ॐ विद्युद्दामसमप्रभां मृगपतिस्कन्धस्थितां भीषणां
कन्याभिः करवालखेटविलसद्धस्ताभिरासेविताम् ।
हस्तैश्चक्रगदासिखेटविशिखांश्चापं गुणं तर्जनीं
बिभ्राणामनलात्मिकां शशिधरां दुर्गां त्रिनेत्रां भजे ॥
oṃ vidyuddāmasamaprabhāṃ mṛgapatiskandhasthitāṃ bhīṣaṇāṃ
kanyābhiḥ karavālakheṭavilasaddhastābhirāsevitām |
hastaiścakragadāsikheṭaviśikhāṃścāpaṃ guṇaṃ tarjanīṃ
bibhrāṇāmanalātmikāṃ śaśidharāṃ durgāṃ trinetrāṃ bhaje ||
Meaning Meditation verse — I worship the three-eyed Goddess Durgā: radiant like a flash of lightning, seated upon the shoulder of the lion (lord of beasts), fearsome in aspect, attended by maidens whose hands gleam with swords and shields; bearing in Her own hands the discus, mace, sword, shield, arrows, bow, bowstring (noose) and the threatening (tarjanī) gesture; of the very nature of fire, wearing the moon upon Her crown.
ॐ देव्युवाच ॥ १२.१॥
oṃ devyuvāca || 12.1||
Meaning The Goddess said:
एभिः स्तवैश्च मां नित्यं स्तोष्यते यः समाहितः ।
तस्याहं सकलां बाधां नाशयिष्याम्यसंशयम् ॥ १२.२॥
ebhiḥ stavaiśca māṃ nityaṃ stoṣyate yaḥ samāhitaḥ |
tasyāhaṃ sakalāṃ bādhāṃ nāśayiṣyāmyasaṃśayam || 12.2||
Meaning Whoever, with a composed and one-pointed mind, praises Me constantly with these hymns — his every affliction I shall, without doubt, destroy.
मधुकैटभनाशं च महिषासुरघातनम् ।
कीर्तयिष्यन्ति ये तद्वद्वधं शुम्भनिशुम्भयोः ॥ १२.३॥
madhukaiṭabhanāśaṃ ca mahiṣāsuraghātanam |
kīrtayiṣyanti ye tadvadvadhaṃ śumbhaniśumbhayoḥ || 12.3||
Meaning And those who will recite the destruction of Madhu and Kaiṭabha, the slaying of Mahiṣāsura, and likewise the killing of Śumbha and Niśumbha —
अष्टम्यां च चतुर्दश्यां नवम्यां चैकचेतसः ।
श्रोष्यन्ति चैव ये भक्त्या मम माहात्म्यमुत्तमम् ॥ १२.४॥
aṣṭamyāṃ ca caturdaśyāṃ navamyāṃ caikacetasaḥ |
śroṣyanti caiva ye bhaktyā mama māhātmyamuttamam || 12.4||
Meaning and those too who, with single-minded devotion, on the eighth, fourteenth and ninth lunar days listen to this supreme Glory (Māhātmya) of Mine —
न तेषां दुष्कृतं किञ्चिद्दुष्कृतोत्था न चापदः ।
भविष्यति न दारिद्र्यं न चैवेष्टवियोजनम् ॥ १२.५॥
na teṣāṃ duṣkṛtaṃ kiñcidduṣkṛtotthā na cāpadaḥ |
bhaviṣyati na dāridryaṃ na caiveṣṭaviyojanam || 12.5||
Meaning no sin whatever shall touch them, nor calamities born of wrongdoing, nor poverty, nor separation from those they hold dear.
शत्रुतो न भयं तस्य दस्युतो वा न राजतः ।
न शस्त्रानलतोयौघात् कदाचित् सम्भविष्यति ॥ १२.६॥
śatruto na bhayaṃ tasya dasyuto vā na rājataḥ |
na śastrānalatoyaughāt kadācit sambhaviṣyati || 12.6||
Meaning He has no fear from enemies, nor from robbers or the king; nor shall harm from weapon, fire or flood of waters ever befall him.
तस्मान्ममैतन्माहात्म्यं पठितव्यं समाहितैः ।
श्रोतव्यं च सदा भक्त्या परं स्वस्त्ययनं हि तत् ॥ १२.७॥
tasmānmamaitanmāhātmyaṃ paṭhitavyaṃ samāhitaiḥ |
śrotavyaṃ ca sadā bhaktyā paraṃ svastyayanaṃ hi tat || 12.7||
Meaning Therefore this Glory of Mine should be recited by those of composed mind, and ever heard with devotion, for it is the supreme source of well-being.
उपसर्गानशेषांस्तु महामारीसमुद्भवान् ।
तथा त्रिविधमुत्पातं माहात्म्यं शमयेन्मम ॥ १२.८॥
upasargānaśeṣāṃstu mahāmārīsamudbhavān |
tathā trividhamutpātaṃ māhātmyaṃ śamayenmama || 12.8||
Meaning My Glory quells all afflictions arising from great plagues, and likewise the three kinds of portents (celestial, atmospheric and terrestrial).
यत्रैतत्पठ्यते सम्यङ्नित्यमायतने मम ।
सदा न तद्विमोक्ष्यामि सान्निध्यं तत्र मे स्थितम् ॥ १२.९॥
yatraitatpaṭhyate samyaṅnityamāyatane mama |
sadā na tadvimokṣyāmi sānnidhyaṃ tatra me sthitam || 12.9||
Meaning Where this is duly and constantly recited in a sanctuary of Mine, that place I shall never forsake; there My presence abides fixed.
बलिप्रदाने पूजायामग्निकार्ये महोत्सवे ।
सर्वं ममैतच्चरितमुच्चार्यं श्राव्यमेव च ॥ १२.१०॥
balipradāne pūjāyāmagnikārye mahotsave |
sarvaṃ mamaitaccaritamuccāryaṃ śrāvyameva ca || 12.10||
Meaning At the offering of oblation, in worship, in the fire-rite (homa), and at a great festival, this whole account of My deeds should be uttered aloud and heard.
जानताजानता वापि बलिपूजां तथा कृताम् ।
प्रतीच्छिष्याम्यहं प्रीत्या वह्निहोमं तथाकृतम् ॥ १२.११॥
jānatājānatā vāpi balipūjāṃ tathā kṛtām |
pratīcchiṣyāmyahaṃ prītyā vahnihomaṃ tathākṛtam || 12.11||
Meaning Whether performed with knowledge of the rites or without it, the oblation and worship thus offered, and the fire-homa likewise made, I shall accept with loving favour.
शरत्काले महापूजा क्रियते या च वार्षिकी ।
तस्यां ममैतन्माहात्म्यं श्रुत्वा भक्तिसमन्वितः ॥ १२.१२॥
śaratkāle mahāpūjā kriyate yā ca vārṣikī |
tasyāṃ mamaitanmāhātmyaṃ śrutvā bhaktisamanvitaḥ || 12.12||
Meaning At the great annual worship performed in the autumn season, the man who, filled with devotion, hears this Glory of Mine —
सर्वाबाधाविनिर्मुक्तो धनधान्यसुतान्वितः ।
मनुष्यो मत्प्रसादेन भविष्यति न संशयः ॥ १२.१३॥
sarvābādhāvinirmukto dhanadhānyasutānvitaḥ |
manuṣyo matprasādena bhaviṣyati na saṃśayaḥ || 12.13||
Meaning he shall, by My grace, become free of all afflictions and blessed with wealth, grain and sons — of this there is no doubt.
श्रुत्वा ममैतन्माहात्म्यं तथा चोत्पत्तयः शुभाः ।
पराक्रमं च युद्धेषु जायते निर्भयः पुमान् ॥ १२.१४॥
śrutvā mamaitanmāhātmyaṃ tathā cotpattayaḥ śubhāḥ |
parākramaṃ ca yuddheṣu jāyate nirbhayaḥ pumān || 12.14||
Meaning Hearing this Glory of Mine, and the auspicious accounts of My manifestations, and My prowess in battles, a man becomes free from fear.
रिपवः सङ्क्षयं यान्ति कल्याणं चोपपद्यते ।
नन्दते च कुलं पुंसां माहात्म्यं मम शृण्वताम् ॥ १२.१५॥
ripavaḥ saṅkṣayaṃ yānti kalyāṇaṃ copapadyate |
nandate ca kulaṃ puṃsāṃ māhātmyaṃ mama śṛṇvatām || 12.15||
Meaning For men who hear My Glory, enemies come to ruin, welfare is attained, and their family rejoices.
शान्तिकर्मणि सर्वत्र तथा दुःस्वप्नदर्शने ।
ग्रहपीडासु चोग्रासु माहात्म्यं शृणुयान्मम ॥ १२.१६॥
śāntikarmaṇi sarvatra tathā duḥsvapnadarśane |
grahapīḍāsu cogrāsu māhātmyaṃ śṛṇuyānmama || 12.16||
Meaning In every rite of propitiation, on the sight of evil dreams, and amid fierce planetary afflictions, one should hear My Glory.
उपसर्गाः शमं यान्ति ग्रहपीडाश्च दारुणाः ।
दुःस्वप्नं च नृभिर्दृष्टं सुस्वप्नमुपजायते ॥ १२.१७॥
upasargāḥ śamaṃ yānti grahapīḍāśca dāruṇāḥ |
duḥsvapnaṃ ca nṛbhirdṛṣṭaṃ susvapnamupajāyate || 12.17||
Meaning Thereby afflictions subside, and dreadful planetary torments as well; and an evil dream that men have seen turns into an auspicious one.
बालग्रहाभिभूतानां बालानां शान्तिकारकम् ।
सङ्घातभेदे च नृणां मैत्रीकरणमुत्तमम् ॥ १२.१८॥
bālagrahābhibhūtānāṃ bālānāṃ śāntikārakam |
saṅghātabhede ca nṛṇāṃ maitrīkaraṇamuttamam || 12.18||
Meaning It brings healing peace to children afflicted by the child-seizing spirits (bāla-grahas), and is the finest means of restoring friendship among men when their union is broken.
दुर्वृत्तानामशेषाणां बलहानिकरं परम् ।
रक्षोभूतपिशाचानां पठनादेव नाशनम् ॥ १२.१९॥
durvṛttānāmaśeṣāṇāṃ balahānikaraṃ param |
rakṣobhūtapiśācānāṃ paṭhanādeva nāśanam || 12.19||
Meaning It supremely saps the strength of all evildoers, and by its mere recitation destroys rākṣasas, bhūtas and piśācas.
सर्वं ममैतन्माहात्म्यं मम सन्निधिकारकम् ।
पशुपुष्पार्घ्यधूपैश्च गन्धदीपैस्तथोत्तमैः ॥ १२.२०॥
sarvaṃ mamaitanmāhātmyaṃ mama sannidhikārakam |
paśupuṣpārghyadhūpaiśca gandhadīpaistathottamaiḥ || 12.20||
Meaning All this My Glory brings about My presence. With animal-offering, flowers, arghya, incense, and with excellent perfumes and lamps,
विप्राणां भोजनैर्होमैः प्रोक्षणीयैरहर्निशम् ।
अन्यैश्च विविधैर्भोगैः प्रदानैर्वत्सरेण या ॥ १२.२१॥
viprāṇāṃ bhojanairhomaiḥ prokṣaṇīyairaharniśam |
anyaiśca vividhairbhogaiḥ pradānairvatsareṇa yā || 12.21||
Meaning with feeding of brāhmaṇas, with fire-offerings and sprinklings of consecrated water, day and night, and with sundry other enjoyments and gifts, throughout a whole year — the delight that such worship yields Me,
प्रीतिर्मे क्रियते सास्मिन् सकृत्सुचरिते श्रुते ।
श्रुतं हरति पापानि तथारोग्यं प्रयच्छति ॥ १२.२२॥
prītirme kriyate sāsmin sakṛtsucarite śrute |
śrutaṃ harati pāpāni tathārogyaṃ prayacchati || 12.22||
Meaning that same delight of Mine arises when this holy charita, well recited, is heard even once. Hearing it carries away sins and bestows health.
रक्षां करोति भूतेभ्यो जन्मनां कीर्तनं मम ।
युद्धेषु चरितं यन्मे दुष्टदैत्यनिबर्हणम् ॥ १२.२३॥
rakṣāṃ karoti bhūtebhyo janmanāṃ kīrtanaṃ mama |
yuddheṣu caritaṃ yanme duṣṭadaityanibarhaṇam || 12.23||
Meaning The recounting of My manifestations affords protection from evil spirits; and that exploit of Mine in the battles — the annihilation of the wicked daityas —
तस्मिञ्छ्रुते वैरिकृतं भयं पुंसां न जायते ।
युष्माभिः स्तुतयो याश्च याश्च ब्रह्मर्षिभिः कृताः ॥ १२.२४॥
tasmiñchrute vairikṛtaṃ bhayaṃ puṃsāṃ na jāyate |
yuṣmābhiḥ stutayo yāśca yāśca brahmarṣibhiḥ kṛtāḥ || 12.24||
Meaning when that is heard, no fear wrought by foes arises in men. The hymns which have been composed by you (the gods) and those by the Brahmarṣis,
ब्रह्मणा च कृतास्तास्तु प्रयच्छन्ति शुभां मतिम् ।
अरण्ये प्रान्तरे वापि दावाग्निपरिवारितः ॥ १२.२५॥
brahmaṇā ca kṛtāstāstu prayacchanti śubhāṃ matim |
araṇye prāntare vāpi dāvāgniparivāritaḥ || 12.25||
Meaning and those composed by Brahmā — they all bestow an auspicious mind. One hemmed in by a forest-fire in a wilderness or a desolate tract,
दस्युभिर्वा वृतः शून्ये गृहीतो वापि शत्रुभिः ।
सिंहव्याघ्रानुयातो वा वने वा वनहस्तिभिः ॥ १२.२६॥
dasyubhirvā vṛtaḥ śūnye gṛhīto vāpi śatrubhiḥ |
siṃhavyāghrānuyāto vā vane vā vanahastibhiḥ || 12.26||
Meaning or beset by robbers in a lonely place, or seized by enemies, or pursued in a forest by a lion, a tiger, or wild elephants,
राज्ञा क्रुद्धेन चाज्ञप्तो वध्यो बन्धगतोऽपि वा ।
आघूर्णितो वा वातेन स्थितः पोते महार्णवे ॥ १२.२७॥
rājñā kruddhena cājñapto vadhyo bandhagato'pi vā |
āghūrṇito vā vātena sthitaḥ pote mahārṇave || 12.27||
Meaning or condemned to death by an enraged king or cast into bondage, or tossed by the wind while seated in a boat upon the great ocean,
पतत्सु चापि शस्त्रेषु सङ्ग्रामे भृशदारुणे ।
सर्वाबाधासु घोरासु वेदनाभ्यर्दितोऽपि वा ॥ १२.२८॥
patatsu cāpi śastreṣu saṅgrāme bhṛśadāruṇe |
sarvābādhāsu ghorāsu vedanābhyardito'pi vā || 12.28||
Meaning or amid falling weapons in a most fearful battle, or caught in all manner of dreadful afflictions, or racked with pain —
स्मरन् ममैतच्चरितं नरो मुच्येत सङ्कटात् ।
मम प्रभावात्सिंहाद्या दस्यवो वैरिणस्तथा ॥ १२.२९॥
smaran mamaitaccaritaṃ naro mucyeta saṅkaṭāt |
mama prabhāvātsiṃhādyā dasyavo vairiṇastathā || 12.29||
Meaning such a man, remembering this exploit of Mine, is delivered from his peril. By My power, lions and the like, robbers and foes —
दूरादेव पलायन्ते स्मरतश्चरितं मम ॥ १२.३०॥
dūrādeva palāyante smarataścaritaṃ mama || 12.30||
Meaning flee far away from him who remembers My exploit.
ऋषिरुवाच ॥ १२.३१॥
ṛṣiruvāca || 12.31||
Meaning The sage (Medhas) said:
इत्युक्त्वा सा भगवती चण्डिका चण्डविक्रमा ॥ १२.३२॥
ityuktvā sā bhagavatī caṇḍikā caṇḍavikramā || 12.32||
Meaning Having spoken thus, that Bhagavatī Caṇḍikā of fierce valour,
पश्यतामेव देवानां तत्रैवान्तरधीयत ।
तेऽपि देवा निरातङ्काः स्वाधिकारान्यथा पुरा ॥ १२.३३॥
paśyatāmeva devānāṃ tatraivāntaradhīyata |
te'pi devā nirātaṅkāḥ svādhikārānyathā purā || 12.33||
Meaning vanished then and there even as the gods looked on. Those gods too, free from dread, resumed their respective offices as of old,
यज्ञभागभुजः सर्वे चक्रुर्विनिहतारयः ।
दैत्याश्च देव्या निहते शुम्भे देवरिपौ युधि ॥ १२.३४॥
yajñabhāgabhujaḥ sarve cakrurvinihatārayaḥ |
daityāśca devyā nihate śumbhe devaripau yudhi || 12.34||
Meaning enjoying their shares of the sacrifices, their enemies destroyed. And when Śumbha, the foe of the gods, had been slain by the Devī in battle,
जगद्विध्वंसिनि तस्मिन् महोग्रेऽतुलविक्रमे ।
निशुम्भे च महावीर्ये शेषाः पातालमाययुः ॥ १२.३५॥
jagadvidhvaṃsini tasmin mahogre'tulavikrame |
niśumbhe ca mahāvīrye śeṣāḥ pātālamāyayuḥ || 12.35||
Meaning and when Niśumbha too — that ravager of the world, most terrible, of matchless prowess and mighty valour — was slain, the remaining daityas fled to the nether world (Pātāla).
एवं भगवती देवी सा नित्यापि पुनः पुनः ।
सम्भूय कुरुते भूप जगतः परिपालनम् ॥ १२.३६॥
evaṃ bhagavatī devī sā nityāpi punaḥ punaḥ |
sambhūya kurute bhūpa jagataḥ paripālanam || 12.36||
Meaning Thus, O King, that Bhagavatī Devī, though eternal, yet manifesting again and again, carries out the preservation of the world.
तयैतन्मोह्यते विश्वं सैव विश्वं प्रसूयते ।
सा याचिता च विज्ञानं तुष्टा ऋद्धिं प्रयच्छति ॥ १२.३७॥
tayaitanmohyate viśvaṃ saiva viśvaṃ prasūyate |
sā yācitā ca vijñānaṃ tuṣṭā ṛddhiṃ prayacchati || 12.37||
Meaning By Her this whole universe is deluded; She Herself brings the universe forth. Besought, She grants knowledge; well-pleased, She bestows prosperity.
व्याप्तं तयैतत्सकलं ब्रह्माण्डं मनुजेश्वर ।
महाकाल्या महाकाले महामारीस्वरूपया ॥ १२.३८॥
vyāptaṃ tayaitatsakalaṃ brahmāṇḍaṃ manujeśvara |
mahākālyā mahākāle mahāmārīsvarūpayā || 12.38||
Meaning By Her — as Mahākālī, in the form of the great destroyer (Mahāmārī) at the time of the great dissolution — this entire cosmos is pervaded, O Lord of men.
सैव काले महामारी सैव सृष्टिर्भवत्यजा ।
स्थितिं करोति भूतानां सैव काले सनातनी ॥ १२.३९॥
saiva kāle mahāmārī saiva sṛṣṭirbhavatyajā |
sthitiṃ karoti bhūtānāṃ saiva kāle sanātanī || 12.39||
Meaning She Herself, in due time, is the great dissolution; She, the unborn, becomes creation; and She, the eternal one, sustains all beings in their season.
भवकाले नृणां सैव लक्ष्मीर्वृद्धिप्रदा गृहे ।
सैवाभावे तथालक्ष्मीर्विनाशायोपजायते ॥ १२.४०॥
bhavakāle nṛṇāṃ saiva lakṣmīrvṛddhipradā gṛhe |
saivābhāve tathālakṣmīrvināśāyopajāyate || 12.40||
Meaning In men's time of prosperity She is Lakṣmī, bringing increase in their homes; in time of adversity She becomes Alakṣmī (misfortune), arising for their ruin.
स्तुता सम्पूजिता पुष्पैर्धूपगन्धादिभिस्तथा ।
ददाति वित्तं पुत्रांश्च मतिं धर्मे गतिं शुभाम् ॥ ॐ ॥ १२.४१॥
stutā sampūjitā puṣpairdhūpagandhādibhistathā |
dadāti vittaṃ putrāṃśca matiṃ dharme gatiṃ śubhām || oṃ || 12.41||
Meaning Praised and duly worshipped with flowers, incense, perfume and the like, She grants wealth and sons, a mind set on dharma, and an auspicious destiny. (Om)
॥ इति श्रीमार्कण्डेयपुराणे सावर्णिके मन्वन्तरे देवीमाहात्म्ये
फलस्तुतिर्नाम द्वादशोऽध्यायः ॥ १२॥
|| iti śrīmārkaṇḍeyapurāṇe sāvarṇike manvantare devīmāhātmye
phalastutirnāma dvādaśo'dhyāyaḥ || 12||
Meaning Thus ends the twelfth chapter, “The Fruits of the Recitation”, of the Devī Māhātmya in the Sāvarṇika Manvantara of the Śrī Mārkaṇḍeya Purāṇa.
उवाच २, अर्धश्लोकौ २, श्लोकाः ३७, एवम् ४१, एवमादितः ॥ ६७१॥
uvāca 2, ardhaślokau 2, ślokāḥ 37, evam 41, evamāditaḥ || 671||
Meaning The count of this chapter’s mantras: speaker lines (uvāca) 2, half-verses 2, verses 37 — 41 in all, 671 from the beginning.