Lakshmi's Story (continued)

Verse 1 (devibhagavatam.9.39.1)

नारद उवाच । श्रीमूलप्रकृतेर्देव्या गायत्र्यास्तु निराकृतेः । सावित्रीयमसंवादे श्रुतं वै निर्मलं यशः

nārada uvāca | śrīmūlaprakṛterdevyā gāyatryāstu nirākṛteḥ | sāvitrīyamasaṁvāde śrutaṁ vai nirmalaṁ yaśaḥ

Narada said: I have heard, in the dialogue between Savitri and Yama, the pure glory of the Devi who is the root Prakriti, the formless Gayatri.

Verse 2 (devibhagavatam.9.39.2)

तद्गुणोत्कीर्तनं सत्यं मङ्गलानां च मङ्गलम् । अधुना श्रोतुमिच्छामि लक्ष्म्युपाख्यानमीश्वर

tadguṇotkīrtanaṁ satyaṁ maṅgalānāṁ ca maṅgalam | adhunā śrotumicchāmi lakṣmyupākhyānamīśvara

The true recounting of her qualities is the very auspiciousness of all auspicious things. Now, O Lord, I wish to hear the story of Lakshmi.

Verse 3 (devibhagavatam.9.39.3)

केनादौ पूजिता सापि किम्भूता केन वा पुरा । तद्गुणोत्कीर्तनं मह्यं वद वेदविदांवर

kenādau pūjitā sāpi kimbhūtā kena vā purā | tadguṇotkīrtanaṁ mahyaṁ vada vedavidāṁvara

By whom was she first worshipped, of what nature is she, and by whom of old? Tell me the praise of her qualities, O best of the knowers of the Veda.

Verse 4 (devibhagavatam.9.39.4)

श्रीनारायण उवाच । सृष्टेरादौ पुरा ब्रह्मन् कृष्णस्य परमात्मनः । देवी वामांससम्भूता बभूव रासमण्डले

śrīnārāyaṇa uvāca | sṛṣṭerādau purā brahman kṛṣṇasya paramātmanaḥ | devī vāmāṁsasambhūtā babhūva rāsamaṇḍale

Shri Narayana said: At the beginning of creation, O Brahmin, in the circle of the Rasa dance, the Devi arose from the left side of Krishna, the Supreme Soul.

Verse 5 (devibhagavatam.9.39.5)

अतीव सुन्दरी श्यामा न्यग्रोधपरिमण्डिता । यथा द्वादशवर्षीया शश्वत्सुस्थिरयौवना

atīva sundarī śyāmā nyagrodhaparimaṇḍitā | yathā dvādaśavarṣīyā śaśvatsusthirayauvanā

Exceedingly beautiful, dark-complexioned, full and rounded in form like a banyan tree, appearing as if twelve years of age, ever fixed in unfading youth.

Verse 6 (devibhagavatam.9.39.6)

श्वेतचम्पकवर्णाभा सुखदृश्या मनोहरा । शरत्पार्वणकोटीन्दुप्रभाप्रच्छादनानना

śvetacampakavarṇābhā sukhadṛśyā manoharā | śaratpārvaṇakoṭīnduprabhāpracchādanānanā

Radiant with the hue of the white champaka flower, pleasant to behold, enchanting — her face outshining the brilliance of ten million autumn full moons.

Verse 7 (devibhagavatam.9.39.7)

शरन्मध्याह्नपद्मानां शोभामोचनलोचना । सा देवी द्विविधा भूता सह सर्वेश्वरेच्छया

śaranmadhyāhnapadmānāṁ śobhāmocanalocanā | sā devī dvividhā bhūtā saha sarveśvarecchayā

Her eyes stole away the beauty of the midday lotuses of autumn. By the will of the Lord of all, that Devi became twofold in form.

Verse 8 (devibhagavatam.9.39.8)

स्वीयरूपेण वर्णेन तेजसा वयसा त्विषा । यशसा वाससा कृत्या भूषणेन गुणेन च

svīyarūpeṇa varṇena tejasā vayasā tviṣā | yaśasā vāsasā kṛtyā bhūṣaṇena guṇena ca

In her own form, complexion, splendor, age, radiance, fame, garments, deeds, ornaments, and qualities — the two forms remained alike,

Verse 9 (devibhagavatam.9.39.9)

स्मितेन वीक्षणेनैव प्रेम्णा वानुनयेन च । तद्वामांसान्महालक्ष्मीर्दक्षिणासाञ्च्च राधिका

smitena vīkṣaṇenaiva premṇā vānunayena ca | tadvāmāṁsānmahālakṣmīrdakṣiṇāsāñcca rādhikā

and alike too in smile, glance, love, and tender persuasion. From his left side arose Mahalakshmi, and from his right side, Radhika.

Verse 10 (devibhagavatam.9.39.10)

राधाऽऽदौ वरयामास द्विभुजञ्च परात्परम् । महालक्ष्मीश्च तत्पश्चाच्चकमे कमनीयकम्

rādhā''dau varayāmāsa dvibhujañca parātparam | mahālakṣmīśca tatpaścāccakame kamanīyakam

Radha first chose as her own that two-armed one, supreme above the supreme; and Mahalakshmi thereafter desired that enchanting one.

Verse 11 (devibhagavatam.9.39.11)

कृष्णस्तद्गौरवेणैव द्विधारूपो बभूव ह । दक्षिणांसश्च द्विभुजो वामांसश्च चतुर्भुजः

kṛṣṇastadgauraveṇaiva dvidhārūpo babhūva ha | dakṣiṇāṁsaśca dvibhujo vāmāṁsaśca caturbhujaḥ

Out of regard for them both, Krishna became twofold in form: two-armed from his right side, four-armed from his left side.

Verse 12 (devibhagavatam.9.39.12)

चतुर्भुजाय द्विभुजो महालक्ष्मीं ददौ पुरा । लक्ष्यते दृश्यते विश्वं स्निग्धदृष्ट्या ययानिशम्

caturbhujāya dvibhujo mahālakṣmīṁ dadau purā | lakṣyate dṛśyate viśvaṁ snigdhadṛṣṭyā yayāniśam

That two-armed form of old gave Mahalakshmi over to the four-armed one — by whose tender glance this universe is perceived, day and night.

Verse 13 (devibhagavatam.9.39.13)

देवीभूता च महती महालक्ष्मीश्च सा स्मृता । राधाकान्तश्च द्विभुजो लक्ष्मीकान्तश्चतुर्भुजः

devībhūtā ca mahatī mahālakṣmīśca sā smṛtā | rādhākāntaśca dvibhujo lakṣmīkāntaścaturbhujaḥ

She became the great Devi, remembered by the name Mahalakshmi; the two-armed one became the beloved of Radha, the four-armed one the beloved of Lakshmi.

Verse 14 (devibhagavatam.9.39.14)

शुद्धसत्त्वस्वरूपा च गोपैर्गोपीभिरावृता । चतुर्भुजश्च वैकुण्ठं प्रययौ पद्मया सह

śuddhasattvasvarūpā ca gopairgopībhirāvṛtā | caturbhujaśca vaikuṇṭhaṁ prayayau padmayā saha

She, of the nature of pure sattva, remained surrounded by cowherds and cowherd maidens, while the four-armed one departed for Vaikuntha together with Padma.

Verse 15 (devibhagavatam.9.39.15)

सर्वांशेन समौ तौ द्वौ कृष्णनारायणौ परौ । महालक्ष्मीश्च योगेन नानारूपा बभूव सा

sarvāṁśena samau tau dvau kṛṣṇanārāyaṇau parau | mahālakṣmīśca yogena nānārūpā babhūva sā

Those two supreme ones, Krishna and Narayana, were equal in every part; and Mahalakshmi, through her yogic power, became manifold in form.

Verse 16 (devibhagavatam.9.39.16)

वैकुण्ठे च महालक्ष्मीः परिपूर्णतमा रमा । शुद्धसत्त्वस्वरूपा च सर्वसौभाग्यसंयुता

vaikuṇṭhe ca mahālakṣmīḥ paripūrṇatamā ramā | śuddhasattvasvarūpā ca sarvasaubhāgyasaṁyutā

In Vaikuntha, Mahalakshmi is Rama — the most perfectly complete, of pure sattva nature, endowed with every good fortune.

Verse 17 (devibhagavatam.9.39.17)

प्रेम्णा सा च प्रधाना च सर्वासु रमणीषु च । स्वर्गेषु स्वर्गलक्ष्मीश्च शक्रसम्पत्स्वरूपिणी

premṇā sā ca pradhānā ca sarvāsu ramaṇīṣu ca | svargeṣu svargalakṣmīśca śakrasampatsvarūpiṇī

In love she is foremost among all lovely women; in the heavens she is the Lakshmi of heaven, embodying the very wealth of Indra.

Verse 18 (devibhagavatam.9.39.18)

पाताले नागलक्ष्मीश्च राजलक्ष्मीश्च राजसु । गृहलक्ष्मीर्गृहेष्वेव गृहिणां च कलांशतः

pātāle nāgalakṣmīśca rājalakṣmīśca rājasu | gṛhalakṣmīrgṛheṣveva gṛhiṇāṁ ca kalāṁśataḥ

In the netherworld she is the Lakshmi of the serpents; among kings, royal Lakshmi; in every household, the Lakshmi of the home, present in a fragment of her being for householders.

Verse 19 (devibhagavatam.9.39.19)

सम्पत्स्वरूपा गृहिणां सर्वमङ्गलमङ्गला । गवां प्रसूतिः सुरभिर्दक्षिणा यज्ञकामिनी

sampatsvarūpā gṛhiṇāṁ sarvamaṅgalamaṅgalā | gavāṁ prasūtiḥ surabhirdakṣiṇā yajñakāminī

She is the very form of prosperity for householders, the auspiciousness of all auspicious things; among cows she is Surabhi, and in sacrifice she is Dakshina, beloved of the rite.

Verse 20 (devibhagavatam.9.39.20)

क्षीरोदसिन्धुकन्या सा श्रीरूपा पद्मिनीषु च । शोभास्वरूपा चन्द्रे च सूर्यमण्डलमण्डिता

kṣīrodasindhukanyā sā śrīrūpā padminīṣu ca | śobhāsvarūpā candre ca sūryamaṇḍalamaṇḍitā

She is the daughter of the Ocean of Milk; among lotus-plants she is the very form of beauty; in the moon she is the essence of splendor, and she adorns the orb of the sun.

Verse 21 (devibhagavatam.9.39.21)

विभूषणेषु रत्नेषु फलेषु च जलेषु च । नृपेषु नृपपत्नीषु दिव्यस्त्रीषु गृहेषु च

vibhūṣaṇeṣu ratneṣu phaleṣu ca jaleṣu ca | nṛpeṣu nṛpapatnīṣu divyastrīṣu gṛheṣu ca

She is present in ornaments, in gems, in fruits, in waters, in kings, in the wives of kings, in celestial women, and in homes.

Verse 22 (devibhagavatam.9.39.22)

सर्वसस्येषु वस्त्रेषु स्थानेषु संस्कृतेषु च । प्रतिमासु च देवानां मङ्गलेषु घटेषु च

sarvasasyeṣu vastreṣu sthāneṣu saṁskṛteṣu ca | pratimāsu ca devānāṁ maṅgaleṣu ghaṭeṣu ca

She is present in all crops, in garments, in consecrated places, in the images of the gods, and in auspicious ritual pots.

Verse 23 (devibhagavatam.9.39.23)

माणिक्येषु च मुक्तासु माल्येषु च मनोहरा । मणीन्द्रेषु च हीरेषु क्षीरेषु चन्दनेषु च

māṇikyeṣu ca muktāsu mālyeṣu ca manoharā | maṇīndreṣu ca hīreṣu kṣīreṣu candaneṣu ca

Enchanting, she is present in rubies, in pearls, in garlands, in the finest gems, in diamonds, in milk, and in sandalwood.

Verse 24 (devibhagavatam.9.39.24)

वृक्षशाखासु रम्यासु नवमेघेषु वस्तुषु । वैकुण्ठे पूजिता साऽऽदौ देवी नारायणेन च

vṛkṣaśākhāsu ramyāsu navamegheṣu vastuṣu | vaikuṇṭhe pūjitā sā''dau devī nārāyaṇena ca

She is present in the lovely branches of trees and in fresh rain-clouds too. In Vaikuntha, that Devi was worshipped first of all by Narayana.

Verse 25 (devibhagavatam.9.39.25)

द्वितीये ब्रह्मणा भक्त्या तृतीये शङ्करेण च । विष्णुना पूजिता सा च क्षीरोदे भारते मुने

dvitīye brahmaṇā bhaktyā tṛtīye śaṅkareṇa ca | viṣṇunā pūjitā sā ca kṣīrode bhārate mune

Second, she was worshipped with devotion by Brahma; third, by Shankara; and, O sage, by Vishnu in the Ocean of Milk and in the land of Bharata.

Verse 26 (devibhagavatam.9.39.26)

स्वायम्भुवेन मनुना मानवेन्द्रेश्च सर्वतः । ऋषीन्द्रैश्च मुनीन्द्रैश्च सद्भिश्च गृहिभिर्भवे

svāyambhuvena manunā mānavendreśca sarvataḥ | ṛṣīndraiśca munīndraiśca sadbhiśca gṛhibhirbhave

She was worshipped by Svayambhuva Manu, by the foremost of men everywhere, by the great sages, by the great munis, and by righteous householders in this world.

Verse 27 (devibhagavatam.9.39.27)

गन्धर्वैश्चैव नागाद्यैः पातालेषु च पूजिता । शुक्लाष्टम्यां भाद्रपदे कृता पूजा च ब्रह्मणा

gandharvaiścaiva nāgādyaiḥ pātāleṣu ca pūjitā | śuklāṣṭamyāṁ bhādrapade kṛtā pūjā ca brahmaṇā

By the Gandharvas and by the Nagas and others she was worshipped in the netherworlds. On the eighth day of the bright fortnight of Bhadrapada, worship was performed by Brahma.

Verse 28 (devibhagavatam.9.39.28)

भक्त्या च पक्षपर्यन्तं त्रिषु लोकेषु नारद । चैत्रे पौषे च भाद्रे च पुण्ये मङ्गलवासरे

bhaktyā ca pakṣaparyantaṁ triṣu lokeṣu nārada | caitre pauṣe ca bhādre ca puṇye maṅgalavāsare

With devotion, for the whole fortnight, in the three worlds, O Narada — in Chaitra, in Pausha, and in Bhadrapada, on the sacred, auspicious Tuesday —

Verse 29 (devibhagavatam.9.39.29)

विष्णुना पूजिता सा च त्रिषु लोकेषु भक्तितः । वर्षान्ते पौषसङ्क्रान्त्यां माध्यामावाह्य मङ्गले

viṣṇunā pūjitā sā ca triṣu lokeṣu bhaktitaḥ | varṣānte pauṣasaṅkrāntyāṁ mādhyāmāvāhya maṅgale

— she was worshipped by Vishnu with devotion in the three worlds. At year's end, on the Pausha Sankranti, having invoked her at midday, auspiciously —

Verse 30 (devibhagavatam.9.39.30)

मनुस्तां पूजयामास सा भूता भुवनत्रये । पूजिता सा महेन्द्रेण मङ्गलेनैव मङ्गला

manustāṁ pūjayāmāsa sā bhūtā bhuvanatraye | pūjitā sā mahendreṇa maṅgalenaiva maṅgalā

— Manu worshipped her, and she became present throughout the three worlds. Together with Mangala (Mars), great Indra worshipped that auspicious Devi.

Verse 31 (devibhagavatam.9.39.31)

केदारेणैव नीलेन सुबलेन नलेन च । ध्रुवेणोत्तानपादेन शक्रेण बलिना तथा

kedāreṇaiva nīlena subalena nalena ca | dhruveṇottānapādena śakreṇa balinā tathā

She was worshipped by Kedara, by Nila, by Subala, and by Nala; by Dhruva, by Uttanapada, by Shakra (Indra), and by Bali as well.

Verse 32 (devibhagavatam.9.39.32)

कश्यपेन च दक्षेण कर्दमेन विवस्वता । प्रियव्रतेन चन्द्रेण कुबेरेणैव वायुना

kaśyapena ca dakṣeṇa kardamena vivasvatā | priyavratena candreṇa kubereṇaiva vāyunā

By Kashyapa, by Daksha, by Kardama, by Vivasvan (the Sun); by Priyavrata, by Chandra (the Moon), by Kubera, and by Vayu.

Verse 33 (devibhagavatam.9.39.33)

यमेन वह्निना चैव वरुणेनैव पूजिता । एवं सर्वत्र सर्वेषु पूजिता वन्दिता सदा । सर्वेश्वर्याधिदेवी सा सर्वसम्पत्स्वरूपिणी

yamena vahninā caiva varuṇenaiva pūjitā | evaṁ sarvatra sarveṣu pūjitā vanditā sadā | sarveśvaryādhidevī sā sarvasampatsvarūpiṇī

By Yama, by Agni, and by Varuna she was worshipped. Thus, everywhere, by all, she is ever worshipped and revered — the presiding Devi of all lordship, the very embodiment of all prosperity.