01. Sastra Avataram

                                                श्रीः

                                        लक्ष्मीतन्त्रम्
                            प्रथमोऽध्यायः - शास्त्रवतारः

śrīḥ

lakṣmītantram
prathamo'dhyāyaḥ - śāstravatāraḥ

First Chapter - The Birth of the Sastra

तुषाराद्रिसमच्छायं तुलसीदामभूषणम्‌।
तुरंगममुखं वन्दे तुङ्गसारस्वतप्रदम्‌॥

tuṣārādrisamacchāyaṁ tulasīdāmabhūṣaṇam|

turaṁgamamukhaṁ vande tuṅgasārasvatapradam||

The one who has a complexion of ice mountain(pure white), the one who has tulasi garland as his ornament,the one with horse face, I salute who gives lofty eloquence

ज्ञानानन्दमयं देवं निर्मलस्फटिकाकृतिम्‌।

आधारं सर्वविध्यानां हयग्रीवमुपास्महे॥

jñānānandamayaṁ devaṁ nirmalasphaṭikākṛtim|

ādhāraṁ sarvavidhyānāṁ hayagrīvamupāsmahe||

The one who is bliss(ananda) of supreme knowledge(jnana), the one with a form which is like a blemishless crystal, the root / base of all scieneces & knowledge (vidyanaam), that Sri Hayagreevam I revere (devoted to).

नमो नित्यानवध्याय जगतः सर्वहेतवे।

ज्ञानाय निस्तरङ्गाय लक्ष्मीनारायणात्मने॥१॥

namo nityānavadhyāya jagataḥ sarvahetave|

jñānāya nistaraṅgāya lakṣmīnārāyaṇātmane||1||

I salute the one that is eternal , blemishless, the reason (hetu) for all the world, full of true knowledge, which is motionless and the inner soul of lakshmi & narayana

खगासनं घृणाधारमीदृशं सोमभूषितम्‌।

अकलङ्गेन्दुसूर्याग्निं लक्ष्मीरूपमुपास्महे॥२॥

The one who has bird as her seat, has compassion as a quality, worshipped by chandra(moon), without blemish, a combination of moon,sun and fire that Lakshmi form I revere (devoted to).

वेदवेदान्त तत्त्वज्ञं सर्वसास्त्रविशारदम्‌।

सर्वसिद्धान्ततत्त्वज्ञं धर्माणामागतागमम्‌॥३॥

Knows the true nature of vedas and vedantas, is well versed in all sastras, knows the true nature of all siddhantas and obtained knowledge of all dharmas

जितेन्द्रियम्‌ जिताधारं रागद्वेषावशीकृतम्‌।

चतुर्दशाङ्गयोगस्थं प्रसंख्यानपरायणम्‌॥४॥

jitendriyam jitādhāraṁ rāgadveṣāvaśīkṛtam|

caturdaśāṅgayogasthaṁ prasaṁkhyānaparāyaṇam||4||

who has Won over senses, who has conquered the aadhaara chakra , who is unaffected by love or hatred who has mastered 14 angas of yoga, who is continuously medidating

विद्धे स्वर्भानुना भानौ पुरा तपनतां गतम्‌।

निदानं तपसामाद्यं तेजोराशिमनामयम्‌॥५॥

viddhe svarbhānunā bhānau purā tapanatāṁ gatam|

nidānaṁ tapasāmādyaṁ tejorāśimanāmayam||5||

Earlier when svarbhanu( a demon) penetrated the sun, atri took a shining (tapana) form, He is not hasty , tapasvi, who eats raw roots / food, has brilliant appearance(tejasvi) and healthy

अत्रिमत्रिगुणोपेतमत्रिवर्गस्थमव्ययम्‌।

प्रातः संध्यामुपासीनमृषिं हुतहुताशनम्‌॥६॥

atrimatriguṇopetamatrivargasthamavyayam|

prātaḥ saṁdhyāmupāsīnamṛṣiṁ hutahutāśanam||6||

The one who is not affected by the three gunas,one who is impartial and who is undecaying the rishi(seer) who is attending on morning sandhi and the one who does fire(hutAsana) sacrifice(huta)

 पतिव्रतानां परमा धर्मप्त्नी यशस्विनी।

ब्रह्मविष्णुमहेशानां जननी कारणान्तरे॥७॥

pativratānāṁ paramā dharmaptnī yaśasvinī|

brahmaviṣṇumaheśānāṁ jananī kāraṇāntare||7||

The best amongst virtuous ladies, atri's illustrious wife ,who was once mother of brahma,vishnu and shiva

देवैरभिष्टुता शश्वच्छान्तिनित्या तपस्विनी।
विदुषी सर्वधर्मज्ञा नित्यं पतिमनुव्रता॥८॥

devairabhiṣṭutā śaśvacchāntinityā tapasvinī|

viduṣī sarvadharmajñā nityaṁ patimanuvratā||8||

One who is praised by the devas, who is always tranquil, who is a tapasvini, who is learned, who knows the true nature of all dharmas and a virtuous wife

पत्युः श्रुतवती तास्ता विविधा धर्मसंहिताः।

प्रणिपातपुरस्कारमनसूया वचोऽब्रवीत्‌॥९॥

patyuḥ śrutavatī tāstā vividhā dharmasaṁhitāḥ|

praṇipātapuraskāramanasūyā vaco'bravīt||9||

The one who heard extensively various dharma sastras from her husband, anasuya humbly approached and started speaking

 अनसूया-

भगवन्‌ सर्वधर्मज्ञ मम नाथ जगत्पते।
त्वत्त एव श्रुता धर्मास्ते ते बहुविधात्मकाः॥१०॥

anasūyā-

bhagavan sarvadharmajña mama nātha jagatpate|
tvatta eva śrutā dharmāste te bahuvidhātmakāḥ||10||

Anasooya said

My husband, bhagavan, leader of sadhus, you are fully aware of all dharmas and I have heard and learnt from you various dharma sastras.

ज्ञानानि च विचित्राणि फलरूपादिभेदतः।

एतेभ्यो भगवद्धर्मो विशिष्टो विधृतो मया॥११॥

jñānāni ca vicitrāṇi phalarūpādibhedataḥ|

etebhyo bhagavaddharmo viśiṣṭo vidhṛto mayā||11||

I also learnt the form, substance, difference between those dharmas. I hold that "BHAGAVAT DHARMAM" is the best amongst them

त्वया कथयता तास्ता भगवद्धर्मसंहिताः।

सूचितं तत्र तत्रैव लक्ष्मीमाहात्म्यमुत्तमम्‌॥१२॥

tvayā kathayatā tāstā bhagavaddharmasaṁhitāḥ|

sūcitaṁ tatra tatraiva lakṣmīmāhātmyamuttamam||12||

Whenever you have expounded bhagavat dharma you have also pointed out then and there Sri Lakshmi's Greatness

रहस्यत्वादपृष्टत्वान्न त्वया प्रकटीकृतम्‌।

तदहं श्रोतुमिच्छामि लक्ष्मीमाहात्म्यमुत्तमम्‌॥१३॥

rahasyatvādapṛṣṭatvānna tvayā prakaṭīkṛtam|

tadahaṁ śrotumicchāmi lakṣmīmāhātmyamuttamam||13||

Because it is secret and I did not ask you, you did not show(explain) (Earlier). Now, I want to hear about Sri Lakshmi's greatness

यत्स्वभावा हि सा देवी यत्स्वरूपा यदुद्भवा।

यत्प्रमाणा यदाधारा यदुपायाथ यत्फला॥१४॥

yatsvabhāvā hi sā devī yatsvarūpā yadudbhavā|

yatpramāṇā yadādhārā yadupāyātha yatphalā||14||

(I want to know)Sri Devi's that character, that form, that origin , that proof, that  basis, that means and that rewards

तदहं श्रोतुमिच्छामि त्वत्तो ब्रह्मविदां वरः।

भवेयं कृतकृत्याहं यस्य विज्ञानयोगतः॥१५॥

tadahaṁ śrotumicchāmi tvatto brahmavidāṁ varaḥ|
bhaveyaṁ kṛtakṛtyāhaṁ yasya vijñānayogataḥ||15||

All these i want to hear from you the best amongst those who knows the brahmam, I will attain my life's purpose by obtaining this knowledge

तं मे दर्शय पन्थानमुपसन्नास्म्यधीहि भो।

इति तस्या वचः श्रुत्वा भगवानत्रिरब्रवीत्‌॥१६॥

taṁ me darśaya panthānamupasannāsmyadhīhi bho|

iti tasyā vacaḥ śrutvā bhagavānatrirabravīt||16||

Kindly show me the road to reach your position. Having heard her, Athri Bhagavan started speaking

अत्रिः -

साधु संबोधितोस्म्यद्य धर्मज्ञे धर्मचारिणि।
मया पृष्टेन वक्तव्यमिति नोद्घाटितं पुरा॥१७॥

atriḥ -

sādhu saṁbodhitosmyadya dharmajñe dharmacāriṇi|
mayā pṛṣṭena vaktavyamiti nodghāṭitaṁ purā||17||

Atri -

My dharmic mate who knows the true nature of dharma, now you have well addressed me. I didnot start earlier as I thought "(I) will tell when (you) asked"

अर्हा त्वमसि कल्याणि लक्ष्मीमाहात्म्यमुत्तमम्‌।

श्रोतुं श्रुतिशिरःश्रेणिहृदयस्थं सनातनम्‌॥१८॥

arhā tvamasi kalyāṇi lakṣmīmāhātmyamuttamam|

śrotuṁ śrutiśiraḥśreṇihṛdayasthaṁ sanātanam||18||

Kalyani, you are fully elgible to hear sri lakshmi mahathmyam which is at the head of all vedas and foremost in the heart and which is permanent

पुरा मलयशैलस्था मुनयो धर्मतत्पराः।

श्रुतसात्त्वतविज्ञाना नारदाद्देवदर्शनात्‌॥१९॥

purā malayaśailasthā munayo dharmatatparāḥ|

śrutasāttvatavijñānā nāradāddevadarśanāt||19||

In ancient times on Malaya Mountain, the seers, dharma followers, who heard the SATTVATA knowledge from Narada

अपृच्छन्नेतमेवार्थं भगवन्तं सनातनम्‌।

नारदं ब्रह्मसंकाशं भगवद्धर्मवेदिनम्‌॥२०॥

apṛcchannetamevārthaṁ bhagavantaṁ sanātanam|

nāradaṁ brahmasaṁkāśaṁ bhagavaddharmavedinam||20||

Asked the same question to Narada, who is god like, permanent, who has appearance like brahma and is highly knowledgeable in bagavath dharmas

ऋषयः--

भगवंस्त्वच्छ्रुतोऽस्माभिः सात्त्वतः सत्त्वसंश्रयः।
शुद्धो भागवतो धर्मो मोक्षैकफललक्षणः॥२१॥

ṛṣayaḥ--

bhagavaṁstvacchruto'smābhiḥ sāttvataḥ sattvasaṁśrayaḥ|
śuddho bhāgavato dharmo mokṣaikaphalalakṣaṇaḥ||21||

Sages:

Bhagavan, we have heard(learnt) from you Satvata Knowledge which is  devoted to sathvam,very pure and divine and has moksha as its only aim

तत्र तत्त्वार्थकथने लक्ष्मीमाहात्म्यमुत्तमम्‌।

सूचितं तत्र तत्रैव नापृष्टत्वात्प्रकाशितम्‌॥२२॥

tatra tattvārthakathane lakṣmīmāhātmyamuttamam|

sūcitaṁ tatra tatraiva nāpṛṣṭatvātprakāśitam||22||

While explaining the principles(tatvam), you have at different places also spoke about the greatness of Sri Mahalakshmi. You haven't explained(throw further light) as then we did not ask about this.

इच्छामस्तदिदं श्रोतुं भवसागरतारकम्‌।

पद्मिनीवैभवं सर्वं प्रज्ञापयतु नो भवान्‌॥२३॥

icchāmastadidaṁ śrotuṁ bhavasāgaratārakam|

padminīvaibhavaṁ sarvaṁ prajñāpayatu no bhavān||23||

We are desirous of hearing that which enables us to pass the ocean of worldy existance.  Only You can point out all the glory of Padmini(Sri Maha Lakshmi)

नताः स्म शिरसा पादौ तव संसारतारकौ।

अधीहि भो मुने दिव्यं प्रपन्नास्त्वां चिरं वयम्‌॥२४॥

natāḥ sma śirasā pādau tava saṁsāratārakau|

adhīhi bho mune divyaṁ prapannāstvāṁ ciraṁ vayam||24||

We bow at your feet which enables one to cross the ocean of worldly existence. We your students come to you with bowed heads, teach us the divine(divya) knowledge

नारदः--

साधु संबोधितोऽस्म्यद्य मुनयः संशितव्रताः।
प्रसन्नः कथयाम्यद्य लक्ष्मीतन्त्रं सनातनम्‌॥२५॥

nāradaḥ--

sādhu saṁbodhito'smyadya munayaḥ saṁśitavratāḥ|
prasannaḥ kathayāmyadya lakṣmītantraṁ sanātanam||25||

Narada-

O sages, you all adhere to vow firmly and I am happy with your request and I will start expounding the ancient Sri Lakshmi Tantra sastram

यत्र सा दृश्यते देवी स्वरूपगुणवैभवैः।

पद्मिनी पद्मनाभस्य महिषी पद्मसंभवा॥२६॥

yatra sā dṛśyate devī svarūpaguṇavaibhavaiḥ|

padminī padmanābhasya mahiṣī padmasaṁbhavā||26||

Padmini, wife of padmanabha, who came from lotus, that Sri Mahalakshmi's form, attributes and glory can be seen in this sastram

पुरा दुर्वाससः शापादभिभूते पुरंदरे।

निःस्वाध्यायवपत्कारे भ्रष्टश्रीके जगत्त्रये॥२७॥

purā durvāsasaḥ śāpādabhibhūte puraṁdare|

niḥsvādhyāyavapatkāre bhraṣṭaśrīke jagattraye||27||

In ancient times, Indra was cursed by Durvasa because of which no vedas were studied and the three worlds lost their fortunes

दरिद्रे देववर्गे च कृशे धर्मे निसंसते।

पितामहे सुरैः सार्धं क्षीरोदार्णवमेयुषि॥२८॥

daridre devavarge ca kṛśe dharme nisaṁsate|

pitāmahe suraiḥ sārdhaṁ kṣīrodārṇavameyuṣi||28||

Devas became poor and the feable dharmas were in very bad state. After doing lots of penance, devas with brahma reached the ocean of milk (ksheera sagara)

बहून्‌ वर्षगणान्‌ दिव्यांस्तप्त्वा तीव्रं महत्तपः।

संबोधिते जगन्नाथे देवदेवे जनार्दने॥२९॥

bahūn varṣagaṇān divyāṁstaptvā tīvraṁ mahattapaḥ|

saṁbodhite jagannāthe devadeve janārdane||29||

Having done intense divine tapas the devas awaken sriman narayana who is jagannatha, devadeva and janArdana

पितामहेन देवाय कार्ये च विनिवेदिते।

क्षीरोदे मथिते देवैस्तदादिष्टेन वर्त्मना॥३०॥

pitāmahena devāya kārye ca vinivedite|

kṣīrode mathite devaistadādiṣṭena vartmanā||30||

He was informed by brahma the position of devas and as per his directions devas the next day started to churn the ocean of milk.

 पारिजाते हयश्रेष्टे गजेन्द्रेऽप्सरसां गणे।

कालकूटे समुद्‌ भूते वारुण्याममृते तथा॥३१॥

pārijāte hayaśreṣṭe gajendre'psarasāṁ gaṇe|

kālakūṭe samud bhūte vāruṇyāmamṛte tathā||31||

Parijatham, the great horse ucchaisrivas, elephant named gajendra, bevy of apsaras(nymphs)

the poison named KalaKootam, a drink called Varuni and Amrutham(nectar) came out of it

सह चन्द्रमसा देव्यामुत्थितायां महार्णवात्‌।

पद्मिन्यां पद्मनाभस्य वक्षःस्थायामनन्तरम्‌॥३२॥

saha candramasā devyāmutthitāyāṁ mahārṇavāt|

padminyāṁ padmanābhasya vakṣaḥsthāyāmanantaram||32||

With chandra, devi maha lakshmi came up from the ocean of milk and padmini went directly to padmanabha's chest to be there forever

तयावलोकिते देववर्गे श्रियमुपेयुषि।

तयानवेक्षिते दैत्यवर्गे चैव पराजिते॥३३॥

tayāvalokite devavarge śriyamupeyuṣi|

tayānavekṣite daityavarge caiva parājite||33||

Devas having seen by her (avalokite) got back all riches . Daityas(asuras) without being looked at (anavekSite) by her got defeated

स्वाराज्यमखिलं प्राप्य मोतमाने पुरंदरे।

बृहस्पतिरुपागम्य रहसीदं वचोऽब्रवीत्‌॥३४॥

svārājyamakhilaṁ prāpya motamāne puraṁdare|

bṛhaspatirupāgamya rahasīdaṁ vaco'bravīt||34||

Having got back his kingdom as well as the world purandara(indra) was very happy. At that time, deva rishi brihaspati approached him and  started saying secretely the following

बृहस्पतिः-

काले संबोधयाम्येतच्छृणु वाक्यं पुरंदर।
अन्वयव्यतिरेकाभ्यां लक्ष्म्यास्ते कथिता पुरा॥३५॥

bṛhaspatiḥ-

kāle saṁbodhayāmyetacchṛṇu vākyaṁ puraṁdara|
anvayavyatirekābhyāṁ lakṣmyāste kathitā purā||35||

Brahaspati said

O Purandara( Indra) kindly hear the following words that are being taught to you at the  right time. Like I said to you earlier all the great things are under her control.

महत्ता महतां नाथ तस्यामायतते स्थितिः।

न भ्रश्येत यथैवैषा तव राज्यस्थितिः परा॥३६॥

mahattā mahatāṁ nātha tasyāmāyatate sthitiḥ|
na bhraśyeta yathaivaiṣā tava rājyasthitiḥ parā||36||

O lord(indra), the great things stand seeing in her directions. If you want to not to lose your kingdom and your position

तथा यतस्व देवेश शरणं गच्छ पद्मिनीम्‌।

एषा हि श्रेयसो मूलमेषा हि परमा गतिः॥३७॥

tathā yatasva deveśa śaraṇaṁ gaccha padminīm|

eṣā hi śreyaso mūlameṣā hi paramā gatiḥ||37||

O devesha(indra), then take sri mahalakshmi as your refuge. She is the root of all greatness and she is the ultimate sanctuary / path/ refuge(gati)

श्रुतीनामभिसंधिश्च सैव देवी सनातनी।

एषैव जगतां प्राणा एषैव जगतां क्रिया॥३८॥

śrutīnāmabhisaṁdhiśca saiva devī sanātanī|

eṣaiva jagatāṁ prāṇā eṣaiva jagatāṁ kriyā||38||

Sri Mahalakshmi (sanAdanI) is the ultimate purpose/meaning/object of vedas. She is the life breath of all the world and she is the reason of all the world functions.

एषैव जगतामिच्छा ज्ञानमेषा परावरा।

एषैव सृजते काले सैषा पाति जगत्त्रयम्‌॥३९॥

eṣaiva jagatāmicchā jñānameṣā parāvarā|

eṣaiva sṛjate kāle saiṣā pāti jagattrayam||39||

She is the desire of all the worlds and she is the ultimate knowledge. She is the one who creates the time and she herself protects the three worlds

जगत्संहरते चान्ते तत्तत्कारणसंस्थिता।

मातरं जगतामेनामनाराध्य महत्‌ कुतः॥४०॥

jagatsaṁharate cānte tattatkāraṇasaṁsthitā|

mātaraṁ jagatāmenāmanārādhya mahat kutaḥ||40||

In the end based on each ones standing destroys the worlds at Pralayam. Without praying to Mother of all the worlds what great can be achieved? (nothing is the hidden answer)

एतत्तु वैष्णवं धाम यतो नावर्तते यतिः।

एषा सा परमा निष्टा सांख्यानां विदितात्मनाम्‌॥४१॥

etattu vaiṣṇavaṁ dhāma yato nāvartate yatiḥ|

eṣā sā paramā niṣṭā sāṁkhyānāṁ viditātmanām||41||

She is that position for a vaishnava from where one does not return. She is the divine state for samkyas who understood(vidita) souls

येषा सा योगिनां निष्टा यत्र गत्वा न शोचति।

एषा पाशुपती निष्टा सैषा वेदविदां गतिः॥४२॥

yeṣā sā yogināṁ niṣṭā yatra gatvā na śocati|

eṣā pāśupatī niṣṭā saiṣā vedavidāṁ gatiḥ||42||

She is that aim for yogis once reached they dont grieve. She is also the aim of pasupatha and she is the refuge of ones who have learned vedas.

पञ्चरात्रस्य कृत्स्नस्य सैषा निष्टा सनातनी।

सैषा नारायणी देवी स्थिता नारायणात्मना॥४३॥

pañcarātrasya kṛtsnasya saiṣā niṣṭā sanātanī|

saiṣā nārāyaṇī devī sthitā nārāyaṇātmanā||43||

Sanatani Sri Mahalaksmi is the ultimate goal / purpose  of pancharatra agamam. She is called narayanii and she lives in sriman narayana's heart.

पृथग्भूतापृथग्भूता ज्योत्स्नेव हिमदीधितेः।

तैस्तैर्ज्ञानैः पृथग्भूतैरागमैश्च पृथग्विदैः॥४४॥

pṛthagbhūtāpṛthagbhūtā jyotsneva himadīdhiteḥ|

taistairjñānaiḥ pṛthagbhūtairāgamaiśca pṛthagvidaiḥ||44||

Like moon rays and moon she is different and not different from Sriman Narayana. Different agamas, living beings, higher knowledges, forms of worships

एकैवैषा परा देवी बहुधा समुपास्यते।

तामुपेहि महाभागां सरणं पद्मसंभवाम्‌॥४५॥

ekaivaiṣā parā devī bahudhā samupāsyate|

tāmupehi mahābhāgāṁ saraṇaṁ padmasaṁbhavām||45||

Reveres her as one as well as many (one with and different from Sriman Narayana). You approach those feet of  Sri Lakshmi, who appeared from Lotus.

तपोविशेषैर्विविधैस्तैस्तैश्च नियमैः शुभैः।

आराध्य महिषीं विष्णोः स्थिरीकुरु निजश्रियम्‌॥४६॥

tapoviśeṣairvividhaistaistaiśca niyamaiḥ śubhaiḥ|

ārādhya mahiṣīṁ viṣṇoḥ sthirīkuru nijaśriyam||46||

One who is steadfast in Doing special penance, follows various auspicious precepts(niyamas) and does the puja of Vishnu's wife, Sri Mahalakshmi, will attain true prosperity(Sriyam)

एषा प्रसादसुमुखी स्वं पदं प्रापयिष्यति।

अभीप्सितार्थदा देवी कामिनामपि कामदा॥४७॥

eṣā prasādasumukhī svaṁ padaṁ prāpayiṣyati|

abhīpsitārthadā devī kāmināmapi kāmadā||47||

This beautiful lady makes the self to reach her feet. She gives artha and kama for those who desire them

नारदः-

इति संबोधितः शक्रो गुरुणा गुरुणा स्वयम्‌।
आराधयितुकामस्तां क्षीरोदस्योत्तरं ययौ॥४८॥

nāradaḥ-

iti saṁbodhitaḥ śakro guruṇā guruṇā svayam|
ārādhayitukāmastāṁ kṣīrodasyottaraṁ yayau||48||

Naradha said

Having been addressed like this by his guru, indra (sakra) rushed towards the ocean of milk(ksheera sagara) with the intention to worship her

तत्र दिव्यं तपस्तेपे बिल्वमूलनिकेतनः।

एकपादस्थितो मौनी काष्टभूतोऽनिलाशनः॥४९॥

tatra divyaṁ tapastepe bilvamūlaniketanaḥ|

ekapādasthito maunī kāṣṭabhūto'nilāśanaḥ||49||

There under the tree of Bilva, standing on one leg, silent, eating only air, indra did divine penance

ऊर्ध्वदृग्भाहुवक्त्रश्च नियतो नियतात्मवान्‌।

दिव्यं वर्षसहस्रं वै तपस्तेपे सुदुश्चरम्‌॥५०॥

ūrdhvadṛgbhāhuvaktraśca niyato niyatātmavān|

divyaṁ varṣasahasraṁ vai tapastepe suduścaram||50||

With his eyes, hands and face looking upwards and controlling his senses, he did painful penance for number of divine years

तपसोऽवभृथे तस्य सा देवी पद्मसंभवा।

प्रसन्नवदना विष्णोर्महिषी दर्शनं ययौ॥५१॥

tapaso'vabhṛthe tasya sā devī padmasaṁbhavā|

prasannavadanā viṣṇormahiṣī darśanaṁ yayau||51||

Towards the end (avabrithe) of his penance, the devi, who  appeared from lotus, who is Vishnu's wife, who has cheerful face, gave him her audience(darshan).

अग्रतः संस्थितां देवीं जगतां मातरं पराम्‌।

तां शक्रश्चक्षुषा वीक्ष्य विस्मयं परमं ययौ॥५२॥

agrataḥ saṁsthitāṁ devīṁ jagatāṁ mātaraṁ parām|

tāṁ śakraścakṣuṣā vīkṣya vismayaṁ paramaṁ yayau||52||

Indra saw divine devi, jaganmatha, standing before him. Chakra (indra) having seen her with his eyes was wonder struck.

विह्वलः प्रणिपत्याथ प्राञ्जलिर्बलसूदनः।

श्रियं सूक्तेन तुष्टाव पद्मिनीं पाकशासनः॥५३॥

vihvalaḥ praṇipatyātha prāñjalirbalasūdanaḥ|

śriyaṁ sūktena tuṣṭāva padminīṁ pākaśāsanaḥ||53||

The one who destroys(suudhana) armies(bala) with agitated body, keeping two hands together saluated with reverence(anjali) and indra( punisher of asura named paka) made maha lakshmi happy with different slokas(hymns)

एकान्तभावमापन्नमव्याजां भक्तिमास्थितम्‌।

तं वीक्ष्य जगतां माता वाक्यमेतदुवाच ह॥५४॥

ekāntabhāvamāpannamavyājāṁ bhaktimāsthitam|

taṁ vīkṣya jagatāṁ mātā vākyametaduvāca ha||54||

Indra, who stood alone, who was simple and full of bhakti was seen by Sri Mahalakshmi. Jagan matha then started speaking

श्रीः-

वत्स शक्र प्रसन्नास्मि तपसा तव सुव्रत।
वरं वृणु महाभाग किमिष्टं करवाणि ते॥५५॥

śrīḥ-

vatsa śakra prasannāsmi tapasā tava suvrata|
varaṁ vṛṇu mahābhāga kimiṣṭaṁ karavāṇi te||55||

Sri Mahalakshmi

Child Indra (chakra), I am very happy with your penance that was properly and correctly observed, You, of great emminence, choose your boon. Which one, that is your desire, you want me to fulfill?

शक्रः-

अद्य मे तपसो देवि यमस्य नियमस्य च।
सद्यः फलमवाप्तं यद्‌ दृष्टा भगवती मया॥५६॥

śakraḥ-

adya me tapaso devi yamasya niyamasya ca|
sadyaḥ phalamavāptaṁ yad dṛṣṭā bhagavatī mayā||56||

Indra said,

Now I have done a penance with full restraint and as per the rule. Having seen you bhagavathi maha lakshmi I have just now(sadhya) obtained(avaptham) the result(phalam)

यदि वापि वरो देयस्त्वया मे परमेश्वरि।

तत्त्वं कथय देवेशि यासि त्वं यत्प्रकारिका॥५७॥

yadi vāpi varo deyastvayā me parameśvari|

tattvaṁ kathaya deveśi yāsi tvaṁ yatprakārikā||57||

Parameshwari, if you still want to give me something then Queen of devas(Deveshi), kindly tell me in the proper manner about your truth / principle / form (tatvam)

यत्प्रमाणा यदाधारा यदुपाया सनातनी।

यस्य त्वं तेन वा देवि संबन्धस्तव यद्विधः॥५८॥

yatpramāṇā yadādhārā yadupāyā sanātanī|

yasya tvaṁ tena vā devi saṁbandhastava yadvidhaḥ||58||

Sri Mahalakshmi , you are eternal, what are the proofs to know you?  what is your basis(root)? what is the way or the means to attain you? You belong to whom? What is the kind of (yadvidha) your relationship with him?

यच्चान्यद्वेदितव्यं ते नानाशास्त्रोपबृंहितम्‌।

कथयेश्वरि तत्सर्वमुपसन्नोऽस्म्यधीहि भो॥५९॥

yaccānyadveditavyaṁ te nānāśāstropabṛṁhitam|

kathayeśvari tatsarvamupasanno'smyadhīhi bho||59||

O lakshmi , please tell and bestow upon me all those various sastras and other writings to know(veditavayam) you (te)

इति प्रसादिता तेन वत्सेनेव पयस्विनी।

स्निह्यता मनसा पद्मा पाकशासनमब्रवीत्‌॥६०॥

iti prasāditā tena vatseneva payasvinī|

snihyatā manasā padmā pākaśāsanamabravīt||60||

Having asked thus, Indra was looked at by her like a milch cow(payasvinI) at her calf. With mind full of affection, Maha Lakshmi spoke to indra, punisher of asura named paka.

श्रीः-

शृणु शक्र महाभाग या ह्यहं यत्प्रकारिका।
यस्याहं तेन वा यादृक्‌ संबन्धो मम वृत्रहन्‌॥६१॥

śrīḥ-

śṛṇu śakra mahābhāga yā hyahaṁ yatprakārikā|
yasyāhaṁ tena vā yādṛk saṁbandho mama vṛtrahan||61||

Mahalakshmi said,

Hear Indra (Chakra) the eminent, i belong to whom and the type of  relationship between us

इति श्रीपाञ्चरात्रसारे लक्ष्मीतन्त्रे शास्त्रवतारो नाम प्रथमोऽध्यायः

iti śrīpāñcarātrasāre lakṣmītantre śāstravatāro nāma prathamo'dhyāyaḥ