Devibhagavatapurana 3.27: saptaviṃśo'dhyāyaḥ | devīpūjāmahattvavarṇanam

3.27.1

vyāsa uvāca |
hīnāṅgīṃ varjayetkanyāṃ kuṣṭhayuktāṃ vraṇāṅkitām |
gandhasphuritahīnāṅgīṃ viśālakulasambhavām ||

Vyâsa said:-- O king! Those Kumârîs, who are defective in limbs, who are lepers, who are filled with sores and ulcers over their bodies, whose bodies emit offensive smell or whose bodies are polluted, or those who are of a bad family are never to be accepted for worship in the Navarâtra ceremony festival.

3.27.2

jātyandhāṃ kekarāṃ kāṇāṃ kurūpāṃ bahuromaśām |
santyajedrogiṇīṃ kanyāṃ raktapuṣpādināṅkitām ||

Those who are born blind, who are squint-eyed, who are blind of one eye, of disgraceful appearance, whose bodies are overgrown with hairs, or who are diseased or who are in their menstruation or in any other signs, indicating thus their passionate youthful tendencies, or those who are very lean and thin, or born of widows, or of women unmarried are always to be avoided in this Pûjâ.

3.27.3

kṣāmāṃ garbhasamudbhūtāṃ golakāṃ kanyakodbhavām |
varjanīyāḥ sadā caitāḥ sarvapūjādikarmasu ||

3.27.4

arogiṇīṃ surūpāṅgīṃ sundarīṃ vraṇavarjitām |
ekavaṃśasamudbhūtāṃ kanyāṃ samyakprapūjayet ||

O king! It is only the healthy, graceful, beautiful, without any ulcers, and who are not bastards, those virgins are to be selected for the Kumârî Pûjâ.

3.27.5

brāhmaṇī sarvakāryeṣu jayārthe nṛpavaṃśajā |
lābhārthe vaiśyavaṃśotthā matā vā śūdravaṃśajā ||

In all the cases, the Kumârîs, born of the Brâhmin families, can be taken; when victory is desired, the Kumârîs of the Kshattriya families are preferred; when profit is wanted, the Vais’ya Kumârîs and, when general welfare is wanted, the S’ûdra Kumârîs are to be taken.

3.27.6

brāhmaṇairbrahmajāḥ pūjyā rājanyairbrahmavaṃśajāḥ |
vaiśyaistrivargajāḥ pūjyāścatasraḥ pādasambhavaiḥ ||

O king! In the Navarâtri Pûjâ, the Brâhmins should select for worship the Brâhmin Kumârîs; Kshattriyas, Brâhmin or Kshattriya; the Vais’ya worshippers can select for worship Brâhmin, Kshattriya, or Vais’ya Kumârîs. And the S’ûdra worshippers can select, for worship, any of the four classes. But artists and artisans should select for worship the Kumârîs from their own families and tribes respectively.

3.27.7

kārubhiścaiva vaṃśotthā yathāyogyaṃ prapūjayet |
navarātravidhānena bhaktipūrvaṃ sadaiva hi ||

3.27.8

aśakto niyataṃ pūjāṃ kartuñcennavarātrake |
aṣṭamyāṃ ca viśeṣeṇa kartavyaṃ pūjanaṃ sadā ||

If persons become unable to worship on all the days, then it is advised that they should perform the special worship on the eighth day (Astamî tithi).

3.27.9

purā'ṣṭamyāṃ bhadrakālī dakṣayajñavināśinī |
prādurbhūtā mahāghorā yoginī koṭibhiḥ saha ||

In ancient times, on the eighth day, Bhadra Kâli Goddess, the destroyer of the sacrifice, started by Daksa, appeared on that day in hideous forms, surrounded by hundreds and lakhs of Yoginîs (one of a class of sixty goddesses or female attendants on Kâli). Therefore one should worship in particular on the eighth day with scents, garlands, and pastes and various offerings.

3.27.10

ato'ṣṭamyāṃ viśeṣeṇa kartavyaṃ pūjanaṃ sadā |
nānāvidhopahāraiśca gandhamālyānulepanaiḥ ||

3.27.11

pāyasairāmiṣairhomairbrāhmaṇānāṃ ca bhojanaiḥ |
phalapuṣpopahāraiśca toṣayejjagadambikām ||

On this day, Pâyasa (a food prepared of rice, milk and sugar), and fresh fish are to be specially offered to the Deity. The Homa ceremonies, feasting of the Brâhmans, and the worship of the Mother Goddess are done with various offerings, the fruits and flowers, and in good quantities.

3.27.12

upavāse hyaśaktānāṃ navarātravrate punaḥ |
upoṣaṇatrayaṃ proktaṃ yathoktaphaladaṃ nṛpa ||

O king! Those who are unable to observe the fasting in this Navarâtra Pûjâ, will reap the same fruits, if they observe fasting for the three days only the Saptamî, the Astamî, and the Navamî tithis.

3.27.13

saptamyāṃ ca tathā'ṣṭamyāṃ navamyāṃ bhaktibhāvataḥ |
trirātrakaraṇātsarvaṃ phalaṃ bhavati pūjanāt ||

On the seventh, eighth, and ninth days, in these three tithis (lunar days) if one worships with devotion, one will acquire all the merits.

3.27.14

pūjābhiścaiva homaiśca kumāripūjanaistathā |
sampūrṇaṃ tadvrataṃ proktaṃ viprāṇāṃ caiva bhojanaiḥ ||

When the Devî’s worship, Homa, Kumârî worship and the feasting of the Brâhmanas, all these are done, know that the Navarâtri Pûjâ is completed.

3.27.15

vratāni yāni cānyāni dānāni vividhāni ca |
navarātravratasyāsya naiva tulyāni bhūtale ||

O Janamejaya! No worship or vow or charitable gifts extant in this world, can be compared, as regards their meritorious effects, with this Navarâtra Pûjâ.

3.27.16

dhanadhānyapradaṃ nityaṃ sukhasantānavṛddhidam |
āyurārogyadaṃ caiva svargadaṃ mokṣadaṃ tathā ||

On observing this Navarâtram Vrata, one gets riches, crops, sons and grandsons, prosperity and happiness, longevity, health and heaven and even the final beatitude.

3.27.17

vidyārthī vā dhanārthī vā putrārthī vā bhavennaraḥ |
tenedaṃ vidhivatkāryaṃ vrataṃ saubhāgyadaṃ śivam ||

Those who are desirous of learning, riches, or sons will get them all if they perform this most auspicious Navarâtra ceremony, able to confer fortunes on the devotees.

3.27.18

vidyārthī sarvavidyāṃ vai prāpnoti vratasādhanāt |
rājabhraṣṭo nṛpo rājyaṃ samavāpnoti sarvadā ||

On the performance of this sacrifice, those who want learning get all the learning; and he, who is deprived of his kingdom will get back all his kingdoms.

3.27.19

pūrvajanmani yairnūnaṃ na kṛtaṃ vratamuttamam |
te vyādhino daridrāśca bhavanti putravarjitāḥ ||

Those who did not, in their previous births, perform this meritorious vow, they become diseased, poor and devoid of sons in their present births.

3.27.20

vandhyā ca yā bhavennārī vidhavā dhanavarjitā |
anumā tatra kartavyā neyaṃ kṛtavatī vratam ||

Those women that are barren, or widows or devoid of sons, infer that they never, in their previous births, performed this sacrifice.

3.27.21

navarātravrataṃ proktaṃ na kṛtaṃ yena bhūtale |
sa kathaṃ vibhavaṃ prāpya modate ca tathā divi ||

Those who have not performed the Navarâtra ceremony, how can they acquire riches in this world and acquire happiness and peace in the next?

3.27.22

raktacandanasammiśraiḥ komalairbilvapatrakaiḥ |
bhavānī pūjitā yena sa bhavennṛpatiḥ kṣitau ||

He who has worshipped the Goddess Bhagavatî Bhavânî Devî with young leaves of the Bel tree, besmeared with red sandal paste, it is he that will undoubtedly become the king in this world.

3.27.23

nārādhitā yena śivā sanātanī duḥkhārtihā siddhikarī jagadvarā |
duḥkhāvṛtaḥ śatruyutaśca bhūtale nūnaṃ daridro bhavatīha mānavaḥ ||

That man who has failed to worship the Goddess of the whole universe, Who fructifies all the pursuits of human life, Who destroys all the troubles, pains and miseries, Who is all suspicious Bhagavatî Bhavânî, that fellow is sure to pass his days in this world, wretched, impoverished, and surrounded by his enemies on all sides.

3.27.24

yāṃ viṣṇurindro harapadmajau tathā vahniḥ kubero varuṇo divākaraḥ |
dhyāyanti sarvārthasamāptinanditā-stāṃ kiṃ manuṣyā na bhajanti caṇḍikām ||

When Hari, Hara, Brahmâ, Indra, Fire, Varuna, Kuvera, and the Sun when all these possessing all the wealth and powers and filled with the highest felicities, when they meditate constantly the Goddess of the universe, Who is All Existence Intelligence, and Bliss, then what to speak of the human beings! How is it that persons do not worship that Chandikâ Devî, the One that leads all human pursuits to success!

3.27.25

svāhā svadhā nāma manuprabhāvai-stṛpyanti devāḥ pitarastathaiva |
yajñeṣu sarveṣu mudā haranti yannāma yugmaśrutibhirmunīndrāḥ ||

Why should not the people worship the Goddess Bhavânî, the bestower of all happiness, whose other names are Svahâ and Svadhâ, the mantrams under whose intrinsic energies the Devas and the Pitris always get satisfied, and which are recited by all the Munis when they chant in every sacrifice the Vedic mantrams? Under Whose Will power Brahmâ the Creator, creates all this Universe? Under Whose energy, the Visnu Janâradan, the Deva of the Devas, incarnates in this earth in various forms and preserves this world, and under Whose power, S’ankara destroys this whole Universe?

3.27.26

yasyecchayā sṛjati viśvamidaṃ prajeśo nānāvatārakalanaṃ kurute hariśca |
nūnaṃ karoti jagataḥ kila bhasma śambhu-stāṃ śarmadāṃ na bhajate nu kathaṃ manuṣyaḥ ||

3.27.27

naiko'sti sarvabhuvaneṣu tayā vihīno devo naro'tha vihagaḥ kila pannago vā |
gandharvarākṣasapiśācanageṣu nūnaṃ yaḥ spandituṃ bhavati śaktiyuto yatheccham ||

No body, in this whole universe, can have his existence without having recourse to that Prakriti Devî, the S’akti incarnate; be he a Devî, a human being or a bird, or a serpent, Gandharva, Râkhsasa, Pis’âcha, a mountain or a tree, he cannot move even of his own accord, without the help of this Force.

3.27.28

tāṃ na seveta kaścaṇḍīṃ sarvakāmārthadāṃ śivām |
vrataṃ tasyā na kaḥ kuryādvāñchannarthacatuṣṭayam ||

Therefore, why should not anybody worship that Chandikâ Devî, the Awarder of all desires and wealth? And how is it, that a man desiring one of the 4 objects of human pursuits, Dharma, wealth, desires, and the final beatitude, observes not the vow regarding that Deity.

3.27.29

mahāpātakasaṃyukto navarātravrataṃ caret |
mucyate sarvapāpebhyo nātra kāryā vicāraṇā ||

So much so, that even a man who has committed a heinous offence, five such are enumerated, viz. (1) killing a Brâhman, (2) drinking liquor, (3) stealing gold, (4) adultery with the wife of a spiritual guide (5) associating with any such person, if he performs the Navarâtra vow, he will be absolved entirely from all such sins; there is no doubt in this.

3.27.30

purā kaścidvaṇigdīno dhanahīnaḥ suduḥkhitaḥ |
kuṭumbī cābhavatkaścit kosale nṛpasattama ||

O king! Once on a time there lived in the country of Kosala, a trader, poor and miserable, having under him many relations and dependants in his family, whose provisions he had to provide.

3.27.31

apatyāni bahūnyasyābhavankṣutpīḍitāni ca |
bhakṣyaṃ kiñcittu sāyāhne prāpustasya ca bālakāḥ ||

He had many sons and daughters; when they were very hungry and distressed, then they used to get a little food and that in the evening, only once in twenty-four hours.

3.27.32

bhuṅkte sma kāryakartā'sau parasyātha bubhukṣitaḥ |
kuṭumbabharaṇaṃ tatra cakārātinirākulaḥ ||

That trader, too, worked under another, the whole day; and when it was evening, he used also to take his meals. Thus, being very much anxious and distressed, he maintained somehow or other his family members (that are to be maintained).

3.27.33

sadā dharmarataḥ śāntaḥ sadācāraśca satyavāk |
akrodhanaśca dhṛtimānnirmadaścānasūyakaḥ ||

This trader was of a quiet temper, of a good conduct, truthful, always ready to act religiously, devoid of anger, steady and contented, void of vanity and jealousy; daily he used to worship the Devas, Pitris, and the guests and used to take his meals after all his family members had taken their meals.

3.27.34

sampūjya devatā nityaṃ pitṝnapyatithīṃstathā |
bhuñjāne poṣyavarge'tha kṛtavānbhojanaṃ vaṇik ||

3.27.35

evaṃ gacchati kāle vai suśilo nāmato guṇaiḥ |
dāridryārto dvijaṃ śāntaṃ papracchātibubhukṣitaḥ ||

Thus many days passed away when that good trader, named Sus’îla, being very much perplexed with poverty and hunger, asked a quiet tempered Brâhmin “O Bhûdeva! (deva incarnate on the earth) kindly tell me positively how this state of poverty can be got rid off!

3.27.36

suśīla uvāca |
bho bhūdeva kṛpāṃ kṛtvā vadasvādya mahāmate |
kathaṃ dāridryanāśaḥ syāditi me niścayena vai ||

3.27.37

dhanaiṣaṇā me naivāsti dhanī syāmiti mānada |
kuṭumbabharaṇārthaṃ vai pṛcchāmi tvāṃ dvijottama ||

O holy minded! Kindly advise me such as preserves my honour; I do not want wealth, nor do I like to be a rich man; O Brâhmin! I want just enough to meet with the expenses, incurred in maintaining my family; please advise so that I may be able to earn this much only.

3.27.38

putrī sutastu me bālo bhakṣārthī rodate bhṛśam |
tāvanmātraṃ gṛhe nānnaṃ muṣṭimekāṃ dadāmyaham ||

I have many sons; I have not got any food, sufficient enough to give them even a handful of rice.

3.27.39

visarjito yato gehādgato bālo rudanmayā |
ato me dahyate'tyarthaṃ kiṃ karomi dhanaṃ vinā ||

Alas! My youngest son was crying today for food; I have driven him out of the house by chastising him. O Brâhmin! What am I do? I have got no wealth; my heart is burning with grief and sorrow; my baby has gone out of the house, weeping and hungry.

3.27.40

vivāho'sti sutāyā me nāsti vittaṃ karomi kim |
daśavarṣādhikāyāstu dānakālo'pi yātyalam ||

My daughter has come to a marriageable age; I have no money. Her age has exceeded ten years; the marriageable age limit has been exceeded. Alas! What am I to do?

3.27.41

tena śocāmi viprendra sarvajño'si dayānidhe |
tapo dānaṃ vrataṃ kiñcidbrūhi mantrajapaṃ tathā ||

O Brâhmin! I am expressing my sorrow for all that. You are merciful, and all-knowing; tell me any means, be it asceticism, gifts, vow, or the reciting of any mantrams by which I can maintain my family; I want wealth just sufficient for that purpose and nothing more.

3.27.42

yenāhaṃ poṣyavargasya karomi dvija poṣaṇam |
tāvanme syāddhanaprāptirnādhikaṃ prārthaye kila ||

3.27.43

tvatprasādātkuṭumbaṃ me sukhitaṃ prabhavediha |
tatkuruṣva mahābhāga jñānena paricintya ca ||

O high minded one! Kindly devise and tell me some means by which my family members become happy in this world.”

3.27.44

vyāsa uvāca |
iti pṛṣṭastathā tena brāhmaṇaḥ saṃśitavrataḥ |
uvāca paramaprītastaṃ vaiśyaṃ nṛpasattama ||

Vyâsa said:-- The Brâhmin that used to practice vows when thus asked by the trader told him gladly “O trader! Do now the Navarâtri vow, the most auspicious, and worship the Bhagavatî, perform Homa, and feast the Brâhmins. Have the Vedas and Purânas recited and recite then slowly the S’akti mantram and try, as much as you can, to do other concomitant ceremonies; and your desires will thus be undoubtedly fulfilled.

3.27.45

vaiśyavarya kuruṣvādya navarātravrataṃ śubham |
pūjanaṃ bhagavatyāśca havanaṃ bhojanaṃ tathā ||

3.27.46

vedapārāyaṇaṃ śaktijapahomādikaṃ tathā |
kuruṣvādya yathāśakti tava kāryaṃ bhaviṣyati ||

3.27.47

etasmādaparaṃ kiñcidvrataṃ nāsti dharātale |
navarātrābhidhaṃ vaiśya pāvanaṃ sukhadaṃ tathā ||

There is no other vow superior to this in this world; this vow is very holy and will bring unto you happiness.

3.27.48

jñānadaṃ mokṣadaṃ caiva sukhasantānavardhanam |
śatrunāśakaraṃ kāmaṃ navarātravrataṃ sadā ||

This vow leads to wisdom and liberation; destroys enemies and increases posterity and prosperity.

3.27.49

rājyabhraṣṭena rāmeṇa sītāvirahitena ca |
kiṣkindhāyāṃ vrataṃ caitatkṛtaṃ duḥkhātureṇa vai ||

In former days, S’rî Râma Chandra suffered very much owing to his being deprived of his kingdom; and, then on account of his wife being stolen away. Subsequently he performed this Navarâtra vow in Kiskindhyâ, his heart being heavily laden with grief.

3.27.50

prataptenāpi rāmeṇa sītāvirahavahninā |
vidhivatpūjitā devī navarātravratena vai ||

Though troubled very much, on account of the bereavement of Sîtâ, still Râma Chandra observed the Vow of Navarâtra and worshipped the Goddess according to the prescribed rules and rites.

3.27.51

tena prāptā'tha vaidehī kṛtvā setuṃ mahārṇave |
hatvā mandodarīnāthaṃ kumbhakarṇaṃ mahābalam ||

As a fruit of this worship he was able to bridge the great ocean and kill the giant Kumbha Karna, Meghanâda, the Râvana’s son, and Râvana, the king of Lanka; and subsequently he was able to recover his Sîtâ. He installed Vibhîsana on the throne of Lanka (Ceylon) and at last returned to Ayodhyâ and reigned there without any enemies.

3.27.52

meghanādaṃ sutaṃ hatvā kṛtvā bhūpaṃ bibhīṣaṇam |
paścādayodhyāmāgatya prāptaṃ rājyamakaṇṭakam ||

3.27.53

navarātravratasyāsya prabhāveṇa viśāṃvara |
sukhaṃ bhūmitale prāptaṃ rāmeṇāmitatejasā ||

O best of the Vais’yas! Râma Chandra, of incomparable prowess, was able to obtain happiness in this world on account of the influence of this Navarâtra ceremony.

3.27.54

vyāsa uvāca |
iti vipravacaḥ śrutvā sa vaiśyastaṃ dvijaṃ gurum |
kṛtvā jagrāha sanmantraṃ māyābījābhidhaṃ nṛpa ||

Vyâsa said:-- O king! That Vais’ya, hearing thus the Brâhmin’s words, made him his Guru, was initiated by him in the seed mantra of Mâyâ and ceaselessly, without any laziness, recited slowly the mantram for nine nights and worshipped the Devî, with great caution and with various offerings. Thus for nine consecutive years he devoted himself to the Japam (reciting slowly) of the seed mantra of Mâyâ till, at last, when the ninth year was completed, the Great Goddess appeared distinctly before his eyes on the night of the great Astamî tithi (the eighth day of the bright half) and gave him various boons and delivered the Vais’ya from poverty and bestowed on him wealth and his other desired things.
Here ends the 27th Chapter on the virgins fit to be worshipped and the Glory of the Devî in the Mahâ Purânam S’rîmad Devî Bhâgavatam by Maharsi Veda Vyâsa in the Third Adhyâya.

3.27.55

jajāpa parayā bhaktyā navarātramatandritaḥ |
nānāvidhopahāraiśca pūjayāmāsa sādaram ||

3.27.56

navasaṃvatsaraṃ caiva māyābījaparāyaṇaḥ |
navame vatsarānte tu mahāṣṭamyāṃ maheśvarī ||

3.27.57

ardharātre tu sañjāte pratyakṣaṃ darśanaṃ dadau |
nānāvarapradānaiśca kṛtakṛtyañcakāra tam ||

3.27.57.c1

iti śrīmaddevībhāgavate mahāpurāṇe'ṣṭādaśasāhasryāṃ saṃhitāyāṃ tṛtīyaskandhe devīpūjāmahattvavarṇanaṃ nāma saptaviṃśo'dhyāyaḥ ||