rishiruvaach.
The Sage said:
devaasuramabhoodyuddhan poornamabdashatan puraa . mahishe'suraanaamadhipe devaanaan ch purandare.
Formerly a battle was fought between the devas and the asuras for a full hundred years, when Mahishasura was the lord of the asuras and Purandara (Indra) was the lord of the devas.
tatraasurairmahaaveeryairdevasainyan paraajitam . jitvaa ch sakalaan devaanindro'bhoonmahishaasurah.
In that battle, the army of the devas was vanquished by the asuras of great valour. After conquering all the devas, Mahishasura became the lord of heaven (Indra).
tatah paraajitaa devaah padmayonin prajaapatim . puraskrity gataastatr yatreshagarudadhvajau.
Then the vanquished devas, placing Prajapati Brahma at their head, went to the place where Shiva and Vishnu were.
yathaavrittan tayostadvanmahishaasuracheshtitam . tridashaah kathayaamaasurdevaabhibhavavistaram.
The devas described to them in detail, exactly as it had happened, the doings of Mahishasura and the defeat of the devas.
sooryendraagnyanilendoonaan yamasy varunasy ch . anyeshaan chaadhikaaraans svayamevaadhitishthati.
He himself has assumed the jurisdictions of Surya, Indra, Agni, Vayu, Chandra, Yama, Varuna, and other devas.
svargaanniraakritaah sarve ten devaganaa bhuvi . vicharanti yathaa martyaa mahishen duraatmanaa.
Thrown out from heaven by that evil-natured Mahisha, the hosts of devas wander on the earth like mortals.
etadvah kathitan sarvamamaraarivicheshtitam . sharanan vah prapannaah smo vadhastasy vichintyataam.
All the doings of the enemy of the devas have been related to you. We have sought refuge in you; may his destruction be devised.
itthan nishamy devaanaan vachaansi madhusoodanah . chakaar kopan shambhushch bhrukuteekutilaananau.
Having thus heard the words of the devas, Vishnu and Shiva became angry, and their faces grew fierce with frowns.
tato'tikopapoornasy chakrino vadanaattatah . nishchakraam mahattejo brahmanah shankarasy ch.
Then from the face of Vishnu, who was filled with intense anger, and from those of Brahma and Shiva, sprang forth a great effulgence.
anyeshaan chaiv devaanaan shakraadeenaan shareeratah . nirgatan sumahattejastachchaikyan samagachchhat.
From the bodies of Indra and other devas also sprang forth a very great effulgence, and all this light united together.
ateev tejasah kootan jvalantamiv parvatam . dadrishuste suraastatr jvaalaavyaaptadigantaram.
The devas saw there a concentration of light like a blazing mountain, whose flames pervaded all the quarters.
atulan tatr tattejah sarvadevashareerajam . ekasthan tadabhoonnaaree vyaaptalokatrayan tvishaa.
That peerless effulgence, born from the bodies of all the devas, gathered into a single mass and turned into a woman, pervading the three worlds with her lustre.
yadabhoochchhaambhavan tejastenaajaayat tanmukham . yaamyen chaabhavan keshaa baahavo vishnutejasaa.
By that which was Shiva's light, her face came into being; by Yama's light her hair, and by Vishnu's light her arms.
saumyen stanayoryugman madhyan chaindren chaabhavat . vaarunen ch janghoroo nitambastejasaa bhuvah.
By the moon's light her two breasts, and by Indra's light her waist; by Varuna's light her shanks and thighs, and by the earth's light her hips.
brahmanastejasaa paadau tadangulyo'rkatejasaa . vasoonaan ch karaangulyah kauberen ch naasikaa.
By Brahma's light her feet, and by the sun's light her toes; by the Vasus' light her fingers, and by Kubera's light her nose.
tasyaastu dantaah sambhootaah praajaapatyen tejasaa . nayanatritayan jajne tathaa paavakatejasaa.
Her teeth were formed by the light of Prajapati, and her three eyes were produced by the light of Agni.
bhruvau ch sandhyayostejah shravanaavanilasy ch . anyeshaan chaiv devaanaan sambhavastejasaan shivaa.
Her eyebrows were formed by the light of the two twilights, and her ears by the light of Vayu; thus the kind Devi was born from the energy of the other devas as well.
tatah samastadevaanaan tejoraashisamudbhavaam . taan viloky mudan praapuramaraa mahishaarditaah.
Then, looking at her who had sprung from the massed effulgence of all the devas, the immortals who were tormented by Mahishasura experienced great joy.
shoolan shoolaadvinishkrishy dadau tasyai pinaakadhrik . chakran ch dattavaan krishnah samutpaady svachakratah.
The bearer of Pinaka (Shiva) drew forth a trident from his own trident and gave it to her; and Krishna (Vishnu) brought forth a discus from his own discus and gave it to her.
shankhan ch varunah shaktin dadau tasyai hutaashanah . maaruto dattavaanshchaapan baanapoorne tatheshudhee.
Varuna gave her a conch and Agni a spear; and Vayu gave a bow as well as two quivers full of arrows.
vajramindrah samutpaaty kulishaadamaraadhipah . dadau tasyai sahasraaksho ghantaamairaavataadgajaat.
Indra, the lord of devas, bringing forth a thunderbolt out of his own thunderbolt and a bell from that of his elephant Airavata, gave them to her.
kaaladandaadyamo dandan paashan chaambupatirdadau . prajaapatishchaakshamaalaan dadau brahmaa kamandalum.
Yama gave a staff from his own staff of Death and Varuna, the lord of waters, a noose; and Brahma, the lord of beings, gave a rosary and a water-pot.
samastaromakoopeshu nijarashmeen divaakarah . kaalashch dattavaan khadgan tasyaashcharm ch nirmalam.
Surya bestowed his own rays on all the pores of her skin and Kala (Time) gave a spotless sword and a shield.
ksheerodashchaamalan haaramajare ch tathaambare . choodaamanin tathaa divyan kundale katakaani ch.
The milky ocean gave a pure necklace, two undecaying garments, a divine crest-jewel, a pair of earrings, bracelets,
ardhachandran tathaa shubhran keyooraan sarvabaahushu . noopurau vimalau tadvad graiveyakamanuttamam.
a brilliant half-moon ornament, armlets on all her arms, a pair of shining anklets, a unique necklace,
anguleeyakaratnaani samastaasvanguleeshu ch . vishvakarmaa dadau tasyai parashun chaatinirmalam.
and excellent rings on all her fingers. Visvakarman gave her a very brilliant axe,
astraanyanekaroopaani tathaabhedyan ch danshanam . amlaanapankajaan maalaan shirasyurasi chaaparaam.
weapons of various forms and also an impenetrable armour. The ocean gave her a garland of unfading lotuses for her head and another for her breast,
adadajjaladhistasyai pankajan chaatishobhanam . himavaan vaahanan sinhan ratnaani vividhaani ch.
and a very beautiful lotus in her hand. The mountain Himavat gave her a lion to ride on and various jewels.
dadaavashoonyan surayaa paanapaatran dhanaadhipah . sheshashch sarvanaagesho mahaamanivibhooshitam.
The lord of wealth gave her a drinking cup, ever full of wine. And Sesha, the lord of all serpents, gave her a necklace adorned with large gems.
naagahaaran dadau tasyai dhatte yah prithiveemimaam . anyairapi surairdevee bhooshanairaayudhaistathaa.
He who supports this earth gave her a serpent-necklace. Honoured likewise by other gods also with ornaments and weapons,
sammaanitaa nanaadochchaih saattahaasan muhurmuhuh . tasyaa naaden ghoren kritsnamaapooritan nabhah.
she gave out a loud roar with a defying laugh again and again. By her unending, exceedingly great, terrible roar the entire sky was filled.
amaayataatimahataa pratishabdo mahaanabhoot . chukshubhuh sakalaa lokaah samudraashch chakampire.
There arose a great echo. All the worlds shook, and the oceans trembled.
chachaal vasudhaa cheluh sakalaashch maheedharaah . jayeti devaashch mudaa taamoochuh sinhavaahineem.
The earth quaked and all the mountains rocked. And the gods in joy exclaimed, 'Victory!' to her, the lion-riding Devi.
tushtuvurmunayashchainaan bhaktinamraatmamoortayah . drishtvaa samastan sankshubdhan trailokyamamaraarayah.
The sages, who bowed their bodies in devotion, extolled her. Seeing the three worlds agitated, the enemies of the gods,
sannaddhaakhilasainyaaste samuttasthurudaayudhaah . aah kimetaditi krodhaadaabhaashy mahishaasurah.
mobilised all their armies and rose up together with uplifted weapons. Mahishasura, exclaiming in wrath, 'Ah! What is this?'
abhyadhaavat tan shabdamasheshairasurairvritah . s dadarsh tato deveen vyaaptalokatrayaan tvishaa.
rushed towards that roar, surrounded by innumerable asuras. Then he saw the Devi pervading the three worlds with her radiance.
paadaakraantyaa natabhuvan kireetollikhitaambaraam . kshobhitaasheshapaataalaan dhanurjyaanihsvanen taam.
Making the earth bend low under her footsteps, scraping the sky with her diadem, shaking the nether worlds with the twang of her bowstring,
disho bhujasahasren samantaad vyaapy sansthitaam . tatah pravavrite yuddhan tayaa devyaa suradvishaam.
and standing there filling all the quarters around with her thousand arms. Then began a battle between that Devi and the enemies of the gods,
shastraastrairbahudhaa muktairaadeepitadigantaram . mahishaasurasenaaneeshchikshuraakhyo mahaasurah.
in which every direction of the sky was illumined by the weapons and missiles hurled in abundance. Mahishasura's general, a great asura named Ciksura...
yuyudhe chaamarashchaanyaishchaturangabalaanvitah . rathaanaamayutaih shadbhirudagraakhyo mahaasurah.
Chamara fought with forces drawn from all the four parts of the army. The great asura Udagra fought with sixty thousand chariots.
ayudhyataayutaanaan ch sahasren mahaahanuh . panchaashadbhishch niyutairasilomaa mahaasurah.
Mahahanu fought with ten millions of chariots, and the great asura Asiloman with fifteen millions.
ayutaanaan shataih shadbhirbaashkalo yuyudhe rane . gajavaajisahasraughairanekaih parivaaritah.
Baskala fought in the battle with six millions of chariots, surrounded by thousands of elephants and horses.
vrito rathaanaan kotyaa ch yuddhe tasminnayudhyat . bidaalaakhyo'yutaanaan ch panchaashadbhirathaayutaih.
Surrounded by a crore of chariots, he fought in that battle. And the asura named Vidala, with fifty myriads of chariots,
yuyudhe sanyuge tatr rathaanaan parivaaritah . anye ch tatraayutasho rathanaagahayairvritaah.
fought in that battle, surrounded by chariots. And other great asuras, surrounded by thousands of chariots, elephants and horses,
yuyudhuh sanyuge devyaa sah tatr mahaasuraah . kotikotisahasraistu rathaanaan dantinaan tathaa.
fought with the Devi in that battle. Mahishasura was surrounded by thousands of crores of chariots and elephants,
hayaanaan ch vrito yuddhe tatraabhoonmahishaasurah . tomarairbhindipaalaishch shaktibhirmusalaistathaa.
and horses in that battle. They fought with iron maces, javelins, spears, and clubs,
yuyudhuh sanyuge devyaa khadgaih parashupattishaih . kechichch chikshipuh shakteeh kechitpaashaanstathaapare.
and with swords, axes, and halberds against the Devi. Some hurled spears and others nooses.
deveen khadgaprahaaraistu te taan hantun prachakramuh . saapi devee tatastaani shastraanyastraani chandikaa.
They began to strike the Devi with swords in order to kill her. And the Devi Chandika, showering her own weapons and arms,
leelayaiv prachichchhed nijashastraastravarshinee . anaayastaananaa devee stooyamaanaa surarshibhih.
playfully cut into pieces all those weapons and arms. The Devi, whose face showed no fatigue, was praised by gods and sages.
mumochaasuradeheshu shastraanyastraani cheshvaree . so'pi kruddho dhutasato devyaa vaahanakesaree.
The Devi threw her weapons and arms on the bodies of the asuras. The lion, the mount of the Devi, shaking its mane in anger,
chachaaraasurasainyeshu vaneshviv hutaashanah . nihshvaasaan mumuche yaanshch yudhyamaanaa rane'mbikaa.
stalked among the armies of the asuras like a fire in a forest. The sighs which Ambika heaved while engaged in the battle,
t ev sadyah sambhootaa ganaah shatasahasrashah . yuyudhuste parashubhirbhindipaalaasipattishaih.
became at once myriads of battalions. They fought with axes, javelins, swords and halberds.
naashayanto'suraganaan deveeshaktyupabrinhitaah . avaadayant patahaan ganaah shankhaanstathaapare.
Destroying the asuras, these battalions, energized by the power of the Devi, beat tom-toms and others blew conches.
mridangaanshch tathaivaanye tasmin yuddhamahotsave . tato devee trishoolen gadayaa shaktivrishtibhih.
And others beat tabors in that great festival of battle. Then the Devi, with her trident, club, and showers of spears,
khadgaadibhishch shatasho nijaghaan mahaasuraan . paatayaamaas chaivaanyaan ghantaasvanavimohitaan.
and swords, killed hundreds of great asuras. She brought down others who were stupefied by the noise of her bell.
asuraan bhuvi paashen baddhvaa chaanyaanakarshayat . kechid dvidhaa kritaasteekshnaih khadgapaataistathaapare.
Binding other asuras with her noose, she dragged them on the ground. Some were cut into two by the sharp strokes of her sword.
vipothitaa nipaaten gadayaa bhuvi sherate . vemushch kechidrudhiran musalen bhrishan hataah.
Others, smashed by the blows of her mace, lay down on the ground. Some, severely battered by her club, vomited blood.
kechinnipatitaa bhoomau bhinnaah shoolen vakshasi . nirantaraah sharaughen kritaah kechidranaajire.
Pierced in the breast by her trident, some fell on the ground. In the battlefield, some were completely covered by a thick shower of arrows.
shalyaanukaarinah praanaan mumuchustridashaardanaah . keshaanchid baahavashchhinnaashchhinnagreevaastathaapare.
Resembling porcupines, those tormentors of the gods gave up their lives. The arms of some were cut off, and the necks of others were severed.
shiraansi peturanyeshaamanye madhye vidaaritaah . vichchhinnajanghaastvapare petururvyaan mahaasuraah.
The heads of others rolled down; some others were torn asunder in the middle of their trunks, and some great asuras fell on the ground with their legs severed.
ekabaahvakshicharanaah kechiddevyaa dvidhaa kritaah . chhinne'pi chaanye shirasi patitaah punarutthitaah.
Some rendered one-armed, one-eyed, and one-legged were again clove in twain by the Devi. And others, though rendered headless, fell and rose again.
kabandhaa yuyudhurdevyaa griheetaparamaayudhaah . nanritushchaapare tatr yuddhe tooryalayaashritaah.
Headless trunks fought with the Devi with best weapons in their hands. Some of these headless trunks danced there in the battle to the rhythm of the musical instruments.
kabandhaashchhinnashirasah khadgashaktyrishtipaanayah . tishth tishtheti bhaashanto deveemanye mahaasuraah.
The trunks of some other great asuras, with their swords, spears and lances still in their hands, shouted at the Devi with their just severed heads, 'Stop, stop'.
paatitai rathanaagaashvairasuraishch vasundharaa . agamyaa saa'bhavattatr yatraabhoot s mahaaranah.
That part of earth where the battle was fought became impassable with the asuras, elephants and horses and chariots that had been felled.
shonitaughaa mahaanadyah sadyastatr prasusruvuh . madhye chaasurasainyasy vaaranaasuravaajinaam.
The profuse blood from the asuras, elephants and horses flowed immediately like large rivers amidst that army of the asuras.
kshanen tanmahaasainyamasuraanaan tathaambikaa . ninye kshayan yathaa vahnistrinadaarumahaachayam.
As fire consumes a huge heap of straw and wood, so did Ambika destroy that vast army of asuras in no time.
s ch sinho mahaanaadamutsrijandhutakesarah . shareerebhyo'maraareenaamasooniv vichinvati.
And her carrier-lion, thundering aloud with quivering mane, prowled about in the battlefield, appearing to search out the vital breaths from the bodies of the enemies of devas.
devyaa ganaishch taistatr kritan yuddhan mahaasuraih . yathaishaan tutushurdevaah pushpavrishtimucho divi.
In that battlefield the battalions of the Devi fought in such a manner with the asuras that the devas in heaven, showering flowers, extolled them.