मार्कण्डेय उवाच
विशुद्धज्ञानदेहाय त्रिवेदीदिव्यचक्षुषे ।
श्रेयः प्राप्तिनिमित्ताय नमः सोमार्धधारिणे ॥१॥
Maarkannddeya Uvaaca
Vishuddha-Jnyaana-Dehaaya Tri-Vedii-Divya-Cakssusse |
Shreyah Praapti-Nimittaaya Namah Soma-Ardha-Dhaarinne ||1||
Meaning:
Sage Markandeya said:
1.1: (I offer my Salutations to the One) The essence of Whose
Form is that of
Pure Knowledge (of Absolute Consciousness)
[Vishuddha-Jnana-Dehaya] and Whose
Three Divine Eyes form the
Three Vedas [Tri-Vedi-Divya-Cakssusse],
1.2: To
imbibe that
Auspiciousness (of Pure Knowledge) (I meditate on Shiva and Shakti in their Conscious Bissful Form):
- I offer my
Salutations (to Shiva) Who
bear the
Half-of-Soma (in His Head as Crescent Moon) (Soma here is Moon) and also,
- I offer my
Salutations (to Shakti) Who
bear the
Half-of-Soma (in Her Body as Ardhanareeswara) (Soma here is Shiva) (Soma is another name of Shiva).
(Since Shakti bear half the body of Shiva, She also has the same qualities of Shiva, of Visuddha Jnana Deha and Trivedi Divya Cakssu.Keelaka is Pin or Nail. The Conscious Form of Shakti is pinned to all the mantras of Devi Mahatmyam as the underlying principle through the Keelaka Stotram.) 
सर्वमेतद् विजानीयान्मन्त्राणामपि कीलकम् ।
सोऽपि क्षेममवाप्नोति सततं जाप्यतत्परः ॥२॥ ॥२॥
Sarvam-Etad Vijaaniiyaan-Mantraannaam-Api Kiilakam |
So-
[A]pi Kssemam-Avaapnoti Satatam Jaapya-Tatparah ||2||
Meaning:
2.1: All these (Hymns of Keelaka Stotram),
one should know, are
indeed the
Keelaka (Pin or Nail) by which the
Mantras (of Devi Mahatmyan are pinned) (i.e. by which the underlying principle of the Conscious Form of Devi are pinned),
2.2: He who devotes himself to
continuously chant these hymns,
indeed attains Tranquility of Mind (i.e. he who continuously meditates on the Conscious Form of Devi in the heart indeed attains Tranquility of Mind).

सिद्ध्यन्त्युच्चाटनादीनि कर्माणि सकलान्यपि ।
एतेन स्तुवतां देविं स्तोत्रवृन्देन भक्तितः ॥३॥
Siddhyanty
[i]-Uccaattana-
[A]adiini Karmaanni Sakalaany
[i]-Api |
Etena Stuvataam Devim Stotra-Vrndena Bhaktitah ||3||
Meaning:
3.1: He
accomplishes Uccatana (eradication of inner enemies) to the very
root, and all related (spiritual)
accomplishments, ...
3.2: ... by
extolling the
Devi with
Devotional fervour with this
collection of
Hymns (knowing their true import).

न मन्त्रो नौषधं तत्र न किञ्चिदपि विद्यते ।
विना जप्येन सिद्धयेत्तु सर्वमुच्चाटनादिकम् ॥४॥
Na Mantro Na-
[A]ussadham Tatra Na Kin.cid-Api Vidyate |
Vinaa Japyena Siddhayet-Tu Sarvam-Uccaattana-
[A]adikam ||4||
Meaning:
4.1: There are
no Mantras (Hymns) or
Ousadha (Medicine)
available,
even a
trace (which can accomplish Uccatana),
4.2: Without chanting (any Mantras) one
accomplishes Uccatana (eradication of inner enemies),
all to its very
root (by meditating on the Conscious Form of Devi in the heart while reciting the Devi Mahatmyam).
(Here reciting Devi Mahatmyam is not like chanting any Mantra to obtain the fruit of Uccatana, but for meditation on the Conscious Form of Devi and merging our ego in Her.)
समग्राण्यपि सेत्स्यन्ति लोकशङ्कामिमां हरः ।
कृत्वा निमन्त्रयामास सर्वमेवमिदं शुभम् ॥५॥
Samagraanny
[i]-Api Setsyanti Loka-Shangkaam-Imaam Harah |
Krtvaa Nimantrayaamaasa Sarvam-Evam-Idam Shubham ||5||
Meaning:
5.1: (People had this doubt) (How can it be that)
Everything is
indeed accomplished (Uccatana and other fruits) (by reciting the Devi Mahatmyam which appears to be full of violence?); When
people had
this apprehension,
Lord Shiva ...
5.2: ...
summoned (i.e. invoked) (the Pin of Keelaka) (and pinned the underlying principle of the Conscious Form of Devi to all the Mantras of Devi Mahatmyam); and having done that
all this indeed became
Auspicious (i.e. now the violence in the battlefield became the Auspicious force purging us from within).

स्तोत्रं वै चण्डिकायास्तु तच्च गुह्यं चकार सः ।
समाप्नोति स पुण्येन तां यथावन्निमन्त्रणाम् ॥६॥
Stotram Vai Cannddikaayaas-Tu Tac-Ca Guhyam Cakaara Sah |
Samaapnoti Sa Punnyena Taam Yathaavan-Nimantrannaam ||6||
Meaning:
6.1: That Stotra of
Devi Chandika (i.e. Keelaka Stotra),
He (i.e. Lord Shiva) indeed
made it
hidden (behind every Mantra of Devi Mahatmyam) (thus making the Conscious Form of Devi as the object of meditation),
6.2: He achieves everything by
Her Auspiciousness, when She is
invoked in the
right manner (by meditating on Her eternal Conscious Form).

सोऽपि क्षेममवाप्नोति सर्वमेव न संशयः ।
कृष्णायां वा चतुर्दश्यामष्टम्यां वा समाहितः ॥७॥
So-
[A]pi Kssemam-Avaapnoti Sarvam-Eva Na Samshayah |
Krssnnaayaam Vaa Caturdashyaam-Assttamyaam Vaa Samaahitah ||7||
Meaning:
7.1: He indeed attains Tranquility of Mind and
all other fruits, there is
no doubt about it, ...
7.2: ... he who
meditates (on the Devi) on
Krishna Paksha Chaturdashi or Ashtami of a month.

ददाति प्रतिगृह्णाति नान्यथैषा प्रसीदति ।
इत्थंरूपेण कीलेन महादेवेन कीलितम् ॥८॥
Dadaati Pratigrhnnaati Na-Anyathai
[aa-E]ssaa Prasiidati |
Ittham-Ruupenna Kiilena Mahaadevena Kiilitam ||8||
Meaning:
8.1: (While meditating on the Conscious Form of Devi during recitation of Devi Mahatmyam) He should
give himself in Surrender to Her Lotus Feet, and
receive in
return Her Grace (when Her Grace is awakened);
Otherwise She is
not pleased (by mechanical recitation of Devi Mahatmyam bereft of Devotion),
8.2: In this manner, by the
Keela (Pin of Keelaka Stotram)
Mahadeva pinned the Mantras of Devi Mahatmyam (making the meditation on the Conscious Form of Devi the central theme).

यो निष्कीलां विधायैनां चण्डीं जपति नित्यशः ।
स सिद्धः स गणः सोऽथ गन्धर्वो जायते ध्रुवम् ॥९॥
Yo Nisskiilaam Vidhaayai
[a-E]naam Cannddiim Japati Nityashah |
Sa Siddhah Sa Gannah Sotha Gandharvo Jaayate Dhruvam ||9||
Meaning:
9.1: He who after
unpinning the Keelaka makes Her manifest (i.e. invokes Her Conscious Form in the heart), and then
recites the
Chandi, by
constantly dwelling (on Her Conscious Form), ...
9.2: ...
He becomes a
Siddha (spiritually accomplished), he becomes a
Gana (an attendent of the Devi), he becomes a
Gandharva (celestial singer who glorifies the Devi),
truly.

न चैवापाटवं तस्य भयं क्वापि न जायते ।
नापमृत्युवशं याति मृते च मोक्षमाप्नुयात् ॥१०॥
Na Cai
[a-E]va-Apaattavam Tasya Bhayam Kvaapi Na Jaayate |
Na-Apamrtyu-Vasham Yaati Mrte Ca Mokssam-Aapnuyaat ||10||
Meaning:
10.1: He
indeed does
not become handicapped (prematurely) with
major Diseases;
Fear does
not rise in him
anywhere (which leads to unnecessary anxiety),
10.2: He does
not become victim of
premature Death;
And after
Death attains Moksha (Liberation).

ज्ञात्वा प्रारभ्य कुर्वीत ह्यकुर्वाणो विनश्यति ।
ततो ज्ञात्वैव सम्पूर्णमिदं प्रारभ्यते बुधैः ॥११॥
Jnyaatvaa Praarabhya Kurviita Hy
[i]-Akurvaanno Vinashyati |
Tato Jnyaatvai
[aa-E]va Sampuurnnam-Idam Praarabhyate Budhaih ||11||
Meaning:
11.1: (Only)
after knowing (the Keelakam), he should
begin (reciting the Devi Mahatmyam);
If not done in this manner, he is
deprived (of the fruits of recitation),
11.2: Therefore only after knowing this
fully (i.e. understanding the Keelaka fully), the
wise men
begin (reciting the Devi Mahatmyam).

सौभाग्यादि च यत्किञ्चिद् दृश्यते ललनाजने ।
तत्सर्वं तत्प्रसादेन तेन जप्यमिदं शुभम् ॥१२॥
Saubhaagya-
[A]adi Ca Yatkin.cid Drshyate Lalanaa-Jane |
Tat-Sarvam Tat-Prasaadena Tena Japyam-Idam Shubham ||12||
Meaning:
12.1: Whatever Good Fortune,
Beauty,
Charm and the
like are
seen in
Women,
12.2: All that is the result of Your
Grace; (Therefore Women) should
chant this Auspicious Stotra (and meditate on the Auspicious Form of the Devi).

शनैस्तु जप्यमानेऽस्मिन् स्तोत्रे सम्पत्तिरुच्चकैः ।
भवत्येव समग्रापि ततः प्रारभ्यमेव तत् ॥१३॥
Shanaistu Japyamaane-
[A]smin Stotre Sampattir-Uccakaih |
Bhavaty
[i]-Eva Samagra-Api Tatah Praarabhyam-Eva Tat ||13||
Meaning:
13.1: If this
Stotra is
chanted gently (without haste) (meditating on its true import), one attains (Spiritual)
Wealth of the
highest kind,
13.2: One
indeed becomes the
Whole (i.e. fragmentation of the ego gradually melts and one feels the Conscious Form of Devi behind everything);
Therefore, one should
undertake the chanting (of this Keelaka).

ऐश्वर्यं यत्प्रसादेन सौभाग्यारोग्यसम्पदः ।
शत्रुहानिः परो मोक्षः स्तूयते सा न किं जनैः ॥१४॥
Aishvaryam Yat-Prasaadena Saubhaagya-
[A]arogya-Sampadah |
Shatru-Haanih Paro Mokssah Stuuyate Saa Na Kim Janaih ||14||
Meaning:
14.1: By
Whose Grace Divine Qualities (Aishwaryam) are awakened; By Whose Presence
Good Fortune (Saubhagya),
Health (Freedom from Disease) (Arogya) and
Wealth (Sampada) are manifested,
14.2: By Whose Mercy
Enemies are
eradicated; (And) By Whose special Grace one finally attains the
highest Liberation (Moksha);
Why should'nt She be Praised by the People (Who is All-Merciful)?

चण्डिकां हृदयेनापि यः स्मरेत् सततं नरः ।
हृद्यं काममवाप्नोति हृदि देवी सदा वसेत् ॥१५॥
Cannddikaam Hrdayena-Api Yah Smaret Satatam Narah |
Hrdyam Kaamam-Avaapnoti Hrdi Devii Sadaa Vaset ||15||
Meaning:
15.1: The
person who
constantly Remembers (the Conscious Form of)
Devi Chandika by his
Heart (with Devotion),
15.2: He
attains his innermost
Longing; And
Devi always dwell in his
Heart (i.e. he always feels the presence of the Conscious Form of Devi within the Heart).

अग्रतोऽमुं महादेवकृतं कीलकवारणम् ।
निष्किलञ्च तथा कृत्वा पठितव्यं समाहितैः ॥१६॥
Agrato-
[A]mum Mahaadeva-Krtam Kiilaka-Vaarannam |
Nisskilan.-Ca Tathaa Krtvaa Patthitavyam Samaahitaih ||16||
Meaning:
16.1: First of all, the
preventive measure of
Keelaka created by
Mahadeva (i.e. the Pin of Keelaka) ...
16.2: ... should be
unpinned, and then
after doing that one should
recite (the Devi Mahatmyam) with
concentration (meditating on the Conscious Form of the Devi).

Note: Click over each Sanskrit word to get the meaning.
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Translated by greenmesg