Third Skandha · Chapter 30
Sourceव्यास उवाच एवं तौ संविदं कृत्वा यावत्तूष्णीं बभूवतुः । आजगाम तदाऽऽकाशान्नारदो भगवानृषिः ॥ १ ॥ रणयन्महतीं वीणां स्वरग्रामविभूषिताम् । गायन्बृहद्रथं साम तदा तमुपतस्थिवान् ॥ २ ॥ दृष्ट्वा तं राम उत्थाय ददावथ वृषं शुभम् । आसनं चार्घ्यपाद्यञ्च कृतवानमितद्युतिः ॥ ३ ॥ पूजां परमिकां कृत्वा कृताञ्जलिरुपस्थितः । उपविष्टः समीपे तु कृताज्ञो मुनिना हरिः ॥ ४ ॥ उपविष्टं तदा रामं सानुजं दुःखमानसम् । पप्रच्छ नारदः प्रीत्या कुशलं मुनिसत्तमः ॥ ५ ॥ कथं राघव शोकार्तो यथा वै प्राकृतो नरः । हृतां सीतां च जानामि रावणेन दुरात्मना ॥ ६ ॥ सुरसद्मगतश्चाहं श्रुतवाञ्जनकात्मजाम् । पौलस्त्येन हृतां मोहान्मरणं स्वमजानता ॥ ७ ॥ तव जन्म च काकुत्स्थ पौलस्त्यनिधनाय वै । मैथिलीहरणं जातमेतदर्थं नराधिप ॥ ८ ॥ पूर्वजन्मनि वैदेही मुनिपुत्री तपस्विनी । रावणेन वने दृष्टा तपस्यन्ती शुचिस्मिता ॥ ९ ॥ प्रार्थिता रावणेनासौ भव भार्येति राघव । तिरस्कृतस्तयाऽसौ वै जग्राह कबरं बलात् ॥ १० ॥ शशाप तत्क्षणं राम रावणं तापसी भृशम् । कुपिता त्यक्तुमिच्छन्ती देहं संस्पर्शदूषितम् ॥ ११ ॥ दुरात्मंस्तव नाशार्थं भविष्यामि धरातले । अयोनिजा वरा नारी त्यक्त्वा देहं जहावपि ॥ १२ ॥ सेयं रमांशसम्भूता गृहीता तेन रक्षसा । विनाशार्थं कुलस्यैव व्याली स्रगिव सम्भ्रमात् ॥ १३ ॥ तव जन्म च काकुत्स्थ तस्य नाशाय चामरैः । प्रार्थितस्य हरेरंशादजवंशेऽप्यजन्मनः ॥ १४ ॥ कुरु धैर्यं महाबाहो तत्र सा वर्ततेऽवशा । सती धर्मरता सीता त्वां ध्यायन्ती दिवानिशम् ॥ १५ ॥ कामधेनुपयः पात्रे कृत्वा मघवता स्वयम् । पानार्थं प्रेषितं तस्याः पीतं चैवामृतं यथा ॥ १६ ॥ सुरभीदुग्धपानात्सा क्षुत्तुड्दुःखविवर्जिता । जाता कमलपत्राक्षी वर्तते वीक्षिता मया ॥ १७ ॥ उपायं कथयाम्यद्य तस्य नाशाय राघव । व्रतं कुरुष्व श्रद्धावानाश्विने मासि साम्प्रतम् ॥ १८ ॥ नवरात्रोपवासञ्च भगवत्याः प्रपूजनम् । सर्वसिद्धिकरं राम जपहोमविधानतः ॥ १९ ॥ मेघ्यैश्च पशुभिर्देव्या बलिं दत्त्वा विशंसितैः । दशांशं हवनं कृत्वा सशक्तस्त्वं भविष्यसि ॥ २० ॥ विष्णुना चरितं पूर्वं महादेवेन ब्रह्मणा । तथा मघवता चीर्णं स्वर्गमध्यस्थितेन वै ॥ २१ ॥ सुखिना राम कर्तव्यं नवरात्रव्रतं शुभम् । विशेषेण च कर्तव्यं पुंसा कष्टगतेन वै ॥ २२ ॥ विश्वामित्रेण काकुत्स्थ कृतमेतन्न संशयः । भृगुणाऽथ वसिष्ठेन कश्यपेन तथैव च ॥ २३ ॥ गुरुणा हृतदारेण कृतमेतन्महाव्रतम् । तस्मात्त्वं कुरु राजेन्द्र रावणस्य वधाय च ॥ २४ ॥ इन्द्रेण वृत्रनाशाय कृतं व्रतमनुत्तमम् । त्रिपुरस्य विनाशाय शिवेनापि पुरा कृतम् ॥ २५ ॥ हरिणा मधुनाशाय कृतं मेरौ महामते । विधिवत्कुरु काकुत्स्थ व्रतमेतदतन्द्रितः ॥ २६ ॥ श्रीराम उवाच का देवी किं प्रभावा सा कुतो जाता किमाह्वया । व्रतं किं विधिवद्ब्रूहि सर्वज्ञोऽसि दयानिधे ॥ २७ ॥ नारद उवाच शृणु राम सदा नित्या शक्तिराद्या सनातनी । सर्वकामप्रदा देवी पूजिता दुःखनाशिनी ॥ २८ ॥ कारणं सर्वजन्तूनां ब्रह्मादीनां रघूद्वह । तस्याः शक्तिं विना कोऽपि स्पन्दितुं न क्षमो भवेत् ॥ २९ ॥ विष्णोः पालनशक्तिः सा कर्तृशक्तिः पितुर्मम । रुद्रस्य नाशशक्तिः सा त्वन्याशक्तिः परा शिवा ॥ ३० ॥ यच्च किञ्चित्क्वचिद्वस्तु सदसद्भुवनत्रये । तस्य सर्वस्य या शक्तिस्तदुत्पत्तिः कुतो भवेत् ॥ ३१ ॥ न ब्रह्मा न यदा विष्णुर्न रुद्रो न दिवाकरः । न चेन्द्राद्याः सुराः सर्वे न धरा न धराधराः ॥ ३२ ॥ तदा सा प्रकृतिः पूर्णा पुरुषेण परेण वै । संयुता विहरत्येव युगादौ निर्गुणा शिवा ॥ ३३ ॥ सा भूत्वा सगुणा पश्चात्करोति भुवनत्रयम् । पूर्वं संसृज्य ब्रह्मादीन्दत्त्वा शक्तीश्च सर्वशः ॥ ३४ ॥ तां ज्ञात्वा मुच्यते जन्तुर्जन्मसंसारबन्धनात् । सा विद्या परमा ज्ञेया वेदाद्या वेदकारिणी ॥ ३५ ॥ असंख्यातानि नामानि तस्या ब्रह्मादिभिः किल । गुणकर्मविधानैस्तु कल्पितानि च किं ब्रुवे ॥ ३६ ॥ अकारादिक्षकारान्तैः स्वरैर्वर्णैस्तु योजितैः । असंख्येयानि नामानि भवन्ति रघुनन्दन ॥ ३७ ॥ राम उवाच विधिं मे ब्रूहि विप्रर्षे व्रतस्यास्य समासतः । करोम्यद्यैव श्रद्धावाञ्छ्रीदेव्याः पूजनं तथा ॥ ३८ ॥ नारद उवाच पीठं कृत्वा समे स्थाने संस्थाप्य जगदम्बिकाम् । उपवासान्नवैव त्वं कुरु राम विधानतः ॥ ३९ ॥ आचार्योऽहं भविष्यामि कर्मण्यस्मिन्महीपते । देवकार्यविधानार्थमुत्साहं प्रकरोम्यहम् ॥ ४० ॥ व्यास उवाच तच्छ्रुत्वा वचनं सत्यं मत्वा रामः प्रतापवान् । कारयित्वा शुभं पीठं स्थापयित्वाम्बिकां शिवाम् ॥ ४१ ॥ विधिवत्पूजनं तस्याश्चकार व्रतवान् हरिः । सम्प्राप्ते चाश्विने मासि तस्मिन्गिरिवरे तदा ॥ ४२ ॥ उपवासपरो रामः कृतवान्व्रतमुत्तमम् । होमञ्च विधिवत्तत्र बलिदानञ्च पूजनम् ॥ ४३ ॥ भ्रातरौ चक्रतुः प्रेम्णा व्रतं नारदसम्मतम् । अष्टम्यां मध्यरात्रे तु देवी भगवती हि सा ॥ ४४ ॥ सिंहारूढा ददौ तत्र दर्शनं प्रतिपूजिता । गिरिशृङ्गे स्थितोवाच राघवं सानुजं गिरा ॥ ४५ ॥ मेघगम्भीरया चेदं भक्तिभावेन तोषिता । देव्युवाच राम राम महाबाहो तुष्टाऽस्म्यद्म व्रतेन ते ॥ ४६ ॥ प्रार्थयस्व वरं कामं यत्ते मनसि वर्तते । नारायणांशसम्भूतस्त्वं वंशे मानवेऽनघे ॥ ४७ ॥ रावणस्य वधायैव प्रार्थितस्त्वमरैरसि । पुरा मत्स्यतनुं कृत्वा हत्वा घोरञ्च राक्षसम् ॥ ४८ ॥ त्वया वै रक्षिता वेदाः सुराणां हितमिच्छता । भूत्वा कच्छपरूपस्तु धृतवान्मन्दरं गिरिम् ॥ ४९ ॥ अकूपारं प्रमन्थानं कृत्वा देवानपोषयः । कोलरूपं परं कृत्वा दशनाग्रेण मेदिनीम् ॥ ५० ॥ धृतवानसि यद्राम हिरण्याक्षं जघान च । नारसिंहीं तनुं कृत्वा हिरण्यकशिपुं पुरा ॥ ५१ ॥ प्रह्लादं राम रक्षित्वा हतवानसि राघव । वामनं वपुरास्थाय पुरा छलितवान्बलिम् ॥ ५२ ॥ भूत्वेन्द्रस्यानुजः कामं देवकार्यप्रसाधकः । जमदग्निसुतस्त्वं मे विष्णोरंशेन सङ्गतः ॥ ५३ ॥ कृत्वान्तं क्षत्रियाणां तु दानं भूमेरदाद्द्विजे । तथेदानीं तु काकुत्स्थ जातो दशरथात्मज ॥ ५४ ॥ प्रार्थितस्तु सुरैः सर्वै रावणेनातिपीडितैः । कपयस्ते सहाया वै देवांशा बलवत्तराः ॥ ५५ ॥ भविष्यन्ति नरव्याघ्र मच्छक्तिसंयुता ह्यमी । शेषांशोऽप्यनुजस्तेऽयं रावणात्मजनाशकः ॥ ५६ ॥ भविष्यति न सन्देहः कर्तव्योऽत्र त्वयाऽनघ । वसन्ते सेवनं कार्यं त्वया तत्रातिश्रद्धया ॥ ५७ ॥ हत्वाऽथ रावणं पापं कुरु राज्यं यथासुखम् । एकादश सहस्राणि वर्षाणि पृथिवीतले ॥ ५८ ॥ कृत्वा राज्यं रघुश्रेष्ठ गन्ताऽसि त्रिदिवं पुनः । व्यास उवाच इत्युक्त्वान्तर्दधे देवी रामस्तु प्रीतमानसः ॥ ५९ ॥ समाप्य तद्व्रतं चक्रे प्रयाणं दशमीदिने । विजयापूजनं कृत्वा दत्त्वा दानान्यनेकशः ॥ ६० ॥ कपिपतिबलयुक्तः सानुजः श्रीपतिश्च प्रकटपरमशक्त्या प्रेरितः पूर्णकामः । उदधितटगतोऽसौ सेतुबन्धं विधाया- प्यहनदमरशत्रुं रावणं गीतकीर्तिः ॥ ६१ ॥ यः शृणोति नरो भक्त्या देव्याश्चरितमुत्तमम् । स भुक्त्वा विपुलान्भोगान्प्राप्नोति परमं पदम् ॥ ६२ ॥ सन्त्यन्यानि पुराणानि विस्तराणि बहूनि च । श्रीमद्भागवतस्यास्य न तुल्यानीति मे मतिः ॥ ६३ ॥
vyāsa uvāca evaṃ tau saṃvidaṃ kṛtvā yāvattūṣṇīṃ babhūvatuḥ | ājagāma tadā''kāśānnārado bhagavānṛṣiḥ || 1 || raṇayanmahatīṃ vīṇāṃ svaragrāmavibhūṣitām | gāyanbṛhadrathaṃ sāma tadā tamupatasthivān || 2 || dṛṣṭvā taṃ rāma utthāya dadāvatha vṛṣaṃ śubham | āsanaṃ cārghyapādyañca kṛtavānamitadyutiḥ || 3 || pūjāṃ paramikāṃ kṛtvā kṛtāñjalirupasthitaḥ | upaviṣṭaḥ samīpe tu kṛtājño muninā hariḥ || 4 || upaviṣṭaṃ tadā rāmaṃ sānujaṃ duḥkhamānasam | papraccha nāradaḥ prītyā kuśalaṃ munisattamaḥ || 5 || kathaṃ rāghava śokārto yathā vai prākṛto naraḥ | hṛtāṃ sītāṃ ca jānāmi rāvaṇena durātmanā || 6 || surasadmagataścāhaṃ śrutavāñjanakātmajām | paulastyena hṛtāṃ mohānmaraṇaṃ svamajānatā || 7 || tava janma ca kākutstha paulastyanidhanāya vai | maithilīharaṇaṃ jātametadarthaṃ narādhipa || 8 || pūrvajanmani vaidehī muniputrī tapasvinī | rāvaṇena vane dṛṣṭā tapasyantī śucismitā || 9 || prārthitā rāvaṇenāsau bhava bhāryeti rāghava | tiraskṛtastayā'sau vai jagrāha kabaraṃ balāt || 10 || śaśāpa tatkṣaṇaṃ rāma rāvaṇaṃ tāpasī bhṛśam | kupitā tyaktumicchantī dehaṃ saṃsparśadūṣitam || 11 || durātmaṃstava nāśārthaṃ bhaviṣyāmi dharātale | ayonijā varā nārī tyaktvā dehaṃ jahāvapi || 12 || seyaṃ ramāṃśasambhūtā gṛhītā tena rakṣasā | vināśārthaṃ kulasyaiva vyālī sragiva sambhramāt || 13 || tava janma ca kākutstha tasya nāśāya cāmaraiḥ | prārthitasya hareraṃśādajavaṃśe'pyajanmanaḥ || 14 || kuru dhairyaṃ mahābāho tatra sā vartate'vaśā | satī dharmaratā sītā tvāṃ dhyāyantī divāniśam || 15 || kāmadhenupayaḥ pātre kṛtvā maghavatā svayam | pānārthaṃ preṣitaṃ tasyāḥ pītaṃ caivāmṛtaṃ yathā || 16 || surabhīdugdhapānātsā kṣuttuḍduḥkhavivarjitā | jātā kamalapatrākṣī vartate vīkṣitā mayā || 17 || upāyaṃ kathayāmyadya tasya nāśāya rāghava | vrataṃ kuruṣva śraddhāvānāśvine māsi sāmpratam || 18 || navarātropavāsañca bhagavatyāḥ prapūjanam | sarvasiddhikaraṃ rāma japahomavidhānataḥ || 19 || meghyaiśca paśubhirdevyā baliṃ dattvā viśaṃsitaiḥ | daśāṃśaṃ havanaṃ kṛtvā saśaktastvaṃ bhaviṣyasi || 20 || viṣṇunā caritaṃ pūrvaṃ mahādevena brahmaṇā | tathā maghavatā cīrṇaṃ svargamadhyasthitena vai || 21 || sukhinā rāma kartavyaṃ navarātravrataṃ śubham | viśeṣeṇa ca kartavyaṃ puṃsā kaṣṭagatena vai || 22 || viśvāmitreṇa kākutstha kṛtametanna saṃśayaḥ | bhṛguṇā'tha vasiṣṭhena kaśyapena tathaiva ca || 23 || guruṇā hṛtadāreṇa kṛtametanmahāvratam | tasmāttvaṃ kuru rājendra rāvaṇasya vadhāya ca || 24 || indreṇa vṛtranāśāya kṛtaṃ vratamanuttamam | tripurasya vināśāya śivenāpi purā kṛtam || 25 || hariṇā madhunāśāya kṛtaṃ merau mahāmate | vidhivatkuru kākutstha vratametadatandritaḥ || 26 || śrīrāma uvāca kā devī kiṃ prabhāvā sā kuto jātā kimāhvayā | vrataṃ kiṃ vidhivadbrūhi sarvajño'si dayānidhe || 27 || nārada uvāca śṛṇu rāma sadā nityā śaktirādyā sanātanī | sarvakāmapradā devī pūjitā duḥkhanāśinī || 28 || kāraṇaṃ sarvajantūnāṃ brahmādīnāṃ raghūdvaha | tasyāḥ śaktiṃ vinā ko'pi spandituṃ na kṣamo bhavet || 29 || viṣṇoḥ pālanaśaktiḥ sā kartṛśaktiḥ piturmama | rudrasya nāśaśaktiḥ sā tvanyāśaktiḥ parā śivā || 30 || yacca kiñcitkvacidvastu sadasadbhuvanatraye | tasya sarvasya yā śaktistadutpattiḥ kuto bhavet || 31 || na brahmā na yadā viṣṇurna rudro na divākaraḥ | na cendrādyāḥ surāḥ sarve na dharā na dharādharāḥ || 32 || tadā sā prakṛtiḥ pūrṇā puruṣeṇa pareṇa vai | saṃyutā viharatyeva yugādau nirguṇā śivā || 33 || sā bhūtvā saguṇā paścātkaroti bhuvanatrayam | pūrvaṃ saṃsṛjya brahmādīndattvā śaktīśca sarvaśaḥ || 34 || tāṃ jñātvā mucyate janturjanmasaṃsārabandhanāt | sā vidyā paramā jñeyā vedādyā vedakāriṇī || 35 || asaṃkhyātāni nāmāni tasyā brahmādibhiḥ kila | guṇakarmavidhānaistu kalpitāni ca kiṃ bruve || 36 || akārādikṣakārāntaiḥ svarairvarṇaistu yojitaiḥ | asaṃkhyeyāni nāmāni bhavanti raghunandana || 37 || rāma uvāca vidhiṃ me brūhi viprarṣe vratasyāsya samāsataḥ | karomyadyaiva śraddhāvāñchrīdevyāḥ pūjanaṃ tathā || 38 || nārada uvāca pīṭhaṃ kṛtvā same sthāne saṃsthāpya jagadambikām | upavāsānnavaiva tvaṃ kuru rāma vidhānataḥ || 39 || ācāryo'haṃ bhaviṣyāmi karmaṇyasminmahīpate | devakāryavidhānārthamutsāhaṃ prakaromyaham || 40 || vyāsa uvāca tacchrutvā vacanaṃ satyaṃ matvā rāmaḥ pratāpavān | kārayitvā śubhaṃ pīṭhaṃ sthāpayitvāmbikāṃ śivām || 41 || vidhivatpūjanaṃ tasyāścakāra vratavān hariḥ | samprāpte cāśvine māsi tasmingirivare tadā || 42 || upavāsaparo rāmaḥ kṛtavānvratamuttamam | homañca vidhivattatra balidānañca pūjanam || 43 || bhrātarau cakratuḥ premṇā vrataṃ nāradasammatam | aṣṭamyāṃ madhyarātre tu devī bhagavatī hi sā || 44 || siṃhārūḍhā dadau tatra darśanaṃ pratipūjitā | giriśṛṅge sthitovāca rāghavaṃ sānujaṃ girā || 45 || meghagambhīrayā cedaṃ bhaktibhāvena toṣitā | devyuvāca rāma rāma mahābāho tuṣṭā'smyadma vratena te || 46 || prārthayasva varaṃ kāmaṃ yatte manasi vartate | nārāyaṇāṃśasambhūtastvaṃ vaṃśe mānave'naghe || 47 || rāvaṇasya vadhāyaiva prārthitastvamarairasi | purā matsyatanuṃ kṛtvā hatvā ghorañca rākṣasam || 48 || tvayā vai rakṣitā vedāḥ surāṇāṃ hitamicchatā | bhūtvā kacchaparūpastu dhṛtavānmandaraṃ girim || 49 || akūpāraṃ pramanthānaṃ kṛtvā devānapoṣayaḥ | kolarūpaṃ paraṃ kṛtvā daśanāgreṇa medinīm || 50 || dhṛtavānasi yadrāma hiraṇyākṣaṃ jaghāna ca | nārasiṃhīṃ tanuṃ kṛtvā hiraṇyakaśipuṃ purā || 51 || prahlādaṃ rāma rakṣitvā hatavānasi rāghava | vāmanaṃ vapurāsthāya purā chalitavānbalim || 52 || bhūtvendrasyānujaḥ kāmaṃ devakāryaprasādhakaḥ | jamadagnisutastvaṃ me viṣṇoraṃśena saṅgataḥ || 53 || kṛtvāntaṃ kṣatriyāṇāṃ tu dānaṃ bhūmeradāddvije | tathedānīṃ tu kākutstha jāto daśarathātmaja || 54 || prārthitastu suraiḥ sarvai rāvaṇenātipīḍitaiḥ | kapayaste sahāyā vai devāṃśā balavattarāḥ || 55 || bhaviṣyanti naravyāghra macchaktisaṃyutā hyamī | śeṣāṃśo'pyanujaste'yaṃ rāvaṇātmajanāśakaḥ || 56 || bhaviṣyati na sandehaḥ kartavyo'tra tvayā'nagha | vasante sevanaṃ kāryaṃ tvayā tatrātiśraddhayā || 57 || hatvā'tha rāvaṇaṃ pāpaṃ kuru rājyaṃ yathāsukham | ekādaśa sahasrāṇi varṣāṇi pṛthivītale || 58 || kṛtvā rājyaṃ raghuśreṣṭha gantā'si tridivaṃ punaḥ | vyāsa uvāca ityuktvāntardadhe devī rāmastu prītamānasaḥ || 59 || samāpya tadvrataṃ cakre prayāṇaṃ daśamīdine | vijayāpūjanaṃ kṛtvā dattvā dānānyanekaśaḥ || 60 || kapipatibalayuktaḥ sānujaḥ śrīpatiśca prakaṭaparamaśaktyā preritaḥ pūrṇakāmaḥ | udadhitaṭagato'sau setubandhaṃ vidhāyā- pyahanadamaraśatruṃ rāvaṇaṃ gītakīrtiḥ || 61 || yaḥ śṛṇoti naro bhaktyā devyāścaritamuttamam | sa bhuktvā vipulānbhogānprāpnoti paramaṃ padam || 62 || santyanyāni purāṇāni vistarāṇi bahūni ca | śrīmadbhāgavatasyāsya na tulyānīti me matiḥ || 63 ||
English translation
1-2. Vyasa said O king! Rama and Laksmana, discussing thus, remained silent; when the Risi Narada appeared there from the sky above, singing the Rathantara Sama Veda hymns in tune and musical gamut with his renowned lute.
3-4. Ramachandra, of indomitable prowess, on beholding him rose up from his seat and gave him quickly an excellent seat and offerings of water for washing his feet. Then he worshipped the Muni and stood with folded hands. When the Muni ordered him, he took his seat close by Narada.
5-8. On Ramachandra taking his seat there with Laksmana with a grievous heart, Narada asked him in a sweet tone “O Descendant of Raghu! Why are you being afflicted with sorrows like an ordinary mortal? I know that the evil minded Ravana has stolen Sita Devi. I heard while in the heavens that Ravana, the descendant of Pulastya, stole away Janaki, out of fascination, could not know that would be the cause of his death. O Descendant in the family of Kakutstha! It is for the killing of Ravana that your birth has taken place; and for that purpose Janaki has been stolen now.
Note The real Janaki was not stolen; Her shadow form was stolen.
9-12. O Raghava! The Devi Janaki, in her previous birth, was the daughter of a Muni and practised asceticism. While engaged in her austerities, in her holy hermitage, Ravana came and looking at her, prayed that beautiful woman to become his wife. Hearing this, she gave a good reproach to Ravana, when he perforce caught hold of her hairs. That ascetic woman got very angry, and, considering her body polluted by the devil’s contact, resolved to put an end to her life and cursed Ravana, thus “O Villain! I will be born on the surface of the earth, not from any womb but simply for your destruction and ruin.” Thus saying, she parted with her life.
13. O Tormentor of the foes! Ravana, the king of the Raksasas, mistook a garland for the extremely poisonous serpent and has stolen away Sita Devi, the part incarnation of Laksmi, in order to root out his race.
14. O Kakutstha! When the Devas prayed for the destruction of that wicked insolent Ravana, difficult to be subdued, you are born on this earth, in the family of Aja, as a part incarnate of Hah, beyond birth, old age and death.
15. O mighty-armed! Have patience; Sita Devi is meditating you, day and night.
16-17. Indra himself, the king of the Devas, sends the nectar and the Heavenly Cow’s Milk in a pot to Her daily; and She subsists on that, alone.
O Lord! On drinking the Heavenly Cow’s Milk, the lotus eyed Sita Devi is living without any hunger or thirst! I use to see Her daily.
18. O Descendant of Raghu! I am now telling how that Ravana can be killed. Perform, in this very month of AsVin, the vow with devotion.
19. Fasting for nine nights, the worship of the Bhagavati, and repeating the Mantram silently and performing the Homa ceremony, observing all the rules, will certainly fulfill one’s all the desires.
20. O the best in the race of Raghu! You should offer the sacrifice before the Goddess of a sacred and unblameable animal, perform Japam and Homa ceremony equivalent to one-tenth of Japam. If you do all this, you will certainly be able to release Sita.
21. In days of yore, Visnu, S’iva and Brahma and the Devas in the Heavens all performed this worship of the Goddess.
22. Therefore, O Raghava! Every person desiring happiness, specially those that have fallen under great difficulties, ought to do this auspicious ceremony, without the least hesitation.
23-24. O Kakutstha! Vis’vamitra, Bhrigu, Vas’istha and Kas’yapa all of them did this worship before. When some stole away the wife of Brihaspati, the Guru of the Devas, he, too, by the force of this worship, got his wife back. Therefore O king! dost thou also celebrate the Puja for the destruction of Ravana.
25-26. O high minded one! This vow was practised before by Indra for the destruction of Vritra, by S’iva for killing the demon Tripura, by Narayana for the killing of the demons Madhu and Kaitava; so you should also firmly resolve to perform duly this vow with your whole heart.”
27. Rama replied “O Ocean of Knowledge! Who is that Devi? What is Her influence; whence has She sprung? What is Her Name? And how is that vow to be duly observed? Kindly describe all these to me in detail.”
28. Narada answered “Listen, O Raghava! That Goddess is Eternal and Ever Constant Primordial Force. If you worship Her, all your difficulties will be removed and all your desires will be fulfilled.
29. She is the source of Brahma, Visnu and others and of all these living beings. Without Her force, no body would be able even to move their limbs.
30. That Supreme Auspicious Goddess is the preserving energy of Visnu, is the creative power of Brahma, and is the destroying force of S’iva.
31. Whatever there exists in this infinite Universe, whether Temporal or Eternal, She is the Underlying Force of all; how, then, can She have an origin!
32-33. Her origin is not Brahma, Visnu, Mahes’a, Sun, Indra, or the other Devas, not this Earth nor this Upholder of the Earth; She is
devoid of any qualities, the Giver of Salvation of all, the Full Prakriti. In the time of the final dissolution of this Universe, She lives with the Supreme Purusa.
34. She is also Saguna, full of qualities, and is the Creatrix of Brahma, Visnu and Mahes’a, and has empowered them, in every way, to create the three Lokas.
35. She is the Supreme Knowledge, existing before the Vedas, and the Originator of the Vedas. The individual souls, knowing Her Nature, become able to free themselves from the bondages of the world.
36. She is known by endless names. The Brahma, and the other Devas might choose to call Her according to their actions and qualities. I am unable to describe those names.
37. O descendant in the race of Raghu! Her endless names are formed by the various combinations of the various vowels and consonants from the letter ‘A’ to the letter ‘Ksa.’”
38. Rama said “O best of the Munis! Describe briefly all the rules and regulations as to how that vow and worship are to be performed. With my heart, full of devotion and faith, I will worship the Goddess today.”
39. Narada said “O Raghava! On a level plot of ground, prepare an altar. Place the Goddess there and fast for nine days.
40. O king! I will be your priest and I will, with great energy, carry out this yajha to fullfil the work of the Gods.”
41-42. Vyasa said Then the powerful Bhagavan Hah, hearing all fronn the Muni, believed them to be true; and, on the approach of the month of AsVin, prepared the altar on the top of a hill and placed the Auspicious Goddess, the World Mother and, observing all the rules, performed the vow and worshipped the Goddess.
43. Fasting for nine days, Rama celebrated the vow and duly offered sacrifices, performed the worship and Homa ceremonies.
44-46. When, on the grand night of the Eighth lunar day, the two brothers completed the vow as told by Narada, the Supreme Bhagavati was pleased with the worship and appeared before them, mounted on a lion, and remaining there on the mountain top, addressed Rama and Laksmana, in a sweet grave tone, like the rumbling of a rain cloud, thus “Rama, I am satisfied with your worship; ask from me what you desire.
47. Rama! You are sent by the gods for the destruction of Ravana and are born as a part incarnate of Narayana, in the pure and stainless family of Manu.
48. It is You that, in ancient times, incarnated as a fish for serving the purpose of the Devas and preserved the Vedas by killing the terrible Raksasas for the welfare of the Universe.
49. It is You that incarnated as a tortoise and held aloft the Mandara mountain, churned the ocean and nourished the Devas.
50-51. O Rama! It is You that incarnated, in days of yore, as a boar and held aloft on your teeth this earth. It is You that assumed the form of a Man-Lion and preserved Prahlada, by tearing asunder the body of Hiranya Kas’ipu, by Your sharp nails.
52. O Descent of Raghu! It is You that assumed, in ancient times, the form of a dwarf and served the purpose of the Devas, by deceitfully cheating Bali, the younger of Indra.
53. O son of Kaus’alya! You incarnated as the son of Jamadagni in the Brahmin family, extirpated the line of Ksattriya kings and gave over this whole earth to Bhagavan Kas’yapa Risi.
54. So You are now born as the son of Das’aratha, in the stainless race of Kakutstha, at the request of the Devas, harassed by Ravana.
55-56. These powerful monkeys, born as Deva incarnates, all endowed with great power by Me, will help you. Your younger Laksmana is the incarnate of S’esa serpent; this indomitable man will kill undoubtedly Indragit, the son of Ravana.
57. You will kill Ravana; then you would worship Me, with great devotion, in the vernal season and then enjoy your kingdom according to your liking.
58. O best of the Raghus! For full eleven thousand years you will reign on this earth; and after that reenter your heavenly abode.”
59. Vyasa said O king! Thus saying, the Devi disappeared. Rama Chandra became very glad and, completing that most auspicious ceremony, performed the Bejoya Puja on the tenth day and gave lots of presents to Narada and made him go towards the ocean.
60-61. O king! Thus stimulated by the Supreme Energy, the Highest Goddess brought front to front, Ramachandra, the husband of Kamala, went to the shores of the ocean, accompanied by Laksmana and the monkeys. Then he erected the bridge across the ocean and killed Ravana, the enemy of the gods. His unparalleled fame spread everywhere throughout the three Lokas.
62. He who hears with devotion this excellent account of the Devi, will get the greatest happiness in this world, and, in the end, will get the final beatitude. There is no doubt in this.
63. O king! There are extant many other Puranas, but none is equal to this S’ri Mad Devi Bhagavatam. Know, this is my firm belief.
Here ends the thirtieth chapter on the narration of the Navaratra ceremony by Narada and the performance of that by Rama Chandra in the 3rd Adhyaya in S’ri Mad Devi Bhagavatam of 18,000 verses by Maharsi Veda Vyasa. Here ends the Third Book.
The Third Skandha completed.
Complete chapter-aligned witnesses. Sanskrit Wikisource page 24755, revision 75609 (2016-08-03T12:44:20Z). 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/bk03ch30.htm. Historic spelling and transliteration are lightly normalized; no verse-by-verse alignment is asserted.