Durga Saptashati Chapter 13: The Goddess’s Boons to Suratha and the Vaishya

The Durga Saptashati, also known as the Devi Mahatmya and the Chandi Path, is a sacred Hindu text of 700 verses in 13 chapters that celebrates the glory of Goddess Durga. The thirteenth chapter describes the boons the Goddess grants to King Suratha and the merchant (Vaishya).

Trayodasho'dhyaya (॥ त्रयोदशोऽध्यायः ॥)

Dhyanam (॥ ध्यानम् ॥)

ॐ बालार्कमण्डलाभासां चतुर्बाहुं त्रिलोचनाम्। पाशाङ्कुशवराभीतीर्धारयन्तीं शिवां भजे॥

Om Balarka-Mandalabhasam Chaturbahum Trilochanam | Pashankusha-Varabhitir Dharayantim Shivam Bhaje ||

Meaning: I meditate on the auspicious Goddess whose radiance is like the rising sun and who has four arms and three eyes. In her hands she holds the noose and the goad and shows the gestures of granting boons and removing fear.

Verses

Rishir Uvacha

Verse 1

"ॐ" ऋषिरुवाच॥1॥

"Om" Rishiruvacha || 1 ||

Meaning: The sage said:

Verse 2

एतत्ते कथितं भूप देवीमाहात्म्यमुत्तमम्। एवंप्रभावा सा देवी ययेदं धार्यते जगत्॥2॥

Etatte Kathitam Bhupa Devi-Mahatmyam Uttamam | Evamprabhava Sa Devi Yayedam Dharyate Jagat || 2 ||

Meaning: O King! I have told you this great glory of the Goddess. The Goddess is so powerful that this whole world is upheld by her power alone.

Verses 3–5

विद्या तथैव क्रियते भगवद्विष्णुमायया। तया त्वमेष वैश्यश्च तथैवान्ये विवेकिनः॥3॥ मोह्यन्ते मोहिताश्चैव मोहमेष्यन्ति चापरे। तामुपैहि महाराज शरणं परमेश्वरीम्॥4॥ आराधिता सैव नृणां भोगस्वर्गापवर्गदा॥5॥

Vidya Tathaiva Kriyate Bhagavad-Vishnumayaya | Taya Tvamesha Vaishyashcha Tathaivanye Vivekinah || 3 || Mohyante Mohitash Chaiva Moham Eshyanti Chapare | Tamupaihi Maharaja Sharanam Parameshvarim || 4 || Aradhita Saiva Nrinam Bhoga-Svargapavargada || 5 ||

Meaning: As the maya of Lord Vishnu, that same Goddess governs the power of knowledge and of delusion. It is because of that maya that you, this Vaishya and other wise people too fall into delusion. Therefore, O great King, take refuge in that Supreme Goddess. When she is worshipped, she grants human beings worldly happiness, heaven and liberation.

Markandeya Uvacha

मार्कण्डेय उवाच॥6॥

Markandeya Uvacha || 6 ||

Meaning: The sage Markandeya said:

Verses 7–8

इति तस्य वचः श्रुत्वा सुरथः स नराधिपः॥7॥ प्रणिपत्य महाभागं तमृषिं शंसितव्रतम्। निर्विण्णोऽतिममत्वेन राज्यापहरणेन च॥8॥

Iti Tasya Vachah Shrutva Surathah Sa Naradhipah || 7 || Pranipatya Mahabhagam Tamrishim Shamsita-Vratam | Nirvinno'timamatvena Rajyapaharanena Cha || 8 ||

Meaning: Hearing these words of the sage, King Suratha bowed to that great sage, who practised austerities according to strict rules. He was sad and troubled because his kingdom had been taken from him and because of his great attachment to it.

Verse 9

जगाम सद्यस्तपसे स च वैश्यो महामुने। सन्दर्शनार्थमम्बाया नदीपुलिनसंस्थितः॥9॥

Jagama Sadyastapase Sa Cha Vaishyo Mahamune | Sandarshanartham Ambaya Nadi-Pulina-Samsthitah || 9 ||

Meaning: O great sage! After this, King Suratha and the Vaishya went to a lonely place on the bank of a river to gain a vision (darshan) of the Divine Mother, and there they began to perform austerities.

Verse 10

स च वैश्यस्तपस्तेपे देवीसूक्तं परं जपन्। तौ तस्मिन् पुलिने देव्याः कृत्वा मूर्तिं महीमयीम्॥10॥

Sa Cha Vaishyas Tapas Tepe Devisuktam Param Japan | Tau Tasmin Puline Devyah Kritva Murtim Mahimayim || 10 ||

Meaning: The Vaishya began his austerities while chanting the supreme hymn of the Goddess. On the riverbank, the two of them made an image of the Goddess out of clay.

Verse 11

अर्हणां चक्रतुस्तस्याः पुष्पधूपाग्नितर्पणैः। निराहारौ यताहारौ तन्मनस्कौ समाहितौ॥11॥

Arhanam Chakratus Tasyah Pushpa-Dhupagni-Tarpanaih | Niraharau Yataharau Tanmanaskau Samahitau || 11 ||

Meaning: Both worshipped the Goddess with flowers, incense, fire and so on. They kept their minds fixed on the Goddess with full concentration, performing austerities, sometimes without food and sometimes eating very little.

Verse 12

ददतुस्तौ बलिं चैव निजगात्रासृगुक्षितम्। एवं समाराधयतोस्त्रिभिर्वर्षैर्यतात्मनोः॥12॥

Dadatustau Balim Chaiva Nija-Gatrasrig-Ukshitam | Evam Samaradhayatos Tribhir Varshair Yatatmanoh || 12 ||

Meaning: They even offered the Goddess an offering (bali) of blood from their own bodies. In this way, practising self-restraint, they worshipped the Goddess for three years.

Verse 13

परितुष्टा जगद्धात्री प्रत्यक्षं प्राह चण्डिका॥13॥

Paritushta Jagaddhatri Pratyaksham Praha Chandika || 13 ||

Meaning: Pleased by their intense and sincere devotion, Goddess Chandika, the sustainer of the world, appeared before them in person and spoke.

Devyuvacha

Verse 14

देव्युवाच॥14॥

Devyuvacha || 14 ||

Meaning: The Goddess said:

Verse 15

यत्प्रार्थ्यते त्वया भूप त्वया च कुलनन्दन। मत्तस्तत्प्राप्यतां सर्वं परितुष्टा ददामि तत्॥15॥

Yat Prarthyate Tvaya Bhupa Tvaya Cha Kulanandana | Mattas Tat Prapyatam Sarvam Paritushta Dadami Tat || 15 ||

Meaning: O King, and O Vaishya, joy of your family! Ask for whatever boon you both desire from me. I am pleased with you both and will grant everything according to your wishes.

Markandeya Uvacha

मार्कण्डेय उवाच॥16॥

Markandeya Uvacha || 16 ||

Meaning: The sage Markandeya said:

Verse 17

ततो वव्रे नृपो राज्यमविभ्रंश्यन्यजन्मनि। अत्रैव च निजं राज्यं हतशत्रुबलं बलात्॥17॥

Tato Vavre Nripo Rajyam Avibhramshy Anyajanmani | Atraiva Cha Nijam Rajyam Hata-Shatru-Balam Balat || 17 ||

Meaning: Then King Suratha asked for the boon that his kingdom be restored to him, that the power of his enemies be destroyed and that his own kingdom be returned to him in this very life. He also expressed the wish not to lose his kingdom in his next life either.

Verse 18

सोऽपि वैश्यस्ततो ज्ञानं वव्रे निर्विण्णमानसः। ममेत्यहमिति प्राज्ञः सङ्गविच्युतिकारकम्॥18॥

So'pi Vaishyastato Jnanam Vavre Nirvinna-Manasah | Mamety Aham Iti Prajnah Sanga-Vichyuti-Karakam || 18 ||

Meaning: The Vaishya, saddened by the delusion of the world, asked for the boon of knowledge. He asked for the knowledge that would put an end to the sense of ‘I’ and ‘mine’ and to worldly attachment.

Devyuvacha

Verse 19

देव्युवाच॥19॥

Devyuvacha || 19 ||

Meaning: The Goddess said:

Verse 20

स्वल्पैरहोभिर्नृपते स्वं राज्यं प्राप्स्यते भवान्॥20॥

Svalpair Ahobhir Nripate Svam Rajyam Prapsyate Bhavan || 20 ||

Meaning: O King! Within a few days you will regain your kingdom.

Verse 21

हत्वा रिपूनस्खलितं तव तत्र भविष्यति॥21॥

Hatva Ripun Askhalitam Tava Tatra Bhavishyati || 21 ||

Meaning: You will defeat your enemies and take back your kingdom without any obstacle.

Verses 22–23

मृतश्च भूयः सम्प्राप्य जन्म देवाद्विवस्वतः॥22॥ सावर्णिको नाम मनुर्भवान् भुवि भविष्यति॥23॥*

Mritashcha Bhuyah Samprapya Janma Devad Vivasvatah || 22 || Savarniko Nama Manurbhavan Bhuvi Bhavishyati || 23 ||

Meaning: After death, you will be born of the Sun God Vivasvan and become famous on earth by the name ‘Savarnika Manu’.

Verses 24–25

वैश्यवर्य त्वया यश्च वरोऽस्मत्तोऽभिवाञ्छितः॥24॥ तं प्रयच्छामि संसिद्ध्यै तव ज्ञानं भविष्यति॥25॥

Vaishyavarya Tvaya Yashcha Varo'smatto'bhivanchhitah || 24 || Tam Prayachchhami Samsiddhyai Tava Jnanam Bhavishyati || 25 ||

Meaning: O best of Vaishyas! I grant you the knowledge you have asked of me as a boon. You will gain the knowledge by which your wish will be fulfilled and your delusion removed.

Markandeya Uvacha

मार्कण्डेय उवाच॥26॥

Markandeya Uvacha || 26 ||

Meaning: The sage Markandeya said:

Verse 27

इति दत्त्वा तयोर्देवी यथाभिलषितं वरम्॥27॥ बभूवान्तर्हिता सद्यो भक्त्या ताभ्यामभिष्टुता।

Iti Dattva Tayordevi Yathabhilashitam Varam || 27 || Babhuvantarhita Sadyo Bhaktya Tabhyam Abhishtuta |

Meaning: Having granted both of them boons according to their wishes, and pleased by their devotion, the Goddess vanished from that place at that very moment.

Verses 28–29

एवं देव्या वरं लब्ध्वा सुरथः क्षत्रियर्षभः॥28॥ सूर्याज्जन्म समासाद्य सावर्णिर्भविता मनुः॥29॥

Evam Devya Varam Labdhva Surathah Kshatriyarshabhah || 28 || Suryajjanma Samasadya Savarnir Bhavita Manuh || 29 ||

Meaning: Having thus received a boon from the Goddess, King Suratha, the best of kshatriyas, will after death be born of the Sun God and become ‘Savarni Manu’.

एवं देव्या वरं लब्ध्वा सुरथः क्षत्रियर्षभः सूर्याज्जन्म समासाद्य सावर्णिर्भविता मनुः॥क्लीं ॐ॥

Evam Devya Varam Labdhva Surathah Kshatriyarshabhah Suryajjanma Samasadya Savarnir Bhavita Manuh || Kleem Om ||

Meaning: Having received a boon from the Goddess, King Suratha, the best of kshatriyas, will be born of the Sun God and become Savarni Manu.

Conclusion

॥ इति श्रीमार्कण्डेयपुराणे सावर्णिके मन्वन्तरे देवीमाहात्म्ये सुरथवैश्ययोर्वरप्रदानं नाम त्रयोदशोऽध्यायः॥13॥

|| Iti Shri-Markandeya-Purane Savarnike Manvantare Devimahatmye Suratha-Vaishyayor Vara-Pradanam Nama Trayodasho'dhyayah || 13 ||

Meaning: Thus ends the thirteenth chapter, named ‘The Boons to Suratha and the Vaishya’, in the Devi Mahatmya, within the account of the Savarnika manvantara in the Shri Markandeya Purana. ॥13॥