Puranic Encyclopaedia: A Comprehensive Dictionary with Special Reference to the Epic and Puranic Literature c5.64

c5.64

Immediately after the curse, Suśīlā got down from the Goloka and began to worship Mahālakṣmī with devotion and meditation and very severe fast and vow. After a long time Mahālakṣmī appeared to her and blessed her, and Suśīlā became absorbed in Mahālakṣmī. Since the absorption of Suśīlā devī, who was the rebirth of Dakṣiṇādevī, in Mahālakṣmī, the sacrifice of the devas (gods) became fruitless. They were much grieved. They all went to Brahmā to find a solution. As the matter was serious Brahmā meditated upon Viṣṇu, who became pleased with Brahmā and to save the devas, he attracted Dakṣiṇādevī from the body of Mahālakṣmī and gave her as a present to Brahmā. Brahmā gave that devī (goddess) to Yajñapuruṣa (the god of sacrifice) so that the sacrifices of gods might become fruitful. When Yajñapuruṣa saw that supernatural beauty he was overpowered by lust and swooned. The couple spent a hundred divine years in seclusion enjoying the company of each other, as a result of which devī became pregnant. The pregnancy matured in twelve divine years and she gave birth to a child which was named Phalada. It is this same Phalada, the son of Yajñapuruṣa and Dakṣiṇā who awards fruits to all actions. The learned men say that Yajñapuruṣa, Dakṣiṇādevī and Phalada divide the fruits of actions among the doers. (Devī Bhāgavata, Skandha 9).