HomeDevi MahatmyaShakti PeethasNavratriAartisAbout

Devi Mahatmya / Chapter 13

Chapter 13 · Markandeya Purana canto 93

The Devi-mahatmya (concluded)

वरप्रदानं नाम

29 verses.

Verses follow the standard 700-verse numbering of the Durga Saptashati. Pargiter numbered the Purana differently, so his English was matched to each Sanskrit verse by its content; at a few joins a word or two may sit with the neighbouring verse. Lines found only in some printed editions are marked.

Artist's impression of this chapter.
Artist's impression.

Verses 1 to 10

1ऋषिरुवाच ॥

1The rishi spoke:

2एतत्ते कथितं भूप देवीमाहात्म्यमुत्तमम् । एवंप्रभावा सा देवी ययेदं धार्यते जगत् ॥

2I have now related to thee, O king, this sublime poem the Devi-mahatmya. Such majestic power has the goddess, by whom this world is upheld.

3विद्या तथैव क्रियते भगवद्विष्णुमायया । तथा त्वमेष वैश्यश्च तथैवान्ये विवेकिनः ॥

3Moreover knowledge is conferred by her who is the adorable Vishnu’s Illusive power. By her thou and this vaisya and

4मोह्यन्ते मोहिताश्चैव मोहमेष्यन्ति चापरे । तामुपैहि महाराज शरणं परमेश्वरीम् ॥

4other men of discrimination, and celebrated men are bewitched; and others shall become bewitched. Go unto her, the supreme queen, as to a place of refuge, O great king.

5आराधिता सैव नृणां भोगस्वर्गापवर्गदा ॥

5She indeed, when propitiated by men, bestows enjoyment, Svarga and final emancipation from existence.

6मार्कण्डेय उवाच ॥

6Markandeya spoke:

7इति तस्य वचः श्रुत्वा सुरथः स नराधिपः ॥

7Having heard this his speech, king Su-ratha fell prostrate

8प्रणिपत्य महाभागं तमृषिं शंसितव्रतम् । निर्विण्णोऽतिममत्वेन राज्यापहरणेन च ॥

8before the illustrious rishi who performed severe penances, and being down-cast by his excessive regard for self and by the deprivation of his kingdom,

9जगम सद्यस्तपसे स च वैश्यो महामुने । संदर्शनार्थमम्बाया नदीपुलिनसंस्थितः ॥

9went forthwith to perform austerities; and the vaisya, O great muni, in order to get a vision of Amba,

10स च वैश्यस्तपस्तेपे देवीसूक्तं परं जपन् । तौ तस्मिन् पिलिने देव्याः कृत्वा मूर्ति महीमयीम् ॥

10took up his station on a sand-bank in a river; and the vaisya practised austerities, muttering the sublime hymn to the goddess. They both made an earthen image of the goddess on that sand-bank,

Verses 11 to 20

11अर्हणां चक्रतुस्तस्याः पुष्पधूपाग्नितर्पणैः । निराहारौ यतात्मानौ तन्मनस्कौ समाहितौ ॥

11and paid worship to it with flowers, incense, fire and libations of water. Abstaining from food, restricting their food,

12ददतुस्तौ बलिं चैव निजगात्रासृगुक्षितम् । एवं समाराधयतोस्त्रिभिर्वर्षैर्यतात्मनोः ॥

12concentrating their minds on her, keeping their thoughts composed, they both offered the bali offering also sprinkled with blood drawn from their own limbs.

13परितुष्टा जगद्धात्री प्रत्यक्षं प्राह चण्डिका ॥

13When they continued with subdued souls to propitiate her thus for three years, C'andika, who upholds the world, well-pleased spoke in visible shape.

14श्रीदेव्युवाच ॥

14The goddess spoke:

15यत्प्रार्थ्यते त्वया भूप त्वया च कुलनन्दन । मत्तस्तत्प्राप्यतां सर्वं परितुष्टा ददामि तत् ॥

15What thou dost solicit, O king, and thou O rejoicer of thy family, receive ye all that from me; well-pleased I bestow it.

16मार्कण्डेय उवाच ॥

16Markandeya spoke:

17ततो वव्रे नृपो राज्यमविभ्रंश्यन्यजन्मनि । अत्रैव च निजं राज्यं हतशत्रुबलं बलात् ॥

17Then the king chose a kingdom that should not perish in another life, and in this life his own kingdom wherein the power of his enemies should be destroyed by force.

18सोऽपि वैश्यस्ततो ज्ञानं वव्रे निर्विण्णमानसः । ममेत्यहमिति प्राज्ञः सङ्गविच्युतिकारकम् ॥

18Then the vaisya also, whose mind was down-cast, chose knowledge,—to be wise, knowing ‘what is mine,’ and ‘what I am,’—knowledge that causes the downfall of worldly attachments.

19श्रीदेव्युवाच ॥

19The goddess spoke:

20स्वल्पैरहोभिर्नृपते स्वं राज्यं प्राप्स्यते भवान् ॥

20O king, thou shalt obtain thine own kingdom in a very few days,

Verses 21 to 29

21हत्वा रिपूनस्खलितं तव तत्र भविष्यति ॥

21after slaying thine enemies; it shall be steadfast for thee there;

22मृतश्च भूयः सम्प्राप्य जन्म देवाद्विवस्वतः ॥

22and when dead thou shalt gain another life from the god Vivasvat,

23सावर्णिको नाम मनुर्भवान् भुवि भविष्यति ॥

23and shalt be a Manu on earth, by name Savarnika,

24वैश्यवर्य त्वया यश्च वरोऽस्मत्तोऽभिवाञ्छतः ॥

24And O excellent vaisya, I bestow on thee the boon which thou hast besought of me;

25तं प्रयच्छामि संसिद्ध्यै तव ज्ञानं भविष्यति ॥

25knowledge shall be thine unto full perfection.

26मार्कण्डेय उवाच ॥

26Markandeya spoke:

27इति दत्त्वा तयोर्देवी यथाभिलषितं वरम् ॥

27Having thus given them both the boon that each desired,

28बभूवान्तर्हिता सद्यो भक्त्या ताभ्यामभिष्टुता । एवं देव्या वरं लब्ध्वा सुरथः क्षत्रियर्षभः ॥

28the goddess vanished forthwith, while extolled by them both in faith. Having thus gained the boon from the goddess, Su-ratha the noble kshattriya

29सूर्याज्जन्म समासाद्य सावर्णिर्भविता मनुः ॥

29shall obtain a new birth through the Sun, and shall be the Manu Savarni.

← Chapter 12Close with an aarti →