddess Kamala.