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Prakṛti-khaṇḍa · Chapter 40

Chapter 40

Unit 70 of 276Prakṛti-khaṇḍa · Chapter 40Prakṛti-khaṇḍa · Chapter 401 source entries

Prakṛti-khaṇḍa · Chapter 40

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नारद उवाच।। नारायण महाभाग समश्चैव त्वया प्रभो।। रूपेण च गुणैश्चैव यशसा तेजसा त्विषा।।१।। त्वमेव ज्ञानिनां श्रेष्ठः सिद्धानां योगिनां तथा।। तपस्विनां मुनीनां च परो वेदविदां तथा।। महालक्ष्म्या उपाख्यानं विज्ञातं महदद्भुतम् ।।२।। अन्यत्किञ्चिदुपाख्यानं निगूढं वद साम्प्रतम्।। अतीव गोपनीयं यदुपयुक्तं च सर्वतः।। अप्रकाश्यं पुराणेषु वेदोक्तं धर्मसंयुतम्।।३।। श्रीनारायण उवाच।। नानाप्रकारमाख्यानमप्रकाश्यं पुराणतः ।। श्रुतौ कतिविधं गूढमास्ते ब्रह्मन्सुदुर्लभम्।। ४ ।। तेषु यत्सारभूतं च श्रोतुं किंवा त्वमिच्छसि ।। तन्मे ब्रूहि महाभाग पश्चाद्वक्ष्यामि तत्पुनः ।।५।। नारद उवाच ।। स्वाहा देवहविर्दाने प्रशस्ता सर्वकर्मसु।। पितृदाने स्वधा शस्ता दक्षिणा सर्वतो वरा ।।६।। एतासां चरितं जन्म फलं प्राधान्यमेव च ।। श्रोतुमिच्छामि ते वक्त्राद्वद वेदविदां वर ।। ७ ।। सौतिरुवाच ।। नारदस्य वचः श्रुत्वा प्रहस्य मुनिपुंगवः ।। कथां कथितुमारेभे पुराणोक्तां पुरातनीम् ।। ८ ।। श्रीनारायण उवाच ।। सृष्टेः प्रथमतो देवाश्चाहारार्थं ययुः पुरा ।। ब्रह्मलोके ब्रह्मसभामगम्यां सुमनोहराम् ।। ९ ।। गत्वा निवेदनं चक्रुर्मुने त्वाहारहेतुकम् ।। ब्रह्मा श्रुत्वा प्रतिज्ञाय सिषेवे श्रीहरेः पदम् ।। 2.40.१० ।। यज्ञरूपो हि भगवान्कलया च बभूव सः ।। यज्ञे यद्यद्धविर्दानं दत्तं तेभ्यश्च वेधसा ।। ११ ।। हविर्ददति विप्राश्च भक्त्या च क्षत्रियादयः ।। सुरा नैव प्राप्नुवन्ति तद्दानं मुनिपुंगव ।। १२ ।। देवा विषण्णास्ते सर्वे तत्सभां च पुनर्ययुः ।। गत्वा निवेदनं चक्रुराहाराभावहेतुकम् ।। १३ ।। ब्रह्मा श्रुत्वा तु मनसा श्रीकृष्णं शरणं ययौ ।। प्रकृतिं पूजयामास ध्यायन्नेव तदाज्ञया।। ।। १४ ।। प्रकृतिः कलया चैव सर्वशक्तिस्वरूपिणी ।। बभूव दाहिका शक्तिरग्नेः स्वाहास्वरूपिणी ।। १५ ।। ग्रीष्ममध्याह्नमार्त्तण्ड प्रभान्यक्कारकारिणी ।। अतीव सुन्दरी रामा रमणीया मनोहरा ।। १६ ।। ईषद्धास्यप्रसन्नास्या भक्तानुग्रहकारिणी ।। उवाचेति विधेरग्रे पद्मयोने वरं वृणु ।। १७ ।। विधिस्तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा सम्भ्रमात्समुवाच ताम् ।। १८ ।। ब्रह्मोवाच ।। त्वमग्नेर्दाहिका शक्तिर्भव पत्नी च सुन्दरी ।। दग्धुं न शक्तस्स्वहुतं हुताशश्च त्वया विना ।। १९ ।। त्वन्नामोच्चार्य्य मन्त्रान्ते यद्दास्यति हविर्नरः ।। सुरेभ्यस्तत्प्राप्नुवन्ति सुराः सानन्दपूर्वकम् ।।2.40.२०।। अग्नेः सम्पत्स्वरूपा च श्रीरूपा च गृहेश्वरी ।। देवानां पूजिता शश्वन्नरादीनां भवाम्बिके।। ।। २१ ।। ब्रह्मणश्च वचः श्रुत्वा सा विषण्णा बभूव ह ।। तमुवाच स्वयं देवी स्वाभिप्रायं स्वयम्भुवम् ।। २२ ।। स्वाहोवाच ।। अहं कृष्णं भजिष्यामि तपसा सुचिरेण च ।। ब्रह्मंस्तदन्यद्यत्किंचित्स्वप्नवद्भ्रम एव च ।।२३ ।। विधाता जगतां त्वं च शम्भुर्मृत्युञ्जयः प्रभुः ।। बिभर्ति शेषो विश्वं च धर्म्मः साक्षी च देहिनाम् ।। २४ ।। सर्वाद्यपूज्यो देवानां गणेषु च गणेश्वरः ।। प्रकृतिः सर्वसूः सर्वे पूजिता यत्प्रसादतः ।।२५।। ऋषयो मुनयश्चैव पूजिता यं निषेव्य च ।। तत्पादपद्मं ब्रह्मैक्यभावाद्वै चिन्तयाम्यहम् ।।२६।। पद्मास्या पाद्ममित्युक्त्वा पद्मलाभानुसारतः ।। जगाम तपसे पाद्मे पद्मादीशस्य पद्मजा ।। २७ ।। तपस्तेपे लक्षवर्षमेकपादेन पाद्मजा ।। तदा ददर्श श्रीकृष्णं निर्गुणं प्रकृतेः परम् ।। २८ ।। अतीव कमनीयं च रूपं दृष्ट्वा च सुन्दरी ।। मूर्छां सम्प्राप कामेन कामेशस्य च कामुकी ।। २९ ।। विज्ञाय तदभिप्रायं सर्वज्ञस्तामुवाच सः ।। स्वक्रोडे च समुत्थाप्य क्षीणांगीं तपसा चिरम् ।। 2.40.३० ।। श्रीकृष्ण उवाच ।। वाराहे च त्वमंशेन मम पत्नी भविष्यसि ।। नाम्ना नाग्नजिती कन्या कान्ते नग्नजितस्य च ।। ३१ ।। अधुनाऽग्नेर्दाहिका त्वं भव पत्नी च भाविनि ।। मन्त्राङ्गरूपा पूता च मत्प्रसादाद्भविष्यसि ।। ३२ ।। वह्निस्त्वां भक्तिभावेन सम्पूज्य च गृहेश्वरीम्।। रमिष्यते त्वया सार्द्धं रामया रमणीयया ।। ३३ ।। इत्युक्त्वाऽन्तर्दधे देवो देवीमाश्वास्य नारद ।। तत्राजगाम सन्त्रस्तो वह्निर्ब्रह्मनिदेशतः ।। ३४ ।। ध्यानैश्च सामवेदोक्तैर्ध्यात्वा तां जगदम्बिकाम् ।। सम्पूज्य परितुष्टाव पाणिं जग्राह मन्त्रतः ।। ३५ ।। तदा दिव्यं वर्षशतं स रेमे रामया सह ।। अतीव निर्जने रम्ये सम्भोगसुखदे सदा ।।३६।। बभूव गर्भं तस्याश्च हुताशस्यैव तेजसा ।। तद्दधार च सा देवी दिव्यं द्वादशवत्सरम् ।। ३७ ।। ततः सुषाव पुत्रांश्च रमणीयान्मनोहरान् ।। दक्षिणाग्निर्गार्हपत्याहवनीयान्क्रमेण च ।। ।। ३८ ।। ऋषयो मुनयश्चैव ब्राह्मणाः क्षत्रियादयः ।। स्वाहान्तं मन्त्रमुच्चार्य्य हविर्ददति नित्यशः ।। ३९ ।। स्वाहायुक्तं च मन्त्रं च यो गृह्णाति प्रशस्तकम् ।। सर्वसिद्धिर्भवेत्तस्य ब्रह्मन्ग्रहणमात्रतः ।। 2.40.४० ।। विषहीनो यथा सर्पो वेदहीनो यथा द्विजः ।। पतिसेवाविहीना स्त्री विद्याहीनो यथा नरः ।। ४१ ।। फलशाखाविहीनश्च यथा वृक्षो हि निन्दितः ।। स्वाहाहीनस्तथा मन्त्रो न द्रुतं फलदायकः ।। ४२ ।। परितुष्टा द्विजाः सर्वे देवाः संप्रापुराहुतिम् ।। स्वाहान्तेनैव मन्त्रेण सफलं सर्वकर्म च ।। ४३ ।। इत्येवं वर्णितं सर्वं स्वाहोपाख्यानमुत्तमम् ।। सुखदं मोक्षदं सारं कि भूयः श्रोतुमिच्छसि ।। ४४ ।। नारद उवाच ।। स्वाहापूजाविधानं च ध्यानं स्तोत्रं मुनीश्वर ।। संपूज्य वह्निस्तुष्टाव येन तां वद मे प्रभो ।। ४५ ।। नारायण उवाच ।। ध्यानं च सामवेदोक्तं स्तोत्रं पूजाविधानकम् ।। वदामि श्रूयतां ब्रह्मन्सावधानं निशामय ।। ४६ ।। सर्वयज्ञारम्भकाले शालग्रामे घटेऽथवा ।। स्वाहां संपूज्य यत्नेन यज्ञं कुर्य्यात्फलाप्तये ।। ४७ ।। स्वाहां मन्त्राङ्गभूतां च मन्त्रसिद्धिस्वरूपिणीम् ।। सिद्धां च सिद्धिदां नृणां कर्मणां फलदां भजे ।। ४८।। इति ध्यात्वा च मूलेन दत्त्वा पाद्यादिकं नरः ।। सर्वसिद्धिं लभेत्स्तुत्वा मूलं स्तोत्रं मुने शृणु ।। ४९ ।। ॐ ह्रीं श्रीं वह्निजायायै देव्यै स्वाहेत्यनेन च ।। यः पूजयेच्च तां देवीं सर्वेष्टं लभते ध्रुवम् ।। 2.40.५० ।। वह्निरुवाच ।। स्वाहा ऽऽद्या प्रकृतेरंशा मन्त्रतन्त्राङ्गरूपिणी।। मन्त्राणां फलदात्री च धात्री च जगतां सती ।।५१।। सिद्धिस्वरूपा सिद्धा च सिद्धिदा सर्वदा नृणाम् ।। हुताशदाहिकाशक्तिस्तत्प्राणाधिकरूपिणी ।। ५२ ।। संसारसाररूपा च घोरसंसारतारिणी ।। देवजीवनरूपा च देवपोषणकारिणी ।। ५३ ।। षोडशैतानि नामानि यः पठेद्भक्तिसंयुतः ।। सर्वसिद्धिर्भवेत्तस्य चेह लोके परत्र च ।। ५४ ।। नाङ्गहीनो भवेत्तस्य सर्वकर्मसु शोभनम् ।। अपुत्रो लभते पुत्रमभार्य्यो लभते प्रियाम् ।। ५५ ।। इति श्रीब्रह्मवैवर्त्ते महापुराणे द्वितीये प्रकृतिखण्डे नारद नारायणसंवादे स्वाहोपाख्याने स्वाहाजन्मादिकथनं नाम चत्वारिंशत्तमोऽध्यायः ।। ४० ।। इति स्वाहोपाख्यानं समाप्तम्।।

nārada uvāca|| nārāyaṇa mahābhāga samaścaiva tvayā prabho|| rūpeṇa ca guṇaiścaiva yaśasā tejasā tviṣā||1|| tvameva jñānināṃ śreṣṭhaḥ siddhānāṃ yogināṃ tathā|| tapasvināṃ munīnāṃ ca paro vedavidāṃ tathā|| mahālakṣmyā upākhyānaṃ vijñātaṃ mahadadbhutam ||2|| anyatkiñcidupākhyānaṃ nigūḍhaṃ vada sāmpratam|| atīva gopanīyaṃ yadupayuktaṃ ca sarvataḥ|| aprakāśyaṃ purāṇeṣu vedoktaṃ dharmasaṃyutam||3|| śrīnārāyaṇa uvāca|| nānāprakāramākhyānamaprakāśyaṃ purāṇataḥ || śrutau katividhaṃ gūḍhamāste brahmansudurlabham|| 4 || teṣu yatsārabhūtaṃ ca śrotuṃ kiṃvā tvamicchasi || tanme brūhi mahābhāga paścādvakṣyāmi tatpunaḥ ||5|| nārada uvāca || svāhā devahavirdāne praśastā sarvakarmasu|| pitṛdāne svadhā śastā dakṣiṇā sarvato varā ||6|| etāsāṃ caritaṃ janma phalaṃ prādhānyameva ca || śrotumicchāmi te vaktrādvada vedavidāṃ vara || 7 || sautiruvāca || nāradasya vacaḥ śrutvā prahasya munipuṃgavaḥ || kathāṃ kathitumārebhe purāṇoktāṃ purātanīm || 8 || śrīnārāyaṇa uvāca || sṛṣṭeḥ prathamato devāścāhārārthaṃ yayuḥ purā || brahmaloke brahmasabhāmagamyāṃ sumanoharām || 9 || gatvā nivedanaṃ cakrurmune tvāhārahetukam || brahmā śrutvā pratijñāya siṣeve śrīhareḥ padam || 2.40.10 || yajñarūpo hi bhagavānkalayā ca babhūva saḥ || yajñe yadyaddhavirdānaṃ dattaṃ tebhyaśca vedhasā || 11 || havirdadati viprāśca bhaktyā ca kṣatriyādayaḥ || surā naiva prāpnuvanti taddānaṃ munipuṃgava || 12 || devā viṣaṇṇāste sarve tatsabhāṃ ca punaryayuḥ || gatvā nivedanaṃ cakrurāhārābhāvahetukam || 13 || brahmā śrutvā tu manasā śrīkṛṣṇaṃ śaraṇaṃ yayau || prakṛtiṃ pūjayāmāsa dhyāyanneva tadājñayā|| || 14 || prakṛtiḥ kalayā caiva sarvaśaktisvarūpiṇī || babhūva dāhikā śaktiragneḥ svāhāsvarūpiṇī || 15 || grīṣmamadhyāhnamārttaṇḍa prabhānyakkārakāriṇī || atīva sundarī rāmā ramaṇīyā manoharā || 16 || īṣaddhāsyaprasannāsyā bhaktānugrahakāriṇī || uvāceti vidheragre padmayone varaṃ vṛṇu || 17 || vidhistadvacanaṃ śrutvā sambhramātsamuvāca tām || 18 || brahmovāca || tvamagnerdāhikā śaktirbhava patnī ca sundarī || dagdhuṃ na śaktassvahutaṃ hutāśaśca tvayā vinā || 19 || tvannāmoccāryya mantrānte yaddāsyati havirnaraḥ || surebhyastatprāpnuvanti surāḥ sānandapūrvakam ||2.40.20|| agneḥ sampatsvarūpā ca śrīrūpā ca gṛheśvarī || devānāṃ pūjitā śaśvannarādīnāṃ bhavāmbike|| || 21 || brahmaṇaśca vacaḥ śrutvā sā viṣaṇṇā babhūva ha || tamuvāca svayaṃ devī svābhiprāyaṃ svayambhuvam || 22 || svāhovāca || ahaṃ kṛṣṇaṃ bhajiṣyāmi tapasā sucireṇa ca || brahmaṃstadanyadyatkiṃcitsvapnavadbhrama eva ca ||23 || vidhātā jagatāṃ tvaṃ ca śambhurmṛtyuñjayaḥ prabhuḥ || bibharti śeṣo viśvaṃ ca dharmmaḥ sākṣī ca dehinām || 24 || sarvādyapūjyo devānāṃ gaṇeṣu ca gaṇeśvaraḥ || prakṛtiḥ sarvasūḥ sarve pūjitā yatprasādataḥ ||25|| ṛṣayo munayaścaiva pūjitā yaṃ niṣevya ca || tatpādapadmaṃ brahmaikyabhāvādvai cintayāmyaham ||26|| padmāsyā pādmamityuktvā padmalābhānusārataḥ || jagāma tapase pādme padmādīśasya padmajā || 27 || tapastepe lakṣavarṣamekapādena pādmajā || tadā dadarśa śrīkṛṣṇaṃ nirguṇaṃ prakṛteḥ param || 28 || atīva kamanīyaṃ ca rūpaṃ dṛṣṭvā ca sundarī || mūrchāṃ samprāpa kāmena kāmeśasya ca kāmukī || 29 || vijñāya tadabhiprāyaṃ sarvajñastāmuvāca saḥ || svakroḍe ca samutthāpya kṣīṇāṃgīṃ tapasā ciram || 2.40.30 || śrīkṛṣṇa uvāca || vārāhe ca tvamaṃśena mama patnī bhaviṣyasi || nāmnā nāgnajitī kanyā kānte nagnajitasya ca || 31 || adhunā'gnerdāhikā tvaṃ bhava patnī ca bhāvini || mantrāṅgarūpā pūtā ca matprasādādbhaviṣyasi || 32 || vahnistvāṃ bhaktibhāvena sampūjya ca gṛheśvarīm|| ramiṣyate tvayā sārddhaṃ rāmayā ramaṇīyayā || 33 || ityuktvā'ntardadhe devo devīmāśvāsya nārada || tatrājagāma santrasto vahnirbrahmanideśataḥ || 34 || dhyānaiśca sāmavedoktairdhyātvā tāṃ jagadambikām || sampūjya parituṣṭāva pāṇiṃ jagrāha mantrataḥ || 35 || tadā divyaṃ varṣaśataṃ sa reme rāmayā saha || atīva nirjane ramye sambhogasukhade sadā ||36|| babhūva garbhaṃ tasyāśca hutāśasyaiva tejasā || taddadhāra ca sā devī divyaṃ dvādaśavatsaram || 37 || tataḥ suṣāva putrāṃśca ramaṇīyānmanoharān || dakṣiṇāgnirgārhapatyāhavanīyānkrameṇa ca || || 38 || ṛṣayo munayaścaiva brāhmaṇāḥ kṣatriyādayaḥ || svāhāntaṃ mantramuccāryya havirdadati nityaśaḥ || 39 || svāhāyuktaṃ ca mantraṃ ca yo gṛhṇāti praśastakam || sarvasiddhirbhavettasya brahmangrahaṇamātrataḥ || 2.40.40 || viṣahīno yathā sarpo vedahīno yathā dvijaḥ || patisevāvihīnā strī vidyāhīno yathā naraḥ || 41 || phalaśākhāvihīnaśca yathā vṛkṣo hi ninditaḥ || svāhāhīnastathā mantro na drutaṃ phaladāyakaḥ || 42 || parituṣṭā dvijāḥ sarve devāḥ saṃprāpurāhutim || svāhāntenaiva mantreṇa saphalaṃ sarvakarma ca || 43 || ityevaṃ varṇitaṃ sarvaṃ svāhopākhyānamuttamam || sukhadaṃ mokṣadaṃ sāraṃ ki bhūyaḥ śrotumicchasi || 44 || nārada uvāca || svāhāpūjāvidhānaṃ ca dhyānaṃ stotraṃ munīśvara || saṃpūjya vahnistuṣṭāva yena tāṃ vada me prabho || 45 || nārāyaṇa uvāca || dhyānaṃ ca sāmavedoktaṃ stotraṃ pūjāvidhānakam || vadāmi śrūyatāṃ brahmansāvadhānaṃ niśāmaya || 46 || sarvayajñārambhakāle śālagrāme ghaṭe'thavā || svāhāṃ saṃpūjya yatnena yajñaṃ kuryyātphalāptaye || 47 || svāhāṃ mantrāṅgabhūtāṃ ca mantrasiddhisvarūpiṇīm || siddhāṃ ca siddhidāṃ nṛṇāṃ karmaṇāṃ phaladāṃ bhaje || 48|| iti dhyātvā ca mūlena dattvā pādyādikaṃ naraḥ || sarvasiddhiṃ labhetstutvā mūlaṃ stotraṃ mune śṛṇu || 49 || oṃ hrīṃ śrīṃ vahnijāyāyai devyai svāhetyanena ca || yaḥ pūjayecca tāṃ devīṃ sarveṣṭaṃ labhate dhruvam || 2.40.50 || vahniruvāca || svāhā ''dyā prakṛteraṃśā mantratantrāṅgarūpiṇī|| mantrāṇāṃ phaladātrī ca dhātrī ca jagatāṃ satī ||51|| siddhisvarūpā siddhā ca siddhidā sarvadā nṛṇām || hutāśadāhikāśaktistatprāṇādhikarūpiṇī || 52 || saṃsārasārarūpā ca ghorasaṃsāratāriṇī || devajīvanarūpā ca devapoṣaṇakāriṇī || 53 || ṣoḍaśaitāni nāmāni yaḥ paṭhedbhaktisaṃyutaḥ || sarvasiddhirbhavettasya ceha loke paratra ca || 54 || nāṅgahīno bhavettasya sarvakarmasu śobhanam || aputro labhate putramabhāryyo labhate priyām || 55 || iti śrībrahmavaivartte mahāpurāṇe dvitīye prakṛtikhaṇḍe nārada nārāyaṇasaṃvāde svāhopākhyāne svāhājanmādikathanaṃ nāma catvāriṃśattamo'dhyāyaḥ || 40 || iti svāhopākhyānaṃ samāptam||

English translation

Birth of Svaha Narada said-0 Narayana, O Mahabhaga, 0 lord, no one is comparable to you in beauty, quality, glory, tejcis and lustre. You are the best of all the intellectuals, siddhas, yogis, mendicants the sages and the best of the people well-versed in the Vedas. I have listened with great devotion, to the auspicious story of Mahalaksmi as told by you. Now you kindly tell me some other deep story which may be quite secret, beneficial to all as told in the Puranas, with the background of the Vedas and is quite Narada said—In all these religious deeds relating to the goddesses, Svaha is considered to be the most important one, besides the performing of charity and home. For the rites which are to be performed in favour of the manes, Svadha happens to be the foremost but the glory of daksind is considered to be the best.

Therefore, you kindly let me know the story of each one of them including their birth, the merit one derives from their adoration. I would like to listen to the same from your mouth since you are the best of those who are well-versed in the Vedas. Therefore you kindly tell me the same.

Sauti said—On hearing the words of Narada, Narayana the best of the sages, smiled for a moment and then started narrating the old stories of the Puranas.

Narayana said—O Brahma, there are several types of stories brought out in the Puranas. The Vedas also contain several such secret stories which are difficult of access for all.

Out of these stories you intend to listen to those which happen to be the essence. Which one of them would you like to listen to? I shall surely speak out the same.

Narayana said—Jn the earlier times, the gods while searching for food reached Brahmaloka which is difficult to reach by others and is quite pleasant. O sage, reaching there, the gods prayed to Brahma for their food. Brahma listening to their request promised to fulfil their desire and started adoring at the feet of lord Visnu.

Lord Visnu then appeared in one of his rays as yajna. Whatever offerings were made in the yajna, Brahma did everything for the sake of the gods. O best of the sages in the yajna, all the Brahmanas and Ksatriyas made all the offerings with devotion, but the same could not reach the Feeling disturbed in their minds, the gods again went to Brahma and enquired of him about the reason for their not getting the food.

Brahma then listened to their words and devoting his mind towards lord Krsna adored his Thereafter taking to the fonn of the supreme saJeti, the same Prakrti with one of her rays turned herself into the form of fire flames and was then called herself as Svaha.

She was putting to shame the lustre of the sun of the mid-day during the summer season. She thus possessed a channing, attractive and beautiful figure.

Wearing a serene smile on her face, she showered her blessing on her devotees. Moving towards Brahma she said to him, “O bom of the lotus, you ask for a boon. ” On hearing her words Brahma became nervous and started speaking to her.

Brahma said—You become the spouse of god Agni as his burning instinct, possessing all the beauties. Because without you the god of fire is unable to burn anything dropped in the fire.

By reciting your name after all the mantras, whatever offerings are made in the fire will delightfiilly reach the gods.

O mother, you are the riches of Agni, the torm of glory, the treasure of the house and will be adored by the gods and the humans for all times to come.

Thus hearing the words of Brahma, the goddess was upset in her.mind and she expressed her feelings to Brahma thus.

Svaha said—O Brahman, I shall achieve lord Krsna after performing tapas for a long time and shall adore him always because nothing is beyond him and whatever there it is like a dream.

By whose grace you happen to be the creator of the universe Siva has been victorious over the death, Sesa preserves the universe and Dharma stands as the witness to all.

Ganesa happens to be adorable by all and became the leader of the garias by whose grace Prakrti emerged and was adored by all.

And by serving him all the sages and mendicants became graceful, I always adore at the lotus-like feet of the same lord.

Thus speaking to Brahma, who was bom out of lotus, Svaha moved towards the tank of lotus flowers and seated on a lotus she started perfonning tapas. Svaha performed tapas there fore a lakh of years standing on one leg. After this period she had an audience with lord Krsna who is beyond Prakrti.

The beautiful damsel casting a glance on the immensely beautiful lord Krsna became passionate and fainted.

But the all-knowledgeable lord Kysna could understand her desire and he took her irtWiis lap who had grown quite lean and thin Iwause of performing tapas and said to her.

IRRir ITf I Sri Krsna said: “O damsel during the time of the incarnation of Varaha you wolzld be bom of my ray in the house of the king Nagnajita as a daughter named Nagnajiti and become my spouse. O beautiful one, currently you become the wife of Agni and take to burning. With my grace you will always form part of the mantras and also remain sanctified. The fire god taking you as his wife will adore you with devotion and shall always remain with you pleasantly. O Narada, Lord Narayana thus speaking to her, disappeared from the scene and with the permission of Brahma, the god Agni getting terrified reached there. With the recitation of Samaveda, dhydnam the fire god adored the mother of the universe offering prayers to her.

Thereafter reciting the mantras, he received her hand. Thereafter, proceeding to a pleasant and secluded place which was most suited for the physical union, he enjoyed her company for a divine hundred years. She was then conceived with the tejas of the god of fire and the conception remained intact for twelve years.!

Thereafter three sons named Daksindgni, j Gdrhapatya and Ahavaniya were bom who were i quite beautiful. Thus all the sages, the mendicants, Brahmanas, started mantras with the' suffix of Svaha while performing the yajfias. O Brahmana, whosoever recites a mantra with the suffix of Svaha, meets with success with the mere recitation of the same. As a serpent without poison, a Brahmana without the knowledge of the Vedas, a woman deprived of the serving of her husband, a person without the learnings, a tree without the branches and the fruits, are deplorable; similarly the mantra without Svaha is of no consequence. Thus all the Brahmanas felt satisfied with the recitation of the mantras suffixed with Svaha. All the gods started receiving the offerings and all their deeds met with success. Thus I have narrated to you the story of Svaha, which you have heard, which is quite pleasant and provides pleasure and

salvation. What else do you want to listen to from me?

Narada said—best of the sages, O lord you kindly let me know the method of adoring Svaha, her dhydnam, stotra and her prayer of the fire gods after performing pujd and her stiiti. You kindly tell me all this.

Narayana said—0 Brahman, I am speaking out the method of adoration of the goddess and her stotra as spelt out in the Samaveda. You listen to it attentively. At the beginning of all the yajhas, Sdlagrdma and Svaha should be adored for achieving good results.

As a part of the mantra, the fonn of the success of mantra, bestower of success, such a type of Svaha is adored who bestows the results of the good deeds on men. I adore Svaha. After perfonning this dhydnam the basic mantra should be recited offering prayers to her as a result of which a person meets with all the success. O sage, now I am telling you about her Reciting this mantra the goddess should be adored to achieve success.

Vahni said—O Svaha, you are the ray of Prakrti, a part of mantra and tantra and the bestower of the fruits of mantras. You are the one who bears the entire universe, a chaste woman, bestower of success, the one who bestows success on all the people and the buniing instinct of the god of fire, loved by him more than his life, the essence of the universe, the one who redeems the entire universe, the life of the gods and the one who feeds them. The one who recites these sixteen names of Svaha, meets with success in the present as well as future life.

He is not deprived of any limb and he always becomes successful in his life. The one without a son gets a son and the one without a wife gets a from hunger and with a disturbed mind they reached Brahma and prayed to him.

Hearing them Brahma created a girl who was quite beautiful and had the glory resembling that of the moon of the winter season. She was filled with knowledge, virtues, beauty, chastity and had the complexion of the white jasmine flowers. She was adorned with all the gem-studded ornaments, was extremely pure, a ray of Prakrti, wore a smile on her face and was given the name She had beautiful teeth and all the auspicious symbols and grace. Her feet resembled the lotus flower having the signs of lotuses over the soles. She was declared to be the wife of the manes and had a lotus-like face and lotus-like eyes, having been bom out of the lotus.

They handed over the girl who was the fonn of satisfaction to the manes and secretly advised the That all the offerings to the manes should be made by suffixing Svadha to the mantras. Thus all the Brahmanas are making the offerings to the manes accordingly. The offerings made in favour of the gods, the name of Svaha is recited for the offerings to the manes the name of Svadha is recited and daksind's name is recited in all the performances. A yajria without daksind is considered to be destroyed and is of no Thus, I have narrated to you the best of the stories of the goddess Svadha, which satisfies all.

What more do you want to listen to from me?

Narada said—O great sage, I intend to be enlightened on the method of adoration of Svadha and her dhydnam\ you kindly tell me with great efforts.

Narayana said— O Brahmana, her Dhydnam the prayer prescribed in the Vedas is well known to all. Still you want to know about it for the increase of your knowledge. You better listen to In the black thirteenth day in the winter season in the constellation of Magha, Svadha should be adored on the first day of sraddha. Thereafter the srdddha should be performed.

Thereafter all the manes, gods, the Brahmanas, the sages and the humans adored Svadha. With the boon granted by the goddess Svadha all the gods were extremely satisfied and the desire of all the Brahmanas were fulfilled.

Such of the Brahmanas as do not adore Svadha before the performing of the srdddha, never achieve the merit of the same. I am adoring the mind bom daughter of Brahma who is always youthful and is adored by the gods and the manes alike and grants the merit of the srdddha.

Chapter-aligned complete witnesses. Sanskrit Wikisource revision 118042 (2017-08-21T02:17:42Z); Shanti Lal Nagar English scan pages n429–n435: https://archive.org/details/brahma-vaivarta-purana-all-four-kandas-english-translation/page/n429/mode/1up. The historic English OCR transcription is lightly normalized; no verse-by-verse alignment is asserted.