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.'
स्वल्पैरहोभिर्नृपते स्वं राज्यं प्राप्स्यते भवान् । हत्वा रिपूनस्खलितं तव तत्र भविष्यति
Within a few days, O King, you shall regain your own kingdom, having slain your foes; there, your lost realm will be restored.
मृतश्च भूयः सम्प्राप्य जन्म देवाद्विवस्वतः । सावर्णिको नाम मनुर्भवान् भुवि भविष्यति
And when you die, you will be born again on earth as Manu, named Sāvarṇi, son of the sun-god Vivasvat.
वैश्यवर्य त्वया यश्च वरो ऽस्मत्तो ऽभिवाञ्छतः । तं प्रयच्छामि संसिद्ध्यै तव ज्ञानं भविष्यति
O best of merchants, the boon you have requested from me, I grant to you; for your fulfillment, you shall attain knowledge.
इति दत्त्वा तयोर्देवी यथाभिलषितं वरम् । बभूवान्तर्हिता सद्यो भक्त्या ताभ्यामभिष्टुता
Having thus granted them both the boons as they desired, the Goddess at once disappeared, having been praised by them with devotion.
एवं देव्या वरं लब्ध्वा सुरथः क्षत्रियर्षभः । सूर्याज्जन्म समासाद्य सावर्णिर्भविता मनुः
Thus, having obtained the boon from the Goddess, Suratha, the foremost of warriors, will be born from the Sun and become the Manu named Sāvarṇi.