Durga Saptashati Chapter 12: The Fruit of Reading the Devi Mahatmya

Chapter 12 is the phala shruti. In it the Goddess herself tells what comes to one who reads or hears her story.

The Goddess's word

The Goddess said: "Whoever praises me daily with these hymns with a focused mind, all their obstacles I will surely remove."

• Those who recite the story of the destruction of Madhu and Kaitabha, the slaying of Mahishasura and of Shumbha and Nishumbha,
• and those who on Ashtami, Chaturdashi and Navami listen with a focused mind and devotion to this supreme glorification of mine,

will not be touched by sin or the calamity born of sin; they will not suffer poverty or separation from those they love.

Protection through the path

The Goddess says that one who reads this glorification:

• will have no fear of enemies, robbers, kings, weapons, fire or floods.
• So this glorification of mine should be read with a focused mind and heard with devotion; it is supremely auspicious.
• It calms all the troubles of epidemics and the three kinds of calamity.
• I never leave the place where it is regularly read; my presence remains there always.
• At offerings, worship, fire rituals and festivals this story of mine should be read and heard in full.

The annual worship in autumn

The Goddess says especially: "In the great annual worship held in autumn (Sharad Navratri), whoever hears this glorification of mine with devotion will, by my grace, be freed from all obstacles and blessed with wealth, grain and children; of this there is no doubt."

More fruits

• Hearing this glorification and the auspicious stories of my appearances, a person becomes fearless in battle.
• For those who hear it, enemies perish, good fortune comes and the family is happy.
• It should be heard in rites for peace, after bad dreams and in planetary afflictions; it calms troubles, eases the planets and turns bad dreams into good.
• It brings peace to children troubled by afflictions, and friendship where people have fallen out.
• It destroys the strength of the wicked, and rakshasas, ghosts and spirits perish by its mere recitation.

The Goddess vanishes

The Goddess said: "This whole glorification of mine brings one near to me. The pleasure I receive from a year of worship with animals, flowers, water offerings, incense, perfume and lamps, from feeding Brahmins, from fire offerings, from bathing the image day and night, and from many offerings and gifts, I receive from hearing this sacred story of mine once."

So saying, Chandika vanished there as the gods watched. The gods regained their positions and enjoyed their share of sacrifice, fearless now that their enemies were slain. The sage Medha said: "O King, though eternal, the Goddess appears again and again to protect the world; by her this world is deluded, by her it is created, and when prayed to she is pleased and grants knowledge and prosperity."

What this chapter teaches

• The greatest worship is hearing the story with faith; the Goddess says one hearing equals a year of worship.
• The purpose of the path is to remove fear and give courage; the Mother's story supports a frightened mind.
• Regular reading at home creates a positive atmosphere: "Where it is read, there I dwell."
• This story also mends quarrels and brings friendship, a means of unity in family and society.