The Glory of the Goddess

Verse 1 (devibhagavatam.6.31.1)

व्यास उवाच । निशामय महाराज ब्रवीमि विशदाक्षरम् । माहात्म्यं खलु मायाया नारदात्तु मया श्रुतम्

vyāsa uvāca | niśāmaya mahārāja bravīmi viśadākṣaram | māhātmyaṁ khalu māyāyā nāradāttu mayā śrutam

Vyasa said: Listen, O great king, I shall speak clearly — the greatness of maya, just as I heard it from Narada.

Verse 2 (devibhagavatam.6.31.2)

मया पुनर्मुनिः पृष्टो नारदः सर्ववित्तमः । श्रुत्वा कथां मुनेस्तस्य नारीदेहसमुद्भवाम्

mayā punarmuniḥ pṛṣṭo nāradaḥ sarvavittamaḥ | śrutvā kathāṁ munestasya nārīdehasamudbhavām

Having heard that sage's account of taking birth in a woman's body, I again asked the all-knowing sage Narada —

Verse 3 (devibhagavatam.6.31.3)

ब्रूहि नारद पश्चात्किं कथितं हरिणा तदा । क्व गतश्च जगन्नाथो भवता सह माधवः

brūhi nārada paścātkiṁ kathitaṁ hariṇā tadā | kva gataśca jagannātho bhavatā saha mādhavaḥ

'Tell me, Narada, what did Hari say to you after that, and where did that lord of the universe, Madhava, go, once he left your company?'

Verse 4 (devibhagavatam.6.31.4)

नारद उवाच । इत्युक्त्वा भगवांस्तस्मिंस्तडागेऽतिमनोहरे । आरुह्य गरुडं गन्तुं वैकुण्ठे च मनो दधे

nārada uvāca | ityuktvā bhagavāṁstasmiṁstaḍāge'timanohare | āruhya garuḍaṁ gantuṁ vaikuṇṭhe ca mano dadhe

Narada said: Having said this, Bhagavan, at that most enchanting lake, mounted Garuda and resolved to go on to Vaikuntha.

Verse 5 (devibhagavatam.6.31.5)

मामुवाच रमाकान्तो यथेष्टं गच्छ नारद । एहि वा मम लोकं त्वं यथारुचि तथा कुरु

māmuvāca ramākānto yatheṣṭaṁ gaccha nārada | ehi vā mama lokaṁ tvaṁ yathāruci tathā kuru

The beloved of Lakshmi said to me: 'Go where you wish, Narada, or come to my world — do as you please.'

Verse 6 (devibhagavatam.6.31.6)

ब्रह्मलोकं गतश्चाहमापृच्छ्य मधुसूदनम् । भगवानपि देवेशस्तत्क्षणाद्गरुडासनः

brahmalokaṁ gataścāhamāpṛcchya madhusūdanam | bhagavānapi deveśastatkṣaṇādgaruḍāsanaḥ

Taking leave of Madhusudana, I went to Brahmaloka; and Bhagavan, the lord of the gods, mounted on Garuda —

Verse 7 (devibhagavatam.6.31.7)

वैकुण्ठमगमत्तूर्णं मामादिश्य यथासुखम् । ततोऽहं पितृसदनं गतो याते जनार्दने

vaikuṇṭhamagamattūrṇaṁ māmādiśya yathāsukham | tato'haṁ pitṛsadanaṁ gato yāte janārdane

—having bidden me a fitting farewell, went swiftly to Vaikuntha. Then, when Janardana had gone, I went to my father's abode,

Verse 8 (devibhagavatam.6.31.8)

चिन्तयन्सकलं दुःखं सुखं च परमाद्भुतम् । गत्वा प्रणम्य पितरं स्थितो यावत्पुरः पितुः

cintayansakalaṁ duḥkhaṁ sukhaṁ ca paramādbhutam | gatvā praṇamya pitaraṁ sthito yāvatpuraḥ pituḥ

—reflecting on the whole of that sorrow and that most wondrous joy; going there, I bowed to my father and stood before him.

Verse 9 (devibhagavatam.6.31.9)

तावत्पृष्टो मुने पित्रा वीक्ष्य चिन्तातुरं तु माम् । ब्रह्योवाच । क्व गतोऽसि महाभाग कस्माच्चिन्तातुरः सुत

tāvatpṛṣṭo mune pitrā vīkṣya cintāturaṁ tu mām | brahyovāca | kva gato'si mahābhāga kasmāccintāturaḥ suta

Just then, O sage, my father, seeing me troubled with anxiety, asked me. Brahma said: 'Where have you been, most fortunate one? Why are you so troubled, my son?'

Verse 10 (devibhagavatam.6.31.10)

स्वस्थं नैवाद्य पश्यामि मनस्ते मुनिसत्तम । केनापि वञ्चितोऽसि त्वं दृष्टं वा किञ्चिदद्भुतम्

svasthaṁ naivādya paśyāmi manaste munisattama | kenāpi vañcito'si tvaṁ dṛṣṭaṁ vā kiñcidadbhutam

'O best of sages, I do not find your mind at ease today; has someone deceived you, or have you seen something wondrous?'

Verse 11 (devibhagavatam.6.31.11)

विषण्णं गतविज्ञानं पश्यामि त्वां कथं सुत । नारद उवाच । इति पृष्टस्तदा पित्रा बृस्यां समुपवेश्य च

viṣaṇṇaṁ gatavijñānaṁ paśyāmi tvāṁ kathaṁ suta | nārada uvāca | iti pṛṣṭastadā pitrā bṛsyāṁ samupaveśya ca

'Why do I find you so downcast, as though your understanding had deserted you, my son?' Narada said: Thus questioned by my father, and having taken a seat,

Verse 12 (devibhagavatam.6.31.12)

तमब्रवं स्ववृत्तान्तं मायाबलसमुद्भवम् । वञ्चितोऽहं पितः कामं विष्णुना प्रभविष्णुना

tamabravaṁ svavṛttāntaṁ māyābalasamudbhavam | vañcito'haṁ pitaḥ kāmaṁ viṣṇunā prabhaviṣṇunā

—I told him my whole story, born of the power of maya: 'Father, I was indeed deceived by the mighty Vishnu.'

Verse 13 (devibhagavatam.6.31.13)

स्त्रीभावं गमितः कामं वर्षाणि सुबहून्यपि । अनुभूतं महद्दुःखं पुत्रशोकसमुद्भवम्

strībhāvaṁ gamitaḥ kāmaṁ varṣāṇi subahūnyapi | anubhūtaṁ mahadduḥkhaṁ putraśokasamudbhavam

'I was made to take on a woman's state for many long years, and I underwent great sorrow born of grief for my sons.'

Verse 14 (devibhagavatam.6.31.14)

प्रबोधितोऽहं तेनैव मृदुवाक्यामृतेन च । पुनः सरोवरे स्नात्वा जातोऽहं नारदः पुमान्

prabodhito'haṁ tenaiva mṛduvākyāmṛtena ca | punaḥ sarovare snātvā jāto'haṁ nāradaḥ pumān

'I was roused by his own gentle, nectar-like words, and, bathing once more in the lake, I became Narada, a man again.'

Verse 15 (devibhagavatam.6.31.15)

किमेतत्कारणं ब्रह्मन् यन्मोहमगमं तदा । विस्मृतं पूर्वविज्ञानं तन्मयस्तरसा कृतः

kimetatkāraṇaṁ brahman yanmohamagamaṁ tadā | vismṛtaṁ pūrvavijñānaṁ tanmayastarasā kṛtaḥ

'O Brahmin, what was the cause that I fell into such delusion then, that my former knowledge was forgotten, and I became wholly absorbed in that life?'

Verse 16 (devibhagavatam.6.31.16)

एतन्मायाबलं ब्रह्मन्न जानेऽहं दुरत्ययम् । ज्ञानहानिकरं जातं मूलं मोहस्य विस्फुटम्

etanmāyābalaṁ brahmanna jāne'haṁ duratyayam | jñānahānikaraṁ jātaṁ mūlaṁ mohasya visphuṭam

'O Brahmin, I cannot understand this power of maya — insurmountable, destructive of knowledge, the manifest root of delusion itself.'

Verse 17 (devibhagavatam.6.31.17)

अनुभूतं मया सम्यग्ज्ञातं सर्वं शुभाशुभम् । कथं त्वं जितवांस्तात तमुपायं वदस्व मे

anubhūtaṁ mayā samyagjñātaṁ sarvaṁ śubhāśubham | kathaṁ tvaṁ jitavāṁstāta tamupāyaṁ vadasva me

'I have thoroughly experienced and known it all, both good and bad; father, tell me how you have conquered it — tell me the means.'

Verse 18 (devibhagavatam.6.31.18)

नारद उवाच । विज्ञप्तोऽसौ मया धाता प्रीतिपूर्वमतः परम् । मामुवाच स्मितं कृत्वा पिता मे वासवीसुत

nārada uvāca | vijñapto'sau mayā dhātā prītipūrvamataḥ param | māmuvāca smitaṁ kṛtvā pitā me vāsavīsuta

Narada said: I entreated my father Brahma lovingly in this way; O son of Vasavi, my father then smiled and said to me —

Verse 19 (devibhagavatam.6.31.19)

ब्रह्मोवाच । दुर्जयैषा सुरैः सर्वैर्मुनिभिश्च महात्मभिः । तापसैर्ज्ञानयुक्तैश्च योगिभिः पवनाशनैः

brahmovāca | durjayaiṣā suraiḥ sarvairmunibhiśca mahātmabhiḥ | tāpasairjñānayuktaiśca yogibhiḥ pavanāśanaiḥ

Brahma said: 'This maya is unconquerable by all the gods, by great-souled sages, by ascetics endowed with knowledge, and even by yogis who live on air alone.'

Verse 20 (devibhagavatam.6.31.20)

नाहं तां सर्वथा ज्ञातुं शक्तो मायां महाबलाम् । विष्णुर्ज्ञातुं न शक्तश्च तथा शम्भुरुमापतिः

nāhaṁ tāṁ sarvathā jñātuṁ śakto māyāṁ mahābalām | viṣṇurjñātuṁ na śaktaśca tathā śambhurumāpatiḥ

'Even I am wholly unable to know that mighty maya; nor is Vishnu able to know her, nor Shambhu, the lord of Uma.'

Verse 21 (devibhagavatam.6.31.21)

दुर्ज्ञेया सा महामाया सृष्टिस्थित्यन्तकारिणी । कालकर्मस्वभावाद्यैर्निमित्तकारणैर्वृता

durjñeyā sā mahāmāyā sṛṣṭisthityantakāriṇī | kālakarmasvabhāvādyairnimittakāraṇairvṛtā

'That great maya, who effects creation, preservation, and destruction, is hard to know, enveloped by such instrumental causes as Time, karma, and inherent nature.'

Verse 22 (devibhagavatam.6.31.22)

शोकं मा कुरु मेधाविंस्तत्र मायामहाबले । न चैव विस्मयः कार्यो वयं सर्वे विमोहिताः

śokaṁ mā kuru medhāviṁstatra māyāmahābale | na caiva vismayaḥ kāryo vayaṁ sarve vimohitāḥ

'Do not grieve, O wise one, over that mighty power of maya; nor should you feel any wonder at it — all of us alike are deluded by her.'

Verse 23 (devibhagavatam.6.31.23)

नारद उवाच । पित्रेत्युक्तस्तदा व्यास तमापृच्छ्य गतस्मयः । आगतोऽस्म्यत्र पश्यन्वै तीर्थानि च वराणि च

nārada uvāca | pitretyuktastadā vyāsa tamāpṛcchya gatasmayaḥ | āgato'smyatra paśyanvai tīrthāni ca varāṇi ca

Narada said: O Vyasa, thus addressed by my father, my wonder now stilled, I took leave of him and have come here, visiting the finest tirthas along the way.

Verse 24 (devibhagavatam.6.31.24)

तस्मात्त्वमपि सन्त्यज्य मोहं कौरवनाशजम् । कालक्षयं सुखासीनः स्थानेऽस्मिन् कुरु सत्तम

tasmāttvamapi santyajya mohaṁ kauravanāśajam | kālakṣayaṁ sukhāsīnaḥ sthāne'smin kuru sattama

'Therefore, O virtuous one, you too, abandoning this delusion born of the destruction of the Kauravas, should pass your remaining time seated at ease right here.'

Verse 25 (devibhagavatam.6.31.25)

अवश्यमेव भोक्तव्यं कृतं कर्म शुभाशुभम् । निश्चयं हृदये कृत्वा विचरस्व यथासुखम्

avaśyameva bhoktavyaṁ kṛtaṁ karma śubhāśubham | niścayaṁ hṛdaye kṛtvā vicarasva yathāsukham

'The fruit of deeds done, good or bad, must inevitably be experienced; settle this firmly in your heart, and go about as you please.'

Verse 26 (devibhagavatam.6.31.26)

व्यास उवाच । इत्युक्त्वा नारदो राजन् गतो मां प्रतिबोध्य च । अहं तच्चिन्तयन्वाक्यं यदुक्तं मुनिना तदा

vyāsa uvāca | ityuktvā nārado rājan gato māṁ pratibodhya ca | ahaṁ taccintayanvākyaṁ yaduktaṁ muninā tadā

Vyasa said: O king, having said this and thus awakened me, Narada departed; and I, reflecting on the words spoken by that sage,

Verse 27 (devibhagavatam.6.31.27)

स्थितः सरस्वतीतीरे कल्पे सारस्वते वरे । कालातिवाहनायैतत्कृतं भागवतं मया

sthitaḥ sarasvatītīre kalpe sārasvate vare | kālātivāhanāyaitatkṛtaṁ bhāgavataṁ mayā

—remained on the bank of the Sarasvati, in this excellent Sarasvata Kalpa; and, to pass the time, I composed this Bhagavata,

Verse 28 (devibhagavatam.6.31.28)

पुराणमुत्तमं भूप सर्वसंशयनाशनम् । नानाख्यानसमायुक्तं वेदप्रामाण्यसंश्रितम्

purāṇamuttamaṁ bhūpa sarvasaṁśayanāśanam | nānākhyānasamāyuktaṁ vedaprāmāṇyasaṁśritam

—this supreme Purana, O king, the destroyer of every doubt, filled with many narratives, resting upon the authority of the Vedas.

Verse 29 (devibhagavatam.6.31.29)

सन्देहोऽत्र न कर्तव्यः सर्वथा नृपसत्तम । यथेन्द्रजालिकः कश्चित्पाञ्चालीं दारवीं करे

sandeho'tra na kartavyaḥ sarvathā nṛpasattama | yathendrajālikaḥ kaścitpāñcālīṁ dāravīṁ kare

O best of kings, no doubt should ever be entertained about this. Just as some juggler, taking a wooden puppet in hand —

Verse 30 (devibhagavatam.6.31.30)

कृत्वा नर्तयते कामं स्वेच्छया वशवर्तिनीम् । तथा नर्तयते माया जगत्स्थावरजङ्गमम्

kṛtvā nartayate kāmaṁ svecchayā vaśavartinīm | tathā nartayate māyā jagatsthāvarajaṅgamam

—makes it dance as he pleases, holding it entirely under his control, so too does maya make this whole universe, moving and unmoving, dance —

Verse 31 (devibhagavatam.6.31.31)

ब्रह्मादिस्तम्बपर्यन्तं सदेवासुरमानुषम् । पञ्चेन्द्रियसमायुक्तं मनश्चित्तानुवर्तनम्

brahmādistambaparyantaṁ sadevāsuramānuṣam | pañcendriyasamāyuktaṁ manaścittānuvartanam

—from Brahma down to the very blade of grass, together with gods, demons, and humans, endowed with the five senses, following the movements of mind and consciousness.

Verse 32 (devibhagavatam.6.31.32)

गुणास्तु कारणं राजन् सर्वेषां सर्वथा त्रयः । कार्यं कारणसंयुक्तं भवतीति विनिश्चयः

guṇāstu kāraṇaṁ rājan sarveṣāṁ sarvathā trayaḥ | kāryaṁ kāraṇasaṁyuktaṁ bhavatīti viniścayaḥ

O king, the three gunas are, in every way, the cause of all things; that the effect is always bound up with its cause is a settled principle.

Verse 33 (devibhagavatam.6.31.33)

भिन्नभिन्नस्वभावास्ते गुणा मायासमुद्भवाः । शान्तो घोरस्तथा मूढस्त्रयस्तु विविधा यतः

bhinnabhinnasvabhāvāste guṇā māyāsamudbhavāḥ | śānto ghorastathā mūḍhastrayastu vividhā yataḥ

These gunas, born of maya, are of distinct and differing natures — the peaceful, the terrible, and the deluded — three, thus manifold in kind.

Verse 34 (devibhagavatam.6.31.34)

तत्समेतः पुमान्नित्यं तद्विहीनः कथं भवेत् । न भवत्येव संसारे रहितस्तन्तुभिः पटः

tatsametaḥ pumānnityaṁ tadvihīnaḥ kathaṁ bhavet | na bhavatyeva saṁsāre rahitastantubhiḥ paṭaḥ

Every person is always joined with these; how could one ever be free of them? In this world there is no cloth at all that lacks threads.

Verse 35 (devibhagavatam.6.31.35)

तथा गुणैस्त्रिभिर्हीनो न देहीति विनिश्चयः । देवदेहो मनुष्यो वा तिरश्चो वा नराधिप

tathā guṇaistribhirhīno na dehīti viniścayaḥ | devadeho manuṣyo vā tiraśco vā narādhipa

So too, it is a settled truth, no embodied being is free of the three gunas — whether it wear the body of a god, a human, or an animal, O lord of men.

Verse 36 (devibhagavatam.6.31.36)

गुणैर्विरहितो न स्यान्मृद्विहीनो घटो यथा । ब्रह्मा विष्णुस्तथा रुद्रस्त्रयश्चामी गुणाश्रयाः

guṇairvirahito na syānmṛdvihīno ghaṭo yathā | brahmā viṣṇustathā rudrastrayaścāmī guṇāśrayāḥ

None can be without the gunas, just as there is no pot without clay; Brahma, Vishnu, and Rudra — these three too are the very seats of the gunas.

Verse 37 (devibhagavatam.6.31.37)

कदाचित्प्रीतियुक्तास्ते तथाप्रीतियुताः पुनः । तथा विषादयुक्तास्ते भवन्ति गुणयोगतः

kadācitprītiyuktāste tathāprītiyutāḥ punaḥ | tathā viṣādayuktāste bhavanti guṇayogataḥ

At times they are filled with delight, and again at times bereft of it; and, through the working of the gunas, they become filled with despondency as well.

Verse 38 (devibhagavatam.6.31.38)

ब्रह्मा कदाचित्सत्त्वस्थस्तदा शान्तः समाधिमान् । प्रीतियुक्तो भवेत्सर्वभूतेषु ज्ञानसंयुतः

brahmā kadācitsattvasthastadā śāntaḥ samādhimān | prītiyukto bhavetsarvabhūteṣu jñānasaṁyutaḥ

When Brahma is established in sattva, he is then peaceful, absorbed in meditation, filled with delight toward all beings, and endowed with knowledge.

Verse 39 (devibhagavatam.6.31.39)

पुनः सत्त्वविहीनस्तु रजोगुणसमावृतः । तदा भवेद् घोररूपः सर्वत्राप्रीतिसंयुतः

punaḥ sattvavihīnastu rajoguṇasamāvṛtaḥ | tadā bhaved ghorarūpaḥ sarvatrāprītisaṁyutaḥ

But when he is bereft of sattva and overcast by the guna of rajas, he then becomes fearsome in form and devoid of delight in everything.

Verse 40 (devibhagavatam.6.31.40)

यदा तमोगुणाविष्टो बाहुल्येन भवेद्विधिः । तदा विषादसम्पन्नो मूढो भवति नान्यथा

yadā tamoguṇāviṣṭo bāhulyena bhavedvidhiḥ | tadā viṣādasampanno mūḍho bhavati nānyathā

When the Creator is overwhelmingly possessed by the guna of tamas, he then becomes filled with despondency and deluded — not otherwise.

Verse 41 (devibhagavatam.6.31.41)

माधवोऽपि सदा सत्त्वसंश्रितः सर्वथा भवेत् । यदा शान्तः प्रीतियुक्तो भवेज्ज्ञानसमन्वितः

mādhavo'pi sadā sattvasaṁśritaḥ sarvathā bhavet | yadā śāntaḥ prītiyukto bhavejjñānasamanvitaḥ

Madhava too, when wholly established in sattva, becomes peaceful, filled with delight, and endowed with knowledge.

Verse 42 (devibhagavatam.6.31.42)

स एव रजाधिक्यादप्रीतिसंयुतो भवेत् । घोरश्च सर्वभूतेषु गुणाधीनो रमापतिः

sa eva rajādhikyādaprītisaṁyuto bhavet | ghoraśca sarvabhūteṣu guṇādhīno ramāpatiḥ

That same lord of Lakshmi, when rajas predominates in him, becomes devoid of delight and fearsome toward all beings — even he is subject to the gunas to this degree.

Verse 43 (devibhagavatam.6.31.43)

रुद्रोऽपि सत्त्वसंयुक्तः प्रीतिमाञ्छान्तिमान्भवेत् । रजोनिमीलितः सोऽपि घोरः प्रीतिविवर्जितः

rudro'pi sattvasaṁyuktaḥ prītimāñchāntimānbhavet | rajonimīlitaḥ so'pi ghoraḥ prītivivarjitaḥ

Rudra too, when joined with sattva, becomes filled with delight and peace; but when overcast by rajas, he too becomes fearsome and devoid of delight.

Verse 44 (devibhagavatam.6.31.44)

तमोगुणयुतः सोऽपि मूढो विषादयुग्भवेत् । एते यदि गुणाधीना ब्रह्मविष्णुहरादयः

tamoguṇayutaḥ so'pi mūḍho viṣādayugbhavet | ete yadi guṇādhīnā brahmaviṣṇuharādayaḥ

When joined with the guna of tamas, he too becomes deluded and despondent. If even Brahma, Vishnu, Hara, and the rest are subject to the gunas,

Verse 45 (devibhagavatam.6.31.45)

सूर्यवंशोद्भवास्तद्वत्सोमवंशभवा अपि । मन्वादयश्च ये प्रोक्ताश्चतुर्दश युगे युगे

sūryavaṁśodbhavāstadvatsomavaṁśabhavā api | manvādayaśca ye proktāścaturdaśa yuge yuge

then what need to speak of the kings born in the solar and lunar dynasties, and the fourteen Manus and the rest, told of in age after age!

Verse 46 (devibhagavatam.6.31.46)

अन्येषां चैव का वार्ता संसारेऽस्मिन्नृपोत्तम । मायाधीनं जगत्सर्वं सदेवासुरमानुषम्

anyeṣāṁ caiva kā vārtā saṁsāre'sminnṛpottama | māyādhīnaṁ jagatsarvaṁ sadevāsuramānuṣam

O best of kings, what need to speak of other beings at all — this entire universe, moving and unmoving, together with gods, demons, and humans, is subject to maya.

Verse 47 (devibhagavatam.6.31.47)

तस्माद्राजन्न कर्तव्यः सन्देहोऽत्र कदाचन । देही मायापराधीनश्चेष्टते तद्वशानुगः

tasmādrājanna kartavyaḥ sandeho'tra kadācana | dehī māyāparādhīnaśceṣṭate tadvaśānugaḥ

Therefore, O king, no doubt should ever be entertained about this — every embodied being, subject to maya, acts only under her sway.

Verse 48 (devibhagavatam.6.31.48)

सा च माया परे तत्त्वे संविद्रूपेऽपि सर्वदा । तदधीना प्रेरिता च तेन जीवेषु सर्वदा

sā ca māyā pare tattve saṁvidrūpe'pi sarvadā | tadadhīnā preritā ca tena jīveṣu sarvadā

That maya, resting though she does upon the Supreme Reality in the form of pure Consciousness, remains ever dependent upon and impelled by that same Consciousness, forever active among living beings.

Verse 49 (devibhagavatam.6.31.49)

ततो मायाविशिष्टां तां संविदं परमेश्वरीम् । मायेश्वरीं भगवतीं सच्चिदानन्दरूपिणीम्

tato māyāviśiṣṭāṁ tāṁ saṁvidaṁ parameśvarīm | māyeśvarīṁ bhagavatīṁ saccidānandarūpiṇīm

Therefore that Supreme Sovereign Consciousness, qualified by maya — the Mistress of Maya, the Blessed Goddess, whose very form is Being-Consciousness-Bliss —

Verse 50 (devibhagavatam.6.31.50)

ध्यायेत्तथाराधयेच्च प्रणमेच्च जपेदपि । तेन सा सदया भूत्वा मोचयत्येव देहिनम्

dhyāyettathārādhayecca praṇamecca japedapi | tena sā sadayā bhūtvā mocayatyeva dehinam

—should be meditated upon, worshipped, bowed to, and her mantra recited; by this she, growing merciful, grants the embodied soul liberation.

Verse 51 (devibhagavatam.6.31.51)

स्वमायां संहरत्येव स्वानुभूतिप्रदानतः । भुवनं खलु माया स्यादीश्वरी तस्य नायिका

svamāyāṁ saṁharatyeva svānubhūtipradānataḥ | bhuvanaṁ khalu māyā syādīśvarī tasya nāyikā

She herself withdraws her own maya, by granting the very experience of her own true nature; for this universe is indeed maya, and she is its Sovereign Mistress.

Verse 52 (devibhagavatam.6.31.52)

भुवनेशी ततः प्रोक्ता देवी त्रैलोक्यसुन्दरी । तद्रूपे यदि सक्तं स्याच्चित्तं भूमिपते सदा

bhuvaneśī tataḥ proktā devī trailokyasundarī | tadrūpe yadi saktaṁ syāccittaṁ bhūmipate sadā

Hence she is called Bhuvaneshi, the Goddess most beautiful in the three worlds. O king, if the mind is ever fixed upon her form alone,

Verse 53 (devibhagavatam.6.31.53)

मायया किं भवेत्तत्र सदसद्भूतया नृप । तस्मान्मायानिरासार्थं नान्यद्वै देवतान्तरम्

māyayā kiṁ bhavettatra sadasadbhūtayā nṛpa | tasmānmāyānirāsārthaṁ nānyadvai devatāntaram

—then what could maya, which brings forth both the real and the unreal, accomplish there, O king? Therefore, for dispelling maya, there is no other deity —

Verse 54 (devibhagavatam.6.31.54)

समर्थं तु विना देवीं सच्चिदानन्दरूपिणीम् । तमोराशिं नाशयितुं शक्तं नैव तमो भवेत्

samarthaṁ tu vinā devīṁ saccidānandarūpiṇīm | tamorāśiṁ nāśayituṁ śaktaṁ naiva tamo bhavet

—capable of it, save the Goddess whose very form is Being-Consciousness-Bliss; darkness itself can never be capable of destroying a mass of darkness,

Verse 55 (devibhagavatam.6.31.55)

किन्तु भानुप्रभाचन्द्रविद्युद्वह्निप्रभादयः । तस्मान्मायेश्वरीमम्बां स्वप्रकाशां तु संविदम्

kintu bhānuprabhācandravidyudvahniprabhādayaḥ | tasmānmāyeśvarīmambāṁ svaprakāśāṁ tu saṁvidam

—rather it is the light of the sun, the moon, lightning, and fire that can dispel it; therefore the Mistress of Maya, the Mother, the self-luminous Consciousness —

Verse 56 (devibhagavatam.6.31.56)

आराधयेदतिप्रीत्या मायागुणनिवृत्तये । इति सम्यङ्मयाख्यातं वृत्रासुरवधादिकम्

ārādhayedatiprītyā māyāguṇanivṛttaye | iti samyaṅmayākhyātaṁ vṛtrāsuravadhādikam

—should be worshipped with the greatest love, for release from the qualities of maya. Thus have I fully related to you everything, beginning from the slaying of the demon Vritra,

Verse 57 (devibhagavatam.6.31.57)

यत्पृष्टं राजशार्दूल किमन्यच्छ्रोतुमिच्छसि । पूर्वार्धोऽयं पुराणस्य कथितस्तव सुव्रत

yatpṛṣṭaṁ rājaśārdūla kimanyacchrotumicchasi | pūrvārdho'yaṁ purāṇasya kathitastava suvrata

—O tiger among kings, all that you had asked; what else do you now wish to hear? O one of excellent vows, this first half of the Purana has now been related to you,

Verse 58 (devibhagavatam.6.31.58)

यत्र देव्यास्तु महिमा विस्तरेणोपपादितः । एतद्रहस्यं श्रीमातुर्न देयं यस्य कस्यचित्

yatra devyāstu mahimā vistareṇopapāditaḥ | etadrahasyaṁ śrīmāturna deyaṁ yasya kasyacit

—in which the greatness of the Goddess has been set forth at length; this secret teaching of the Blessed Mother should not be given to just anyone —

Verse 59 (devibhagavatam.6.31.59)

देयं भक्ताय शान्ताय देवीभक्तिरताय च । शिष्याय ज्येष्ठपुत्राय गुरुभक्तियुताय च

deyaṁ bhaktāya śāntāya devībhaktiratāya ca | śiṣyāya jyeṣṭhaputrāya gurubhaktiyutāya ca

—it should be given only to a devotee, to one who is at peace, devoted to the Goddess, to a disciple, to an eldest son, and to one filled with devotion to his guru.

Verse 60 (devibhagavatam.6.31.60)

इदमखिलकथानां सारभूतं पुराणं निखिलनिगमतुल्यं सप्रमाणानुविद्धम् । पठति परमभावाद्यः शृणोतीह भक्त्या स भवति धनवान्वै ज्ञानवान्मानवोऽत्र

idamakhilakathānāṁ sārabhūtaṁ purāṇaṁ nikhilanigamatulyaṁ sapramāṇānuviddham | paṭhati paramabhāvādyaḥ śṛṇotīha bhaktyā sa bhavati dhanavānvai jñānavānmānavo'tra

This Purana is the very essence of all narratives, equal to the whole body of scripture, thoroughly pervaded by sound authority; whoever reads it with the highest devotion, or hears it here with devotion, that person becomes, in this world, both wealthy and truly wise.