Chapter 12: Eulogy of the Merits
The Devi said: ‘And whoever with a concentrated mind shall
pray to me constantly with these hymns, I shall without doubt put down every
trouble of his. ‘And those who shall laud (the story of) the destruction of
Madhu and Kaitabha, the slaughter of Nishumbha likewise and those also who
shall listen with devotion to this sublime poem on my greatness on the eighth,
the fourteenth and on the ninth days of the fortnight with concentrated mind,
to them nothing wrong shall happen, nor calamities that arise from wrong doings
nor poverty and never separation from beloved ones. He shall not experience
fear from enemies, or from robbers and kings, or from weapons, fire and floods.
Hence this poem of my greatness must be chanted by men of concentrated minds
and listened to always with devotion; for it is the supreme course of
well-being.
May this poem of my glories quell all epidemics, as also the
threefold natural calamities. The place of my sanctuary where this poem is duly
chanted everyday, I will never forsake and there my presence is certain. When
sacrifice is offered, during worship, in the fire-ceremony, and at a great
festival, this entire poem on my acts must be chanted and heard. I will accept
with love the sacrifice and worship that are made and the fire-offering that is
offered likewise, whether they are done with due knowledge (of sacrifice) or
not. During autumnal season, when the great annual worship is performed, the
man hearing this glorification of mine with devotion shall certainly through my
grace, be delivered without doubt from all troubles and be blessed with riches,
grains and children. Hearing this glorification and auspicious appearances of
mine, and my feats of prowess in battles, a man becomes fearless. Enemies
perish, welfare accrues and the family rejoices for those who listen to this
glorification of mine. Let one listen to this glorification of mine everywhere,
at a propitiatory ceremony, on seeing a bad dream, and when there is the great
evil influence of planets. (By that means) evil portents subside, as also the
unfavourable influence of planets, and the bad dream seen by men turns into a
good dream.
It creates peacefulness in children possessed by the seizes
of children (i.e., evil spirits), and it is the best promoter of friendship
among men when split occurs in their union. It diminishes most effectively the
power of all men of evil ways. Verily demons, goblins, and ogres are destroyed
by its mere chanting. This entire glorification of mine draws (a devotee) very
near to me. And by means of finest flowers, arghya and incenses, and by
perfumes and lamps, by feeding Brahmanas, by oblations, by sprinkling
(consecrated) water, and by various other offerings and gifts (if one worships)
day and night, in a year-the gratification, which is done to me, is attained by
listening but once to this holy story (katha) of mine.
The chanting and hearing of the story of my manifestations
remove sins, and grant perfect health and protects one from evil spirits; and
when my martial exploit in the form of the slaughter of the wicked daityas is
listened to, men will have no fear from enemies. And the hymns uttered by you,
and those by the divine sages, and those by Brahmanas bestow a pious mind. He
who is (lost) on a lonesome spot in a forest, or is surrounded by forest fire,
or who is surrounded by robbers in a desolate spot, or who is captured by
enemies, or who is pursued by a lion, or tiger, or by wild elephants in a
forest, or who, under the orders of a wrathful king, is sentenced to death, or
has been imprisoned, or who is tossed about in his boat by a tempest in the
vast sea, or who is in the most terrible battle under shower of weapons, or who
is amidst all kinds of dreadful troubles, or who is afflicted with pain - such
a man on remembering this story of mine is saved from his predicament.Through
my power, lions etc., robbers and enemies, flee from a distance from him who
remembers this story of mine.
The Rishi said: Having spoken thus the adorable Chandika,
fierce in prowess, vanished on that very spot even as the Devas were gazing
upon her. Thus O King, the adorable Devi, although eternal, incarnating again
and again, protects the world. By her this universe is deluded, and it is she
who creates this universe. And when entreated, she bestows supreme knowledge,
and when propitiated, she bestows prosperity. By her, the Mahakali, who takes
the form of the great destroyer at the end of time, all this cosmic sphere is
pervaded.
She indeed takes the form of the great destroyer at the
(proper) time. She, the unborn, indeed becomes this creation.She herself, the
eternal Being, sustains the beings. In times of prosperity, she indeed is
Lakshmi, who bestows prosperity in the homes of men; and in times of
misfortune, she herself becomes the goddess of misfortune, and brings about
ruin. When praised and worshipped with flowers, incense, perfumes, etc., she
bestows wealth and sons, and a mind bent on righteousness and prosperous life.
Here ends the twelfth chapter called ‘Eulogy of the Merits’
of Devi-Mahatmya in the period of Markandeya-Purana, during the period of
Savarni, the Manu.
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