The Glory of Chamatkari Devi

Verse 1 (skanda.6.64.1)

सूत उवाच॥ चमत्कारी पुरा देवी तत्रैवास्ति द्विजोत्तमाः॥ चमत्कारनरेंद्रेण स्थापिता श्रद्धया पुरा

sūta uvāca camatkārī purā devī tatraivāsti dvijottamāḥ camatkāranareṁdreṇa sthāpitā śraddhayā purā

Suta said: O best of the twice-born, there in that very place stands the Goddess Chamatkari, established long ago with devotion by King Chamatkara.

Verse 2 (skanda.6.64.2)

यया स महिषः पूर्वं निहतो दानवो रणे॥ कौमारव्रतधारिण्या मायाशतसहस्रधृक्

yayā sa mahiṣaḥ pūrvaṁ nihato dānavo raṇe kaumāravratadhāriṇyā māyāśatasahasradhṛk

By her — the ever-maiden Goddess, wielder of hundreds of thousands of magical powers — the buffalo-demon was slain in battle in ancient times.

Verse 3 (skanda.6.64.3)

यदा तन्निर्मितं तत्र पुरं तेन महात्मना॥ तस्य संरक्षणार्थाय तदा सा स्थापिता द्विजाः

yadā tannirmitaṁ tatra puraṁ tena mahātmanā tasya saṁrakṣaṇārthāya tadā sā sthāpitā dvijāḥ

O brahmins, when that great-souled king built a city there, she was then installed for its protection.

Verse 4 (skanda.6.64.4)

पुरस्य तस्य रक्षार्थं तथा तत्पुरवासिनाम्॥ सर्वेषां ब्राह्मणेंद्राणां भक्त्या भावितचेतसाम्

purasya tasya rakṣārthaṁ tathā tatpuravāsinām sarveṣāṁ brāhmaṇeṁdrāṇāṁ bhaktyā bhāvitacetasām

For the protection of that city, and of all its inhabitants — every foremost brahmin whose heart was steeped in devotion.

Verse 5 (skanda.6.64.5)

यस्तामभ्यर्चयेत्सम्यङ्महानवमिवासरे॥ कृत्स्नं संवत्सरं तस्य न भयं जायते क्वचित्

yastāmabhyarcayetsamyaṅmahānavamivāsare kṛtsnaṁ saṁvatsaraṁ tasya na bhayaṁ jāyate kvacit

Whoever worships her properly on the day of Mahanavami shall know no fear whatsoever for the whole year.

Verse 6 (skanda.6.64.6)

भूतप्रेतपिशाचेभ्यः शत्रुतश्च विशेषतः॥ रोगेभ्यस्तस्करेभ्यश्च दुष्टेभ्योऽन्येभ्य एव च

bhūtapretapiśācebhyaḥ śatrutaśca viśeṣataḥ rogebhyastaskarebhyaśca duṣṭebhyo'nyebhya eva ca

No fear from spirits, ghosts, or demons; none, in particular, from enemies, diseases, thieves, or any other malevolent beings.

Verse 7 (skanda.6.64.7)

यंयं काममभिध्यायञ्छुक्लाष्टम्यां नरः शुचिः॥ तां पूजयति सद्भक्त्या स तमाप्नोत्यसंशयम्

yaṁyaṁ kāmamabhidhyāyañchuklāṣṭamyāṁ naraḥ śuciḥ tāṁ pūjayati sadbhaktyā sa tamāpnotyasaṁśayam

Whatever desire a pure man contemplates on the eighth day of the bright fortnight, if he worships her then with true devotion, he obtains it without doubt.

Verse 8 (skanda.6.64.8)

निष्कामः सुखमाप्नोति मोक्षं नास्त्यत्र संशयः॥ तस्या देव्याः प्रसादेन सत्यमेतन्मयोदितम्

niṣkāmaḥ sukhamāpnoti mokṣaṁ nāstyatra saṁśayaḥ tasyā devyāḥ prasādena satyametanmayoditam

One free from desire attains happiness and liberation — there is no doubt of this. By the grace of that Goddess, this is the truth I have spoken.

Verse 9 (skanda.6.64.9)

तामाराध्य गताः पूर्वं सिद्धिं भूरिर्महीभुजः॥ ब्राह्मणाश्च तथान्येऽपि योगिनः परमेश्वरीम्

tāmārādhya gatāḥ pūrvaṁ siddhiṁ bhūrirmahībhujaḥ brāhmaṇāśca tathānye'pi yoginaḥ parameśvarīm

By worshipping that supreme Goddess, many kings attained perfection in the past, and brahmins too, and other yogis as well.

Verse 10 (skanda.6.64.10)

यस्तस्याः श्रद्धयोपेतः प्रकरोति प्रदक्षिणाम्॥ नित्यं संवत्सरं यावत्तिर्यग्योनौ न स व्रजेत्॥६.६४,

yastasyāḥ śraddhayopetaḥ prakaroti pradakṣiṇām nityaṁ saṁvatsaraṁ yāvattiryagyonau na sa vrajet6.64,

Whoever, filled with faith, circumambulates her daily for a full year shall never be born into an animal womb.

Verse 11 (skanda.6.64.11)

तस्या आयतने पूर्वमाश्चर्यमभवन्महत्॥ यत्तद्वः कीर्तयिष्यामि शृणुध्वं सुसमाहिताः

tasyā āyatane pūrvamāścaryamabhavanmahat yattadvaḥ kīrtayiṣyāmi śṛṇudhvaṁ susamāhitāḥ

In her temple, long ago, a great wonder took place. I shall now recount it to you — listen closely, with your minds gathered.

Verse 12 (skanda.6.64.12)

आसीच्चित्ररथोनाम पूर्वं पार्थिवसत्तमः॥ दशार्णाधिपतिः ख्यातः सर्वशत्रुनिबर्हणः

āsīccitrarathonāma pūrvaṁ pārthivasattamaḥ daśārṇādhipatiḥ khyātaḥ sarvaśatrunibarhaṇaḥ

There once lived a most excellent king named Chitraratha, renowned as the lord of Dasharna, and a destroyer of all his enemies.

Verse 13 (skanda.6.64.13)

शुक्लाष्टम्यां सदा भक्त्या स तस्याः श्रद्धयान्वितः॥ अष्टोत्तरशतं यावत्प्रचकार प्रदक्षिणाम्

śuklāṣṭamyāṁ sadā bhaktyā sa tasyāḥ śraddhayānvitaḥ aṣṭottaraśataṁ yāvatpracakāra pradakṣiṇām

Always, on the eighth day of the bright fortnight, filled with devotion and faith, he would perform one hundred and eight circumambulations of her.

Verse 14 (skanda.6.64.14)

ततः प्रणम्य तां देवीं संप्रयाति पुनर्गृहम्॥ सैन्येन चतुरंगेण समंतात्परिवारितः

tataḥ praṇamya tāṁ devīṁ saṁprayāti punargṛham sainyena caturaṁgeṇa samaṁtātparivāritaḥ

Then, after bowing before the Goddess, he would return home once more, surrounded on every side by his fourfold army.

Verse 15 (skanda.6.64.15)

एवं तस्य नरेंद्रस्य प्रदक्षिणरतस्य च॥ जगाम सुमहान्कालो देव्या भक्तिरतस्य च

evaṁ tasya nareṁdrasya pradakṣiṇaratasya ca jagāma sumahānkālo devyā bhaktiratasya ca

Thus, for that king — devoted to circumambulation, devoted always to the Goddess — a very long span of time passed.

Verse 16 (skanda.6.64.16)

कस्यचित्त्वथ कालस्य स राजा तत्र संगतः॥ अपश्यद्ब्राह्मणश्रेष्ठान्देवीगृहसमाश्रितान्

kasyacittvatha kālasya sa rājā tatra saṁgataḥ apaśyadbrāhmaṇaśreṣṭhāndevīgṛhasamāśritān

Then, after some time, that king, arriving there, saw eminent brahmins who had made their home at the temple of the Goddess.

Verse 17 (skanda.6.64.17)

ततः प्रदक्षिणां कृत्वा तां देवीं स महीपतिः

tataḥ pradakṣiṇāṁ kṛtvā tāṁ devīṁ sa mahīpatiḥ

Then, having circumambulated that Goddess, the king —

Verse 18 (skanda.6.64.18)

अग्रस्थांस्तान्द्विजान्सर्वान्नमश्चक्रे समाहितः

agrasthāṁstāndvijānsarvānnamaścakre samāhitaḥ

— with a calm and focused mind, bowed to all those brahmins standing there before him.

Verse 19 (skanda.6.64.19)

ततस्तैः सहितैस्तत्र सहासीनः कथाः शुभाः॥ राजर्षीणां पुराणानां विप्रर्षीणां चकार ह

tatastaiḥ sahitaistatra sahāsīnaḥ kathāḥ śubhāḥ rājarṣīṇāṁ purāṇānāṁ viprarṣīṇāṁ cakāra ha

Then, seated there together with them, he took part in auspicious discourse about royal sages, ancient legends, and brahmin seers.

Verse 20 (skanda.6.64.20)

ततः कस्मिन्कथांते स पृष्टस्तैर्द्विजसत्तमैः॥ कौतूहलसमोपेतैर्विनयावनतः स्थितः

tataḥ kasminkathāṁte sa pṛṣṭastairdvijasattamaiḥ kautūhalasamopetairvinayāvanataḥ sthitaḥ

Then, at the end of one such tale, those foremost brahmins, filled with curiosity, questioned him as he stood there, humbly bowed.

Verse 21 (skanda.6.64.21)

राजन्पृच्छामहे सर्वे त्वां वयं कौतुकान्विताः॥ तस्मात्कीर्तय चेद्गुह्यं न तत्तव व्यवस्थितम्

rājanpṛcchāmahe sarve tvāṁ vayaṁ kautukānvitāḥ tasmātkīrtaya cedguhyaṁ na tattava vyavasthitam

'O king, all of us, filled with curiosity, wish to ask you this; therefore tell us — unless it is something you must keep secret.'

Verse 22 (skanda.6.64.22)

मासिमासि सदाष्टम्यां त्वं शुक्लायां सुदूरतः॥ आगत्य देवतायाश्च प्रकरोषि प्रदक्षिणाम्

māsimāsi sadāṣṭamyāṁ tvaṁ śuklāyāṁ sudūrataḥ āgatya devatāyāśca prakaroṣi pradakṣiṇām

'Every month, on the eighth day of the bright fortnight, you come from far away and perform circumambulation of this Goddess.'

Verse 23 (skanda.6.64.23)

यत्नेनान्याः परित्यज्य सर्वाः पूजादिकाः क्रियाः॥ नूनं वेत्सि फलं कृत्स्नं यत्प्रदक्षिणसंभवम्

yatnenānyāḥ parityajya sarvāḥ pūjādikāḥ kriyāḥ nūnaṁ vetsi phalaṁ kṛtsnaṁ yatpradakṣiṇasaṁbhavam

'Deliberately setting aside every other form of worship — surely you must know the entire fruit that comes from this circumambulation alone.'

Verse 24 (skanda.6.64.24)

राजोवाच॥॥ सत्यमेतद्द्विजश्रेष्ठा यद्भवद्भिरुदाहृतम्॥ रहस्यमपि वक्तव्यं युष्माकं सांप्रतं मया

rājovāca satyametaddvijaśreṣṭhā yadbhavadbhirudāhṛtam rahasyamapi vaktavyaṁ yuṣmākaṁ sāṁprataṁ mayā

The king said: 'What you have said, O best of brahmins, is true; even this secret of mine must now be told to you.'

Verse 25 (skanda.6.64.25)

अहमास शुकः पूर्वमस्मिन्नायतने शुभे॥ देव्याः पश्चिमदिग्भागे कुलायकृतसंश्रयः

ahamāsa śukaḥ pūrvamasminnāyatane śubhe devyāḥ paścimadigbhāge kulāyakṛtasaṁśrayaḥ

'In a former life, I was a parrot in this very sacred temple, dwelling in a nest I had built on the western side of the Goddess's shrine.'

Verse 26 (skanda.6.64.26)

तत्र निर्गच्छतो नित्यं कुर्वतश्चप्रवेशनम्॥ प्रदक्षिणाभवद्देव्या नित्यमेव द्विजोत्तमाः

tatra nirgacchato nityaṁ kurvataścapraveśanam pradakṣiṇābhavaddevyā nityameva dvijottamāḥ

'O best of the twice-born, as I flew out and back in every day, that daily flight itself, unknowingly, became a circumambulation of the Goddess.'

Verse 27 (skanda.6.64.27)

ततः कालेन मे मृत्युः संजातोऽत्रैव मंदिरे॥ तत्प्रभावेण संजातो राजा जातिस्मरोऽत्र हि

tataḥ kālena me mṛtyuḥ saṁjāto'traiva maṁdire tatprabhāveṇa saṁjāto rājā jātismaro'tra hi

'Then, in time, my death occurred right there in that same temple; and by the power of that unknowing act, I was born here as a king who remembers his past life.'

Verse 28 (skanda.6.64.28)

एतस्मात्कारणाद्दूरात्समभ्येत्य प्रदक्षिणाम्॥ करोम्यस्या द्विजश्रेष्ठा देवतायाः समाहितः

etasmātkāraṇāddūrātsamabhyetya pradakṣiṇām karomyasyā dvijaśreṣṭhā devatāyāḥ samāhitaḥ

'For this very reason, O best of brahmins, I come from far away with a focused mind and perform circumambulation of this Goddess.'

Verse 29 (skanda.6.64.29)

पुरा भक्तिविहीनेन कुलाये वसता मया॥ कृता प्रदक्षिणा देव्यास्तेन जातोऽस्मि भूपतिः

purā bhaktivihīnena kulāye vasatā mayā kṛtā pradakṣiṇā devyāstena jāto'smi bhūpatiḥ

'Long ago, though wholly without devotion, merely by dwelling in that nest, I unwittingly performed circumambulation of the Goddess; and by that alone I was born a king.'

Verse 30 (skanda.6.64.30)

अधुना श्रद्धया युक्तो यत्करोमि प्रदक्षिणाम्॥ किं मे भविष्यति श्रेयस्तन्न वेद्मि द्विजोत्तमाः

adhunā śraddhayā yukto yatkaromi pradakṣiṇām kiṁ me bhaviṣyati śreyastanna vedmi dvijottamāḥ

'Now, filled with faith, I perform this circumambulation with full awareness — what greater good will come to me from it, O best of the twice-born, I do not know.'

Verse 31 (skanda.6.64.31)

सूत उवाच॥ तच्छ्रुत्वा तस्य ते विप्रा विस्मयोत्फुल्ललोचनाः॥ साधुवादं तथा चक्रुस्तस्य भूपस्य हर्षिताः

sūta uvāca tacchrutvā tasya te viprā vismayotphullalocanāḥ sādhuvādaṁ tathā cakrustasya bhūpasya harṣitāḥ

Suta said: Hearing this, those brahmins, their eyes wide with wonder, rejoicing greatly, cried out in praise of that king.

Verse 32 (skanda.6.64.32)

ततः स पार्थिवः सर्वान्प्रणम्य द्विजसत्तमान्॥ अनुज्ञाप्य ययौ तूर्णं स्वगृहाय ससैनिकः

tataḥ sa pārthivaḥ sarvānpraṇamya dvijasattamān anujñāpya yayau tūrṇaṁ svagṛhāya sasainikaḥ

Then that king, bowing before all those foremost brahmins, took their leave and went swiftly home with his soldiers.

Verse 33 (skanda.6.64.33)

अधुना श्रद्धया युक्तो यः करोति प्रदक्षिणाम्॥ सर्वपापविनिर्मुक्तो लभते वांछितं फलम्

adhunā śraddhayā yukto yaḥ karoti pradakṣiṇām sarvapāpavinirmukto labhate vāṁchitaṁ phalam

Now, whoever performs circumambulation filled with true faith becomes freed from every sin and obtains the fruit he desires.

Verse 34 (skanda.6.64.34)

ततः प्रभृति ते विप्राः सर्वे भक्तिपुरःसराः॥ तस्याः प्रदक्षिणां चक्रुस्तथान्ये मुक्तिहेतवे

tataḥ prabhṛti te viprāḥ sarve bhaktipuraḥsarāḥ tasyāḥ pradakṣiṇāṁ cakrustathānye muktihetave

From then on, all those brahmins, with devotion foremost, performed her circumambulation, and others did likewise, for the sake of liberation.

Verse 35 (skanda.6.64.35)

प्राप्ताश्च परमां सिद्धिं वांछितां तत्प्रभावतः॥ इह लोके परे चैव दुर्लभां त्रिदशैरपि

prāptāśca paramāṁ siddhiṁ vāṁchitāṁ tatprabhāvataḥ iha loke pare caiva durlabhāṁ tridaśairapi

And by that very power, they attained the supreme perfection they desired — one difficult to obtain even for the gods — both in this world and the next.

Verse 36 (skanda.6.64.36)

तस्मात्सर्वप्रयत्नेन तां देवीमिह संश्रयेत्॥ सर्वकामप्रदां नृणां तस्मिन्क्षेत्रे व्यवस्थिताम्

tasmātsarvaprayatnena tāṁ devīmiha saṁśrayet sarvakāmapradāṁ nṛṇāṁ tasminkṣetre vyavasthitām

Therefore, one should take refuge with every effort in that Goddess, who abides in that sacred field, the granter of every desire to humankind.