यस्तामभ्यर्चयेत्सम्यङ्महानवमिवासरे
Whoever worships her properly on the great ninth day,
भूतप्रेतपिशाचेभ्यः शत्रुतश्च विशेषतः
From ghosts, spirits, and especially from enemies,
यंयं काममभिध्यायञ्छुक्लाष्टम्यां नरः शुचिः
Whatever desire a pure man contemplates on the bright eighth day,
निष्कामः सुखमाप्नोति मोक्षं नास्त्यत्र संशयः
Without desire, he attains happiness; there is no doubt he attains liberation.
तामाराध्य गताः पूर्वं सिद्धिं भूरिर्महीभुजः
Having worshipped her, many kings of old attained success.
यस्तस्याः श्रद्धयोपेतः प्रकरोति प्रदक्षिणाम् ६.६४,
Whoever, endowed with faith, circumambulates her,
तस्या आयतने पूर्वमाश्चर्यमभवन्महत्
In her temple, there once occurred a great wonder.
आसीच्चित्ररथोनाम पूर्वं पार्थिवसत्तमः
There was once a king named Citraratha, foremost among rulers.
शुक्लाष्टम्यां सदा भक्त्या स तस्याः श्रद्धयान्वितः
On every bright eighth day, with devotion and faith, he worshipped her.
ततः प्रणम्य तां देवीं संप्रयाति पुनर्गृहम्
Then, having bowed to that goddess, he would return again to his home.
एवं तस्य नरेंद्रस्य प्रदक्षिणरतस्य च
Thus, that king, devoted to circumambulation,
कस्यचित्त्वथ कालस्य स राजा तत्र संगतः
Then, after some time, that king arrived there.
अग्रस्थांस्तान्द्विजान्सर्वान्नमश्चक्रे समाहितः
He respectfully greeted all the foremost Brahmins who stood before him.
ततस्तैः सहितैस्तत्र सहासीनः कथाः शुभाः
Then, seated there together with them, he engaged in auspicious conversations.
ततः कस्मिन्कथांते स पृष्टस्तैर्द्विजसत्तमैः
Thereafter, at the end of a certain conversation, he was questioned by those excellent Brahmins.
राजन्पृच्छामहे सर्वे त्वां वयं कौतुकान्विताः ६.६४.
O King, we all ask you, filled with curiosity.
मासिमासि सदाष्टम्यां त्वं शुक्लायां सुदूरतः
Month after month, on every bright eighth day, you come from afar,
यत्नेनान्याः परित्यज्य सर्वाः पूजादिकाः क्रियाः
Diligently abandoning all other rites such as worship,
रहस्यमपि वक्तव्यं युष्माकं सांप्रतं मया
Even if it is a secret, it must now be told to you all by me.
अहमास शुकः पूर्वमस्मिन्नायतने शुभे
Formerly, I was a parrot in this auspicious temple.
तत्र निर्गच्छतो नित्यं कुर्वतश्चप्रवेशनम्
There, as I constantly went out and entered,
ततः कालेन मे मृत्युः संजातोऽत्रैव मंदिरे
Then, in time, my death occurred right here in this temple.
एतस्मात्कारणाद्दूरात्समभ्येत्य प्रदक्षिणाम्
For this reason, approaching from a distance, I perform circumambulation.
पुरा भक्तिविहीनेन कुलाये वसता मया
Formerly, when I dwelled in a nest, devoid of devotion,
अधुना श्रद्धया युक्तो यत्करोमि प्रदक्षिणाम्
Now, endowed with faith, I perform circumambulation.
साधुवादं तथा चक्रुस्तस्य भूपस्य हर्षिताः ६.६४.
Then, delighted, they praised that king with words of approval.
ततः स पार्थिवः सर्वान्प्रणम्य द्विजसत्तमान्
Thereafter, that king bowed to all the foremost twice-born.
अधुना श्रद्धया युक्तो यः करोति प्रदक्षिणाम्
Now, endowed with faith, whoever performs circumambulation—
ततः प्रभृति ते विप्राः सर्वे भक्तिपुरःसराः
From then on, all those Brahmins became filled with devotion.
प्राप्ताश्च परमां सिद्धिं वांछितां तत्प्रभावतः
And, by that power, they attained the highest perfection they desired.