Chapter 4: Indra and the devas praise the Devi

ततः सुरगणाः सर्वे देव्या इन्द्रपुरोगमाः ।
स्तुतिमारेभिरे कर्तुं निहते महिषासुरे

tataḥ suragaṇāḥ sarve devyā indrapurogamāḥ |
stutimārebhire kartuṃ nihate mahiṣāsure

The Rishi said: When Mahishasura had been slain, all the hosts of the gods, led by Indra, began to sing the Devi's praise.

शक्रादयः सुरगणा निहतेऽतिवीर्ये
तस्मिन् दुरात्मनि सुरारिबले च देव्या ।
तां तुष्टुवुः प्रणतिनम्रशिरोधरांसा
वाग्भिः प्रहर्षपुलकोद्गमचारुदेहाः

śakrādayaḥ suragaṇā nihate'tivīrye
tasmin durātmani surāribale ca devyā |
tāṃ tuṣṭuvuḥ praṇatinamraśirodharāṃsā
vāgbhiḥ praharṣapulakodgamacārudehāḥ

When the Devi had slain that mighty, evil-hearted one and the army of the gods' enemies, Indra and the other gods praised her in words, their necks and shoulders bowed low, their bodies lovely with the thrill of joy.

देव्या यया ततमिदं जगदात्मशक्त्या
निः शेषदेवगणशक्तिसमूहमूर्त्या ।
तामम्बिकामखिलदेवमर्षिपूज्यां
भक्त्या नताः स्म विदधातु शुभानि सा नः

devyā yayā tatamidaṃ jagadātmaśaktyā
niḥ śeṣadevagaṇaśaktisamūhamūrtyā |
tāmambikāmakhiladevamarṣipūjyāṃ
bhaktyā natāḥ sma vidadhātu śubhāni sā naḥ

The gods said: To Ambika, who by her own power pervades this world, whose form is the gathered power of all the gods, who is worshipped by all gods and maharshis, we bow in devotion. May she grant us what is auspicious.

यस्याः प्रभावमतुलं भगवाननन्तो
ब्रह्मा हरश्च नहि वक्तुमलं बलं च ।
सा चण्डिकाखिलजगत्परिपालनाय
नाशाय चाशुभयस्य मतिं करोतु

yasyāḥ prabhāvamatulaṃ bhagavānananto
brahmā haraśca nahi vaktumalaṃ balaṃ ca |
sā caṇḍikākhilajagatparipālanāya
nāśāya cāśubhayasya matiṃ karotu

Her matchless glory and strength neither Bhagwan Ananta (Vishnu), nor Brahma, nor Hara (Shiva) is able to describe. May that Chandika set her mind on protecting the whole world and on destroying the fear of evil.

या श्रीः स्वयं सुकृतिनां भवनेष्वलक्ष्मीः
पापात्मनां कृतधियां हृदयेषु बुद्धिः ।
श्रद्धां सतां कुलजनप्रभवस्य लज्जा
तां त्वां नताः स्म परिपालय देवि विश्वम्

yā śrīḥ svayaṃ sukṛtināṃ bhavaneṣvalakṣmīḥ
pāpātmanāṃ kṛtadhiyāṃ hṛdayeṣu buddhiḥ |
śraddhāṃ satāṃ kulajanaprabhavasya lajjā
tāṃ tvāṃ natāḥ sma paripālaya devi viśvam

You yourself are Shri, good fortune, in the homes of the virtuous, and misfortune in the homes of the sinful. You are understanding in the hearts of the wise, faith in the good, and modesty in those of noble birth. To you we bow. O Devi, protect the universe.

किं वर्णयाम तव रूपमचिन्त्यमेतत्
किं चातिवीर्यमसुरक्षयकारि भूरि ।
किं चाहवेषु चरितानि तवाद्भुतानि
सर्वेषु देव्यसुरदेवगणादिकेषु

kiṃ varṇayāma tava rūpamacintyametat
kiṃ cātivīryamasurakṣayakāri bhūri |
kiṃ cāhaveṣu caritāni tavādbhutāni
sarveṣu devyasuradevagaṇādikeṣu

How can we describe this form of yours, beyond all thought? Or your great valour that destroys the asuras? Or your wondrous deeds in battles among all the hosts of gods, asuras and others?

हेतुः समस्तजगतां त्रिगुणापि दोषैर्
न ज्ञायसे हरिहरादिभिरप्यपारा ।
सर्वाश्रयाखिलमिदं जगदंशभूतम्
अव्याकृता हि परमा प्रकृतिस्त्वमाद्या

hetuḥ samastajagatāṃ triguṇāpi doṣair
na jñāyase hariharādibhirapyapārā |
sarvāśrayākhilamidaṃ jagadaṃśabhūtam
avyākṛtā hi paramā prakṛtistvamādyā

You are the cause of all the worlds. Though you hold the three gunas, no fault touches you. Even Hari and Hara cannot know you, for you are boundless. You are the refuge of all; this whole world is a part of you. You are the supreme, unmanifest, primal Prakriti.

यस्याः समस्तसुरता समुदीरणेन
तृप्तिं प्रयान्ति सकलेषु मखेषु देवि ।
स्वाहासि वै पितृगणस्य च तृप्तिहेतुर्
उच्चार्यसे त्वमत एव जनैः स्वधा च

yasyāḥ samastasuratā samudīraṇena
tṛptiṃ prayānti sakaleṣu makheṣu devi |
svāhāsi vai pitṛgaṇasya ca tṛptihetur
uccāryase tvamata eva janaiḥ svadhā ca

O Devi, you are Svaha, by whose utterance all the gods are satisfied in every sacrifice. You are also Svadha, the cause of the satisfaction of the ancestors, and so people utter you as Svadha.

या मुक्तिहेतुरविचिन्त्यमहाव्रता त्वम्
अभ्यस्यसे सुनियतेन्द्रियतत्त्वसारैः ।
मोक्षार्थिभिर्मुनिभिरस्तसमस्तदोषैर्
विद्यासि सा भगवती परमा हि देवि

yā muktiheturavicintyamahāvratā tvam
abhyasyase suniyatendriyatattvasāraiḥ |
mokṣārthibhirmunibhirastasamastadoṣair
vidyāsi sā bhagavatī paramā hi devi

O Devi, you are the cause of liberation, the great vow beyond thought. Sages who seek moksha, who have mastered their senses, hold fast to truth and are free of every fault, practise you. You are Bhagavati, the supreme Knowledge.

शब्दात्मिका सुविमलर्ग्यजुषां निधानम्
उद्गीथरम्यपदपाठवतां च साम्नाम् ।
देवी त्रयी भगवती भवभावनाय
वार्ता च सर्वजगतां परमार्तिहन्त्री

śabdātmikā suvimalargyajuṣāṃ nidhānam
udgītharamyapadapāṭhavatāṃ ca sāmnām |
devī trayī bhagavatī bhavabhāvanāya
vārtā ca sarvajagatāṃ paramārtihantrī

You are the soul of sound, the treasury of the pure hymns of the Rig and Yajur Veda and of the Sama chants, lovely with their Udgitha and recited words. You are the threefold Veda, the Goddess, given for the welfare of the world. You are Varta, the livelihood of all beings, and you destroy their gravest suffering.

मेधासि देवि विदिताखिलशास्त्रसारा
दुर्गासि दुर्गभवसागरनौरसङ्गा ।
श्रीः कैटभारिहृदयैककृताधिवासा
गौरी त्वमेव शशिमौलिकृतप्रतिष्ठा

medhāsi devi viditākhilaśāstrasārā
durgāsi durgabhavasāgaranaurasaṅgā |
śrīḥ kaiṭabhārihṛdayaikakṛtādhivāsā
gaurī tvameva śaśimaulikṛtapratiṣṭhā

O Devi, you are Medha, the intellect that has grasped the heart of every shastra. You are Durga, the boat that crosses the hard ocean of worldly life, yourself unattached. You are Shri, who dwells only in the heart of Vishnu, the foe of Kaitabha. You are Gauri, who has her place with Shiva, the moon-crowned.

ईषत्सहासममलं परिपूर्णचन्द्र-
बिम्बानुकारि कनकोत्तमकान्तिकान्तम् ।
अत्यद्भुतं प्रहृतमात्तरुषा तथापि
वक्त्रं विलोक्य सहसा महिषासुरेण

īṣatsahāsamamalaṃ paripūrṇacandra-
bimbānukāri kanakottamakāntikāntam |
atyadbhutaṃ prahṛtamāttaruṣā tathāpi
vaktraṃ vilokya sahasā mahiṣāsureṇa

Your face, gently smiling, spotless, like the full moon's disc and lovely with the glow of finest gold, was a great wonder. Yet Mahishasura, seized by rage, saw it and struck at it all the same.

दृष्ट्वा तु देवि कुपितं भ्रुकुटीकरालम्
उद्यच्छशाङ्कसदृशच्छवि यन्न सद्यः ।
प्राणान्मुमोच महीषस्तदतीव चित्रं
कैर्जीव्यते हि कुपितान्तकदर्शनेन

dṛṣṭvā tu devi kupitaṃ bhrukuṭīkarālam
udyacchaśāṅkasadṛśacchavi yanna sadyaḥ |
prāṇānmumoca mahīṣastadatīva citraṃ
kairjīvyate hi kupitāntakadarśanena

And stranger still, O Devi, that when Mahisha saw your face in anger, terrible with frowning brows and red as the rising moon, he did not give up his life at once. For who can live after seeing Death himself enraged?

देवि प्रसीद परमा भवती भवाय
सद्यो विनाशयसि कोपवती कुलानि ।
विज्ञातमेतदधुनैव यदस्तमेतन्
नीतं बलं सुविपुलं महिषासुरस्य

devi prasīda paramā bhavatī bhavāya
sadyo vināśayasi kopavatī kulāni |
vijñātametadadhunaiva yadastametan
nītaṃ balaṃ suvipulaṃ mahiṣāsurasya

O Devi, be gracious. You, the Supreme, are for the world's well-being. When angered you destroy whole races at once. We have just seen it, for the vast army of Mahishasura has been brought to its end.

ते संमता जनपदेषु धनानि तेषां
तेषां यशांसि न च सीदति धर्मवर्गः ।
धन्यास्त एव निभृतात्मजभृत्यदारा
येषां सदाभ्युदयदा भवती प्रसन्ना

te saṃmatā janapadeṣu dhanāni teṣāṃ
teṣāṃ yaśāṃsi na ca sīdati dharmavargaḥ |
dhanyāsta eva nibhṛtātmajabhṛtyadārā
yeṣāṃ sadābhyudayadā bhavatī prasannā

Those on whom you are pleased, you who always grant prosperity, are honoured among the people. Theirs is wealth, theirs is fame, and their dharma never fails. Blessed are they, with obedient sons, servants and wives.

धर्म्याणि देवि सकलानि सदैव कर्माण्य्
अत्यादृतः प्रतिदिनं सुकृती करोति ।
स्वर्गं प्रयाति च ततो भवतीप्रसादाल्
लोकत्रयेऽपि फलदा ननु देवि तेन

dharmyāṇi devi sakalāni sadaiva karmāṇy
atyādṛtaḥ pratidinaṃ sukṛtī karoti |
svargaṃ prayāti ca tato bhavatīprasādāl
lokatraye'pi phaladā nanu devi tena

O Devi, by your grace the virtuous man performs every righteous act, daily and with great care, and so reaches heaven. Are you not, then, the giver of fruit in all three worlds?

दुर्गे स्मृता हरसि भीतिमशेषजन्तोः
स्वस्थैः स्मृता मतिमतीव शुभां ददासि ।
दारिद्र्यदुःखभयहारिणि का त्वदन्या
सर्वोपकारकरणाय सदाऽऽर्द्रचित्ता

durge smṛtā harasi bhītimaśeṣajantoḥ
svasthaiḥ smṛtā matimatīva śubhāṃ dadāsi |
dāridryaduḥkhabhayahāriṇi kā tvadanyā
sarvopakārakaraṇāya sadā''rdracittā

O Durga, remembered in distress, you remove the fear of every creature. Remembered by those at ease, you grant a most auspicious mind. Who but you, remover of poverty, pain and fear, has a heart ever tender to help all?

एभिर्हतैर्जगदुपैति सुखं तथैते
कुर्वन्तु नाम नरकाय चिराय पापम् ।
संग्राममृत्युमधिगम्य दिवं प्रयान्तु
मत्वेति नूनमहितान् विनिहंसि देवि

ebhirhatairjagadupaiti sukhaṃ tathaite
kurvantu nāma narakāya cirāya pāpam |
saṃgrāmamṛtyumadhigamya divaṃ prayāntu
matveti nūnamahitān vinihaṃsi devi

'With these slain the world will be at peace. And though these have done sin enough for long ages in hell, let them meet death in battle and go to heaven.' Surely thinking so, O Devi, you slay the wicked.

दृष्ट्वैव किं न भवती प्रकरोति भस्म
सर्वासुरानरिषु यत्प्रहिणोषि शस्त्रम् ।
लोकान् प्रयान्तु रिपवोऽपि हि शस्त्रपूता
इत्थं मतिर्भवति तेष्वपि तेऽतिसाध्वी

dṛṣṭvaiva kiṃ na bhavatī prakaroti bhasma
sarvāsurānariṣu yatprahiṇoṣi śastram |
lokān prayāntu ripavo'pi hi śastrapūtā
itthaṃ matirbhavati teṣvapi te'tisādhvī

Could you not reduce all the asuras to ashes by a mere glance? Yet you send your weapons against your enemies, so that even they, purified by your weapons, may reach the higher worlds. So kind is your intent even toward them.

खड्गप्रभानिकरविस्फुरणैस्तथोग्रैः
शूलाग्रकान्तिनिवहेन दृशोऽसुराणाम् ।
यन्नागता विलयमंशुमदिन्दुखण्ड-
योग्याननं तव विलोकयतां तदेतत्

khaḍgaprabhānikaravisphuraṇaistathograiḥ
śūlāgrakāntinivahena dṛśo'surāṇām |
yannāgatā vilayamaṃśumadindukhaṇḍa-
yogyānanaṃ tava vilokayatāṃ tadetat

The eyes of the asuras were not destroyed by the fierce flashing of your sword nor by the gleam of your trident's point, because they were looking at your face, which is like a portion of the radiant moon.

दुर्वृत्तवृत्तशमनं तव देवि शीलं
रूपं तथैतदविचिन्त्यमतुल्यमन्यैः ।
वीर्यं च हन्तृ हृतदेवपराक्रमाणां
वैरिष्वपि प्रकटितैव दया त्वयेत्थम्

durvṛttavṛttaśamanaṃ tava devi śīlaṃ
rūpaṃ tathaitadavicintyamatulyamanyaiḥ |
vīryaṃ ca hantṛ hṛtadevaparākramāṇāṃ
vairiṣvapi prakaṭitaiva dayā tvayettham

O Devi, your nature is to quell the conduct of the wicked. Your form is beyond thought and beyond compare. Your might destroys those who had robbed the gods of their valour. Even toward enemies you have shown such compassion.

केनोपमा भवतु तेऽस्य पराक्रमस्य
रूपं च शत्रुभयकार्यतिहारि कुत्र ।
चित्ते कृपा समरनिष्ठुरता च दृष्टा
त्वय्येव देवि वरदे भुवनत्रयेऽपि

kenopamā bhavatu te'sya parākramasya
rūpaṃ ca śatrubhayakāryatihāri kutra |
citte kṛpā samaraniṣṭhuratā ca dṛṣṭā
tvayyeva devi varade bhuvanatraye'pi

What can compare with your valour? Where is a form like yours, most lovely yet striking terror into enemies? Compassion in the heart and sternness in battle, O giver of boons, are seen in the three worlds in you alone.

त्रैलोक्यमेतदखिलं रिपुनाशनेन
त्रातं त्वया समरमूर्धनि तेऽपि हत्वा ।
नीता दिवं रिपुगणा भयमप्यपास्तम्
अस्माकमुन्मदसुरारिभवं नमस्ते

trailokyametadakhilaṃ ripunāśanena
trātaṃ tvayā samaramūrdhani te'pi hatvā |
nītā divaṃ ripugaṇā bhayamapyapāstam
asmākamunmadasurāribhavaṃ namaste

By destroying the enemies you have saved these three worlds. Slaying even those foes at the forefront of battle, you led them to heaven, and you have driven away our fear of the frenzied enemies of the gods. Salutations to you.

शूलेन पाहि नो देवि पाहि खड्गेन चाम्बिके ।
घण्टास्वनेन नः पाहि चापज्यानिः स्वनेन च

śūlena pāhi no devi pāhi khaḍgena cāmbike |
ghaṇṭāsvanena naḥ pāhi cāpajyāniḥ svanena ca

Protect us, O Devi, with your trident. Protect us, Ambika, with your sword. Protect us with the sound of your bell and with the twang of your bowstring.

प्राच्यां रक्ष प्रतीच्यां च चण्डिके रक्ष दक्षिणे ।
भ्रामणेनात्मशूलस्य उत्तरस्यां तथेश्वरि

prācyāṃ rakṣa pratīcyāṃ ca caṇḍike rakṣa dakṣiṇe |
bhrāmaṇenātmaśūlasya uttarasyāṃ tatheśvari

O Chandika, guard us in the east and in the west, guard us in the south, and in the north too, O Ishvari, by whirling your trident.

सौम्यानि यानि रूपाणि त्रैलोक्ये विचरन्ति ते ।
यानि चात्यर्थघोराणि तै रक्षास्मांस्तथा भुवम्

saumyāni yāni rūpāṇi trailokye vicaranti te |
yāni cātyarthaghorāṇi tai rakṣāsmāṃstathā bhuvam

With those gentle forms of yours that move through the three worlds, and with those that are exceedingly terrible, protect us and the earth.

खड्गशूलगदादीनि यानि चास्त्राणि तेऽम्बिके ।
करपल्लवसङ्गीनि तैरस्मान् रक्ष सर्वतः

khaḍgaśūlagadādīni yāni cāstrāṇi te'mbike |
karapallavasaṅgīni tairasmān rakṣa sarvataḥ

O Ambika, with the sword, trident, mace and every other weapon that rests in your tender hands, protect us on every side.

एवं स्तुता सुरैर्दिव्यैः कुसुमैर्नन्दनोद्भवैः ।
अर्चिता जगतां धात्री तथा गन्धानुलेपनैः

evaṃ stutā surairdivyaiḥ kusumairnandanodbhavaiḥ |
arcitā jagatāṃ dhātrī tathā gandhānulepanaiḥ

The Rishi said: Thus praised by the gods, the sustainer of the worlds was worshipped with heavenly flowers grown in the Nandana garden, and with perfumes and fragrant pastes.

भक्त्या समस्तैस्त्रिदशार्दिव्यैर्धूपैस्तु धूपिता ।
प्राह प्रसादसुमुखी समस्तान् प्रणतान् सुरान्

bhaktyā samastaistridaśārdivyairdhūpaistu dhūpitā |
prāha prasādasumukhī samastān praṇatān surān

When all the gods had in devotion offered her heavenly incense, she, her face bright with grace, spoke to all the gods bowed before her.

व्रियतां त्रिदशाः सर्वे यदस्मत्तोऽभिवाञ्छितम् ।
ददाम्यहमतिप्रीत्या स्तवैरेभिः सुपूजिता

vriyatāṃ tridaśāḥ sarve yadasmatto'bhivāñchitam |
dadāmyahamatiprītyā stavairebhiḥ supūjitā

The Devi said: O gods, all of you, choose whatever you desire of me. Well worshipped by these hymns, I am greatly pleased and will grant it.

कर्तव्यमपरं यच्च दुष्करं तन्न विद्महे ।
इत्याकर्ण्ये वचो देव्याः प्रत्यूचुस्ते दिवौकसः

kartavyamaparaṃ yacca duṣkaraṃ tanna vidmahe |
ityākarṇye vaco devyāḥ pratyūcuste divaukasaḥ

'I know of nothing else to be done, however hard.' Hearing these words of the Devi, the dwellers of heaven replied.

भगवत्या कृतं सर्वं न किञ्चिदवशिष्यते ।
यदयं निहतः शत्रुरस्माकं महिषासुरः

bhagavatyā kṛtaṃ sarvaṃ na kiñcidavaśiṣyate |
yadayaṃ nihataḥ śatrurasmākaṃ mahiṣāsuraḥ

The gods said: Bhagavati has done everything. Nothing remains, since this enemy of ours, Mahishasura, has been slain.

यदि चापि वरो देयस्त्वयास्माकं महेश्वरि ।
संस्मृता संस्मृता त्वं नो हिंसेथाः परमापदः

yadi cāpi varo deyastvayāsmākaṃ maheśvari |
saṃsmṛtā saṃsmṛtā tvaṃ no hiṃsethāḥ paramāpadaḥ

Yet if you would grant us a boon, O Great Goddess, then whenever we remember you, destroy our greatest calamities.

यश्च मर्त्यः स्तवैरेभिस्त्वां स्तोष्यत्यमलानने ।
तस्य वित्तर्धिविभवैर्धनदारादिसम्पदाम् ।
वृद्धयेऽस्मात्प्रसन्ना त्वं भवेथाः सर्वदाम्बिके

yaśca martyaḥ stavairebhistvāṃ stoṣyatyamalānane |
tasya vittardhivibhavairdhanadārādisampadām |
vṛddhaye'smātprasannā tvaṃ bhavethāḥ sarvadāmbike

And O Ambika of spotless face, whatever mortal praises you with these hymns, be ever gracious to him, so that his wealth, prosperity and fortune, his riches and family, may grow.

इति प्रसादिता देवैर्जगतोर्ऽथे तथाऽत्मनः ।
तथेत्युक्त्वा भद्रकाली बभूवान्तर्हिता नृप

iti prasāditā devairjagator'the tathā'tmanaḥ |
tathetyuktvā bhadrakālī babhūvāntarhitā nṛpa

The Rishi said: O king, thus propitiated by the gods for the sake of the world and for their own sake, Bhadrakali said 'So be it' and vanished from sight.

इत्येतत्कथितं भूप सम्भूता सा यथा पुरा ।
देवी देवशरीरेभ्यो जगत्त्रयहितैषिणी

ityetatkathitaṃ bhūpa sambhūtā sā yathā purā |
devī devaśarīrebhyo jagattrayahitaiṣiṇī

O king, I have told you how in the past the Devi, who seeks the good of the three worlds, arose from the bodies of the gods.

पुनश्च गौरीदेहात् सा समुद्भूता यथाभवत् ।
वधाय दुष्टदैत्यानां तथा शुम्भनिशुम्भयोः

punaśca gaurīdehāt sā samudbhūtā yathābhavat |
vadhāya duṣṭadaityānāṃ tathā śumbhaniśumbhayoḥ

Hear now how she arose again from the body of Gauri to slay the wicked Daityas, and Shumbha and Nishumbha.

रक्षणाय च लोकानां देवानामुपकारिणी ।
तच्छृणुष्व मयाऽख्यातं यथावत्कथयामि ते

rakṣaṇāya ca lokānāṃ devānāmupakāriṇī |
tacchṛṇuṣva mayā'khyātaṃ yathāvatkathayāmi te

She came to protect the worlds as the helper of the gods. Listen to it as I tell it to you, just as it happened.