Chapter 11: Narayani Stuti and the Devi's promise

देव्या हते तत्र महासुरेन्द्रे
सेन्द्राः सुरा वह्निपुरोगमास्ताम् ।
कात्यायनीं तुष्टुवुरिष्टलाभाद्
विकाशिवक्त्राब्जविकाशिताशाः

devyā hate tatra mahāsurendre
sendrāḥ surā vahnipurogamāstām |
kātyāyanīṃ tuṣṭuvuriṣṭalābhād
vikāśivaktrābjavikāśitāśāḥ

The Rishi said: When the great lord of the asuras had been slain there by the Devi, the gods led by Agni, with Indra among them, praised Katyayani. Their wish was fulfilled, and their faces shone like opened lotuses, brightening every quarter.

देवि प्रपन्नार्तिहरे प्रसीद
प्रसीद मातर्जगतोऽखिलस्य ।
प्रसीद विश्वेश्वरि पाहि विश्वं
त्वमीश्वरी देवि चराचरस्य

devi prapannārtihare prasīda
prasīda mātarjagato'khilasya |
prasīda viśveśvari pāhi viśvaṃ
tvamīśvarī devi carācarasya

The gods said: O Devi, remover of the suffering of those who take refuge in you, be gracious. Be gracious, Mother of the whole world. Be gracious, Queen of the universe, and protect it. You are the ruler of all that moves and does not move.

आधारभूता जगतस्त्वमेका
महीस्वरूपेण यतः स्थितासि ।
अपां स्वरूपस्थितया त्वयैतद्
आप्याय्यते कृत्स्त्रमलङ्घ्यवीर्ये

ādhārabhūtā jagatastvamekā
mahīsvarūpeṇa yataḥ sthitāsi |
apāṃ svarūpasthitayā tvayaitad
āpyāyyate kṛtstramalaṅghyavīrye

You alone are the support of the world, for you abide in the form of the earth. In the form of the waters you nourish this entire universe, O Devi of unsurpassable power.

त्वं वैष्णवी शक्तिरनन्तवीर्या
विश्वस्य बीजं परमासि माया ।
संमोहितं देवि समस्तमेतत्
तेवं वै प्रसन्ना भुवि मुक्तिहेतुः

tvaṃ vaiṣṇavī śaktiranantavīryā
viśvasya bījaṃ paramāsi māyā |
saṃmohitaṃ devi samastametat
tevaṃ vai prasannā bhuvi muktihetuḥ

You are the Vaishnavi Shakti, the power of Vishnu, of endless might. You are the seed of the universe and the supreme Maya. O Devi, by you all this is held in delusion; when you are pleased, you become the cause of liberation on earth.

विद्याः समस्तास्तव देवि भेदाः
स्त्रियः समस्ताः सकला जगत्सु ।
त्वयैकया पूरितमम्बयैतत्
का ते स्तुतिः स्तव्यपरा परोक्तिः

vidyāḥ samastāstava devi bhedāḥ
striyaḥ samastāḥ sakalā jagatsu |
tvayaikayā pūritamambayaitat
kā te stutiḥ stavyaparā paroktiḥ

O Devi, all branches of knowledge are your aspects, and so are all women in every world. By you alone, the Mother, this universe is filled. What praise can there be for you, who are beyond all that can be praised and beyond the highest speech?

सर्वभूता यदा देवी स्वर्गमुक्तिप्रदायिनी ।
त्वं स्तुता स्तुतये का वा भवन्तु परमोक्तयः

sarvabhūtā yadā devī svargamuktipradāyinī |
tvaṃ stutā stutaye kā vā bhavantu paramoktayaḥ

When you, the Devi who is all beings and the giver of heaven and liberation, have been praised as such, what words, however lofty, could suffice to praise you further?

सर्वस्य बुद्धिरूपेण जनस्य हृदि संस्थिते ।
स्वर्गापवर्गदे देवि नारायणि नमोऽस्तु ते

sarvasya buddhirūpeṇa janasya hṛdi saṃsthite |
svargāpavargade devi nārāyaṇi namo'stu te

O Devi, who dwell in the heart of every being as understanding, giver of heaven and of final release, Narayani, salutations to you.

कलाकाष्ठादिरूपेण परिणामप्रदायिनी ।
विश्वस्योपरतौ शक्ते नारायणि नमोऽस्तु ते

kalākāṣṭhādirūpeṇa pariṇāmapradāyinī |
viśvasyoparatau śakte nārāyaṇi namo'stu te

You who, in the form of moments and the smaller divisions of time, bring about all change, and who have the power to bring the universe to its end, Narayani, salutations to you.

सर्वमङ्गलमाङ्गल्ये शिवे सर्वार्थसाधिके ।
शरण्ये त्र्यम्बके गौरि नारायणि नमोऽस्तु ते

sarvamaṅgalamāṅgalye śive sarvārthasādhike |
śaraṇye tryambake gauri nārāyaṇi namo'stu te

Auspiciousness of all that is auspicious, Shiva the gracious one, who accomplish every aim, giver of refuge, three-eyed Gauri, Narayani, salutations to you.

सृष्टिस्थितिविनाशानां शक्तिभूते सनातनि ।
गुणाश्रये गुणमये नारायणि नमोऽस्तु ते

sṛṣṭisthitivināśānāṃ śaktibhūte sanātani |
guṇāśraye guṇamaye nārāyaṇi namo'stu te

You who are the power behind creation, preservation and dissolution, the eternal one, the support of the gunas and made of the gunas, Narayani, salutations to you.

शरणागतदीनार्तपरित्राणपरायणे ।
सर्वस्यार्तिहरे देवि नारायणि नमोऽस्तु ते

śaraṇāgatadīnārtaparitrāṇaparāyaṇe |
sarvasyārtihare devi nārāyaṇi namo'stu te

You who are ever intent on saving the humble and afflicted who come to you for refuge, O Devi who remove the suffering of all, Narayani, salutations to you.

हंसयुक्तविमानस्थे ब्रह्माणीरूपधारिणि ।
कौशाम्भः क्षरिके देवि नारायणि नमोऽस्तु ते

haṃsayuktavimānasthe brahmāṇīrūpadhāriṇi |
kauśāmbhaḥ kṣarike devi nārāyaṇi namo'stu te

You who ride in the celestial car drawn by swans, wearing the form of Brahmani, sprinkling water from the kusha grass, O Devi Narayani, salutations to you.

त्रिशूलचन्द्राहिधरे महावृषभवाहिनि ।
माहेश्वरीस्वरूपेण नारायणि नमोऽस्तु ते

triśūlacandrāhidhare mahāvṛṣabhavāhini |
māheśvarīsvarūpeṇa nārāyaṇi namo'stu te

You who bear the trident, the moon and the serpent, and ride the great bull, in the form of Maheshvari, Narayani, salutations to you.

मयूरकुक्कुटवृते महाशक्तिधरेऽमघे ।
कौमारीरूपसंस्थाने नारायणि नमोऽस्तु ते

mayūrakukkuṭavṛte mahāśaktidhare'maghe |
kaumārīrūpasaṃsthāne nārāyaṇi namo'stu te

You who are attended by the peacock and the cock, holding the great spear, O sinless one, standing in the form of Kaumari, Narayani, salutations to you.

शङ्खचक्रगदाशार्ङ्गगृहीतपरमायुधे ।
प्रसीद वैष्णवीरूपे नारायणि नमोऽस्तु ते

śaṅkhacakragadāśārṅgagṛhītaparamāyudhe |
prasīda vaiṣṇavīrūpe nārāyaṇi namo'stu te

You who hold the supreme weapons, the conch, discus, mace and Sharnga bow, be gracious, O Devi in the form of Vaishnavi, Narayani, salutations to you.

गृहीतोग्रमहाचक्रे दंष्ट्रोद्धृतवसुन्धरे ।
वराहरूपिणि शिवे नारायणि नमोऽस्तु ते

gṛhītogramahācakre daṃṣṭroddhṛtavasundhare |
varāharūpiṇi śive nārāyaṇi namo'stu te

You who hold the fierce great discus and lifted the earth on your tusk, auspicious one in the form of the Boar, Narayani, salutations to you.

नृसिंहरूपेणोग्रेण हन्तुं दैत्यान् कृतोद्यमे ।
त्रैलोक्यत्राणसहिते नारायणि नमोऽस्तु ते

nṛsiṃharūpeṇogreṇa hantuṃ daityān kṛtodyame |
trailokyatrāṇasahite nārāyaṇi namo'stu te

You who, in the fierce form of the Man-Lion, strove to slay the daityas, and who protect the three worlds, Narayani, salutations to you.

किरीटिनि महावज्रे सहस्रनयनोज्ज्वले ।
वृत्रप्राणहरे चैन्द्रि नारायणि नमोऽस्तु ते

kirīṭini mahāvajre sahasranayanojjvale |
vṛtraprāṇahare caindri nārāyaṇi namo'stu te

You who wear the crown and hold the great thunderbolt, shining with a thousand eyes, who took the life of Vritra, Aindri, Narayani, salutations to you.

शिवदूतीस्वरूपेण हतदैत्यमहाबले ।
घोररूपे महारावे नारायणि नमोऽस्तु ते

śivadūtīsvarūpeṇa hatadaityamahābale |
ghorarūpe mahārāve nārāyaṇi namo'stu te

You who, in the form of Shivaduti, struck down the mighty hosts of the daityas, terrible in form and loud in roar, Narayani, salutations to you.

दंष्ट्राकरालवदने शिरोमालाविभूषणे ।
चामुण्डे मुण्डमथने नारायणि नमोऽस्तु ते

daṃṣṭrākarālavadane śiromālāvibhūṣaṇe |
cāmuṇḍe muṇḍamathane nārāyaṇi namo'stu te

You whose face is dreadful with tusks, adorned with a garland of heads, Chamunda, crusher of Munda, Narayani, salutations to you.

लक्ष्मि लज्जे महाविद्ये श्रद्धे पुष्टे स्वधे ध्रुवे ।
महारात्रे महामाये नारायणि नमोऽस्तु ते

lakṣmi lajje mahāvidye śraddhe puṣṭe svadhe dhruve |
mahārātre mahāmāye nārāyaṇi namo'stu te

O Lakshmi, Modesty, great Knowledge, Faith, Nourishment, Svadha, the Constant one, great Night of dissolution and great Maya, Narayani, salutations to you.

मेधे सरस्वति वरे भूति बाभ्रवि तामसि ।
नियते त्वं प्रसीदेशे नारायणि नमोऽस्तु ते

medhe sarasvati vare bhūti bābhravi tāmasi |
niyate tvaṃ prasīdeśe nārāyaṇi namo'stu te

O Medha (intelligence), Sarasvati, best one, Prosperity, tawny Babhravi, dark Tamasi, Niyati the ordaining power, O Queen, be gracious. Narayani, salutations to you.

सर्वतः पाणिपादान्ते सर्वतोऽक्षिशिरोमुखे ।
सर्वतः श्रवणघ्राणे नारायणि नमोऽस्तु ते

sarvataḥ pāṇipādānte sarvato'kṣiśiromukhe |
sarvataḥ śravaṇaghrāṇe nārāyaṇi namo'stu te

You whose hands and feet are everywhere, whose eyes, heads and faces are on every side, whose ears and nostrils are everywhere, Narayani, salutations to you.

सर्वस्वरूपे सर्वेशे सर्वशक्तिसमन्विते ।
भयेभ्यस्त्राहि नो देवि दुर्गे देवि नमोऽस्तु ते

sarvasvarūpe sarveśe sarvaśaktisamanvite |
bhayebhyastrāhi no devi durge devi namo'stu te

You who are the form of all, the ruler of all, endowed with every power, protect us from all fears, O Devi. Durga Devi, salutations to you.

एतत्ते वदनं सौम्यं लोचनत्रयभूषितम् ।
पातु नः सर्वभीतिभ्यः कात्यायनि नमोऽस्तु ते

etatte vadanaṃ saumyaṃ locanatrayabhūṣitam |
pātu naḥ sarvabhītibhyaḥ kātyāyani namo'stu te

May this gentle face of yours, adorned with three eyes, protect us from every fear. Katyayani, salutations to you.

ज्वालाकरालमत्युग्रमशेषासुरशूदनम् ।
त्रिशूलं पातु नो भीतेर्भद्रकालि नमोऽस्तुते

jvālākarālamatyugramaśeṣāsuraśūdanam |
triśūlaṃ pātu no bhīterbhadrakāli namo'stute

May your trident, terrible with flames, exceedingly fierce, destroyer of every asura, guard us from fear. Bhadrakali, salutations to you.

हिनस्ति दैत्यतेजांसि स्वनेनापूर्य या जगत् ।
सा घण्टा पातु नो देवि पापेभ्यो नः सुतानिव

hinasti daityatejāṃsi svanenāpūrya yā jagat |
sā ghaṇṭā pātu no devi pāpebhyo naḥ sutāniva

O Devi, may your bell, which fills the world with its sound and destroys the might of the daityas, guard us from sin as a mother guards her children.

असुरासृग्वसापङ्कचर्चितस्ते करोज्ज्वलः ।
शुभाय खड्गो भवतु चण्डिके त्वां नता वयम्

asurāsṛgvasāpaṅkacarcitaste karojjvalaḥ |
śubhāya khaḍgo bhavatu caṇḍike tvāṃ natā vayam

O Chandika, may your sword, smeared with the blood and fat of asuras and gleaming in your hand, be for our good. We bow to you.

रोगानशेषानपहंसि तुष्टा
रुष्टा तु कामान् सकलानभीष्टान् ।
त्वामाश्रितानां न विपन्नराणां
त्वामाश्रिता ह्याश्रयतां प्रयान्ति

rogānaśeṣānapahaṃsi tuṣṭā
ruṣṭā tu kāmān sakalānabhīṣṭān |
tvāmāśritānāṃ na vipannarāṇāṃ
tvāmāśritā hyāśrayatāṃ prayānti

When pleased you destroy every disease; when angered you take away every cherished desire. No calamity befalls those who take refuge in you, and those who rest in you become a refuge for others.

एतत्कृतं यत्कदनं त्वयाद्य
धर्मद्विषां देवि महासुराणाम् ।
रूपैरनेकैर्बहुधाऽत्ममूर्ति
कृत्वाम्बिके तत्प्रकरोति कान्या

etatkṛtaṃ yatkadanaṃ tvayādya
dharmadviṣāṃ devi mahāsurāṇām |
rūpairanekairbahudhā'tmamūrti
kṛtvāmbike tatprakaroti kānyā

This slaughter of the great asuras, the enemies of dharma, which you have wrought today, O Ambika, by making your own form manifold in many shapes, who else could accomplish it?

विद्यासु शास्त्रेषु विवेकदीपेष्व्
आद्येषु वाक्येषु च का त्वदन्या ।
ममत्वगर्तेऽतिमहान्धकारे
विभ्रामयत्येतदतीव विश्वम्

vidyāsu śāstreṣu vivekadīpeṣv
ādyeṣu vākyeṣu ca kā tvadanyā |
mamatvagarte'timahāndhakāre
vibhrāmayatyetadatīva viśvam

Who but you is found in the sciences, in the shastras, in the lamps of discernment and in the first words, the Vedas? Yet it is you who whirl this universe round and round in the deep darkness of the pit of 'mine'.

रक्षांसि यत्रोग्रविषाश्च नागा
यत्रारयो दस्युबलानि यत्र ।
दावानलो यत्र तथाब्धिमध्ये
तत्र स्थिता त्वं परिपासि विश्वम्

rakṣāṃsi yatrograviṣāśca nāgā
yatrārayo dasyubalāni yatra |
dāvānalo yatra tathābdhimadhye
tatra sthitā tvaṃ paripāsi viśvam

Where there are rakshasas, snakes of deadly venom, enemies and bands of robbers, where forest fire rages, and in the midst of the ocean, there you stand and protect the world.

विश्वेश्वरि त्वं परिपासि विश्वं
विश्वात्मिका धारयसीति विश्वम् ।
विश्वेशवन्द्या भवती भवन्ति
विश्वाश्रया ये त्वयि भक्तिनम्राः

viśveśvari tvaṃ paripāsi viśvaṃ
viśvātmikā dhārayasīti viśvam |
viśveśavandyā bhavatī bhavanti
viśvāśrayā ye tvayi bhaktinamrāḥ

Queen of the universe, you protect the universe; as its very self you uphold it. You are worshipped by the Lord of the universe, and those who bow to you in devotion become the refuge of the universe.

देवि प्रसीद परिपालय नोऽपरिभीतेर्
नित्यं यथासुरवधादधुनैव सद्यः ।
पापानि सर्वजगतां प्रशमं नयाशु
उत्पातपाकजनितांश्च महोपसर्गान्

devi prasīda paripālaya no'paribhīter
nityaṃ yathāsuravadhādadhunaiva sadyaḥ |
pāpāni sarvajagatāṃ praśamaṃ nayāśu
utpātapākajanitāṃśca mahopasargān

O Devi, be gracious and always protect us from fear of enemies, as you have just now done by slaying the asuras. Quickly bring to rest the sins of all the worlds and the great calamities born of evil omens ripening.

प्रणतानां प्रसीद त्वं देवि विश्वार्तिहारिणी ।
त्रैलोक्यवासिनामीड्ये लोकानां वरदा भव

praṇatānāṃ prasīda tvaṃ devi viśvārtihāriṇī |
trailokyavāsināmīḍye lokānāṃ varadā bhava

O Devi who take away the suffering of the world, be gracious to us who bow to you. O you who are worthy of praise by the dwellers of the three worlds, grant boons to all the worlds.

वरदाहं सुरगण वरं यन्मनसेच्छथ ।
तं वृणुध्वं प्रयच्छामि जगतामुपकारकम्

varadāhaṃ suragaṇa varaṃ yanmanasecchatha |
taṃ vṛṇudhvaṃ prayacchāmi jagatāmupakārakam

The Devi said: Hosts of gods, I am the giver of boons. Choose whatever boon you desire in your minds, one that will benefit the worlds, and I shall grant it.

सर्वबाधाप्रशमनं त्रैलोक्यस्याखिलेश्वरि ।
एवमेव त्वया कार्यमस्मद्वैरिविनाशनम्

sarvabādhāpraśamanaṃ trailokyasyākhileśvari |
evameva tvayā kāryamasmadvairivināśanam

The gods said: O Queen of all, quieting every affliction of the three worlds and destroying our enemies, this you must always do in the same way.

वैवस्वतेऽन्तरे प्राप्ते अष्टाविंशतिमे युगे ।
शुम्भो निशुम्भश्चैवान्यावुत्पत्स्येते महासुरौ

vaivasvate'ntare prāpte aṣṭāviṃśatime yuge |
śumbho niśumbhaścaivānyāvutpatsyete mahāsurau

The Devi said: When the Vaivasvata manvantara has come, in the twenty-eighth yuga, two other great asuras named Shumbha and Nishumbha will be born.

नन्दगोपगृहे जाता यशोदागर्भसम्भवा ।
ततस्तौ नाशयिष्यामि विन्ध्याचलनिवासिनी

nandagopagṛhe jātā yaśodāgarbhasambhavā |
tatastau nāśayiṣyāmi vindhyācalanivāsinī

Then, born from the womb of Yashoda in the house of the cowherd Nanda, and dwelling on the Vindhya mountains, I shall destroy them both.

पुनरप्यतिरौद्रेण रूपेण पृथिवीतले ।
अवतीर्य हनिष्यामि वैप्रचित्तांस्तु दानवान्

punarapyatiraudreṇa rūpeṇa pṛthivītale |
avatīrya haniṣyāmi vaipracittāṃstu dānavān

Again, descending on earth in an exceedingly fierce form, I shall slay the danavas descended from Vipracitti.

भक्षयन्त्याश्च तानुग्रान् वैप्रचित्तान् सुदानवान् ।
रक्ता दन्ता भविष्यन्ति दाडिमीकुसुमोपमाः

bhakṣayantyāśca tānugrān vaipracittān sudānavān |
raktā dantā bhaviṣyanti dāḍimīkusumopamāḥ

And as I devour those fierce danavas of Vipracitti's line, my teeth will turn red like the flowers of the pomegranate.

ततो मां देवताः स्वर्गे मर्त्यलोके च मानवाः ।
स्तुवन्तो व्याहरिष्यन्ति सततं रक्तदन्तिकाम्

tato māṃ devatāḥ svarge martyaloke ca mānavāḥ |
stuvanto vyāhariṣyanti satataṃ raktadantikām

Thereafter the gods in heaven and men in the mortal world, praising me, will always call me Raktadantika, the red-toothed one.

भूयश्च शतवार्षिक्यामनावृष्ट्यामनम्भसि ।
मुनिभिः संस्तुता भूमौ संभविष्याम्ययोनिजा

bhūyaśca śatavārṣikyāmanāvṛṣṭyāmanambhasi |
munibhiḥ saṃstutā bhūmau saṃbhaviṣyāmyayonijā

Again, when there is drought without rain and without water for a hundred years, I shall appear on earth, not born from any womb, praised by the munis.

ततः शतेन नेत्राणां निरीक्षिष्यामि यन्मुनीन् ।
कीर्तयिष्यन्ति मनुजाः शताक्षीमिति मां ततः

tataḥ śatena netrāṇāṃ nirīkṣiṣyāmi yanmunīn |
kīrtayiṣyanti manujāḥ śatākṣīmiti māṃ tataḥ

Then, because I shall look upon the munis with a hundred eyes, men will hail me as Shatakshi, the hundred-eyed.

ततोऽहमखिलं लोकमात्मदेहसमुद्भवैः ।
भरिष्यामि सुराः शाकैरावृष्टेः प्राणधारकैः

tato'hamakhilaṃ lokamātmadehasamudbhavaiḥ |
bhariṣyāmi surāḥ śākairāvṛṣṭeḥ prāṇadhārakaiḥ

Then, O gods, until the rains return, I shall sustain the whole world with life-giving vegetables grown from my own body.

शाकम्भरीति विख्यातिं तदा यास्याम्यहं भुवि ।
तत्रैव च वधिष्यामि दुर्गमाख्यं महासुरम् ।
दुर्गा देवीति विख्यातं तन्मे नाम भविष्यति

śākambharīti vikhyātiṃ tadā yāsyāmyahaṃ bhuvi |
tatraiva ca vadhiṣyāmi durgamākhyaṃ mahāsuram |
durgā devīti vikhyātaṃ tanme nāma bhaviṣyati

Then I shall become famed on earth as Shakambhari. There too I shall slay the great asura named Durgama, and my name Durga Devi will become renowned.

पुनश्चाहं यदा भीमं रूप कृत्वा हिमाचले ।
रक्षांसि भक्षयिष्यामि पुनीनां त्राणकारणात्

punaścāhaṃ yadā bhīmaṃ rūpa kṛtvā himācale |
rakṣāṃsi bhakṣayiṣyāmi punīnāṃ trāṇakāraṇāt

And again, taking a terrible form on the Himalaya, I shall devour the rakshasas to protect the munis.

तदा मां मुनयः सर्वे स्तोष्यन्त्यानम्रमूर्तयः ।
भीमा देवीति विख्यातं तन्मे नाम भविष्यति

tadā māṃ munayaḥ sarve stoṣyantyānamramūrtayaḥ |
bhīmā devīti vikhyātaṃ tanme nāma bhaviṣyati

Then all the munis, bowing low, will praise me, and my name Bhima Devi will become renowned.

यदारुणाख्यस्त्रैलोक्ये महाबाधां करिष्यति ।
तदाहं भ्रामरं रूपं कृत्वासंख्येयषट्पदम्

yadāruṇākhyastrailokye mahābādhāṃ kariṣyati |
tadāhaṃ bhrāmaraṃ rūpaṃ kṛtvāsaṃkhyeyaṣaṭpadam

When the asura named Aruna brings great affliction upon the three worlds, I shall take the form of a bee, made of countless six-legged bees,

त्रैलोक्यस्य हितार्थाय वधिष्यामि महासुरम् ।
भ्रामरीति च मां चोकास्तदा स्तोष्यन्ति सर्वतः

trailokyasya hitārthāya vadhiṣyāmi mahāsuram |
bhrāmarīti ca māṃ cokāstadā stoṣyanti sarvataḥ

and for the good of the three worlds I shall slay that great asura. Then people everywhere will praise me as Bhramari.

इत्थं यदा यदा बाधा दानवोत्था भविष्यति ।
तदा तदावतीर्याहं करिष्याम्यरिसंक्षयम्

itthaṃ yadā yadā bādhā dānavotthā bhaviṣyati |
tadā tadāvatīryāhaṃ kariṣyāmyarisaṃkṣayam

Thus, whenever trouble arises from the danavas, I shall descend and bring about the destruction of the enemies.