The Glory of Mahakali

Verse 1 (skanda.7.133.1)

ईश्वर उवाच। तत्रैव संस्थिता देवि महाकालीति विश्रुता। अधः स्थिते महापीठे पातालविवरान्विते

īśvara uvāca| tatraiva saṁsthitā devi mahākālīti viśrutā| adhaḥ sthite mahāpīṭhe pātālavivarānvite

Ishvara said: There itself abides the goddess renowned by the name Mahakali, established below that great seat, in a place joined with a chasm leading to the netherworld.

Verse 2 (skanda.7.133.2)

सर्वदुःखप्रशमनी सर्वशत्रुक्षयंकरी। पूजनीया विधानेन कृष्णाष्टम्यां महानिशि। गन्धैः पुष्पैस्तथा धूपैः क्रव्यैर्बलिभिरेव च

sarvaduḥkhapraśamanī sarvaśatrukṣayaṁkarī| pūjanīyā vidhānena kṛṣṇāṣṭamyāṁ mahāniśi| gandhaiḥ puṣpaistathā dhūpaiḥ kravyairbalibhireva ca

She quells every sorrow and destroys all enemies; she should be duly worshipped on the great night of the dark eighth lunar day, with fragrance, flowers, incense, offerings, and sacrificial gifts.

Verse 3 (skanda.7.133.3)

फलतृतीयां नारी च कुर्याद्वै तत्र भाविता। वर्षमेकं सिते पक्षे देवीं पूज्य विधानतः। फलानि ब्राह्मणे देयान्येव नूनं विधानतः

phalatṛtīyāṁ nārī ca kuryādvai tatra bhāvitā| varṣamekaṁ site pakṣe devīṁ pūjya vidhānataḥ| phalāni brāhmaṇe deyānyeva nūnaṁ vidhānataḥ

A devout woman should there observe the "fruit-third" vow; for one full year, in the bright fortnight, having duly worshipped the goddess, she should certainly give the fruits as a gift to a brahmin, according to proper rite.

Verse 4 (skanda.7.133.4)

एतानि वर्जयेन्नक्ते ह्यन्नानि सुरसुन्दरि। निष्पावा आढकी मुद्गा माषाश्चैव कुलित्थकाः

etāni varjayennakte hyannāni surasundari| niṣpāvā āḍhakī mudgā māṣāścaiva kulitthakāḥ

O beauty among the gods, in her night meal she should avoid these grains: lablab beans, pigeon-peas, mung, black gram, and horse gram.

Verse 5 (skanda.7.133.5)

मसूरा राजमाषाश्च गोधूमास्त्रिपुटास्तथा। चणका वर्तला वापि मकुष्ठाश्चैवमादयः

masūrā rājamāṣāśca godhūmāstripuṭāstathā| caṇakā vartalā vāpi makuṣṭhāścaivamādayaḥ

Lentils, kidney beans, wheat, tripuṭa, chickpeas, vartala, and moth beans, and the like as well.

Verse 6 (skanda.7.133.6)

न भक्ष्यास्तावत्ते देवि यावद्गौरीव्रतं चरेत्। तस्याः पुण्यफलं वक्ष्ये कथ्यमानं शृणुष्व मे

na bhakṣyāstāvatte devi yāvadgaurīvrataṁ caret| tasyāḥ puṇyaphalaṁ vakṣye kathyamānaṁ śṛṇuṣva me

O Goddess, these are forbidden to her for as long as she observes the vow to Gauri. Now I shall tell of its meritorious fruit — listen as I relate it.

Verse 7 (skanda.7.133.7)

धनं धान्यं गृहे तस्या न कदाचित्क्षयं व्रजेत्। दुःखिता दुर्भगा दीना सप्त जन्मानि नो भवेत्

dhanaṁ dhānyaṁ gṛhe tasyā na kadācitkṣayaṁ vrajet| duḥkhitā durbhagā dīnā sapta janmāni no bhavet

In her household, wealth and grain never diminish; for seven births she does not become sorrowful, unfortunate, or destitute.

Verse 8 (skanda.7.133.8)

महाकालीव्रतं प्रोक्तं देव्या माहात्म्यसंयुतम्। कृतं पातकनाशाय सर्वकामसमृद्धये

mahākālīvrataṁ proktaṁ devyā māhātmyasaṁyutam| kṛtaṁ pātakanāśāya sarvakāmasamṛddhaye

Thus has this vow of Mahakali been declared, joined with the greatness of the goddess, performed for the destruction of sin and the fulfillment of every desire.

Verse 9 (skanda.7.133.9)

एवं देवि समाख्यातं महाकालीमहोदयम्। क्षेत्रपीठं महादेवि मन्त्रसिद्धिप्रदायकम्

evaṁ devi samākhyātaṁ mahākālīmahodayam| kṣetrapīṭhaṁ mahādevi mantrasiddhipradāyakam

O Goddess, thus has been told this great glory of Mahakali; O great Goddess, this seat of the sacred field bestows accomplishment in mantra.

Verse 10 (skanda.7.133.10)

आश्वयुक्छुक्लपक्षे तु नवम्यां तत्र जागृयात्। पीठे पूजाबलिं दत्त्वा मन्त्रं कामं जपन्निशि। सौम्यचित्तः समाप्नोति वांछितां सिद्धिमुत्तमाम्

āśvayukchuklapakṣe tu navamyāṁ tatra jāgṛyāt| pīṭhe pūjābaliṁ dattvā mantraṁ kāmaṁ japanniśi| saumyacittaḥ samāpnoti vāṁchitāṁ siddhimuttamām

On the ninth day of the bright fortnight of Ashvina, one should keep vigil there; having offered worship and oblation at the seat, and repeating the mantra through the night as desired, one of tranquil mind attains the excellent accomplishment he seeks.