Subahu's Hymn of Praise to the Goddess

Verse 1 (devibhagavatam.3.23.1)

व्यास उवाच । तस्मै गौरवभोज्यानि विधाय विधिवत्तदा । वासराणि च षड्राजा भोजयामास भक्तितः

vyāsa uvāca tasmai gauravabhojyāni vidhāya vidhivattadā vāsarāṇi ca ṣaḍrājā bhojayāmāsa bhaktitaḥ

Vyasa said: Then, duly preparing honorable feasts for him, the king, for six days, fed him with devotion.

Verse 2 (devibhagavatam.3.23.2)

एवं विवाहकार्याणि कृत्वा सर्वाणि पार्थिवः । पारिबर्हं प्रदत्वाऽथ मन्त्रयन्सचिवैः सह

evaṁ vivāhakāryāṇi kṛtvā sarvāṇi pārthivaḥ pāribarhaṁ pradatvā'tha mantrayansacivaiḥ saha

Thus, having performed all the marriage rites, the king, after bestowing the dowry, took counsel together with his ministers.

Verse 3 (devibhagavatam.3.23.3)

दूतैस्तु कथितं श्रुत्वा मार्गसंरोधनं कृतम् । बभूव विमना राजा सुबाहुरमितद्युतिः

dūtaistu kathitaṁ śrutvā mārgasaṁrodhanaṁ kṛtam babhūva vimanā rājā subāhuramitadyutiḥ

Hearing from messengers that the road had been blocked, King Subahu, of boundless splendor, became troubled in mind.

Verse 4 (devibhagavatam.3.23.4)

सुदर्शनस्तदोवाच श्वशुरं संशितव्रतः । अस्मान्विसर्जयाशु त्वं गमिष्यामो ह्यशङ्किताः

sudarśanastadovāca śvaśuraṁ saṁśitavrataḥ asmānvisarjayāśu tvaṁ gamiṣyāmo hyaśaṅkitāḥ

Then Sudarshana, of rigorous vows, said to his father-in-law: "Send us off swiftly; we shall go without fear.

Verse 5 (devibhagavatam.3.23.5)

भारद्वाजाश्रमं पुण्यं गत्वा तत्र समाहिताः । निवासाय विचारो वै कर्तव्यः सर्वथा नृप

bhāradvājāśramaṁ puṇyaṁ gatvā tatra samāhitāḥ nivāsāya vicāro vai kartavyaḥ sarvathā nṛpa

Going to Bharadvaja's sacred hermitage, settled there, we shall in every way take counsel about our dwelling, O king.

Verse 6 (devibhagavatam.3.23.6)

नृपेभ्यश्च न कर्तव्यं भयं किञ्चित्त्वयाऽनघ । जगन्माता भवानी मे साहाय्यं वै करिष्यति

nṛpebhyaśca na kartavyaṁ bhayaṁ kiñcittvayā'nagha jaganmātā bhavānī me sāhāyyaṁ vai kariṣyati

You need have no fear at all of the kings, O sinless one; the Mother of the Universe, Bhavani, will surely render me her aid."

Verse 7 (devibhagavatam.3.23.7)

व्यास उवाच । तस्येति मतमाज्ञाय जामातुर्नुपसत्तमः । विससर्ज धनं दत्वा प्रतस्थे सोऽपि सत्वरः

vyāsa uvāca tasyeti matamājñāya jāmāturnupasattamaḥ visasarja dhanaṁ datvā pratasthe so'pi satvaraḥ

Vyasa said: That best of kings, understanding his son-in-law's intent, sent him off, giving him wealth; and he too set out at once.

Verse 8 (devibhagavatam.3.23.8)

बलेन महताऽऽविष्टो ययावनु नृपोत्तमः । सुदर्शनो वृतस्तत्र चचाल पथि निर्भयः

balena mahatā''viṣṭo yayāvanu nṛpottamaḥ sudarśano vṛtastatra cacāla pathi nirbhayaḥ

Escorted by a great force, that best of kings followed after; and Sudarshana, so accompanied, set off along the road, without fear.

Verse 9 (devibhagavatam.3.23.9)

रथैः परिवृतः शूरः सदारो रथसंस्थितः । गच्छन्ददर्श सैन्यानि नृपाणां रघुनन्दनः

rathaiḥ parivṛtaḥ śūraḥ sadāro rathasaṁsthitaḥ gacchandadarśa sainyāni nṛpāṇāṁ raghunandanaḥ

Surrounded by chariots, that hero, together with his wife, mounted upon his own chariot, that descendant of Raghu, as he went, beheld the armies of the kings.

Verse 10 (devibhagavatam.3.23.10)

सुबाहुरपि तान्वीक्ष्य चिन्ताविष्टो बभूव ह । विधिवत्स शिवां चित्ते जगाम शरणं मुदा

subāhurapi tānvīkṣya cintāviṣṭo babhūva ha vidhivatsa śivāṁ citte jagāma śaraṇaṁ mudā

Subahu too, beholding them, became filled with anxiety; duly, and with joy, he took refuge in the auspicious Goddess in his heart.

Verse 11 (devibhagavatam.3.23.11)

जजापैकाक्षरं मन्त्रं कामराजमनुत्तमम् । निर्भयो वीतशोकश्च पत्न्या सह नवोढया

jajāpaikākṣaraṁ mantraṁ kāmarājamanuttamam nirbhayo vītaśokaśca patnyā saha navoḍhayā

He repeated the one-syllabled, most excellent Kamaraja mantra, and became fearless and free from sorrow, together with his newly-wed bride.

Verse 12 (devibhagavatam.3.23.12)

ततः सर्वे महीपालाः कृत्वा कोलाहलं तदा । उत्थिताः सैन्यसंयुक्ता हन्तुकामास्तु कन्यकाम्

tataḥ sarve mahīpālāḥ kṛtvā kolāhalaṁ tadā utthitāḥ sainyasaṁyuktā hantukāmāstu kanyakām

Then all the kings, raising a great uproar, rose up together with their armies, desiring to slay Sudarshana and seize the maiden.

Verse 13 (devibhagavatam.3.23.13)

काशिराजस्तु तान्दृष्ट्वा हन्तुकामो बभूव ह । निवारितस्तदाऽत्यर्थं राघवेण जिगीषता

kāśirājastu tāndṛṣṭvā hantukāmo babhūva ha nivāritastadā'tyarthaṁ rāghaveṇa jigīṣatā

The King of Kashi, seeing them, desired greatly to kill them himself; but he was earnestly restrained by the descendant of Raghu, who himself wished to fight.

Verse 14 (devibhagavatam.3.23.14)

तत्रापि नेदुः शङ्खाश्च भेर्यश्चानकदुन्दुभिः । सुबाहोश्च नृपाणाञ्च परस्परजिघांसताम्

tatrāpi neduḥ śaṅkhāśca bheryaścānakadundubhiḥ subāhośca nṛpāṇāñca parasparajighāṁsatām

There too conches, kettledrums, and war-drums resounded, on both sides — of Subahu and of the kings — as they, desiring each other's destruction, prepared for battle.

Verse 15 (devibhagavatam.3.23.15)

शत्रुजित्तु सुसंवृत्तः स्थितस्तत्र जिघांसया । युधाजित्तत्सहायार्थं सन्नद्धः प्रबभूव ह

śatrujittu susaṁvṛttaḥ sthitastatra jighāṁsayā yudhājittatsahāyārthaṁ sannaddhaḥ prababhūva ha

Shatrujit stood there, fully arrayed, with the desire to kill; and Yudhajit, to assist him, became armed and ready.

Verse 16 (devibhagavatam.3.23.16)

केचिच्च प्रेक्षकास्तस्य सहानीकैः स्थितास्तदा । युधाजिदग्रतो गत्वा सुदर्शनमुपस्थितः

kecicca prekṣakāstasya sahānīkaiḥ sthitāstadā yudhājidagrato gatvā sudarśanamupasthitaḥ

Some kings, with their armies, stood there merely as onlookers; Yudhajit, going forward, confronted Sudarshana.

Verse 17 (devibhagavatam.3.23.17)

शत्रुजित्तेन सहितो हन्तुं भ्रातरमानुजः । परस्परं ते बाणौघैस्ततक्षुः क्रोधमूर्छिताः

śatrujittena sahito hantuṁ bhrātaramānujaḥ parasparaṁ te bāṇaughaistatakṣuḥ krodhamūrchitāḥ

Shatrujit, joined with his younger brother, came to kill him; they, overcome with rage, wounded one another with showers of arrows.

Verse 18 (devibhagavatam.3.23.18)

सम्मर्दः सुमहांस्तत्र सम्प्रवृत्तः सुमार्गणैः । काशीपतिस्तदा तूर्णं सैन्येन बहुना वृतः

sammardaḥ sumahāṁstatra sampravṛttaḥ sumārgaṇaiḥ kāśīpatistadā tūrṇaṁ sainyena bahunā vṛtaḥ

A very great clash broke out there, with fine arrows; and the King of Kashi, then, surrounded by a great army, advanced swiftly.

Verse 19 (devibhagavatam.3.23.19)

साहाय्यार्थं जगामाशु जामातरमनिन्दितम् । एवं प्रवृत्ते सङ्ग्रामे दारुणे लोमहर्षणे

sāhāyyārthaṁ jagāmāśu jāmātaramaninditam evaṁ pravṛtte saṅgrāme dāruṇe lomaharṣaṇe

He went swiftly to aid his blameless son-in-law. As the battle thus proceeded, terrible and hair-raising —

Verse 20 (devibhagavatam.3.23.20)

प्रादुर्बभूव सहसा देवी सिंहोपरि स्थिता । नानायुधधरा रम्या वराभूषणभूषिता

prādurbabhūva sahasā devī siṁhopari sthitā nānāyudhadharā ramyā varābhūṣaṇabhūṣitā

suddenly the Goddess appeared, seated upon a lion, bearing manifold weapons, lovely, adorned with excellent ornaments.

Verse 21 (devibhagavatam.3.23.21)

दिव्याम्बरपरीधाना मन्दारस्रक्सुसंयुता । तां दृष्ट्वा तेऽथ भूपाला विस्मयं परमं गताः

divyāmbaraparīdhānā mandārasraksusaṁyutā tāṁ dṛṣṭvā te'tha bhūpālā vismayaṁ paramaṁ gatāḥ

Clad in divine garments, adorned with a garland of mandara flowers — beholding her, those kings were struck with the utmost astonishment.

Verse 22 (devibhagavatam.3.23.22)

केयं सिंहसमारूढा कुतो वेति समुत्थिता । सुदर्शनस्तु तां वीक्ष्य सुबाहुमिति चाब्रवीत्

keyaṁ siṁhasamārūḍhā kuto veti samutthitā sudarśanastu tāṁ vīkṣya subāhumiti cābravīt

"Who is this, mounted on a lion, and from where has she risen up?" they wondered. But Sudarshana, beholding her, said this to Subahu:

Verse 23 (devibhagavatam.3.23.23)

पश्य राजन्महादेवीमागतां दिव्यदर्शनाम् । अनुग्रहाय मे नूनं प्रादुर्भूता दयान्विता

paśya rājanmahādevīmāgatāṁ divyadarśanām anugrahāya me nūnaṁ prādurbhūtā dayānvitā

"Behold, O king, the great Goddess, of divine appearance, who has come; surely, out of compassion, she has appeared for my grace.

Verse 24 (devibhagavatam.3.23.24)

निर्भयोऽहं महाराज जातोऽस्मि निर्भयादपि । सुदर्शनः सुबाहुश्च तामालोक्य वराननाम्

nirbhayo'haṁ mahārāja jāto'smi nirbhayādapi sudarśanaḥ subāhuśca tāmālokya varānanām

I have become fearless, O great king, beyond even the fearless." Sudarshana and Subahu, beholding that lovely-faced one,

Verse 25 (devibhagavatam.3.23.25)

प्रणामं चक्रतुस्तस्या मुदितौ दर्शनेन च । ननाद च तदा सिंहो गजास्त्रस्ताश्चकम्पिरे

praṇāmaṁ cakratustasyā muditau darśanena ca nanāda ca tadā siṁho gajāstrastāścakampire

made obeisance to her, both filled with joy at that sight; and then the lion roared, and the elephants, terrified, trembled.

Verse 26 (devibhagavatam.3.23.26)

ववुर्वाता महाघोरा दिशश्चासन्सुदारुणाः । सुदर्शनस्तदा प्राह निजं सेनापतिं प्रति

vavurvātā mahāghorā diśaścāsansudāruṇāḥ sudarśanastadā prāha nijaṁ senāpatiṁ prati

Terrible winds blew, and the directions became fearsome; then Sudarshana spoke to his own commander:

Verse 27 (devibhagavatam.3.23.27)

मार्गे व्रज त्वं तरसा भूपाला यत्र संस्थिताः । किं करिष्यन्ति राजानः कुपिता दुष्टचेतसः

mārge vraja tvaṁ tarasā bhūpālā yatra saṁsthitāḥ kiṁ kariṣyanti rājānaḥ kupitā duṣṭacetasaḥ

"Go quickly along the road, where the kings are stationed. What can those angry, evil-minded kings do to us now?

Verse 28 (devibhagavatam.3.23.28)

शरणार्थञ्च सम्प्राप्ता देवी भगवती हि नः । निरातङ्कैश्च गन्तव्यं मार्गेऽस्मिन्भूपसङ्कुले

śaraṇārthañca samprāptā devī bhagavatī hi naḥ nirātaṅkaiśca gantavyaṁ mārge'sminbhūpasaṅkule

For the Goddess herself, our refuge, has indeed come to us; let us go, without fear, along this road crowded with kings.

Verse 29 (devibhagavatam.3.23.29)

स्मृता मया महादेवी रक्षणार्थमुपागता । तच्छ्रुत्वा वचनं सेनापतिस्तेन पथाऽव्रजत्

smṛtā mayā mahādevī rakṣaṇārthamupāgatā tacchrutvā vacanaṁ senāpatistena pathā'vrajat

I remembered the great Goddess, and she has come here for our protection." Hearing this word, the commander advanced along that road.

Verse 30 (devibhagavatam.3.23.30)

युधाजित्तु सुसङ्क्रुद्धस्तानुवाच महीपतीन् । किं स्थिता भयसन्त्रस्ता निघ्नन्तु कन्यकान्वितम्

yudhājittu susaṅkruddhastānuvāca mahīpatīn kiṁ sthitā bhayasantrastā nighnantu kanyakānvitam

But Yudhajit, filled with rage, said to those kings: "Why do you stand there, terrified with fear? Let them strike down that fellow with the maiden!"

Verse 31 (devibhagavatam.3.23.31)

अवमन्य च नः सर्वान्बलहीनो बलाधिकान् । कन्यां गृहीत्वा संयाति निर्भयस्तरसा शिशुः

avamanya ca naḥ sarvānbalahīno balādhikān kanyāṁ gṛhītvā saṁyāti nirbhayastarasā śiśuḥ

"Insulting all of us, though weak against the strong, that child, taking the maiden, boldly passes on, fearless!"

Verse 32 (devibhagavatam.3.23.32)

किं भीताः कामिनीं वीक्ष्य सिंहोपरि सुसंस्थिताम् । नोपेक्ष्यो हि महाभागा हन्तव्योऽत्र समाहितैः

kiṁ bhītāḥ kāminīṁ vīkṣya siṁhopari susaṁsthitām nopekṣyo hi mahābhāgā hantavyo'tra samāhitaiḥ

"Why are you afraid, seeing a mere woman seated upon a lion? He should not be ignored, O fortunate ones; he must be slain here, with concerted effort."

Verse 33 (devibhagavatam.3.23.33)

हत्वैनं सङ्ग्रहीष्यामः कन्यां चारुविभूषणाम् । नायं केसरिणादत्तां छेत्तुमर्हति जम्बुकः

hatvainaṁ saṅgrahīṣyāmaḥ kanyāṁ cāruvibhūṣaṇām nāyaṁ kesariṇādattāṁ chettumarhati jambukaḥ

"Killing him, we shall seize the beautifully adorned maiden; this jackal has no right to cut off what was given by the lion!"

Verse 34 (devibhagavatam.3.23.34)

इत्युक्त्वा सैन्यसंयुक्तः शत्रुजित्सहितस्तदा । योद्धुकामः सुसम्प्राप्तो युधाजित्क्रोधसंवृतः

ityuktvā sainyasaṁyuktaḥ śatrujitsahitastadā yoddhukāmaḥ susamprāpto yudhājitkrodhasaṁvṛtaḥ

Having said this, Yudhajit, joined with his army, together with Shatrujit, overcome with rage, came forward, eager for battle.

Verse 35 (devibhagavatam.3.23.35)

मुमोच विशिखांस्तूर्णं समपुङ्खाञ्छिलाशितान् । धनुराकृष्य कर्णान्तं कर्मारपरिमार्जितान्

mumoca viśikhāṁstūrṇaṁ samapuṅkhāñchilāśitān dhanurākṛṣya karṇāntaṁ karmāraparimārjitān

Drawing his bow up to his ear, he swiftly loosed arrows, whole and complete with their feathers, sharpened on stone, polished by the smith.

Verse 36 (devibhagavatam.3.23.36)

हन्तुकामः सुदुर्मेधाः सुदर्शनमथोपरि । सुदर्शनस्तु तान्बाणैश्चिच्छेदापततः क्षणात्

hantukāmaḥ sudurmedhāḥ sudarśanamathopari sudarśanastu tānbāṇaiścicchedāpatataḥ kṣaṇāt

That most ill-witted one, desiring to kill Sudarshana with them, attacked; but Sudarshana, in an instant, cut down those falling arrows with his own.

Verse 37 (devibhagavatam.3.23.37)

एवं युद्धे प्रवृत्तेऽथ चुकोप चण्डिका भृशम् । दुर्गादेवी मुमोचाथ बाणान् युधाजितं प्रति

evaṁ yuddhe pravṛtte'tha cukopa caṇḍikā bhṛśam durgādevī mumocātha bāṇān yudhājitaṁ prati

As the battle thus proceeded, Chandika became greatly enraged; the Goddess Durga then loosed her arrows toward Yudhajit.

Verse 38 (devibhagavatam.3.23.38)

नानारूपा तदा जाता नानाशस्रधरा शिवा । सम्प्राप्ता तुमुलं तत्र चकार जगदम्बिका

nānārūpā tadā jātā nānāśasradharā śivā samprāptā tumulaṁ tatra cakāra jagadambikā

The auspicious Goddess then assumed manifold forms, bearing manifold weapons; the Mother of the Universe, arriving there, wrought a tumultuous havoc.

Verse 39 (devibhagavatam.3.23.39)

शत्रुजिन्निहतस्तत्र युधाजिदपि पार्थिवः । पतितौ तौ रथाभ्यां तु जयशब्दस्तदाऽभवत्

śatrujinnihatastatra yudhājidapi pārthivaḥ patitau tau rathābhyāṁ tu jayaśabdastadā'bhavat

There Shatrujit was slain, and King Yudhajit too; both fell from their chariots, and then a cry of victory arose.

Verse 40 (devibhagavatam.3.23.40)

विस्मयं परमं प्राप्ता भूपाः सर्वे विलोक्य ताम् । निधनं मातुलस्यापि भागिनेयस्य संयुगे

vismayaṁ paramaṁ prāptā bhūpāḥ sarve vilokya tām nidhanaṁ mātulasyāpi bhāgineyasya saṁyuge

All the kings, beholding her, were struck with the greatest astonishment — the death, in that battle, of both the maternal uncle and the sister's son together.

Verse 41 (devibhagavatam.3.23.41)

सुबाहुरपि तद्दृष्ट्वा निधनं संयुगे तयोः । तुष्टाव परमप्रीतो दुर्गां दुर्गार्तिनाशिनीम्

subāhurapi taddṛṣṭvā nidhanaṁ saṁyuge tayoḥ tuṣṭāva paramaprīto durgāṁ durgārtināśinīm

Subahu too, beholding the death of both of them in battle, filled with the greatest delight, praised Durga, the destroyer of the afflictions of the helpless.

Verse 42 (devibhagavatam.3.23.42)

सुबाहुरुवाच । नमौ देव्यै जगद्धात्र्यै शिवायै सततं नमः । दुर्गायै भगवत्यै ते कामदायै नमो नमः

subāhuruvāca namau devyai jagaddhātryai śivāyai satataṁ namaḥ durgāyai bhagavatyai te kāmadāyai namo namaḥ

Subahu said: "Salutation to the Goddess, sustainer of the world; eternal salutation to the auspicious one. Salutation, salutation to you, O Durga, O blessed Goddess, giver of desires.

Verse 43 (devibhagavatam.3.23.43)

नमः शिवायै शान्त्यै ते विद्यायै मोक्षदे नमः । विश्वव्याप्त्यै जगन्मातर्जगद्धात्र्यै नमः शिवे

namaḥ śivāyai śāntyai te vidyāyai mokṣade namaḥ viśvavyāptyai jaganmātarjagaddhātryai namaḥ śive

Salutation to you, the auspicious peace; salutation to you, O knowledge, giver of liberation. Salutation to the pervader of the universe, O Mother of the world, O sustainer of the world, O auspicious one.

Verse 44 (devibhagavatam.3.23.44)

नाहं गतिं तव धिया परिचिन्तयन् वै जानामि देवि सगुणः किल निर्गुणायाः । किं स्तौमि विश्वजननीं प्रकटप्रभावां भक्तार्तिनाशनपरां परमाञ्च शक्तिम्

nāhaṁ gatiṁ tava dhiyā paricintayan vai jānāmi devi saguṇaḥ kila nirguṇāyāḥ kiṁ staumi viśvajananīṁ prakaṭaprabhāvāṁ bhaktārtināśanaparāṁ paramāñca śaktim

O Goddess, though pondering with my mind, I, endowed with qualities, cannot indeed know your true nature, you who are beyond qualities. How shall I praise the Mother of the universe, of manifest power, ever intent on destroying the suffering of her devotees, the supreme power?

Verse 45 (devibhagavatam.3.23.45)

वाग्देवता त्वमसि सर्वगतैव बुद्धि र्विद्या मतिश्च गतिरप्यसि सर्वजन्तोः । त्वां स्तौमि किं त्वमसि सर्वमनोनियन्त्री किं स्तूयते हि सततं खलु चात्मरूपम्

vāgdevatā tvamasi sarvagataiva buddhi rvidyā matiśca gatirapyasi sarvajantoḥ tvāṁ staumi kiṁ tvamasi sarvamanoniyantrī kiṁ stūyate hi satataṁ khalu cātmarūpam

You are the goddess of speech; you are the intellect pervading all; you are knowledge, understanding, and also the very refuge of every creature. How shall I praise you? For you are the ruler of every mind — how, indeed, can what is one's own very self ever be constantly praised?

Verse 46 (devibhagavatam.3.23.46)

ब्रह्मा हरश्च हरिरप्यनिशं स्तुवन्तो नान्तं गताः सुरवराः किल ते गुणानाम् । क्वाहं विभेदमतिरम्ब गुणैर्वृतो वै वक्तुं क्षमस्तव चरित्रमहोऽप्रसिद्धः

brahmā haraśca harirapyaniśaṁ stuvanto nāntaṁ gatāḥ suravarāḥ kila te guṇānām kvāhaṁ vibhedamatiramba guṇairvṛto vai vaktuṁ kṣamastava caritramaho'prasiddhaḥ

Brahma, Hara, and Hari, though praising you unceasingly, those foremost of gods have never reached the end of your qualities. Where am I, O Mother, of divided mind, wrapped in the qualities — am I capable of describing your deeds, I who am utterly unrenowned?

Verse 47 (devibhagavatam.3.23.47)

सत्सङ्गतिः कथमहो न करोति कामं प्रासङ्गिकापि विहिता खलु चित्तशुद्धिः । जामातुरस्य विहितेन समागमेन प्राप्तं मयाऽद्भुतमिदं तव दर्शनं वै

satsaṅgatiḥ kathamaho na karoti kāmaṁ prāsaṅgikāpi vihitā khalu cittaśuddhiḥ jāmāturasya vihitena samāgamena prāptaṁ mayā'dbhutamidaṁ tava darśanaṁ vai

Ah, how could the company of the virtuous not accomplish its purpose? Even incidental association surely brings about purity of mind. Through the union brought about with this son-in-law of mine, I have obtained this wondrous sight of you.

Verse 48 (devibhagavatam.3.23.48)

ब्रह्माऽपि वाञ्छति सदैव हरो हरिश्च सेन्द्राः सुराश्च मुनयो विदितार्थतत्त्वाः । यद्दर्शनं जननि तेऽद्य मया दुरापं प्राप्तं विना दमशमादिसमाधिभिश्च

brahmā'pi vāñchati sadaiva haro hariśca sendrāḥ surāśca munayo viditārthatattvāḥ yaddarśanaṁ janani te'dya mayā durāpaṁ prāptaṁ vinā damaśamādisamādhibhiśca

Brahma too ever longs for it, and Hara, and Hari, and the gods with Indra, and the sages who know the truth of things — that sight of you, O Mother, so difficult to obtain, I have today received, without even self-restraint, tranquility, or meditation.

Verse 49 (devibhagavatam.3.23.49)

क्वाहं सुमन्दमतिराशु तवावलोकं क्वेदं भवानि भवभेषजमद्वितीयम् । ज्ञाताऽसि देवि सततं किल भावयुक्ता भक्तानुकम्पनपरामरवर्गपूज्या

kvāhaṁ sumandamatirāśu tavāvalokaṁ kvedaṁ bhavāni bhavabheṣajamadvitīyam jñātā'si devi satataṁ kila bhāvayuktā bhaktānukampanaparāmaravargapūjyā

Where am I, of such dull understanding, and where is this swift sight of you, O Bhavani, the peerless medicine for worldly existence? I know you, O Goddess, to be ever full of loving devotion, ever intent on showing mercy to your devotees, worshipped by the very host of the gods.

Verse 50 (devibhagavatam.3.23.50)

किं वर्णयामि तव देवि चरित्रमेतद् यद्रक्षितोऽस्ति विषमेऽत्र सुदर्शनोऽयम् । शत्रू हतौ सुबलिनौ तरसा त्वयाद्य भक्तानुकम्पि चरितं परमं पवित्रम्

kiṁ varṇayāmi tava devi caritrametad yadrakṣito'sti viṣame'tra sudarśano'yam śatrū hatau subalinau tarasā tvayādya bhaktānukampi caritaṁ paramaṁ pavitram

What shall I describe, O Goddess, of this deed of yours — that this Sudarshana has been protected here in such peril; that two mighty enemies were slain by you today, swiftly — this most sacred act of compassion for your devotee?

Verse 51 (devibhagavatam.3.23.51)

नाश्चर्यमेतदिति देवि विचारितेऽर्थे त्वं पासि सर्वमखिलं स्थिरजङ्गमं वै । त्रातस्त्वया च विनिहत्य रिपुर्दयातः संरक्षितोऽयमधुना ध्रुवसन्धिसूनुः

nāścaryametaditi devi vicārite'rthe tvaṁ pāsi sarvamakhilaṁ sthirajaṅgamaṁ vai trātastvayā ca vinihatya ripurdayātaḥ saṁrakṣito'yamadhunā dhruvasandhisūnuḥ

This is no wonder, O Goddess, when the matter is well considered — for you protect everything entirely, both the moving and the unmoving. By you, having struck down the enemy out of compassion, this son of Dhruvasandhi has now been saved and protected.

Verse 52 (devibhagavatam.3.23.52)

भक्तस्य सेवनपरस्य स्वयशोऽतिदीप्तं कर्तुं भवानि रचितं चरितं त्वयैतत् । नोचेत्कथं सुपरिगृह्य सुतां मदीयां युद्धे भवेत्कुशलवाननवद्यशीलः

bhaktasya sevanaparasya svayaśo'tidīptaṁ kartuṁ bhavāni racitaṁ caritaṁ tvayaitat nocetkathaṁ suparigṛhya sutāṁ madīyāṁ yuddhe bhavetkuśalavānanavadyaśīlaḥ

O Bhavani, this deed was wrought by you to make ever more resplendent the glory of your devotee, who is intent on serving you. Otherwise, how, having duly wed my daughter, could this blameless one have prevailed in battle?

Verse 53 (devibhagavatam.3.23.53)

शक्ताऽसि जन्ममरणादिभयान्विहन्तुं किं चित्रमत्र किल भक्तजनस्य कामम् । त्वं गीयसे जननि भक्तजनैरपारा त्वं पापपुण्यरहिता सगुणाऽगुणा च

śaktā'si janmamaraṇādibhayānvihantuṁ kiṁ citramatra kila bhaktajanasya kāmam tvaṁ gīyase janani bhaktajanairapārā tvaṁ pāpapuṇyarahitā saguṇā'guṇā ca

You are capable of destroying the fears of birth, death, and the like — what wonder, then, is there in fulfilling the desire of your devotee here? You, O Mother, boundless, are sung by your devotees; you are beyond both sin and merit, both with qualities and without.

Verse 54 (devibhagavatam.3.23.54)

त्वद्दर्शनादहमहो सुकृती कृतार्थो जातोऽस्मि देवि भुवनेश्वरि धन्यजन्मा । बीजं न ते न भजनं किल वेद्मि मात र्ज्ञातस्तवाद्य महिमा प्रकटप्रभावः

tvaddarśanādahamaho sukṛtī kṛtārtho jāto'smi devi bhuvaneśvari dhanyajanmā bījaṁ na te na bhajanaṁ kila vedmi māta rjñātastavādya mahimā prakaṭaprabhāvaḥ

By your sight, O Goddess, ah, I have become blessed, fulfilled, of a fortunate birth — O Bhuvaneshvari! I know neither your seed-mantra nor your worship, O Mother; yet today your glory, your manifest power, has been made known to me."

Verse 55 (devibhagavatam.3.23.55)

व्यास उवाच । एवं स्तुता तदा देवी प्रसन्नवदना शिवा । उवाच च नृपं देवी वरं वरय सुव्रत

vyāsa uvāca evaṁ stutā tadā devī prasannavadanā śivā uvāca ca nṛpaṁ devī varaṁ varaya suvrata

Vyasa said: Thus praised, the auspicious Goddess, her countenance filled with grace, spoke to the king: "Choose a boon, O one of good vows."