Scripture class by Rev. Dr. Swami Bhajanananda Saraswati on Devi Gita, chapter 1, verses 54- 57 given to students of the Ramakrishna Seminary at Kali Mandir via Zoom on 1 March 2023.

इति स्तुता तदा देवैर्मणिद्वीपाधिवासिनी |

प्राह वाचा मधुरया मत्तकोकिलनिःस्वना || ५४ ||

iti stutā tadā devair-maṇi-dvīpādhi-vāsinī |

prāha vācā madhurayā matta-kokila-niḥsvanā || 54 ||

54. "Thus praised by the gods, She who dwells in the Jeweled Island then answered in the sweet, joyous tones of the cuckoo."

श्रीदेव्युवाच वदन्तु विबुधाः कार्यं यदर्थमिहिअ सङ्गताः |

वरदा हं सदा भक्तकामकल्पद्रुमा स्मि च || ५५ ||

śrī-devyuvāca vadantu vibudhāḥ kāryaṃ yadarthamihia saṅgatāḥ |

varadā haṃ sadā bhakta-kāma-kalpa-drumā smi ca || 55 ||

55. The blessed Goddess said: “O wise gods, explain the reason that brings you together here. I am ever the bestower of boons, a wish-yeiliding tree to devotees.”

तिष्ठन्त्यां मयि का चिन्ता युष्माकं भक्तिशालिनाम् |

समुद्धरामि मद्भक्तान् दुःखसंसारसागरात् || ५६ ||

tiṣṭhantyāṃ mayi kā cintā yuṣmākaṃ bhakti-śālinām |

samud-dharāmi madbhaktān duḥkha-saṃsāra-sāgarāt || 56 ||

56. "You shine with devotion, so why are you anxious when I stand nearby? I rescue my devotees from the troubled ocean of samsara."

इति प्रतिज्ञां मे सत्यां जानीथ विबुधोत्तमाः |

इति प्रेमाकुलां वाणीं श्रुत्वा सन्तुष्टमानसाः || ५७

iti pratijñāṃ me satyāṃ jānītha vibudhottamāḥ |

iti premākulāṃ vāṇīṃ śrutvā santuṣṭamānasāḥ || 56.

56. "Know this promise of Mine to be sincere, O best of the gods." (Vyāsa continued): "Hearing these words infused with loving joy, the gods were satisfied in their hearts."

निर्भया निर्जरा राजन्नूचुर्दुःखं स्वकीयकम् | ५८ |

nirbhayā nirjarā rājannūcurduḥkhaṃ svakīyakam | 58 |

58. "Freed from fear, the immortals described their own ordeals, O King."