Ninth Skandha · Chapter 50
Sourceनारद उवाच श्रुतं सर्वमुपाख्यानं प्रकृतीनां यथातथम् । यच्छ्रुत्वा मुच्यते जन्तुर्जन्मसंसारबन्धनात् ॥ १ ॥ अधुना श्रोतुमिच्छामि रहस्यं वेदगोपितम् । राधायाश्चैव दुर्गाया विधानं श्रुतिचोदितम् ॥ २ ॥ महिमा वर्णितोऽतीव भवता परयोर्द्वयोः । श्रुत्वा तं तद्गतं चेतो न कस्य स्यान्मुनीश्वर ॥ ३ ॥ ययोरंशो जगत्सर्वं यन्नियम्यं चराचरम् । ययोर्भक्त्या भवेन्मुक्तिस्तद्विधानं वदाधुना ॥ ४ ॥ श्रीनारायण उवाच शृणु नारद वक्ष्यामि रहस्यं श्रुतिचोदितम् । यन्न कस्यापि चाख्यातं सारात्सारं परात्परम् ॥ ५ ॥ श्रुत्वा परस्मै नो वाच्यं यतोऽतीव रहस्यकम् । मूलप्रकृतिरूपिण्याः संविदो जगदुद्भवे ॥ ६ ॥ प्रादुर्भूतं शक्तियुग्मं प्राणबुद्ध्यधिदैवतम् । जीवानां चैव सर्वेषां नियन्तृप्रेरकं सदा ॥ ७ ॥ तदधीनं जगत्सर्वं विराडादिचराचरम् । यावत्तयोः प्रसादो न तावन्मोक्षो हि दुर्लभः ॥ ८ ॥ ततस्तयोः प्रसादार्थं नित्यं सेवेत तद्द्वयम् । तत्रादौ राधिकामन्त्रं शृणु नारद भक्तितः ॥ ९ ॥ ब्रह्मविष्ण्वादिभिर्नित्यं सेवितो यः परात्परः । श्रीराधेति चतुर्थ्यन्तं वह्नेर्जाया ततः परम् ॥ १० ॥ षडक्षरो महामन्त्रो धर्माद्यर्थप्रकाशकः । मायाबीजादिकश्चायं वाञ्छाचिन्तामणिः स्मृतः ॥ ११ ॥ वक्त्रकोटिसहस्रैस्तु जिह्वाकोटिशतैरपि । एतन्मन्त्रस्य माहात्म्यं वर्णितुं नैव शक्यते ॥ १२ ॥ जग्राह प्रथमं मन्त्रं श्रीकृष्णो भक्तितत्परः । उपदेशान्मूलदेव्या गोलोके रासमण्डले ॥ १३ ॥ विष्णुस्तेनोपदिष्टस्तु तेन ब्रह्मा विराट् तथा । तेन धर्मस्तेन चाहमित्येषा हि परम्परा ॥ १४ ॥ अहं जपामि तं मन्त्रं तेनाहमृषिरीडितः । ब्रह्माद्याः सकला देवा नित्यं ध्यायन्ति तां मुदा ॥ १५ ॥ कृष्णार्चायां नाधिकारो यतो राधार्चनं विना । वैष्णवैः सकलैस्तस्मात्कर्तव्यं राधिकार्चनम् ॥ १६ ॥ कृष्णप्राणाधिदेवी सा तदधीनो विभुर्यतः । रासेश्वरी तस्य नित्यं तया हीनो न तिष्ठति ॥ १७ ॥ राध्नोति सकलान्कामांस्तस्माद्राधेति कीर्तिता । अत्रोक्तानां मनूनां च ऋषिरस्म्यहमेव च ॥ १८ ॥ छन्दश्च देवी गायत्री देवतात्र च राधिका । तारो बीजं शक्तिबीजं शक्तिस्तु परिकीर्तिता ॥ १९ ॥ मूलावृत्त्या षडङ्गानि कर्तव्यानीतरत्र च । अथ ध्यायेन्महादेवीं राधिकां रासनायिकाम् ॥ २० ॥ पूर्वोक्तरीत्या तु मुने सामवेदे विगीतया । श्वेतचम्पकवर्णाभां शरदिन्दुसमाननाम् ॥ २१ ॥ कोटिचन्द्रप्रतीकाशां शरदम्भोजलोचनाम् । बिम्बाधरां पृथुश्रोणीं काञ्चीयुतनितम्बिनीम् ॥ २२ ॥ कुन्दपङ्क्तिसमानाभदन्तपङ्क्तिविराजिताम् । क्षौमाम्बरपरीधानां वह्निशुद्धांशुकान्विताम् ॥ २३ ॥ ईषद्धास्यप्रसन्नास्यां करिकुम्भयुगस्तनीम् । सदा द्वादशवर्षीयां रत्नभूषणभूषिताम् ॥ २४ ॥ शृङ्गारसिन्धुलहरीं भक्तानुग्रहकातराम् । मल्लिकामालतीमालाकेशपाशविराजिताम् ॥ २५ ॥ सुकुमाराङ्गलतिकां रासमण्डलमध्यगाम् । वराभयकरां शान्तां शश्वत्सुस्थिरयौवनाम् ॥ २६ ॥ रत्नसिंहासनासीनां गोपीमण्डलनायिकाम् । कृष्णप्राणाधिकां वेदबोधितां परमेश्वरीम् ॥ २७ ॥ एवं ध्यात्वा ततो बाह्ये शालग्रामे घटेऽथवा । यन्त्रे वाष्टदले देवीं पूजयेत्तु विधानतः ॥ २८ ॥ आवाह्य देवीं तत्पश्चादासनादि प्रदीयताम् । मूलमन्त्रं समुच्चार्य चासनादीनि कल्पयेत् ॥ २९ ॥ पाद्यं तु पादयोर्दद्यान्मस्तकेऽर्घ्यं समीरितम् । मुखे त्वाचमनीयं स्यात्त्रिवारं मूलविद्यया ॥ ३० ॥ मधुपर्कं ततो दद्यादेकां गां च पयस्विनीम् । ततो नयेत्स्नानशालां तां च तत्रैव भावयेत् ॥ ३१ ॥ अभ्यङ्गादिस्नानविधिं कल्पयित्वाथ वाससी । ततश्च चन्दनं दद्यान्नानालङ्कारपूर्वकम् ॥ ३२ ॥ पुष्पमाला बहुविधास्तुलसीमञ्जरीयुताः । पारिजातप्रसूनानि शतपत्रादिकानि च ॥ ३३ ॥ ततः कुर्यात्पवित्रं तत्परिवारार्चनं विभोः । अग्नीशासुरवायव्यमध्ये दिक्ष्वङ्गपूजनम् ॥ ३४ ॥ कृत्वा पश्चादष्टदले दक्षिणावर्ततोऽग्रतः । मालावतीमग्रदले वह्निकोणे च माधवीम् ॥ ३५ ॥ रत्नमालां दक्षिणे च नैर्ऋत्ये तु सुशीलकाम् । पश्चाद्दले शशिकलां पूजयेन्मतिमान्नरः ॥ ३६ ॥ मारुते पारिजातां चाप्युत्तरे च परावतीम् । ईशानकोणे सम्पूज्या सुन्दरी प्रियकारिणी ॥ ३७ ॥ ब्राह्म्यादयस्तु तद्बाह्येऽप्याशापालांस्तु भूपुरे । वज्रादिकान्यायुधानि देवीमित्थं प्रपूजयेत् ॥ ३८ ॥ ततो देवीं सावरणां गन्धाद्यैरुपचारकैः । राजोपचारसहितैः पूजयेन्मतिमान्नरः ॥ ३९ ॥ ततः स्तुवीत देवेशीं स्तोत्रैर्नामसहस्रकैः । सहस्रसंख्यं च जपं नित्यं कुर्यात्प्रयत्नतः ॥ ४० ॥ य एवं पूजयेद्देवीं राधां रासेश्वरीं पराम् । स भवेद्विष्णुतुल्यस्तु गोलोकं याति सन्ततम् ॥ ४१ ॥ यः कार्तिक्यां पौर्णमास्यां राधाजन्मोत्सव बुधः । कुरुते तस्य सान्निध्यं दद्याद्रासेश्वरी परा ॥ ४२ ॥ केनचित्कारणेनैव राधा वृन्दावने वने । वृषभानुसुता जाता गोलोकस्थायिनी सदा ॥ ४३ ॥ अत्रोक्तानां तु मन्त्राणां वर्णसंख्याविधानतः । पुरश्चरणकर्मोक्तं दशांशं होममाचरेत् ॥ ४४ ॥ तिलैस्त्रिस्वादुसंयुक्तैर्जुहुयाद्भक्तिभावतः । नारद उवाच स्तोत्रं वद मुने सम्यग्येन देवी प्रसीदति ॥ ४५ ॥ श्रीनारायण उवाच नमस्ते परमेशानि रासमण्डलवासिनि । रासेश्वरि नमस्तेऽस्तु कृष्णप्राणाधिकप्रिये ॥ ४६ ॥ नमस्त्रैलोक्यजननि प्रसीद करुणार्णवे । ब्रह्मविष्ण्वादिभिर्देवैर्वन्द्यमानपदाम्बुजे ॥ ४७ ॥ नमः सरस्वतीरूपे नमः सावित्रि शङ्करि । गङ्गापद्मावतीरूपे षष्ठि मङ्गलचण्डिके ॥ ४८ ॥ नमस्ते तुलसीरूपे नमो लक्ष्मीस्वरूपिणि । नमो दुर्गे भगवति नमस्ते सर्वरूपिणि ॥ ४९ ॥ मूलप्रकृतिरूपां त्वां भजामः करुणार्णवाम् । संसारसागरादस्मानुद्धराम्ब दयां कुरु ॥ ५० ॥ इदं स्तोत्रं त्रिसन्ध्यं यः पठेद्राधां स्मरन्नरः । न तस्य दुर्लभं किञ्चित्कदाचिच्च भविष्यति ॥ ५१ ॥ देहान्ते च वसेन्नित्यं गोलोके रासमण्डले । इदं रहस्यं परमं न चाख्येयं तु कस्यचित् ॥ ५२ ॥ अधुना शृणु विप्रेन्द्र दुर्गादेव्या विधानकम् । यस्याः स्मरणमात्रेण पलायन्ते महापदः ॥ ५३ ॥ एनां न भजते यो हि तादृङ्नास्त्येव कुत्रचित् । सर्वोपास्या सर्वमाता शैवी शक्तिर्महाद्भुता ॥ ५४ ॥ सर्वबुद्ध्याधिदेवीयमन्तर्यामिस्वरूपिणी । दुर्गसङ्कटहन्त्रीति दुर्गेति प्रथिता भुवि ॥ ५५ ॥ वैष्णवानां च शैवानामुपास्येयं च नित्यशः । मूलप्रकृतिरूपा सा सृष्टिस्थित्यन्तकारिणी ॥ ५६ ॥ तस्या नवाक्षरं मन्त्रं वक्ष्ये मन्त्रोत्तमोत्तमम् । वाग्भवं शम्भुवनिता कामबीजं ततः परम् ॥ ५७ ॥ चामुण्डायै पदं पश्चाद्विच्चे इत्यक्षरद्वयम् । नवाक्षरो मनुः प्रोक्तो भजतां कल्पपादपः ॥ ५८ ॥ ब्रह्मविष्णुमहेशाना ऋषयोऽस्य प्रकीर्तिताः । छन्दांस्युक्तानि सततं गायत्र्युष्णिगनुष्टुभः ॥ ५९ ॥ महाकाली महालक्ष्मीः सरस्वत्यपि देवताः । स्याद्रक्तदन्तिकाबीजं दुर्गा च भ्रामरी तथा ॥ ६० ॥ नन्दाशाकम्भरीदेव्यौ भीमा च शक्तयः स्मृताः । धर्मार्थकाममोक्षेषु विनियोग उदाहृतः ॥ ६१ ॥ ऋषिच्छन्दो दैवतानि मौलौ वक्त्रे हृदि न्यसेत् । स्तनयोः शक्तिबीजानि न्यसेत्सर्वार्थसिद्धये ॥ ६२ ॥ बीजत्रयैश्चतुर्भिश्च द्वाभ्यां सर्वेण चैव हि । षडङ्गानि मनोः कुर्याज्जातियुक्तानि देशिकः ॥ ६३ ॥ शिखायां लोचनद्वन्द्वे श्रुतिनासाननेषु च । गुदे न्यसेन्मन्त्रवर्णान्सर्वेण व्यापकं चरेत् ॥ ६४ ॥ खड्गचक्रगदाबाणचापानि परिघं तथा । शूलं भुशुण्डीं च शिरः शङ्खं सन्दधतीं करैः ॥ ६५ ॥ महाकालीं त्रिनयनां नानाभूषणभूषिताम् । नीलाञ्जनसमप्रख्यां दशपादाननां भजे ॥ ६६ ॥ मधुकैटभनाशार्थं यां तुष्टावाम्बुजासनः । एवं ध्यायेन्महाकालीं कामबीजस्वरूपिणीम् ॥ ६७ ॥ अक्षमालां च परशुं गदेषुकुलिशानि च । पद्मं धनुष्कुण्डिकां च दण्डं शक्तिमसिं तथा ॥ ६८ ॥ चर्माम्बुजं तथा घण्टां सुरापात्रं च शूलकम् । पाशं सुदर्शनं चैव दधतीमरुणप्रभाम् ॥ ६९ ॥ रक्ताम्बुजासनगतां मायाबीजस्वरूपिणीम् । महालक्ष्मीं भजेदेवं महिषासुरमर्दिनीम् ॥ ७० ॥ घण्टाशूले हलं शङ्खं मुसलं च सुदर्शनम् । धनुर्बाणान् हस्तपद्मैर्दधानां कुन्दसन्निभाम् ॥ ७१ ॥ शुम्भादिदैत्यसंहर्त्रीं वाणीबीजस्वरूपिणीम् । महासरस्वतीं ध्यायेत्सच्चिदानन्दविग्रहाम् ॥ ७२ ॥ यन्त्रमस्याः शृणु प्राज्ञ त्र्यस्रं षट्कोणसंयुतम् । ततोऽष्टदलपद्मं च चतुर्विंशतिपत्रकम् ॥ ७३ ॥ भूगृहेण समायुक्तं यन्त्रमेवं विचिन्तयेत् । शालग्रामे घटे वापि यन्त्रे वा प्रतिमासु वा ॥ ७४ ॥ बाणलिङ्गेऽथवा सूर्ये यजेद्देवीमनन्यधीः । जयादिशक्तिसंयुक्ते पीठे देवीं प्रपूजयेत् ॥ ७५ ॥ पूर्वकोणे सरस्वत्या सहितं पद्मजं यजेत् । श्रिया सह हरिं तत्र नैर्ऋते कोणके यजेत् ॥ ७६ ॥ पार्वत्या सहितं शम्भुं वायुकोणे समर्चयेत् । देव्या उत्तरतः पूज्यः सिंहो वामे महासुरम् ॥ ७७ ॥ महिषं पूजयेदन्ते षट्कोणेषु यजेत्क्रमात् । नन्दजां रक्तदन्तां च तथा शाकम्भरीं शिवाम् ॥ ७८ ॥ दुर्गां भीमां भ्रामरीं च ततो वसुदलेषु च । ब्राह्मीं माहेश्वरीं चैव कौमारीं वैष्णवीं तथा ॥ ७९ ॥ वाराहीं नारसिंहीं च ऐन्द्रीं चामुण्डकां तथा । पूजयेच्च ततः पश्चात्तत्त्वपत्रेषु पूर्वतः ॥ ८० ॥ विष्णुमायां चेतनां च बुद्धिं निद्रां क्षुधां तथा । छायां शक्तिं परां तृष्णां शान्तिं जातिं च लज्जया ॥ ८१ ॥ क्षान्तिं श्रद्धां कीर्तिलक्ष्म्यौ धृतिं वृत्तिं श्रुतिं स्मृतिम् । दयां तुष्टिं ततः पुष्टिं मातृभ्रान्ती इति क्रमात् ॥ ८२ ॥ ततो भूपुरकोणेषु गणेशं क्षेत्रपालकम् । वटुकं योगिनीश्चापि पूजयेन्मतिमान्नरः ॥ ८३ ॥ इन्द्राद्यानपि तद्बाह्ये वज्राद्यायुधसंयुतान् । पूजयेदनया रीत्या देवीं सावरणां ततः ॥ ८४ ॥ राजोपचारान्विविधान्दद्यादम्बाप्रतुष्टये । ततो जपेन्नवार्णं च मन्त्रं मन्त्रार्थपूर्वकम् ॥ ८५ ॥ ततः सप्तशतीस्तोत्रं देव्या अग्रे तु सम्पठेत् । नानेन सदृशं स्तोत्रं विद्यते भुवनत्रये ॥ ८६ ॥ ततश्चानेन देवेशीं तोषयेत् प्रत्यहं नरः । धर्मार्थकाममोक्षाणामालयं जायते नरः ॥ ८७ ॥ इति ते कथितं विप्र श्रीदुर्गाया विधानकम् । कृतार्थता येन भवेत्तदेतत्कथितं तव ॥ ८८ ॥ सर्वे देवा हरिब्रह्मप्रमुखा मनवस्तथा । मुनयो ज्ञाननिष्ठाश्च योगिनश्चाश्रमास्तथा ॥ ८९ ॥ लक्ष्म्यादयस्तथा देव्यः सर्वे ध्यायन्ति तां शिवाम् । तदैव जन्मसाफल्यं दुर्गास्मरणमस्ति चेत् ॥ ९० ॥ चतुर्दशापि मनवो ध्यात्वा चरणपङ्कजम् । मनुत्वं प्राप्तवन्तश्च देवाः स्वं स्वं पदं तथा ॥ ९१ ॥ तदेतत्सर्वमाख्यातं रहस्यातिरहस्यकम् । प्रकृतीनां पञ्चकस्य तदंशानां च वर्णनम् ॥ ९२ ॥ श्रुत्वैतन्मनुजो नित्यं पुरुषार्थचतुष्टयम् । लभते नात्र सन्देहः सत्यं सत्यं मयोदितम् ॥ ९३ ॥ अपुत्रो लभते पुत्रं विद्यार्थी प्राप्नुयाच्च ताम् । यं यं कामं स्मरेद्वापि तं तं श्रुत्वा समाप्नुयात् ॥ ९४ ॥ नवरात्रे पठेदेतद्देव्यग्रे तु समाहितः । परितुष्टा जगद्धात्री भवत्येव हि निश्चितम् ॥ ९५ ॥ नित्यमेकैकमध्यायं पठेद्यः प्रत्यहं नरः । तस्य वश्या भवेद्देवी देवीप्रियकरो हि सः ॥ ९६ ॥ शकुनांश्च परीक्षेत नित्यमस्मिन्यथाविधि । कुमारीदिव्यहस्तेन यद्वा बटुकराम्बुजात् ॥ ९७ ॥ मनोरथं तु सङ्कल्प्य पुस्तकं पूजयेत्ततः । देवीं च जगदीशानीं प्रणमेच्च पुनः पुनः ॥ ९८ ॥ सुस्नातां कन्यकां तत्रानीयाभ्यर्च्य यथाविधि । शलाकां रोपयेन्मध्ये तथा स्वर्णेन निर्मिताम् ॥ ९९ ॥ शुभं वाप्यशुभं तत्र यदायाति च तद्भवेत् । उदासीनेऽप्युदासीनं कार्यं भवति निश्चितम् ॥ १०० ॥
nārada uvāca śrutaṃ sarvamupākhyānaṃ prakṛtīnāṃ yathātatham | yacchrutvā mucyate janturjanmasaṃsārabandhanāt || 1 || adhunā śrotumicchāmi rahasyaṃ vedagopitam | rādhāyāścaiva durgāyā vidhānaṃ śruticoditam || 2 || mahimā varṇito'tīva bhavatā parayordvayoḥ | śrutvā taṃ tadgataṃ ceto na kasya syānmunīśvara || 3 || yayoraṃśo jagatsarvaṃ yanniyamyaṃ carācaram | yayorbhaktyā bhavenmuktistadvidhānaṃ vadādhunā || 4 || śrīnārāyaṇa uvāca śṛṇu nārada vakṣyāmi rahasyaṃ śruticoditam | yanna kasyāpi cākhyātaṃ sārātsāraṃ parātparam || 5 || śrutvā parasmai no vācyaṃ yato'tīva rahasyakam | mūlaprakṛtirūpiṇyāḥ saṃvido jagadudbhave || 6 || prādurbhūtaṃ śaktiyugmaṃ prāṇabuddhyadhidaivatam | jīvānāṃ caiva sarveṣāṃ niyantṛprerakaṃ sadā || 7 || tadadhīnaṃ jagatsarvaṃ virāḍādicarācaram | yāvattayoḥ prasādo na tāvanmokṣo hi durlabhaḥ || 8 || tatastayoḥ prasādārthaṃ nityaṃ seveta taddvayam | tatrādau rādhikāmantraṃ śṛṇu nārada bhaktitaḥ || 9 || brahmaviṣṇvādibhirnityaṃ sevito yaḥ parātparaḥ | śrīrādheti caturthyantaṃ vahnerjāyā tataḥ param || 10 || ṣaḍakṣaro mahāmantro dharmādyarthaprakāśakaḥ | māyābījādikaścāyaṃ vāñchācintāmaṇiḥ smṛtaḥ || 11 || vaktrakoṭisahasraistu jihvākoṭiśatairapi | etanmantrasya māhātmyaṃ varṇituṃ naiva śakyate || 12 || jagrāha prathamaṃ mantraṃ śrīkṛṣṇo bhaktitatparaḥ | upadeśānmūladevyā goloke rāsamaṇḍale || 13 || viṣṇustenopadiṣṭastu tena brahmā virāṭ tathā | tena dharmastena cāhamityeṣā hi paramparā || 14 || ahaṃ japāmi taṃ mantraṃ tenāhamṛṣirīḍitaḥ | brahmādyāḥ sakalā devā nityaṃ dhyāyanti tāṃ mudā || 15 || kṛṣṇārcāyāṃ nādhikāro yato rādhārcanaṃ vinā | vaiṣṇavaiḥ sakalaistasmātkartavyaṃ rādhikārcanam || 16 || kṛṣṇaprāṇādhidevī sā tadadhīno vibhuryataḥ | rāseśvarī tasya nityaṃ tayā hīno na tiṣṭhati || 17 || rādhnoti sakalānkāmāṃstasmādrādheti kīrtitā | atroktānāṃ manūnāṃ ca ṛṣirasmyahameva ca || 18 || chandaśca devī gāyatrī devatātra ca rādhikā | tāro bījaṃ śaktibījaṃ śaktistu parikīrtitā || 19 || mūlāvṛttyā ṣaḍaṅgāni kartavyānītaratra ca | atha dhyāyenmahādevīṃ rādhikāṃ rāsanāyikām || 20 || pūrvoktarītyā tu mune sāmavede vigītayā | śvetacampakavarṇābhāṃ śaradindusamānanām || 21 || koṭicandrapratīkāśāṃ śaradambhojalocanām | bimbādharāṃ pṛthuśroṇīṃ kāñcīyutanitambinīm || 22 || kundapaṅktisamānābhadantapaṅktivirājitām | kṣaumāmbaraparīdhānāṃ vahniśuddhāṃśukānvitām || 23 || īṣaddhāsyaprasannāsyāṃ karikumbhayugastanīm | sadā dvādaśavarṣīyāṃ ratnabhūṣaṇabhūṣitām || 24 || śṛṅgārasindhulaharīṃ bhaktānugrahakātarām | mallikāmālatīmālākeśapāśavirājitām || 25 || sukumārāṅgalatikāṃ rāsamaṇḍalamadhyagām | varābhayakarāṃ śāntāṃ śaśvatsusthirayauvanām || 26 || ratnasiṃhāsanāsīnāṃ gopīmaṇḍalanāyikām | kṛṣṇaprāṇādhikāṃ vedabodhitāṃ parameśvarīm || 27 || evaṃ dhyātvā tato bāhye śālagrāme ghaṭe'thavā | yantre vāṣṭadale devīṃ pūjayettu vidhānataḥ || 28 || āvāhya devīṃ tatpaścādāsanādi pradīyatām | mūlamantraṃ samuccārya cāsanādīni kalpayet || 29 || pādyaṃ tu pādayordadyānmastake'rghyaṃ samīritam | mukhe tvācamanīyaṃ syāttrivāraṃ mūlavidyayā || 30 || madhuparkaṃ tato dadyādekāṃ gāṃ ca payasvinīm | tato nayetsnānaśālāṃ tāṃ ca tatraiva bhāvayet || 31 || abhyaṅgādisnānavidhiṃ kalpayitvātha vāsasī | tataśca candanaṃ dadyānnānālaṅkārapūrvakam || 32 || puṣpamālā bahuvidhāstulasīmañjarīyutāḥ | pārijātaprasūnāni śatapatrādikāni ca || 33 || tataḥ kuryātpavitraṃ tatparivārārcanaṃ vibhoḥ | agnīśāsuravāyavyamadhye dikṣvaṅgapūjanam || 34 || kṛtvā paścādaṣṭadale dakṣiṇāvartato'grataḥ | mālāvatīmagradale vahnikoṇe ca mādhavīm || 35 || ratnamālāṃ dakṣiṇe ca nairṛtye tu suśīlakām | paścāddale śaśikalāṃ pūjayenmatimānnaraḥ || 36 || mārute pārijātāṃ cāpyuttare ca parāvatīm | īśānakoṇe sampūjyā sundarī priyakāriṇī || 37 || brāhmyādayastu tadbāhye'pyāśāpālāṃstu bhūpure | vajrādikānyāyudhāni devīmitthaṃ prapūjayet || 38 || tato devīṃ sāvaraṇāṃ gandhādyairupacārakaiḥ | rājopacārasahitaiḥ pūjayenmatimānnaraḥ || 39 || tataḥ stuvīta deveśīṃ stotrairnāmasahasrakaiḥ | sahasrasaṃkhyaṃ ca japaṃ nityaṃ kuryātprayatnataḥ || 40 || ya evaṃ pūjayeddevīṃ rādhāṃ rāseśvarīṃ parām | sa bhavedviṣṇutulyastu golokaṃ yāti santatam || 41 || yaḥ kārtikyāṃ paurṇamāsyāṃ rādhājanmotsava budhaḥ | kurute tasya sānnidhyaṃ dadyādrāseśvarī parā || 42 || kenacitkāraṇenaiva rādhā vṛndāvane vane | vṛṣabhānusutā jātā golokasthāyinī sadā || 43 || atroktānāṃ tu mantrāṇāṃ varṇasaṃkhyāvidhānataḥ | puraścaraṇakarmoktaṃ daśāṃśaṃ homamācaret || 44 || tilaistrisvādusaṃyuktairjuhuyādbhaktibhāvataḥ | nārada uvāca stotraṃ vada mune samyagyena devī prasīdati || 45 || śrīnārāyaṇa uvāca namaste parameśāni rāsamaṇḍalavāsini | rāseśvari namaste'stu kṛṣṇaprāṇādhikapriye || 46 || namastrailokyajanani prasīda karuṇārṇave | brahmaviṣṇvādibhirdevairvandyamānapadāmbuje || 47 || namaḥ sarasvatīrūpe namaḥ sāvitri śaṅkari | gaṅgāpadmāvatīrūpe ṣaṣṭhi maṅgalacaṇḍike || 48 || namaste tulasīrūpe namo lakṣmīsvarūpiṇi | namo durge bhagavati namaste sarvarūpiṇi || 49 || mūlaprakṛtirūpāṃ tvāṃ bhajāmaḥ karuṇārṇavām | saṃsārasāgarādasmānuddharāmba dayāṃ kuru || 50 || idaṃ stotraṃ trisandhyaṃ yaḥ paṭhedrādhāṃ smarannaraḥ | na tasya durlabhaṃ kiñcitkadācicca bhaviṣyati || 51 || dehānte ca vasennityaṃ goloke rāsamaṇḍale | idaṃ rahasyaṃ paramaṃ na cākhyeyaṃ tu kasyacit || 52 || adhunā śṛṇu viprendra durgādevyā vidhānakam | yasyāḥ smaraṇamātreṇa palāyante mahāpadaḥ || 53 || enāṃ na bhajate yo hi tādṛṅnāstyeva kutracit | sarvopāsyā sarvamātā śaivī śaktirmahādbhutā || 54 || sarvabuddhyādhidevīyamantaryāmisvarūpiṇī | durgasaṅkaṭahantrīti durgeti prathitā bhuvi || 55 || vaiṣṇavānāṃ ca śaivānāmupāsyeyaṃ ca nityaśaḥ | mūlaprakṛtirūpā sā sṛṣṭisthityantakāriṇī || 56 || tasyā navākṣaraṃ mantraṃ vakṣye mantrottamottamam | vāgbhavaṃ śambhuvanitā kāmabījaṃ tataḥ param || 57 || cāmuṇḍāyai padaṃ paścādvicce ityakṣaradvayam | navākṣaro manuḥ prokto bhajatāṃ kalpapādapaḥ || 58 || brahmaviṣṇumaheśānā ṛṣayo'sya prakīrtitāḥ | chandāṃsyuktāni satataṃ gāyatryuṣṇiganuṣṭubhaḥ || 59 || mahākālī mahālakṣmīḥ sarasvatyapi devatāḥ | syādraktadantikābījaṃ durgā ca bhrāmarī tathā || 60 || nandāśākambharīdevyau bhīmā ca śaktayaḥ smṛtāḥ | dharmārthakāmamokṣeṣu viniyoga udāhṛtaḥ || 61 || ṛṣicchando daivatāni maulau vaktre hṛdi nyaset | stanayoḥ śaktibījāni nyasetsarvārthasiddhaye || 62 || bījatrayaiścaturbhiśca dvābhyāṃ sarveṇa caiva hi | ṣaḍaṅgāni manoḥ kuryājjātiyuktāni deśikaḥ || 63 || śikhāyāṃ locanadvandve śrutināsānaneṣu ca | gude nyasenmantravarṇānsarveṇa vyāpakaṃ caret || 64 || khaḍgacakragadābāṇacāpāni parighaṃ tathā | śūlaṃ bhuśuṇḍīṃ ca śiraḥ śaṅkhaṃ sandadhatīṃ karaiḥ || 65 || mahākālīṃ trinayanāṃ nānābhūṣaṇabhūṣitām | nīlāñjanasamaprakhyāṃ daśapādānanāṃ bhaje || 66 || madhukaiṭabhanāśārthaṃ yāṃ tuṣṭāvāmbujāsanaḥ | evaṃ dhyāyenmahākālīṃ kāmabījasvarūpiṇīm || 67 || akṣamālāṃ ca paraśuṃ gadeṣukuliśāni ca | padmaṃ dhanuṣkuṇḍikāṃ ca daṇḍaṃ śaktimasiṃ tathā || 68 || carmāmbujaṃ tathā ghaṇṭāṃ surāpātraṃ ca śūlakam | pāśaṃ sudarśanaṃ caiva dadhatīmaruṇaprabhām || 69 || raktāmbujāsanagatāṃ māyābījasvarūpiṇīm | mahālakṣmīṃ bhajedevaṃ mahiṣāsuramardinīm || 70 || ghaṇṭāśūle halaṃ śaṅkhaṃ musalaṃ ca sudarśanam | dhanurbāṇān hastapadmairdadhānāṃ kundasannibhām || 71 || śumbhādidaityasaṃhartrīṃ vāṇībījasvarūpiṇīm | mahāsarasvatīṃ dhyāyetsaccidānandavigrahām || 72 || yantramasyāḥ śṛṇu prājña tryasraṃ ṣaṭkoṇasaṃyutam | tato'ṣṭadalapadmaṃ ca caturviṃśatipatrakam || 73 || bhūgṛheṇa samāyuktaṃ yantramevaṃ vicintayet | śālagrāme ghaṭe vāpi yantre vā pratimāsu vā || 74 || bāṇaliṅge'thavā sūrye yajeddevīmananyadhīḥ | jayādiśaktisaṃyukte pīṭhe devīṃ prapūjayet || 75 || pūrvakoṇe sarasvatyā sahitaṃ padmajaṃ yajet | śriyā saha hariṃ tatra nairṛte koṇake yajet || 76 || pārvatyā sahitaṃ śambhuṃ vāyukoṇe samarcayet | devyā uttarataḥ pūjyaḥ siṃho vāme mahāsuram || 77 || mahiṣaṃ pūjayedante ṣaṭkoṇeṣu yajetkramāt | nandajāṃ raktadantāṃ ca tathā śākambharīṃ śivām || 78 || durgāṃ bhīmāṃ bhrāmarīṃ ca tato vasudaleṣu ca | brāhmīṃ māheśvarīṃ caiva kaumārīṃ vaiṣṇavīṃ tathā || 79 || vārāhīṃ nārasiṃhīṃ ca aindrīṃ cāmuṇḍakāṃ tathā | pūjayecca tataḥ paścāttattvapatreṣu pūrvataḥ || 80 || viṣṇumāyāṃ cetanāṃ ca buddhiṃ nidrāṃ kṣudhāṃ tathā | chāyāṃ śaktiṃ parāṃ tṛṣṇāṃ śāntiṃ jātiṃ ca lajjayā || 81 || kṣāntiṃ śraddhāṃ kīrtilakṣmyau dhṛtiṃ vṛttiṃ śrutiṃ smṛtim | dayāṃ tuṣṭiṃ tataḥ puṣṭiṃ mātṛbhrāntī iti kramāt || 82 || tato bhūpurakoṇeṣu gaṇeśaṃ kṣetrapālakam | vaṭukaṃ yoginīścāpi pūjayenmatimānnaraḥ || 83 || indrādyānapi tadbāhye vajrādyāyudhasaṃyutān | pūjayedanayā rītyā devīṃ sāvaraṇāṃ tataḥ || 84 || rājopacārānvividhāndadyādambāpratuṣṭaye | tato japennavārṇaṃ ca mantraṃ mantrārthapūrvakam || 85 || tataḥ saptaśatīstotraṃ devyā agre tu sampaṭhet | nānena sadṛśaṃ stotraṃ vidyate bhuvanatraye || 86 || tataścānena deveśīṃ toṣayet pratyahaṃ naraḥ | dharmārthakāmamokṣāṇāmālayaṃ jāyate naraḥ || 87 || iti te kathitaṃ vipra śrīdurgāyā vidhānakam | kṛtārthatā yena bhavettadetatkathitaṃ tava || 88 || sarve devā haribrahmapramukhā manavastathā | munayo jñānaniṣṭhāśca yoginaścāśramāstathā || 89 || lakṣmyādayastathā devyaḥ sarve dhyāyanti tāṃ śivām | tadaiva janmasāphalyaṃ durgāsmaraṇamasti cet || 90 || caturdaśāpi manavo dhyātvā caraṇapaṅkajam | manutvaṃ prāptavantaśca devāḥ svaṃ svaṃ padaṃ tathā || 91 || tadetatsarvamākhyātaṃ rahasyātirahasyakam | prakṛtīnāṃ pañcakasya tadaṃśānāṃ ca varṇanam || 92 || śrutvaitanmanujo nityaṃ puruṣārthacatuṣṭayam | labhate nātra sandehaḥ satyaṃ satyaṃ mayoditam || 93 || aputro labhate putraṃ vidyārthī prāpnuyācca tām | yaṃ yaṃ kāmaṃ smaredvāpi taṃ taṃ śrutvā samāpnuyāt || 94 || navarātre paṭhedetaddevyagre tu samāhitaḥ | parituṣṭā jagaddhātrī bhavatyeva hi niścitam || 95 || nityamekaikamadhyāyaṃ paṭhedyaḥ pratyahaṃ naraḥ | tasya vaśyā bhaveddevī devīpriyakaro hi saḥ || 96 || śakunāṃśca parīkṣeta nityamasminyathāvidhi | kumārīdivyahastena yadvā baṭukarāmbujāt || 97 || manorathaṃ tu saṅkalpya pustakaṃ pūjayettataḥ | devīṃ ca jagadīśānīṃ praṇamecca punaḥ punaḥ || 98 || susnātāṃ kanyakāṃ tatrānīyābhyarcya yathāvidhi | śalākāṃ ropayenmadhye tathā svarṇena nirmitām || 99 || śubhaṃ vāpyaśubhaṃ tatra yadāyāti ca tadbhavet | udāsīne'pyudāsīnaṃ kāryaṃ bhavati niścitam || 100 ||
English translation
1-4. Narada said “O Bhagavan! I have heard all the anecdotes of Prakriti, as according to the S’astras, that lead to the freedonn from birth and death in this world. Now I want to hear the very secret history of S’ri Radha and Durga as described in the Vedas. Though you have told me about their glories, yet I am not satisfied. Verily, where is he whose heart does not melt away on hearing the glories of both of them! This world is originated from their parts and is being controlled by them. The devotion towards them frees one easily from the bonds of Samsara (rounds of birth and death). O Muni! Kindly describe now about them.”
5-44. Narayana said O Narada! I am now describing the characters of Radha and Durga, as described in the Vedas; listen. I did not describe to anybody this Secret which is the Essence of all essences and Higher than the highest. This is to be kept very secret. Hearing this, one ought not to divulge it to any other body. Radha presides over the Prana and Durga presides over the Buddhi. From these two, the Mulaprakriti has originated this world. These two S’aktis guide the whole world. From the Mahavirat to the small insect, all, moving or non-moving, are under the Mulaprakriti. One must satisfy them. Unless these two be satisfied, Mukti cannot be obtained.
Therefore one ought to serve Mula Prakriti for Her satisfaction. Now of the two in Mula Prakriti, I will describe fully the Radha Mantra. Listen. Brahma, Visnu, and others always worship this mantra. The principal mantra is “S’ri Radhayai Svaha.” By this six lettered mantra Dharma and other fruits all are obtained with ease. If to this six lettered Mula mantra Hrim be added, it yields gems and jewels as desired. So much so, if thousand koti mouths and one hundred koti
tongues are obtained, the glory of this mantra cannot be described. When the incorporeal voice of Mula Prakriti was heard in the Heavens, this mantra was obtained, first by Krisna in the Rasa Mandalam in the region of Goloka where all love sentiments are played. (The Vedas declare him as Raso vai Sah). From Krisna, Visnu got the Mantra; from Visnu, Brahma got; from Brahma Virat got, from Virat, Dharma, and from Dharma I have got this Mantra. Repeating that Mantra, I am known by the name of Risi. Brahma and the other Devas meditate always on the Mula Prakriti with greatest joy and ecstasy. Without the worship of Radha, never can the worship of S’ri Krisna be done. So men, devoted to Visnu, should first of all worship Radha by all means. Radha is the Presiding Deity of the Prana of S’ri Krisna. Hence S’ri Krisna is so much subject to Radha. The Lady of the Rasa Mandalam remains always close to Him. Without Her S’ri Krisna could not live even for a moment. The name Radha is derived from “Radhnoti” or fulfills all desires. Hence Mula Prakriti is termed Radha. I am the Risi of all the mantras but the Durga Mantra mentioned in this Ninth Skandha. Gayatri is the chhanda (mantra) of those mantras and Radhika is the Devata of them. Really, Narayana is the Risi of all the mantras; Gayatri is the chhanda; Pranava (om) is the Vija (seed) and BhuvanesVari (the Directrix of the world) is the S’akti. First of all the principal mantra is to be repeated six times; then meditation of the great Devi Radhika, the S’akti of the Risis is to be done, as mentioned in the Sama Veda. The meditation of Radha is as follows O Devi Radhike! Thy colour is like white Champaka flower; Thy face is like the autumnal Full Moon; Thy body shines with the splendour of ten million moons. Thy eyes look beautiful like autumnal lotus; Thy lips are red like Bimba fruits. Thy loins are very heavy and decked with the girdle (Kanchi) ornament; Thy face is always gracious with sweet smiles; Thy breasts defy the frontal globe of an elephant. Thou art ever youthful as if twelve years old; Thy body is adorned all over with ornaments! Thou art the waves of the ocean of S’ringara (love sentiments.) Thou art ever ready to show Thy grace to the devotees; on Thy braid of hair garlands of Mallika and Malati are shining; Thy body is like a creeping plant, very gentle and tender; Thou art seated in the middle
of Rasa Mandalam as the Chief Directrix; Thy one hand is ready to grant boons and another hand expresses “Have no fear.” Thou art of a peaceful appearance; Thou art ever youthful; Thou art seated on a jewel throne; Thou art the foremost guide of the Gopikas; Thou art dearer to Krisna than even His life; O Parame’svari! The Vedas reveal Thy nature. Meditating thus, one is to bathe the Devi on a S’alagrama stone, jar, yantra or the eight petalled lotus and then worship Her duly. First the Devi is to be invoked; then Padya and Asana, etc., are to be offered, the principal Mantra being pronounced at every time an offering is given. After giving water for washing both the feet, Arghya is to be placed on the head and Achamaniyam water to be offered three times on the face. Madhuparka (an oblation of honey, milk etc.) and a cow giving a good quantity of milk are next to be offered. Then the yantra is to be thought of as the bathing place where the Devi is to be bathed. Then Her body is to be wiped and a fresh cloth given for putting on. Sandalpaste and various other ornaments are next to be given. Various garlands of flowers with Tulasi Manjari (flower stalks) Parijata flower and Satapatra etc., then, are to be offered. Then within the eight petals, the family members of the Devi are to be thought of; worship is next to be offered in the right hand direction (with the hands of the watch). First of all,
Malavati on the petal in front of (on the east) the Devi, then MadhavT on the southeast corner, then Ratnamala on the south, Sus’ila on the south-west, Sas’ikala on the west, Parijata on the north-west,
Paravati on the north and the benefactions Sundari on the north-east corner are to be worshipped in order. Outside this, Brahmi and the other Matrikas are to be worshipped and on the Bhupuras (the entrances of the yantra,) the Regents of the quarters, the Dikpalas and the weapons of the Devi, thunderbolt, etc., are to be worshipped. Then all the attendant Deities of the Devi are to be worshipped with scents and various other articles. Thus finishing the worship, one should chant the Stotra (hymns) named Sahasra-nama (thousand names) Stotra with care and devotion. O Narada! The intelligent man who worships thus the RasesVari Devi Radha, becomes like Visnu and goes to the Goloka.
He who performs the birthday anniversary of S’ri Radha on the Full- Moon day of the month of Kartik, gets the blessings of S’ri Radha who remains near to him. For some reason Radha, the dweller in Goloka was born in Brindaban as the daughter of Vrisavanu. However, according to the number of letters of the mantras that are mentioned in this chapter, Purascharana is to be made and Homa, one-tenth of Purascharana, is to be then performed. The Homa is to be done with ghee, honey, and milk; the three sweet things mixed with Til and with devotion.
45. Narada said “O Bhagavan; Now describe the Stotra (hymn) Mantra by which the Devi is pleased.”
46-100. Narayana said O Narada! Now I am saying the Radha Stotra. Listen. O Thou, the Highest Deity, the Dweller in Rasa Mandalam! I bow down to Thee; O Thou, the Chief Directrix of the Rasa Mandalam; O Thou dearer to Krisna than His life even, I bow down to Thee. O Thou, the Mother of the three Lokas! O Thou the Ocean of mercy! Be pleased. Brahma, Visnu and the other Devas bow down before Thy lotus feet. Thou art Sarasvati; Thou art Savitri; Thou art S’ankari; I bow down to Thee; Thou art Ganga; Thou art Padmavati; Thou art Sasthi; Thou art Mangala Chandika; Thou art Manasa; Thou art Tulasi; Thou art Durga; Thou art Bhagavati; Thou art Laksmi; Thou art all, I bow down to Thee. Thou art the Mula Prakrit!; Thou art the Ocean of mercy. Obeisance to Thee! Be merciful to us and save us from this ocean of Samsara (round of birth and death). O Narada! Anybody who remembers Radha and reads this Stotra three times a day does not feel the want of anything in this world. He will ultimately go to Goloka and remain in the Rasa Mandalam. O Child This great secret ought never to be given out to any. Now I am telling you the method of worship of the Durga Devi. Hear. When any one remembers Durga in this world, all his
difficulties and troubles are removed. It is not seen that anybody does not remember Durga. She is the object of worship of all. She is the Mother of all and the Wonderful S’akti of Mahadeva. She is the Presiding Deity of the intellect (Buddhi) of all and She controls the hearts of all and She removes the great difficulties and dangers of all. Therefore She is named Durga in the world. She is worshipped by all, whether a S’aiva or a Vaisnava. She is the Mula Prakriti and from Her the creation, preservation and destruction of the universe proceed. O Narada! Now I am saying the principal nine lettered Durga Mantra, the best of all the Mantras. “Aim Hrim Klim Chamundayai Vichche” is the nine lettered Vija mantra of S’ri Durga; it is like a Kalpa Vriksa yielding all desires. One should worship this mantra by all means. Brahma, Visnu, and Mahes’a are the Risis of this mantra; Gayatri, Usnik and Anusthubha are the chhandas; Mahakali, Maha Laksmi and Sarasvati are the Devatas; Rakta Dantika, Durga, and Bhramari are the Vijas. Nanda, Sakambhari, and Bhima are the S’aktis and Dharma (Virtue), Artha (wealth) and Kama (desires), are the places of application (Viniyoga). Assign the head to the Risi of the mantra (Nyasa); assign the chhandas to the mouth and assign the Devata to the heart. Then assign the S’akti to the right breast for the success and assign the Vija to the left breast.
Then perform the Sadamga Nyasa as follows Aim Hridayaya namah, Hrim S’irase Svaha, Klim S’ikhayam Vasat, Chamundayai Kavachaya Hum, Vichche Netrabhyam Vausat, “Aim Hrim Klim Chamundayai Vichche” Karatalaprisihabhyam Phat. Next say touching the corresponding parts of the body “Aim namah S’ikhayam, Hrim Namah” on the right eye; “Klim Namah” on the left eye, “Cham Namah” on the right ear, “Mum namah” on the left ear, ndam Namah” on the nostrils; “Vim Namah” on the face; “Chchem Namah” on the anus and finally “Aim Hrim Klim Chamundayai Vichche” on the whole body. Then do the meditation (dhyan) thus “O Chamunde! Thou art holding in Thy ten hands ten weapons, viz., Khadga (axe). Chakra (disc), Gada (club), Vana
(arrows), Chapa (bow), Parigha, Sula (spear), Bhus’undi Kapala, and Khadga. Thou art Maha Kali; Thou art three-eyed; Thou art decked with various ornaments. Thou shinest like Lilanjan (a kind of black pigment). Thou hast ten faces and ten feet. The Lotus born Brahma chanted hymns to Thee for the destruction of Madhu Kaitabha; I bow down to Thee.” Thus one should meditate on Maha Kali, of the nature of Kamavija (the source whence will comes). Then the Dhyanam of Maha Laksmi runs as follows O Maha Laksmi, the destroyer of Mahisasura! Thou boldest the garland of Aksa (a kind of seed), Paras’u (a kind of axe), Gada (club), Isu (arrows), Kulis’a (the thunderbolt) Padma (Lotus), Dhanu (bow), Kundika (a student’s waterpot), Kamandalu, Danda (rod for punishment), S’akti (a kind of weapon), Asi (sword), Charma (shield) Padma (a kind of waterlily), Ghanta (bell,) S’urapatra (a pot to hold liquor), S’ula (pickaxe), Pas’a (noose) and Sudarsana (a kind of weapon). Thy colour is of the Rising Sun. Thou art seated on the red Lotus. Thou art of the nature Mayavija (the source whence female energy comes). So Obeisance to Thee! (The Vija and the Devi are one and identical). Next comes the Dhyanam of Maha Sarasvati as follows O Maha Sarasvati! Thou boldest bell, pickaxe, plough (Hala), Conch shell, Musala (a kind of club), Sudars’ana, bow and arrows. Thy colour is like Kunda flower; Thou art the destroyer of S’umbha and the other Daityas; Thou art of the nature of VanMja (the source whence knowledge, speech comes). Thy body is filled with everlasting existence, intelligence and bliss. Obeisance to Thee! O Narada! Now I am going to say on the Yantra of Maha Sarasvati. Listen. First draw a triangle. Draw inside the triangle eight petalled lotus having twenty-four leaves. Within this draw the house. Then on the Yantra thus drawn, or in the S’alagrama stone, or in the jar, or in image, or in the Vanalingam, or on the Sun, one should worship the Devi with oneness of heart. Then worship the Pitha, the deities seated also on the dais, i.e., Jaya, Vijaya, Ajita, Aghora, Mangala and other Pitha S’aktis. Then worship the attendant deities called Avarana Puja Brahma with Sarasvati on the east, Narayana with Laksmi on the Nairirit corner, S’ankara with Parvati on the Vayu corner, the Lion on the north of the Devi, and Mahasura on the left
side of the Devi; finally worship Mahisa (buffalo). Next worship Nandaja, Raktadanta, S’akambhari, S’iva, Durga, Bhima, and Bhramari. Then on the eight petals worship Brahma, MahesVari, Kaumari, Vaisnavi, Varahi, Nara Simhi, Aindri, and Chamunda. Next commencing from the leaf in front of the Devi, worship on the twenty four leaves Visnu Maya, Chetana, Buddhi, Nidra (sleep), hunger, shadow, S’akti, thirst, peace, species (Jati), modesty, faith, fame, Laksmi (wealth), fortitude, Vriti, S’ruti, memory, mercy, Tusti, Pusti (nourishment), Bhranti (error) and other Matrikas. Next on the corners of the Bhupura (gates of the Yantra), Ganes’a Ksettrapalas, Vatuka and Yoginis are to be worshipped. Then on the outside of that Indra and the other Devas furnished with weapons are to be worshipped as per the aforesaid rules. For the satisfaction of the World-Mother various nice offerings and articles like those given by the royal personages are to be presented to the Mother; then the mantra is to be repeated, understanding its exoteric and esoteric meanings. Then Saptas’ati stitra (Chandi patha) is to be repeated before the Devi. There is no other stotra like this in the three worlds. Thus Durga, the Deity of the Devas, is to be appeased every day. He who does this gets within his easy reach Dharma, Artha, Kama, and Moksa, the four main objects of human pursuits (virtue, wealth, enjoyment and final beatitude). O Narada! Thus I have described to you the method of worship of the Devi Durga. People get by this what they want. Hah, Brahma, and all the Devas, Manus, Munis, the Yogis full of knowledge, the As’ramis, and Laksmi and the other Devas all meditate on S’ivani. One’s birth is attained with success at the remembrance of Durga. The fourteen Manus have got their Manuship and the Devas their own rights by meditating on the lotus feet of Durga. O Narada! Thus I have described to you the very hidden histories of the Five Prakritis and their parts. Then, verily, the four objects of human pursuits Dharma, Artha, Kama and Moksa are obtained by hearing this. He who has no sons gets sons, who has no learning gets learning and whoever wants anything gets that if he hears this. The Devi Jagaddhatri becomes certainly pleased with him who reads with his mind concentrated on this for nine nights before the Devi. The Devi becomes obedient to him who daily reads
one chapter of this Ninth Skandha and the reader also does what is acceptable to the Devi. To ascertain before-hand what effects, merits or demerits, would accrue from reading this Bhagavata, it is necessary by examining through the hands of a virgin girl or a Brahmin child, the auspicious or inauspicious signs. First make a Sankalpa (resolve) and worship the book. Then bow down again and again to the Devi Durga. Then bring there a virgin girl, bathed well and worship her duly and have a golden pencil fixed duly in her hand and placed in the middle on the body. Then calculate the auspicious or inauspicious effects, as the case may be, from the curves made by that pencil. So the effects of reading this Bhagavata would be. If the virgin girl be indifferent in fixing the pencil within the area drawn, know the result of reading the Bhagavata would be similar. There is no doubt in this.
Here ends the Fiftieth Chapter of the Ninth Book on the Glory of S’akti in the Mahapuranam S’rimad Devi Bhagavatam of 18,000 verses by Maharsi Veda Vyasa.
Here ends the Ninth Book.
The Ninth Book Completed.
Complete chapter-aligned witnesses. Sanskrit Wikisource page 24545, revision 75195 (2016-07-27T14:25:50Z). 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/bk09ch50.htm. Historic spelling and transliteration are lightly normalized; no verse-by-verse alignment is asserted.