Chapter 12: The fruits of reciting the Devi's glory

एभिः स्तवैश्च मां नित्यं स्तोष्यते यः समाहितः ।
तस्याहं सकलां बाधां नाशयिष्याम्यसंशयम्

ebhiḥ stavaiśca māṃ nityaṃ stoṣyate yaḥ samāhitaḥ |
tasyāhaṃ sakalāṃ bādhāṃ nāśayiṣyāmyasaṃśayam

The Devi said: Whoever, with a collected mind, praises me constantly with these hymns, I shall without doubt destroy every trouble of his.

मधुकैटभानाशं च महिषासुरघातनम् ।
कीर्तयिष्यिन्ति ये तद्वद् वधं शुम्भनिशुम्भयोः

madhukaiṭabhānāśaṃ ca mahiṣāsuraghātanam |
kīrtayiṣyinti ye tadvad vadhaṃ śumbhaniśumbhayoḥ

And those who recite the destruction of Madhu and Kaitabha, the slaying of Mahishasura, and likewise the slaying of Shumbha and Nishumbha,

अष्टम्यां च चतुर्दश्यां नवम्यां चैकचेतसः ।
स्तोष्यन्ति चैव ये भक्त्या मम माहात्म्यमुत्तमम्

aṣṭamyāṃ ca caturdaśyāṃ navamyāṃ caikacetasaḥ |
stoṣyanti caiva ye bhaktyā mama māhātmyamuttamam

and those who with one-pointed mind and devotion will hear my supreme Mahatmya on the eighth, the ninth and the fourteenth days of the lunar fortnight,

न तेषां दुष्कृतं किञ्चिद् दुष्कृतोत्था न चापदः ।
भविष्यति न दारिद्रयं न चैवेष्टवियोजनम्

na teṣāṃ duṣkṛtaṃ kiñcid duṣkṛtotthā na cāpadaḥ |
bhaviṣyati na dāridrayaṃ na caiveṣṭaviyojanam

for them there will be no sin at all, nor misfortunes born of sin, nor poverty, nor separation from those they love.

शत्रुतो न भयं तस्य दस्युतो वा न राजतः ।
न शस्त्रानलतोयौघात् कदाचित् सम्भविष्यति

śatruto na bhayaṃ tasya dasyuto vā na rājataḥ |
na śastrānalatoyaughāt kadācit sambhaviṣyati

He will never have fear from enemies, robbers or kings, nor from weapons, fire or floods.

तस्मान्ममैतन्माहात्म्यं पठितव्यं सहाहितैः ।
श्रोतव्यं च सदा भक्त्या परं स्वस्त्ययनं महत्

tasmānmamaitanmāhātmyaṃ paṭhitavyaṃ sahāhitaiḥ |
śrotavyaṃ ca sadā bhaktyā paraṃ svastyayanaṃ mahat

Therefore this Mahatmya of mine should be recited with a concentrated mind and always heard with devotion, for it is the supreme and great path to well-being.

उपसर्गानशेषांस्तु महामारीसमुद्भवान् ।
तथा त्रिविधमुत्पातं माहात्म्यं शमयेन्मम

upasargānaśeṣāṃstu mahāmārīsamudbhavān |
tathā trividhamutpātaṃ māhātmyaṃ śamayenmama

My Mahatmya will quell all calamities arising from great epidemics, and the threefold portents, those of earth, sky and heaven.

यत्रैतत् पठ्यते सम्यङ्नित्यमायतने मम ।
सदा न तद्विमोक्ष्यामि सांनिध्यं तत्र मे स्थितम्

yatraitat paṭhyate samyaṅnityamāyatane mama |
sadā na tadvimokṣyāmi sāṃnidhyaṃ tatra me sthitam

Where this is duly recited every day in my shrine, that place I never forsake. My presence remains there always.

बलिप्रदाने पूजायामग्निकार्ये महोत्सवे ।
सर्वं ममैतच्चरितमुच्चार्यं श्राव्यमेव च

balipradāne pūjāyāmagnikārye mahotsave |
sarvaṃ mamaitaccaritamuccāryaṃ śrāvyameva ca

At the offering of bali, in worship, in the fire ritual and at great festivals, this whole account of my deeds should be recited and heard.

जानताजानता वापि बलिपूजां तथा कृताम् ।
प्रतीच्छिष्याम्यहं प्रीत्या वह्निहोमं तथा कृतम्

jānatājānatā vāpi balipūjāṃ tathā kṛtām |
pratīcchiṣyāmyahaṃ prītyā vahnihomaṃ tathā kṛtam

Whether the offering and worship are done with knowledge of the rite or without it, and so too the fire oblation, I shall accept it with love.

शरत्काले महापूजा क्रियते या च वार्षिकी ।
तस्यां ममैतन्माहात्म्यं श्रुत्वा भक्तिसमन्वितः

śaratkāle mahāpūjā kriyate yā ca vārṣikī |
tasyāṃ mamaitanmāhātmyaṃ śrutvā bhaktisamanvitaḥ

In the great annual worship performed in the autumn season, the one who hears this Mahatmya of mine with devotion

सर्वबाधाविनिर्मृक्तो धनधान्यसमन्वितः ।
मनुष्यो मत्प्रसादेन भविष्यति न संशयः

sarvabādhāvinirmṛkto dhanadhānyasamanvitaḥ |
manuṣyo matprasādena bhaviṣyati na saṃśayaḥ

will by my grace be freed from all troubles and blessed with wealth and grain. Of this there is no doubt.

श्रुत्वा ममैतन्माहात्म्यं तथोत्पत्तीः पृथक् शुभाः ।
पराक्रमं च युद्धेषु जायते निर्भयः पुमान्

śrutvā mamaitanmāhātmyaṃ tathotpattīḥ pṛthak śubhāḥ |
parākramaṃ ca yuddheṣu jāyate nirbhayaḥ pumān

Hearing this Mahatmya of mine, the auspicious accounts of my several manifestations and my valour in battles, a man becomes fearless.

रिपवः संक्षयं यान्ति कल्याणं चोपपद्यते ।
नन्दते च कुलं पुंसां माहात्म्यं मम शृण्वताम्

ripavaḥ saṃkṣayaṃ yānti kalyāṇaṃ copapadyate |
nandate ca kulaṃ puṃsāṃ māhātmyaṃ mama śṛṇvatām

Enemies perish, welfare comes, and the family rejoices for those who listen to my Mahatmya.

शान्तिकर्मणि सर्वत्र तथा दुः स्वप्नदर्शने ।
ग्रहपीडासु चोग्रासु माहात्म्यं शृणुयान्मम

śāntikarmaṇi sarvatra tathā duḥ svapnadarśane |
grahapīḍāsu cogrāsu māhātmyaṃ śṛṇuyānmama

In every rite for peace, on seeing an evil dream, and in the fierce afflictions of the planets, one should hear my Mahatmya.

उपसर्गाः शमं यान्ति ग्रहपीडाश्च दारुणाः ।
दुः स्वप्नं च नृभिर्दृष्टं सुस्वप्नमुपजायते

upasargāḥ śamaṃ yānti grahapīḍāśca dāruṇāḥ |
duḥ svapnaṃ ca nṛbhirdṛṣṭaṃ susvapnamupajāyate

Calamities and dreadful planetary afflictions are calmed, and the evil dream that men have seen turns into a good one.

बालग्रहाभिभूतानां बालानां शान्तिकारकम् ।
संघातभेदे च नृणां मैत्रीकरणमुत्तमम्

bālagrahābhibhūtānāṃ bālānāṃ śāntikārakam |
saṃghātabhede ca nṛṇāṃ maitrīkaraṇamuttamam

It brings peace to children seized by the evil spirits that afflict the young, and it is the best means of restoring friendship when men fall apart.

दुर्वृत्तानामशेषाणां बलहानिकरं परम् ।
रक्षोभूतपिशाचानां पठनादेव नाशनम्

durvṛttānāmaśeṣāṇāṃ balahānikaraṃ param |
rakṣobhūtapiśācānāṃ paṭhanādeva nāśanam

It saps the strength of all the wicked, and by its mere recitation rakshasas, bhutas and pishachas are destroyed.

सर्वं ममैतन्माहात्म्यं मम सन्निधिकारकम्

sarvaṃ mamaitanmāhātmyaṃ mama sannidhikārakam

This entire Mahatmya of mine brings about my presence.

पशुपुष्पार्घ्यधूपैश्च गन्धदीपैस्तथोत्तमैः ।
विप्राणां भोजनैर्हेमैः प्रोक्षणीयैरहर्निशम्

paśupuṣpārghyadhūpaiśca gandhadīpaistathottamaiḥ |
viprāṇāṃ bhojanairhemaiḥ prokṣaṇīyairaharniśam

With animals, flowers, arghya and incense, with fine perfumes and lamps, by feeding brahmanas, with gold and with holy waters for sprinkling, day and night,

अन्यैश्च विविधैर्भोगैः प्रदानैर्वत्सरेण या ।
प्रीतिर्मे क्रियते सास्मिन् सकृत्सुचरिते श्रुते

anyaiśca vividhairbhogaiḥ pradānairvatsareṇa yā |
prītirme kriyate sāsmin sakṛtsucarite śrute

and with various other offerings and gifts for a whole year, the delight I receive is given to me by hearing this sacred account even once.

श्रुतं हरति पापानि तथाऽरोग्यं प्रयच्छति ।
रक्षां करोति भूतेभ्यो जन्मनां कीर्तनं मम

śrutaṃ harati pāpāni tathā'rogyaṃ prayacchati |
rakṣāṃ karoti bhūtebhyo janmanāṃ kīrtanaṃ mama

Heard, the recital of my manifestations takes away sins, grants health and gives protection from evil beings.

युद्धेषु चरितं यन्मे दुष्टदैत्यनिबर्हणम् ।
तस्मिन् श्रुते वैरिकृतं भयं पुंसां न जायते

yuddheṣu caritaṃ yanme duṣṭadaityanibarhaṇam |
tasmin śrute vairikṛtaṃ bhayaṃ puṃsāṃ na jāyate

When my deeds in battle, the slaying of the wicked daityas, are heard, men have no fear from enemies.

युष्माभिः स्तुतयो याश्च याश्च ब्रह्मर्षिभिः कृताः ।
ब्रह्मणा च कृतास्तास्तु प्रयच्छन्ति शुभां गतिम्

yuṣmābhiḥ stutayo yāśca yāśca brahmarṣibhiḥ kṛtāḥ |
brahmaṇā ca kṛtāstāstu prayacchanti śubhāṃ gatim

The hymns you have sung, those sung by the brahmarshis and those sung by Brahma, grant an auspicious state.

अरण्ये प्रान्तरे वापि दावाग्निपरिवारितः ।
दस्युभिर्वा वृतः शून्ये गृहीतो वापि शत्रुभिः

araṇye prāntare vāpi dāvāgniparivāritaḥ |
dasyubhirvā vṛtaḥ śūnye gṛhīto vāpi śatrubhiḥ

In a forest or a wilderness, surrounded by a forest fire, hemmed in by robbers in a lonely place, or seized by enemies,

सिंहव्याघ्रानुयातो वा वने वा वनहस्तिभिः ।
राज्ञा क्रुद्धेन चाज्ञप्तो वध्यो बन्धगतोऽपि वा

siṃhavyāghrānuyāto vā vane vā vanahastibhiḥ |
rājñā kruddhena cājñapto vadhyo bandhagato'pi vā

pursued by lions or tigers, or by wild elephants in the forest, ordered to be killed by an angry king, or cast into bonds,

आघूर्णितो वा वातेन स्थितः पोते महार्णवे ।
पतत्सु चापि शस्त्रेषु संग्रामे भृशदारुणे

āghūrṇito vā vātena sthitaḥ pote mahārṇave |
patatsu cāpi śastreṣu saṃgrāme bhṛśadāruṇe

tossed by the wind while on a ship in the great ocean, or when weapons are raining down in a most terrible battle,

सर्वाबाधासु घोरासु वेदनाभ्यर्दितोऽपि वा ।
स्मरन्ममैतच्छरितं नरो मुच्येत सङ्कटात्

sarvābādhāsu ghorāsu vedanābhyardito'pi vā |
smaranmamaitaccharitaṃ naro mucyeta saṅkaṭāt

in all dreadful troubles, or when tormented by pain, a man who remembers this account of mine is released from his peril.

मम प्रभावात्सिंहाद्या दस्यवो वैरिणस्तथा ।
दूरादेव पलायन्ते स्मरतश्चरितं मम

mama prabhāvātsiṃhādyā dasyavo vairiṇastathā |
dūrādeva palāyante smarataścaritaṃ mama

By my power, lions and other beasts, robbers and enemies flee far away from one who remembers my deeds.

इत्युक्त्वा सा भगवती चण्डिका चण्डविक्रमा ।
पश्यतामेव देवानां तत्रैवान्तरधीयत

ityuktvā sā bhagavatī caṇḍikā caṇḍavikramā |
paśyatāmeva devānāṃ tatraivāntaradhīyata

The Rishi said: Having spoken thus, Bhagavati Chandika, of fierce valour, vanished from that very spot even as the gods looked on.

तेऽपि देव्या निरातङ्का स्वाधिकारान् यथा पुरा ।
यज्ञभागभुजः सर्वे चक्रुर्विनिहतारयः

te'pi devyā nirātaṅkā svādhikārān yathā purā |
yajñabhāgabhujaḥ sarve cakrurvinihatārayaḥ

The gods too, freed of fear by the Devi, their enemies slain, all resumed their own offices as before and again enjoyed their shares of the yajna.

दैत्याश्च देव्या निहते शुम्भे देवरिपौ युधि ।
जगद्विध्वंसके तस्मिन् महोग्रेऽतुलविक्रमे ।
निशुम्भे च महावीर्ये शेषाः पातालमाययुः

daityāśca devyā nihate śumbhe devaripau yudhi |
jagadvidhvaṃsake tasmin mahogre'tulavikrame |
niśumbhe ca mahāvīrye śeṣāḥ pātālamāyayuḥ

When the Devi had slain in battle Shumbha, the foe of the gods, destroyer of the world, exceedingly fierce and of matchless valour, and the mighty Nishumbha, the daityas who remained went down to Patala.

एवं भगवती देवी सा नित्यापि पुनः पुनः ।
सम्भूय कुरुते भूप जगतः परिपालनम्

evaṃ bhagavatī devī sā nityāpi punaḥ punaḥ |
sambhūya kurute bhūpa jagataḥ paripālanam

Thus, O King, the Bhagavati Devi, though eternal, manifests again and again and protects the world.

तयैतन्मोह्यते विश्वं सैव विश्वं प्रसूयते ।
सा याचिता च विज्ञानं तुष्टा ऋद्धिं प्रयच्छति

tayaitanmohyate viśvaṃ saiva viśvaṃ prasūyate |
sā yācitā ca vijñānaṃ tuṣṭā ṛddhiṃ prayacchati

By her this universe is deluded, and she herself gives birth to it. When entreated she grants spiritual knowledge, and when pleased she bestows prosperity.

व्याप्तं तयैतत्सकलं ब्रह्माण्डं मनुजेश्वर ।
महाकाल्या महाकाले महामारीस्वरूपया

vyāptaṃ tayaitatsakalaṃ brahmāṇḍaṃ manujeśvara |
mahākālyā mahākāle mahāmārīsvarūpayā

O lord of men, this entire cosmic egg is pervaded by her, Mahakali, who at the time of dissolution takes the form of the great destroyer.

सैव काले महामारी सैव सृष्टिर्भवत्यजा ।
स्थितिं करोति भूतानां सैव काले सनातनी

saiva kāle mahāmārī saiva sṛṣṭirbhavatyajā |
sthitiṃ karoti bhūtānāṃ saiva kāle sanātanī

At the destined time she is the great pestilence; she, the unborn, becomes creation; and she, the eternal, sustains beings in their time.

भवकाले नृणां सैव लक्ष्मीर्वृद्धिप्रदा गृहे ।
सैवाभावे तथालक्ष्मीर्विनाशायोपजायते

bhavakāle nṛṇāṃ saiva lakṣmīrvṛddhipradā gṛhe |
saivābhāve tathālakṣmīrvināśāyopajāyate

In times of prosperity she is Lakshmi in men's homes, granting increase; and in times of ruin she becomes Alakshmi, bringing destruction.

स्तुता सम्पूजिता पुष्पैर्धूपगन्धादिबिस्तथा ।
ददाति वित्तं पुत्रांश्च मतिं धर्मे गतिं शुभाम्

stutā sampūjitā puṣpairdhūpagandhādibistathā |
dadāti vittaṃ putrāṃśca matiṃ dharme gatiṃ śubhām

Praised and worshipped with flowers, incense, perfume and the like, she grants wealth and sons, a mind set on dharma and an auspicious end.