अन्यैश्च विविधैर्भोगैः प्रदानैर्वत्सरेण या । प्रीतिर्मे क्रियते सास्मिन् सकृत्सुचरिते श्रुते
And with various other enjoyments and gifts, as can be given each year, the satisfaction that is produced by hearing this noble account even once—
श्रुतं हरति पापानि तथाऽरोग्यं प्रयच्छति । रक्षां करोति भूतेभ्यो जन्मनां कीर्तनं मम
Hearing it removes sins, grants health, and provides protection from beings; the recitation of my birth story does this.
युद्धेषु चरितं यन्मे दुष्टदैत्यनिबर्हणम् । तस्मिन् श्रुते वैरिकृतं भयं पुंसां न जायते
When my deeds in battle, the destruction of wicked demons, are heard, fear caused by enemies does not arise in people.
युष्माभिः स्तुतयो याश्च याश्च ब्रह्मर्षिभिः कृताः । ब्रह्मणा च कृतास्तास्तु प्रयच्छन्ति शुभां गतिम्
The hymns composed by you, and those made by the Brahmarishis, as well as those by Brahma, grant auspicious paths.
अरण्ये प्रान्तरे वापि दावाग्निपरिवारितः । दस्युभिर्वा वृतः शून्ये गृहीतो वापि शत्रुभिः
Whether in the forest or at its edge, surrounded by wildfire, or encircled by robbers in a desolate place, or seized by enemies—
सिंहव्याघ्रानुयातो वा वने वा वनहस्तिभिः । राज्ञा क्रुद्धेन चाज्ञप्तो वध्यो बन्धगतो ऽपि वा
Whether pursued by lions or tigers in the woods, or by wild elephants, or ordered to be killed by an angry king, or imprisoned—
आघूर्णितो वा वातेन स्थितः पोते महार्णवे । पतत्सु चापि शस्त्रेषु संग्रामे भृशदारुणे
Whether tossed by the wind, standing on a ship in the vast ocean, or when weapons fall in a fierce and dreadful battle—
सर्वाबाधासु घोरासु वेदनाभ्यर्दितो ऽपि वा । स्मरन्ममैतच्छरितं नरो मुच्येत सङ्कटात्
In all terrible afflictions, even when tormented by pain, if a man remembers my deeds, he is freed from distress.
मम प्रभावात्सिंहाद्या दस्यवो वैरिणस्तथा । दूरादेव पलायन्ते स्मरतश्चरितं मम
By my power, lions and other beasts, as well as enemies and robbers, flee from afar when they remember my deeds.
इत्युक्त्वा सा भगवती चण्डिका चण्डविक्रमा । पश्यतामेव देवानां तत्रैवान्तरधीयत
Having spoken thus, the Blessed Goddess Caṇḍikā, fierce in her valor, vanished there itself before the very eyes of the gods.
ते ऽपि देव्या निरातङ्का स्वाधिकारान् यथा पुरा । यज्ञभागभुजः सर्वे चक्रुर्विनिहतारयः
Freed from danger by the Goddess, all the gods, their enemies destroyed, resumed their rightful shares of the sacrifices as before.
दैत्याश्च देव्या निहते शुम्भे देवरिपौ युधि । जगद्विध्वंसके तस्मिन् महोग्रे ऽतुलविक्रमे । निशुम्भे च महावीर्ये शेषाः पातालमाययुः
And when the Goddess had slain Śumbha, the enemy of the gods, in battle—he who was fierce, of incomparable might, and a destroyer of the worlds—and also Niśumbha, of great strength, the remaining demons went down to the underworld.
एवं भगवती देवी सा नित्यापि पुनः पुनः । सम्भूय कुरुते भूप जगतः परिपालनम्
Thus, although eternal, that Blessed Goddess again and again takes form, O King, and protects the world.
तयैतन्मोह्यते विश्वं सैव विश्वं प्रसूयते । सा याचिता च विज्ञानं तुष्टा ऋद्धिं प्रयच्छति
By her this universe is deluded; she herself gives birth to the world; when propitiated, she bestows wisdom and, when pleased, grants prosperity.
व्याप्तं तयैतत्सकलं ब्रह्माण्डं मनुजेश्वर । महाकाल्या महाकाले महाकारीस्वरूपया
O lord of men, this entire universe is pervaded by her—by Mahākālī, who is the very form of Mahākālī, the great doer.
सैव काले महामारी सैव सृष्टिर्भवत्यजा । स्थितिं करोति भूतानां सैव काले सनातनी
She alone, in time, becomes the great destroyer; she alone, unborn, becomes creation; she alone, eternal, brings about the existence of beings in time.
भवकाले नृणां सैव लक्ष्मीर्वृद्धिप्रदा गृहे । सैवाभावे तथालक्ष्मीर्विनाशायोपजायते
At the time of prosperity among men, she herself is Lakṣmī, bestower of growth in the home; and in her absence, she becomes Alakṣmī, arising for destruction.
स्तुता सम्पूजिता पुष्पैर्धूपगन्धादिबिस्तथा । ददाति वित्तं पुत्रांश्च मतिं धर्मे गतिं शुभाम्
When praised and worshipped with flowers, incense, fragrances, and the like, she grants wealth, sons, intelligence in righteousness, and an auspicious path.
एतत्ते कथितं भूप देवीमाहात्म्यमुत्तमम् । एवंप्रभावा सा देवी ययेदं धार्यते जगत्
O king, this supreme glory of the Goddess has been told to you; such is the power of that Goddess by whom this world is sustained.
विद्या तथैव क्रियते भगवद्विष्णुमायया । तथा त्वमेष वैश्यश्च तथैवान्ये विवेकिनः । मोह्यन्ते मोहिताश्चैव मोहमेष्यन्ति चापरे
Knowledge, too, is produced by the divine Māyā of Viṣṇu; thus, you and this merchant, and likewise other discerning ones, are deluded, have been deluded, and others will also be deluded.
तामुपैहि महाराज शरणं परमेश्वरीम् । आराधिता सैव नृणां भोगस्वर्गापवर्गदा
Seek refuge in her, O great king, in the Supreme Goddess; when worshipped, she indeed bestows enjoyment, heaven, and liberation upon people.
इति तस्य वचः श्रुत्वा सुरथः स नराधिपः । प्रणिपत्य महाभागं तमृषिं शंसितव्रतम्
Hearing these words, Suratha, the lord of men, bowed to that illustrious sage, steadfast in his vows.
निर्विण्णो ऽतिममत्वेन राज्यापहरणेन च । जगम सद्यस्तपसे स च वैश्यो महामुने
Distressed by excessive attachment and the loss of his kingdom, he, along with the merchant, immediately set out for austerities, O great sage.
संदर्शनार्थमम्बाया नदीपुलिनसंस्थितः । स च वैश्यस्तपस्तेपे देवीसूक्तं परं जपन्
Desiring a vision of the Mother, they stayed on the riverbank; and the merchant performed austerities, reciting the supreme hymn to the Goddess.
तौ तस्मिन् पिलिने देव्याः कृत्वा मूर्ति महीमयीम् । अर्हणां चक्रतुस्तस्याः पुष्पधूपाग्नितर्पणैः
There, on that riverbank, they fashioned an earthen image of the Goddess, and offered her worship with flowers, incense, fire, and libations.
निराहारौ यतात्मानौ तन्मनस्कौ समाहितौ । ददतुस्तौ बलिं चैव निजगात्रासृगुक्षितम्
Fasting, self-controlled, their minds wholly intent, they also offered a blood-sacrifice, moistening the offering with blood from their own bodies.
एवं समाराधयतोस्त्रिभिर्वर्षैर्यतात्मनोः । परितुष्टा जगद्धात्री प्रत्यक्षं प्राह चण्डिका
Thus, as they worshipped with self-discipline for three years, the Mother of the Universe, fully satisfied, appeared before them and spoke.
यत्प्रार्थ्यते त्वया भूप त्वया च कुलनन्दन । मत्तस्तत्प्राप्यतां सर्वं परितुष्टा ददामि तत्
Whatever you desire, O King, and you, delight of your lineage—let all that be obtained from me; satisfied, I grant it all.
ततो वव्रे नृपो राज्यमविभ्रंश्यन्यजन्मनि । अत्रैव च निजं राज्यं हतशत्रुबलं बलात्
Then the king requested his kingdom in this very life, free from enemies by force, and in another birth, an unbroken sovereignty.
सो ऽपि वैश्यस्ततो ज्ञानं वव्रे निर्विण्णमानसः । ममेत्यहमिति प्राज्ञः सङ्गविच्युतिकारकम्
The merchant, his mind weary, then asked for knowledge that severs attachment, the wisdom that removes the notions of 'mine' and 'I.'