Durga Saptashati
|| Chapter Twelve ||
Chapter 12:
The Glory of Reciting the Deeds of the Goddess
॥ Dhyana (Meditation) ॥
I meditate upon Goddess Durga, who has three eyes, whose bodily lustre is like lightning, and who appears formidable, seated on the shoulder of a lion. Many maidens holding a sword and shield stand in her service. She holds a discus, mace, sword, shield, arrow, bow, noose, and the gesture of threat (Tarjani Mudra) in her hands. Her form is fiery, and she wears the moon as a crown on her forehead.
The Goddess spoke – O Devas (gods)! I will surely dispel all the troubles of anyone who, with a concentrated mind, daily praises me with these hymns.
Those who recite the narratives of the destruction of Madhu and Kaitabha, the slaying of Mahishasura, and the annihilation of Shumbha and Nishumbha, and those who, with a concentrated mind and devotion, listen to my excellent Mahatmya (glory) on the Ashtami (eighth), Chaturdashi (fourteenth), and Navami (ninth) days –
No sin will touch them. Sin-born calamities will not befall them. Poverty will never reside in their homes, nor will they ever have to endure the pain of separation from their loved ones.
Not only this, but they will also never fear enemies, robbers, the king, weapons, fire, or vast bodies of water.
Therefore, everyone should always read and listen to this Mahatmya of mine with a concentrated mind and devotion. It is supremely auspicious.
My Mahatmya pacifies all disturbances caused by epidemics and all three types of afflictions (spiritual, adhibhautika, and adhidaivika).
I never leave the place where this Mahatmya of mine is recited daily according to the prescribed method. My presence always remains there.
During occasions of offerings, worship, Homa (fire sacrifice), and festivals, this narrative of my deeds should be fully recited and heard.
By doing so, whatever offerings, worship, or Homa a person performs for me, whether knowingly or unknowingly, I accept them with great pleasure.
The person who listens to this Mahatmya with devotion during the annual great worship performed in the autumn season will be freed from all obstacles and become endowed with wealth, grain, and sons by my grace—there is not the slightest doubt about this.
By listening to my Mahatmya, the beautiful narratives of my manifestation, and my valor in battle, a person becomes fearless.
The enemies of the men who listen to my Mahatmya are destroyed, they attain welfare, and their family remains joyful.
My Mahatmya should be heard in all rites for peace, upon seeing bad dreams, and when terrible afflictions caused by planets arise.
By this, all obstacles and terrible planetary afflictions are pacified, and a bad dream seen by men is transformed into an auspicious dream.
This Mahatmya brings peace to children afflicted by Balagrahas (planetary afflictions affecting children) and is a great means of fostering friendship when there is discord among people.
This Mahatmya destroys the power of all wicked beings. Merely by its recitation, Rakshasas (demons), ghosts, and Pishachas (goblins) are destroyed.
All this Mahatmya of mine leads to the attainment of proximity to me. The satisfaction I gain from one year of worship performed with excellent materials such as animals, flowers, Arghya (offering of water), incense, lamps, and fragrance, feeding Brahmins, performing Homa, daily abhishek (ritual bathing), offering various other enjoyments, and giving donations—that same satisfaction is gained merely by listening to this excellent narrative of mine once. This Mahatmya, when heard, removes sins and grants health.
The narration of my manifestation protects one from all beings, and the narrative of my battle deeds destroys wicked Asuras (demons).
By listening to this, men do not fear the enemy. O Devas! The praises you and the great sages have offered to me, and the praises offered by Lord Brahma, all bestow auspicious intellect.
In a forest, on a desolate path, when surrounded by a wildfire, in a deserted place when cornered by robbers or captured by enemies, or when pursued by lions, tigers, or wild elephants in the jungle, when being led to the place of execution or imprisonment by the order of an enraged king, or when a boat is shaking severely due to a heavy storm after boarding it on the ocean, and when weapons are striking in an extremely terrible battle, or when afflicted by pain, or in short, whenever any terrible obstacle arises –
The man who remembers this narrative of mine is freed from the crisis. By my power, fierce creatures like lions are destroyed, and robbers and enemies also flee from the person who remembers my narrative.
The Rishi said – Having spoken thus, Goddess Chandika, possessing formidable valor, disappeared right there while all the Devas watched. Then, all the Devas, being fearless due to the destruction of their enemies, began to enjoy their shares of the sacrifice and carried out their respective duties as before.
When the excessively terrible, incomparably powerful enemies of the Devas, Shumbha and the mighty Nishumbha, who were intent on destroying the world, were slain by the Goddess in battle, the remaining Daityas (demons) retreated to the netherworld (Patala Loka).
O King! Thus, Goddess Ambika, though eternal, manifests again and again to protect the world.
She alone deludes this universe; she alone gives birth to the world, and she alone, when prayed to and satisfied, grants knowledge and prosperity.
O King! At the time of the great dissolution (Mahapralaya), she, in the form of Mahakali, embodying the great epidemic, pervades this entire universe.
She herself becomes the epidemic from time to time, and though unborn herself, she manifests in the form of creation. This eternal Goddess herself protects all beings according to the proper time.
At the time of men’s prosperity, she resides in the house as Lakshmi (Goddess of Wealth) and grants advancement, and in times of lack, she becomes poverty and is the cause of destruction.
When worshipped with flowers, incense, fragrance, etc., and praised, she grants wealth, sons, righteous intellect, and the highest state (Moksha).
Thus, in the Shri Markandeya Purana, in the narrative of the Savarni Manvantara, the twelfth chapter named ‘Phalastuti’ (Eulogy of the Results) in the Devi Mahatmya is completed.
