ଭଗଵତୀଵାକ୍ଯ (ଫଲଶ୍ରୁତି)

Meaning(Om. The Devi said:) 'Whoever, with concentrated mind, shall ever praise me with these hymns — for him I shall, without doubt, quell every calamity.

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

Meaningand those who, with single-minded devotion, shall listen to this my supreme glory (Mahatmya) on the eighth, the fourteenth and the ninth (lunar days) —

Meaningfor them there shall be no evil deed of any kind, nor calamities arising from misdeeds; nor poverty, nor separation from loved ones.

MeaningHe shall have no fear from enemies, nor from robbers, nor from kings; never shall harm befall him from weapons, fire or floods of water.

MeaningTherefore this my Mahatmya should be recited by the concentrated, and ever listened to with devotion; it is the supreme, great cause of well-being.

MeaningMay my Mahatmya quell all the calamities born of great pestilence (mahamari), and the threefold portents (utpata).

MeaningWhere this is duly recited ever in my sanctuary, there I shall never forsake (that place); my presence stands fixed there.

MeaningAt the offering of bali (sacrifice), at worship, in the fire-rite and at a great festival — all this my Mahatmya is to be recited and to be heard.

MeaningThe bali and worship offered, whether knowingly or unknowingly, and the fire-oblation thus made, I shall accept with love (favour).

MeaningWhoever, full of devotion, has heard this my Mahatmya at the great annual worship performed in the autumn season —

Meaningthat person shall, by my grace, become freed from all calamities and endowed with wealth and grain; of this there is no doubt.

MeaningHaving heard this my Mahatmya, and likewise my auspicious manifestations and my prowess in battles, a man becomes fearless.

MeaningHis enemies go to destruction, welfare accrues, and the family of those who listen to my Mahatmya rejoices.

MeaningEverywhere — in the rite of propitiation (shanti-karma), at the seeing of evil dreams, and amid fierce planetary afflictions — let one listen to my Mahatmya.

MeaningThe calamities subside, and the dreadful planetary afflictions; and the evil dream seen by men turns into a good dream.

MeaningIt brings peace to children possessed by child-seizing spirits (bala-grahas); it is the best maker of friendship among men where there is a breach.

MeaningIt is the supreme reducer of the strength of all the wicked; by its mere recitation comes the destruction of rakshasas, bhutas and pishachas.

MeaningAll this my Mahatmya brings my presence near. And by (offerings of) cattle, flowers, arghya, incense, and excellent perfumes and lamps,

Meaningby the feeding of brahmanas, by oblations and sprinkling-rites, by day and night, and by various other enjoyments and gifts, through a whole year —

Meaningthe favour (priti) that is (thus) shown to me is (won) by this being once recited or heard. Hearing it removes sins, and bestows health.

MeaningThe recitation of (the account of) my manifestations makes protection from (evil) beings. And that exploit of mine in battles, the crushing of the wicked daityas —

Meaningwhen that is heard, no fear caused by enemies arises in men. And the hymns which were composed by you (gods), and those by the brahmarshis,

Meaningand those composed by Brahma — let them bestow an auspicious mind. (One who is) surrounded by a forest-fire in a forest or wilderness,

Meaningor beset by robbers in a desolate place, or seized by enemies, or pursued by lions and tigers, or by wild elephants in a forest,

Meaningor, at an angry king's command, condemned to death or cast into prison, or tossed about by the wind on a boat in the great ocean,

Meaningor amid falling weapons in a most terrible battle, or amid all dreadful calamities, or afflicted by pain —

Meaningthe man who remembers this my exploit (charita) is freed from his distress. By my power, lions and the like, robbers and enemies too,

Meaningflee far away from one who remembers my exploit.'

Meaning(The Rishi said:) Having said this, the Bhagavati Chandika, of fierce valour,

Meaningvanished then and there, while all the gods looked on. And those gods too, free from fear, (resumed) their offices as before —

Meaningall of them, enjoyers of the sacrificial shares, their foes slain. And the daityas — when Shumbha, the foe of the gods, had been slain in battle by the Devi,

Meaningand the most fierce Nishumbha of great valour, destroyer of the world, of peerless prowess (had been slain) — the rest of the daityas went to the nether world (patala).

MeaningThus that Bhagavati Devi, though eternal, again and again takes form and accomplishes the protection of the world, O King.

MeaningBy her this universe is deluded; she herself brings forth the universe. Entreated, she bestows knowledge (vijnana); pleased, she grants prosperity (riddhi).

MeaningBy her — the Mahadevi, of the form of Mahakali and Mahamari (the great pestilence) — this whole cosmic egg (brahmanda) is pervaded, O lord of men.

MeaningShe herself, in (due) time, is the great pestilence; she herself is the unborn creation; and she herself, the eternal one, sustains beings in their time.

MeaningIn (time of) prosperity she is the Lakshmi who bestows increase in the homes of men; and in (time of) misfortune she becomes Alakshmi, arising for (their) ruin.

MeaningPraised and worshipped with flowers, perfume, incense and the like, she bestows wealth and sons, a mind (set) on dharma, and an auspicious destiny.