Third Skandha · Chapter 24
Sourceव्यास उवाच तस्यास्तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा भवान्याः स नृपोत्तमः । प्रोवाच वचनं तत्र सुबाहुर्भक्तिसंयुतः ॥ १ ॥ सुबाहुरुवाच एकतो देवलोकस्य राज्यं भूमण्डलस्य च । एकतो दर्शनं ते वै न च तुल्यं कदाचन ॥ २ ॥ दर्शनात्सदृशं किञ्चित्त्रिषु लोकेषु नास्ति मे । कं वरं देवि याचेऽहं कृतार्थोऽस्मि धरातले ॥ ३ ॥ एतदिच्छाम्यहं मातर्याचितुं वाञ्छितं वरम् । तव भक्तिः सदा मेऽस्तु निश्चला ह्यनपायिनी ॥ ४ ॥ नगरेऽत्र त्वया मातः स्थातव्यं मम सर्वदा । दुर्गादेवीति नाम्ना वै त्वं शक्तिरिह संस्थिता ॥ ५ ॥ रक्षा त्वया च कर्तव्या सर्वदा नगरस्य ह । यथा सुदर्शनस्त्रातो रिपुसंघादनामयः ॥ ६ ॥ तथाऽत्र रक्षा कर्तव्या वाराणस्यास्त्वयाम्बिके । यावत्पुरी भवेद्भूमौ सुप्रतिष्ठा सुसंस्थिता ॥ ७ ॥ तावत्त्वयाऽत्र स्थातव्यं दुर्गे देवि कृपानिधे । वरोऽयं मम ते देयः किमन्यत्प्रार्थयाम्यहम् ॥ ८ ॥ विविधान्सकलान्कामान्देहि मे विद्विषो जहि । अभद्राणां विनाशञ्च कुरु लोकस्य सर्वदा ॥ ९ ॥ व्यास उवाच इति सम्प्रार्थिता देवी दुर्गा दुर्गार्तिनाशिनी । तमुवाच नृपं तत्र स्तुत्वा वै संस्थितं पुरः ॥ १० ॥ दुर्गोवाच राजन्सदा निवासो मे मुक्तिपुर्यां भविष्यति । रक्षार्थं सर्वलोकानां यावत्तिष्ठति मेदिनी ॥ ११ ॥ अथो सुदर्शनस्तत्र समागत्य मुदान्वितः । प्रणम्य परया भक्त्या तुष्टाव जगदम्बिकाम् ॥ १२ ॥ अहो कृपा ये कथयाम्यहं किं त्रातस्त्वया यत्किल भक्तिहीनः । भक्तानुकम्पी सकलो जनोऽस्ति विमुक्तभक्तेरवनं व्रतं ते ॥ १३ ॥ त्वं देवि सर्वं सृजसि प्रपञ्चं श्रुतं मया पालयसि स्वसृष्टम् । त्वमत्सि संहारपरे च काले न तेऽत्र चित्रं मम रक्षणं वै ॥ १४ ॥ करोमि किं ते वद देवि कार्यं क्व वा व्रजामीत्यनुमोदयाशु । कार्ये विमूढोऽस्मि तवाज्ञयाऽहं गच्छामि तिष्ठे विहरामि मातः ॥ १५ ॥ व्यास उवाच तं तथा भाषमाणं तु देवी प्राह दयान्विता । गच्छायोध्यां महाभाग कुरु राज्यं कुलोचितम् ॥ १६ ॥ स्मरणीया सदाऽहं ते पूजनीया प्रयत्नतः । शं विधास्याम्यहं नित्यं राज्यं ते नृपसत्तम ॥ १७ ॥ अष्टम्याञ्च चतुर्दश्यां नवम्याञ्च विशेषतः । मम पूजा प्रकर्तव्या बलिदानविधानतः ॥ १८ ॥ अर्चा मदीया नगरे स्थापनीया त्वयाऽनघ । पूजनीया प्रयत्नेन त्रिकालं भक्तिपूर्वकम् ॥ १९ ॥ शरत्काले महापूजा कर्तव्या मम सर्वदा । नवरात्रविधानेन भक्तिभावयुतेन च ॥ २० ॥ चैत्रेऽश्विने तथाऽऽषाढे माघे कार्यो महोत्सवः । नवरात्रे महाराज पूजा कार्या विशेषतः ॥ २१ ॥ कृष्णपक्षे चतुर्दश्यां मम भक्तिसमन्वितैः । कर्तव्या नृपशार्दूल तथाऽष्टम्यां सदा बुधैः ॥ २२ ॥ व्यास उवाच इत्युक्त्वान्तर्हिता देवी दुर्गा दुर्गार्तिनाशिनी । नता सुदर्शनेनाथ स्तुता च बहुविस्तरम् ॥ २३ ॥ अन्तर्हितां तु तां दृष्ट्वा राजानः सर्व एव ते । प्रणेमुस्तं समागम्य यथा शक्रं सुरास्तथा ॥ २४ ॥ सुबाहुरपि तं नत्वा स्थितश्चाग्रे मुदान्वितः । ऊचुः सर्वे महीपाला अयोध्याधिपतिं तदा ॥ २५ ॥ त्वमस्माकं प्रभुः शास्ता सेवकास्ते वयं सदा । कुरु राज्यमयोध्यायां पालयास्मान्नृपोत्तम ॥ २६ ॥ त्वत्प्रसादान्महाराज दृष्टा विश्वेश्वरी शिवा । आदिशक्तिर्भवानी सा चतुर्वर्गफलप्रदा ॥ २७ ॥ धन्यस्त्वं कृतकृत्योऽसि बहुपुण्यो धरातले । यस्माच्च त्वत्कृते देवी प्रादुर्भूता सनातनी ॥ २८ ॥ न जानीमो वयं सर्वे प्रभावं नृपसत्तम । चण्डिकायास्तमोयुक्ता मायया मोहिताः सदा ॥ २९ ॥ धनदारसुतानां च चिन्तनेऽभिरताः सदा । मग्ना महार्वणे घोरे कामक्रोधझषाकुले ॥ ३० ॥ पृच्छामस्त्वां महाभाग सर्वज्ञोऽसि महामते । केयं शक्तिः कुतो जाता किं प्रभावा वदस्व तत् ॥ ३१ ॥ भव त्वं नौश्च संसारे साधवोऽति दयापराः । तस्मान्नो वद काकुत्स्थ देवीमाहात्म्यमुत्तमम् ॥ ३२ ॥ यत्प्रभावा च सा देवी यत्स्वरुपा यदुद्भवा । सत्सर्वं श्रोतुमिच्छामस्त्वं ब्रूहि नृवरोत्तम ॥ ३३ ॥ व्यास उवाच इति पृष्टस्तदा तैस्तु ध्रुवसन्धिसुतो नृपः । विचिन्त्य मनसा देवीं तानुवाच मुदान्वितः ॥ ३४ ॥ सुदर्शन उवाच किं ब्रवीमि महीपालास्तस्याश्चरितमुत्तमम् । ब्रह्मादयो न जानन्ति सेशाः सुरगणास्तथा ॥ ३५ ॥ सर्वस्याद्या महालक्ष्मीर्वरेण्या शक्तिरुत्तमा । सात्त्विकीयं महीपाला जगत्पालनतत्परा ॥ ३६ ॥ सृजते या रजोरूपा सत्त्वरूपा च पालने । संहारे च तमोरूपा त्रिगुणा सा सदा मता ॥ ३७ ॥ निर्गुणा परमा शक्तिः सर्वकामफलप्रदा । सर्वेषां कारणं सा हि ब्रह्मादीनां नृपोत्तमाः ॥ ३८ ॥ निर्गुणा सर्वथा ज्ञातुमशक्या योगिभिर्नृपाः । सगुणा सुखसेव्या सा चिन्तनीया सदा बुधैः ॥ ३९ ॥ राजान ऊचुः बाल एव वनं प्राप्तस्त्वं तु नूनं भयातुरः । कथं ज्ञाता त्वया देवी परमा शक्तिरुत्तमा ॥ ४० ॥ उपासिता कथं चैव पूजिता च कथं नृप । या प्रसन्ना तु साहाय्यं चकार त्वरयान्विता ॥ ४१ ॥ सुदर्शन उवाच बालभावान्मया प्राप्तं बीजं तस्याः सुसम्मतम् । स्मरामि प्रजपन्नित्यं कामबीजाभिधं नृपाः ॥ ४२ ॥ ऋषिभिः कथ्यमाना सा मया ज्ञाताम्बिका शिवा । स्मरामि तां दिवारात्रं भक्त्या परमया पराम् ॥ ४३ ॥ व्यास उवाच तन्निशम्य वचस्तस्य राजानो भक्तितत्पराः । तां मत्वा परमां शक्तिं निर्ययुः स्वगृहान्प्रति ॥ ४४ ॥ सुबाहुरगमत्काश्यां तमापृच्छ्य सुदर्शनम् । सुदर्शनोऽपि धर्मात्मा निर्ज्जगाम सुकोसलान् ॥ ४५ ॥ मन्त्रिणस्तु नृपं श्रुत्वा हतं शत्रुजितं मृधे । जितं सुदर्शनञ्चैव बभूवुः प्रेमसंयुताः ॥ ४६ ॥ आगच्छन्तं नृपं श्रुत्वा तं साकेतनिवासिनः । उपायनान्युपादाय प्रययुः सम्मुखे जनाः ॥ ४७ ॥ तथा प्रकृतयः सर्वे नानोपायनपाणयः । ध्रुवसन्धिसुतं दत्त्वा मुदिताः प्रययुः प्रजाः ॥ ४८ ॥ स्त्रियोपसंयुतः सोऽथ प्राप्यायोध्यां सुदर्शनः । सम्मान्य सर्वलोकांश्च ययौ राजा निवेशनम् ॥ ४९ ॥ वन्दिभिः स्तूयमानस्तु वन्द्यमानश्च मन्त्रिभिः । कन्याभिः कीर्यमाणश्च लाजैः सुमनसैस्तथा ॥ ५० ॥
vyāsa uvāca tasyāstadvacanaṃ śrutvā bhavānyāḥ sa nṛpottamaḥ | provāca vacanaṃ tatra subāhurbhaktisaṃyutaḥ || 1 || subāhuruvāca ekato devalokasya rājyaṃ bhūmaṇḍalasya ca | ekato darśanaṃ te vai na ca tulyaṃ kadācana || 2 || darśanātsadṛśaṃ kiñcittriṣu lokeṣu nāsti me | kaṃ varaṃ devi yāce'haṃ kṛtārtho'smi dharātale || 3 || etadicchāmyahaṃ mātaryācituṃ vāñchitaṃ varam | tava bhaktiḥ sadā me'stu niścalā hyanapāyinī || 4 || nagare'tra tvayā mātaḥ sthātavyaṃ mama sarvadā | durgādevīti nāmnā vai tvaṃ śaktiriha saṃsthitā || 5 || rakṣā tvayā ca kartavyā sarvadā nagarasya ha | yathā sudarśanastrāto ripusaṃghādanāmayaḥ || 6 || tathā'tra rakṣā kartavyā vārāṇasyāstvayāmbike | yāvatpurī bhavedbhūmau supratiṣṭhā susaṃsthitā || 7 || tāvattvayā'tra sthātavyaṃ durge devi kṛpānidhe | varo'yaṃ mama te deyaḥ kimanyatprārthayāmyaham || 8 || vividhānsakalānkāmāndehi me vidviṣo jahi | abhadrāṇāṃ vināśañca kuru lokasya sarvadā || 9 || vyāsa uvāca iti samprārthitā devī durgā durgārtināśinī | tamuvāca nṛpaṃ tatra stutvā vai saṃsthitaṃ puraḥ || 10 || durgovāca rājansadā nivāso me muktipuryāṃ bhaviṣyati | rakṣārthaṃ sarvalokānāṃ yāvattiṣṭhati medinī || 11 || atho sudarśanastatra samāgatya mudānvitaḥ | praṇamya parayā bhaktyā tuṣṭāva jagadambikām || 12 || aho kṛpā ye kathayāmyahaṃ kiṃ trātastvayā yatkila bhaktihīnaḥ | bhaktānukampī sakalo jano'sti vimuktabhakteravanaṃ vrataṃ te || 13 || tvaṃ devi sarvaṃ sṛjasi prapañcaṃ śrutaṃ mayā pālayasi svasṛṣṭam | tvamatsi saṃhārapare ca kāle na te'tra citraṃ mama rakṣaṇaṃ vai || 14 || karomi kiṃ te vada devi kāryaṃ kva vā vrajāmītyanumodayāśu | kārye vimūḍho'smi tavājñayā'haṃ gacchāmi tiṣṭhe viharāmi mātaḥ || 15 || vyāsa uvāca taṃ tathā bhāṣamāṇaṃ tu devī prāha dayānvitā | gacchāyodhyāṃ mahābhāga kuru rājyaṃ kulocitam || 16 || smaraṇīyā sadā'haṃ te pūjanīyā prayatnataḥ | śaṃ vidhāsyāmyahaṃ nityaṃ rājyaṃ te nṛpasattama || 17 || aṣṭamyāñca caturdaśyāṃ navamyāñca viśeṣataḥ | mama pūjā prakartavyā balidānavidhānataḥ || 18 || arcā madīyā nagare sthāpanīyā tvayā'nagha | pūjanīyā prayatnena trikālaṃ bhaktipūrvakam || 19 || śaratkāle mahāpūjā kartavyā mama sarvadā | navarātravidhānena bhaktibhāvayutena ca || 20 || caitre'śvine tathā''ṣāḍhe māghe kāryo mahotsavaḥ | navarātre mahārāja pūjā kāryā viśeṣataḥ || 21 || kṛṣṇapakṣe caturdaśyāṃ mama bhaktisamanvitaiḥ | kartavyā nṛpaśārdūla tathā'ṣṭamyāṃ sadā budhaiḥ || 22 || vyāsa uvāca ityuktvāntarhitā devī durgā durgārtināśinī | natā sudarśanenātha stutā ca bahuvistaram || 23 || antarhitāṃ tu tāṃ dṛṣṭvā rājānaḥ sarva eva te | praṇemustaṃ samāgamya yathā śakraṃ surāstathā || 24 || subāhurapi taṃ natvā sthitaścāgre mudānvitaḥ | ūcuḥ sarve mahīpālā ayodhyādhipatiṃ tadā || 25 || tvamasmākaṃ prabhuḥ śāstā sevakāste vayaṃ sadā | kuru rājyamayodhyāyāṃ pālayāsmānnṛpottama || 26 || tvatprasādānmahārāja dṛṣṭā viśveśvarī śivā | ādiśaktirbhavānī sā caturvargaphalapradā || 27 || dhanyastvaṃ kṛtakṛtyo'si bahupuṇyo dharātale | yasmācca tvatkṛte devī prādurbhūtā sanātanī || 28 || na jānīmo vayaṃ sarve prabhāvaṃ nṛpasattama | caṇḍikāyāstamoyuktā māyayā mohitāḥ sadā || 29 || dhanadārasutānāṃ ca cintane'bhiratāḥ sadā | magnā mahārvaṇe ghore kāmakrodhajhaṣākule || 30 || pṛcchāmastvāṃ mahābhāga sarvajño'si mahāmate | keyaṃ śaktiḥ kuto jātā kiṃ prabhāvā vadasva tat || 31 || bhava tvaṃ nauśca saṃsāre sādhavo'ti dayāparāḥ | tasmānno vada kākutstha devīmāhātmyamuttamam || 32 || yatprabhāvā ca sā devī yatsvarupā yadudbhavā | satsarvaṃ śrotumicchāmastvaṃ brūhi nṛvarottama || 33 || vyāsa uvāca iti pṛṣṭastadā taistu dhruvasandhisuto nṛpaḥ | vicintya manasā devīṃ tānuvāca mudānvitaḥ || 34 || sudarśana uvāca kiṃ bravīmi mahīpālāstasyāścaritamuttamam | brahmādayo na jānanti seśāḥ suragaṇāstathā || 35 || sarvasyādyā mahālakṣmīrvareṇyā śaktiruttamā | sāttvikīyaṃ mahīpālā jagatpālanatatparā || 36 || sṛjate yā rajorūpā sattvarūpā ca pālane | saṃhāre ca tamorūpā triguṇā sā sadā matā || 37 || nirguṇā paramā śaktiḥ sarvakāmaphalapradā | sarveṣāṃ kāraṇaṃ sā hi brahmādīnāṃ nṛpottamāḥ || 38 || nirguṇā sarvathā jñātumaśakyā yogibhirnṛpāḥ | saguṇā sukhasevyā sā cintanīyā sadā budhaiḥ || 39 || rājāna ūcuḥ bāla eva vanaṃ prāptastvaṃ tu nūnaṃ bhayāturaḥ | kathaṃ jñātā tvayā devī paramā śaktiruttamā || 40 || upāsitā kathaṃ caiva pūjitā ca kathaṃ nṛpa | yā prasannā tu sāhāyyaṃ cakāra tvarayānvitā || 41 || sudarśana uvāca bālabhāvānmayā prāptaṃ bījaṃ tasyāḥ susammatam | smarāmi prajapannityaṃ kāmabījābhidhaṃ nṛpāḥ || 42 || ṛṣibhiḥ kathyamānā sā mayā jñātāmbikā śivā | smarāmi tāṃ divārātraṃ bhaktyā paramayā parām || 43 || vyāsa uvāca tanniśamya vacastasya rājāno bhaktitatparāḥ | tāṃ matvā paramāṃ śaktiṃ niryayuḥ svagṛhānprati || 44 || subāhuragamatkāśyāṃ tamāpṛcchya sudarśanam | sudarśano'pi dharmātmā nirjjagāma sukosalān || 45 || mantriṇastu nṛpaṃ śrutvā hataṃ śatrujitaṃ mṛdhe | jitaṃ sudarśanañcaiva babhūvuḥ premasaṃyutāḥ || 46 || āgacchantaṃ nṛpaṃ śrutvā taṃ sāketanivāsinaḥ | upāyanānyupādāya prayayuḥ sammukhe janāḥ || 47 || tathā prakṛtayaḥ sarve nānopāyanapāṇayaḥ | dhruvasandhisutaṃ dattvā muditāḥ prayayuḥ prajāḥ || 48 || striyopasaṃyutaḥ so'tha prāpyāyodhyāṃ sudarśanaḥ | sammānya sarvalokāṃśca yayau rājā niveśanam || 49 || vandibhiḥ stūyamānastu vandyamānaśca mantribhiḥ | kanyābhiḥ kīryamāṇaśca lājaiḥ sumanasaistathā || 50 ||
English translation
1. Vyasa said Hearing the Devi’s words, the king Subahu began to say with great devotion thus
2-3. O Devi! If there be made a comparison between the kingdom of the Devas and the world on the one hand and the vision of Thine on the other hand, then it must be acknowledged that the kingdom of the Devas and the earth cannot stand in comparison before Thee. O Devi! There cannot be anything, in this Triloki, that is more exalted than Thy vision; therefore, O Mother! What other boon may I ask from Thee. I am very thankful and blessed; all my desires are fulfilled, when I have seen Thee.
4-5. O Auspicious Mother! I ask from You this boon, my desire that my devotion may remain constant, fixed, and unflinching towards You. O Mother! You would remain always in this city of mine being celebrated under the name of S’ri Durga Devi, Your S’akti. This is my desire.
6-9. O Devi! As you have cleared off all the obstacles of Sudars’ana and saved him from this danger, so remain here in this city of Benares and protect it, so long as this city stands on the face of the earth and make it firm and well established and renowned. O Durga,
I pray that you may grant me these boons. O Devi! Grant me also various other desires of mine and destroy my enemies and extirpate all the irreligious and wicked people in this city. O Goddess of mercy! What more can I ask from you?
10-11. Vyasa said Thus praising and praying, the king Subahu stood, with folded hands, before the Devi Durga, the remover of all calamities, when She addressed thus O king! I will remain no doubt, in this city of Benares, the place of salvation, as long as it stands on the face of the earth and protect all the people here.
12. Then came there Sudars’ana, heartily gladdened; and he bowed to Her and began to praise Her with intense joy and devotion.
13. O Mother of this Universe! Everyone in this world shows mercy to those that are devoted to him; but, O Mother! I see, in Your case. You take it as if Your bounden duty, to save those, that are void of any devotion towards You; for You have saved my life, though I am devoid of any devotion towards you. Therefore how can I describe the boundless ocean of mercy that reigns in You!
14. O Goddess! I have heard that You have created all this Universe, with its elements, and You are preserving this Your own creations and again You will destroy it in due time. Therefore O Mother! What wonder is there that you have saved me!
15. O Goddess! Now order me early what work of Yours shall I do now? Where shall I go? O Mother! Now I am unable to make out my duty; therefore kindly order me whether I will remain here or go anywhere else or remain anywhere, I like, at my leisure?
16. Vyasa said On Sudars’ana thus petitioning before the Devi, She said with much kindness “O good soul! Go to Ayodhya and govern the country befitting your family.
17. O king! Constantly remember Me and worship Me with great care. I will always look after the welfare of your kingdom.
18. Especially in the eighth, fourteenth, and in the ninth day of the lunar half month, worship Me according to the prescribed rites and rules and offer me victims (sacrifices).
19. O sinless one! Establish my image in this city and worship it three times, morning, mid-day and evening carefully and with devotion.
20. It is noteworthy that My Great Puja in autumn for the nine nights (Navaratra) ought to be done with the greatest devotion.
21-22. O king! In the month of Chaitra, Magh, As'vin, and Asadha, My grand festival should be done on the four Navaratris respectively; and especially on the fourteenth and on the eighth day of the black half, all persons ought to worship Me with their minds full of devotion towards Me.”
23. Vyasa said After the Devi, the Goddess Durga, the Destroyer of all dangers, had finished Her sayings, Sudars’ana bowed down to Her and praised Her much. The Devi, giving him the above mentioned advices, disappeared.
24. Seeing Her disappear, all the kings went to Sudars’ana and bowed to him, as the Devas go to their lord, the Indra.
25. The king of Benares, Subahu, too, gladly bowed down and stood before him. Then all the kings began to address Sudars’an, the king of Ayodhya.
26. “O king! You are our lord and governor; we are always your servants; protect us as the king of Ayodhya.
27. O king! It is through your grace only that we have seen the Supreme Force, the Goddess of this Universe, the most Auspicious, the Eternal Bhavani, the Giver of the fourfold desires.
28. O king! It is for your sake that the Eternal, Highest Prakriti Devi appeared; therefore you are very fortunate, auspicious, and most blessed in this world. Your have finished, as it were, all that you had to do.
29. O king! We all are deluded by the Maya of that Mahamaya Chandika Devi; therefore none of us is able to know Her prowess.
30. We are always engaged in thinking of wealth, sons and wives; there we are merged in this awful ocean of delusion, infested with crocodiles, etc., in the shape of lust, anger, greed, etc.
31. O Blessed one! You are highly enlightened and you know everything; hence we ask you What is this Force; whence has She sprung? How is Her prowess? Kindly describe all these to us.
32. O Descendant of Kakud! The saints are always nnerciful; kindly therefore relate to us the glory of the Excellent Goddess, that serves the purpose of a boat in crossing this ocean of world (transmigration).
33. O king! I am intensely desirous to hear the prowess and nature of the Devi.”
Note Kakud is an epithet of Puranjaya, son of S'asada, a king of the solar dynasty, and a descendant of Ikshvaku. The Mythology relates that when in their war with the demons, the gods were often worsted; they, headed by Indra went to the powerful king Puranjaya and requested him to be their friend in battle. The latter consented to do so, provided Indra carried him on his shoulders. Indra accordingly assumed the form of a bull and Puranjaya seated on its hump, completely vanquished the demons. Puranjaya is therefore Kakutstha ‘standing on a hump.’
34. Vyasa said When the kings had thus asked, the son of Dhruvasandhi, the king Sudaras'ana became very glad and, meditating on the Goddess, began to say thus
35. “O kings! Indra and the other Devas, even Brahma, Visnu, and Mahes’a are unable to fathom the most exalted deeds of that Goddess; how, then, can I describe to you the great glory of the Mahamaya.
36-38. O kings! The Bhagavati Bhavani is present, as it were, being divided into four parts. She who is the first and foremost, the excellent Sattvic Energy, worshipped by all, is always engaged in the
preservation of this world. That part which is engaged in creating this world, is called the Rajasik Energy; and that part which is engaged in destroying the world is called the Tamasik Energy, and that part which is the cause of all, Brahma, etc., that Highest S’akti, the Bestower of all desires, is called the fourth S’akti, the Nirguna S’akti.
39. O kings! Those who are not Yogis, will never be able to grasp the Nirguna S’akti. The Saguna Force can be easily served. All those middle Adhikaris (fit persons) and learned men always meditate and worship the Saguna Aspect of Her.”
40-41. The kings said “O king! You got afraid and went in your very early age to the forest; how is it, then, that you have been able to know the excellent Goddess Mahamaya. How did you worship and pray to Her? That She, becoming so glad, has favoured you and so helped you?”
42-43. Sudars’an said “O kings! Early in my childhood, I got the excellent root-mantra of desires, Kamavija; daily I meditated and silently uttered that mantram. After that I came to realise through the Risis That Eternal Auspicious Mother; and since that time, day and night, I always used to remember that Highest Deity; with the greatest devotion.”
44. Vyasa said Hearing the words of Sudars’ana, the kings came to know that the Goddess which they saw was the Highest Force and filled with the greatest devotion towards Her, returned to their own homes.
45. The king of Benares, Subahu, returned to his own city after bidding good-bye to Sudars’ana. The virtuous Sudars’ana, too, went towards his Kosala kingdom.
46. The ministers were very glad to hear the death of S’atrujit and to see the victory of Sudars’ana.
47-48. The inhabitants and armies of Sakata (Ayodhya) hearing that Sudars’ana is coming and knowing him to be the son of the king Dhruvasandhi, became highly delighted and approached to him with various offerings.
49-50. Sudars’ana, with his new consort, arrived at Ayodhya with his heart highly gladdened, and shewed his due regard and respect towards all his subjects. Then the ministers came and sainted him; the women threw at him offerings of Laja (fried rice) and flowers; the bards began to praise loudly. Thus, honoured by various auspicious ceremonies, the king entered into his palace.
Here ends the 24th chapter on the installation of Durga Devi in the city of Benares and the return to Ayodhya of Sudars’ana in the Maha Puranam S’rimad Devi Bhagavatam of 18,000 verses by Maharsi Veda Vyasa.
Complete chapter-aligned witnesses. Sanskrit Wikisource page 24749, revision 75603 (2016-08-03T12:30:52Z). 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/bk03ch24.htm. Historic spelling and transliteration are lightly normalized; no verse-by-verse alignment is asserted.