तत्रागस्त्यो महालक्ष्मीं ददृशे सुचिरं स्थिताम्
There Agastya beheld Mahālakṣmī, who had remained for a long time.
रात्रावब्जेषु संकोचो दर्शेष्वब्जः क्वचिद्व्रजेत्
At night the lotus contracts, but at the sight of the moon, it sometimes opens.
यदारभ्य दधारैनां माधवो मानतः किल
From the time Mādhava took her up, he bore her out of honor, indeed.
त्रैलोक्यं कोलरूपेण त्रासयंतं महासुरम्
He, in the form of a boar, terrified the great demon and the three worlds.
संप्राप्याथ महालक्ष्मीं मुनिवर्यः प्रणम्य च
Then, having reached Mahālakṣmī and bowing, the eminent sage—
अगस्तिरुवाच क्षीरोदजे कमलकोमलगर्भ गौरि लक्ष्मि प्रसीद सततं नमतां शरण्ये ।। 4.1.5.
Agastya said: O you born from the milk ocean, with a womb as soft as a lotus, O fair one, O Lakṣmī, be gracious, refuge of those who always bow.
त्वं श्रीरुपेंद्रसदने मदनैकमातर्ज्योत्स्नासि चंद्रमसि चंद्रमनोहरास्ये। सूर्ये प्रभासि च जगत्त्रितये प्रभासि लक्ष्मि प्रसीद सततं नमतां शरण्ये
You are Śrī in Indra's abode, the sole mother of love, moonlight in the moon, with a face enchanting as the moon; in the sun you are the radiance, and in the three worlds you shine—O Lakṣmī, be gracious, refuge of those who always bow.
त्वं जातवेदसि सदा दह्नात्मशक्तिर्वेधास्त्वया जगदिदं विविधं विदध्यात्
You are always the burning power in fire; by you, the Creator arranges this diverse world.
त्वत्त्यक्तमेतदमले हरते हरोपि त्वं पासि हंसि विदधासि परावरासि
When forsaken by you, O pure one, even Hari is deprived; you protect, you destroy, you create, you are the highest and the lowest.
शूरः स एव स गुणी , बुधः धन्यो मान्यः स एव कुलशील कलाकलापैः
He alone is brave, he alone is virtuous, wise, fortunate, honored—he alone, endowed with family, character, and all arts.
यस्मिन्वसेः क्षणमहोपुरुषे गजेऽश्वे स्त्रैणे तृणे सरसि देवकुले गृहेऽन्ने
Wherever there is a moment of your presence, O Great Person, whether in an elephant, a horse, a woman, a blade of grass, a lake, a temple, a house, or in food—
त्वत्स्पृष्टमेव सकलं शुचितां लभेत त्वत्त्यक्तमेव सकलं त्वशुचीह लक्ष्मि
Whatever is touched by you, O Lakshmi, becomes wholly pure; whatever is abandoned by you, all of that is impure in this world.
लक्ष्मीं श्रियं च कमलां कमलालयां च पद्मां रमां नलिनयुग्मकरां च मां च। क्षीरोदजाममृतकुंभकरामिरां च विष्णुप्रियामिति सदाजपतां क्व दुःखम्
Lakshmi, Sri, Kamala, the abode of lotuses, Padma, Rama, she who holds a pair of lotuses in her hands, myself, she born from the milk ocean, the one who holds the nectar vessel, Ira, beloved of Vishnu—wherever these are always recited, what sorrow can be there?
इति स्तुत्वा भगवतीं महालक्ष्मीं हरिप्रियाम्
Having thus praised the Blessed Goddess Mahalakshmi, beloved of Hari,
श्रीरुवाच पतिव्रते त्वमुत्तिष्ठ लोपामुद्रे शुभव्रते
Sri said: 'O chaste one, rise up, Lopamudra, you of auspicious vows.'
स्तुत्यानया प्रसन्नोहं व्रियतां यद्धृदीप्सितम् 4.1.5.
By this praise I am pleased; ask for whatever your heart desires.
त्वदंगलक्षणैरेभिः सुपवित्रैश्च ते व्रतैः
By these marks upon your body and by your most pure vows,
इत्युक्त्वा मुनिपत्नीं तां समालिंग्य हरिप्रिया
Having spoken thus, the beloved of Hari embraced the wife of the sage.
पुनराह मुने जाने तव हृत्तापकारणम्
Then she spoke again to the sage: 'I know the cause of your heart's pain.'
यदा स देवो विश्वेशो मंदरं गतवान्पुरा
When that god, Lord of the Universe, once went to Mandara,
तत्प्रवृत्तिं पुनर्ज्ञातुं ब्रह्माणं केशवं गणान्
To know the course of those events, Brahma, Kesava, and the hosts of gods—
ते च काशीगुणान्सर्वे विचार्य च पुनःपुनः
They considered all the qualities of Kashi again and again.
इति श्रुत्वाथ स मुनिः प्रत्युवाच श्रियं ततः
Hearing this, the sage then replied to Sri:
यदि देयो वरो मह्यं वरयोग्योस्म्यहं यदि
If a boon is to be granted to me, if I am worthy to receive a boon,
ये पठिष्यंति च स्तोत्रं त्वद्भक्त्या मत्कृतं सदा
Those who always recite this hymn, composed by me with devotion to you,
मास्तु चेष्टवियोगश्च मास्तु संपत्ति संक्षयः 4.1.5.
May they not experience separation from their loved ones, nor the loss of prosperity.
इति लब्ध्वा वरं सोथ महालक्ष्मीं प्रणम्य च
Having thus obtained the boon, he bowed to Mahalakshmi.
पाराशर्य उवाच यां वै हृदि निधायेह पुरुषः पुरुषार्थभाक्
Parashara said: 'He who, having placed her in his heart, here becomes a recipient of the aims of human life—'
ततः श्रीदर्श नानंद सुधाधाराधुनीं मुनिः
Then the sage, radiant with beauty, whose joy was like a stream of nectar,
वह्निकुंडसमुद्भूत सूतनिर्मलमानस
whose mind was pure as gold born from the fire-pit,