जयस्व देवि चामुंडे जय भूतापहारिणि। जय सर्वगते देवि कालरात्रि नमोस्तु ते
Victory to you, O Caṇḍikā! Victory, remover of beings! Victory, all-pervading goddess! O Kālarātri, I bow to you.
विश्वमूर्तियुते शुद्धे विरूपाक्षि त्रिलोचने। भीमरूपे शिवे विद्ये महामाये महोदरे
O embodiment of the universe, pure one, three-eyed with uneven eyes; of terrible form, auspicious one, knowledge, great illusion, vast-bellied.
मनोजये मनोदुर्गे भीमाक्षि क्षुभितक्षये। महामारि विचित्रांगि गीतनृत्यप्रिये शुभे
Conqueror of the mind, fortress of the mind, O wide-eyed, destroyer of agitation; great disease, wondrous-limbed, lover of song and dance, auspicious one.
विकरालि महाकालि कालिके पापहारिणि। पाशहस्ते दंडहस्ते भीमहस्ते भयानके
O fierce one, great Kāli, Kālikā, destroyer of sin; holding a noose, holding a staff, with a terrible hand, fearsome one.
चामुंडे ज्वलमानास्ये तीक्ष्णदंष्ट्रे महाबले। शिवयानप्रिये देवि प्रेतासनगते शिवे
O Caṇḍikā, with blazing mouth, sharp-toothed, of great strength; beloved of Shiva's vehicle, goddess, seated on a corpse, auspicious one.
भीमाक्षि भीषणे देवि सर्वभूतभयंकरि। करालि विकराले च महाकालि करालिनि
O wide-eyed, terrifying goddess, bringer of fear to all beings; fierce, monstrous, great Kāli, dreadful one.
कालिकरालविक्रांते कालरात्रि नमोस्तु ते। सर्वशस्त्रभृते देवि नमो देवनमस्कृते
O Kālikā, fierce and powerful, O Kālarātri, I bow to you; O goddess bearing all weapons, salutation to you, worshipped by the gods.
एवं स्तुता शिवदूती रुद्रेण परमेष्ठिना। तुतोष परमा देवी वाक्यं चैवमुवाच ह
Thus praised, Śivadūtī, by Rudra, the supreme lord, the supreme goddess was pleased and spoke these words.
वरं वृणीष्व देवेश यत्ते मनसि वर्तते। रुद्र उवाच। स्तोत्रेणानेन ये देवि स्तोष्यंति त्त्वां वरानने
Choose a boon, O Lord of the gods, whatever dwells in your mind. Rudra said: O beautiful-faced goddess, whoever praises you with this hymn—
तेषां त्वं वरदा देवि भव सर्वगता सती। इमं पर्वतमारुह्य यः पूजयति भक्तितः
O goddess, you become the granter of boons for them, ever-present and true. Whoever ascends this mountain and worships with devotion—
स पुत्रपौत्रपशुमान्समृद्धिमुपगच्छतु। यश्चैवं शृणुयाद्भक्त्या स्तवं देवि समुद्भवं
He attains prosperity, sons, grandsons, and livestock. And whoever listens with devotion to this hymn arising for the goddess—
सर्वपापविनिर्मुक्तः परं निर्वाणमृच्छतु। भ्रष्टराज्यो यदा राजा नवम्यां नियतः शुचिः
Freed from all sins, he attains supreme liberation. When a king, deprived of his kingdom, observes the ninth day with purity—
अष्टम्यां च चतुर्दश्यां सोपवासो नरोत्तम। संवत्सरेण लभतां राज्यं निष्कंटकं पुनः
And also fasts on the eighth and fourteenth days, O best of men, he regains a secure kingdom within a year.
एषा ज्ञानान्विता शक्तिः शिवदूतीति चोच्यते। य एवं शृणुयान्नित्यं भक्त्या परमया नृप
This is the power endowed with knowledge, called Śivadūtī. Whoever listens daily with supreme devotion, O king—
सर्वपापविनिर्मुक्तः परं निर्वाणमाप्नुयात्। यश्चैनं पठते भक्त्या स्नात्वा वै पुष्करे जले1.31.
Freed from all sins, he attains supreme liberation. And whoever recites this with devotion, having bathed in the waters of Puṣkara—
सर्वमेतत्फलं प्राप्य ब्रह्मलोके महीयते। यत्रैतल्लिखितं गेहे सदा तिष्ठति पार्थिव
Having obtained all these fruits, he is honored in the world of Brahma. Wherever this is written and kept in a house, O prince—
न तत्राग्निभयं घोरं सर्वचोरादिसंभवं। यश्चेदं पूजयेद्भक्त्या पुस्तकेपि स्थितं बुधाः
There is no terrible fear of fire, nor any danger from thieves and the like. And whoever worships this with devotion, even when it is kept in a book, O wise ones—
तेन चेष्टं भवेत्सर्वं त्रैलोक्यं सचराचरं। जायंते बहवः पुत्रा धनं धान्यं वरस्त्रियः
By that, all actions succeed throughout the three worlds, both moving and unmoving. Many sons are born, wealth, grain, and excellent wives—
रत्नान्यश्वा गजा भृत्यास्तेषामाशु भवंति च। यत्रेदं लिख्यते गेहे तत्राप्येवं ध्रुवं भवेत्
Jewels, horses, elephants, and servants quickly come to them. Wherever this is written in a house, there too it surely happens thus.
भीष्म उवाच। केन कर्मविपाकेन प्रेतत्वं जायते पुनः। केन वात्र प्रमुच्येत तन्मे ब्रूहि महामते
Bhīṣma said: By what karmic result does one become a ghost again? And by what means is one freed from it? Tell me this, O wise one.
पुलस्त्य उवाच। अहं ते कथयिष्यामि सर्वमेतदशेषतः। यच्छ्रुत्वा न पुनर्मोहं यास्यते नृपसत्तम
Pulastya said: I will tell you everything in full. Hearing this, O best of kings, you will never again fall into delusion.
येन जायेत प्रेतत्वं येन चास्मात्प्रमुच्यते। प्राप्नोति नरकं घोरं दुस्तरं त्रिदशैरपि
By what cause one becomes a ghost, and by what means one is freed from it—he attains a dreadful hell, hard to cross even for the gods.
सतां संभाषणे चैव पुण्यतीर्थानुकीर्त्तने। मानवास्तु प्रमुच्यंत आपन्नाः प्रेतयोनिषु
Through conversation with the virtuous and recounting holy places, people who have fallen into ghostly births are freed.
श्रूयते हि पुरा भीष्म ब्राह्मणः संशितव्रतः। पृथुस्सर्वत्र विख्यातः संतोषे च सदा स्थितः
It is heard, O Bhīṣma, that formerly there was a Brahmin of strict vows, renowned everywhere, always established in contentment.
स्वाध्याययुक्तो गेहेषु नित्ययोगश्च योगवित्। जपयज्ञविधानेन युक्तं कालं क्षिपेच्च सः
Engaged in self-study in his home, always devoted to yoga and knowledgeable in its practice, he spent his time performing recitation and sacrifice.
युक्तः क्षमादयाभ्यां च क्षांत्यायुक्तश्च तत्त्ववित्। अहिंसाहितचित्तश्च मार्द्दवे च तथास्थितः
Endowed with patience and compassion, established in forgiveness and knowledge of truth, his mind was fixed on nonviolence and gentleness.
ब्रह्मचर्यसमायुक्तस्तपोयोगसमन्वितः। युक्तः स पितृकार्येषु युक्तो वैदिककर्मसु
Engaged in celibacy, endowed with ascetic discipline and yoga, he is diligent in ancestral rites and attentive to Vedic rituals.
परलोकभयेयुक्तो युक्तस्सत्यवचः प्रति। युक्तो मधुरवाक्येषु युक्तश्चातिथिपूजने
Motivated by fear of the next world, steadfast in truthfulness, gentle in speech, and devoted to honoring guests.
इष्टापूर्तसमायुक्तो युक्तो द्वंद्वविवर्जने। स्वकर्मविधिसंयुक्तो युक्तः स्वाध्यायकर्मसु
Fulfilled in acts of charity and sacrifice, free from dualities, devoted to his prescribed duties, and diligent in self-study.
एवं कर्माणि कुर्वंतस्संसारविजिगीषया। बहून्यब्दान्यतीतानि ब्राह्मणस्य गृहे सतः
Thus performing actions with the desire to overcome worldly existence, many years passed while he lived as a householder Brahmin.