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Seventh Skandha · Chapter 38

Chapter 38

Unit 191 of 318Seventh Skandha · Chapter 38Seventh Skandha · Chapter 381 source entries

Seventh Skandha · Chapter 38

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हिमालय उवाच कति स्थानानि देवेशि द्रष्टव्यानि महीतले । मुख्यानि च पवित्राणि देवीप्रियतमानि च ॥ १ ॥ व्रतान्यपि तथा यानि तुष्टिदान्युत्सवा अपि । तत्सर्वं देव मे मातः कृतकृत्यो यतो नरः ॥ २ ॥ श्रीदेव्युवाच सर्वं दृश्यं मम स्थानं सर्वे काला व्रतात्मकाः । उत्सवाः सर्वकालेषु यतोऽहं सर्वरूपिणी ॥ ३ ॥ तथापि भक्तवात्सल्यात्किञ्चित्किञ्चिदथोच्यते । शृणुष्वावहितो भूत्वा नगराज वचो मम ॥ ४ ॥ कोलापुरं महास्थानं यत्र लक्ष्मीः सदा स्थिता । मातुः पुरं द्वितीयं च रेणुकाधिष्ठितं परम् ॥ ५ ॥ तुलजापुरं तृतीयं स्यात्सप्तशृङ्गं तथैव च । हिङ्गुलाया महास्थानं ज्वालामुख्यास्तथैव च ॥ ६ ॥ शकम्भर्याः परं स्थानं भ्रामर्याः स्थानमुत्तमम् । श्रीरक्तदन्तिकास्थानं दुर्गास्थानं तथैव च ॥ ७ ॥ विन्ध्याचलनिवासिन्याः स्थानं सर्वोत्तमोत्तमम् । अन्नपूर्णमहास्थानं काञ्चीपुरमनुत्तमम् ॥ ८ ॥ भीमादेव्याः परं स्थानं विमलास्थानमेव च । श्रीचन्द्रलामहास्थानं कौशिकीस्थानमेव ॥ ९ ॥ नीलाम्बायाः परं स्थानं नीलपर्वतमस्तके । जाम्बूनदेश्वरीस्थानं तथा श्रीनगरं शुभम् ॥ १० ॥ गुह्यकाल्या महास्थानं नेपाले यत्प्रतिष्ठितम् । मीनाक्ष्याः परमं स्थानं यच्च प्रोक्तं चिदम्बरे ॥ ११ ॥ वेदारण्यं महास्थानं सुन्दर्याः समधिष्ठितम् । एकाम्बरं महास्थानं परशक्त्या प्रतिष्ठितम् ॥ १२ ॥ महालसा परं स्थानं योगेश्वर्यास्तथैव च । तथा नीलसरस्वत्याः स्थानं चीनेषु विश्रुतम् ॥ १३ ॥ वैद्यनाथे तु बगलास्थानं सर्वोत्तमं मतम् । श्रीमच्छ्रीभुवनेश्वर्या मणिद्वीपं मम स्मृतम् ॥ १४ ॥ श्रीमत्त्रिपुरभैरव्याः कामाख्यायोनिमण्डलम् । भूमण्डले क्षेत्ररत्‍नं महामायाधिवासितम् ॥ १५ ॥ नातः परतरं स्थानं क्वचिदस्ति धरातले । प्रतिमासं भवेद्देवी यत्र साक्षाद्रजस्वला ॥ १६ ॥ तत्रत्या देवताः सर्वाः पर्वतात्मकतां गताः । पर्वतेषु वसन्त्येव महत्यो देवता अपि ॥ १७ ॥ तत्रत्या पृथिवी सर्वा देवीरूपा स्मृता बुधैः । नातः परतरं स्थानं कामाख्यायोनिमण्डलात् ॥ १८ ॥ गायत्र्याश्च परं स्थानं श्रीमत्पुष्करमीरितम् । द्र. स्कन्दपुराण [https://sa.wikisource.org/s/g5m ७.१.१०.८] मध्ये अष्ट तेजस् तीर्थानां नामान अमरेशे चण्डिका स्यात्प्रभासे पुष्करेक्षिणी ॥ १९ ॥ नैमिषे तु महास्थाने देवी सा लिङ्गधारिणी । पुरुहूता पुष्कराक्षे आषाढौ च रतिस्तथा ॥ २० ॥ चण्डमुण्डीमहास्थाने दण्डिनी परमेश्वरी । भारभूतौ भवेद्‌भूतिर्नाकुले नकुलेश्वरी ॥ २१ ॥ चन्द्रिका तु हरिश्चन्द्रे श्रीगिरौ शाङ्करी स्मृता ।द्र. स्कन्दपुराण [https://sa.wikisource.org/s/g5m ७.१.१०.६] मध्ये अष्ट जलीय तीर्थानां नामानि जप्येश्वरे त्रिशूला स्यात्सूक्ष्मा चाम्रातकेश्वरे ॥ २२ ॥ शाङ्करी तु महाकाले शर्वाणी मध्यमाभिधे । केदाराख्ये महाक्षेत्रे देवी सा मार्गदायिनी ॥ २३ ॥ भैरवाख्ये भैरवी सा गयायां मङ्गला स्मृता ।द्र. स्कन्दपुराण [https://sa.wikisource.org/s/g5m ७.१.१०.९] मध्ये अष्ट वायव्य तीर्थानां नामानि स्थाणुप्रिया कुरुक्षेत्रे स्वायम्भुव्यपि नाकुले ॥ २४ ॥ कनखले भवेदुग्रा विश्वेशा विमलेश्वरे । अट्टहासे महानन्दा महेन्द्रे तु महान्तका ॥ २५ ॥ भीमे भीमेश्वरी प्रोक्ता स्थाने वस्त्रापथे पुनः ।द्र. स्कन्दपुराण [https://sa.wikisource.org/s/g5m ७.१.१०.११] मध्ये अष्ट आकाश तीर्थानां नामानि भवानी शाङ्करी प्रोक्ता रुद्राणी त्वर्धकोटिके ॥ २६ ॥ अविमुक्ते विशालाक्षी महाभागा महालये । गोकर्णे भद्रकर्णी स्याद्‌भद्रा स्याद्‌भद्रकर्णके ॥ २७ ॥ उत्पलाक्षी सुवर्णाक्षे स्थाण्वीशा स्थाणुसञ्ज्ञके । कमलालये तु कमला प्रचण्डा छगलण्डके ॥ २८ ॥ कुरण्डले त्रिसन्ध्या स्यान्माकोटे मुकुटेश्वरी । मण्डलेशे शाण्डकी स्यात्काली कालञ्जरे पुनः ॥ २९ ॥ शङ्कुकर्णे ध्वनिः प्रोक्ता स्थूला स्यात्स्थूलकेश्वरे । ज्ञानिनां हृदयाम्भोजे हृल्लेखा परमेश्वरी ॥ ३० ॥ प्रोक्तानीमानि स्थानानि देव्याः प्रियतमानि च । तत्तत्क्षेत्रस्य माहात्म्यं श्रुत्वा पूर्वं नगोत्तम ॥ ३१ ॥ तदुक्तेन विधानेन पश्चाद्देवीं प्रपूजयेत् । अथवा सर्वक्षेत्राणि काश्यां सन्ति नगोत्तम ॥ ३२ ॥ अतस्तत्र वसेन्नित्यं देवीभक्तिपरायणः । तानि स्थानानि सम्पश्यञ्जपन्देवीं निरन्तरम् ॥ ३३ ॥ ध्यायंस्तच्चरणाम्भोजं मुक्तो भवति बन्धनात् । इमानि देवीनामानि प्रातरुत्थाय यः पठेत् ॥ ३४ ॥ भस्मीभवन्ति पापानि तत्क्षणान्नग सत्वरम् । श्राद्धकाले पठेदेतान्यमलानि द्विजाग्रतः ॥ ३५ ॥ मुक्तास्तत्पितरः सर्वे प्रयान्ति परमां गतिम् । अधुना कथयिष्यामि व्रतानि तव सुव्रत ॥ ३६ ॥ नारीभिश्च नरैश्चैव कर्तव्यानि प्रयत्‍नतः । व्रतमनन्ततृतीयाख्यं रसकल्याणिनीव्रतम् ॥ ३७ ॥ आर्द्रानन्दकरं नाम्ना तृतीयाया व्रतं च यत् । शुक्रवारव्रतं चैव तथा कृष्णचतुर्दशी ॥ ३८ ॥ भौमवारव्रतं चैव प्रदोषव्रतमेव च । यत्र देवो महादेवो देवीं संस्थाप्य विष्टरे ॥ ३९ ॥ नृत्यं करोति पुरतः सार्धं देवैर्निशामुखे । तत्रोपोष्य रजन्यादौ प्रदोषे पूजयेच्छिवाम् ॥ ४० ॥ प्रतिपक्षं विशेषेण तद्देवीप्रीतिकारकम् । सोमवारव्रतं चैव ममातिप्रियकृन्नग ॥ ४१ ॥ तत्रापि देवीं सम्पूज्य रात्रौ भोजनमाचरेत् । नवरात्रद्वयं चैव व्रतं प्रीतिकरं मम ॥ ४२ ॥ एवमन्यान्यपि विभो नित्यनैमित्तिकानि च । व्रतानि कुरुते यो वै मत्प्रीत्यर्थं विमत्सरः ॥ ४३ ॥ प्राप्नोति मम सायुज्यं स मे भक्तः स मे प्रियः । उत्सवानपि कुर्वीत दोलोत्सवसुखान्विभो ॥ ४४ ॥ शयनोत्सवं यथा कुर्यात्तथा जागरणोत्सवम् । रथोत्सवं च मे कुर्याद्दमनोत्सवमेव च ॥ ४५ ॥ पवित्रोत्सवमेवापि श्रावणो प्रीतिकारकम् । मम भक्तः सदा कुर्यादेवमन्यान्महोत्सवान् ॥ ४६ ॥ मद्‌भक्तान्भोजयेत्प्रीत्या तथा चैव सुवासिनीः । कुमारीर्बटुकांश्चापि मद्बुद्ध्या तद्‌गतान्तरः ॥ ४७ ॥ वित्तशाठ्येन रहितो यजेदेतान्सुमादिभिः । य एवं कुरुते भक्त्या प्रतिवर्षमतन्द्रितः ॥ ४८ ॥ स धन्यः कृतकृत्योऽसौ मत्प्रीतेः पात्रमञ्जसा । सर्वमुक्तं समासेन मम प्रीतिप्रदायकम् । नाशिष्याय प्रदातव्यं नाभक्ताय कदाचन ॥ ४९ ॥

himālaya uvāca kati sthānāni deveśi draṣṭavyāni mahītale | mukhyāni ca pavitrāṇi devīpriyatamāni ca || 1 || vratānyapi tathā yāni tuṣṭidānyutsavā api | tatsarvaṃ deva me mātaḥ kṛtakṛtyo yato naraḥ || 2 || śrīdevyuvāca sarvaṃ dṛśyaṃ mama sthānaṃ sarve kālā vratātmakāḥ | utsavāḥ sarvakāleṣu yato'haṃ sarvarūpiṇī || 3 || tathāpi bhaktavātsalyātkiñcitkiñcidathocyate | śṛṇuṣvāvahito bhūtvā nagarāja vaco mama || 4 || kolāpuraṃ mahāsthānaṃ yatra lakṣmīḥ sadā sthitā | mātuḥ puraṃ dvitīyaṃ ca reṇukādhiṣṭhitaṃ param || 5 || tulajāpuraṃ tṛtīyaṃ syātsaptaśṛṅgaṃ tathaiva ca | hiṅgulāyā mahāsthānaṃ jvālāmukhyāstathaiva ca || 6 || śakambharyāḥ paraṃ sthānaṃ bhrāmaryāḥ sthānamuttamam | śrīraktadantikāsthānaṃ durgāsthānaṃ tathaiva ca || 7 || vindhyācalanivāsinyāḥ sthānaṃ sarvottamottamam | annapūrṇamahāsthānaṃ kāñcīpuramanuttamam || 8 || bhīmādevyāḥ paraṃ sthānaṃ vimalāsthānameva ca | śrīcandralāmahāsthānaṃ kauśikīsthānameva || 9 || nīlāmbāyāḥ paraṃ sthānaṃ nīlaparvatamastake | jāmbūnadeśvarīsthānaṃ tathā śrīnagaraṃ śubham || 10 || guhyakālyā mahāsthānaṃ nepāle yatpratiṣṭhitam | mīnākṣyāḥ paramaṃ sthānaṃ yacca proktaṃ cidambare || 11 || vedāraṇyaṃ mahāsthānaṃ sundaryāḥ samadhiṣṭhitam | ekāmbaraṃ mahāsthānaṃ paraśaktyā pratiṣṭhitam || 12 || mahālasā paraṃ sthānaṃ yogeśvaryāstathaiva ca | tathā nīlasarasvatyāḥ sthānaṃ cīneṣu viśrutam || 13 || vaidyanāthe tu bagalāsthānaṃ sarvottamaṃ matam | śrīmacchrībhuvaneśvaryā maṇidvīpaṃ mama smṛtam || 14 || śrīmattripurabhairavyāḥ kāmākhyāyonimaṇḍalam | bhūmaṇḍale kṣetrarat‍naṃ mahāmāyādhivāsitam || 15 || nātaḥ parataraṃ sthānaṃ kvacidasti dharātale | pratimāsaṃ bhaveddevī yatra sākṣādrajasvalā || 16 || tatratyā devatāḥ sarvāḥ parvatātmakatāṃ gatāḥ | parvateṣu vasantyeva mahatyo devatā api || 17 || tatratyā pṛthivī sarvā devīrūpā smṛtā budhaiḥ | nātaḥ parataraṃ sthānaṃ kāmākhyāyonimaṇḍalāt || 18 || gāyatryāśca paraṃ sthānaṃ śrīmatpuṣkaramīritam | dra. skandapurāṇa [https://sa.wikisource.org/s/g5m 7.1.10.8] madhye aṣṭa tejas tīrthānāṃ nāmāna amareśe caṇḍikā syātprabhāse puṣkarekṣiṇī || 19 || naimiṣe tu mahāsthāne devī sā liṅgadhāriṇī | puruhūtā puṣkarākṣe āṣāḍhau ca ratistathā || 20 || caṇḍamuṇḍīmahāsthāne daṇḍinī parameśvarī | bhārabhūtau bhaved‌bhūtirnākule nakuleśvarī || 21 || candrikā tu hariścandre śrīgirau śāṅkarī smṛtā |dra. skandapurāṇa [https://sa.wikisource.org/s/g5m 7.1.10.6] madhye aṣṭa jalīya tīrthānāṃ nāmāni japyeśvare triśūlā syātsūkṣmā cāmrātakeśvare || 22 || śāṅkarī tu mahākāle śarvāṇī madhyamābhidhe | kedārākhye mahākṣetre devī sā mārgadāyinī || 23 || bhairavākhye bhairavī sā gayāyāṃ maṅgalā smṛtā |dra. skandapurāṇa [https://sa.wikisource.org/s/g5m 7.1.10.9] madhye aṣṭa vāyavya tīrthānāṃ nāmāni sthāṇupriyā kurukṣetre svāyambhuvyapi nākule || 24 || kanakhale bhavedugrā viśveśā vimaleśvare | aṭṭahāse mahānandā mahendre tu mahāntakā || 25 || bhīme bhīmeśvarī proktā sthāne vastrāpathe punaḥ |dra. skandapurāṇa [https://sa.wikisource.org/s/g5m 7.1.10.11] madhye aṣṭa ākāśa tīrthānāṃ nāmāni bhavānī śāṅkarī proktā rudrāṇī tvardhakoṭike || 26 || avimukte viśālākṣī mahābhāgā mahālaye | gokarṇe bhadrakarṇī syād‌bhadrā syād‌bhadrakarṇake || 27 || utpalākṣī suvarṇākṣe sthāṇvīśā sthāṇusañjñake | kamalālaye tu kamalā pracaṇḍā chagalaṇḍake || 28 || kuraṇḍale trisandhyā syānmākoṭe mukuṭeśvarī | maṇḍaleśe śāṇḍakī syātkālī kālañjare punaḥ || 29 || śaṅkukarṇe dhvaniḥ proktā sthūlā syātsthūlakeśvare | jñānināṃ hṛdayāmbhoje hṛllekhā parameśvarī || 30 || proktānīmāni sthānāni devyāḥ priyatamāni ca | tattatkṣetrasya māhātmyaṃ śrutvā pūrvaṃ nagottama || 31 || taduktena vidhānena paścāddevīṃ prapūjayet | athavā sarvakṣetrāṇi kāśyāṃ santi nagottama || 32 || atastatra vasennityaṃ devībhaktiparāyaṇaḥ | tāni sthānāni sampaśyañjapandevīṃ nirantaram || 33 || dhyāyaṃstaccaraṇāmbhojaṃ mukto bhavati bandhanāt | imāni devīnāmāni prātarutthāya yaḥ paṭhet || 34 || bhasmībhavanti pāpāni tatkṣaṇānnaga satvaram | śrāddhakāle paṭhedetānyamalāni dvijāgrataḥ || 35 || muktāstatpitaraḥ sarve prayānti paramāṃ gatim | adhunā kathayiṣyāmi vratāni tava suvrata || 36 || nārībhiśca naraiścaiva kartavyāni prayat‍nataḥ | vratamanantatṛtīyākhyaṃ rasakalyāṇinīvratam || 37 || ārdrānandakaraṃ nāmnā tṛtīyāyā vrataṃ ca yat | śukravāravrataṃ caiva tathā kṛṣṇacaturdaśī || 38 || bhaumavāravrataṃ caiva pradoṣavratameva ca | yatra devo mahādevo devīṃ saṃsthāpya viṣṭare || 39 || nṛtyaṃ karoti purataḥ sārdhaṃ devairniśāmukhe | tatropoṣya rajanyādau pradoṣe pūjayecchivām || 40 || pratipakṣaṃ viśeṣeṇa taddevīprītikārakam | somavāravrataṃ caiva mamātipriyakṛnnaga || 41 || tatrāpi devīṃ sampūjya rātrau bhojanamācaret | navarātradvayaṃ caiva vrataṃ prītikaraṃ mama || 42 || evamanyānyapi vibho nityanaimittikāni ca | vratāni kurute yo vai matprītyarthaṃ vimatsaraḥ || 43 || prāpnoti mama sāyujyaṃ sa me bhaktaḥ sa me priyaḥ | utsavānapi kurvīta dolotsavasukhānvibho || 44 || śayanotsavaṃ yathā kuryāttathā jāgaraṇotsavam | rathotsavaṃ ca me kuryāddamanotsavameva ca || 45 || pavitrotsavamevāpi śrāvaṇo prītikārakam | mama bhaktaḥ sadā kuryādevamanyānmahotsavān || 46 || mad‌bhaktānbhojayetprītyā tathā caiva suvāsinīḥ | kumārīrbaṭukāṃścāpi madbuddhyā tad‌gatāntaraḥ || 47 || vittaśāṭhyena rahito yajedetānsumādibhiḥ | ya evaṃ kurute bhaktyā prativarṣamatandritaḥ || 48 || sa dhanyaḥ kṛtakṛtyo'sau matprīteḥ pātramañjasā | sarvamuktaṃ samāsena mama prītipradāyakam | nāśiṣyāya pradātavyaṃ nābhaktāya kadācana || 49 ||

English translation

Of The Devi

I- 2. The Himalayas said "O Devi! Describe the places on this earth that are prominent, sacred, and worth visiting and which Thou likest best. O Mother! Also sanctify us by describing the vows and utsabs that are pleasing to Thee, and by performing which, men become blessed and get themselves satisfied.

3-10. The Devi spoke "O Himavan! All the places that are on this earth are all Mine and all should be visited. And every moment is fit for taking vows and utsabs. For I am of the nature pervading every moment; so whatever actions are performed at any moment are all equal to taking My vows and utsabs. O King of Mountains! Still I am now telling something out of My affection to My Bhaktas. Hear. There is a great place of pilgrimage named Kolhapura in the southern country. Here the Devi Laksmi always dwells. The second place is Matripura in the Sahyadri mountain; here the Devi Renuka dwells. The third place is Tulajapur; next is the place Saptas'ringa, the great places of Hingula and Jvala Mukhi. Then the great places of Sakambhari, Bhramari, S'riraktadantika and Durga. The best of all places is that of Vindhyachala Vasini, the great places of Annapurna and the excellent Kanchipur (Conjiverum). Next come the places of Bhima Devi, Vimala Devi, S'ri Chandrala Devi of Karnat, and the place of Kaus'iki. Then the great place of Nilamba on the top of the Nilaparvata, the place of JambunadesVari, and the beautiful S'rinagara.

II- 20. The great place of S'ri Guhya Kali, well established in Nepal, and that of S'ri Mmaksi Devi established in Chidamvaram. The great place named Vedaranya where the Sundari Devi is residing; then the place named Ekamvaram, and the place Bhuvanes'vara near Purusottama where I always dwell as Para S'akti Bhuvanes'vari. The famous place of Mahalasa, known in the south by the name Mallari; the place of Yoges'vari Varat, and the widely known place of Nila

S'arasvati in China. The excellent place of Bagala in Baidyanath, the supreme place ManidvTpa of S'rimati BhuvanesVari where I always reside. The Yonimandala Kamakhya, the place of S'rimati Tripura BhariavT, the excellent of all the places in this earth, where the Devi Maha Maya always dwells. There is no other place better than this on the earth. Here the Devi becomes every month in Her course of menstruation and where the virtuous men are seen. Here all the Devas remain in the form of mountains and where on the mountains the excellent Devas inhabit. The sages say: That all the places there are of the nature of the Devi; there is no better place than this Kamakhya Yonimandala. Puskara, the sacred place, is the seat of Gayatri; the place of Chandika in Amares'a: and the excellent place of Puskareksini in Frabhasa. The place of Linga-dharini Devi in Naimisaranya, and the place of Purubuta in Puskaraksa; Rati dwells in Asad hi.

21-30. Dandini Parames'vari dwells in Chandamundi. Bhuti dwells in Bharabhuti; and Nakule S'vari dwells in Nakula. Chandrika dwells in Haris'chandra; S'ankari in S'rigiri; Tris'ula in Japes'vara; and Suksma in Amrata Kes'vara. S'ankari dwells in Ujjain, S'arvani in the place Madhyama, and Marga Dayini dwells in the holy Ksetra Kedara. The celebrated Bhairavi dwells in the place named Bhairava; Mangala in Gaya Ksettra; Sthanupriya in Kuruksetra; and SvayambhuvT Devi dwells in Nakula; Ugra dwells in Kankhal; Vis'vesa dwells in Vimales'vara, Mahananda in Attahasa and Mahantaka in Mahendra. Bhimes'vari dwells in Bhima; the Bhavani S'ankari dwells in Vastrapadma; and Rudrani in Ardha Koti. Vis'alaksi dwells in Avimukta; Mahabhaga dwells in Mahalaya; Bhadrakarni in Gokarna; and Bhadra resides in Bhadrakarnak; UtpalaksT dwells in Suvarnaksa; SthanvTs'a in Sthanu; Kamala in Kamalalaya; Chanda in Chhagalandaka, situated in the south near the sea coast. Trisandhya dwells in Kurundala; Mukutes'vari in Makota; S'andaki in Mandales'a; Kali in Kalanjara; Dhvani in S'ankukarna; Sthula in Sthulakes'vara; and Parames'vari Hrillekha dwells in the heart lotuses of the Jhanins.

31-34. The places mentioned above are all dearest to the Devi. First the merits of these places are to be heard; next the Devi is to be worshipped by the rites and ceremonies according to these rules. Or, O Mountain! All the holy places of pilgrimages exist in Kas'i. The Devi always dwells there. Persons, devoted to the Devi, see these places and if they make Japam and meditate on the lotus-feet of the Devi, they will certainly be freed from the bonds of Samsara; there is no doubt in this. If anybody, getting up in the morning, recite the names of these places, all his sins would instantly be burnt away.

35-40. And if one reads, in the time of S'raddha, before the Brahmins, these holy names of the Devi, his Piths will be purified of their sins in the Mahakas'a by the Maha Prana and will get their highest goal. O One of good vows! I will now describe to you the vows that are to be carefully observed by men and women; hear. Ananta Tritiyakhya Vrata (vow), Rasakalyani Vrata, and Ardranandakara Vrata, these three Vratas are to be observed in the Tritiya (third) tithi. The next come the Friday vow, the Krisna Chaturdas'i vows, the Tuesday vow, and the evening twilight vow. In this twilight vow, Maha Deva placed the Devi in the evening on an Asana; and He, along with the other Devas, began to dance before Her. Fasting is enjoined in this vow; and then in the evening one must worship the Devi, the Giver of all auspicious things. Especially in every fortnight, if the Devi be worshipped. She gets extremely pleased.

41. O Best of Mountains! The Monday vow is very agreeable to Me; the worship of the Devi should be done and then in the night one must take one's food.

42-43. The two nine nights vow called Navaratra are to be observed, one in the autumn and the other in the spring season. These are very dear to Me. He is certainly My devotee and very dear who for My satisfaction performs these and the other Nitya Naimittik vows, free from any pride and jealousy. He certainly gets the Sajujya Mukti with Me.

44-46. O Nagaraja! The Holy (Dol) festival in the month of Chait on tha third day of the white fortnight is very pleasing to Me and should be observed by all. My devotees perform the S'ayanotsava in the PaurnamasT in the month of Asadha; the Jagaranotsava in the PaurnamasT in the month of Kartik, the Ratha Jatra in the 3rd of the white fortnight in Asadha; the Damanotsava in Chaitra. And my dear festivals in the month of S'ravana and various other festivals.

47-49. In all these festivals one should feast well with gladness all My devotees, and the Kumaris (virgins), well clothed and dressed, and the boys, thinking them all to be of My very nature. No miserliness is to be entertained and I should be worshipped with flowers, etc. He is blessed and attains his goal and is dear to Me who carefully and devotedly observes every year all these festivals. O Nagendra! Thus I have described to you in brief all the vows that are pleasing to Me. These instructions are not to be given who is not a disciple nor to one who is not My devotee.

Here ends the Thirty-eighth Chapter of the Seventh Book on the vows and the sacred places of the 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 18610, revision 332106 (2022-02-07T21:53:54Z). 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/bk07ch38.htm. Historic spelling and transliteration are lightly normalized; no verse-by-verse alignment is asserted.