By Shiva's Grace, Lakshmi's Worship of the Goddess

Verse 1 (devibhagavatam.6.18.1)

जनमेजय उवाच । इति शप्ता भगवता सिन्धुजा कोपयोगतः । कथं सा वडवा जाता रेवन्तेन च किं कृतम्

janamejaya uvāca | iti śaptā bhagavatā sindhujā kopayogataḥ | kathaṁ sā vaḍavā jātā revantena ca kiṁ kṛtam

Janamejaya said: Thus cursed by the Lord in anger, how did the ocean-born goddess become a mare, and what did Revanta do then?

Verse 2 (devibhagavatam.6.18.2)

कस्मिन्देशेऽब्धिजा देवी वडवारूपधारिणी । संस्थितैकाकिनी बाला परोषित्पतिका यथा

kasmindeśe'bdhijā devī vaḍavārūpadhāriṇī | saṁsthitaikākinī bālā paroṣitpatikā yathā

In what land did the ocean-born goddess, bearing the form of a mare, dwell alone, like a young woman whose husband has gone abroad?

Verse 3 (devibhagavatam.6.18.3)

कालं कियन्तमायुष्मन् वियुक्ता पतिना रमा । संस्थिता विजनेऽरण्ये किं कृतं च तया पुनः

kālaṁ kiyantamāyuṣman viyuktā patinā ramā | saṁsthitā vijane'raṇye kiṁ kṛtaṁ ca tayā punaḥ

O long-lived one, for how long did Rama, separated from her husband, remain in the lonely forest, and what did she do next?

Verse 4 (devibhagavatam.6.18.4)

समागमं कदा प्राप्ता वासुदेवस्य सिन्धुजा । पुत्रः कथं तया प्राप्तो नारायणवियुक्तया

samāgamaṁ kadā prāptā vāsudevasya sindhujā | putraḥ kathaṁ tayā prāpto nārāyaṇaviyuktayā

When did the ocean-born goddess attain reunion with Vasudeva? How, separated from Narayana, did she obtain a son?

Verse 5 (devibhagavatam.6.18.5)

एतद्वृत्तान्तमार्येश कथयस्व सविस्तरम् । श्रोतुकामोऽस्मि विप्रेन्द्र कथाख्यानमनुत्तमम्

etadvṛttāntamāryeśa kathayasva savistaram | śrotukāmo'smi viprendra kathākhyānamanuttamam

Tell me this whole account in full, O noble lord; I wish to hear this most excellent tale, O foremost of brahmins.

Verse 6 (devibhagavatam.6.18.6)

सूत उवाच । इति पृष्टस्तदा व्यासः परीक्षित्तनयेन वै । कथयामास भो विप्राः कथामेतां सुविस्तराम्

sūta uvāca | iti pṛṣṭastadā vyāsaḥ parīkṣittanayena vai | kathayāmāsa bho viprāḥ kathāmetāṁ suvistarām

Suta said: Thus questioned by the son of Parikshit, Vyasa, O brahmins, related this story in full detail.

Verse 7 (devibhagavatam.6.18.7)

व्यास उवाच । शृणु राजन् प्रवक्ष्यामि कथां पौराणिकीं शुभाम् । पावनीं सुखदां कर्णे विशदाक्षरसंयुताम्

vyāsa uvāca | śṛṇu rājan pravakṣyāmi kathāṁ paurāṇikīṁ śubhām | pāvanīṁ sukhadāṁ karṇe viśadākṣarasaṁyutām

Vyasa said: Listen, O king, I shall tell this auspicious Puranic story, purifying and delightful to the ear, composed in clear words.

Verse 8 (devibhagavatam.6.18.8)

रेवन्तस्तु रमां दृष्ट्वा शप्ता देवेन कामिनीम् । भयार्तः प्रययौ दूरात्प्रणम्य जगतां पतिम्

revantastu ramāṁ dṛṣṭvā śaptā devena kāminīm | bhayārtaḥ prayayau dūrātpraṇamya jagatāṁ patim

Revanta, seeing that Rama had been cursed by the Lord, terrified, bowed to the Lord of the worlds from a distance and departed.

Verse 9 (devibhagavatam.6.18.9)

पितुः सकाशं त्वरितो वीक्ष्य कोपं जगत्पतेः । निवेदयामास कथां भास्कराय स शापजाम्

pituḥ sakāśaṁ tvarito vīkṣya kopaṁ jagatpateḥ | nivedayāmāsa kathāṁ bhāskarāya sa śāpajām

Seeing the anger of the Lord of the worlds, he hastened to his father, the Sun, and reported the whole matter of the curse to Bhaskara.

Verse 10 (devibhagavatam.6.18.10)

दुःखिता सा रमा देवी प्रणम्य जगदीश्वरम् । आज्ञप्ता मानुषं लोकं प्राप्ता कमललोचना

duḥkhitā sā ramā devī praṇamya jagadīśvaram | ājñaptā mānuṣaṁ lokaṁ prāptā kamalalocanā

The sorrowing goddess Rama, having bowed to the Lord of the universe, and by his command, that lotus-eyed one descended into the world of men.

Verse 11 (devibhagavatam.6.18.11)

सूर्यपत्न्या तपस्तप्तं यत्र पूर्वं सुदारुणम् । तत्रैव सा ययावाशु वडवारूपधारिणी

sūryapatnyā tapastaptaṁ yatra pūrvaṁ sudāruṇam | tatraiva sā yayāvāśu vaḍavārūpadhāriṇī

To the very place where the Sun's wife had of old performed terrible austerity, she went at once, bearing the form of a mare.

Verse 12 (devibhagavatam.6.18.12)

कालिन्दीतमसासङ्गे सुपर्णाक्षस्य चोत्तरे । सर्वकामप्रदे स्थाने सुरम्यवनमण्डिते

kālindītamasāsaṅge suparṇākṣasya cottare | sarvakāmaprade sthāne suramyavanamaṇḍite

At the confluence of the Kalindi and the Tamasa, north of Suparnaksha, in a place granting every desire, adorned with a most lovely forest —

Verse 13 (devibhagavatam.6.18.13)

तत्र स्थिता महादेवं शङ्करं वाञ्छितप्रदम् । दध्यौ चैकेन मनसा शूलिनं चन्द्रशेखरम्

tatra sthitā mahādevaṁ śaṅkaraṁ vāñchitapradam | dadhyau caikena manasā śūlinaṁ candraśekharam

there, established, with a single-pointed mind she meditated upon Mahadeva Shankar, granter of every wish, the trident-bearer, moon-crested,

Verse 14 (devibhagavatam.6.18.14)

पञ्चाननं दशभुजं गौरीदेहार्धधारिणम् । कर्पूरगौरदेहाभं नीलकण्ठं त्रिलोचनम्

pañcānanaṁ daśabhujaṁ gaurīdehārdhadhāriṇam | karpūragauradehābhaṁ nīlakaṇṭhaṁ trilocanam

five-faced, ten-armed, bearing Gauri's form as half of his own body, his body radiant like camphor, blue-throated, three-eyed —

Verse 15 (devibhagavatam.6.18.15)

व्याघ्राजिनधरं देवं गजचर्मोत्तरीयकम् । कपालमालाकलितं नागयज्ञोपवीतिनम्

vyāghrājinadharaṁ devaṁ gajacarmottarīyakam | kapālamālākalitaṁ nāgayajñopavītinam

clad in a tiger-skin, wearing an elephant-hide as his upper garment, adorned with a garland of skulls, wearing serpents as his sacred thread —

Verse 16 (devibhagavatam.6.18.16)

सागरस्य सुता कृत्वा हयीरूपं मनोहरम् । तस्मिंस्तीर्थे रमादेवी चकार दुश्चरं तपः

sāgarasya sutā kṛtvā hayīrūpaṁ manoharam | tasmiṁstīrthe ramādevī cakāra duścaraṁ tapaḥ

the daughter of the ocean, having taken the enchanting form of a mare, performed severe austerity at that tirtha — that goddess Rama.

Verse 17 (devibhagavatam.6.18.17)

ध्यायमाना परं देवं वैराग्यं समुपाश्रिता । दिव्यं वर्षसहस्रं तु गतं तत्र महीपते

dhyāyamānā paraṁ devaṁ vairāgyaṁ samupāśritā | divyaṁ varṣasahasraṁ tu gataṁ tatra mahīpate

Meditating on the Supreme God, having taken refuge in dispassion, O king, a thousand divine years passed there.

Verse 18 (devibhagavatam.6.18.18)

ततस्तुष्टो महादेवो वृषारूढस्त्रिलोचनः । प्रत्यक्षोऽभून्महेशानः पार्वतीसहितः प्रभुः

tatastuṣṭo mahādevo vṛṣārūḍhastrilocanaḥ | pratyakṣo'bhūnmaheśānaḥ pārvatīsahitaḥ prabhuḥ

Then Mahadeva, pleased, mounted on his bull, three-eyed, appeared directly before her, together with Parvati — that great Lord.

Verse 19 (devibhagavatam.6.18.19)

तत्रैत्य सगणः शम्भुस्तामाह हरिवल्लभाम् । तपस्यन्तीं महाभागामश्विनीरूपधारिणीम्

tatraitya sagaṇaḥ śambhustāmāha harivallabhām | tapasyantīṁ mahābhāgāmaśvinīrūpadhāriṇīm

Arriving there with his retinue, Shambhu said to that beloved of Hari, who was performing austerity in the form of a mare —

Verse 20 (devibhagavatam.6.18.20)

किं तपस्यसि कल्याणि जगन्मातर्वदस्व मे । सर्वार्थदः पतिस्तेऽस्ति सर्वलोकविधायकः

kiṁ tapasyasi kalyāṇi jaganmātarvadasva me | sarvārthadaḥ patiste'sti sarvalokavidhāyakaḥ

'O auspicious one, mother of the world, for what do you perform austerity? Tell me. Your own husband, the ordainer of all worlds, grants every desire.'

Verse 21 (devibhagavatam.6.18.21)

हरिं त्यक्त्वाद्य मां कस्मात्स्तौषि देवि जगत्पतिम् । वासुदेवं जगन्नाथं भुक्तिमुक्तिप्रदायकम्

hariṁ tyaktvādya māṁ kasmātstauṣi devi jagatpatim | vāsudevaṁ jagannāthaṁ bhuktimuktipradāyakam

'O goddess, why, leaving aside Hari, Lord of the world — Vasudeva, lord of the universe, giver of both enjoyment and liberation — do you now worship me instead?'

Verse 22 (devibhagavatam.6.18.22)

वेदोक्तं वचनं कार्यं नारीणां देवता पतिः । नान्यस्मिन्सर्वथा भावः कर्तव्यः कर्हिचित्क्वचित्

vedoktaṁ vacanaṁ kāryaṁ nārīṇāṁ devatā patiḥ | nānyasminsarvathā bhāvaḥ kartavyaḥ karhicitkvacit

'The word declared by the Veda must be followed: the husband alone is a woman's deity. Devotion should never, in any place, be directed elsewhere.'

Verse 23 (devibhagavatam.6.18.23)

पतिशुश्रूषणं स्त्रीणां धर्म एव सनातनः । यादृशस्तादृशः सेव्यः सर्वथा शुभकाम्यया

patiśuśrūṣaṇaṁ strīṇāṁ dharma eva sanātanaḥ | yādṛśastādṛśaḥ sevyaḥ sarvathā śubhakāmyayā

'Service to one's husband is indeed the eternal dharma of women; whatever his nature, he is to be served in every way, out of desire for what is good.'

Verse 24 (devibhagavatam.6.18.24)

नारायणस्तु सर्वेषां सेव्यो योग्यः सदैव हि । तं त्यक्त्वा देवदेवेशं किं मां ध्यायसि सिन्धुजे

nārāyaṇastu sarveṣāṁ sevyo yogyaḥ sadaiva hi | taṁ tyaktvā devadeveśaṁ kiṁ māṁ dhyāyasi sindhuje

'Narayana alone is fit and worthy to be served by all, always; O ocean-born one, having left that lord of gods of gods, why do you meditate on me?'

Verse 25 (devibhagavatam.6.18.25)

लक्ष्मीरुवाच । आशुतोष महेशान शप्ताहं पतिना शिव । मां समुद्धर देवेश शापादस्माद्दयानिधे

lakṣmīruvāca | āśutoṣa maheśāna śaptāhaṁ patinā śiva | māṁ samuddhara deveśa śāpādasmāddayānidhe

Lakshmi said: 'O Maheshana, easily-pleased one! O Shiva, I have been cursed by my own husband. Deliver me, O lord of gods, O ocean of compassion, from this curse.'

Verse 26 (devibhagavatam.6.18.26)

तदोक्तं हरिणा शम्भो शापानुग्रहकारणम् । विज्ञप्तेन मया कामं दयायुक्तेन विष्णुना

tadoktaṁ hariṇā śambho śāpānugrahakāraṇam | vijñaptena mayā kāmaṁ dayāyuktena viṣṇunā

'The cause of both the curse and its remedy was declared to me by Hari himself, when I entreated compassionate Vishnu.'

Verse 27 (devibhagavatam.6.18.27)

यदा ते भविता पुत्रस्तदा शापस्य मोक्षणम् । भविष्यति च वैकुण्ठवासस्ते कमलालये

yadā te bhavitā putrastadā śāpasya mokṣaṇam | bhaviṣyati ca vaikuṇṭhavāsaste kamalālaye

'"When a son is born to you, release from the curse shall come, and, O dweller of the lotus, your dwelling in Vaikuntha shall be restored."'

Verse 28 (devibhagavatam.6.18.28)

इत्युक्ताहं तपस्तप्तुमागतास्मि तपोवने । आराधितो मया देव त्वं सर्वार्थप्रदायकः

ityuktāhaṁ tapastaptumāgatāsmi tapovane | ārādhito mayā deva tvaṁ sarvārthapradāyakaḥ

'Thus told, I have come to this forest of austerity to perform tapas; I have worshipped you, O god, the giver of every desire.'

Verse 29 (devibhagavatam.6.18.29)

पतिसङ्गं विना पुत्रं देवदेव लभे कथम् । स तु तिष्ठति वैकुण्ठे त्यक्त्वा वामामनागसम्

patisaṅgaṁ vinā putraṁ devadeva labhe katham | sa tu tiṣṭhati vaikuṇṭhe tyaktvā vāmāmanāgasam

'O god of gods, how can I obtain a son without union with my husband? Yet he sits in Vaikuntha, having abandoned this innocent woman.'

Verse 30 (devibhagavatam.6.18.30)

वरं मे देहि देवेश यदि तुष्टोऽसि शङ्कर । तव तस्य द्विधा भावो नास्ति नूनं कदाचन

varaṁ me dehi deveśa yadi tuṣṭo'si śaṅkara | tava tasya dvidhā bhāvo nāsti nūnaṁ kadācana

'O lord of gods, if you are pleased, O Shankara, grant me a boon; between you and him there is surely never any duality.'

Verse 31 (devibhagavatam.6.18.31)

मयैतद्गिरिजाकान्त ज्ञातं पत्युः पुरो हर । यस्त्वं योऽसौ पुनर्योऽसौ स त्वं नास्त्यत्र संशयः

mayaitadgirijākānta jñātaṁ patyuḥ puro hara | yastvaṁ yo'sau punaryo'sau sa tvaṁ nāstyatra saṁśayaḥ

'O beloved of Girija, I came to know this before my own husband himself, O Hara: you are he, and he is you — of this there is no doubt.'

Verse 32 (devibhagavatam.6.18.32)

एकत्वं च मया ज्ञात्वा मया ते स्मरणं कृतम् । अन्यथा मम दोषस्त्वामाश्रयन्त्या भवेच्छिव

ekatvaṁ ca mayā jñātvā mayā te smaraṇaṁ kṛtam | anyathā mama doṣastvāmāśrayantyā bhavecchiva

'Knowing this oneness, I have taken to remembering you; otherwise, O Shiva, taking refuge in you would have been a fault in me.'

Verse 33 (devibhagavatam.6.18.33)

शिव उवाच । कथं ज्ञातस्त्वया देवि मम तस्य च सुन्दरि । ऐक्यभावो हरेर्नूनं सत्यं मे वद सिन्धुजे

śiva uvāca | kathaṁ jñātastvayā devi mama tasya ca sundari | aikyabhāvo harernūnaṁ satyaṁ me vada sindhuje

Shiva said: 'O goddess, O beautiful one, how did you come to know this oneness of mine and Hari's? O ocean-born one, tell me the truth.'

Verse 34 (devibhagavatam.6.18.34)

एकत्वं च न जानन्ति देवाश्च मुनयस्तथा । ज्ञानिनो वेदतत्त्वज्ञाः कुतर्कोपहताः किल

ekatvaṁ ca na jānanti devāśca munayastathā | jñānino vedatattvajñāḥ kutarkopahatāḥ kila

'Even the gods do not know this oneness, nor the sages likewise; even the wise, versed in the truth of the Vedas, are struck down by false reasoning and cannot know it.'

Verse 35 (devibhagavatam.6.18.35)

मद्भक्ता वासुदेवस्य निन्दका बहवस्तथा । विष्णभक्तास्तु बहवो मम निन्दापरायणाः

madbhaktā vāsudevasya nindakā bahavastathā | viṣṇabhaktāstu bahavo mama nindāparāyaṇāḥ

'Many devotees of mine are given to reviling Vasudeva, and likewise many devotees of Vishnu are intent on reviling me —'

Verse 36 (devibhagavatam.6.18.36)

भवन्ति कालभेदेन कलौ देवि विशेषतः । कथं ज्ञातस्त्वया भद्रे दुर्ज्ञेयो ह्यकृतात्मभिः

bhavanti kālabhedena kalau devi viśeṣataḥ | kathaṁ jñātastvayā bhadre durjñeyo hyakṛtātmabhiḥ

'this happens owing to the differences of the age, O goddess, especially in the Kali age. O auspicious one, how did you come to know this truth, so hard to grasp for the unpurified?'

Verse 37 (devibhagavatam.6.18.37)

सर्वथा त्वैक्यभावस्तु हरेर्मम च दुर्लभः । व्यास उवाच । इति सा शम्भुना पुष्टा तुष्टेन हरिवल्लभा

sarvathā tvaikyabhāvastu harermama ca durlabhaḥ | vyāsa uvāca | iti sā śambhunā puṣṭā tuṣṭena harivallabhā

'This oneness of Hari and myself is exceedingly rare to attain.' Vyasa said: Thus questioned by the pleased Shambhu, Rama, the beloved of Hari —

Verse 38 (devibhagavatam.6.18.38)

वृत्तान्तं तस्य विज्ञातं प्रवक्तुमुपचक्रमे । शिवं प्रति रमा तत्र प्रसन्नवदना भृशम्

vṛttāntaṁ tasya vijñātaṁ pravaktumupacakrame | śivaṁ prati ramā tatra prasannavadanā bhṛśam

began to relate the account she had come to know — Rama, there, spoke to Shiva with a face full of serenity.

Verse 39 (devibhagavatam.6.18.39)

लक्ष्मीरुवाच । एकदा देवदेवेश विष्णुर्ध्यानपरो रहः । दृष्टो मया तपः कुर्वन्पद्मासनगतो यदा

lakṣmīruvāca | ekadā devadeveśa viṣṇurdhyānaparo rahaḥ | dṛṣṭo mayā tapaḥ kurvanpadmāsanagato yadā

Lakshmi said: 'O lord of gods of gods, once I saw Vishnu, alone, absorbed in meditation, performing austerity seated in the lotus posture.'

Verse 40 (devibhagavatam.6.18.40)

तदाहं विस्मिता देवं तमपृच्छं पतिं किल । प्रबुद्धं सुप्रसन्नं च ज्ञात्वा विनयपूर्वकम्

tadāhaṁ vismitā devaṁ tamapṛcchaṁ patiṁ kila | prabuddhaṁ suprasannaṁ ca jñātvā vinayapūrvakam

'Astonished, I then, knowing him awakened from meditation and well pleased, began to question my husband humbly —'

Verse 41 (devibhagavatam.6.18.41)

देवदेव जगन्नाथ यदाहं निर्गतार्णवात् । मथ्यमानात्सुरैर्दैत्यैः सर्वैर्ब्रह्मादिभिः प्रभो

devadeva jagannātha yadāhaṁ nirgatārṇavāt | mathyamānātsurairdaityaiḥ sarvairbrahmādibhiḥ prabho

'"O god of gods, lord of the universe! When I arose from the ocean, being churned by all the gods and demons, and by Brahma and the rest, O lord —"'

Verse 42 (devibhagavatam.6.18.42)

वीक्षिताश्च मया सर्वे पतिकामनया तदा । वृतस्त्वं सर्वदेवेभ्यः श्रेष्ठोऽसीति विनिश्चयात्

vīkṣitāśca mayā sarve patikāmanayā tadā | vṛtastvaṁ sarvadevebhyaḥ śreṣṭho'sīti viniścayāt

'"—then, desiring a husband, I looked upon them all, and, determining that you were the best among all the gods, I chose you."'

Verse 43 (devibhagavatam.6.18.43)

त्वं कं ध्यायसि सर्वेश संशयोऽयं महान्मम । प्रियोऽसि कैटभारे मे कथयस्व मनोगतम्

tvaṁ kaṁ dhyāyasi sarveśa saṁśayo'yaṁ mahānmama | priyo'si kaiṭabhāre me kathayasva manogatam

'"O lord of all, whom do you meditate upon? This is a great doubt of mine. You are dear to me, O foe of Kaitabha — tell me what is in your mind."'

Verse 44 (devibhagavatam.6.18.44)

विष्णुरुवाच । शृणु कान्ते प्रवक्ष्यामि यं ध्यायामि सुरोत्तमम् । आशुतोषं महेशानं गिरिजावल्लभं हृदि

viṣṇuruvāca | śṛṇu kānte pravakṣyāmi yaṁ dhyāyāmi surottamam | āśutoṣaṁ maheśānaṁ girijāvallabhaṁ hṛdi

'Vishnu said: "Listen, beloved, I shall tell you which best of gods I hold in my heart in meditation — the easily-pleased great Lord, beloved of Girija."'

Verse 45 (devibhagavatam.6.18.45)

कदाचिद्देवदेवो मां ध्यायत्यमितविक्रमः । ध्यायाम्यहं च देवेशं शङ्करं त्रिपुरान्तकम्

kadāciddevadevo māṁ dhyāyatyamitavikramaḥ | dhyāyāmyahaṁ ca deveśaṁ śaṅkaraṁ tripurāntakam

'"Sometimes that god of gods, of boundless prowess, meditates on me, and I too meditate on that lord of gods, Shankara, destroyer of Tripura."'

Verse 46 (devibhagavatam.6.18.46)

शिवस्याहं प्रियः प्राणः शङ्करस्तु तथा मम । उभयोरन्तरं नास्ति मिथः संसक्तचेतसोः

śivasyāhaṁ priyaḥ prāṇaḥ śaṅkarastu tathā mama | ubhayorantaraṁ nāsti mithaḥ saṁsaktacetasoḥ

'"I am dear as the very life-breath to Shiva, and Shankara is likewise dear to me; between the two of us, our minds bound as one, there is no difference."'

Verse 47 (devibhagavatam.6.18.47)

नरकं यान्ति ते नूनं ये द्विषन्ति महेश्वरम् । भक्ता मम विशालाक्षि सत्यमेतद्ब्रवीम्यहम्

narakaṁ yānti te nūnaṁ ye dviṣanti maheśvaram | bhaktā mama viśālākṣi satyametadbravīmyaham

'"Those who hate Maheshvara, even if devoted to me, surely go to hell, O wide-eyed one; this I tell you in truth."'

Verse 48 (devibhagavatam.6.18.48)

इत्युक्तं देवदेवेन विष्णुना प्रभविष्णुना । एकान्ते किल पृष्टेन मया शैलसुताप्रिय

ityuktaṁ devadevena viṣṇunā prabhaviṣṇunā | ekānte kila pṛṣṭena mayā śailasutāpriya

'O husband of the mountain's daughter, thus spoke the god of gods, mighty Vishnu, when questioned by me in private.'

Verse 49 (devibhagavatam.6.18.49)

तस्मात्त्वां वल्लभं विष्णोर्ज्ञात्वा ध्यातवती ह्यहम् । तथा कुरु महेशान यथा मे प्रियसङ्गमः

tasmāttvāṁ vallabhaṁ viṣṇorjñātvā dhyātavatī hyaham | tathā kuru maheśāna yathā me priyasaṅgamaḥ

'Therefore, knowing you to be the beloved of Vishnu, I have taken to meditating on you. O great Lord, so act that I may attain union with my beloved.'

Verse 50 (devibhagavatam.6.18.50)

व्यास उवाच । इति श्रियो वचः श्रुत्वा प्रत्युवाच महेश्वरः । तामाश्वास्य प्रियैर्वाक्यैर्यथार्थं वाक्यकोविदः

vyāsa uvāca | iti śriyo vacaḥ śrutvā pratyuvāca maheśvaraḥ | tāmāśvāsya priyairvākyairyathārthaṁ vākyakovidaḥ

Vyasa said: Hearing these words of Shri (Lakshmi), Maheshvara, skilled in speech, replied, comforting her with kind and truthful words.

Verse 51 (devibhagavatam.6.18.51)

स्वस्था भव पृथुश्रोणि तुष्टोऽहं तपसा तव । समागमस्ते पतिना भविष्यति न संशयः

svasthā bhava pṛthuśroṇi tuṣṭo'haṁ tapasā tava | samāgamaste patinā bhaviṣyati na saṁśayaḥ

'Be at peace, O broad-hipped one; I am pleased by your austerity. Your reunion with your husband shall surely come to pass, without doubt.'

Verse 52 (devibhagavatam.6.18.52)

अत्रैव हयरूपेण भगवाञ्जगदीश्वरः । आगमिष्यति ते कामं पूर्णं कर्तुं मयेरितः

atraiva hayarūpeṇa bhagavāñjagadīśvaraḥ | āgamiṣyati te kāmaṁ pūrṇaṁ kartuṁ mayeritaḥ

'Right here, in the form of a horse, the Lord, ruler of the universe, sent by me, will come to fulfill your desire.'

Verse 53 (devibhagavatam.6.18.53)

तथाहं प्रेरयिष्यामि तं देवं मधुसूदनम् । यथासौ हयरूपेण त्वामेष्यति मदातुरः

tathāhaṁ prerayiṣyāmi taṁ devaṁ madhusūdanam | yathāsau hayarūpeṇa tvāmeṣyati madāturaḥ

'I shall so move that god Madhusudana that, in the form of a horse, overcome with passion, he will come to you.'

Verse 54 (devibhagavatam.6.18.54)

पुत्रस्ते भविता सुभ्रु नारायणसमः क्षितौ । भविष्यति स भूपालः सर्वलोकनमस्कृतः

putraste bhavitā subhru nārāyaṇasamaḥ kṣitau | bhaviṣyati sa bhūpālaḥ sarvalokanamaskṛtaḥ

'O fair-browed one, a son equal to Narayana shall be born to you on earth; he shall become a king honored by all the worlds.'

Verse 55 (devibhagavatam.6.18.55)

सुतं प्राप्य महाभागे त्वं तेन पतिना सह । गन्तासि देवि वैकुण्ठं प्रिया तस्य भविष्यसि

sutaṁ prāpya mahābhāge tvaṁ tena patinā saha | gantāsi devi vaikuṇṭhaṁ priyā tasya bhaviṣyasi

'O most fortunate one, having obtained that son, you shall go with your own husband to Vaikuntha, and become his beloved once more.'

Verse 56 (devibhagavatam.6.18.56)

एकवीरेति नाम्नासौ ख्यातिं यास्यति ते सुतः । तस्मात्तु हैहयो वंशो भुवि विस्तारमेष्यति

ekavīreti nāmnāsau khyātiṁ yāsyati te sutaḥ | tasmāttu haihayo vaṁśo bhuvi vistārameṣyati

'That son of yours shall attain fame under the name Ekavira; and from him the Haihaya lineage shall spread widely upon the earth.'

Verse 57 (devibhagavatam.6.18.57)

परं तु विस्मृतासि त्वं हृदिस्थां परमेश्वरीम् । मदान्धा मत्तचित्ता च तेन ते फलमीदृशम्

paraṁ tu vismṛtāsi tvaṁ hṛdisthāṁ parameśvarīm | madāndhā mattacittā ca tena te phalamīdṛśam

'But you had forgotten the Supreme Goddess dwelling in your own heart, blinded by pride and with your mind intoxicated — and that is why this fruit has come to you.'

Verse 58 (devibhagavatam.6.18.58)

अतस्तद्दोषशान्त्यर्थं हृदिस्थां परदेवताम् । शरणं याहि सर्वात्मभावेन जलधेः सुते

atastaddoṣaśāntyarthaṁ hṛdisthāṁ paradevatām | śaraṇaṁ yāhi sarvātmabhāvena jaladheḥ sute

'Therefore, to appease that fault, O daughter of the ocean, take refuge with your whole being in the Supreme Goddess who dwells in your heart.'

Verse 59 (devibhagavatam.6.18.59)

अन्यथा तव चित्तं तु कथं गच्छेद्धयोत्तमे । व्यास उवाच । इति दत्त्वा वरं देव्यै भगवाञ्छैलजापतिः

anyathā tava cittaṁ tu kathaṁ gaccheddhayottame | vyāsa uvāca | iti dattvā varaṁ devyai bhagavāñchailajāpatiḥ

'Otherwise, O best of mares, how could your mind ever become steady?' Vyasa said: Having thus granted the goddess this boon, the Lord, husband of the mountain's daughter —

Verse 60 (devibhagavatam.6.18.60)

अन्तर्धानं गतः साक्षादुमया सहितः शिवः । सापि तत्रैव चार्वङ्गी संस्थिता कमलासना

antardhānaṁ gataḥ sākṣādumayā sahitaḥ śivaḥ | sāpi tatraiva cārvaṅgī saṁsthitā kamalāsanā

vanished at once, together with Uma. She too, that lovely-limbed one, remained right there, seated upon a lotus,

Verse 61 (devibhagavatam.6.18.61)

ध्यायन्ती चरणाम्भोजं देव्याः परमशोभनम् । देवासुरशिरोरत्ननिघृष्टनखमण्डलम्

dhyāyantī caraṇāmbhojaṁ devyāḥ paramaśobhanam | devāsuraśiroratnanighṛṣṭanakhamaṇḍalam

meditating upon the supremely beautiful lotus feet of the Goddess, the circle of whose nails is ever polished by the crown-jewels of gods and demons,

Verse 62 (devibhagavatam.6.18.62)

प्रेमगद्गदया वाचा तुष्टाव च मुहुर्मुहुः । प्रतीक्षमाणा भर्तारं हयरूपधरं हरिम्

premagadgadayā vācā tuṣṭāva ca muhurmuhuḥ | pratīkṣamāṇā bhartāraṁ hayarūpadharaṁ harim

praising her again and again in a voice choked with love, awaiting her husband Hari, who would come bearing the form of a horse.