Durga Saptashati
|| ‘Thirteenth Chapter’ ||
Chapter 13:
The Goddess’s Boon to Suratha and the Vaishya
॥ Dhyana (Meditation) ॥
I meditate upon Goddess Shiva, who possesses the radiance of the rising sun’s orb, who has four arms and three eyes, and who holds the noose, the goad, the boon, and the posture of fearlessness in Her hands.
The Rishi said -॥ O King! Thus have I described to you the excellent greatness of the Goddess. Such is the influence of that Goddess who sustains this universe.
It is She who generates knowledge. By the power of that Goddess, who is the form of Lord Vishnu’s Maya, you, this Vaishya, and other discerning persons are deluded, have been deluded, and will be deluded in the future. O Great King! Take refuge in that Supreme Goddess. When worshipped, She bestows upon humans enjoyment, heaven, and liberation.
Markandeya said -॥ O Kraustuki! Hearing these words of the Sage Medha, King Suratha, who was greatly distressed by extreme attachment and the seizure of his kingdom, bowed to that highly blessed great sage who observed excellent vows.
O Great Sage! Therefore, becoming dispassionate, the King and the Vaishya immediately went for penance and began to perform austerities on the riverbank to obtain a vision of the Mother of the Universe.
The Vaishya began his penance, continuously chanting the excellent Devi Suktam. Both of them made a clay image of the Goddess on the riverbank and worshipped Her with flowers, incense, fire offerings (Havan), and other rituals. Initially, they gradually reduced their diet, and then, completely abstaining from food, they focused their minds solely on the Goddess and began their concentrated contemplation.
They both performed worship with self-control continuously for three years, offering Bali (sacrificial offerings) sprinkled with their own body’s blood.
Pleased by this, Goddess Chandika, the sustainer of the universe, appeared before them and spoke.
The Goddess said -॥ O King! And O Vaishya, the joy of your lineage! Ask Me for whatever object you desire. I am pleased; therefore, I shall give you everything.
Markandeya said -॥ Then the King asked for an imperishable kingdom in the next birth, and also the boon to forcefully destroy the enemy’s army and regain his kingdom in this life.
The Vaishya’s mind was troubled and dispassionate towards the world, and he was very wise; therefore, at that time, he asked for the knowledge that destroys the attachment of ‘mine’ and ‘I’ (Mamatā and Ahaṃtā).
The Goddess said -॥ O King! In a few days, you shall slay your enemies and regain your kingdom. Your kingdom there shall remain stable.
Furthermore, after death, you shall take birth as an amsha (part) of Lord Vivaswan (the Sun) and will be renowned on this earth by the name of Savarni Manu.
O Best of Vaishyas! The boon that you, too, desired to obtain from Me, I grant it. You shall attain knowledge for liberation (Moksha).
Markandeya said -॥ After granting both of them their desired boons and hearing their devotional praises, Goddess Ambika immediately disappeared. In this manner, Suratha, the best of Kshatriyas, having received the boon from the Goddess, will be born from the Sun and become the Manu named Savarni.
Thus, in the Shri Markandeya Purana, in the section of Devi Mahatmya which is part of the narrative of the Savarnika Manvantara, the Thirteenth Chapter titled ‘The Boon to Suratha and the Vaishya’ is completed.
