The Glory of Kantakashodhini

Verse 1 (skanda.7.102.1)

ततो गच्छेन्महादेवि देवीं कंटकशोधिनीम्। तस्यैवोत्तरदिग्भागे धनुर्द्वितयसंस्थिताम्

tato gacchenmahādevi devīṁ kaṁṭakaśodhinīm| tasyaivottaradigbhāge dhanurdvitayasaṁsthitām

Then, O great Goddess, one should go to the goddess Kantakashodhini; situated to the north of that same place, at a distance of two bows.

Verse 2 (skanda.7.102.2)

महिषघ्नीं महाकायां ब्रह्मदेवर्षिपूजिताम्। पुरा ये कल्मषोपेता दानवा देवकंटकाः

mahiṣaghnīṁ mahākāyāṁ brahmadevarṣipūjitām| purā ye kalmaṣopetā dānavā devakaṁṭakāḥ

The slayer of Mahisha, of vast form, worshipped by Brahma and the divine sages; formerly, whatever sinful Danavas were thorns to the gods —

Verse 3 (skanda.7.102.3)

युगेयुगे शोधयेत्तांस्तेन कंटकशोधिनी। आश्वयुक्छुक्लपक्षे तु नवम्यां तामथार्चयेत्

yugeyuge śodhayettāṁstena kaṁṭakaśodhinī| āśvayukchuklapakṣe tu navamyāṁ tāmathārcayet

— she purges them, age after age; by that she is Kantakashodhini. On the ninth day of the bright fortnight of Ashvayuja, one should then worship her —

Verse 4 (skanda.7.102.4)

पशुपुष्पोपहारैश्च दीपधूपैस्तथोत्तमैः। तस्याऽरयो न जायंते यावद्वर्षं वरानने

paśupuṣpopahāraiśca dīpadhūpaistathottamaiḥ| tasyā'rayo na jāyaṁte yāvadvarṣaṁ varānane

— with offerings of animals and flowers, and likewise with excellent lamps and incense; his enemies, O fair one, do not arise for the whole year.

Verse 5 (skanda.7.102.5)

यस्तां पश्यति सद्भक्त्या भूताया नित्यमेव वा। तं पुत्रमिव कल्याणी संरक्षति न संशयः

yastāṁ paśyati sadbhaktyā bhūtāyā nityameva vā| taṁ putramiva kalyāṇī saṁrakṣati na saṁśayaḥ

He who beholds her with true devotion, as the goddess Bhuta, or indeed ever — him that auspicious goddess protects like a son, without doubt.

Verse 6 (skanda.7.102.6)

इति संक्षेपतः प्रोक्तं माहात्म्यं पापनाशनम्। देवि कंटकशोधिन्याः श्रुतं रक्षाकरं परम्

iti saṁkṣepataḥ proktaṁ māhātmyaṁ pāpanāśanam| devi kaṁṭakaśodhinyāḥ śrutaṁ rakṣākaraṁ param

Thus has been told, in brief, this sin-destroying glory of the goddess Kantakashodhini — known as the supreme protector.