chapter 13

Chapter 13

The Rishi said:

O King! I have told you this sublime poem of the Devi Mahatmya. The Goddess maintains and supports the world by Her majestic power.
She is the illusive power of the adorable Lord Vishnu and by Her alone is knowledge attained.
By Her power you and this Merchant and other discriminating men are deluded.
They have been deluded in the past and will become deluded.
O King! Go to Her for refuge, She is the supreme ruler. She is the one who when worshipped bestows enjoyment and heaven and final liberation.


Markandeya said to his disciple Bhaguri:

O Great Sage, the king Suratha, who had been so despondent because of his great attachment to his lost kingdom, and the merchant, both bowed reverently before the great Rishi who was famous for his austerity and they immediately prepared to follow his example.
They settled on the bank of a river and began to practice penances, reciting the Devi Sukta in order to evoke Amba.
They made a clay image of the Devi on the sands of the river and worshipped Her with flowers and incense, with fire and water.
They ate sparingly and sometimes fasted. Always keeping their attention on Her they offered sacrifices sprinkled with their own blood.
After three years of this continual worship, Chandika, the support of the world, was pleased with them and manifest in person to speak with them.

The Devi said:

Whatever you ask O King, and you also, the delight of your family, receive all that from Me. I am well pleased and bestow every blessing on you both.

Markandeya said:

The king chose a kingdom which would never perish, and in this life his own kingdom where his enemies would be vanquished.
Then the wise merchant, whose mind had become detached from the world chose that knowledge which removes attachment of ‘mine’ and ‘I’.


The Devi said:

O King, after slaying your foes you shall regain your kingdom in a few days and it shall last as long as you live. And when you die you shall be given another birth from the Deva Vivasvat, the Sun, and shall be a Manu on the earth, called ‘Savarni.’
And, O best of Merchants, I grant you the boon you have desired of Me. Supreme knowledge shall be yours: your Self-realisation.

Markandeya said:

Having thus granted them both the boon that each desired, the Devi vanished while they were singing Her praise.
Suratha was then reborn as the son of Surya and Savarna. Thus he became Savarni the eighth Manu.



OM tvameva sakshat, Shri Mahalakshmi, Mahasarasvati, Mahakali Trigunat Mika Kundalini sakshat, Shri Adi Shakti Mataji, Shri Nirmala Devi, namoh namah.

OM tvameva sakshat, Shri Kalki sakshat, Shri Adi Shakti Mataji Shri Nirmala Devi namoh namah.

OM tvameva sakshat Shri Kalki sakshat, Shri Sahasrara Svamini, Moksha Pradayini sakshat, Shri Nirmala Devi, namoh namah.