The Installation of the Goddess

Verse 1 (devibhagavatam.3.25.1)

व्यास उवाच । गत्वाऽयोध्यां नृपश्रेष्ठो गृहं राज्ञः सुहृद्वृतः । शत्रुजिन्मातरं प्राह प्रणम्य शोकसङ्कुलाम्

vyāsa uvāca gatvā'yodhyāṁ nṛpaśreṣṭho gṛhaṁ rājñaḥ suhṛdvṛtaḥ śatrujinmātaraṁ prāha praṇamya śokasaṅkulām

Vyasa said: That best of kings, having gone to Ayodhya, to the king's palace, surrounded by his kinsmen, bowed to Shatrujit's mother, overwhelmed with grief, and said to her:

Verse 2 (devibhagavatam.3.25.2)

मातर्न ते मया पुत्रः सङ्ग्रामे निहतः किल । न पिता ते युधाजिच्च शपे ते चरणौ तथा

mātarna te mayā putraḥ saṅgrāme nihataḥ kila na pitā te yudhājicca śape te caraṇau tathā

"Mother, your son was not slain by me in that battle, nor your father Yudhajit either — I swear this by your very feet.

Verse 3 (devibhagavatam.3.25.3)

दुर्गया तौ हतौ सङ्ख्ये नापराधो ममात्र वै । अवश्यम्भाविभावेषु प्रतीकारो न विद्यते

durgayā tau hatau saṅkhye nāparādho mamātra vai avaśyambhāvibhāveṣu pratīkāro na vidyate

Both were slain in battle by Durga; I bear no fault in this at all. In matters that are bound to occur, there is no remedy.

Verse 4 (devibhagavatam.3.25.4)

न शोकोऽत्र त्वया कार्यो मृतपुत्रस्य मानिनि । स्वकर्मवशगो जीवो भुङ्क्ते भोगान्सुखासुखान्

na śoko'tra tvayā kāryo mṛtaputrasya mānini svakarmavaśago jīvo bhuṅkte bhogānsukhāsukhān

You should not grieve here, O honored one, for your dead son; every soul, subject to its own deeds, experiences the fruits of pleasure and pain.

Verse 5 (devibhagavatam.3.25.5)

दासोऽस्मि तव भो मातर्यथा मम मनोरमा । तथा त्वमपि धर्मज्ञे न भेदोऽस्ति मनागपि

dāso'smi tava bho mātaryathā mama manoramā tathā tvamapi dharmajñe na bhedo'sti manāgapi

I am your servant, O Mother, just as Manorama is mine; you too, O knower of dharma, are the same — there is not the slightest difference.

Verse 6 (devibhagavatam.3.25.6)

अवश्यमेव भोक्तव्यं कृतं कर्म शुभाशुभम् । तस्मान्न शोचितव्यं ते सुखे दुःखे कदाचन

avaśyameva bhoktavyaṁ kṛtaṁ karma śubhāśubham tasmānna śocitavyaṁ te sukhe duḥkhe kadācana

Whatever deed, good or bad, has been done, must certainly be experienced; therefore you should never grieve, whether in happiness or in sorrow.

Verse 7 (devibhagavatam.3.25.7)

दुःखे दुःखाधिकान्पश्येत्सुखे पश्येत्सुखाधिकम् । आत्मानं शोकहर्षाभ्यां शत्रुभ्यामिव नार्पयेत्

duḥkhe duḥkhādhikānpaśyetsukhe paśyetsukhādhikam ātmānaṁ śokaharṣābhyāṁ śatrubhyāmiva nārpayet

In sorrow, one should look upon those in greater sorrow; in happiness, upon those in greater happiness — one should not surrender oneself to grief and joy as though to two enemies.

Verse 8 (devibhagavatam.3.25.8)

दैवाधीनमिदं सर्वं नात्माधीनं कदाचन । न शोकेन तदाऽऽत्मानं शोषयेन्मतिमान्नरः

daivādhīnamidaṁ sarvaṁ nātmādhīnaṁ kadācana na śokena tadā''tmānaṁ śoṣayenmatimānnaraḥ

All this is subject to fate, never under one's own control; therefore a wise man should never let himself be consumed by grief.

Verse 9 (devibhagavatam.3.25.9)

यथा दारुमयी योषा नटादीनां प्रचेष्टते । तथा स्वकर्मवशगो देही सर्वत्र वर्तते

yathā dārumayī yoṣā naṭādīnāṁ praceṣṭate tathā svakarmavaśago dehī sarvatra vartate

As a wooden puppet moves at the will of the puppeteer and others, so too, subject to its own karma, the embodied soul acts everywhere.

Verse 10 (devibhagavatam.3.25.10)

अहं वनगतो मातर्नाभवं दुःखमानसः । चिन्तयन्स्वकृतं कर्म भोक्तव्यमिति वेद्मि च

ahaṁ vanagato mātarnābhavaṁ duḥkhamānasaḥ cintayansvakṛtaṁ karma bhoktavyamiti vedmi ca

O Mother, when I went to the forest, I was never distressed in mind, for I always knew, reflecting, that one's own deeds must be experienced.

Verse 11 (devibhagavatam.3.25.11)

मृतो मातामहोऽत्रैव विधुरा जननी मम । भयातुरा गृहीत्वा मां निर्ययौ गहनं वनम्

mṛto mātāmaho'traiva vidhurā jananī mama bhayāturā gṛhītvā māṁ niryayau gahanaṁ vanam

My maternal grandfather died right there; my mother, widowed, filled with fear, took me and went out into the dense forest.

Verse 12 (devibhagavatam.3.25.12)

लुण्ठिता तस्करैर्मार्गे वस्त्रहीना तथा कृता । पाथेयञ्च हृतं सर्वं बालपुत्रा निराश्रया

luṇṭhitā taskarairmārge vastrahīnā tathā kṛtā pātheyañca hṛtaṁ sarvaṁ bālaputrā nirāśrayā

On the way, she was plundered by robbers, and thus stripped even of clothing; and all our provisions were taken; she, with a young son, was left without any refuge.

Verse 13 (devibhagavatam.3.25.13)

माता गृहीत्वा मां प्राप्ता भारद्वाजाश्रमं प्रति । विदल्लोऽयं समायातस्तथा धात्रेयिकाऽबला

mātā gṛhītvā māṁ prāptā bhāradvājāśramaṁ prati vidallo'yaṁ samāyātastathā dhātreyikā'balā

Taking me, my mother arrived at Bharadvaja's hermitage; there came also this Vidalla, and likewise a helpless maidservant.

Verse 14 (devibhagavatam.3.25.14)

मुनिभिर्मुनिपत्नीभिर्दयायुक्तैः समन्ततः । पोषिताः फलनीवारैर्वयं तत्र स्थितास्त्रयः

munibhirmunipatnībhirdayāyuktaiḥ samantataḥ poṣitāḥ phalanīvārairvayaṁ tatra sthitāstrayaḥ

By the sages and their wives, filled with compassion, we three were nourished on all sides with fruits and wild grain, dwelling there.

Verse 15 (devibhagavatam.3.25.15)

दुःखं नमे तदा ह्यासीत्सुखं नाद्य धनागमे । न वैरं न च मात्सर्यं मम चित्ते तु कर्हिचित्

duḥkhaṁ name tadā hyāsītsukhaṁ nādya dhanāgame na vairaṁ na ca mātsaryaṁ mama citte tu karhicit

I felt no sorrow then, nor do I feel joy now at the coming of wealth; nor has enmity or envy ever entered my heart.

Verse 16 (devibhagavatam.3.25.16)

नीवारभक्षणं श्रेष्ठं राजभोगात्परन्तपे । तदाशी नरकं याति न नीवाराशनः क्वचित्

nīvārabhakṣaṇaṁ śreṣṭhaṁ rājabhogātparantape tadāśī narakaṁ yāti na nīvārāśanaḥ kvacit

O scorcher of foes, eating wild grain is better than a king's enjoyments — one living on that royal fare may go to hell, but the wild-grain eater never does.

Verse 17 (devibhagavatam.3.25.17)

धर्मस्याचरणं कार्यं पुरुषेण विजानता । सञ्जित्येन्द्रियवर्गं वै यथा न नरकं व्रजेत्

dharmasyācaraṇaṁ kāryaṁ puruṣeṇa vijānatā sañjityendriyavargaṁ vai yathā na narakaṁ vrajet

The practice of dharma should be undertaken by a man of understanding, conquering the whole host of senses, so that he does not go to hell.

Verse 18 (devibhagavatam.3.25.18)

मानुष्यं दुर्लभं मातः खण्डेऽस्मिन्भारते शुभे । आहारादि सुखं नूनं भवेत्सर्वासु योनिषु

mānuṣyaṁ durlabhaṁ mātaḥ khaṇḍe'sminbhārate śubhe āhārādi sukhaṁ nūnaṁ bhavetsarvāsu yoniṣu

A human birth, O Mother, is hard to obtain, especially in this auspicious land of Bharata; the pleasures of food and the like are indeed found in every species of birth.

Verse 19 (devibhagavatam.3.25.19)

प्राप्य तं मानुषं देहं कर्तव्यं धर्मसाधनम् । स्वर्गमोक्षप्रदं नॄणां दुर्लभं चान्ययोनिषु

prāpya taṁ mānuṣaṁ dehaṁ kartavyaṁ dharmasādhanam svargamokṣapradaṁ nṝṇāṁ durlabhaṁ cānyayoniṣu

Having obtained this human body, one should undertake the practice of dharma, which bestows heaven and liberation upon men — a thing hard to obtain in any other species of birth.

Verse 20 (devibhagavatam.3.25.20)

व्यास उवाच । इत्युक्ता सा तदा तेन लीलावत्यतिलज्जिता । पुत्रशोकं परित्यज्य तमाहाश्रुविलोचना

vyāsa uvāca ityuktā sā tadā tena līlāvatyatilajjitā putraśokaṁ parityajya tamāhāśruvilocanā

Vyasa said: Thus addressed by him, that gracious lady, greatly abashed, giving up her grief for her son, said to him, her eyes filled with tears:

Verse 21 (devibhagavatam.3.25.21)

सापराधाऽस्मि पुत्राहं कृता पित्रा युधाजिता । हत्या मातामहं तेऽत्र हृतं राज्यं तु येन वै

sāparādhā'smi putrāhaṁ kṛtā pitrā yudhājitā hatyā mātāmahaṁ te'tra hṛtaṁ rājyaṁ tu yena vai

"My son, I am the one at fault — it was I who was made complicit by my father Yudhajit, who slew your maternal grandfather here and seized your kingdom.

Verse 22 (devibhagavatam.3.25.22)

न तं वारयितुं शक्ता तदाऽहं न सुतं मम । यत्कृतं कर्म तेनैव नापराधोऽस्ति मे सुत

na taṁ vārayituṁ śaktā tadā'haṁ na sutaṁ mama yatkṛtaṁ karma tenaiva nāparādho'sti me suta

I was unable then to restrain him, nor my own son either; whatever deed was done was his own doing — I bear no fault in it, my son.

Verse 23 (devibhagavatam.3.25.23)

तौ मृतौ स्वकृतेनैव कारणं त्वं तयोर्न च । नाहं शोचामि तं पुत्रं सदा शोचामि तत्कृतम्

tau mṛtau svakṛtenaiva kāraṇaṁ tvaṁ tayorna ca nāhaṁ śocāmi taṁ putraṁ sadā śocāmi tatkṛtam

Both of them died by their own deeds; you are not the cause of their deaths. I do not grieve for my son — I grieve always for what he did.

Verse 24 (devibhagavatam.3.25.24)

पुत्र त्वमसि कल्याण भगिनी मे मनोरमा । न क्रोधो न च शोको मे त्वयि पुत्र मनागपि

putra tvamasi kalyāṇa bhaginī me manoramā na krodho na ca śoko me tvayi putra manāgapi

My son, you are dear to me; Manorama is my own sister; I bear not the slightest anger or grief toward you, my son.

Verse 25 (devibhagavatam.3.25.25)

कुरु राज्यं महाभाग प्रजाः पालय सुव्रत । भगवत्याः प्रसादेन प्राप्तमेतदकण्टकम्

kuru rājyaṁ mahābhāga prajāḥ pālaya suvrata bhagavatyāḥ prasādena prāptametadakaṇṭakam

Rule the kingdom, O fortunate one, and protect your subjects, O man of good vows; by the grace of the Goddess, this kingdom has been obtained free of thorns."

Verse 26 (devibhagavatam.3.25.26)

तदाकर्ण्य वचो मातुर्नत्वा तां नृपनन्दनः । जगाम भवनं रम्यं यत्र पूर्वं मनोरमा

tadākarṇya vaco māturnatvā tāṁ nṛpanandanaḥ jagāma bhavanaṁ ramyaṁ yatra pūrvaṁ manoramā

Hearing his mother's words, the prince, bowing to her, went to the lovely palace where Manorama had lived before.

Verse 27 (devibhagavatam.3.25.27)

न्यवसत्तत्र गत्वा तु सर्वानाहूय मन्त्रिणः । दैवज्ञानथ पप्रच्छ मुहूर्तं दिवसं शुभम्

nyavasattatra gatvā tu sarvānāhūya mantriṇaḥ daivajñānatha papraccha muhūrtaṁ divasaṁ śubham

Going there, he settled in; and summoning all his ministers and astrologers, he asked for an auspicious hour and day.

Verse 28 (devibhagavatam.3.25.28)

सिंहासनं तथा हैमं कारयित्वा मनोहरम् । सिंहासने स्थितां देवीं पूजयिष्ये सदाऽप्यहम्

siṁhāsanaṁ tathā haimaṁ kārayitvā manoharam siṁhāsane sthitāṁ devīṁ pūjayiṣye sadā'pyaham

"Having a lovely golden throne made, I shall always worship the Goddess, seated upon that throne.

Verse 29 (devibhagavatam.3.25.29)

स्थापयित्वाऽऽसने देवीं धर्मार्थकाममोक्षदाम् । राज्यं पश्चात्करिष्यामि यथा रामादिभिः कृतम्

sthāpayitvā''sane devīṁ dharmārthakāmamokṣadām rājyaṁ paścātkariṣyāmi yathā rāmādibhiḥ kṛtam

Having installed upon the throne the Goddess who bestows dharma, artha, kama and moksha, I shall thereafter govern the kingdom, as was done by Rama and the others.

Verse 30 (devibhagavatam.3.25.30)

पूजनीया सदा देवी सर्वैर्नागरिकैर्जनैः । माननीया शिवा शक्तिः सर्वकामार्थसिद्धिदा

pūjanīyā sadā devī sarvairnāgarikairjanaiḥ mānanīyā śivā śaktiḥ sarvakāmārthasiddhidā

The Goddess should always be worshipped by all the citizens; that auspicious Power, who grants the fulfillment of every desire, should be honored."

Verse 31 (devibhagavatam.3.25.31)

इत्युक्ता मन्त्रिणस्ते तु चक्रुर्वै राजशासनम् । प्रासादं कारयामासुः शिल्पिभिः सुमनोरमम्

ityuktā mantriṇaste tu cakrurvai rājaśāsanam prāsādaṁ kārayāmāsuḥ śilpibhiḥ sumanoramam

Thus instructed, the ministers carried out the royal command; they had craftsmen build a most beautiful temple.

Verse 32 (devibhagavatam.3.25.32)

प्रतिमां कारयित्वाऽथ मुहूर्तेऽथ शुभे दिने । द्विजानाहूय वेदज्ञान्स्थापयामास भूपतिः

pratimāṁ kārayitvā'tha muhūrte'tha śubhe dine dvijānāhūya vedajñānsthāpayāmāsa bhūpatiḥ

Having had an image made, on an auspicious hour and day, the king summoned Brahmins learned in the Vedas, and performed the installation.

Verse 33 (devibhagavatam.3.25.33)

हवनं विधिवत्कृत्वा पूजयित्वाऽथ देवताम् । प्रासादे मतिमान् देव्याः स्थापयामास भूमिपः

havanaṁ vidhivatkṛtvā pūjayitvā'tha devatām prāsāde matimān devyāḥ sthāpayāmāsa bhūmipaḥ

Duly performing the fire-offering, and worshipping the Goddess, that wise king installed her in the temple.

Verse 34 (devibhagavatam.3.25.34)

उत्सवस्तत्र संवृत्तो वादित्राणाञ्च निःस्वनैः । ब्राह्मणानां वेदघोषैर्गानैस्तु विधिधैर्नृप

utsavastatra saṁvṛtto vāditrāṇāñca niḥsvanaiḥ brāhmaṇānāṁ vedaghoṣairgānaistu vidhidhairnṛpa

There a festival took place, with the sounds of musical instruments, with the Vedic chanting of the Brahmins, and with duly ordained songs, O king.

Verse 35 (devibhagavatam.3.25.35)

व्यास उवाच । प्रतिष्ठाप्य शिवां देवीं विधिवद्वेदवादिभिः । पूजां नानाविधां राजा चकारातिविधानतः

vyāsa uvāca pratiṣṭhāpya śivāṁ devīṁ vidhivadvedavādibhiḥ pūjāṁ nānāvidhāṁ rājā cakārātividhānataḥ

Vyasa said: Having duly installed the auspicious Goddess, with the aid of those versed in the Vedas, the king performed manifold worship, in the most elaborate manner.

Verse 36 (devibhagavatam.3.25.36)

कृत्वा पूजाविधिं राजा राज्यं प्राप्य स्वपैतृकम् । विख्यातश्चाम्बिका देवी कोसलेषु बभूव ह

kṛtvā pūjāvidhiṁ rājā rājyaṁ prāpya svapaitṛkam vikhyātaścāmbikā devī kosaleṣu babhūva ha

Having performed the rites of worship, and having regained his paternal kingdom, the king ruled; and the Goddess Ambika became renowned throughout Kosala.

Verse 37 (devibhagavatam.3.25.37)

राज्यं प्राप्य नृपः सर्वं सामन्तकनृपानथ । वशे चक्रेऽतिधर्मिष्ठान्सद्धर्मविजयी नृपः

rājyaṁ prāpya nṛpaḥ sarvaṁ sāmantakanṛpānatha vaśe cakre'tidharmiṣṭhānsaddharmavijayī nṛpaḥ

Having obtained the whole kingdom, that righteous, dharma-victorious king then brought all the neighboring kings, most devoted to dharma, under his sway.

Verse 38 (devibhagavatam.3.25.38)

यथा रामः स्वराज्येऽभूद्दिलीपस्य रघुर्यथा । प्रजानां वै सुखं तद्वन्मर्यादाऽपि तथाऽभवत्

yathā rāmaḥ svarājye'bhūddilīpasya raghuryathā prajānāṁ vai sukhaṁ tadvanmaryādā'pi tathā'bhavat

As Rama was in his own kingdom, as Raghu was to Dilipa — such was the happiness of the subjects, and such too the propriety that prevailed.

Verse 39 (devibhagavatam.3.25.39)

धर्मो वर्णाश्रमाणां च चतुष्पादभवत्तथा । नाधर्मे रमते चित्तं केषामपि महीतले

dharmo varṇāśramāṇāṁ ca catuṣpādabhavattathā nādharme ramate cittaṁ keṣāmapi mahītale

The dharma of the varnas and ashramas thus became firmly established on its four feet; the mind of none upon the earth delighted in unrighteousness.

Verse 40 (devibhagavatam.3.25.40)

ग्रामे ग्रामे च प्रासादांश्चक्रुः सर्वे जनाधिपाः । देव्याः पूजा तदा प्रीत्या कोसलेषु प्रवर्तिता

grāme grāme ca prāsādāṁścakruḥ sarve janādhipāḥ devyāḥ pūjā tadā prītyā kosaleṣu pravartitā

In village after village, all the local rulers built temples; and thus the worship of the Goddess, performed with devotion, spread throughout Kosala.

Verse 41 (devibhagavatam.3.25.41)

सुबाहुरपि काश्यां तु दुर्गायाः प्रतिमां शुभाम् । कारयित्वा च प्रासादं स्थापयामास भक्तितः

subāhurapi kāśyāṁ tu durgāyāḥ pratimāṁ śubhām kārayitvā ca prāsādaṁ sthāpayāmāsa bhaktitaḥ

Subahu too, in Kashi, having had a beautiful image of Durga made, and a temple built, installed her there with devotion.

Verse 42 (devibhagavatam.3.25.42)

तत्र तस्या जनाः सर्वे प्रेमभक्तिपरायणाः । पूजां चक्रुर्विधानेन यथा विश्वेश्वरस्य ह

tatra tasyā janāḥ sarve premabhaktiparāyaṇāḥ pūjāṁ cakrurvidhānena yathā viśveśvarasya ha

There all the people, devoted to loving devotion, performed her worship according to rite, just as they did for Vishveshvara.

Verse 43 (devibhagavatam.3.25.43)

विख्याता सा बभूवाथ दुर्गादेवी धरातले । देशे देशे महाराज तस्या भक्तिर्व्यवर्धत

vikhyātā sā babhūvātha durgādevī dharātale deśe deśe mahārāja tasyā bhaktirvyavardhata

Thus the Goddess Durga became renowned upon the earth; O great king, devotion to her grew in land after land.

Verse 44 (devibhagavatam.3.25.44)

सर्वत्र भारते लोके सर्ववर्णेषु सर्वथा । भजनीया भवानी तु सर्वेषामभवत्तदा

sarvatra bhārate loke sarvavarṇeṣu sarvathā bhajanīyā bhavānī tu sarveṣāmabhavattadā

Everywhere in the land of Bharata, among all the varnas, in every way, Bhavani then became the one to be worshipped by all.

Verse 45 (devibhagavatam.3.25.45)

शक्तिभक्तिरताः सर्वे मानिनश्चाभवन्नृप । आगमोक्तैरथ स्तोत्रैर्जपध्यानपरायणाः

śaktibhaktiratāḥ sarve māninaścābhavannṛpa āgamoktairatha stotrairjapadhyānaparāyaṇāḥ

O king, all people, devoted to the worship of the Shakti and self-respecting, became devoted to japa and meditation, with hymns declared in the Agamas.

Verse 46 (devibhagavatam.3.25.46)

नवरात्रेषु सर्वेषु चक्रुः सर्वे विधानतः । अर्चनं हवनं यागं देव्या भक्तिपरा जनाः

navarātreṣu sarveṣu cakruḥ sarve vidhānataḥ arcanaṁ havanaṁ yāgaṁ devyā bhaktiparā janāḥ

In every Navaratri, all people, devoted to the Goddess, duly performed worship, fire-offerings, and sacrifice.