Janamejaya's Redemption of His Father through the Amba-Sacrifice and Hearing of the Devi Bhagavata

Verse 1 (devibhagavatam.12.13.1)

व्यास उवाच । इति ते कथितं भूप यद्यत्पृष्टं त्वयानघ । नारायणेन यत्प्रोक्तं नारदाय महात्मने

vyāsa uvāca iti te kathitaṁ bhūpa yadyatpṛṣṭaṁ tvayānagha nārāyaṇena yatproktaṁ nāradāya mahātmane

Vyasa said: Thus, O king, O sinless one, has all that you asked been told to you — that which was declared by Narayana to the great-souled Narada.

Verse 2 (devibhagavatam.12.13.2)

श्रुत्वैतत्तु महादेव्याः पुराणं परमाद्भुतम् । कृतकृत्यो भवेन्मर्त्यो देव्याः प्रियतमो हि सः

śrutvaitattu mahādevyāḥ purāṇaṁ paramādbhutam kṛtakṛtyo bhavenmartyo devyāḥ priyatamo hi saḥ

Having heard this supremely wondrous Purana of the Great Goddess, a mortal becomes one whose task is fulfilled; he indeed becomes most dear to the Devi.

Verse 3 (devibhagavatam.12.13.3)

कुरु चाम्बामखं राजन् स्वपित्रुद्धरणाय वै । खिन्नोऽसि येन राजेन्द्र पितुर्ज्ञात्वा तु दुर्गतिम्

kuru cāmbāmakhaṁ rājan svapitruddharaṇāya vai khinno'si yena rājendra piturjñātvā tu durgatim

Perform, O king, the Amba-sacrifice for the deliverance of your own father, by which — O lord of kings — you have been grieved, having learned of your father's evil fate.

Verse 4 (devibhagavatam.12.13.4)

गृहाण त्वं महादेव्या मन्त्रं सर्वोत्तमोत्तमम् । यथाविधिविधानेन जन्मसाफल्यदायकम्

gṛhāṇa tvaṁ mahādevyā mantraṁ sarvottamottamam yathāvidhividhānena janmasāphalyadāyakam

Receive the mantra of the Great Goddess, the very best of all, according to due procedure — the mantra that grants fulfillment to one's birth.

Verse 5 (devibhagavatam.12.13.5)

सूत उवाच । तच्छ्रुत्वा नृपशार्दूलः प्रार्थयित्वा मुनीश्वरम् । तस्मादेव महामन्त्रं देवीप्रणवसंज्ञकम्

sūta uvāca tacchrutvā nṛpaśārdūlaḥ prārthayitvā munīśvaram tasmādeva mahāmantraṁ devīpraṇavasaṁjñakam

Suta said: Having heard this, the tiger among kings besought the lord of sages, and from him alone received the great mantra known as the Devi's own Pranava,

Verse 6 (devibhagavatam.12.13.6)

दीक्षाविधिं विधानेन जग्राह नृपसत्तमः । तत आहूय धौम्यादीन्नवरात्रसमागमे

dīkṣāvidhiṁ vidhānena jagrāha nṛpasattamaḥ tata āhūya dhaumyādīnnavarātrasamāgame

— the best of kings received the rite of initiation according to due procedure. Then, summoning Dhaumya and the other sages at the coming of Navaratri,

Verse 7 (devibhagavatam.12.13.7)

अम्बायज्ञं चकाराशु वित्तशाढ्यविवर्जितः । ब्राह्मणैः पाठयामास पुराणं त्वेतदुत्तमम्

ambāyajñaṁ cakārāśu vittaśāḍhyavivarjitaḥ brāhmaṇaiḥ pāṭhayāmāsa purāṇaṁ tvetaduttamam

he swiftly performed the Amba-sacrifice, free from any stinginess in his wealth; he had this excellent Purana recited by Brahmins,

Verse 8 (devibhagavatam.12.13.8)

श्रीदेव्यग्रेऽम्बिकाप्रीत्यै देवीभागवतं परम् । ब्राह्मणान्भोजयामासाप्यसङ्ख्यातान्सुवासिनीः

śrīdevyagre'mbikāprītyai devībhāgavataṁ param brāhmaṇānbhojayāmāsāpyasaṅkhyātānsuvāsinīḥ

reciting the supreme Devi Bhagavata before the glorious Devi, for the pleasure of Ambika; he fed countless Brahmins and married women,

Verse 9 (devibhagavatam.12.13.9)

कुमारीर्वटुकादींश्च दीनानाथांस्तथैव च । द्रव्यप्रदानैस्तान्सर्वान् सन्तोष्य वसुधाधिपः

kumārīrvaṭukādīṁśca dīnānāthāṁstathaiva ca dravyapradānaistānsarvān santoṣya vasudhādhipaḥ

young girls, students, and likewise the helpless and destitute; the Lord of the Earth satisfied all of them with gifts of wealth,

Verse 10 (devibhagavatam.12.13.10)

समाप्य यज्ञं संस्थाने संस्थितो यावदेव हि । तावदेव हि चाकाशान्नारदः समवातरत्

samāpya yajñaṁ saṁsthāne saṁsthito yāvadeva hi tāvadeva hi cākāśānnāradaḥ samavātarat

and having completed the sacrifice, just as he stood there at the sacrificial site, at that very moment Narada descended from the sky,

Verse 11 (devibhagavatam.12.13.11)

रणयन्महतीं वीणां ज्वलदग्निशिखोपमः । ससम्भमः समुत्थाय दृष्ट्वा तं नारदं मुनिम्

raṇayanmahatīṁ vīṇāṁ jvaladagniśikhopamaḥ sasambhamaḥ samutthāya dṛṣṭvā taṁ nāradaṁ munim

sounding his great vina, resembling a blazing tongue of flame; seeing that sage Narada, the king rose up hastily in reverence,

Verse 12 (devibhagavatam.12.13.12)

आसनाद्युपचारैश्च पूजयामास भूमिपः । कृत्वा तु कुशलप्रश्नं पप्रच्छागमकारणम्

āsanādyupacāraiśca pūjayāmāsa bhūmipaḥ kṛtvā tu kuśalapraśnaṁ papracchāgamakāraṇam

and the Lord of the Earth honored him with a seat and other courtesies; having inquired after his welfare, he asked the reason for his coming.

Verse 13 (devibhagavatam.12.13.13)

राजोवाच । कुत आगमनं साधो ब्रूहि किं करवाणि ते । सनाथोऽहं कृतार्थोऽहं त्वदागमनकारणात्

rājovāca kuta āgamanaṁ sādho brūhi kiṁ karavāṇi te sanātho'haṁ kṛtārtho'haṁ tvadāgamanakāraṇāt

The king said: O saintly one, whence have you come? Tell me, what may I do for you? I am blessed with a lord, I am fulfilled, on account of your coming.

Verse 14 (devibhagavatam.12.13.14)

इति राज्ञो वचः श्रुत्वा प्रोवाच मुनिसत्तमः । अद्याश्चर्यं मया दृष्टं देवलोके नृपोत्तम

iti rājño vacaḥ śrutvā provāca munisattamaḥ adyāścaryaṁ mayā dṛṣṭaṁ devaloke nṛpottama

Having heard the king's words, the excellent sage said: Today, O best of kings, I have witnessed a wonder in the world of the gods —

Verse 15 (devibhagavatam.12.13.15)

तन्निवेदयितुं प्राप्तस्त्वत्सकाशे सुविस्मितः । पिता ते दुर्गतिं प्राप्तो निजकर्मविपर्ययात्

tannivedayituṁ prāptastvatsakāśe suvismitaḥ pitā te durgatiṁ prāpto nijakarmaviparyayāt

I have come, greatly astonished, into your presence, to relate it to you. Your father, who had fallen into an evil state through the reversal of his own deeds,

Verse 16 (devibhagavatam.12.13.16)

स एवायं दिव्यरूपवपुर्भूत्वाधुनैव हि । देवदेवैः स्तुतः सम्यगप्सरोभिः समन्ततः

sa evāyaṁ divyarūpavapurbhūtvādhunaiva hi devadevaiḥ stutaḥ samyagapsarobhiḥ samantataḥ

— that very same person, having just now assumed a divine and radiant body, duly praised by the gods of gods and by Apsarases on every side,

Verse 17 (devibhagavatam.12.13.17)

विमानवरमारुह्य मणिद्वीपं गतोऽभवत् । देवीभागवतस्यास्य श्रवणोत्थफलेन च

vimānavaramāruhya maṇidvīpaṁ gato'bhavat devībhāgavatasyāsya śravaṇotthaphalena ca

mounted upon a fine celestial chariot and went to Manidvipa — by the merit arising from the hearing of this Devi Bhagavata,

Verse 18 (devibhagavatam.12.13.18)

अम्बामखफलेनापि पिता ते सुगतिं गतः । धन्योऽसि कृतकृत्योऽसि जीवितं सफलं तव

ambāmakhaphalenāpi pitā te sugatiṁ gataḥ dhanyo'si kṛtakṛtyo'si jīvitaṁ saphalaṁ tava

and likewise by the merit of the Amba-sacrifice, your father has attained a blessed state. You are fortunate, you have fulfilled your task, your life has borne fruit —

Verse 19 (devibhagavatam.12.13.19)

नरकादुद्धृतस्तातस्त्वया तु कुलभूषण । देवलोके स्फीतकीर्तिस्तवाद्य विपुलाभवत्

narakāduddhṛtastātastvayā tu kulabhūṣaṇa devaloke sphītakīrtistavādya vipulābhavat

— your father has been delivered from hell by you, O ornament of your lineage; today your fame has become vast and widespread in the world of the gods.

Verse 20 (devibhagavatam.12.13.20)

सूत उवाच । नारदोक्तं समाकर्ण्य प्रेमगद्गदितान्तरः । पपात पादाम्बुजयोर्व्यासस्याद्भुतकर्मणः

sūta uvāca nāradoktaṁ samākarṇya premagadgaditāntaraḥ papāta pādāmbujayorvyāsasyādbhutakarmaṇaḥ

Suta said: Having heard Narada's words, his heart choked with love, the king fell at the lotus feet of Vyasa, whose deeds are wondrous,

Verse 21 (devibhagavatam.12.13.21)

तवानुग्रहतो देव कृतार्थोऽहं महामुने । किं मया प्रतिकर्तव्यं नमस्कारादृते तव

tavānugrahato deva kṛtārtho'haṁ mahāmune kiṁ mayā pratikartavyaṁ namaskārādṛte tava

saying: 'By your grace, O Lord, O great sage, I am fulfilled; what return can I make to you, other than bowing before you?'

Verse 22 (devibhagavatam.12.13.22)

अनुग्राह्यः सदैवाहमेवमेव त्वया मुने । इति राज्ञो वचः श्रुत्वाप्याशीर्भिरभिनन्द्य च

anugrāhyaḥ sadaivāhamevameva tvayā mune iti rājño vacaḥ śrutvāpyāśīrbhirabhinandya ca

'May I ever be shown this same grace by you, O sage.' Having heard the king's words, and having welcomed him with blessings,

Verse 23 (devibhagavatam.12.13.23)

उवाच वचनं श्लक्ष्णं भगवान् बादरायणः । राजन्सर्वं परित्यज्य भज देवीपदाम्बुजम्

uvāca vacanaṁ ślakṣṇaṁ bhagavān bādarāyaṇaḥ rājansarvaṁ parityajya bhaja devīpadāmbujam

the blessed Badarayana spoke these gentle words: 'O king, abandoning everything else, worship the lotus feet of the Devi;'

Verse 24 (devibhagavatam.12.13.24)

देवीभागवतं चैव पठ नित्यं समाहितः । अम्बामखं सदा भक्त्या कुरु नित्यमतन्द्रितः

devībhāgavataṁ caiva paṭha nityaṁ samāhitaḥ ambāmakhaṁ sadā bhaktyā kuru nityamatandritaḥ

'and daily recite the Devi Bhagavata with a focused mind; ever perform the Amba-sacrifice with devotion, unwearied, always.'

Verse 25 (devibhagavatam.12.13.25)

अनायासेन तेन त्वं मोक्ष्यसे भवबन्धनात् । सन्त्यन्यानि पुराणानि हरिरुद्रमुखानि च

anāyāsena tena tvaṁ mokṣyase bhavabandhanāt santyanyāni purāṇāni harirudramukhāni ca

'By that, without effort, you shall be freed from the bondage of worldly existence. There exist other Puranas too, those centered on Hari and Rudra,'

Verse 26 (devibhagavatam.12.13.26)

देवीभागवतस्यास्य कलां नार्हन्ति षोडशीम् । सारमेतत्पुराणानां वेदानां चैव सर्वशः

devībhāgavatasyāsya kalāṁ nārhanti ṣoḍaśīm sārametatpurāṇānāṁ vedānāṁ caiva sarvaśaḥ

'— but they are not worth even a sixteenth part of this Devi Bhagavata. This is the very essence of all the Puranas, and of all the Vedas as well.'

Verse 27 (devibhagavatam.12.13.27)

मूलप्रकृतिरेवैषा यत्र तु प्रतिपाद्यते । समं तेन पुराणं स्यात्कथमन्यन्नृपोत्तम

mūlaprakṛtirevaiṣā yatra tu pratipādyate samaṁ tena purāṇaṁ syātkathamanyannṛpottama

'For it is the Primordial Prakriti herself who is expounded here — O best of kings, how could any other Purana be its equal?'

Verse 28 (devibhagavatam.12.13.28)

पाठे वेदसमं पुण्यं यस्य स्याज्जनमेजय । पठितव्यं प्रयत्नेन तदेव विबुधोत्तमैः

pāṭhe vedasamaṁ puṇyaṁ yasya syājjanamejaya paṭhitavyaṁ prayatnena tadeva vibudhottamaiḥ

'O Janamejaya, that alone, whose recitation bears merit equal to the recitation of the Veda, should be diligently recited by the finest of the learned.'

Verse 29 (devibhagavatam.12.13.29)

इत्युक्त्वा नृपवर्यं तं जगाम मुनिराट् ततः । जग्मुश्चैव यथास्थानं धौम्यादिमुनयोऽमलाः

ityuktvā nṛpavaryaṁ taṁ jagāma munirāṭ tataḥ jagmuścaiva yathāsthānaṁ dhaumyādimunayo'malāḥ

Having spoken thus to that excellent king, the king of sages then departed; and the pure sages, beginning with Dhaumya, likewise went each to his own place,

Verse 30 (devibhagavatam.12.13.30)

देवीभागवतस्यैव प्रशंसां चक्रुरुत्तमाम् । राजा शशास धरणीं ततः सन्तुष्टमानसः । देवीभागवतं चैव पठच्छृण्वन्तिरन्तरम्

devībhāgavatasyaiva praśaṁsāṁ cakruruttamām rājā śaśāsa dharaṇīṁ tataḥ santuṣṭamānasaḥ devībhāgavataṁ caiva paṭhacchṛṇvantirantaram

praising the Devi Bhagavata with the highest praise. The king then ruled the earth with a contented mind, ceaselessly reading and hearing the Devi Bhagavata.