Ninth Skandha · Chapter 46
Sourceनारद उवाच अनेकानां च देवीनां श्रुतमाख्यानमुत्तमम् । अन्यासां चरितं ब्रह्मन् वद वेदविदांवर ॥ १ ॥ श्रीनारायण उवाच सर्वासां चरितं विप्र वेदेषु च पृथक्पृथक् । पूर्वोक्तानां च देवीनां कासां श्रोतुमिहेच्छसि ॥ २ ॥ नारद उवाच षष्ठी मङ्गलचण्डी च मनसा प्रकृतेः कला । उत्पत्तिमासां चरितं श्रोतुमिच्छामि तत्त्वतः ॥ ३ ॥ श्रीनारायण उवाच षष्ठांशा प्रकृतेर्या च सा च षष्ठी प्रकीर्तिता । बालकानामधिष्ठात्री विष्णुमाया च बालदा ॥ ४ ॥ मातृकासु च विख्याता देवसेनाभिधा च या । प्राणाधिकप्रिया साध्वी स्कन्दभार्या च सुव्रता ॥ ५ ॥ आयुःप्रदा च बालानां धात्री रक्षणकारिणी । सततं शिशुपार्श्वस्था योगेन सिद्धियोगिनी ॥ ६ ॥ तस्याः पूजाविधिं ब्रह्मनितिहासमिदं शृणु । यच्छ्रुतं धर्मवक्येण सुखदं पुत्रदं परम् ॥ ७ ॥ राजा प्रियव्रतश्चासीत्स्वायम्भुवमनोः सुतः । योगीन्द्रो नोद्वहद्भार्यां तपस्यासु रतः सदा ॥ ८ ॥ ब्रह्माज्ञया च यत्नेन कृतदारो बभूव ह । सुचिरं कृतदारश्च न लेभे तनयं मुने ॥ ९ ॥ पुत्रेष्टियज्ञं तं चापि कारयामास कश्यपः । मालिन्यं तस्य कान्तायै मुनिर्यज्ञचरुं ददौ ॥ १० ॥ भुक्त्वा च तं चरुं तस्याः सद्यो गर्भो बभूव ह । दधार तं च सा देवी दैवं द्वादशवत्सरम् ॥ ११ ॥ ततः सुषाव सा ब्रह्मन् कुमारं कनकप्रभम् । सर्वावयवसम्पन्नं मृतमुत्तारलोचनम् ॥ १२ ॥ तं दृष्ट्वा रुरुदुः सर्वा नार्यश्च बान्धवस्त्रियः । मूर्च्छामवाप तन्माता पुत्रशोकेन भूयसा ॥ १३ ॥ श्मशानं च ययौ राजा गृहीत्वा बालकं मुने । रुरोद तत्र कान्तारे पुत्रं कृत्वा स्ववक्षसि ॥ १४ ॥ नोत्सृजद् बालकं राजा प्राणांस्त्यक्तुं समुद्यतः । ज्ञानयोगं विसस्मार पुत्रशोकात्सुदारुणात् ॥ १५ ॥ एतस्मिन्नन्तरे तत्र विमानं च ददर्श सः । शुद्धस्फटिकसंकाशं मणिराजविनिर्मितम् ॥ १६ ॥ तेजसा ज्वलितं शश्वच्छोभितं क्षौमवाससा । नानाचित्रविचित्राढ्यं पुष्पमालाविराजितम् ॥ १७ ॥ ददर्श तत्र देवीं च कमनीयां मनोहराम् । श्वेतचम्पकवर्णाभां शश्वत्सुस्थिरयौवनाम् ॥ १८ ॥ ईषद्धास्यप्रसन्नास्यां रत्नभूषणभूषिताम् । कृपामयीं योगसिद्धां भक्तानुग्रहकातराम् ॥ १९ ॥ दृष्ट्वा तां पुरतो राजा तुष्टाव परमादरात् । चकार पूजनं तस्या विहाय बालकं भुवि ॥ २० ॥ पप्रच्छ राजा तां तुष्टां ग्रीष्मसूर्यसमप्रभाम् । तेजसा ज्वलितां शान्तां कान्तां स्कन्दस्य नारद ॥ २१ ॥ राजोवाच का त्वं सुशोभने कान्ते कस्य कान्तासि सुव्रते । कस्य कन्या वरारोहे धन्या मान्या च योषिताम् ॥ २२ ॥ नृपेन्द्रस्य वचः श्रुत्वा जगन्मङ्गलचण्डिका । उवाच देवसेना सा देवानां रणकारिणी ॥ २३ ॥ देवानां दैत्यग्रस्तानां पुरा सेना बभूव सा । जयं ददौ सा तेभ्यश्च देवसेना च तेन सा ॥ २४ ॥ श्रीदेवसेनोवाच ब्रह्मणो मानसी कन्या देवसेनाहमीश्वरी । सृष्ट्वा तां मनसा धाता ददौ स्कन्दाय भूमिप ॥ २५ ॥ मातृकासु च विख्याता स्कन्दभार्या च सुव्रता । विश्वे षष्ठीति विख्याता षष्ठांशा प्रकृतेः परा ॥ २६ ॥ अपुत्राय पुत्रदाहं प्रियादात्री प्रियाय च । धनदाहं दरिद्रेभ्यः कर्मिभ्यश्च स्वकर्मदा ॥ २७ ॥ सुखं दुःखं भयं शोको हर्षो मङ्गलमेव च । सम्पत्तिश्च विपत्तिश्च सर्वं भवति कर्मणा ॥ २८ ॥ कर्मणा बहुपुत्रश्च वंशहीनः स्वकर्मणा । कर्मणा मृतपुत्रश्च कर्मणा चिरजीवनः ॥ २९ ॥ कर्मणा गुणवांश्चैव कर्मणा चाङ्गहीनकः । कर्मणा बहुभार्यश्च भार्याहीनश्च कर्मणा ॥ ३० ॥ कर्मणा रूपवान्धर्मी रोगी शश्वत्स्वकर्मणा । कर्मणा च भवेद्व्याधिः कर्मणाऽऽरोग्यमेव च ॥ ३१ ॥ तस्मात्कर्म परं राजन् सर्वेभ्यश्च श्रुतौ श्रुतम् । इत्येवमुक्त्वा सा देवी गृहीत्वा बालकं मुने ॥ ३२ ॥ महाज्ञानेन सा देवी जीवयामास लीलया । राजा ददर्श तं बालं सस्मितं कनकप्रभम् ॥ ३३ ॥ देवसेना च पश्यन्तं नृपमापृच्छ्य सा तदा । गृहीत्वा बालकं देवी गगनं गन्तुमुद्यता ॥ ३४ ॥ पुनस्तुष्टाव तां राजा शुष्ककण्ठोष्ठतालुकः । नृपस्तोत्रेण सा देवी परितुष्टा बभूव ह ॥ ३५ ॥ उवाच तं नृपं ब्रह्मन् वेदोक्तं कर्मनिर्मितम् । देव्युवाच त्रिषु लोकेषु त्वं राजा स्वायम्भुवमनोः सुतः ॥ ३६ ॥ मम पूजां च सर्वत्र कारयित्वा स्वयं कुरु । तदा दास्यामि पुत्रं ते कुलपद्मं मनोहरम् ॥ ३७ ॥ सुव्रतं नाम विख्यातं गुणवन्तं सुपण्डितम् । जातिस्मरं च योगीन्द्रं नारायणकलात्मकम् ॥ ३८ ॥ शतक्रतुकरं श्रेष्ठं क्षत्रियाणां च वन्दितम् । मत्तमातङ्गलक्षाणां धृतवन्तं बलं शुभम् ॥ ३९ ॥ धनिनं गुणिनं शुद्धं विदुषां प्रियमेव च । योगिनां ज्ञानिनां चैव सिद्धिरूपं तपस्विनाम् ॥ ४० ॥ यशस्विनं च लोकेषु दातारं सर्वसम्पदाम् । इत्येवमुक्त्वा सा देवी तस्मै तद्बालकं ददौ ॥ ४१ ॥ राजा चकार स्वीकारं पूजार्थं च प्रियव्रतः । जगाम देवी स्वर्गं च दत्त्वा तस्मै शुभं वरम् ॥ ४२ ॥ आजगाम सहामात्यः स्वगृहं हृष्टमानसः । आगत्य कथयामास वृत्तान्तं पुत्रहेतुकम् ॥ ४३ ॥ श्रुत्वा बभूवुः सन्तुष्टा नरा नार्यश्च नारद । मङ्गलं कारयामास सर्वत्र पुत्रहेतुकम् ॥ ४४ ॥ देवीं च पूजयामास ब्राह्मणेभ्यो धनं ददौ । राजा च प्रतिमासेषु शुक्लषष्ठ्यां महोत्सवम् ॥ ४५ ॥ षष्ट्या देव्याश्च यत्नेन कारयामास सर्वतः । बालानां सूतिकागारे षष्ठाहे यत्नपूर्वकम् ॥ ४६ ॥ तत्पूजां कारयामास चैकविंशतिवासरे । बालानां शुभकार्ये च शुभान्नप्राशने तथा ॥ ४७ ॥ सर्वत्र वर्धयामास स्वयमेव चकार ह । ध्यानं पूजाविधानं च स्तोत्रं मत्तो निशामय ॥ ४८ ॥ यच्छ्रुतं धर्मवक्त्रेण कौथुमोक्तं च सुव्रत । शालग्रामे घटे वाथ वटमूलेऽथवा मुने ॥ ४९ ॥ भित्त्यां पुत्तलिकां कृत्वा पूजयेद्वा विचक्षणः । षष्ठांशां प्रकृतेः शुद्धां प्रतिष्ठाप्य च सुप्रभाम् ॥ ५० ॥ सुपुत्रदां च शुभदा दयारूपां जगत्प्रसूम् । श्वेतचम्पकवर्णाभां रत्नभूषणभूषिताम् ॥ ५१ ॥ पवित्ररूपां परमां देवसेनां परां भजे । इति ध्यात्वा स्वशिरसि पुष्पं दत्त्वा विचक्षणः ॥ ५२ ॥ पुनर्ध्यात्वा च मूलेन पूजयेत्सुव्रतां सतीम् । पाद्यार्घ्याचमनीयैश्च गन्धपुष्पप्रदीपकैः ॥ ५३ ॥ नैवेद्यैर्विविधैश्चापि फलेन शोभनेन च । ॐ ह्रीं षष्ठीदेव्यै स्वाहेति विधिपूर्वकम् ॥ ५४ ॥ अष्टाक्षरं महामन्त्रं यथाशक्ति जपेन्नरः । ततः स्तुत्वा च प्रणमेद्भक्तियुक्तः समाहितः ॥ ५५ ॥ स्तोत्रं च सामवेदोक्तं वरं पुत्रफलप्रदम् । अष्टाक्षरं महामन्त्रं लक्षधा यो जपेत्ततः ॥ ५६ ॥ सुपुत्रं स लभेन्नूनमित्याह कमलोद्भवः । स्तोत्रं शृणु मुनिश्रेष्ठ सर्वकामशुभावहम् ॥ ५७ ॥ वाञ्छाप्रदं च सर्वेषां गूढं वेदेषु नारद । नमो देव्यै महादेव्यै सिद्ध्यै शान्त्यै नमो नमः ॥ ५८ ॥ शुभायै देवसेनायै षष्ठ्यै देव्यै नमो नमः । वरदायै पुत्रदायै धनदायै नमो नमः ॥ ५९ ॥ सुखदायै मोक्षदायै षष्ठ्यै देव्यै नमो नमः । सृष्ट्यै षष्ठांशरूपायै सिद्धायै च नमो नमः ॥ ६० ॥ मायायै सिद्धयोगिन्यै षष्ठीदेव्यै नमो नमः । सारायै शारदायै च परादेव्यै नमो नमः ॥ ६१ ॥ बालाधिष्ठातृदेव्यै च षष्ठीदेव्यै नमो नमः । कल्याणदायै कल्याण्यै फलदायै च कर्मणाम् ॥ ६२ ॥ प्रत्यक्षायै स्वभक्तानां षष्ठ्यै देव्यै नमो नमः । पूज्यायै स्कन्दकान्तायै सर्वेषां सर्वकर्मसु ॥ ६३ ॥ देवरक्षणकारिण्यै षष्ठीदेव्यै नमो नमः । शुद्धसत्त्वस्वरूपायै वन्दितायै नृणां सदा ॥ ६४ ॥ हिंसाक्रोधवर्जितायै षष्ठीदेव्यै नमो नमः । धनं देहि प्रियां देहि पुत्रं देहि सुरेश्वरि ॥ ६५ ॥ मानं देहि जयं देहि द्विषो जहि महेश्वरि । धर्मं देहि यशो देहि षष्ठीदेव्यै नमो नमः ॥ ६६ ॥ देहि भूमिं प्रजां देहि विद्यां देहि सुपूजिते । कल्याणं च जयं देहि षष्ठीदेव्यै नमो नमः ॥ ६७ ॥ इति देवीं च संस्तूय लेभे पुत्रं प्रियव्रतः । यशस्विनं च राजेन्द्रः षष्ठीदेव्याः प्रसादतः ॥ ६८ ॥ षष्ठीस्तोत्रमिदं ब्रह्मन् यः शृणोति तु वत्सरम् । अपुत्रो लभते पुत्रं वरं सुचिरजीविनम् ॥ ६९ ॥ वर्षमेकं च यो भक्त्या सम्पूज्येदं शृणोति च । सर्वपापाद्विनिर्मुक्तो महावन्ध्या प्रसूयते ॥ ७० ॥ वीरं पुत्रं च गुणिनं विद्यावन्तं यशस्विनम् । सुचिरायुष्यवन्तं च सूते देवीप्रसादतः ॥ ७१ ॥ काकवन्ध्या च या नारी मृतवत्सा च या भवेत् । वर्षं श्रुत्वा लभेत्पुत्रं षष्ठीदेवीप्रसादतः ॥ ७२ ॥ रोगयुक्ते च बाले च पिता माता शृणोति चेत् । मासेन मुच्यते बालः षष्ठीदेवीप्रसादतः ॥ ७३ ॥
nārada uvāca anekānāṃ ca devīnāṃ śrutamākhyānamuttamam | anyāsāṃ caritaṃ brahman vada vedavidāṃvara || 1 || śrīnārāyaṇa uvāca sarvāsāṃ caritaṃ vipra vedeṣu ca pṛthakpṛthak | pūrvoktānāṃ ca devīnāṃ kāsāṃ śrotumihecchasi || 2 || nārada uvāca ṣaṣṭhī maṅgalacaṇḍī ca manasā prakṛteḥ kalā | utpattimāsāṃ caritaṃ śrotumicchāmi tattvataḥ || 3 || śrīnārāyaṇa uvāca ṣaṣṭhāṃśā prakṛteryā ca sā ca ṣaṣṭhī prakīrtitā | bālakānāmadhiṣṭhātrī viṣṇumāyā ca bāladā || 4 || mātṛkāsu ca vikhyātā devasenābhidhā ca yā | prāṇādhikapriyā sādhvī skandabhāryā ca suvratā || 5 || āyuḥpradā ca bālānāṃ dhātrī rakṣaṇakāriṇī | satataṃ śiśupārśvasthā yogena siddhiyoginī || 6 || tasyāḥ pūjāvidhiṃ brahmanitihāsamidaṃ śṛṇu | yacchrutaṃ dharmavakyeṇa sukhadaṃ putradaṃ param || 7 || rājā priyavrataścāsītsvāyambhuvamanoḥ sutaḥ | yogīndro nodvahadbhāryāṃ tapasyāsu rataḥ sadā || 8 || brahmājñayā ca yatnena kṛtadāro babhūva ha | suciraṃ kṛtadāraśca na lebhe tanayaṃ mune || 9 || putreṣṭiyajñaṃ taṃ cāpi kārayāmāsa kaśyapaḥ | mālinyaṃ tasya kāntāyai muniryajñacaruṃ dadau || 10 || bhuktvā ca taṃ caruṃ tasyāḥ sadyo garbho babhūva ha | dadhāra taṃ ca sā devī daivaṃ dvādaśavatsaram || 11 || tataḥ suṣāva sā brahman kumāraṃ kanakaprabham | sarvāvayavasampannaṃ mṛtamuttāralocanam || 12 || taṃ dṛṣṭvā ruruduḥ sarvā nāryaśca bāndhavastriyaḥ | mūrcchāmavāpa tanmātā putraśokena bhūyasā || 13 || śmaśānaṃ ca yayau rājā gṛhītvā bālakaṃ mune | ruroda tatra kāntāre putraṃ kṛtvā svavakṣasi || 14 || notsṛjad bālakaṃ rājā prāṇāṃstyaktuṃ samudyataḥ | jñānayogaṃ visasmāra putraśokātsudāruṇāt || 15 || etasminnantare tatra vimānaṃ ca dadarśa saḥ | śuddhasphaṭikasaṃkāśaṃ maṇirājavinirmitam || 16 || tejasā jvalitaṃ śaśvacchobhitaṃ kṣaumavāsasā | nānācitravicitrāḍhyaṃ puṣpamālāvirājitam || 17 || dadarśa tatra devīṃ ca kamanīyāṃ manoharām | śvetacampakavarṇābhāṃ śaśvatsusthirayauvanām || 18 || īṣaddhāsyaprasannāsyāṃ ratnabhūṣaṇabhūṣitām | kṛpāmayīṃ yogasiddhāṃ bhaktānugrahakātarām || 19 || dṛṣṭvā tāṃ purato rājā tuṣṭāva paramādarāt | cakāra pūjanaṃ tasyā vihāya bālakaṃ bhuvi || 20 || papraccha rājā tāṃ tuṣṭāṃ grīṣmasūryasamaprabhām | tejasā jvalitāṃ śāntāṃ kāntāṃ skandasya nārada || 21 || rājovāca kā tvaṃ suśobhane kānte kasya kāntāsi suvrate | kasya kanyā varārohe dhanyā mānyā ca yoṣitām || 22 || nṛpendrasya vacaḥ śrutvā jaganmaṅgalacaṇḍikā | uvāca devasenā sā devānāṃ raṇakāriṇī || 23 || devānāṃ daityagrastānāṃ purā senā babhūva sā | jayaṃ dadau sā tebhyaśca devasenā ca tena sā || 24 || śrīdevasenovāca brahmaṇo mānasī kanyā devasenāhamīśvarī | sṛṣṭvā tāṃ manasā dhātā dadau skandāya bhūmipa || 25 || mātṛkāsu ca vikhyātā skandabhāryā ca suvratā | viśve ṣaṣṭhīti vikhyātā ṣaṣṭhāṃśā prakṛteḥ parā || 26 || aputrāya putradāhaṃ priyādātrī priyāya ca | dhanadāhaṃ daridrebhyaḥ karmibhyaśca svakarmadā || 27 || sukhaṃ duḥkhaṃ bhayaṃ śoko harṣo maṅgalameva ca | sampattiśca vipattiśca sarvaṃ bhavati karmaṇā || 28 || karmaṇā bahuputraśca vaṃśahīnaḥ svakarmaṇā | karmaṇā mṛtaputraśca karmaṇā cirajīvanaḥ || 29 || karmaṇā guṇavāṃścaiva karmaṇā cāṅgahīnakaḥ | karmaṇā bahubhāryaśca bhāryāhīnaśca karmaṇā || 30 || karmaṇā rūpavāndharmī rogī śaśvatsvakarmaṇā | karmaṇā ca bhavedvyādhiḥ karmaṇā''rogyameva ca || 31 || tasmātkarma paraṃ rājan sarvebhyaśca śrutau śrutam | ityevamuktvā sā devī gṛhītvā bālakaṃ mune || 32 || mahājñānena sā devī jīvayāmāsa līlayā | rājā dadarśa taṃ bālaṃ sasmitaṃ kanakaprabham || 33 || devasenā ca paśyantaṃ nṛpamāpṛcchya sā tadā | gṛhītvā bālakaṃ devī gaganaṃ gantumudyatā || 34 || punastuṣṭāva tāṃ rājā śuṣkakaṇṭhoṣṭhatālukaḥ | nṛpastotreṇa sā devī parituṣṭā babhūva ha || 35 || uvāca taṃ nṛpaṃ brahman vedoktaṃ karmanirmitam | devyuvāca triṣu lokeṣu tvaṃ rājā svāyambhuvamanoḥ sutaḥ || 36 || mama pūjāṃ ca sarvatra kārayitvā svayaṃ kuru | tadā dāsyāmi putraṃ te kulapadmaṃ manoharam || 37 || suvrataṃ nāma vikhyātaṃ guṇavantaṃ supaṇḍitam | jātismaraṃ ca yogīndraṃ nārāyaṇakalātmakam || 38 || śatakratukaraṃ śreṣṭhaṃ kṣatriyāṇāṃ ca vanditam | mattamātaṅgalakṣāṇāṃ dhṛtavantaṃ balaṃ śubham || 39 || dhaninaṃ guṇinaṃ śuddhaṃ viduṣāṃ priyameva ca | yogināṃ jñānināṃ caiva siddhirūpaṃ tapasvinām || 40 || yaśasvinaṃ ca lokeṣu dātāraṃ sarvasampadām | ityevamuktvā sā devī tasmai tadbālakaṃ dadau || 41 || rājā cakāra svīkāraṃ pūjārthaṃ ca priyavrataḥ | jagāma devī svargaṃ ca dattvā tasmai śubhaṃ varam || 42 || ājagāma sahāmātyaḥ svagṛhaṃ hṛṣṭamānasaḥ | āgatya kathayāmāsa vṛttāntaṃ putrahetukam || 43 || śrutvā babhūvuḥ santuṣṭā narā nāryaśca nārada | maṅgalaṃ kārayāmāsa sarvatra putrahetukam || 44 || devīṃ ca pūjayāmāsa brāhmaṇebhyo dhanaṃ dadau | rājā ca pratimāseṣu śuklaṣaṣṭhyāṃ mahotsavam || 45 || ṣaṣṭyā devyāśca yatnena kārayāmāsa sarvataḥ | bālānāṃ sūtikāgāre ṣaṣṭhāhe yatnapūrvakam || 46 || tatpūjāṃ kārayāmāsa caikaviṃśativāsare | bālānāṃ śubhakārye ca śubhānnaprāśane tathā || 47 || sarvatra vardhayāmāsa svayameva cakāra ha | dhyānaṃ pūjāvidhānaṃ ca stotraṃ matto niśāmaya || 48 || yacchrutaṃ dharmavaktreṇa kauthumoktaṃ ca suvrata | śālagrāme ghaṭe vātha vaṭamūle'thavā mune || 49 || bhittyāṃ puttalikāṃ kṛtvā pūjayedvā vicakṣaṇaḥ | ṣaṣṭhāṃśāṃ prakṛteḥ śuddhāṃ pratiṣṭhāpya ca suprabhām || 50 || suputradāṃ ca śubhadā dayārūpāṃ jagatprasūm | śvetacampakavarṇābhāṃ ratnabhūṣaṇabhūṣitām || 51 || pavitrarūpāṃ paramāṃ devasenāṃ parāṃ bhaje | iti dhyātvā svaśirasi puṣpaṃ dattvā vicakṣaṇaḥ || 52 || punardhyātvā ca mūlena pūjayetsuvratāṃ satīm | pādyārghyācamanīyaiśca gandhapuṣpapradīpakaiḥ || 53 || naivedyairvividhaiścāpi phalena śobhanena ca | oṃ hrīṃ ṣaṣṭhīdevyai svāheti vidhipūrvakam || 54 || aṣṭākṣaraṃ mahāmantraṃ yathāśakti japennaraḥ | tataḥ stutvā ca praṇamedbhaktiyuktaḥ samāhitaḥ || 55 || stotraṃ ca sāmavedoktaṃ varaṃ putraphalapradam | aṣṭākṣaraṃ mahāmantraṃ lakṣadhā yo japettataḥ || 56 || suputraṃ sa labhennūnamityāha kamalodbhavaḥ | stotraṃ śṛṇu muniśreṣṭha sarvakāmaśubhāvaham || 57 || vāñchāpradaṃ ca sarveṣāṃ gūḍhaṃ vedeṣu nārada | namo devyai mahādevyai siddhyai śāntyai namo namaḥ || 58 || śubhāyai devasenāyai ṣaṣṭhyai devyai namo namaḥ | varadāyai putradāyai dhanadāyai namo namaḥ || 59 || sukhadāyai mokṣadāyai ṣaṣṭhyai devyai namo namaḥ | sṛṣṭyai ṣaṣṭhāṃśarūpāyai siddhāyai ca namo namaḥ || 60 || māyāyai siddhayoginyai ṣaṣṭhīdevyai namo namaḥ | sārāyai śāradāyai ca parādevyai namo namaḥ || 61 || bālādhiṣṭhātṛdevyai ca ṣaṣṭhīdevyai namo namaḥ | kalyāṇadāyai kalyāṇyai phaladāyai ca karmaṇām || 62 || pratyakṣāyai svabhaktānāṃ ṣaṣṭhyai devyai namo namaḥ | pūjyāyai skandakāntāyai sarveṣāṃ sarvakarmasu || 63 || devarakṣaṇakāriṇyai ṣaṣṭhīdevyai namo namaḥ | śuddhasattvasvarūpāyai vanditāyai nṛṇāṃ sadā || 64 || hiṃsākrodhavarjitāyai ṣaṣṭhīdevyai namo namaḥ | dhanaṃ dehi priyāṃ dehi putraṃ dehi sureśvari || 65 || mānaṃ dehi jayaṃ dehi dviṣo jahi maheśvari | dharmaṃ dehi yaśo dehi ṣaṣṭhīdevyai namo namaḥ || 66 || dehi bhūmiṃ prajāṃ dehi vidyāṃ dehi supūjite | kalyāṇaṃ ca jayaṃ dehi ṣaṣṭhīdevyai namo namaḥ || 67 || iti devīṃ ca saṃstūya lebhe putraṃ priyavrataḥ | yaśasvinaṃ ca rājendraḥ ṣaṣṭhīdevyāḥ prasādataḥ || 68 || ṣaṣṭhīstotramidaṃ brahman yaḥ śṛṇoti tu vatsaram | aputro labhate putraṃ varaṃ sucirajīvinam || 69 || varṣamekaṃ ca yo bhaktyā sampūjyedaṃ śṛṇoti ca | sarvapāpādvinirmukto mahāvandhyā prasūyate || 70 || vīraṃ putraṃ ca guṇinaṃ vidyāvantaṃ yaśasvinam | sucirāyuṣyavantaṃ ca sūte devīprasādataḥ || 71 || kākavandhyā ca yā nārī mṛtavatsā ca yā bhavet | varṣaṃ śrutvā labhetputraṃ ṣaṣṭhīdevīprasādataḥ || 72 || rogayukte ca bāle ca pitā mātā śṛṇoti cet | māsena mucyate bālaḥ ṣaṣṭhīdevīprasādataḥ || 73 ||
English translation
1. Narada said “O Thou, the foremost of the Knowers of the Vedas! I have heard from you the anecdotes of many Devis. Now I want to hear the lives of other DevTs also. Kindly describe.”
2. Narayana said “O Best of the Brahmanas! The lives and glorious deeds of all the DevTs are described separately. Now say, which lives you want to hear.”
3. Narada said:--“0 Lord! SasthT, Mangala ChandT, and Manasa, are the parts of Prakriti. Now I want to hear the lives of them.”
4-22. Narayana said O Child! The sixth part of Prakriti is named as SasthT. The DevT SasthT is the Presiding Deity of infants and children; She is the Maya of Visnu and She bestows sons to all. She is one of the sixteen Matrikas. She is known by the name of Devasena. She performs Vratas (vows); She is the chaste and dearest wife of Skanda. She decides on the longevity of children and is always engaged in their preservation. So much so, that this Siddha YoginT always keeps the children on her side.
O Best of Brahmanas! I will now talk about the method of worshipping this DevT and the history about Her bestowing children that I heard from Dharma Deva. Hear. Svayambhuva Manu had one son Priyavrata. He was a great YogTndra and remained in practising austerities. So he was not inclined to have any wife. At last by the effort and request of Brahma, he got himself married. But many days passed, and he could not see the face of a son. Then Maharsi Kas’yapa became his priest in the Putresti Sacrifice (to get a son);
and when the sacrifice was over, he gave the sacrificial offering called charu to his wife Malini. On eating the charu, the queen Malini become pregnant. For twelve Deva years she held the womb. After twelve years she delivered a full developed son, of a golden colour; but the son was lifeless and his two eyeballs were upset. At this, the friends’ wives became very sorry and began to weep. The mother of the child became so very sorrowful that she became senseless. O Muni! The King himself took the son on his breast and went to the burning ground. There with his child on his breast he began to cry aloud. Rather he got himself ready to quit his own life than leave the son from away his breast. At this time he saw in the space overhead an aerial car, white as crystal, made of excellent jewels, coming towards him. The car was shining with its own lustre, encircled with woven silken cloth, which added to its beauty. Innumerable garlands of variegated colours gave it a very nice and charming appearance. On that car was seated a Siddha Yogini, very beautiful, of a lovely appearance of a colour like that of white champakas, always youthful, smiling, adorned with jewel ornaments, ever gracious to show favour to the devotees. On seeing Her, the King Priyavrata placed the child from his breast on the ground and began to worship Her and chant hymns to Her with great love and devotion. And he then asked that peaceful lady, the wife of Skanda, Who was shining like a summer sun “O Beautiful! Who art Thou? Whose wife art Thou and whose daughter art Thou? From Thy appearance it seems that Thou art fortunate and respected amongst the female sex.”
23-24. O Narada! In ancient times, when the Daityas dispossessed the Devas of their positions, this Lady was elected as a general and got victory for the Devas; hence She was named Devasena. Hearing the words of the King Priyavrata, Devasena, who fought for the Devas and was all good to the whole world, said
25-42. O King! I am the mind-born daughter of Brahma. My name is Devasena. The Creator before created Me out of His mind and made Me over to the hands of Skanda. Amongst the Matrikas, I am known as Sasthi, the wife of Skanda. I am the sixth part of Prakriti; hence I am named Sasthi. I give sons to those who have no sons, wives to those who have no wives, wealth to the poor, and I give works to those who are workers (karmis.)
Happiness, pain, fear, sorrow, joy, good, and wealth and adversity all are the fruits of Karmas. As the result of one’s Karmas, people get lots of sons and it is due to the result of one’s Karma again that people are denuded of all the issues of their family. As the result of Karma, the people get dead sons; and as the result of Karma the people get long lives. All enjoy the fruits of their Karmas, whether they be well qualified, or deformed or whether they have many wives, or whether they have no wife, whether they be beautiful, religious, diseased, it is all through Karmas, Karmas. Disease comes out of their Karmas. Again they get cured by their Karmas. So, O King! It is stated in the Vedas that Karma is the most powerful of all. Thus saying, Devasena took the dead child on her lap; and, by the wisdom, early made the child alive. The King saw the child, of a golden colour got back his life and began to smile. Thus bidding goodbye to the King, Devasena took the child and became ready to depart. At this the King’s palate and throat got dry and he began again to chant hymns to Her. The Devi Sasthi became pleased at the stotra made by the King. The Devi then addressed the King and said “O King! All that is stated in the Vedas, is made up of Karmas. You are the son of Svayambhuva Manu, and the Lord of the three worlds. You better promulgate My worship in the three worlds and you yourself worship Me. Then I will give you your beautiful son, the lotus of your family. Your son, born in part of Narayana, will be famous by the name of Suvrata. He will be well-qualified, a great literary man, able to remember his conditions in his former lives, the best of Yogis, performer of one hundred Yajhas, the best of all.
bowed down by the Ksattriyas, strong as one lakh powerful elephants, wealthy, fortunate, pure, favourite of literary persons, learned and bestower of the fruits of the ascetics, renowned and bestower of wealth and prosperity to the three worlds.” Thus saying Devasena gave the the child to the king. When the king pronnised that he would promulgate Her worship, the Devi granted him boons and went up to the Heavens.
43-57. The king, too, becoming very glad and surrounded by his ministers, returned to his own abode and informed all about the son. The ladies of the house, become highly delighted when they heard everything. On the occasion of the son’s getting back his life, the king performed everywhere auspicious ceremonies. The worship of Sasthi Devi commenced. Wealth was bestowed to the Brahmins. Since then, on every sixth day of the bright fortnight in every month, great festivals in honour of Sasthi Devi began to be celebrated.
Since then, throughout the kingdom, on every sixth day after the birth of a child in the lying-in-chamber, Sasthi Devi began to be worshipped. On the twenty-first day, the auspicious moment, at the ceremony of giving rice to a child for the first time, when sixth months old, and on all other auspicious ceremonies of the children, Sasthi Devi’s worship was made extant and the king himself performed those worships with great care and according to due rules. Now I will tell you about the Dhyanam and method of worship and stotra as I heard from Dharma Deva, and as stated in Kauthuma S’akha. Hear. He has said In a S’alagrama stone, in a jar, on the root of a Bata tree, or drawing the figure on the floor of the rooms, or making an image of Sasthi Devi, the sixth part of Prakriti and installing it, one should worship the Devi. The Dhyanam is this:- - “O Devasena Thou art the bestower of good sons, the giver of good luck; Thou art mercy and kindness and the progenitor of the world; Thy colour is bright like that of the white Champaka flowers. Thou art decked with jewel ornaments. Thou art pure, and the highest and best Devi. Obeisance to Thee! I meditate on Thee.” Thus meditating.
the worshipper should place flower on his own head. Then again meditating and uttering the principal mantra one is to offer the Padya (water for washing feet), Arghya, Achamaniya, scents, flowers, dhup, lights, offerings of food and best roots and fruits and one should worship thus with various things Sasthi Devi. “Om Hrim Sasthi Devyai Svaha” is the principal Mantra of Sasthi Devi. This great Mantra of eight letters a man should repeat as his strength allows. After the Japam, the worshipper should chant hymns with devotion and undivided attention and then bow down. The Stotra (hymn) of Sasthi Devi as per Sama Veda is very beautiful and son- bestowing.The lotus-born Brahma has said If one repeats (makes Japam) this eight lettered mantra one lakh of times, one gets certainly a good son. O Best of Munis! Now I am going to say the auspicious stotra of Sasthi Devi as composed by Priyavrata. Hear.
58-73. One’s desires are fulfilled when one reads this very secret stotra. Thus the King Priyavrata said “O Devi, Devasena! I bow down to Thee. O Great Devi! Obeisance to Thee! Thou art the bestower of Siddhis; Thou art peaceful; obeisance to Thee! Thou art the bestower of good; Thou art Devasena; Thou art Sasthi Devi, I bow down to Thee! Thou grantest boons to persons; Thou bestowest sons and wealth to men. So obeisance to Thee! Thou givest happiness and moksa; Thou art Sasthi Devi; I bow down to Thee. Thou thyself art Siddha; so I bow down to Thee. O Sasthi Devi! Thou art the sixth part of this creation; Thou art Siddha Yogini, so I bow down to Thee. Thou art the essence. Thou art Sarada; Thou art the Highest Devi. So I bow down again and again to Thee. Thou art the Presiding Deity Sasthi Devi of the children; I bow down to Thee.
Thou grantest good; Thou Thyself art good and Thou bestowest the fruits of all Karmas. O Thou O Sasthi Devi! Thou shewest thy form to thy devotees; I bow down to Thee! Thou art S’uddha Sattva and respected by all the persons in all their actions. Thou art the wife of Skanda. All worship Thee. O Sasthi Devi! Thou hadst saved the Devas. So obeisance to Thee O Sasthi Devi! Thou hast no envy, no
anger; so obeisance to Thee. O SuresVari! Give me wealth, give me dear things, give me sons.
Give me respect from all persons; give me victory; slay my enemies. O Mahesvari! Give me Dharma; give me name and fame; I bow down again again to Sasthi Devi. O Sasthi Devi! worshipped reverentially by all! Give me lands, give me subjects, give me learning; have welfare for me; I bow down again and again to Sasthi Devi.” O Narada! Thus praising the Devi, Priyavrata got a son, renowned and ruling over a great kingdom through the favour of Sasthi Devi. If any man that has no son, hears this stotra of Sasthi Devi for one year with undivided attention, he gets easily an excellent son, having a long life. If one worships for one year with devotion this Devasena and hears this stotra, even the most barren woman becomes freed from all her sins and gets a son. Through the grace of Sasthi Devi, that son becomes a hero, well qualified, literate, renowned and long-lived. If any woman who bears only a single child or delivers dead children hears with devotion for one year this stotra, she gets easily, through the Devi’s grace, a good son. If the father and mother both hear with devotion, this story during the period of their child’s illness, then the child becomes cured by the Grace of the Devi.
Here ends the Forty-sixth chapter of the Ninth Book on the anecdote of Sasthi Devi in the Maha Puranam S’ri Mad Devi Bhagavatam of 18,000 verses by Maharsi Veda Vyasa.
Complete chapter-aligned witnesses. Sanskrit Wikisource page 24541, revision 306861 (2021-04-08T13:34:06Z). 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/bk09ch46.htm. Historic spelling and transliteration are lightly normalized; no verse-by-verse alignment is asserted.