Eighth Skandha · Chapter 24
Sourceनारद उवाच धर्मश्च कीदृशस्तात देव्याराधनलक्षणः । कथमाराधिता देवी सा ददाति परं पदम् ॥ १ ॥ आराधनविधिः को वा कथमाराधिता कदा । केन सा दुर्गनरकाद्दुर्गा त्राणप्रदा भवेत् ॥ २ ॥ श्रीनारायण उवाच देवर्षे शृणु चित्तैकाग्र्येण मे विदुषां वर । यथा प्रसीदते देवी धर्माराधनतः स्वयम् ॥ ३ ॥ स्वधर्मो यादृशः प्रोक्तस्तं च मे शृणु नारद । अनादाविह संसारे देवी सशृजिता स्वयम् ॥ ४ ॥ परिपालयते घोरसङ्कटादिषु सा मुने । सा देवी पूज्यते लोकैर्यथावत्तद्विधिं शृणु ॥ ५ ॥ प्रतिपत्तिथिमासाद्य देवीमाज्येन पूजयेत् । घृतं दद्याद् ब्राह्मणाय रोगहीनो भवेत्सदा ॥ ६ ॥ द्वितीयायां शर्करया पूजयेज्जगदम्बिकाम् । शर्करां प्रददेद्विप्रे दीर्घायुर्जायते नरः ॥ ७ ॥ तृतीयादिवसे देव्यै दुग्धं पूजनकर्मणि । क्षीरं दत्त्वा द्विजाग्र्याय सर्वदुःखातिगो भवेत् ॥ ८ ॥ चतुर्थ्यां पूजनेऽपूपा देया देव्यै द्विजाय च । अपूपा एव दातव्या न विघ्नैरभिभूयते ॥ ९ ॥ पञ्चम्यां कदलीजातं फलं देव्यै निवेदयेत् । तदेव ब्राह्मणे देयं मेधावान्पुरुषो भवेत् ॥ १० ॥ षष्ठीतिथौ मधु प्रोक्तं देवीपूजनकर्मणि । ब्राह्मणाय च दातव्यं मधु कान्तिर्यतो भवेत् ॥ ११ ॥ सप्तम्यां गुडनैवेद्यं देव्यै दत्त्वा द्विजाय च । गुडं दत्त्वा शोकहीनो जायते द्विजसत्तम ॥ १२ ॥ नारिकेलमथाष्टम्यां देव्यै नैवेद्यमर्पयेत् । ब्राह्मणाय प्रदातव्यं तापहीनो भवेन्नरः ॥ १३ ॥ नवम्यां लाजमम्बायै चार्पयित्वा द्विजाय च । दत्त्वा सुखाधिको भूयादिह लोके परत्र च ॥ १४ ॥ दशम्यामर्पयित्वा तु देव्यै कृष्णतिलान्मुने । ब्राह्मणाय प्रदत्त्वा तु यमलोकाद्भयं न हि ॥ १५ ॥ एकादश्यां दधि तथा देव्यै चार्पयते तु यः । ददाति ब्राह्मणायैतद्देवीप्रियतमो भवेत् ॥ १६ ॥ द्वादश्यां पृथुकान्देव्यै दत्त्वाचार्याय यो ददेत् । तानेव च मुनिश्रेष्ठ स देवीप्रियतां व्रजेत् ॥ १७ ॥ त्रयोदश्यां च दुर्गायै चणकान्प्रददाति च । तानेव दत्त्वा विप्राय प्रजासन्ततिमान्भवेत् ॥ १८ ॥ चतुर्दश्यां च देवर्षे देव्यै सक्तून्प्रयच्छति । तानेव दद्याद्विप्राय शिवस्य दयितो भवेत् ॥ १९ ॥ पायसं पूर्णिमातिथ्यामपर्णायै प्रयच्छति । ददाति च द्विजाग्र्याय पितृनुद्धरतेऽखिलान् ॥ २० ॥ तत्तिथौ हवनं प्रोक्तं देवीप्रीत्यै महामुने । तत्तत्तिथ्युक्तवस्तूनामशेषारिष्टनाशनम् ॥ २१ ॥ रविवारे पायसं च नैवेद्यं परिकीर्तितम् । सोमवारे पयः प्रोक्तं भौमे च कदलीफलम् ॥ २२ ॥ बुधवारे च सम्प्रोक्तं नवनीतं नवं द्विज । गुरुवारे शर्करां च सितां भार्गववासरे ॥ २३ ॥ शनिवारे घृतं गव्यं नैवेद्यं परिकीर्तितम् । सप्तविंशतिनक्षत्रनैवेद्यं श्रूयतां मुने ॥ २४ ॥ घृतं तिलं शर्करां च दधि दुग्धं किलाटकम् । दथिकूर्ची मोदकं च फेणिकां घृतमण्डकम् ॥ २५ ॥ कंसारं वटपत्रं च घृतपूरमतः परम् । वटकं कोकरसकं पूरणं मधु सूरणम् ॥ २६ ॥ गुडं पृथुकद्राक्षे च खर्जूरं चैव चारकम् । अपूपं नवनीतं च मुद्गं मोदक एव च ॥ २७ ॥ मातुलिङ्गमिति प्रोक्तं भनैवेद्यं च नारद । विष्कम्भादिषु योगेषु प्रवक्ष्यामि निवेदनम् ॥ २८ ॥ पदार्थानां कृतेष्वेषु प्रीणाति जगदम्बिका । गुडं मधु घृतं दुग्धं दधि तक्रं त्वपूपकम् ॥ २९ ॥ नवनीतं कर्कटीं च कूष्माण्डं चापि मोदकम् । पनसं कदलं जम्बुफलमाम्रफलं तिलम् ॥ ३० ॥ नारङ्गं दाडिमं चैव बदरीफलमेव च । धात्रीफलं पायसञ्च पृथुकं चणकं तथा ॥ ३१ ॥ नारिकेलं जम्भफलं कसेरुं सूरणं तथा । एतानि क्रमशो विप्र नैवेद्यानि शुभानि च ॥ ३२ ॥ विष्कम्भादिषु योगेषु निर्णीतानि मनीषिभिः । अथ नैवेद्यमाख्यास्ये करणानां पृथङ्मुने ॥ ३३ ॥ कंसारं मण्डकं फेणी मोदकं वटपत्रकम् । लड्डुकं घृतपूरं च तिलं दधि घृतं मधु ॥ ३४ ॥ करणानामिदं प्रोक्तं देवीनैवेद्यमादरात् । अथान्यत्सम्प्रवक्ष्यामि देवीप्रीतिकरं परम् ॥ ३५ ॥ विधानं नारदमुने शृणु तत्सर्वमादृतः । चैत्रशुद्धतृतीयायां नरो मधुकवृक्षकम् ॥ ३६ ॥ पूजयेत्पञ्च खाद्यं च नैवेद्यमुपकल्पयेत् । एवं द्वादशमासेषु तृतीयातिथिषु क्रमात् ॥ ३७ ॥ शुक्लपक्षे विधानेन नैवेद्यमभिदध्महे । वैशाखमासे नैवेद्यं गुडयुक्तं च नारद ॥ ३८ ॥ ज्येष्ठमासे मधु प्रोक्तं देवीप्रीत्यर्थमेव तु । आषाढे नवनीतं च मधुकस्य निवेदनम् ॥ ३९ ॥ श्रावणे दधि नैवेद्यं भाद्रमासे च शर्करा । आश्विने पायसं प्रोक्तं कार्तिके पय उत्तमम् ॥ ४० ॥ मार्गे फेण्युत्तमा प्रोक्ता पौषे च दधिकूर्चिका । माघे मासि च नैवेद्यं मृतं गव्यं समाहरेत् ॥ ४१ ॥ नारिकेलं च नैवेद्यं फाल्गुने परिकीर्तितम् । एवं द्वादशनैवेद्यैर्मासे च क्रमतोऽर्चयेत् ॥ ४२ ॥ मङ्गला वैष्णवी माया कालरात्रिर्दुरत्यया । महामाया मतङ्गी च काली कमलवासिनी ॥ ४३ ॥ शिवा सहस्रचरणा सर्वमङ्गलरूपिणी । एभिर्नामपदैर्देवीं मधूके परिपूजयेत् ॥ ४४ ॥ ततः स्तुवीत देवेशीं मधूकस्थां महेश्वरीम् । सर्वकामसमृद्ध्यर्थं व्रतपूर्णत्वसिद्धये ॥ ४५ ॥ नमः पुष्करनेत्रायै जगद्धात्र्यै नमोऽस्तु ते । माहेश्वर्यं महादेव्यै महामङ्गलमूर्तये ॥ ४६ ॥ परमा पापहन्त्री च परमार्गप्रदायिनी । परमेश्वरी प्रजोत्पत्तिः परब्रह्मस्वरूपिणी ॥ ४७ ॥ मददात्री मदोन्मत्ता मानगम्या महोन्नता । मनस्विनी मुनिध्येया मार्तण्डसहचारिणी ॥ ४८ ॥ जय लोकेश्वरि प्राज्ञे प्रलयाम्बुदसन्निभे । महामोहविनाशार्थं पूजितासि सुरासुरैः ॥ ४९ ॥ यमलोकाभावकर्त्री यमपूज्या यमाग्रजा । यमनिग्रहरूपा च यजनीये नमो नमः ॥ ५० ॥ समस्वभावा सर्वेशी सर्वसङ्गविवर्जिता । सङ्गनाशकरी काम्यरूपा कारुण्यविग्रहा ॥ ५१ ॥ कङ्कालक्रूरा कामाक्षी मीनाक्षी मर्मभेदिनी । माधुर्यरूपशीला च मधुरस्वरपूजिता ॥ ५२ ॥ महामन्त्रवती मन्त्रगम्या मन्त्रप्रियङ्करी । मनुष्यमानसगमा मन्मथारिप्रियङ्करी ॥ ५३ ॥ अश्वत्थवटनिम्बाम्रकपित्थबदरीगते । पनसार्ककरीरादिक्षीरवृक्षस्वरूपिणी ॥ ५४ ॥ दुग्धवल्लीनिवासार्हे दयनीये दयाधिके । दाक्षिण्यकरुणारूपे जय सर्वज्ञवल्लभे ॥ ५५ ॥ एवं स्तवेन देवेशीं पूजनान्ते स्तुवीत ताम् । व्रतस्य सकलं पुण्यं लभते सर्वदा नरः ॥ ५६ ॥ नित्यं यः पठते स्तोत्रं देवीप्रीतिकरं नरः । आधिव्याधिभयं नास्ति रिपुभीतिर्न तस्य हि ॥ ५७ ॥ अर्थार्थी चार्थमाप्नोति धर्मार्थी धर्ममाप्नुयात् । कामानवाप्नुयात्कामी मोक्षार्थी मोक्षमाजप्नुयात् ॥ ५८ ॥ ब्राह्मणो वेदसम्पनो विजयी क्षत्रियो भवेत् । वैश्यश्च धनधान्याढ्यो भवेच्छूद्रः सुखाधिकः ॥ ५९ ॥ स्तोत्रमेतच्छ्राद्धकाले यः पठेत्प्रयतो नरः । पितॄणामक्षया तृप्तिर्जायते कल्पवर्तिनी ॥ ६० ॥ एवमाराधनं देव्याः समुक्तं सुरपूजितम् । यः करोति नरो भक्त्या स देवीलोकभाग्भवेत् ॥ ६१ ॥ देवीपूजनतो विप्र सर्वे कामा भवन्ति हि । सर्वपापहतिः शुद्धा मतिरन्ते प्रजायते ॥ ६२ ॥ यत्र तत्र भवेत्पूज्यो मान्यो मानधनेषु च । जायते जगदम्बायाः प्रसादेन विरञ्चिज ॥ ६३ ॥ नरकाणां न तस्यास्ति भयं स्वप्नेऽपि कुत्रचित् । महामायाप्रसादेन पुत्रपौत्रादिवर्धनः ॥ ६४ ॥ देवीभक्तो भवत्येव नात्र कार्या विचारणा । इत्येवं ते समाख्यातं नरकोद्धारलक्षणम् ॥ ६५ ॥ पूजनं हि महादेव्याः सर्वमङ्गलकारकम् । मधूकपूजनं तद्वन्मासानां क्रमतो मुने ॥ ६६ ॥ सर्वं समाचरेद्यस्तु पूजनं मधुकाह्वयम् । न तस्य रोगबाधादिभयमुद्भवतेऽनघ ॥ ६७ ॥ अथान्यदपि वक्ष्यामि प्रकृतेः पञ्चकं परम् । नाम्ना रूपेण चोत्पत्त्या जगदानन्ददायकम् ॥ ६८ ॥ साख्यानं च समाहात्म्यं प्रकृतेः पञ्चकं मुने । कुतूहलकर चैव शृणु मुक्तिविधायकम् ॥ ६९ ॥ इति श्रीमद्देवीभागवते महापुराणेऽष्टादशसाहस्र्यां संहितायामष्टमस्कन्धे देवीपूजनविधिनिरूपणं नाम चतुर्विंशोऽध्यायः ॥ २४ ॥
nārada uvāca dharmaśca kīdṛśastāta devyārādhanalakṣaṇaḥ | kathamārādhitā devī sā dadāti paraṃ padam || 1 || ārādhanavidhiḥ ko vā kathamārādhitā kadā | kena sā durganarakāddurgā trāṇapradā bhavet || 2 || śrīnārāyaṇa uvāca devarṣe śṛṇu cittaikāgryeṇa me viduṣāṃ vara | yathā prasīdate devī dharmārādhanataḥ svayam || 3 || svadharmo yādṛśaḥ proktastaṃ ca me śṛṇu nārada | anādāviha saṃsāre devī saśṛjitā svayam || 4 || paripālayate ghorasaṅkaṭādiṣu sā mune | sā devī pūjyate lokairyathāvattadvidhiṃ śṛṇu || 5 || pratipattithimāsādya devīmājyena pūjayet | ghṛtaṃ dadyād brāhmaṇāya rogahīno bhavetsadā || 6 || dvitīyāyāṃ śarkarayā pūjayejjagadambikām | śarkarāṃ pradadedvipre dīrghāyurjāyate naraḥ || 7 || tṛtīyādivase devyai dugdhaṃ pūjanakarmaṇi | kṣīraṃ dattvā dvijāgryāya sarvaduḥkhātigo bhavet || 8 || caturthyāṃ pūjane'pūpā deyā devyai dvijāya ca | apūpā eva dātavyā na vighnairabhibhūyate || 9 || pañcamyāṃ kadalījātaṃ phalaṃ devyai nivedayet | tadeva brāhmaṇe deyaṃ medhāvānpuruṣo bhavet || 10 || ṣaṣṭhītithau madhu proktaṃ devīpūjanakarmaṇi | brāhmaṇāya ca dātavyaṃ madhu kāntiryato bhavet || 11 || saptamyāṃ guḍanaivedyaṃ devyai dattvā dvijāya ca | guḍaṃ dattvā śokahīno jāyate dvijasattama || 12 || nārikelamathāṣṭamyāṃ devyai naivedyamarpayet | brāhmaṇāya pradātavyaṃ tāpahīno bhavennaraḥ || 13 || navamyāṃ lājamambāyai cārpayitvā dvijāya ca | dattvā sukhādhiko bhūyādiha loke paratra ca || 14 || daśamyāmarpayitvā tu devyai kṛṣṇatilānmune | brāhmaṇāya pradattvā tu yamalokādbhayaṃ na hi || 15 || ekādaśyāṃ dadhi tathā devyai cārpayate tu yaḥ | dadāti brāhmaṇāyaitaddevīpriyatamo bhavet || 16 || dvādaśyāṃ pṛthukāndevyai dattvācāryāya yo dadet | tāneva ca muniśreṣṭha sa devīpriyatāṃ vrajet || 17 || trayodaśyāṃ ca durgāyai caṇakānpradadāti ca | tāneva dattvā viprāya prajāsantatimānbhavet || 18 || caturdaśyāṃ ca devarṣe devyai saktūnprayacchati | tāneva dadyādviprāya śivasya dayito bhavet || 19 || pāyasaṃ pūrṇimātithyāmaparṇāyai prayacchati | dadāti ca dvijāgryāya pitṛnuddharate'khilān || 20 || tattithau havanaṃ proktaṃ devīprītyai mahāmune | tattattithyuktavastūnāmaśeṣāriṣṭanāśanam || 21 || ravivāre pāyasaṃ ca naivedyaṃ parikīrtitam | somavāre payaḥ proktaṃ bhaume ca kadalīphalam || 22 || budhavāre ca samproktaṃ navanītaṃ navaṃ dvija | guruvāre śarkarāṃ ca sitāṃ bhārgavavāsare || 23 || śanivāre ghṛtaṃ gavyaṃ naivedyaṃ parikīrtitam | saptaviṃśatinakṣatranaivedyaṃ śrūyatāṃ mune || 24 || ghṛtaṃ tilaṃ śarkarāṃ ca dadhi dugdhaṃ kilāṭakam | dathikūrcī modakaṃ ca pheṇikāṃ ghṛtamaṇḍakam || 25 || kaṃsāraṃ vaṭapatraṃ ca ghṛtapūramataḥ param | vaṭakaṃ kokarasakaṃ pūraṇaṃ madhu sūraṇam || 26 || guḍaṃ pṛthukadrākṣe ca kharjūraṃ caiva cārakam | apūpaṃ navanītaṃ ca mudgaṃ modaka eva ca || 27 || mātuliṅgamiti proktaṃ bhanaivedyaṃ ca nārada | viṣkambhādiṣu yogeṣu pravakṣyāmi nivedanam || 28 || padārthānāṃ kṛteṣveṣu prīṇāti jagadambikā | guḍaṃ madhu ghṛtaṃ dugdhaṃ dadhi takraṃ tvapūpakam || 29 || navanītaṃ karkaṭīṃ ca kūṣmāṇḍaṃ cāpi modakam | panasaṃ kadalaṃ jambuphalamāmraphalaṃ tilam || 30 || nāraṅgaṃ dāḍimaṃ caiva badarīphalameva ca | dhātrīphalaṃ pāyasañca pṛthukaṃ caṇakaṃ tathā || 31 || nārikelaṃ jambhaphalaṃ kaseruṃ sūraṇaṃ tathā | etāni kramaśo vipra naivedyāni śubhāni ca || 32 || viṣkambhādiṣu yogeṣu nirṇītāni manīṣibhiḥ | atha naivedyamākhyāsye karaṇānāṃ pṛthaṅmune || 33 || kaṃsāraṃ maṇḍakaṃ pheṇī modakaṃ vaṭapatrakam | laḍḍukaṃ ghṛtapūraṃ ca tilaṃ dadhi ghṛtaṃ madhu || 34 || karaṇānāmidaṃ proktaṃ devīnaivedyamādarāt | athānyatsampravakṣyāmi devīprītikaraṃ param || 35 || vidhānaṃ nāradamune śṛṇu tatsarvamādṛtaḥ | caitraśuddhatṛtīyāyāṃ naro madhukavṛkṣakam || 36 || pūjayetpañca khādyaṃ ca naivedyamupakalpayet | evaṃ dvādaśamāseṣu tṛtīyātithiṣu kramāt || 37 || śuklapakṣe vidhānena naivedyamabhidadhmahe | vaiśākhamāse naivedyaṃ guḍayuktaṃ ca nārada || 38 || jyeṣṭhamāse madhu proktaṃ devīprītyarthameva tu | āṣāḍhe navanītaṃ ca madhukasya nivedanam || 39 || śrāvaṇe dadhi naivedyaṃ bhādramāse ca śarkarā | āśvine pāyasaṃ proktaṃ kārtike paya uttamam || 40 || mārge pheṇyuttamā proktā pauṣe ca dadhikūrcikā | māghe māsi ca naivedyaṃ mṛtaṃ gavyaṃ samāharet || 41 || nārikelaṃ ca naivedyaṃ phālgune parikīrtitam | evaṃ dvādaśanaivedyairmāse ca kramato'rcayet || 42 || maṅgalā vaiṣṇavī māyā kālarātrirduratyayā | mahāmāyā mataṅgī ca kālī kamalavāsinī || 43 || śivā sahasracaraṇā sarvamaṅgalarūpiṇī | ebhirnāmapadairdevīṃ madhūke paripūjayet || 44 || tataḥ stuvīta deveśīṃ madhūkasthāṃ maheśvarīm | sarvakāmasamṛddhyarthaṃ vratapūrṇatvasiddhaye || 45 || namaḥ puṣkaranetrāyai jagaddhātryai namo'stu te | māheśvaryaṃ mahādevyai mahāmaṅgalamūrtaye || 46 || paramā pāpahantrī ca paramārgapradāyinī | parameśvarī prajotpattiḥ parabrahmasvarūpiṇī || 47 || madadātrī madonmattā mānagamyā mahonnatā | manasvinī munidhyeyā mārtaṇḍasahacāriṇī || 48 || jaya lokeśvari prājñe pralayāmbudasannibhe | mahāmohavināśārthaṃ pūjitāsi surāsuraiḥ || 49 || yamalokābhāvakartrī yamapūjyā yamāgrajā | yamanigraharūpā ca yajanīye namo namaḥ || 50 || samasvabhāvā sarveśī sarvasaṅgavivarjitā | saṅganāśakarī kāmyarūpā kāruṇyavigrahā || 51 || kaṅkālakrūrā kāmākṣī mīnākṣī marmabhedinī | mādhuryarūpaśīlā ca madhurasvarapūjitā || 52 || mahāmantravatī mantragamyā mantrapriyaṅkarī | manuṣyamānasagamā manmathāripriyaṅkarī || 53 || aśvatthavaṭanimbāmrakapitthabadarīgate | panasārkakarīrādikṣīravṛkṣasvarūpiṇī || 54 || dugdhavallīnivāsārhe dayanīye dayādhike | dākṣiṇyakaruṇārūpe jaya sarvajñavallabhe || 55 || evaṃ stavena deveśīṃ pūjanānte stuvīta tām | vratasya sakalaṃ puṇyaṃ labhate sarvadā naraḥ || 56 || nityaṃ yaḥ paṭhate stotraṃ devīprītikaraṃ naraḥ | ādhivyādhibhayaṃ nāsti ripubhītirna tasya hi || 57 || arthārthī cārthamāpnoti dharmārthī dharmamāpnuyāt | kāmānavāpnuyātkāmī mokṣārthī mokṣamājapnuyāt || 58 || brāhmaṇo vedasampano vijayī kṣatriyo bhavet | vaiśyaśca dhanadhānyāḍhyo bhavecchūdraḥ sukhādhikaḥ || 59 || stotrametacchrāddhakāle yaḥ paṭhetprayato naraḥ | pitṝṇāmakṣayā tṛptirjāyate kalpavartinī || 60 || evamārādhanaṃ devyāḥ samuktaṃ surapūjitam | yaḥ karoti naro bhaktyā sa devīlokabhāgbhavet || 61 || devīpūjanato vipra sarve kāmā bhavanti hi | sarvapāpahatiḥ śuddhā matirante prajāyate || 62 || yatra tatra bhavetpūjyo mānyo mānadhaneṣu ca | jāyate jagadambāyāḥ prasādena virañcija || 63 || narakāṇāṃ na tasyāsti bhayaṃ svapne'pi kutracit | mahāmāyāprasādena putrapautrādivardhanaḥ || 64 || devībhakto bhavatyeva nātra kāryā vicāraṇā | ityevaṃ te samākhyātaṃ narakoddhāralakṣaṇam || 65 || pūjanaṃ hi mahādevyāḥ sarvamaṅgalakārakam | madhūkapūjanaṃ tadvanmāsānāṃ kramato mune || 66 || sarvaṃ samācaredyastu pūjanaṃ madhukāhvayam | na tasya rogabādhādibhayamudbhavate'nagha || 67 || athānyadapi vakṣyāmi prakṛteḥ pañcakaṃ param | nāmnā rūpeṇa cotpattyā jagadānandadāyakam || 68 || sākhyānaṃ ca samāhātmyaṃ prakṛteḥ pañcakaṃ mune | kutūhalakara caiva śṛṇu muktividhāyakam || 69 || iti śrīmaddevībhāgavate mahāpurāṇe'ṣṭādaśasāhasryāṃ saṃhitāyāmaṣṭamaskandhe devīpūjanavidhinirūpaṇaṃ nāma caturviṃśo'dhyāyaḥ || 24 ||
English translation
1-2. Narada said “O Bhagavan! Of what sort is the Dharma, i.e., the worship of the Devi? In what way shall we worship Her, so that She gives us the Highest Place? What are the methods and forms of Her Worship? Where and when shall we worship Her! So that the Durga Devi saves us from the above mentioned hells.”
3-20. Narayana said O Devarsi! You are the foremost of the Knowers of Truth. I will therefore tell you how the Devi gets pleased and how Her worship is conducted according to the Dharma. Hear attentively. O Narada! I will also describe the nature of Sva Dharma. Hear that also. When one worships, with due rites and ceremonies, the Devi in this beginningless world. She Herself removes all the terrible dangers and difficulties. Hear the rules how the people worship the Devi. When the Pratipat Tithi (the first day after the Full or New Moon) comes, one should worship the Devi with a present of rice, etc., with ghee (clarified butter) and give that to the Brahmins. Then one becomes completely free from any disease. On the second day (Dvitiya Tithi), one must serve the Mother of the Universe with sugar and give that to the Brahmins; he then becomes long-lived. On the third (tithi) on commencing with the Pooja, the worshipper must give milk to the Devi and give that to a best Brahmin; he is then freed from all his troubles and ailings. On the fourth (tithi) the worshipper is to offer a cake of flour to the Devi and then give that to a Brahmin; no obstacles come to that man. On the fifth tithi, the worshipper is to offer plantains to the Devi and then to give that to the Brahmins; he thus becomes intelligent. On the sixth tithi, the worshipper gives honey to the Devi and then that to a Brahmin; he gets thus the beauty of his body. On the seventh tithi, the Brahmin gives to the Devi the Naivedya (an offering of rice, etc.) with Gur (sugarcandy) and then that to the Brahmins; he then becomes freed from his mental sorrows. On the eighth day, if one
gives cocoanut, one is freed of one’s remorse, etc.; on the ninth, if anybody gives fried rice (Laj), he will have his happiness increased both in this world and in the next. O Muni! If on the tenth tithi, one offers to the Devi black Til (sesamum) and then to the Brahmin, he becomes free from the fear of death. If, on the eleventh tithi, (ekadas’i) one gives the curd to the Devi and then to the Brahmin, one becomes a great favourite of the Devi. If on the twelfth day, one offers to the Devi and to the Brahmin the Chipitaka rice or grain (well parched and flattened) one becomes a favourite of the Devi. If, on the thirteenth day one gives to the Bhagavati grains and then that to a Brahmin, one gets progeny. If, on the fourteenth day, one gives to the Devi the flour of fried barley or other grains (S’aktu) and then that to a Brahmin, one becomes a favourite of S’iva. If on the Full Moon day, one offers to the Devi Payasa and then that to a Brahmin, then one’s Piths are uplifted to the higher regions.
21-42. O Muni! On the above tithis, if one forms daily Homas, as stated in the Puja Chapter, the Devi becomes very pleased. The articles corresponding to the tithi as mentioned above destroy all the evils and inauspicious omens.
On Sunday, it is a rule to give an offering of Payasam (a food prepared of rice, milk, and sugar). On Monday, the milk; on Tuesday, the nice plantains; on Wednesday, the fresh butter; on Thursday, the gud or sugarcandy, Friday, the white sugar, and on Saturday, it is a rule to give the clarified butter of cow’s milk. Now hear what should be offered on the Naksattras. The following are the Naivedyas given to each of the Naksattras, in due order, from As’vini Clarified butter (ghee), sesamum (Til), sugar, curd, milk, Kilatak (Malai, milk), Dadhikurchi (Malai Curd), Modaka (a kind of sweetmeat, a confection) Phenika, Ghrita Mandaka, a sort of sweet meat of wheaten flour and gur, Vatapattra, Ghritapura (Ghior), Vataka, Kharjura juice (of the datepalm), a sort of sweet meat of Gur and
gram, honey, S’urana, Gur Prithuka, grapes, datepalms, Charakas, Apupa, Navanita (fresh butter), mudga, modaka, and Matulinga.
Now hear what are given in the Viskambha and the other Yogas. The World Mother becomes very much pleased when one offers to Her the following things Gur, honey, ghee, milk, curd, Takra, apupa, fresh butter, Karkati, Kusmanda, Modaka, Panasa, plantain, Jambu (rose-apple), mangoe, sesamum, oranges, Dadima, (pomegranate) Vadari (Jujube) the Dhatri (Amalaki) fruit, Payasa, Prithuka, gram, cocoanut, Jambira. Kaseru, and S’urana. The auspicious events occur when these are offered. The intelligent persons have thus decided to give the above on Viskambha and the other Yogas. Now hearI will describe the things that are offered on the respective Karanas Kamsara, Mandaka, Pheni, Modaka, Vatapattraka, Ladduka, Ghritapura, Til (Sesamun), curd, ghee, and honey. These are to be offered devotedly to the Devi on the respective Karanas. Now I will describe to you the other offerings very pleasing to the Devi. Hear. O Narada! Hear it with great attention and love. On the third tithi of the bright fortnight, in the month of Chaitra, one is to worship duly the Madhuka tree and offer Pahcha Khadya (the five sorts of food). So hear what articles are to be offered according to the rules that are laid down on the third day of the white fortnight of the other months. The Gur, in the month of Vais’akh; the honey, in Jyaistha; the fresh butter, in Asadha; the curd, in S’ravana; the S’arkara, in Bhadra; the Payas’a, in AsVin; the pure milk, in Kartik; the Pheni, in Agrahayana; the Dadhi Kurchika in Pausa; the clarified butter of cow’s milk, in Magha, and the cocoanut offerings, in the month of Phalguna. Thus with these twelve sorts of offerings, one is to worship the Devi in the twelve months respectively.
43-69. One should worship the Devi in the Madhuka tree with these names Mangala, Vaisnavi, Maya, Kala-ratri, Duratyaya, Mahamaya, Matangi, Kali, Kamalavasini, S'iva, Sahasracharana, and Sarva mangalarupini (One name for each of the 12 months). Finally, to bring the vow to a good issue and to have one’s desires
fulfilled with greater success, one is to sing stotras (hymns) to the MahesVari, the Controller of all the gods, in that Madhuka tree, thus Thou art lotus-eyed; obeisance to Thee! Thou art Jagaddhatri, the Upholdress of the Universe, I bow down to Thee; Thou art MahesVari, Maha Devi, and Mahamangalarupini (Thou art the great Devi, and Thou dost great good to all). Thou destroyest the sins. Thou givest Moksa or final liberation. Thou art ParamesVari, Thou art the World Mother and Thou art of the nature of the Highest Brahma. Thou art Madadatri (the giver of Mada, the Supreme Felicity and rapture or excessive delight). Thou art maddened with Mada the (Excessive Joy); Thou canst be reached when Thou art given proper veneration; Thou art the the Most High. Thou art Intelligent; Thou art meditated upon by the Munis; and Thou dwellest in the Sun. Thou art the Lord of the several Lokas (worlds); Thou art endowed with the Highest Knowledge; and Thou art of the colour of water at the time of Pralaya (the Universal Dissolution). Thou art worshipped by the Gods and the Asuras for the destruction of the Great Moha. So Great Victory to Thee! Thou art the Rescuer of one from the abode of Death; Thou art worshipped by Yama, Thou art the elder of Yama, Thou art the Controller of Yama and Thou art worshipped by all. Obeisance to Thee! Thou art impartial; Thou controllest all; Thou art perfectly unattached; Thou destroyest the people’s worldly attachments; Thou art The One to whom all look for the fructification of their desires; and Thou art the Compassion Incarnate. Thou art, worshipped by the names Kankala Krura, KamaksT; MmaksT Marma bhedini, Madhuryarupas’alini; and Thou art worshipped with the Pranava Om prefixed to all the Stotras and the Mantras. Thou art of the nature of the Seed Maya (mayavija); Thou canst be realised by repeating the mantra and Thou canst be pleased by the deep concentration (Nididyasana) on Thee. Thou canst be reached by all men through their minds and Thou dost things that are pleasing to the Maha Deva. Thou dwellest in the trees As’vattha, Vata (Peepul tree), Neem, Mangoe, Kapittha (wood apple tree), and the tree Kul (Jujube) trees. Thou art the Palms (Jack) tree. Thou art Arka, Karira and Ksira trees. Thou residest in Dugdha valli (the milky juice of plants); Thou art the Compassion Incarnate; and fit
to shew mercy. Thou art sincerity and kindness and Thou art the Consort of the Omniscient. So Victory to Thee! O Narada! After the worship, if one performs the stotra above described, to the Devi, the worshipper derives all sorts of Punyams (merits). He who reads daily the Stotra, pleasing to the Devi, becomes freed of all sorts of diseases, pain and freed of his fear of passions, so hard to conquer! What more than this that he who wants money, gets money; who wants Dharma, gets Dharma; he who wants Kama, gets his Kama (objects of desires); and he who wants Moksa, gets Moksa. The Devi is the Awarder of the Chatur Varga fourfold fruits.
If this Stotra be read, the Brahmin becomes Vedavit, the knower of the Vedas; the Ksattriya gets the victory; the Vais’ya gets wealth and the S’udra gets happiness. If this Stotra be read with devotion and attention, the Pitris get undying satisfaction, lasting till Pralaya (the time of universal dissolution). Thus I have described to you the method of worshipping the Devi. The Devas consider it with great attention. He gets the Devi Loka, who performs the worship of the Devi, as above described, with devotion. O Brahmana! When the Devi is thus worshipped, all the desires are fulfilled; all sins are destroyed; and, in the end, one’s mind becomes pure and the worshipper is respected and worshipped everywhere. O Son of Brahma! His fear of going into hell is destroyed by the Grace of the Devi; even in dreams, he does not fear anything. By the Grace of Maha Maya, his sons and his grandsons, riches and grains multiply and multiply. He becomes a great and steadfast devotee of the Devi; there is no doubt in this. Now I have described to you completely the rules of worship of the Devi. When one performs this, one becomes freed of the Narakas; and all sorts of good things come to him. O Muni! The Madhuka worship and the monthly worship have been described also. He who performs this Madhuka worship fully, never meets with any disease or obstacles. Now I will describe to you the other five aspects of the Great Devi of the nature of Prakriti. Her Name, Form and Origin give pleasure to all the worlds. O Muni! Now
hear this Prakriti Pahchaka, its narrative and the greatness thereof. Know that this is as curious as it gives liberation.
Here ends the Twenty-fourth Chapter of the Eighth Book on the worship of the Devi in the Maha Puranam, S’ri Mad Devi Bhagavatam, of 18,000 verses, by Maharsi Veda Vyasa.
[The Eighth Book completed.]
Complete chapter-aligned witnesses. Sanskrit Wikisource page 23826, revision 73363 (2016-07-03T02:40:17Z). English is Swami Vijñanananda’s complete 1921–23 public-domain translation, controlled against the archival OCR and its chapter page at https://sacred-texts.com/hin/db/bk08ch24.htm. Historic spelling and transliteration are lightly normalized; no verse-by-verse alignment is asserted.