The Goddess's Words: The Fruits of the Devi Mahatmya

Verse 1 (markandeya.92.1)

देव्युवाच एभिः स्तवैश्च मां नित्यं स्तोष्यते यः समाहितः । तस्याहं सकलां बाधां नाशयिष्याम्यसंशयम् ॥ 92.1 ॥

devyuvāca ebhiḥ stavaiśca māṁ nityaṁ stoṣyate yaḥ samāhitaḥ tasyāhaṁ sakalāṁ bādhāṁ nāśayiṣyāmyasaṁśayam

The Goddess said: Whoever, with a composed mind, shall constantly praise me with these hymns—of him I shall, without doubt, destroy every affliction.

Verse 2 (markandeya.92.2)

मधुकैटभानाशं च महिषासुरघातनम् । कीर्तयिष्यिन्ति ये तद्वद् वधं शुम्भनिशुम्भयोः ॥ 92.2 ॥

madhukaiṭabhānāśaṁ ca mahiṣāsuraghātanam kīrtayiṣyinti ye tadvad vadhaṁ śumbhaniśumbhayoḥ

Those who shall recount the destruction of Madhu and Kaitabha, the slaying of Mahishasura, and likewise the death of Shumbha and Nishumbha,

Verse 3 (markandeya.92.3)

अष्टम्यां च चतुर्दश्यां नवम्यां चैकचेतसः । स्तोष्यन्ति चैव ये भक्त्या मम माहात्म्यमुत्तमम् ॥ 92.3 ॥

aṣṭamyāṁ ca caturdaśyāṁ navamyāṁ caikacetasaḥ stoṣyanti caiva ye bhaktyā mama māhātmyamuttamam

and who, single-minded, with devotion, on the eighth, the fourteenth and the ninth lunar days, shall praise this supreme Mahatmya of mine—

Verse 4 (markandeya.92.4)

न तेषां दुष्कृतं किञ्चिद् दुष्कृतोत्था न चापदः । भविष्यति न दारिद्रयं न चैवेष्टवियोजनम् ॥ 92.4 ॥

na teṣāṁ duṣkṛtaṁ kiñcid duṣkṛtotthā na cāpadaḥ bhaviṣyati na dāridrayaṁ na caiveṣṭaviyojanam

for them there shall be no evil deed whatsoever, nor calamities arising from evil deeds; there shall be no poverty for them, nor separation from those they love.

Verse 5 (markandeya.92.5)

शत्रुतो न भयं तस्य दस्युतो वा न राजतः । न शस्त्रानलतोयौघात् कदाचित् सम्भविष्यति ॥ 92.5 ॥

śatruto na bhayaṁ tasya dasyuto vā na rājataḥ na śastrānalatoyaughāt kadācit sambhaviṣyati

He shall have no fear ever, whether from enemies, or from robbers, or from a king, nor from weapons, fire, or flood.

Verse 6 (markandeya.92.6)

तस्मान्ममैतन्माहात्म्यं पठितव्यं सहाहितैः । श्रोतव्यं च सदा भक्त्या परं स्वस्त्ययनं महत् ॥ 92.6 ॥

tasmānmamaitanmāhātmyaṁ paṭhitavyaṁ sahāhitaiḥ śrotavyaṁ ca sadā bhaktyā paraṁ svastyayanaṁ mahat

Therefore this Mahatmya of mine should be recited by those who wish their own good, and should always be heard with devotion, for it is the supreme, great means to wellbeing.

Verse 7 (markandeya.92.7)

उपसर्गानशेषांस्तु महामारीसमुद्भवान् । तथा त्रिविधमुत्पातं माहात्म्यं शमयेन्मम ॥ 92.7 ॥

upasargānaśeṣāṁstu mahāmārīsamudbhavān tathā trividhamutpātaṁ māhātmyaṁ śamayenmama

This Mahatmya of mine shall pacify every calamity that arises from great pestilence, as well as the threefold portents of disaster.

Verse 8 (markandeya.92.8)

यत्रैतत् पठ्यते सम्यङ्नित्यमायतने मम । सदा न तद्विमोक्ष्यामि सांनिध्यं तत्र मे स्थितम् ॥ 92.8 ॥

yatraitat paṭhyate samyaṅnityamāyatane mama sadā na tadvimokṣyāmi sāṁnidhyaṁ tatra me sthitam

Wherever this is recited properly and constantly in my sanctuary, I shall never abandon that place; my presence shall ever abide there.

Verse 9 (markandeya.92.9)

बलिप्रदाने पूजायामग्निकार्ये महोत्सवे । सर्वं ममैतच्चरितमुच्चार्यं श्राव्यमेव च ॥ 92.9 ॥

balipradāne pūjāyāmagnikārye mahotsave sarvaṁ mamaitaccaritamuccāryaṁ śrāvyameva ca

At the offering of oblations, at worship, at fire-rituals, and at great festivals, this entire deed of mine should be recited aloud and should also be heard.

Verse 10 (markandeya.92.10)

जानताजानता वापि बलिपूजां तथा कृताम् । प्रतीच्छिष्याम्यहं प्रीत्या वह्निहोमं तथा कृतम् ॥ 92.10 ॥

jānatājānatā vāpi balipūjāṁ tathā kṛtām pratīcchiṣyāmyahaṁ prītyā vahnihomaṁ tathā kṛtam

Whether offered knowingly or unknowingly, I shall accept with love the oblation and worship thus made, and likewise the fire-offering thus performed.

Verse 11 (markandeya.92.11)

शरत्काले महापूजा क्रियते या च वार्षिकी । तस्यां ममैतन्माहात्म्यं श्रुत्वा भक्तिसमन्वितः ॥ 92.11 ॥

śaratkāle mahāpūjā kriyate yā ca vārṣikī tasyāṁ mamaitanmāhātmyaṁ śrutvā bhaktisamanvitaḥ

At the time of the great autumn worship that is performed every year, one who, endowed with devotion, has heard this Mahatmya of mine—

Verse 12 (markandeya.92.12)

सर्वबाधाविनिर्मृक्तो धनधान्यसमन्वितः । मनुष्यो मत्प्रसादेन भविष्यति न संशयः ॥ 92.12 ॥

sarvabādhāvinirmṛkto dhanadhānyasamanvitaḥ manuṣyo matprasādena bhaviṣyati na saṁśayaḥ

that person shall, without doubt, by my grace, become freed from every affliction, and shall be endowed with wealth and grain.

Verse 13 (markandeya.92.13)

श्रुत्वा ममैतन्माहात्म्यं तथोत्पत्तीः पृथक् शुभाः । पराक्रमं च युद्धेषु जायते निर्भयः पुमान् ॥ 92.13 ॥

śrutvā mamaitanmāhātmyaṁ tathotpattīḥ pṛthak śubhāḥ parākramaṁ ca yuddheṣu jāyate nirbhayaḥ pumān

Having heard this Mahatmya of mine, and the various auspicious tales of my births, a man becomes fearless, and gains valor in battles.

Verse 14 (markandeya.92.14)

रिपवः संक्षयं यान्ति कल्याणं चोपपद्यते । नन्दते च कुलं पुंसां माहात्म्यं मम शृण्वताम् ॥ 92.14 ॥

ripavaḥ saṁkṣayaṁ yānti kalyāṇaṁ copapadyate nandate ca kulaṁ puṁsāṁ māhātmyaṁ mama śṛṇvatām

His enemies come to ruin, and prosperity is attained; the family of those men who hear this Mahatmya of mine flourishes.

Verse 15 (markandeya.92.15)

शान्तिकर्मणि सर्वत्र तथा दुः स्वप्नदर्शने । ग्रहपीडासु चोग्रासु माहात्म्यं शृणुयान्मम ॥ 92.15 ॥

śāntikarmaṇi sarvatra tathā duḥ svapnadarśane grahapīḍāsu cogrāsu māhātmyaṁ śṛṇuyānmama

In every rite of pacification, and likewise upon seeing a bad dream, and during severe afflictions from the planets, one should hear this Mahatmya of mine.

Verse 16 (markandeya.92.16)

उपसर्गाः शमं यान्ति ग्रहपीडाश्च दारुणाः । दुः स्वप्नं च नृभिर्दृष्टं सुस्वप्नमुपजायते ॥ 92.16 ॥

upasargāḥ śamaṁ yānti grahapīḍāśca dāruṇāḥ duḥ svapnaṁ ca nṛbhirdṛṣṭaṁ susvapnamupajāyate

Calamities are pacified, and dire afflictions from the planets as well; a bad dream seen by men turns into a good one.

Verse 17 (markandeya.92.17)

बालग्रहाभिभूतानां बालानां शान्तिकारकम् । संघातभेदे च नृणां मैत्रीकरणमुत्तमम् ॥ 92.17 ॥

bālagrahābhibhūtānāṁ bālānāṁ śāntikārakam saṁghātabhede ca nṛṇāṁ maitrīkaraṇamuttamam

It brings peace to children who are afflicted by the seizing planets of infancy, and it is the supreme means of restoring friendship among men when a group has been divided.

Verse 18 (markandeya.92.18)

दुर्वृत्तानामशेषाणां बलहानिकरं परम् । रक्षोभूतपिशाचानां पठनादेव नाशनम् ॥ 92.18 ॥

durvṛttānāmaśeṣāṇāṁ balahānikaraṁ param rakṣobhūtapiśācānāṁ paṭhanādeva nāśanam

It brings about the utter loss of strength of all evildoers; and rakshasas, bhutas and pishachas are destroyed by its recitation alone.

Verse 19 (markandeya.92.19)

सर्वं ममैतन्माहात्म्यं मम सन्निधिकारकम् ॥ 92.19 ॥

sarvaṁ mamaitanmāhātmyaṁ mama sannidhikārakam

All this, my Mahatmya, brings about my very presence.

Verse 20 (markandeya.92.20)

पशुपुष्पार्घ्यधूपैश्च गन्धदीपैस्तथोत्तमैः । विप्राणां भोजनैर्हेमैः प्रोक्षणीयैरहर्निशम् ॥ 92.20 ॥

paśupuṣpārghyadhūpaiśca gandhadīpaistathottamaiḥ viprāṇāṁ bhojanairhemaiḥ prokṣaṇīyairaharniśam

With animal offerings, flowers, sacred water, incense, together with the finest fragrances and lamps, with the feeding of brahmins, with gold, day and night, with all the rites of consecration,

Verse 21 (markandeya.92.21)

अन्यैश्च विविधैर्भोगैः प्रदानैर्वत्सरेण या । प्रीतिर्मे क्रियते सास्मिन् सकृत्सुचरिते श्रुते ॥ 92.21 ॥

anyaiśca vividhairbhogaiḥ pradānairvatsareṇa yā prītirme kriyate sāsmin sakṛtsucarite śrute

and with various other offerings and gifts made over the course of a year—the same satisfaction that is thus won from me is won by the mere hearing, even once, of this excellent deed of mine.

Verse 22 (markandeya.92.22)

श्रुतं हरति पापानि तथाऽरोग्यं प्रयच्छति । रक्षां करोति भूतेभ्यो जन्मनां कीर्तनं मम ॥ 92.22 ॥

śrutaṁ harati pāpāni tathā'rogyaṁ prayacchati rakṣāṁ karoti bhūtebhyo janmanāṁ kīrtanaṁ mama

To hear it takes away sins, and it grants freedom from illness; the recounting of my births protects one from all beings.

Verse 23 (markandeya.92.23)

युद्धेषु चरितं यन्मे दुष्टदैत्यनिबर्हणम् । तस्मिन् श्रुते वैरिकृतं भयं पुंसां न जायते ॥ 92.23 ॥

yuddheṣu caritaṁ yanme duṣṭadaityanibarhaṇam tasmin śrute vairikṛtaṁ bhayaṁ puṁsāṁ na jāyate

When that deed of mine in battle—the destruction of the wicked daityas—is heard, no fear caused by enemies arises in men.

Verse 24 (markandeya.92.24)

युष्माभिः स्तुतयो याश्च याश्च ब्रह्मर्षिभिः कृताः । ब्रह्मणा च कृतास्तास्तु प्रयच्छन्ति शुभां गतिम् ॥ 92.24 ॥

yuṣmābhiḥ stutayo yāśca yāśca brahmarṣibhiḥ kṛtāḥ brahmaṇā ca kṛtāstāstu prayacchanti śubhāṁ gatim

Those hymns of praise that were composed by you gods, and those composed by the brahmarshis, and those composed by Brahma himself—all of these bestow an auspicious destiny.

Verse 25 (markandeya.92.25)

अरण्ये प्रान्तरे वापि दावाग्निपरिवारितः । दस्युभिर्वा वृतः शून्ये गृहीतो वापि शत्रुभिः ॥ 92.25 ॥

araṇye prāntare vāpi dāvāgniparivāritaḥ dasyubhirvā vṛtaḥ śūnye gṛhīto vāpi śatrubhiḥ

One surrounded by a forest fire, whether in a forest or in open wilderness, or one encircled by robbers in a desolate place, or seized by enemies,

Verse 26 (markandeya.92.26)

सिंहव्याघ्रानुयातो वा वने वा वनहस्तिभिः । राज्ञा क्रुद्धेन चाज्ञप्तो वध्यो बन्धगतोऽपि वा ॥ 92.26 ॥

siṁhavyāghrānuyāto vā vane vā vanahastibhiḥ rājñā kruddhena cājñapto vadhyo bandhagato 'pi vā

or one pursued by a lion or a tiger in the forest, or by wild elephants, or one condemned to death by order of an angry king, or one who has fallen into captivity,

Verse 27 (markandeya.92.27)

आघूर्णितो वा वातेन स्थितः पोते महार्णवे । पतत्सु चापि शस्त्रेषु संग्रामे भृशदारुणे ॥ 92.27 ॥

āghūrṇito vā vātena sthitaḥ pote mahārṇave patatsu cāpi śastreṣu saṁgrāme bhṛśadāruṇe

or one being tossed about by the wind while aboard a ship on the great ocean, or one amid falling weapons in an exceedingly terrible battle,

Verse 28 (markandeya.92.28)

सर्वाबाधासु घोरासु वेदनाभ्यर्दितोऽपि वा । स्मरन्ममैतच्छरितं नरो मुच्येत सङ्कटात् ॥ 92.28 ॥

sarvābādhāsu ghorāsu vedanābhyardito 'pi vā smaranmamaitaccharitaṁ naro mucyeta saṅkaṭāt

or one afflicted with pain amid every kind of terrible distress—such a person, by remembering this deed of mine, shall be delivered from his peril.

Verse 29 (markandeya.92.29)

मम प्रभावात्सिंहाद्या दस्यवो वैरिणस्तथा । दूरादेव पलायन्ते स्मरतश्चरितं मम ॥ 92.29 ॥

mama prabhāvātsiṁhādyā dasyavo vairiṇastathā dūrādeva palāyante smarataścaritaṁ mama

By my power, lions and the like, robbers, and enemies, shall flee far away from one who remembers this deed of mine.

Verse 30 (markandeya.92.30)

ऋषिरुवाच इत्युक्त्वा सा भगवती चण्डिका चण्डविक्रमा । पश्यतामेव देवानां तत्रैवान्तरधीयत ॥ 92.30 ॥

ṛṣiruvāca ityuktvā sā bhagavatī caṇḍikā caṇḍavikramā paśyatāmeva devānāṁ tatraivāntaradhīyata

The sage said: Having spoken thus, that illustrious Chandika, of fierce valor, vanished then and there, even as the gods looked on.

Verse 31 (markandeya.92.31)

तेऽपि देव्या निरातङ्का स्वाधिकारान् यथा पुरा । यज्ञभागभुजः सर्वे चक्रुर्विनिहतारयः ॥ 92.31 ॥

te 'pi devyā nirātaṅkā svādhikārān yathā purā yajñabhāgabhujaḥ sarve cakrurvinihatārayaḥ

Freed from fear by the Goddess, and with their enemies slain, all the gods, too, resumed their own offices as before, once again partaking of their shares in the sacrifice.

Verse 32 (markandeya.92.32)

दैत्याश्च देव्या निहते शुम्भे देवरिपौ युधि । जगद्विध्वंसके तस्मिन् महोग्रेऽतुलविक्रमे । निशुम्भे च महावीर्ये शेषाः पातालमाययुः ॥ 92.32 ॥

daityāśca devyā nihate śumbhe devaripau yudhi jagadvidhvaṁsake tasmin mahogre 'tulavikrame niśumbhe ca mahāvīrye śeṣāḥ pātālamāyayuḥ

And when Shumbha, the enemy of the gods, was slain by the Goddess in battle, and Nishumbha too—that world-destroying, exceedingly fierce one of matchless prowess and great valor—the remaining daityas fled down to the netherworld.

Verse 33 (markandeya.92.33)

एवं भगवती देवी सा नित्यापि पुनः पुनः । सम्भूय कुरुते भूप जगतः परिपालनम् ॥ 92.33 ॥

evaṁ bhagavatī devī sā nityāpi punaḥ punaḥ sambhūya kurute bhūpa jagataḥ paripālanam

Thus, O king, that illustrious Goddess, eternal though she is, again and again takes birth and brings about the protection of the world.

Verse 34 (markandeya.92.34)

तयैतन्मोह्यते विश्वं सैव विश्वं प्रसूयते । सा याचिता च विज्ञानं तुष्टा ऋद्धिं प्रयच्छति ॥ 92.34 ॥

tayaitanmohyate viśvaṁ saiva viśvaṁ prasūyate sā yācitā ca vijñānaṁ tuṣṭā ṛddhiṁ prayacchati

By her this universe is bewildered; she herself gives birth to the universe. When entreated, she grants true knowledge; and when pleased, she bestows prosperity.

Verse 35 (markandeya.92.35)

व्याप्तं तयैतत्सकलं ब्रह्माण्डं मनुजेश्वर । महाकाल्या महाकाले महाकारीस्वरूपया ॥ 92.35 ॥

vyāptaṁ tayaitatsakalaṁ brahmāṇḍaṁ manujeśvara mahākālyā mahākāle mahākārīsvarūpayā

This entire universe, O lord of men, is pervaded by her, who in the great dissolution takes the form of Mahakali, the great doer of all things.

Verse 36 (markandeya.92.36)

सैव काले महामारी सैव सृष्टिर्भवत्यजा । स्थितिं करोति भूतानां सैव काले सनातनी ॥ 92.36 ॥

saiva kāle mahāmārī saiva sṛṣṭirbhavatyajā sthitiṁ karoti bhūtānāṁ saiva kāle sanātanī

She herself, in time, becomes the great pestilence; she herself, unborn, becomes creation; and she herself, eternal, sustains all beings in time.

Verse 37 (markandeya.92.37)

भवकाले नृणां सैव लक्ष्मीर्वृद्धिप्रदा गृहे । सैवाभावे तथालक्ष्मीर्विनाशायोपजायते ॥ 92.37 ॥

bhavakāle nṛṇāṁ saiva lakṣmīrvṛddhipradā gṛhe saivābhāve tathālakṣmīrvināśāyopajāyate

In times of prosperity for men, she herself is Lakshmi, granting increase in the household; and in her absence, she herself becomes Alakshmi, arising for their ruin.

Verse 38 (markandeya.92.38)

स्तुता सम्पूजिता पुष्पैर्धूपगन्धादिबिस्तथा । ददाति वित्तं पुत्रांश्च मतिं धर्मे गतिं शुभाम् ॥ 92.38 ॥

stutā sampūjitā puṣpairdhūpagandhādibistathā dadāti vittaṁ putrāṁśca matiṁ dharme gatiṁ śubhām

Praised and worshipped with flowers, incense, fragrance and the like, she grants wealth, sons, wisdom devoted to dharma, and an auspicious destiny.