The Adi-Baka Battle and the Glory of the Goddess

Verse 1 (devibhagavatam.6.13.1)

इन्द्र उवाच । साहसं कृतवान् राजा पूर्वं यत्कथितो मखः । वरुणाय प्रतिज्ञातः पुत्रं कृत्वा पशुं प्रियम्

indra uvāca | sāhasaṁ kṛtavān rājā pūrvaṁ yatkathito makhaḥ | varuṇāya pratijñātaḥ putraṁ kṛtvā paśuṁ priyam

Indra said: The king committed a rash act in the past, in that the sacrifice promised to Varuna was vowed by making his own beloved son the victim.

Verse 2 (devibhagavatam.6.13.2)

गते त्वयि पिता पुत्रं बद्ध्वा यूपेऽघृणः पुनः । पशुं कृत्वा महाबुद्धे वधिष्यति व्यथातुरः

gate tvayi pitā putraṁ baddhvā yūpe'ghṛṇaḥ punaḥ | paśuṁ kṛtvā mahābuddhe vadhiṣyati vyathāturaḥ

If you go, your merciless father, O wise one, having again bound his son to the sacrificial post and made him the victim, will slay him even while suffering anguish.

Verse 3 (devibhagavatam.6.13.3)

इत्थं निषिद्धस्तत्पुत्रः शक्रेणामिततेजसा । स्थितस्तत्रैव मायेशीमायया मोहितो भृशम्

itthaṁ niṣiddhastatputraḥ śakreṇāmitatejasā | sthitastatraiva māyeśīmāyayā mohito bhṛśam

Thus forbidden by Shakra of boundless splendor, the son remained right there, utterly deluded by the maya of the Mistress of Maya.

Verse 4 (devibhagavatam.6.13.4)

यदा पुनः पुनः श्रुत्वा पितरं रोगपीडितम् । गमनाय मतिं चक्रे तदेन्द्रः प्रत्यषेधयत्

yadā punaḥ punaḥ śrutvā pitaraṁ rogapīḍitam | gamanāya matiṁ cakre tadendraḥ pratyaṣedhayat

Whenever, hearing again and again that his father was afflicted with disease, he resolved to go, Indra forbade him once more.

Verse 5 (devibhagavatam.6.13.5)

हरिश्चन्द्रोऽतिदुःखार्तः पप्रच्छ गुरुमन्तिके । स्थितं वसिष्ठमेकान्ते सर्वज्ञं हिततत्परम्

hariścandro'tiduḥkhārtaḥ papraccha gurumantike | sthitaṁ vasiṣṭhamekānte sarvajñaṁ hitatatparam

Harishchandra, overcome with grief, asked near his guru — Vasishtha, who sat alone, all-knowing and devoted to his welfare —

Verse 6 (devibhagavatam.6.13.6)

राजोवाच । भगवन् कि करोम्यद्य कातरोऽस्मि व्यथाकुलः । त्राहि मां दुःखमनसं महाव्याधिभयातुरम्

rājovāca | bhagavan ki karomyadya kātaro'smi vyathākulaḥ | trāhi māṁ duḥkhamanasaṁ mahāvyādhibhayāturam

The king said: 'O venerable one, what shall I do now? I am fearful and distressed. Save me, whose mind is sorrowful, tormented by fear of this great disease.'

Verse 7 (devibhagavatam.6.13.7)

वसिष्ठ उवाच । शृणु राजन्नुपायोऽस्ति रोगनाशं प्रति स्तुतः । त्रयोदशविधाः पुत्राः कथिता धर्मसङ्ग्रहे

vasiṣṭha uvāca | śṛṇu rājannupāyo'sti roganāśaṁ prati stutaḥ | trayodaśavidhāḥ putrāḥ kathitā dharmasaṅgrahe

Vasishtha said: 'Listen, O king, there is a remedy praised for the destruction of disease. Thirteen kinds of sons have been declared in the compendium of dharma.'

Verse 8 (devibhagavatam.6.13.8)

तस्मात्क्रीतं सुतं कृत्वा यजस्व मखमुत्तमम् । द्रव्यं दत्त्वा यथोद्दिष्टमानयस्व द्विजोत्तमम्

tasmātkrītaṁ sutaṁ kṛtvā yajasva makhamuttamam | dravyaṁ dattvā yathoddiṣṭamānayasva dvijottamam

'Therefore, having procured a bought son, perform the excellent sacrifice; giving the prescribed price, bring here a most excellent brahmin's son.'

Verse 9 (devibhagavatam.6.13.9)

एवं कृते मखे भूप रोगनाशो भविष्यति । वरुणोऽपि प्रसन्नात्मा भविष्यति यथासुखम्

evaṁ kṛte makhe bhūpa roganāśo bhaviṣyati | varuṇo'pi prasannātmā bhaviṣyati yathāsukham

'When the sacrifice is thus performed, O king, the disease will be destroyed, and Varuna too, his heart pleased, will grant you ease.'

Verse 10 (devibhagavatam.6.13.10)

व्यास उवाच । इति तस्य वचः श्रुत्वा राजा प्रोवाच मन्त्रिणम् । अन्वेषय महाबुद्धे विषयेष्वतियत्नतः

vyāsa uvāca | iti tasya vacaḥ śrutvā rājā provāca mantriṇam | anveṣaya mahābuddhe viṣayeṣvatiyatnataḥ

Vyasa said: Having heard these words, the king said to his minister: 'O wise one, search throughout the kingdom with great effort —'

Verse 11 (devibhagavatam.6.13.11)

कदाचित्कोऽपि लोभार्थी ददाति स्वसुतं पिता । समानय धनं दत्त्वा यावत्प्रार्थयतेऽप्यसौ

kadācitko'pi lobhārthī dadāti svasutaṁ pitā | samānaya dhanaṁ dattvā yāvatprārthayate'pyasau

'perhaps some father, desiring wealth, may give up his own son. Bring him here, paying whatever price he may ask.'

Verse 12 (devibhagavatam.6.13.12)

सर्वथैव समानेयो यज्ञार्थे द्विजबालकः । न कार्या कृपणा बुद्धिस्त्वया मत्कार्यहेतवे

sarvathaiva samāneyo yajñārthe dvijabālakaḥ | na kāryā kṛpaṇā buddhistvayā matkāryahetave

'A brahmin boy must be brought for the sake of the sacrifice in every case; you must not be miserly in mind for the sake of my task.'

Verse 13 (devibhagavatam.6.13.13)

प्रार्थनीयस्त्वया पुत्रः कस्यचिद्द्विजवादिनः । द्रव्येण देहि यज्ञार्थं कर्तव्योऽसौ पशुः किल

prārthanīyastvayā putraḥ kasyaciddvijavādinaḥ | dravyeṇa dehi yajñārthaṁ kartavyo'sau paśuḥ kila

'You must entreat for the son of some brahmin claimant; give wealth and bring him for the sacrifice — he is to be made the victim indeed.'

Verse 14 (devibhagavatam.6.13.14)

इति सञ्चोदितस्तेन सचिवः कार्यहेतवे । अन्वेषयामास पुरे ग्रामे ग्रामे गृहे गृहे

iti sañcoditastena sacivaḥ kāryahetave | anveṣayāmāsa pure grāme grāme gṛhe gṛhe

Thus urged on for the sake of the task, the minister searched through city after city, village after village, house after house.

Verse 15 (devibhagavatam.6.13.15)

एवमन्वेषतस्तस्य विषये कश्चिदातुरः । निर्धनस्त्रिसुतश्चासीदजीगर्तेति नामतः

evamanveṣatastasya viṣaye kaścidāturaḥ | nirdhanastrisutaścāsīdajīgarteti nāmataḥ

As he was searching thus, in the kingdom there was a certain man in distress — poor, with three sons — named Ajigarta.

Verse 16 (devibhagavatam.6.13.16)

तस्य पुत्रं शुनःशेपं मध्यमं मन्त्रिसत्तमः । आनयामास दत्त्वार्थं प्रार्थितं यद्धनं तदा

tasya putraṁ śunaḥśepaṁ madhyamaṁ mantrisattamaḥ | ānayāmāsa dattvārthaṁ prārthitaṁ yaddhanaṁ tadā

That best of ministers brought away his middle son, Shunahshepa, having given him the wealth he had asked for.

Verse 17 (devibhagavatam.6.13.17)

समानीय शुनःशेपं सचिवः कार्यतत्परः । राज्ञे निवेदयामास पशुयोग्यं द्विजात्मजम्

samānīya śunaḥśepaṁ sacivaḥ kāryatatparaḥ | rājñe nivedayāmāsa paśuyogyaṁ dvijātmajam

Having brought Shunahshepa, the minister, intent on his task, reported to the king that this brahmin's son was fit to be the sacrificial victim.

Verse 18 (devibhagavatam.6.13.18)

राजातिमुदितस्तेन विप्रानानीय सर्वतः । कारयामास सम्भारान्यज्ञार्थं वेदवित्तमान्

rājātimuditastena viprānānīya sarvataḥ | kārayāmāsa sambhārānyajñārthaṁ vedavittamān

The king, greatly delighted, brought together brahmins learned in the Veda from everywhere and had the sacrificial materials prepared.

Verse 19 (devibhagavatam.6.13.19)

प्रारब्धे तु मखे तत्र विश्वामित्रो महामुनिः । बद्धं दृष्ट्वा शुनःशेपं निषिषेध नृपं तदा

prārabdhe tu makhe tatra viśvāmitro mahāmuniḥ | baddhaṁ dṛṣṭvā śunaḥśepaṁ niṣiṣedha nṛpaṁ tadā

When the sacrifice had begun there, the great sage Vishvamitra, seeing Shunahshepa bound, then forbade the king.

Verse 20 (devibhagavatam.6.13.20)

राजन्मा साहसं कार्षीर्मुञ्चैनं द्विजबालकम् । प्रार्थयाम्यहमायुष्मन् सुखं तेऽद्य भविष्यति

rājanmā sāhasaṁ kārṣīrmuñcainaṁ dvijabālakam | prārthayāmyahamāyuṣman sukhaṁ te'dya bhaviṣyati

'O king, do not commit this rash act — release this brahmin boy! I entreat you, long-lived one; today your good fortune shall follow.'

Verse 21 (devibhagavatam.6.13.21)

क्रन्दत्ययं शुनःशेपः करुणा मां दुनोत्यपि । दयावान्भव राजेन्द्र कुरु मे वचनं नृप

krandatyayaṁ śunaḥśepaḥ karuṇā māṁ dunotyapi | dayāvānbhava rājendra kuru me vacanaṁ nṛpa

'This Shunahshepa weeps; his plight torments even me with compassion. Be merciful, O lord of kings; heed my word.'

Verse 22 (devibhagavatam.6.13.22)

परदेहस्य रक्षायै स्वदेहं ये दयापराः । ददति क्षत्रियाः पूर्वं स्वर्गकामाः शुचिव्रताः

paradehasya rakṣāyai svadehaṁ ye dayāparāḥ | dadati kṣatriyāḥ pūrvaṁ svargakāmāḥ śucivratāḥ

'Kshatriyas of old, for the protection of another's body, out of compassion, desiring heaven and keeping pure vows, would even give up their own bodies —'

Verse 23 (devibhagavatam.6.13.23)

त्वं स्वदेहस्य रक्षार्थं हंसि द्विजसुतं बलात् । पापं मा कुरु राजेन्द्र दयावान् भव बालके

tvaṁ svadehasya rakṣārthaṁ haṁsi dvijasutaṁ balāt | pāpaṁ mā kuru rājendra dayāvān bhava bālake

'yet you, for the protection of your own body, are slaying a brahmin's son by force! Do not commit this sin, O lord of kings; be compassionate to the child.'

Verse 24 (devibhagavatam.6.13.24)

सर्वेषां सदृशी प्रीतिर्देहे वेत्सि स्वयं नृप । मुञ्चैनं बालकं तस्मात्प्रमाणं यदि मे वचः

sarveṣāṁ sadṛśī prītirdehe vetsi svayaṁ nṛpa | muñcainaṁ bālakaṁ tasmātpramāṇaṁ yadi me vacaḥ

'O king, love for one's own body is the same in all beings — you know this yourself. Therefore release this boy, if my word carries any weight with you.'

Verse 25 (devibhagavatam.6.13.25)

व्यास क्त्वच अनादृत्य च तद्वाक्यं राजा दुःखातुरो भृशम् । न मुमोच मुनिस्तस्मै चूकोपातीव तापसः

vyāsa ktvaca anādṛtya ca tadvākyaṁ rājā duḥkhāturo bhṛśam | na mumoca munistasmai cūkopātīva tāpasaḥ

Vyasa said: Disregarding these words, the king, himself greatly afflicted with sorrow, did not release the boy; at this the ascetic sage grew exceedingly angry.

Verse 26 (devibhagavatam.6.13.26)

उपदेशं ददौ तस्मै शुनःशेपाय कौशिकः । मन्त्रं पाशधरस्याथ दयावान्वेदवित्तमः

upadeśaṁ dadau tasmai śunaḥśepāya kauśikaḥ | mantraṁ pāśadharasyātha dayāvānvedavittamaḥ

Kaushika, compassionate and most learned in the Vedas, then gave that Shunahshepa the teaching of a mantra to the Noose-bearer, Varuna.

Verse 27 (devibhagavatam.6.13.27)

शुनःशेपोऽपि तं मन्त्रमसकृद्वधकर्शितः । स्तुतस्वरेण चुक्रोश संस्मरन्वरुणं भृशम्

śunaḥśepo'pi taṁ mantramasakṛdvadhakarśitaḥ | stutasvareṇa cukrośa saṁsmaranvaruṇaṁ bhṛśam

Shunahshepa too, worn thin by fear of death, recited that mantra again and again, crying it out in a hymn-like tone, intensely remembering Varuna.

Verse 28 (devibhagavatam.6.13.28)

स्तुवन्तं मुनिपुत्रं तं ज्ञात्वा वै यादसां पतिः । तत्रागत्य शुनःशेपं मुमोच करुणार्णवः

stuvantaṁ muniputraṁ taṁ jñātvā vai yādasāṁ patiḥ | tatrāgatya śunaḥśepaṁ mumoca karuṇārṇavaḥ

Knowing that the sage's son was praising him thus, the lord of the waters, an ocean of compassion, came there and set Shunahshepa free.

Verse 29 (devibhagavatam.6.13.29)

रोगहीनं नृपं कृत्वा वरुणः स्वगृहं ययौ । विश्वामित्रस्तु तं पुत्रं कृतवान्मोचितं मृतेः

rogahīnaṁ nṛpaṁ kṛtvā varuṇaḥ svagṛhaṁ yayau | viśvāmitrastu taṁ putraṁ kṛtavānmocitaṁ mṛteḥ

Having freed the king of his disease, Varuna went to his own abode; and Vishvamitra made that boy, now released from death, his own son.

Verse 30 (devibhagavatam.6.13.30)

न कृतं वचनं राज्ञा कौशिकस्य महात्मनः । रोषं दधार मनसा राजोपरि स गाधिजः

na kṛtaṁ vacanaṁ rājñā kauśikasya mahātmanaḥ | roṣaṁ dadhāra manasā rājopari sa gādhijaḥ

Since the king had not heeded the word of the great-souled Kaushika, the son of Gadhi harbored anger against the king in his heart.

Verse 31 (devibhagavatam.6.13.31)

एकस्मिन्समये राजा हयारूढो वनं गतः । सूकरं हन्तुकामस्तु मध्याह्ने कौशिकीतटे

ekasminsamaye rājā hayārūḍho vanaṁ gataḥ | sūkaraṁ hantukāmastu madhyāhne kauśikītaṭe

On one occasion the king, mounted on horseback, went into the forest at midday, wishing to kill a boar on the bank of the river Kaushiki.

Verse 32 (devibhagavatam.6.13.32)

वृद्धब्राह्मणवेषेण विश्वामित्रेण वञ्चितः । सर्वस्वं प्रार्थितं तस्य गृहीतं राज्यमद्भुतम्

vṛddhabrāhmaṇaveṣeṇa viśvāmitreṇa vañcitaḥ | sarvasvaṁ prārthitaṁ tasya gṛhītaṁ rājyamadbhutam

There, disguised as an old brahmin, Vishvamitra deceived him, begged everything he owned from him, and seized his wondrous kingdom.

Verse 33 (devibhagavatam.6.13.33)

पीडितोऽसौ हरिश्चन्द्रो यजमानो यतो भृशम् । वसिष्ठः कौशिकं प्राह वने प्राप्तं यदृच्छया

pīḍito'sau hariścandro yajamāno yato bhṛśam | vasiṣṭhaḥ kauśikaṁ prāha vane prāptaṁ yadṛcchayā

Harishchandra the sacrificer thus became greatly afflicted; then Vasishtha spoke to Vishvamitra, whom he happened to meet in the forest —

Verse 34 (devibhagavatam.6.13.34)

क्षत्रियाधम दुर्बुद्धे वृथा ब्राह्मणवेषभृत् । बकधर्म वृथा किं त्वं गर्वं वहसि दाम्भिक

kṣatriyādhama durbuddhe vṛthā brāhmaṇaveṣabhṛt | bakadharma vṛthā kiṁ tvaṁ garvaṁ vahasi dāmbhika

'O foolish-minded, worst of kshatriyas, vainly wearing a brahmin's guise, feigning virtue in vain like a crane — O hypocrite, why do you bear such pride?'

Verse 35 (devibhagavatam.6.13.35)

कस्मात्त्वया नृपश्रेष्ठो यजमानो ममाप्यसौ । अपराधं विना जाल्म गमितो दुःखमद्भुतम्

kasmāttvayā nṛpaśreṣṭho yajamāno mamāpyasau | aparādhaṁ vinā jālma gamito duḥkhamadbhutam

'O wretch, why have you, without any fault of his, brought that best of kings, my own sacrificer too, to such extraordinary misery?'

Verse 36 (devibhagavatam.6.13.36)

बकध्यानपरो यस्मात्तस्मात्त्वं वै बको भव । इति शप्तो वसिष्ठेन कौशिकः प्राह तं पुनः

bakadhyānaparo yasmāttasmāttvaṁ vai bako bhava | iti śapto vasiṣṭhena kauśikaḥ prāha taṁ punaḥ

'Since you are given to crane-like meditation, become a crane (baka) in truth!' Thus cursed by Vasishtha, Kaushika spoke to him in turn —

Verse 37 (devibhagavatam.6.13.37)

त्वमप्याडिर्भवायुष्मन् बकोऽहं यावदेव हि । व्यास उवाच । एवं परस्परं दत्त्वा शापं तौ क्रोधपीडितौ

tvamapyāḍirbhavāyuṣman bako'haṁ yāvadeva hi | vyāsa uvāca | evaṁ parasparaṁ dattvā śāpaṁ tau krodhapīḍitau

'You too, long-lived one, become an adi (water-bird), for as long as I remain a baka!' Vyasa said: Having thus cursed one another, the two, overcome with rage,

Verse 38 (devibhagavatam.6.13.38)

अण्डजौ तरसा जातौ सरस्याडीबकौ मुनी । एकस्मिन्पादपे नीडं कृत्वासौ बकरूपभाक्

aṇḍajau tarasā jātau sarasyāḍībakau munī | ekasminpādape nīḍaṁ kṛtvāsau bakarūpabhāk

swiftly became egg-born birds at the lake — an adi and a baka. The sage who bore the form of the baka built his nest in one tree,

Verse 39 (devibhagavatam.6.13.39)

विश्वामित्रः स्थितस्तत्र दिव्ये सरसि मानसे । अन्यस्मित्पादपे कृत्वा वसिष्ठो नीडमुत्तमम्

viśvāmitraḥ sthitastatra divye sarasi mānase | anyasmitpādape kṛtvā vasiṣṭho nīḍamuttamam

Vishvamitra remained there at the divine Lake Manasa, while in another tree Vasishtha built his own fine nest.

Verse 40 (devibhagavatam.6.13.40)

आडीरूपधरस्तस्थावन्योन्यं द्वेषतत्परौ । दिने दिने तौ सङ्ग्रामं चक्रतुः क्रोधसंयुतौ

āḍīrūpadharastasthāvanyonyaṁ dveṣatatparau | dine dine tau saṅgrāmaṁ cakratuḥ krodhasaṁyutau

Bearing the form of the adi, Vasishtha stayed there; and the two, bent on mutual hatred, fought a battle day after day, filled with rage.

Verse 41 (devibhagavatam.6.13.41)

दुःखदं सर्वलोकानां क्रन्दमानावुभौ भृशम् । चञ्चुपक्षप्रहारैस्तु नखाघातैः परस्परम्

duḥkhadaṁ sarvalokānāṁ krandamānāvubhau bhṛśam | cañcupakṣaprahāraistu nakhāghātaiḥ parasparam

Causing distress to all the worlds, both crying out loudly again and again, striking one another with blows of beak and wing and with the strokes of their claws —

Verse 42 (devibhagavatam.6.13.42)

जघ्नतू रुधिरक्लिनौ पुष्पिताविव किंशुकौ । एवं बहूनि वर्षाणि पक्षिरूपधरौ मुनी

jaghnatū rudhiraklinau puṣpitāviva kiṁśukau | evaṁ bahūni varṣāṇi pakṣirūpadharau munī

drenched in blood, they struck one another like two flowering kimshuka trees red with blossoms. Thus, for many years, the two sages, bearing the forms of birds,

Verse 43 (devibhagavatam.6.13.43)

स्थितौ तत्र महाराज शापपाशेन यन्त्रितौ । राजोवाच । कथं मुक्तौ मुनिश्रेष्ठौ शापाद्वसिष्ठकौशिकौ

sthitau tatra mahārāja śāpapāśena yantritau | rājovāca | kathaṁ muktau muniśreṣṭhau śāpādvasiṣṭhakauśikau

remained there, O great king, bound by the noose of the curse. The king said: 'How were the two best of sages, Vasishtha and Kaushika, released from the curse?'

Verse 44 (devibhagavatam.6.13.44)

तन्ममाचक्ष्व विप्रर्षे परं कौतूहलं हि मे । व्यास उवाच । युध्यमानाब्वुभौ दृष्ट्वा ब्रह्मा लोकपितामहः

tanmamācakṣva viprarṣe paraṁ kautūhalaṁ hi me | vyāsa uvāca | yudhyamānābvubhau dṛṣṭvā brahmā lokapitāmahaḥ

'Tell me this, O sage among brahmins, for I have great curiosity about it.' Vyasa said: Seeing the two of them fighting, Brahma, grandfather of the worlds,

Verse 45 (devibhagavatam.6.13.45)

तत्राजगामानिमिषैर्वृतः सर्वैर्दयापरैः । तावाश्वास्य जगत्कर्ता युद्धतो विनिवार्य च

tatrājagāmānimiṣairvṛtaḥ sarvairdayāparaiḥ | tāvāśvāsya jagatkartā yuddhato vinivārya ca

came there surrounded by all the gods, who were full of compassion. The creator of the world, having comforted the two and restrained them from the battle,

Verse 46 (devibhagavatam.6.13.46)

शापं सम्मोचयामास तयोः क्षिप्तं परस्परम् । ततो जग्मुः सुराः सर्वे स्वानि धिष्ण्यानि पद्मभूः

śāpaṁ sammocayāmāsa tayoḥ kṣiptaṁ parasparam | tato jagmuḥ surāḥ sarve svāni dhiṣṇyāni padmabhūḥ

released them from the curse each had cast on the other. Then all the gods went to their own abodes, and the Lotus-born one (Brahma) —

Verse 47 (devibhagavatam.6.13.47)

सत्यलोकं जगामाशु हंसारूढः प्रतापवान् । विश्वामित्रोऽप्यगात्तूर्णं वसिष्ठः स्वाश्रमं गतः

satyalokaṁ jagāmāśu haṁsārūḍhaḥ pratāpavān | viśvāmitro'pyagāttūrṇaṁ vasiṣṭhaḥ svāśramaṁ gataḥ

the majestic Brahma, mounted on his swan, swiftly departed for Satyaloka; Vishvamitra too went off at once, and Vasishtha went to his own hermitage.

Verse 48 (devibhagavatam.6.13.48)

मिथः स्नेहं ततः कृत्वा प्रजापत्युपदेशतः । मैत्रावरुणिनाप्येवं कृतं युद्धमकारणम्

mithaḥ snehaṁ tataḥ kṛtvā prajāpatyupadeśataḥ | maitrāvaruṇināpyevaṁ kṛtaṁ yuddhamakāraṇam

Then, forming mutual affection through the teaching of the Prajapati (Brahma) — thus even by Maitravaruni (Vasishtha) was this needless battle waged —

Verse 49 (devibhagavatam.6.13.49)

कौशिकेन समं भूप दुःखदं च परस्परम् । को नाम मानवो लोके देवो वा दानवोऽपि वा

kauśikena samaṁ bhūpa duḥkhadaṁ ca parasparam | ko nāma mānavo loke devo vā dānavo'pi vā

together with Kaushika, O king, a battle bringing mutual sorrow. Who indeed, among men in this world, or gods, or even demons,

Verse 50 (devibhagavatam.6.13.50)

अहङ्कारजयं कृत्वा सर्वदा सुखभाग्भवेत् । तस्माद्राजंश्चित्तशुद्धिर्महतामपि दुर्लभा

ahaṅkārajayaṁ kṛtvā sarvadā sukhabhāgbhavet | tasmādrājaṁścittaśuddhirmahatāmapi durlabhā

having conquered egotism, could ever always partake of happiness? Therefore, O king, purity of mind is rare even for the great.

Verse 51 (devibhagavatam.6.13.51)

यत्नेन साधनीया सा तद्विहीनं निरर्थकम् । तीर्थं दानं तपः सत्यं यत्किञ्चिद्धर्मसाधनम्

yatnena sādhanīyā sā tadvihīnaṁ nirarthakam | tīrthaṁ dānaṁ tapaḥ satyaṁ yatkiñciddharmasādhanam

It must be attained through effort; without it, whatever tirtha, gift, austerity, truth, or other means of dharma there is, becomes fruitless.

Verse 52 (devibhagavatam.6.13.52)

(श्रद्धात्र त्रिविधा प्रोक्ता सात्त्विकी राजसी तथा । तामसी सर्वदेहेषु देहिनां धर्मकर्मसु ॥ सात्त्विकी दुर्लभा लोके यथोक्तफलदा सदा । तदर्धफलदा प्रोक्ता राजसी विधिसंयुता ॥ तामसी त्वफला राजन्न तु कीर्तिकरी पुनः । कामक्रोधाभिभूतानां जनानां नृपसत्तम ॥) वासनारहितं कृत्वा तच्चित्तं श्रवणादिना । तीर्थादिषु वसेन्नित्यं देवीपूजनतत्परः

(śraddhātra trividhā proktā sāttvikī rājasī tathā | tāmasī sarvadeheṣu dehināṁ dharmakarmasu || sāttvikī durlabhā loke yathoktaphaladā sadā | tadardhaphaladā proktā rājasī vidhisaṁyutā || tāmasī tvaphalā rājanna tu kīrtikarī punaḥ | kāmakrodhābhibhūtānāṁ janānāṁ nṛpasattama ||) vāsanārahitaṁ kṛtvā taccittaṁ śravaṇādinā | tīrthādiṣu vasennityaṁ devīpūjanatatparaḥ

(Here faith is declared to be threefold — sattvika, rajasa, and tamasa — present in the dharma-acts of all embodied beings. Sattvika faith is rare in the world and always yields its stated fruit; rajasa faith, bound to mere ritual form, is said to yield half that fruit; but tamasa faith, O best of kings, is fruitless and brings no glory, belonging as it does to people overcome by desire and anger.) Having freed the mind of worldly craving through hearing of the Goddess and the like, one should ever dwell at the tirthas and such places, intent on worship of the Goddess —

Verse 53 (devibhagavatam.6.13.53)

देवीनामानि वचसा गृह्णंस्तस्या गुणान्स्तुवन् । ध्यायंस्तस्याः पदाम्भोजं कलिदोषभयार्दितः

devīnāmāni vacasā gṛhṇaṁstasyā guṇānstuvan | dhyāyaṁstasyāḥ padāmbhojaṁ kalidoṣabhayārditaḥ

taking the names of the Goddess upon one's speech, praising her virtues, meditating on her lotus feet — tormented by fear of the faults of the Kali age —

Verse 54 (devibhagavatam.6.13.54)

एवं तु कुर्वतस्तस्य न कदाचित्कलेर्भयम् । अनायासेन संसारान्मुच्यते पातकी जनः

evaṁ tu kurvatastasya na kadācitkalerbhayam | anāyāsena saṁsārānmucyate pātakī janaḥ

for one who acts thus, there is never any fear of the Kali age; even a sinful person is freed from the bondage of worldly existence without effort.