The Fruit of Hearing the Shrimad Devi Bhagavata Mahapurana

Verse 1 (devibhagavatam.12.14.1)

सूत उवाच । अर्धश्लोकात्मकं यत्तु देवीवक्त्राब्जनिर्गतम् । श्रीमद्भागवतं नाम वेदसिद्धान्तबोधकम्

sūta uvāca ardhaślokātmakaṁ yattu devīvaktrābjanirgatam śrīmadbhāgavataṁ nāma vedasiddhāntabodhakam

Suta said: That which, consisting of a half-verse, issued forth from the lotus mouth of the Devi — named 'Shrimad Bhagavatam', teaching the conclusions of the Vedas —

Verse 2 (devibhagavatam.12.14.2)

उपदिष्टं विष्णुवे यद्वटपत्रनिवासिने । शतकोटिप्रविस्तीर्णं तत्कृतं ब्रह्मणा पुरा

upadiṣṭaṁ viṣṇuve yadvaṭapatranivāsine śatakoṭipravistīrṇaṁ tatkṛtaṁ brahmaṇā purā

— was taught to Vishnu, who dwells upon the banyan leaf; extending to a hundred crore verses, it was composed by Brahma long ago.

Verse 3 (devibhagavatam.12.14.3)

तत्सारमेकतः कृत्वा व्यासेन शुकहेतवे । अष्टादशसहस्रं तु द्वादशस्कन्धसंयुतम्

tatsāramekataḥ kṛtvā vyāsena śukahetave aṣṭādaśasahasraṁ tu dvādaśaskandhasaṁyutam

Having gathered its essence into one, for the sake of Shuka, Vyasa composed it in eighteen thousand verses, joined in twelve Skandhas,

Verse 4 (devibhagavatam.12.14.4)

देवीभागवतं नाम पुराणं ग्रथितं पुरा । अद्यापि देवलोके तद्बहुविस्तीर्णमस्ति हि

devībhāgavataṁ nāma purāṇaṁ grathitaṁ purā adyāpi devaloke tadbahuvistīrṇamasti hi

under the name of the Devi Bhagavata Purana, composed long ago; even today, that original version still exists, vastly extended, in the world of the gods.

Verse 5 (devibhagavatam.12.14.5)

नानेन सदृशं पुण्यं पवित्रं पापनाशनम् । पदे पदेऽश्वमेधस्य फलमाप्नोति मानवः

nānena sadṛśaṁ puṇyaṁ pavitraṁ pāpanāśanam pade pade'śvamedhasya phalamāpnoti mānavaḥ

There is no merit equal to this, pure and destructive of sin; at every single verse, a man obtains the fruit of an Ashvamedha sacrifice.

Verse 6 (devibhagavatam.12.14.6)

पौराणिकं पूजयित्वा वस्त्राद्याभरणादिभिः । व्यासबुद्ध्या तन्मुखात्तु श्रुत्वैतत्समुपोषितः

paurāṇikaṁ pūjayitvā vastrādyābharaṇādibhiḥ vyāsabuddhyā tanmukhāttu śrutvaitatsamupoṣitaḥ

Having worshipped the reciter of the Purana with garments, ornaments and the rest, regarding him with the thought that he is Vyasa himself, and having heard this text from his mouth while observing a fast,

Verse 7 (devibhagavatam.12.14.7)

लिखित्वा निजहस्तेन लेखकेनाथवा मुने । प्रौष्ठपद्यां पौर्णमास्यां हेमसिंहसमन्वितम्

likhitvā nijahastena lekhakenāthavā mune prauṣṭhapadyāṁ paurṇamāsyāṁ hemasiṁhasamanvitam

having had it copied out with one's own hand, or by a scribe, O sage, on the full-moon day of the month of Proshthapada, together with a golden lion,

Verse 8 (devibhagavatam.12.14.8)

दद्यात्पौराणिकायाथ दक्षिणां च पयस्विनीम् । सालङ्कृतां सवत्सां च कपिलां हेममालिनीम्

dadyātpaurāṇikāyātha dakṣiṇāṁ ca payasvinīm sālaṅkṛtāṁ savatsāṁ ca kapilāṁ hemamālinīm

one should give to the reciter of the Purana, as a fee, a milk-yielding cow, adorned with ornaments, with her calf, of a tawny color, wearing a garland of gold,

Verse 9 (devibhagavatam.12.14.9)

भोजयेद्ब्राह्मणानन्तेऽप्यध्यायपरिसम्मितान् । सुवासिनीस्तावतीश्च कुमारीर्बटुकैः सह

bhojayedbrāhmaṇānante'pyadhyāyaparisammitān suvāsinīstāvatīśca kumārīrbaṭukaiḥ saha

and at its conclusion should feed Brahmins in a number equal to the chapters, and likewise as many married women, young girls, together with students,

Verse 10 (devibhagavatam.12.14.10)

देवीबुद्ध्या पूजयेत्तान्वसनाभरणादिभिः । पायसान्नवरेणापि गन्धस्रक्कुसुमादिभिः

devībuddhyā pūjayettānvasanābharaṇādibhiḥ pāyasānnavareṇāpi gandhasrakkusumādibhiḥ

honoring them, with the thought that they are the Devi herself, with garments, ornaments, and the rest, with the finest milk-rice food, and with sandal, garlands, and flowers.

Verse 11 (devibhagavatam.12.14.11)

पुराणदानेनैतेन भूदानस्य फलं लभेत् । इहलोके सुखी भूत्वाप्यन्ते देवीपुरं व्रजेत्

purāṇadānenaitena bhūdānasya phalaṁ labhet ihaloke sukhī bhūtvāpyante devīpuraṁ vrajet

By this gift of the Purana, one obtains the merit of the gift of land; having been happy in this world, one goes at the end to the city of the Devi.

Verse 12 (devibhagavatam.12.14.12)

नित्यं यः शृणुयाद्भक्त्या देवीभागवतं परम् । न तस्य दुर्लभं किञ्चित्कदाचित्क्वचिदस्ति हि

nityaṁ yaḥ śṛṇuyādbhaktyā devībhāgavataṁ param na tasya durlabhaṁ kiñcitkadācitkvacidasti hi

For one who daily hears with devotion this supreme Devi Bhagavata, nothing at all is ever difficult to obtain, at any time, anywhere.

Verse 13 (devibhagavatam.12.14.13)

अपुत्रो लभते पुत्रान्धनार्थी धनमाप्नुयात् । विद्यार्थी प्राप्नुयाद्विद्यां कीर्तिमण्डितभूतलः

aputro labhate putrāndhanārthī dhanamāpnuyāt vidyārthī prāpnuyādvidyāṁ kīrtimaṇḍitabhūtalaḥ

The childless obtains sons, the seeker of wealth obtains wealth, the seeker of knowledge obtains knowledge, and, his fame adorning the whole earth,

Verse 14 (devibhagavatam.12.14.14)

वन्ध्या वा काकवन्ध्या वा मृतवन्ध्या च याङ्गना । श्रवणादस्य तद्दोषान्निवर्तेत न संशयः

vandhyā vā kākavandhyā vā mṛtavandhyā ca yāṅganā śravaṇādasya taddoṣānnivarteta na saṁśayaḥ

a woman who is barren, or who bears only a single child, or whose children die, is freed from these very defects by the hearing of this Purana — there is no doubt.

Verse 15 (devibhagavatam.12.14.15)

यद्गेहे पुस्तकं चैतत्पूजितं यदि तिष्ठति । तद्गेहं न त्यजेन्नित्यं रमा चैव सरस्वती

yadgehe pustakaṁ caitatpūjitaṁ yadi tiṣṭhati tadgehaṁ na tyajennityaṁ ramā caiva sarasvatī

In whatever house this book, duly worshipped, remains, that house is never abandoned by Rama or by Sarasvati.

Verse 16 (devibhagavatam.12.14.16)

नेक्षन्ते तत्र वेतालडाकिनीराक्षसादयः । ज्वरितं तु नरं स्पृष्ट्वा पठेदेतत्समाहितः

nekṣante tatra vetālaḍākinīrākṣasādayaḥ jvaritaṁ tu naraṁ spṛṣṭvā paṭhedetatsamāhitaḥ

Vetalas, Dakinis, Rakshasas, and the like do not even look upon that place. Touching a man afflicted with fever, one should recite this text with a focused mind;

Verse 17 (devibhagavatam.12.14.17)

मण्डलान्नाशमाप्नोति ज्वरो दाहसमन्वितः । शतावृत्त्यास्य पठनात्क्षयरोगो विनश्यति

maṇḍalānnāśamāpnoti jvaro dāhasamanvitaḥ śatāvṛttyāsya paṭhanātkṣayarogo vinaśyati

within a period of a month, a fever accompanied by burning is destroyed; by reciting it a hundred times, the disease of consumption is destroyed.

Verse 18 (devibhagavatam.12.14.18)

प्रतिसन्ध्यं पठेद्यस्तु सन्ध्यां कृत्वा समाहितः । एकैकमस्य चाध्यायं स नरो ज्ञानवान्भवेत्

pratisandhyaṁ paṭhedyastu sandhyāṁ kṛtvā samāhitaḥ ekaikamasya cādhyāyaṁ sa naro jñānavānbhavet

One who, having performed the sandhya rites with a focused mind, reads one chapter of this at every sandhya, that man becomes possessed of true knowledge.

Verse 19 (devibhagavatam.12.14.19)

शकुनांश्चैव वीक्षेत कार्याकार्येषु चैव हि । तत्प्रकारः पुरस्तात्तु कथितोऽस्ति मया मुने

śakunāṁścaiva vīkṣeta kāryākāryeṣu caiva hi tatprakāraḥ purastāttu kathito'sti mayā mune

One should also observe omens in matters to be done or not done; the manner of this, O sage, has already been described by me before.

Verse 20 (devibhagavatam.12.14.20)

नवरात्रे पठेन्नित्यं शारदीयेऽतिभक्तितः । तस्याम्बिका तु सन्तुष्टा ददातीच्छाधिकं फलम्

navarātre paṭhennityaṁ śāradīye'tibhaktitaḥ tasyāmbikā tu santuṣṭā dadātīcchādhikaṁ phalam

One should recite it daily during the autumnal Navaratri with the greatest devotion; Ambika, well pleased with such a one, grants a fruit even beyond his desire.

Verse 21 (devibhagavatam.12.14.21)

वैष्णवैश्चैव शैवैश्च रमोमा प्रीयते सदा । सौरैश्च गाणपत्यैश्च स्वेष्टशक्तेश्च तुष्टये

vaiṣṇavaiścaiva śaivaiśca ramomā prīyate sadā sauraiśca gāṇapatyaiśca sveṣṭaśakteśca tuṣṭaye

It is ever pleasing to Rama and Uma alike, whether recited by Vaishnavas or by Shaivas; and, for the satisfaction of one's own chosen deity's power, likewise by devotees of the Sun and of Ganapati,

Verse 22 (devibhagavatam.12.14.22)

पठितव्यं प्रयत्नेन नवरात्रचतुष्टये । वैदिकैर्निजगायत्रीप्रीतये नित्यशो मुने

paṭhitavyaṁ prayatnena navarātracatuṣṭaye vaidikairnijagāyatrīprītaye nityaśo mune

it should be diligently recited during the four Navaratris of the year; and by followers of the Vedic path, O sage, it should ever be recited for the pleasure of their own Gayatri,

Verse 23 (devibhagavatam.12.14.23)

पठितव्यं प्रयत्नेन विरोधो नात्र कस्यचित् । उपासना तु सर्वेषां शक्तियुक्तास्ति सर्वदा

paṭhitavyaṁ prayatnena virodho nātra kasyacit upāsanā tu sarveṣāṁ śaktiyuktāsti sarvadā

it should be diligently recited — there is no contradiction here for anyone; for the worship of everyone, in every case, is joined with Shakti.

Verse 24 (devibhagavatam.12.14.24)

तच्छक्तेरेव तोषार्थं पठितव्यं सदा द्विजैः । स्त्रीशूद्रो न पठेदेतत्कदापि च विमोहितः

tacchaktereva toṣārthaṁ paṭhitavyaṁ sadā dvijaiḥ strīśūdro na paṭhedetatkadāpi ca vimohitaḥ

For the satisfaction of that very Shakti, it should ever be recited by the twice-born; a woman or a Shudra should never recite it themselves, being thus enjoined against confusion,

Verse 25 (devibhagavatam.12.14.25)

शृणुयाद्द्विजवक्त्रात्तु नित्यमेवेति च स्थितिः । किं पुनर्बहुनोक्तेन सारं वक्ष्यामि तत्त्वतः

śṛṇuyāddvijavaktrāttu nityameveti ca sthitiḥ kiṁ punarbahunoktena sāraṁ vakṣyāmi tattvataḥ

but should ever hear it from the mouth of a Brahmin — such is the settled rule. What further need is there of saying much more? I shall tell the essence of it in truth:

Verse 26 (devibhagavatam.12.14.26)

वेदसारमिदं पुण्यं पुराणं द्विजसत्तमाः । वेदपाठसमं पाठे श्रवणे च तथैव हि

vedasāramidaṁ puṇyaṁ purāṇaṁ dvijasattamāḥ vedapāṭhasamaṁ pāṭhe śravaṇe ca tathaiva hi

O best of the twice-born, this sacred Purana is the very essence of the Veda; in its recitation and in its hearing, it is equal to the recitation of the Veda itself.

Verse 27 (devibhagavatam.12.14.27)

सच्चिदानन्दरूपां तां गायत्रीप्रतिपादिताम् । नमामि ह्रींमयीं देवीं धियो यो नः प्रचोदयात्

saccidānandarūpāṁ tāṁ gāyatrīpratipāditām namāmi hrīṁmayīṁ devīṁ dhiyo yo naḥ pracodayāt

I bow to that Devi whose form is being-consciousness-bliss, who is expounded by the Gayatri, whose very nature is the syllable Hrim, who impels our intellects.

Verse 28 (devibhagavatam.12.14.28)

इति सूतवचः श्रुत्वा नैमिषीयास्तपोधनाः । पूजयामासुरत्युच्चैः सूतं पौराणिकोत्तमम्

iti sūtavacaḥ śrutvā naimiṣīyāstapodhanāḥ pūjayāmāsuratyuccaiḥ sūtaṁ paurāṇikottamam

Having heard these words of Suta, the ascetics of Naimisha, rich in austerity, greatly honored Suta, the best of the reciters of the Puranas,

Verse 29 (devibhagavatam.12.14.29)

प्रसन्नहृदयाः सर्वे देवीपादाम्बुजार्चकाः । निर्वृतिं परमां प्राप्ताः पुराणस्य प्रभावतः

prasannahṛdayāḥ sarve devīpādāmbujārcakāḥ nirvṛtiṁ paramāṁ prāptāḥ purāṇasya prabhāvataḥ

all of them, worshippers of the Devi's lotus feet, glad at heart, having attained supreme bliss through the power of this Purana.

Verse 30 (devibhagavatam.12.14.30)

नमश्चक्रुः पुनः सूतं क्षमाप्य च मुहुर्मुहुः । संसारवारिधेस्तात प्लवोऽस्माकं त्वमेव हि

namaścakruḥ punaḥ sūtaṁ kṣamāpya ca muhurmuhuḥ saṁsāravāridhestāta plavo'smākaṁ tvameva hi

They bowed again to Suta, again and again begging his forgiveness, saying: 'O father, you alone are our raft across the ocean of worldly existence.'

Verse 31 (devibhagavatam.12.14.31)

इति स मुनिवराणामग्रतः श्रावयित्वा सकलनिगमगुह्यं दौर्गमेतत्पुराणम् । नतमथ मुनिसङ्घं वर्धयित्वाऽऽशिषाम्बा- चरणकमलभृङ्गो निर्जगामाथ सूतः

iti sa munivarāṇāmagrataḥ śrāvayitvā sakalanigamaguhyaṁ daurgametatpurāṇam natamatha munisaṅghaṁ vardhayitvā''śiṣāmbā- caraṇakamalabhṛṅgo nirjagāmātha sūtaḥ

Thus, having recited before the assembly of excellent sages this Purana of Durga, the secret essence of all the Vedas, and having blessed the bowing company of sages with his benedictions, Suta, the very bee at the lotus feet of the Mother, then went forth.