Ninth Skandha · Chapter 43
Sourceनारद उवाच नारायण महाभाग नारायण महाप्रभो । रूपेणैव गुणेनैव यशसा तेजसा त्विषा ॥ १ ॥ त्वमेव ज्ञानिनां श्रेष्ठः सिद्धानां योगिनां मुने । तपस्विनां मुनीनां च परो वेदविदांवर ॥ २ ॥ महालक्ष्म्या उपाख्यानं विज्ञातं महदद्भुतम् । अन्यत्किञ्चिदुपाख्यानं निगूढं वद साम्प्रतम् ॥ ३ ॥ अतीव गोपनीयं यदुपयुक्तं च सर्वतः । अप्रकाश्यं पुराणेषु वेदोक्तं धर्मसंयुतम् ॥ ४ ॥ श्रीनारायण उवाच नानाप्रकारमाख्यानमप्रकाश्यं पुराणतः । श्रुतं कतिविधं गूढमास्ते ब्रह्मन् सुदुर्लभम् ॥ ५ ॥ तेषु यत्सारभूतं च श्रोतुं किं वा त्वमिच्छसि । तन्मे ब्रूहि महाभाग पश्चाद्वक्ष्यामि तत्पुनः ॥ ६ ॥ नारद उवाच स्वाहा देवी हविर्दाने प्रशस्ता सर्वकर्मसु । पितृदाने स्वधा शस्ता दक्षिणा सर्वतो वरा ॥ ७ ॥ एतासां चरितं जन्मफलं प्राधान्यमेव च । श्रोतुमिच्छामि त्वद्वक्त्राद्वद वेदविदांवर ॥ ८ ॥ सूत उवाच नारदस्य वचः श्रुत्वा प्रहस्य मुनिसत्तमः । कथां कथितुमारेभे पुराणोक्तां पुरातनीम् ॥ ९ ॥ श्रीनारायण उवाच सृष्टेः प्रथमतो देवाः स्वाहारार्थं ययुः पुरा । ब्रह्मलोकं ब्रह्मसभामाजग्मुः सुमनोहराम् ॥ १० ॥ गत्वा निवेदनं चक्रुराहारहेतुकं मुने । ब्रह्मा श्रुत्वा प्रतिज्ञाय निषेवे श्रीहरिं परम् ॥ ११ ॥ नारद उवाच यज्ञरूपो हि भगवान् कलया च बभूव ह । यज्ञे यद्यद्धविर्दानं दत्तं तेभ्यश्च ब्राह्मणैः ॥ १२ ॥ श्रीनारायण उवाच हविर्ददति विप्राश्च भक्त्या च क्षत्रियादयः । सुरा नैव प्राप्नुवन्ति तद्दानं मुनिपुङ्गव ॥ १३ ॥ देवा विषण्णास्ते सर्वे तत्सभां च ययुः पुनः । गत्वा निवेदनं चक्रुराहाराभावहेतुकम् ॥ १४ ॥ ब्रह्मा श्रुत्वा तु ध्यानेन श्रीकृष्णं शरणं ययौ । पूजाञ्चकार प्रकृतेध्यानेनैव तदाज्ञया ॥ १५ ॥ प्रकृतेः कलया चैव सर्वशक्तिस्वरूपिणी । अतीव सुन्दरी श्यामा रमणीया मनोहरा ॥ १६ ॥ ईषद्धास्यप्रसन्नास्या भक्तानुग्रहकातरा । उवाचेति विधेरग्रे पद्मयोने वरं वृणु ॥ १७ ॥ विधिस्तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा सम्भ्रमात्समुवाच ताम् । प्रजापतिरुवाच त्वमग्नेर्दाहिका शक्तिर्भव यातीव सुन्दरी ॥ १८ ॥ दग्धुं न शक्तः प्रकृतीर्हुताशश्च त्वया विना । त्वन्नामोच्चार्य मन्त्रान्ते यो दास्यति हविर्नरः ॥ १९ ॥ सुरेभ्यस्तत्प्राप्नुवन्ति सुराः सानन्दपूर्वकम् । अग्नेः सम्पत्स्वरूपा च श्रीरूपा सा गृहेश्वरी ॥ २० ॥ देवानां पूजिता शश्वन्नरादीनां भवाम्बिके । ब्रह्मणश्च वचः श्रुत्वा सा विषण्णा बभूव ह ॥ २१ ॥ तमुवाच ततो देवी स्वाभिप्रायं स्वयम्भुवम् । स्वाहोवाच अहं कृष्णं भजिष्यामि तपसा सुचिरेण च ॥ २२ ॥ ब्रह्मंस्तदन्यं यत्किञ्चित्स्वप्नवद् भ्रममेव च । विधाता जगतस्त्वं च शम्भुर्मृत्युञ्जयो विभुः ॥ २३ ॥ बिभर्ति शेषो विश्वं च धर्मः साक्षी च धर्मिणाम् । सर्वाद्यपूज्यो देवानां गणेषु च गणेश्वरः ॥ २४ ॥ प्रकृतिः सर्वसम्पूज्या यत्प्रसादात्पुराभवत् । ऋषयो मुनयश्चैव पूजिता यन्निषेवया ॥ २५ ॥ तत्पादपद्मं नियतं भावेन चिन्तयाम्यहम् । पद्मास्या पाद्यमित्युक्त्वा पद्मनाभानुसारतः ॥ २६ ॥ जगाम तपसे देवी ध्यात्वा कृष्णं निरामयम् । तपस्तेपे वर्षलक्षमेकपादेन पद्मजा ॥ २७ ॥ तदा ददर्श श्रीकृष्णं निर्गुणं प्रकृतेः परम् । अतीव कमनीयं च रूपं दृष्ट्वा च रूपिणी ॥ २८ ॥ मूर्च्छां सम्प्राप कालेन कामेशस्य च कामुकी । विज्ञाय तदभिप्रायं सर्वज्ञस्तामुवाच ह ॥ २९ ॥ समुत्थाप्य च तां क्रोडे क्षीणाङ्गीं तपसा चिरम् । श्रीभगवानुवाच वाराहे वै त्वमंशेन मम पत्नी भविष्यसि ॥ ३० ॥ नाम्ना नाग्नजिती कन्या कान्ते नग्नजितस्य च । अधुनाग्नेर्दाहिका त्वं भव पत्नी च भामिनी ॥ ३१ ॥ मन्त्राङ्गरूपा पूज्या च मत्प्रसादाद् भविष्यसि । वह्निस्त्वां भक्तिभावेन सम्पूज्य च गृहेश्वरीम् ॥ ३२ ॥ रमिष्यति त्वया सार्धं रामया रमणीयया । इत्युक्त्वान्तर्दधे देवो देवीं सम्भाष्य नारद ॥ ३३ ॥ तत्राजगाम सन्त्रस्तो वह्निर्ब्रह्मनिदेशतः । सामवेदोक्तध्यानेन ध्यात्वा तां जगदम्बिकाम् ॥ ३४ ॥ सम्पूज्य परितुष्टाव पाणिं जग्राह मन्त्रतः । तदा दिव्यं वर्षशतं स रेमे रामया सह ॥ ३५ ॥ अतीव निर्जने देशे सम्भोगसुखदे सदा । बभूव गर्भस्तस्यां च हुताशस्य च तेजसा ॥ ३६ ॥ तं दधार च सा देवी दिव्यं द्वादशवत्सरम् । ततः सुषाव पुत्रांश्च रमणीयान्मनोहरान् ॥ ३७ ॥ दक्षिणाग्निगार्हपत्याहवनीयान् क्रमेण च । ऋषयो मुनयश्चैव ब्राह्मणाः क्षत्रियादयः ॥ ३८ ॥ स्वाहान्तं मन्त्रमुच्चार्य हविर्दानं च चक्रिरे । स्वाहायुक्तं च मन्त्रं च यो गृह्णाति प्रशस्तकम् ॥ ३९ ॥ सर्वसिद्धिर्भवेत्तस्य मन्त्रग्रहणमात्रतः । विषहीनो यथा सर्पो वेदहीनो यथा द्विजः ॥ ४० ॥ पतिसेवाविहीना स्त्री विद्याहीनो यथा पुमान् । फलशाखाविहीनश्च यथा वृक्षो हि निन्दितः ॥ ४१ ॥ स्वाहाहीनस्तथा मन्त्रो न हुतः फलदायकः । परितुष्टा द्विजाः सर्वे देवाः सम्प्रापुराहुतीः ॥ ४२ ॥ स्वाहान्तेनैव मन्त्रेण सफलं सर्वमेव च । इत्येवं कथितं सर्वं स्वाहोपाख्यानमुत्तमम् ॥ ४३ ॥ सुखदं मोक्षदं सारं किं भूयः श्रोतुमिच्छसि । नारद उवाच स्वाहापूजाविधानं च ध्यानं स्तोत्रं मुनीश्वर ॥ ४४ ॥ सम्पूज्य वह्निस्तुष्टाव येन तद्वद मे प्रभो । श्रीनारायण उवाच ध्यानं च सामवेदोक्तं स्तोत्रपूजाविधानकम् ॥ ४५ ॥ वदामि श्रूयतां ब्रह्मन् सावधानो मुनीश्वर । सर्वयज्ञारम्भकाले शालग्रामे घटेऽथवा ॥ ४६ ॥ स्वाहां सम्पूज्य यत्नेन यज्ञं कुर्यात्कलाप्तये । स्वाहां मन्त्राङ्गयुक्तां च मन्त्रसिद्धिस्वरूपिणीम् ॥ ४७ ॥ सिद्धां च सिद्धिदां नॄणां कर्मणां फलदां शुभाम् । इति ध्यात्वा च मूलेन दत्त्वा पाद्यादिकं नरः ॥ ४८ ॥ सर्वसिद्धिं लभेत्स्तुत्वा मूलमन्त्रं मुने शृणु । ॐ ह्रीं श्रीं वह्निजायायै देव्यै स्वाहेत्यनेन च ॥ ४९ ॥ यः पूजयेच्च तां भक्त्या सर्वेष्टं सम्भवेद् ध्रुवम् । वह्निरुवाच स्वाहा वह्निप्रिया वह्निजाया सन्तोषकारिणी ॥ ५० ॥ शक्तिः क्रिया कालदात्री परिपाककरी ध्रुवा । गतिः सदा नराणां च दाहिका दहनक्षमा ॥ ५१ ॥ संसारसाररूपा च घोरसंसारतारिणी । देवजीवनरूपा च देवपोषणकारिणी ॥ ५२ ॥ षोडशैतानि नामानि यः पठेद्भक्तिसंयुतः । सर्वसिद्धिर्भवेत्तस्य इह लोके परत्र च ॥ ५३ ॥ नाङ्गहीनं भवेत्तस्य सर्वं कर्म सुशोभनम् । अपुत्रो लभते पुत्रं भार्याहीनो लभेत्प्रियाम् ॥ ५४ ॥ रम्भोपमां स्वकान्तां च सम्प्राप्य सुखमाप्नुयात् ॥ ५५ ॥
nārada uvāca nārāyaṇa mahābhāga nārāyaṇa mahāprabho | rūpeṇaiva guṇenaiva yaśasā tejasā tviṣā || 1 || tvameva jñānināṃ śreṣṭhaḥ siddhānāṃ yogināṃ mune | tapasvināṃ munīnāṃ ca paro vedavidāṃvara || 2 || mahālakṣmyā upākhyānaṃ vijñātaṃ mahadadbhutam | anyatkiñcidupākhyānaṃ nigūḍhaṃ vada sāmpratam || 3 || atīva gopanīyaṃ yadupayuktaṃ ca sarvataḥ | aprakāśyaṃ purāṇeṣu vedoktaṃ dharmasaṃyutam || 4 || śrīnārāyaṇa uvāca nānāprakāramākhyānamaprakāśyaṃ purāṇataḥ | śrutaṃ katividhaṃ gūḍhamāste brahman sudurlabham || 5 || teṣu yatsārabhūtaṃ ca śrotuṃ kiṃ vā tvamicchasi | tanme brūhi mahābhāga paścādvakṣyāmi tatpunaḥ || 6 || nārada uvāca svāhā devī havirdāne praśastā sarvakarmasu | pitṛdāne svadhā śastā dakṣiṇā sarvato varā || 7 || etāsāṃ caritaṃ janmaphalaṃ prādhānyameva ca | śrotumicchāmi tvadvaktrādvada vedavidāṃvara || 8 || sūta uvāca nāradasya vacaḥ śrutvā prahasya munisattamaḥ | kathāṃ kathitumārebhe purāṇoktāṃ purātanīm || 9 || śrīnārāyaṇa uvāca sṛṣṭeḥ prathamato devāḥ svāhārārthaṃ yayuḥ purā | brahmalokaṃ brahmasabhāmājagmuḥ sumanoharām || 10 || gatvā nivedanaṃ cakrurāhārahetukaṃ mune | brahmā śrutvā pratijñāya niṣeve śrīhariṃ param || 11 || nārada uvāca yajñarūpo hi bhagavān kalayā ca babhūva ha | yajñe yadyaddhavirdānaṃ dattaṃ tebhyaśca brāhmaṇaiḥ || 12 || śrīnārāyaṇa uvāca havirdadati viprāśca bhaktyā ca kṣatriyādayaḥ | surā naiva prāpnuvanti taddānaṃ munipuṅgava || 13 || devā viṣaṇṇāste sarve tatsabhāṃ ca yayuḥ punaḥ | gatvā nivedanaṃ cakrurāhārābhāvahetukam || 14 || brahmā śrutvā tu dhyānena śrīkṛṣṇaṃ śaraṇaṃ yayau | pūjāñcakāra prakṛtedhyānenaiva tadājñayā || 15 || prakṛteḥ kalayā caiva sarvaśaktisvarūpiṇī | atīva sundarī śyāmā ramaṇīyā manoharā || 16 || īṣaddhāsyaprasannāsyā bhaktānugrahakātarā | uvāceti vidheragre padmayone varaṃ vṛṇu || 17 || vidhistadvacanaṃ śrutvā sambhramātsamuvāca tām | prajāpatiruvāca tvamagnerdāhikā śaktirbhava yātīva sundarī || 18 || dagdhuṃ na śaktaḥ prakṛtīrhutāśaśca tvayā vinā | tvannāmoccārya mantrānte yo dāsyati havirnaraḥ || 19 || surebhyastatprāpnuvanti surāḥ sānandapūrvakam | agneḥ sampatsvarūpā ca śrīrūpā sā gṛheśvarī || 20 || devānāṃ pūjitā śaśvannarādīnāṃ bhavāmbike | brahmaṇaśca vacaḥ śrutvā sā viṣaṇṇā babhūva ha || 21 || tamuvāca tato devī svābhiprāyaṃ svayambhuvam | svāhovāca ahaṃ kṛṣṇaṃ bhajiṣyāmi tapasā sucireṇa ca || 22 || brahmaṃstadanyaṃ yatkiñcitsvapnavad bhramameva ca | vidhātā jagatastvaṃ ca śambhurmṛtyuñjayo vibhuḥ || 23 || bibharti śeṣo viśvaṃ ca dharmaḥ sākṣī ca dharmiṇām | sarvādyapūjyo devānāṃ gaṇeṣu ca gaṇeśvaraḥ || 24 || prakṛtiḥ sarvasampūjyā yatprasādātpurābhavat | ṛṣayo munayaścaiva pūjitā yanniṣevayā || 25 || tatpādapadmaṃ niyataṃ bhāvena cintayāmyaham | padmāsyā pādyamityuktvā padmanābhānusārataḥ || 26 || jagāma tapase devī dhyātvā kṛṣṇaṃ nirāmayam | tapastepe varṣalakṣamekapādena padmajā || 27 || tadā dadarśa śrīkṛṣṇaṃ nirguṇaṃ prakṛteḥ param | atīva kamanīyaṃ ca rūpaṃ dṛṣṭvā ca rūpiṇī || 28 || mūrcchāṃ samprāpa kālena kāmeśasya ca kāmukī | vijñāya tadabhiprāyaṃ sarvajñastāmuvāca ha || 29 || samutthāpya ca tāṃ kroḍe kṣīṇāṅgīṃ tapasā ciram | śrībhagavānuvāca vārāhe vai tvamaṃśena mama patnī bhaviṣyasi || 30 || nāmnā nāgnajitī kanyā kānte nagnajitasya ca | adhunāgnerdāhikā tvaṃ bhava patnī ca bhāminī || 31 || mantrāṅgarūpā pūjyā ca matprasādād bhaviṣyasi | vahnistvāṃ bhaktibhāvena sampūjya ca gṛheśvarīm || 32 || ramiṣyati tvayā sārdhaṃ rāmayā ramaṇīyayā | ityuktvāntardadhe devo devīṃ sambhāṣya nārada || 33 || tatrājagāma santrasto vahnirbrahmanideśataḥ | sāmavedoktadhyānena dhyātvā tāṃ jagadambikām || 34 || sampūjya parituṣṭāva pāṇiṃ jagrāha mantrataḥ | tadā divyaṃ varṣaśataṃ sa reme rāmayā saha || 35 || atīva nirjane deśe sambhogasukhade sadā | babhūva garbhastasyāṃ ca hutāśasya ca tejasā || 36 || taṃ dadhāra ca sā devī divyaṃ dvādaśavatsaram | tataḥ suṣāva putrāṃśca ramaṇīyānmanoharān || 37 || dakṣiṇāgnigārhapatyāhavanīyān krameṇa ca | ṛṣayo munayaścaiva brāhmaṇāḥ kṣatriyādayaḥ || 38 || svāhāntaṃ mantramuccārya havirdānaṃ ca cakrire | svāhāyuktaṃ ca mantraṃ ca yo gṛhṇāti praśastakam || 39 || sarvasiddhirbhavettasya mantragrahaṇamātrataḥ | viṣahīno yathā sarpo vedahīno yathā dvijaḥ || 40 || patisevāvihīnā strī vidyāhīno yathā pumān | phalaśākhāvihīnaśca yathā vṛkṣo hi ninditaḥ || 41 || svāhāhīnastathā mantro na hutaḥ phaladāyakaḥ | parituṣṭā dvijāḥ sarve devāḥ samprāpurāhutīḥ || 42 || svāhāntenaiva mantreṇa saphalaṃ sarvameva ca | ityevaṃ kathitaṃ sarvaṃ svāhopākhyānamuttamam || 43 || sukhadaṃ mokṣadaṃ sāraṃ kiṃ bhūyaḥ śrotumicchasi | nārada uvāca svāhāpūjāvidhānaṃ ca dhyānaṃ stotraṃ munīśvara || 44 || sampūjya vahnistuṣṭāva yena tadvada me prabho | śrīnārāyaṇa uvāca dhyānaṃ ca sāmavedoktaṃ stotrapūjāvidhānakam || 45 || vadāmi śrūyatāṃ brahman sāvadhāno munīśvara | sarvayajñārambhakāle śālagrāme ghaṭe'thavā || 46 || svāhāṃ sampūjya yatnena yajñaṃ kuryātkalāptaye | svāhāṃ mantrāṅgayuktāṃ ca mantrasiddhisvarūpiṇīm || 47 || siddhāṃ ca siddhidāṃ nṝṇāṃ karmaṇāṃ phaladāṃ śubhām | iti dhyātvā ca mūlena dattvā pādyādikaṃ naraḥ || 48 || sarvasiddhiṃ labhetstutvā mūlamantraṃ mune śṛṇu | oṃ hrīṃ śrīṃ vahnijāyāyai devyai svāhetyanena ca || 49 || yaḥ pūjayecca tāṃ bhaktyā sarveṣṭaṃ sambhaved dhruvam | vahniruvāca svāhā vahnipriyā vahnijāyā santoṣakāriṇī || 50 || śaktiḥ kriyā kāladātrī paripākakarī dhruvā | gatiḥ sadā narāṇāṃ ca dāhikā dahanakṣamā || 51 || saṃsārasārarūpā ca ghorasaṃsāratāriṇī | devajīvanarūpā ca devapoṣaṇakāriṇī || 52 || ṣoḍaśaitāni nāmāni yaḥ paṭhedbhaktisaṃyutaḥ | sarvasiddhirbhavettasya iha loke paratra ca || 53 || nāṅgahīnaṃ bhavettasya sarvaṃ karma suśobhanam | aputro labhate putraṃ bhāryāhīno labhetpriyām || 54 || rambhopamāṃ svakāntāṃ ca samprāpya sukhamāpnuyāt || 55 ||
English translation
1-4. Narada said “O Risi Narayana! O Highly Fortunate One! O Lord! Thou art equal to Narayana whether in beauty or in qualities, or in fame or in energy or in everything. Thou art equal to Narayana. Thou art the foremost of the Jhanins; there cannot be found a second like Thee as a Siddha Yogi, the ascetics and the Munis. And Thou art the crest of the knowers of the Vedas. I have heard the wonderful anecdote of Maha Laksmi that Thou hast told me. Now tell me any other thing that is unknown, very good in everyway, in accordance with Dharma, in the Vedas, and that which is not as yet written in the Puranas.”
5-6. Narayana said “There are many wonderful hidden anecdotes that are not published as yet in the Puranas. What you have heard is very small in fact. Please mention to me what you like to hear, what you think as best amongst them and I will describe that to you.”
7-8. Narada said “When clarified butter is poured as libations in all the sacrificial ceremonies to the gods, Svaha is to be uttered everywhere as excellent, and commendable; so Svadha is to be repeated in the offerings when the oblations are offered to the Pitris, the deceased ancestors. Then, again, Daksina (the sacrificial fee) is always to be paid as right and excellent. So, O Knower of the Vedas! I like to hear the accounts of Svadha, and Daksina and their merits. Please now tell me about them.”
9. Suta said “Hearing the words of Narada, Narayana Risi smiled and began to speak the very ancient words of the Puranas.”
10-11. Narayana said Before the creation, the Devas assembled in the beautiful Brahma’s Council to decide on their food question.
They all brought to the notice of Brahma the scarcity about their food. Brahma promised to remove their food difficulties and began to chant hymns to Hah.
12. Narada said “O Lord! Bhagavan Narayana Himself incarnated in part as Sacrifice. Are not the Devas satisfied when the Brahmanas pour oblations of ghee to the Devas in those sacrifices?”
13-17. Narayana said O Muni! The Devas, in fact, did not get the offerings of the clarified butters that were poured in with devotion in sacrificial acts by the Brahmanas and Ksattriyas. So they were very much depressed and went again to the council of Brahma and informed Him that they could not get any food for themselves. On hearing this, Brahma at once meditated and took refuge of S’ri Krisna; Krisna advised them to worship Mula Prakriti. Brahma then, by the command of S’ri Krisna, began to meditate on Prakriti, worship Her and chant hymns to Her. Then from the part of Prakriti, an all-powerful Devi appeared. She was very beautiful, Shyama (of a blue colour) and very lovely. This Devi was Svaha. She looked always gracious with smile in Her face; it seemed that She was always ready to show favour towards the Bhaktas. She appeared before Brahma and said “O Lotus born! Want any boon you desire.”
18-22. Hearing Her words, the Creator spoke reverentially “O Devi! Let Thou be the burning power of Fire; without Thee Fire would not be able to burn anything. At the conclusion of any Mantra, whoever taking Thy name, will pour oblations in the Fire to the Gods,
will cause those oblations to go to the Gods and reach them. And then they will be very glad. O Mother! Let Thou be the wealth of Fire, the beauty and housewife of Fire; let Thou be incessantly worshipped in the regions of the Gods and amongst men and other beings.” Hearing these words of Brahma, Svaha Devi became very sad and expressed Her own intentions “I will get Krisna as my husband; let me perform Tapasya as long as it takes. This is my object. All other things are false as dreams.
23-28. I always meditate with devotion on the lotus-feet of S’ri Krisna, serving Which You have become the Creator of this world, S’ambhu has become the Conqueror of death, Ananta Deva is supporting this universe, Dharma is the Witness of the virtuous, Ganes’a is getting, first of all, the first worship. Prakriti Devi has become the adorable of all and the Munis and the Risis respected by all.” O Child! Having spoken thus to the Lotus-born, Padma, with Her lotus-face, meditating incessantly on the Lotus-Feet of S’ri Krisna, free from any disease, started to perform tapasya for attaining Him. She, first of all, stood on one leg and practised austerities for one lakh years. Then She saw the Highest Purusa S’ri Krisna, Who is beyond Prakriti and Her attributes. The beautiful amorous Svaha, seeing the Lovely Form of the Lord of Love, fainted.
29-43. The omniscient Bhagavan Krisna knowing Her intentions, took Her to His lap, reduced very much in body by long continued Tapasya, and He said “O Devi! Thou shalt be My wife in the next Varaha Kalpa. Then Thou wilt be the daughter of Nagnajit and wilt be known by the name of Nagnajiti. O Beloved! At present let Thou be the Energy of Fire and be His wife. By My boon Thou wilt be worshipped by all. Fire will make Thee the Lady of His house and take the utmost care of Thee. Thou wilt be able to enjoy easily with Him.” O Narada! Thus saying to Svaha, Bhagavan disappeared. On the other hand. Fire came in there by the command of Brahma, with
a doubtful mind and began to meditate on Her, the World Mother as per Sama Veda and worshipped Her. He then pleased and married Her with mantrams, etc. For one hundred divine years they enjoyed each other. In a very solitary place while they were enjoying each other, Svaha Devi felt pregnant. For full twelve divine years She retained Her pregnancy. Then She delivered gradually three sons Daksinagni, Garhyapatyagni, and Ahavaniyagni. The Risis, Munis, Brahmanas, Ksattriyas poured oblations of clarified butter pronouncing the terminal mantra “Svaha.” He who pronounces this excellent terminal Mantra “Svaha” gets immediate success in his actions. Then all the mantras without “Svaha” in the end became impotent as snakes become when void of poison, the Brahmanas when they are devoid of the knowledge of the Vedas, the wife when she does not serve her husband, the men when they turn illiterate and the trees, when void of fruits and branches. O Child! The Brahmanas then became satisfied. The Devas began to receive the oblations. With the “Svaha” mantra everything turned out fruitful. Thus I have described to you the anecdote of “'Svaha.” One who hears this essential anecdote gets his happiness enhanced and the Moksa in his hands. What more do you want to hear? Say.
44. Narada said 1 like to hear how Fire worshipped Svaha and recited stotras (hymns of praise) to Her. Kindly tell me the method of worship, the Dhyanam and Stotra.
45-49. Narayana said O Best of Brahmanas! I now tell you the meditation (Dhyanam) as per Sama Veda, the method of worship and stotra. Listen attentively. At the commencement of any sacrificial ceremony, one should first of all worship whether on the S’alagrama stone or in an earthen jar (ghata), the Devi Svaha and then commence the ceremony with the expectation of getting the desired fruit. The following is the Dhyanam (meditation) of Svaha Devi O Devi Svaha! Thou art embodied of the Mantras; Thou art the
success of the Mantras; Thou art Thyself a Siddha; Thou givest success and the the fruits of actions to men; Thou dost good to all. Thus meditating, one should offer Padya (water for washing the feet), etc., uttering the basic Mantra; success then comes to him. Now hear about the Radical Seed Mantra. The said mantra (Mula mantra) is this “Om Hrim S’rim Vahnijayayai Devyai Svaha.” If the Devi be worshipped with this Mantra, all the desires come to a successful issue.
50-54. Fire recited the following stotra “Thou art Svaha, Thou art the Beloved of Fire, Thou art the wife of Fire; Thou pleasest all; Thou art the S’akti, Thou art the action. Thou art the bestower of Kala (time); Thou dost digest the food; Thou art the Dhruva; Thou art the resort of men; Thou art the burning power; Thou canst burn everything. Thou art the essence of this world; Thou art the deliverer from the terrible world; Thou art the life of the gods and Thou nourishest the Gods.” O Narada! He who reads with devotion these sixteen names, gets success both in this world as well as in the next. None of his works become deficient in any way; rather all the works are performed successfully and with a successful issue. Reading this stotra, one who has no wife, gets wife. So much so that the man who recites the stotra gets for his wife equal to Rambha, the heavenly nymph, and passes his time in greatest bliss.
Here ends the Forty-third Chapter of the Ninth Book on the history of Svaha in S’ri Mad Devi Bhagavatam, the Maha Puranam, of 18,000 verses by Maharsi Veda Vyasa.
Complete chapter-aligned witnesses. Sanskrit Wikisource page 24538, revision 75187 (2016-07-27T14:12:24Z). 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/bk09ch43.htm. Historic spelling and transliteration are lightly normalized; no verse-by-verse alignment is asserted.