The Story of Shri Lakshmi

Verse 1 (devibhagavatam.9.41.1)

श्रीनारायण उवाच । हरिं ध्यात्वा हरिर्ब्रह्मन् जगाम ब्रह्मणः सभाम् । बृहस्पतिं पुरस्कृत्य सर्वैः सुरगणैः सह

śrīnārāyaṇa uvāca | hariṁ dhyātvā harirbrahman jagāma brahmaṇaḥ sabhām | bṛhaspatiṁ puraskṛtya sarvaiḥ suragaṇaiḥ saha

Shri Narayana said: Meditating on Hari, Indra, O Brahmin, went to Brahma's assembly, placing Brihaspati foremost, together with all the hosts of gods.

Verse 2 (devibhagavatam.9.41.2)

शीघ्रं गत्वा ब्रह्मलोकं दृष्ट्वा च कमलोद्भवम् । प्रणेमुर्देवताः सर्वाः सहेन्द्रा गुरुणा सह

śīghraṁ gatvā brahmalokaṁ dṛṣṭvā ca kamalodbhavam | praṇemurdevatāḥ sarvāḥ sahendrā guruṇā saha

Going quickly to Brahmaloka and seeing the Lotus-born one, all the gods, together with Indra and their guru, bowed down.

Verse 3 (devibhagavatam.9.41.3)

वृत्तान्तं कथयामास सुराचार्यो विधिं प्रति । प्रहस्योवाच तच्छ्रुत्वा महेन्द्रं कमलासनः

vṛttāntaṁ kathayāmāsa surācāryo vidhiṁ prati | prahasyovāca tacchrutvā mahendraṁ kamalāsanaḥ

The preceptor of the gods related the whole account to the Creator. Hearing it, the Lotus-seated one laughed and spoke to great Indra.

Verse 4 (devibhagavatam.9.41.4)

ब्रह्मोवाच । वत्स मद्वंशजातोऽसि प्रपौत्रो मे विचक्षणः । बृहस्पतेश्च शिष्यस्त्वं सुराणामधिपः स्वयम्

brahmovāca | vatsa madvaṁśajāto'si prapautro me vicakṣaṇaḥ | bṛhaspateśca śiṣyastvaṁ surāṇāmadhipaḥ svayam

Brahma said: "Dear child, you are born of my own lineage, my wise great-grandson; you are the disciple of Brihaspati, and yourself the lord of the gods.

Verse 5 (devibhagavatam.9.41.5)

मातामहश्च दक्षस्ते विष्णुभक्तः प्रतापवान् । कुलत्रयं यस्य शुद्धं कथं सोऽहङ्कृतो भवेत्

mātāmahaśca dakṣaste viṣṇubhaktaḥ pratāpavān | kulatrayaṁ yasya śuddhaṁ kathaṁ so'haṅkṛto bhavet

"Your maternal grandfather is Daksha, a mighty devotee of Vishnu. How can one whose three lineages are pure become arrogant?

Verse 6 (devibhagavatam.9.41.6)

माता पतिव्रता यस्य पिता शुद्धो जितेन्द्रियः । मातामहो मातुलश्च कथं सोऽहङ्कृतो भवेत्

mātā pativratā yasya pitā śuddho jitendriyaḥ | mātāmaho mātulaśca kathaṁ so'haṅkṛto bhavet

"He whose mother is chaste, whose father is pure and self-controlled, whose grandfather and uncle are equally worthy — how could such a one become arrogant?

Verse 7 (devibhagavatam.9.41.7)

जनः पैतृकदोषेण दोषान्मातामहस्य च । गुरुदोषात्त्रिभिर्दोषैर्हरिदोषी भवेद् ध्रुवम्

janaḥ paitṛkadoṣeṇa doṣānmātāmahasya ca | gurudoṣāttribhirdoṣairharidoṣī bhaved dhruvam

"By the fault of his father, by the fault of his maternal grandfather, and by the fault of his teacher — through these three faults, one becomes certainly guilty of a fault against Hari.

Verse 8 (devibhagavatam.9.41.8)

सर्वान्तरात्मा भगवान् सर्वदेहेष्ववस्थितः । यस्य देहात्स प्रयाति स शवस्तत्क्षणं भवेत्

sarvāntarātmā bhagavān sarvadeheṣvavasthitaḥ | yasya dehātsa prayāti sa śavastatkṣaṇaṁ bhavet

"The Blessed Lord dwells as the inner soul of all, present in every body; from whichever body he departs, that body becomes a corpse in that very instant.

Verse 9 (devibhagavatam.9.41.9)

मनोऽहमिन्द्रियेशं च ज्ञानरूपो हि शङ्करः । विष्णुप्राणा च प्रकृतिर्बुद्धिर्भगवती सती

mano'hamindriyeśaṁ ca jñānarūpo hi śaṅkaraḥ | viṣṇuprāṇā ca prakṛtirbuddhirbhagavatī satī

"The mind, the ego, the lord of the senses — these are of the nature of knowledge, presided over by Shankara himself; Prakriti is animated by the life-breath of Vishnu, and the intellect is the virtuous goddess herself.

Verse 10 (devibhagavatam.9.41.10)

निद्रादयः शक्तयश्च ताः सर्वाः प्रकृतेः कलाः । आत्मनः प्रतिबिम्बश्च जीवो भोगशरीरभृत्

nidrādayaḥ śaktayaśca tāḥ sarvāḥ prakṛteḥ kalāḥ | ātmanaḥ pratibimbaśca jīvo bhogaśarīrabhṛt

"Sleep and the other such powers are all portions of Prakriti; the individual soul is but a reflection of the Self, bearing a body for the sake of experience.

Verse 11 (devibhagavatam.9.41.11)

आत्मनीशे गते देहात्सर्वे यान्ति ससम्भ्रमाः । यथा वर्त्मनि गच्छन्तं नरदेवमिवानुगाः

ātmanīśe gate dehātsarve yānti sasambhramāḥ | yathā vartmani gacchantaṁ naradevamivānugāḥ

"When the Lord-Self departs from the body, all the faculties go along in confusion, just as followers accompany a king departing along the road.

Verse 12 (devibhagavatam.9.41.12)

अहं शिवश्च शेषश्च विष्णुर्धर्मो महाविराट् । यूयं यदंशा भक्ताश्च तत्पुष्पं न्यक्कृतं त्वया

ahaṁ śivaśca śeṣaśca viṣṇurdharmo mahāvirāṭ | yūyaṁ yadaṁśā bhaktāśca tatpuṣpaṁ nyakkṛtaṁ tvayā

"I myself, Shiva, Shesha, Vishnu, Dharma, and the great cosmic form — you are all portions and devotees of him whose flower you have disdained.

Verse 13 (devibhagavatam.9.41.13)

शिवेन पूजितं पादपद्मं पुष्पेण येन च । तत्र दुर्वाससा दत्तं दैवेन न्यक्कृतं त्वया

śivena pūjitaṁ pādapadmaṁ puṣpeṇa yena ca | tatra durvāsasā dattaṁ daivena nyakkṛtaṁ tvayā

"That flower with which Shiva himself worships his lotus feet — that very flower, given to you by Durvasa through providence, you have disdained.

Verse 14 (devibhagavatam.9.41.14)

तत्पुण्यं मस्तके यस्य कृष्णपादाब्जप्रच्युतम् । सर्वेषां च सुराणां च तत्पूजापुरतो भवेत्

tatpuṇyaṁ mastake yasya kṛṣṇapādābjapracyutam | sarveṣāṁ ca surāṇāṁ ca tatpūjāpurato bhavet

"That merit, fallen from Krishna's lotus feet, when placed upon whosoever's head — before that, the worship even of all the gods must give way.

Verse 15 (devibhagavatam.9.41.15)

दैवेन वञ्चितस्त्वं हि दैवं च बलवत्तरम् । भाग्यहीनं जनं मूढं को वा रक्षितुमीश्वरः

daivena vañcitastvaṁ hi daivaṁ ca balavattaram | bhāgyahīnaṁ janaṁ mūḍhaṁ ko vā rakṣitumīśvaraḥ

"You have indeed been cheated by fate, and fate is stronger than all. Who indeed has the power to protect a person deprived of fortune?

Verse 16 (devibhagavatam.9.41.16)

सा श्रीर्गताधुना कोपात्कृष्णनिर्माल्यवर्जनात् । अधुना गच्छ वैकुण्ठं मया च गुरुणा सह

sā śrīrgatādhunā kopātkṛṣṇanirmālyavarjanāt | adhunā gaccha vaikuṇṭhaṁ mayā ca guruṇā saha

"That Shri has now departed in anger, because of your rejection of Krishna's discarded offering. Now go to Vaikuntha, together with me and your teacher —

Verse 17 (devibhagavatam.9.41.17)

निषेव्य तत्र श्रीनाथं श्रियं प्राप्स्यति मद्वरात् । एवमुक्त्वा च स ब्रह्मा सर्वैः सुरगणैः सह

niṣevya tatra śrīnāthaṁ śriyaṁ prāpsyati madvarāt | evamuktvā ca sa brahmā sarvaiḥ suragaṇaiḥ saha

"— having served there the Lord of Shri, you will regain Shri by my blessing." Having spoken thus, Brahma, together with all the hosts of gods,

Verse 18 (devibhagavatam.9.41.18)

तत्र गत्वा परब्रह्म भगवन्तं सनातनम् । दृष्ट्वा तेजःस्वरूपं तं प्रज्वलन्तं स्वतेजसा

tatra gatvā parabrahma bhagavantaṁ sanātanam | dṛṣṭvā tejaḥsvarūpaṁ taṁ prajvalantaṁ svatejasā

went there and beheld the eternal Blessed Lord, the Supreme Brahman, blazing in his own splendor, of the very nature of radiance,

Verse 19 (devibhagavatam.9.41.19)

ग्रीष्ममध्याह्नमार्तण्डशतकोटिसमप्रभम् । शान्तमनादिमध्यान्तं लक्ष्यीकान्तमनन्तकम्

grīṣmamadhyāhnamārtaṇḍaśatakoṭisamaprabham | śāntamanādimadhyāntaṁ lakṣyīkāntamanantakam

— radiant as a hundred million midsummer suns, peaceful, without beginning, middle, or end, the beloved of Lakshmi, the infinite one,

Verse 20 (devibhagavatam.9.41.20)

चतुर्भुजैः पार्षदैश्च सरस्वत्या युतं प्रभुम् । भक्त्या चतुर्भिर्वेदैश्च गङ्गया परिवेष्टितम्

caturbhujaiḥ pārṣadaiśca sarasvatyā yutaṁ prabhum | bhaktyā caturbhirvedaiśca gaṅgayā pariveṣṭitam

— the Lord attended by his four-armed companions and by Sarasvati, surrounded devotedly by the four Vedas and by the Ganga.

Verse 21 (devibhagavatam.9.41.21)

तं प्रणेमुः सुराः सर्वे मूर्ध्ना ब्रह्मपुरोगमाः । भक्तिनम्राः साश्रुनेत्रास्तुष्टुवुः परमेश्वरम्

taṁ praṇemuḥ surāḥ sarve mūrdhnā brahmapurogamāḥ | bhaktinamrāḥ sāśrunetrāstuṣṭuvuḥ parameśvaram

All the gods, with Brahma at their head, bowed their heads to him; humbled by devotion, their eyes filled with tears, they praised the Supreme Lord.

Verse 22 (devibhagavatam.9.41.22)

वृत्तान्तं कथयामास स्वयं ब्रह्मा कृताञ्जलिः । रुरुदुर्देवताः सर्वाः स्वाधिकाराच्चुताश्च ताः

vṛttāntaṁ kathayāmāsa svayaṁ brahmā kṛtāñjaliḥ | rurudurdevatāḥ sarvāḥ svādhikārāccutāśca tāḥ

Brahma himself, with joined palms, related the whole account; and all the gods, fallen from their own heavenly offices, wept.

Verse 23 (devibhagavatam.9.41.23)

स ददर्श सुरगणं विपद्ग्रस्तं भयाकुलम् । रत्नभूषणशून्यं च वाहनादिविवर्जितम्

sa dadarśa suragaṇaṁ vipadgrastaṁ bhayākulam | ratnabhūṣaṇaśūnyaṁ ca vāhanādivivarjitam

He beheld the host of gods, seized by calamity and stricken with fear, stripped of their jeweled ornaments, deprived of their vehicles and all else,

Verse 24 (devibhagavatam.9.41.24)

शोभाशून्यं हतश्रीकं निष्प्रभं सभयं परम् । उवाच कातरं दृष्ट्वा भयभीतिविभञ्जनः

śobhāśūnyaṁ hataśrīkaṁ niṣprabhaṁ sabhayaṁ param | uvāca kātaraṁ dṛṣṭvā bhayabhītivibhañjanaḥ

devoid of splendor, bereft of glory, without radiance, utterly afraid. Seeing them fainthearted, he who destroys fear and terror spoke.

Verse 25 (devibhagavatam.9.41.25)

श्रीभगवानुवाच । मा भैर्ब्रह्मन् हे सुराश्च भयं किं वो मयि स्थिते । दास्यामि लक्ष्मीमचलां परमैश्वर्यवर्धिनीम्

śrībhagavānuvāca | mā bhairbrahman he surāśca bhayaṁ kiṁ vo mayi sthite | dāsyāmi lakṣmīmacalāṁ paramaiśvaryavardhinīm

The Blessed Lord said: "Fear not, O Brahma; O gods, why should you fear while I remain? I shall give you Lakshmi, unmoving, ever increasing your supreme lordship.

Verse 26 (devibhagavatam.9.41.26)

किञ्च मद्वचनं किञ्चिच्छ्रूयतां समयोचितम् । हितं सत्यं सारभूतं परिणामसुखावहम्

kiñca madvacanaṁ kiñcicchrūyatāṁ samayocitam | hitaṁ satyaṁ sārabhūtaṁ pariṇāmasukhāvaham

"But hear also these words of mine, fitting for the occasion — beneficial, true, of the essence, and bringing happiness in the end.

Verse 27 (devibhagavatam.9.41.27)

जनाश्चासङ्ख्यविश्वस्था मदधीनाश्च सन्ततम् । यथा तथाहं मद्भक्तपराधीनोऽस्वतन्त्रकः

janāścāsaṅkhyaviśvasthā madadhīnāśca santatam | yathā tathāhaṁ madbhaktaparādhīno'svatantrakaḥ

"Countless beings throughout the universe are ever dependent upon me; yet even so, I myself am dependent upon my devotees, not my own master.

Verse 28 (devibhagavatam.9.41.28)

यं यं रुष्टो हि मद्भक्तो मत्परो हि निरङ्कुशः । तद्गृहेऽहं न तिष्ठामि पद्मया सह निश्चितम्

yaṁ yaṁ ruṣṭo hi madbhakto matparo hi niraṅkuśaḥ | tadgṛhe'haṁ na tiṣṭhāmi padmayā saha niścitam

"With whomsoever my devotee — devoted to me, unbridled in his devotion — becomes angry, in that person's house I certainly do not remain, together with Padma.

Verse 29 (devibhagavatam.9.41.29)

दुर्वासाः शङ्करांशश्च वैष्णवो मत्परायणः । तच्छापादागतोऽहं च सलक्ष्मीको हि वो गृहात्

durvāsāḥ śaṅkarāṁśaśca vaiṣṇavo matparāyaṇaḥ | tacchāpādāgato'haṁ ca salakṣmīko hi vo gṛhāt

"Durvasa is a portion of Shankara, a Vaishnava devoted wholly to me. Because of his curse, I, together with Lakshmi, have indeed departed from your house.

Verse 30 (devibhagavatam.9.41.30)

यत्र शङ्खध्वनिर्नास्ति तुलसी न शिवार्चनम् । न भोजनं च विप्राणां न पद्मा तत्र तिष्ठति

yatra śaṅkhadhvanirnāsti tulasī na śivārcanam | na bhojanaṁ ca viprāṇāṁ na padmā tatra tiṣṭhati

"Wherever there is no sound of the conch, no tulasi, no worship of Shiva, and no feeding of Brahmins — Padma does not dwell there.

Verse 31 (devibhagavatam.9.41.31)

मद्भक्तानां च मे निन्दा यत्र ब्रह्मन् भवेत्सुराः । महारुष्टा महालक्ष्मीस्ततो याति पराभवम्

madbhaktānāṁ ca me nindā yatra brahman bhavetsurāḥ | mahāruṣṭā mahālakṣmīstato yāti parābhavam

"Wherever, O Brahma, O gods, there is slander of my devotees or of myself, great Mahalakshmi, greatly enraged, departs from there in disgrace.

Verse 32 (devibhagavatam.9.41.32)

मद्भक्तिहीनो यो मूढो भुङ्क्ते यो हरिवासरे । मम जन्मदिने वापि याति श्रीस्तद्गृहादपि

madbhaktihīno yo mūḍho bhuṅkte yo harivāsare | mama janmadine vāpi yāti śrīstadgṛhādapi

"Whatever fool, devoid of devotion to me, eats on the day sacred to Hari, or even on my own birthday — Shri departs from that house too.

Verse 33 (devibhagavatam.9.41.33)

मन्नामविक्रयी यश्च विक्रीणाति स्वकन्यकाम् । यत्रातिथिर्न भुङ्क्ते च मत्प्रिया याति तद्गृहात्

mannāmavikrayī yaśca vikrīṇāti svakanyakām | yatrātithirna bhuṅkte ca matpriyā yāti tadgṛhāt

"He who sells my name for a livelihood, he who sells his own daughter, and any house where a guest does not get to eat — my beloved departs from that house.

Verse 34 (devibhagavatam.9.41.34)

यो विप्रः पुंश्चलीपुत्रो महापापी च तत्पतिः । पापिनो यो गृहं याति शूद्रश्राद्धान्नभोजकः

yo vipraḥ puṁścalīputro mahāpāpī ca tatpatiḥ | pāpino yo gṛhaṁ yāti śūdraśrāddhānnabhojakaḥ

"The Brahmin who is the son of a harlot, the great sinner who is her husband, whoever enters the house of a sinner, whoever eats the food of a shudra's ancestral rite —

Verse 35 (devibhagavatam.9.41.35)

महारुष्टा ततो याति मन्दिरात्कमलालया । शूद्राणां शवदाही च भाग्यहीनो द्विजाधमः

mahāruṣṭā tato yāti mandirātkamalālayā | śūdrāṇāṁ śavadāhī ca bhāgyahīno dvijādhamaḥ

"— from that dwelling, greatly enraged, the Lotus-dweller departs. And she departs, angered, from the house of the fortuneless, degraded Brahmin who cremates the corpses of shudras,

Verse 36 (devibhagavatam.9.41.36)

याति रुष्टा तद्गृहाच्च देवाः कमलवासिनी । शूद्राणां सूपकारी यो ब्राह्मणो वृषवाहकः

yāti ruṣṭā tadgṛhācca devāḥ kamalavāsinī | śūdrāṇāṁ sūpakārī yo brāhmaṇo vṛṣavāhakaḥ

"— O gods, the lotus-dwelling one departs, angered, from that house. The Brahmin who cooks for shudras, or who drives a bullock-cart —

Verse 37 (devibhagavatam.9.41.37)

तत्तोयपानभीता च कमला याति तद्गृहात् । अशुद्धहृदयः क्रूरो हिंसको निन्दको द्विजः

tattoyapānabhītā ca kamalā yāti tadgṛhāt | aśuddhahṛdayaḥ krūro hiṁsako nindako dvijaḥ

"— fearing even to drink the water offered by such a one, Kamala departs from that house. The Brahmin of impure heart, cruel, given to violence, given to slander,

Verse 38 (devibhagavatam.9.41.38)

ब्राह्मणः शूद्रयाजी च याति देवी च तद्गृहात् । अवीरान्नं च यो भुङ्क्ते तस्माद्याति जगत्प्रसूः

brāhmaṇaḥ śūdrayājī ca yāti devī ca tadgṛhāt | avīrānnaṁ ca yo bhuṅkte tasmādyāti jagatprasūḥ

"the Brahmin who officiates for shudras — from his house too the Devi departs. Whoever eats the food of a coward — from him departs the Mother of the world.

Verse 39 (devibhagavatam.9.41.39)

तृणं छिनत्ति नखरैस्तैर्वा यो विलिखेन्महीम् । निराशो ब्राह्मणो यत्र तद्गृहाद्याति मत्प्रिया

tṛṇaṁ chinatti nakharaistairvā yo vilikhenmahīm | nirāśo brāhmaṇo yatra tadgṛhādyāti matpriyā

"Whoever cuts grass with his fingernails, or scratches the earth with them, or wherever a Brahmin sits without hope — from that house my beloved departs.

Verse 40 (devibhagavatam.9.41.40)

सूर्योदये द्विजो भुङ्क्ते दिवास्वापी च ब्राह्मणः । दिवा मैथुनकारी च यस्तस्माद्याति मत्प्रिया

sūryodaye dvijo bhuṅkte divāsvāpī ca brāhmaṇaḥ | divā maithunakārī ca yastasmādyāti matpriyā

"The Brahmin who eats at sunrise, who sleeps by day, and who engages in intercourse by day — from him my beloved departs.

Verse 41 (devibhagavatam.9.41.41)

आचारहीनो विप्रो यो यश्च शूद्रप्रतिग्रही । अदीक्षितो हि यो मूढस्तस्माद्वै याति मत्प्रिया

ācārahīno vipro yo yaśca śūdrapratigrahī | adīkṣito hi yo mūḍhastasmādvai yāti matpriyā

"The Brahmin devoid of proper conduct, he who accepts gifts from a shudra, and the fool who is uninitiated — from all such my beloved certainly departs.

Verse 42 (devibhagavatam.9.41.42)

स्निग्धपादश्च नग्नो हि यः शेते ज्ञानदुर्बलः । शश्वद्वदति वाचालो याति सा तद्गृहात्सती

snigdhapādaśca nagno hi yaḥ śete jñānadurbalaḥ | śaśvadvadati vācālo yāti sā tadgṛhātsatī

"He who lies down naked with oiled feet, weak in wisdom, and he who chatters endlessly, garrulous — that virtuous goddess departs from his house.

Verse 43 (devibhagavatam.9.41.43)

शिरस्नातस्तु तैलेन योऽन्याङ्गं समुपस्पृशेत् । स्वाङ्गं च वादयेद्वाद्यं रुष्टा सा याति तद्गृहात्

śirasnātastu tailena yo'nyāṅgaṁ samupaspṛśet | svāṅgaṁ ca vādayedvādyaṁ ruṣṭā sā yāti tadgṛhāt

"He who, having oiled and bathed his head, then touches another's body, and he who plays instruments upon his own body for amusement — angered, she departs from that house.

Verse 44 (devibhagavatam.9.41.44)

व्रतोपवासहीनो यः सन्ध्याहीनोऽशुचिर्द्विजः । विष्णुभक्तिविहीनस्तु तस्माद्याति च मत्प्रिया

vratopavāsahīno yaḥ sandhyāhīno'śucirdvijaḥ | viṣṇubhaktivihīnastu tasmādyāti ca matpriyā

"The Brahmin devoid of vows and fasting, who neglects the twilight rites, who is impure, and who lacks devotion to Vishnu — from him too my beloved departs.

Verse 45 (devibhagavatam.9.41.45)

ब्राह्मणं निन्दयेद्यो हि तं च यो द्वेष्टि सन्ततम् । जीवहिंस्रो दयाहीनो याति सर्वप्रसूस्ततः

brāhmaṇaṁ nindayedyo hi taṁ ca yo dveṣṭi santatam | jīvahiṁsro dayāhīno yāti sarvaprasūstataḥ

"Whoever slanders a Brahmin, whoever continually hates him, whoever is cruel to living creatures and without compassion — from him the Mother of all departs.

Verse 46 (devibhagavatam.9.41.46)

यत्र यत्र हरेरर्चा हरेरुत्कीर्तनं तथा । तत्र तिष्ठति सा देवी सर्वमङ्गलमङ्गला

yatra yatra harerarcā harerutkīrtanaṁ tathā | tatra tiṣṭhati sā devī sarvamaṅgalamaṅgalā

"But wherever there is worship of Hari, and likewise the chanting of Hari's praise — there dwells that Devi, the very auspiciousness of all that is auspicious.

Verse 47 (devibhagavatam.9.41.47)

यत्र प्रशंसा कृष्णस्य तद्भक्तस्य पितामह । सा च कृष्णप्रिया देवी तत्र तिष्ठति सन्ततम्

yatra praśaṁsā kṛṣṇasya tadbhaktasya pitāmaha | sā ca kṛṣṇapriyā devī tatra tiṣṭhati santatam

"Wherever there is praise of Krishna, O Grandsire, and of his devotee — there that Devi, beloved of Krishna, dwells forever.

Verse 48 (devibhagavatam.9.41.48)

यत्र शङ्खध्वनिः शङ्खः शिला च तुलसीदलम् । तत्सेवा वन्दनं ध्यानं तत्र सा परितिष्ठति

yatra śaṅkhadhvaniḥ śaṅkhaḥ śilā ca tulasīdalam | tatsevā vandanaṁ dhyānaṁ tatra sā paritiṣṭhati

"Wherever there is the sound of the conch, the conch itself, the shalagrama stone, and a tulasi leaf, and the service, veneration, and meditation upon these — there she fully dwells.

Verse 49 (devibhagavatam.9.41.49)

शिवलिङ्गार्चनं यत्र तस्य चोत्कीर्तनं शुभम् । दुर्गार्चनं तद्गुणाश्च तत्र पद्मनिवासिनी

śivaliṅgārcanaṁ yatra tasya cotkīrtanaṁ śubham | durgārcanaṁ tadguṇāśca tatra padmanivāsinī

"Wherever there is worship of the Shiva-linga and the auspicious chanting of his praise, the worship of Durga and the recounting of her virtues — there the Lotus-dwelling one resides.

Verse 50 (devibhagavatam.9.41.50)

विप्राणां सेवनं यत्र तेषां च भोजनं शुभम् । अर्चनं सर्वदेवानां तत्र पद्ममुखी सती

viprāṇāṁ sevanaṁ yatra teṣāṁ ca bhojanaṁ śubham | arcanaṁ sarvadevānāṁ tatra padmamukhī satī

"Wherever there is service to Brahmins and their auspicious feeding, and the worship of all the gods — there the lotus-faced, virtuous one abides."

Verse 51 (devibhagavatam.9.41.51)

इत्युक्त्वा च सुरान्सर्वान् रमामाह रमापतिः । क्षीरोदसागरे जन्म कलयाकलयेति च

ityuktvā ca surānsarvān ramāmāha ramāpatiḥ | kṣīrodasāgare janma kalayākalayeti ca

Having spoken thus to all the gods, the Lord of Rama said to Rama: "Take birth in the Ocean of Milk by a partial manifestation."

Verse 52 (devibhagavatam.9.41.52)

इत्युक्त्वा तां जगन्नाथो ब्रह्माणं पुनराह च । मथित्वा सागरं लक्ष्मीं देवेभ्यो देहि पद्मज

ityuktvā tāṁ jagannātho brahmāṇaṁ punarāha ca | mathitvā sāgaraṁ lakṣmīṁ devebhyo dehi padmaja

Having said this to her, the Lord of the universe spoke again to Brahma: "O Lotus-born one, having churned the ocean, give Lakshmi to the gods."

Verse 53 (devibhagavatam.9.41.53)

इत्युक्त्वा कमलाकान्तो जगामान्तःपुरं मुने । देवाश्चिरेण कालेन ययुः क्षीरोदसागरम्

ityuktvā kamalākānto jagāmāntaḥpuraṁ mune | devāścireṇa kālena yayuḥ kṣīrodasāgaram

Having said this, O sage, the Beloved of Kamala went to his inner chambers, and after a long time the gods went to the Ocean of Milk.

Verse 54 (devibhagavatam.9.41.54)

मन्थानं मन्दरं कृत्वा कूर्मं कृत्वा च भाजनम् । कृत्वा शेषं मन्थपाशं ममन्थुरसुराः सुराः

manthānaṁ mandaraṁ kṛtvā kūrmaṁ kṛtvā ca bhājanam | kṛtvā śeṣaṁ manthapāśaṁ mamanthurasurāḥ surāḥ

Making Mount Mandara the churning-rod, the Tortoise the base, and Shesha the churning-rope, the demons and the gods churned the ocean.

Verse 55 (devibhagavatam.9.41.55)

धन्वन्तरिं च पीयूषमुच्चैःश्रवसमीप्सितम् । नानारत्नं हस्तिरत्नं प्रापुर्लक्ष्मीं सुदर्शनम्

dhanvantariṁ ca pīyūṣamuccaiḥśravasamīpsitam | nānāratnaṁ hastiratnaṁ prāpurlakṣmīṁ sudarśanam

They obtained Dhanvantari, the nectar of immortality, the coveted horse Uchchaihshravas, various jewels, the jewel among elephants, and the beautifully radiant Lakshmi.

Verse 56 (devibhagavatam.9.41.56)

वनमालां ददौ सा च क्षीरोदशायिने मुने । सर्वेश्वराय रम्याय विष्णवे वैष्णवी सती

vanamālāṁ dadau sā ca kṣīrodaśāyine mune | sarveśvarāya ramyāya viṣṇave vaiṣṇavī satī

O sage, that virtuous Vaishnavi gave a forest-garland to him who reclines on the Ocean of Milk — to the Lord of all, the beautiful Vishnu.

Verse 57 (devibhagavatam.9.41.57)

देवैः स्तुता पूजिता च ब्रह्मणा शङ्करेण च । ददौ दृष्टिं सुरगृहे ब्रह्मशापविमोचनात्

devaiḥ stutā pūjitā ca brahmaṇā śaṅkareṇa ca | dadau dṛṣṭiṁ suragṛhe brahmaśāpavimocanāt

Praised and worshipped by the gods, by Brahma, and by Shankara, she cast her gracious gaze upon the abode of the gods, releasing them from the Brahmin's curse.

Verse 58 (devibhagavatam.9.41.58)

प्रापुर्देवाः स्वविषयं दैत्यग्रस्तं भयङ्करम् । महालक्ष्मीप्रसादेन वरदानेन नारद

prāpurdevāḥ svaviṣayaṁ daityagrastaṁ bhayaṅkaram | mahālakṣmīprasādena varadānena nārada

O Narada, by the grace of Mahalakshmi and by the boon she granted, the gods regained their own dominion, which had been seized by the terrible demons.

Verse 59 (devibhagavatam.9.41.59)

इत्येवं कथितं सर्वं लक्ष्म्युपाख्यानमुत्तमम् । सुखदं सारभूतं च किं भूयः श्रोतुमिच्छसि

ityevaṁ kathitaṁ sarvaṁ lakṣmyupākhyānamuttamam | sukhadaṁ sārabhūtaṁ ca kiṁ bhūyaḥ śrotumicchasi

Thus has this whole excellent story of Lakshmi been told — bringing happiness and full of essence. What more do you wish to hear?