rishiruvaach.
The Rishi said:
puraa shumbhanishumbhaabhyaamasuraabhyaan shacheepateh . trailokyan yajnabhaagaashch hritaa madabalaashrayaat.
In former times, the great asuras Shumbha and Nishumbha, in the pride of their strength, deprived Indra of his sovereignty over the three worlds and his portions of the sacrifices.
taavev sooryataan tadvadadhikaaran tathaindavam . kauberamath yaamyan ch chakraate varunasy ch.
They themselves took over the offices of the sun, the moon, Kubera, Yama, and Varuna.
taavev pavanarddhin ch chakraturvahnikarm ch . tato devaa vinirdhootaa bhrashtaraajyaah paraajitaah.
They themselves exercised Vayu's authority and Agni's duty. Thereupon the devas, defeated, deprived of their kingdoms and routed,
hritaadhikaaraastridashaastaabhyaan sarve niraakritaah . mahaasuraabhyaan taan deveen sansmarantyaparaajitaam.
Were ousted from their offices by the two great asuras. All the devas, thus defeated, recalled the invincible Devi.
tayaasmaakan varo datto yathaa''patsu smritaakhilaah . bhavataan naashayishyaami tatkshanaatparamaapadah.
'She had granted us the boon: "Whenever in calamities you think of me, that very moment I will put an end to all your worst disasters."'
iti kritvaa matin devaa himavantan nageshvaram . jagmustatr tato deveen vishnumaayaan pratushtuvuh.
Resolving thus, the devas went to Himavat, lord of the mountains, and there extolled the Devi, who is the illusive power of Vishnu.
devaa oochuh.
The devas said:
namo devyai mahaadevyai shivaayai satatan namah . namah prakrityai bhadraayai niyataah pranataah sm taam.
Salutation to the Devi, to the great Devi, to Her who is kind, salutation for ever. Salutation to Prakriti, to the good one; we bow to Her with minds restrained.
raudraayai namo nityaayai gauryai dhaatryai namo namah . jyotsnaayai chenduroopinyai sukhaayai satatan namah.
Salutation to Her who is terrible, to the eternal one, to Gauri, to the supporter of the universe, salutation again and again. Salutation to Her who is of the form of the moon's light, and to Her who is the form of happiness, salutation for ever.
kalyaanyai pranataan vriddhyai siddhyai kurmo namo namah . nairrityai bhoobhritaan lakshmyai sharvaanyai te namo namah.
We bow to Her who is welfare; we make salutations to Her who is prosperity and success. Salutation to the consort of Shiva, who is the good fortune of kings, and who is the destroyer of misfortune.
durgaayai durgapaaraayai saaraayai sarvakaarinyai . khyaatyai tathaiv krishnaayai dhoomraayai satatan namah.
Salutations always to Durga, who takes one across difficulties, who is the essence, who is the author of everything; to the knowledge of the truth, and to the dark one, and to the smoke-coloured one.
atisaumyaatiraudraayai nataastasyai namo namah . namo jagatpratishthaayai devyai krityai namo namah.
We prostrate before Her who is at once most gentle and most terrible; we salute Her again and again. Salutation to Her who is the support of the world. Salutation to the Devi who is of the form of volition.
yaa devee sarvabhooteshu vishnumaayeti shabditaa . namastasyai.
To the Devi who in all beings is called Vishnumaya, salutation to Her.
namastasyai.
Salutation to Her.
namastasyai namo namah.
Salutation to Her, salutation, salutation.
yaa devee sarvabhooteshu chetanetyabhidheeyate . namastasyai.
To the Devi who in all beings is termed consciousness, salutation to Her.
namastasyai.
Salutation to Her.
namastasyai namo namah.
Salutation to Her, salutation, salutation.
yaa devee sarvabhooteshu buddhiroopen sansthitaa . namastasyai.
To the Devi who abides in all beings in the form of intelligence, salutation to Her.
namastasyai.
Salutations to Her.
namastasyai namo namah.
Salutations to Her, salutations again and again.
yaa devee sarvabhooteshu nidraaroopen sansthitaa.
To the Devi who abides in all beings in the form of sleep.
namastasyai.
Salutations to Her.
namastasyai namo namah.
Salutations to Her, salutations again and again.
yaa devee sarvabhooteshu kshudhaaroopen sansthitaa.
To the Devi who abides in all beings in the form of hunger.
namastasyai.
Salutations to Her.
namastasyai namo namah.
Salutations to Her, salutations again and again.
yaa devee sarvabhooteshu chhaayaaroopen sansthitaa.
To the Devi who abides in all beings in the form of shadow (or reflection).
namastasyai.
Salutations to Her.
namastasyai namo namah.
Salutations to Her, salutations again and again.
yaa devee sarvabhooteshu shaktiroopen sansthitaa.
To the Devi who abides in all beings in the form of power.
namastasyai.
Salutations to Her.
namastasyai namo namah.
Salutations to Her, salutations again and again.
yaa devee sarvabhooteshu trishnaaroopen sansthitaa.
To the Devi who abides in all beings in the form of thirst.
namastasyai.
Salutations to Her.
namastasyai namo namah.
Salutations to Her, salutations again and again.
yaa devee sarvabhooteshu kshaantiroopen sansthitaa.
To the Devi who abides in all beings in the form of forgiveness.
namastasyai.
Salutations to Her.
namastasyai namo namah.
Salutations to Her, salutations again and again.
yaa devee sarvabhooteshu jaatiroopen sansthitaa . namastasyai
To the Devi who abides in all beings in the form of class, salutations to Her.
namastasyai
Salutations to Her.
namastasyai namo namah
Salutations to Her, salutations again and again.
yaa devee sarvabhooteshu lajjaaroopen sansthitaa . namastasyai
To the Devi who abides in all beings in the form of modesty, salutations to Her.
namastasyai
Salutations to Her.
namastasyai namo namah
Salutations to Her, salutations again and again.
yaa devee sarvabhooteshu shaantiroopen sansthitaa . namastasyai
To the Devi who abides in all beings in the form of peace, salutations to Her.
namastasyai
Salutations to Her.
namastasyai namo namah
Salutations to Her, salutations again and again.
yaa devee sarvabhooteshu shraddhaaroopen sansthitaa . namastasyai
To the Devi who abides in all beings in the form of faith, salutations to Her.
namastasyai
Salutations to Her.
namastasyai namo namah
Salutations to Her, salutations again and again.
yaa devee sarvabhooteshu kaantiroopen sansthitaa . namastasyai
To the Devi who abides in all beings in the form of beauty, salutations to Her.
namastasyai
Salutations to Her.
namastasyai namo namah
Salutations to Her, salutations again and again.
yaa devee sarvabhooteshu lakshmeeroopen sansthitaa . namastasyai
To the Devi who abides in all beings in the form of prosperity, salutations to Her.
namastasyai
Salutations to Her.
namastasyai namo namah
Salutations to Her, salutations again and again.
yaa devee sarvabhooteshu vrittiroopen sansthitaa . namastasyai
To the Devi who abides in all beings in the form of activity, salutations to Her.
namastasyai
Salutations to Her.
namastasyai namo namah.
Salutations to Her, salutations again and again.
yaa devee sarvabhooteshu smritiroopen sansthitaa . namastasyai.
To the Devi who abides in all beings in the form of memory, salutations to Her.
namastasyai.
Salutations to Her.
namastasyai namo namah.
Salutations to Her, salutations again and again.
yaa devee sarvabhooteshu dayaaroopen sansthitaa . namastasyai.
To the Devi who abides in all beings in the form of compassion, salutations to Her.
namastasyai.
Salutations to Her.
namastasyai namo namah.
Salutations to Her, salutations again and again.
yaa devee sarvabhooteshu tushtiroopen sansthitaa . namastasyai.
To the Devi who abides in all beings in the form of contentment, salutations to Her.
namastasyai.
Salutations to Her.
namastasyai namo namah.
Salutations to Her, salutations again and again.
yaa devee sarvabhooteshu maatriroopen sansthitaa . namastasyai.
To the Devi who abides in all beings in the form of mother, salutations to Her.
namastasyai.
Salutations to Her.
namastasyai namo namah.
Salutations to Her, salutations again and again.
yaa devee sarvabhooteshu bhraantiroopen sansthitaa . namastasyai.
To the Devi who abides in all beings in the form of error, salutations to Her.
namastasyai.
Salutations to Her.
namastasyai namo namah.
Salutations to Her, salutations again and again.
indriyaanaamadhishthaatree bhootaanaan chaakhileshu yaa . bhooteshu satatan tasyai vyaaptyai devyai namo namah.
To the all-pervading Devi who constantly presides over the senses of all beings and governs all creation, salutations again and again.
chitiroopen yaa kritsnametadvyaapy sthitaa jagat . namastasyai.
To the Devi who pervades this entire world in the form of consciousness, salutations to Her.
namastasyai.
Salutations to Her.
namastasyai namo namah.
Salutations to Her, salutations again and again.
stutaa suraih poorvamabheeshtasanshrayaa- ttathaa surendren dineshu sevitaa. karotu saa nah shubhahetureeshvaree shubhaani bhadraanyabhihantu chaapadah.
'Invoked of yore by the devas for the sake of their desired object, and adored by the lord of the devas every day, may she, the Isvari, the source of all good, accomplish for us all good things and put an end to our calamities!'
yaa saampratan choddhatadaityataapitai- rasmaabhireeshaa ch surairnamasyate. yaa ch smritaa tatkshanamev hanti nah sarvaapado bhaktivinamramoortibhih.
'And who is now again, reverenced by us, devas, tormented by arrogant asuras and who, called to mind by us obeisant with devotion, destroys this very moment all our calamities.'
rishiruvaach.
The Rishi said:
evan stavaadiyuktaanaan devaanaan tatr paarvatee. snaatumabhyaayayau toye jaahnavyaa nripanandan.
O Prince, while the devas were thus engaged in praises and (other acts of adoration), Parvati came there to bathe in the waters of the Ganga.
saabraveettaan suraan subhroorbhavadbhih stooyate'tr kaa. shareerakoshatashchaasyaah samudbhootaabraveechchhivaa.
She, the lovely-browed, said to those devas, 'Who is praised by you here?' A kind devi, sprung forth from her physical sheath, gave the reply:
stotran mamaitat kriyate shumbhadaityaniraakritaih. devaih sametaih samare nishumbhen paraajitaih.
'This stotra is addressed to me by the assembled devas set at naught by the asura Shumbha and routed in battle by Nishumbha.'
shareerakoshaadyattasyaah paarvatyaa nihsritaambikaa. kaushikeeti samasteshu tato lokeshu geeyate.
Because that Ambika came out of Parvati's physical sheath (Kosa), she is glorified as Kaushiki in all the worlds.
tasyaan vinirgataayaan tu krishnaabhootsaapi paarvatee. kaaliketi samaakhyaataa himaachalakritaashrayaa.
After she had issued forth, Parvati became dark and was called Kalika and stationed on mount Himalaya.
tato'mbikaan paran roopan bibhraanaan sumanoharam . dadarsh chando mundashch bhrityau shumbhanishumbhayoh.
Then, Caṇḍa and Muṇḍa, two servants of Śumbha and Niśumbha, saw that Ambikā bearing a surpassingly charming form.
taabhyaan shumbhaay chaakhyaataa saateev sumanoharaa . kaapyaaste stree mahaaraaj bhaasayantee himaachalam.
They both told Śumbha: 'O King, a certain woman, most surpassingly beautiful, dwells there shedding lustre on mount Himalaya.
naiv taadrik kvachidroopan drishtan kenachiduttamam . jnaayataan kaapyasau devee grihyataan chaasureshvar.
'Such supreme beauty was never seen by anyone anywhere. Ascertain who that Devi is and take possession of her, O lord of the asuras!
streeratnamatichaarvangee dyotayantee dishastvishaa . saa tu tishthati daityendr taan bhavaan drashtumarhati.
'A gem among women, of surpassingly beautiful limbs, illuminating the quarters with her lustre, there she stands, O lord of the daityas. You should see her.
yaani ratnaani manayo gajaashvaadeeni vai prabho . trailokye tu samastaani saampratan bhaanti te grihe.
'O Lord, whatever gems, precious stones, elephants, horses and others there are in the three worlds, they are all now in your house.
airaavatah samaaneeto gajaratnan purandaraat . paarijaatatarushchaayan tathaivochchaihshravaa hayah.
'Airavata, gem among elephants, has been brought away from Purandara (Indra) and so also this Parijata tree and the horse Uccaihsravas.
vimaanan hansasanyuktametattishthati te'ngane . ratnabhootamihaaneetan yadaaseedvedhaso'dbhutam.
'Here stands in your courtyard the wonderful chariot yoked with swans, a wonderful gem (of its class), brought here from Brahma.
nidhiresh mahaapadmah samaaneeto dhaneshvaraat . kinjalkineen dadau chaabdhirmaalaamamlaanapankajaam.
'Here is the treasure Mahapadma brought from the lord of wealth. And the ocean gave a garland named Kinjalkini made of unfading lotus flowers.
chhatran te vaarunan gehe kaanchanasraavi tishthati. tathaayan syandanavaro yah puraa''seetprajaapateh.
In your house stands the gold-showering umbrella of Varuna. And here is the excellent chariot that was formerly Prajapati's.
mrityorutkraantidaa naam shaktireesh tvayaa hritaa. paashah salilaraajasy bhraatustav parigrahe.
By you, O Lord, Death's shakti weapon named Utkrantida has been carried off. The noose of the ocean-king is among your brother's possessions.
nishumbhasyaabdhijaataashch samastaa ratnajaatayah. vahnirapi dadau tubhyamagnishauche ch vaasasee.
Nishumbha has every kind of gem produced in the sea. Fire also gave you two garments which are purified by fire.
evan daityendr ratnaani samastaanyaahritaani te. streeratnameshaa kalyaanee tvayaa kasmaann grihyate.
Thus, O lord of the asuras, all gems have been brought to you. Why is this jewel of a woman not seized by you?
rishiruvaach.
The Rishi said:
nishamyeti vachah shumbhah s tadaa chandamundayoh. preshayaamaas sugreevan dootan devyaa mahaasuram.
Hearing these words of Chanda and Munda, Shumbha sent the great asura Sugriva as a messenger to the Devi.
iti cheti ch vaktavyaa saa gatvaa vachanaanmam. yathaa chaabhyeti sampreetyaa tathaa kaaryan tvayaa laghu.
He said: 'Go and tell her thus and thus from me, and act in such a manner that she may quickly come to me in affection.'
s tatr gatvaa yatraaste shailoddeshe'tishobhane. taan ch deveen tatah praah shlakshnan madhurayaa giraa.
He went there where the Devi was staying in a very beautiful spot on the mountain, and spoke to her in fine and sweet words.
doot uvaach.
The messenger said:
devi daityeshvarah shumbhastrailokye parameshvarah. dooto'han preshitasten tvatsakaashamihaagatah.
'O Devi, Sumbha, lord of asuras, is the supreme sovereign of three worlds. Sent by him as messenger, I have come here to your presence.
avyaahataajnah sarvaasu yah sadaa devayonishu. nirjitaakhiladaityaarih s yadaah shrinushv tat.
'Hearken to what has been said by him whose command is never resisted among the devas and who has vanquished all the foes of the asuras:
mam trailokyamakhilan mam devaa vashaanugaah. yajnabhaagaanahan sarvaanupaashnaami prithak prithak.
'(He says), "All the three worlds are mine and the devas are obedient to me. I enjoy all their shares of sacrifices separately.
trailokye vararatnaani mam vashyaanyasheshatah. tathaiv gajaratnan ch hritvaa devendravaahanam.
"All the choicest gems in the three worlds are altogether under my power; and so is the jewel of elephants, Airavata, the mount of the lord of devas which I have taken away.
ksheerodamathanodbhootamashvaratnan mamaamaraih. uchchaihshravasasanjnan tatpranipaty samarpitam.
"The gods themselves offered to me with salutations that jewel of horses named Uccaihsravas which arose at the churning of the milk-ocean.
yaani chaanyaani deveshu gandharveshoorageshu ch. ratnabhootaani bhootaani taani mayyev shobhane.
"O beautiful lady, whatever other rare objects there existed among the devas, the gandharvas and nagas are now with me.
streeratnabhootaan tvaan devi loke manyaamahe vayam. saa tvamasmaanupaagachchh yato ratnabhujo vayam.
"We look upon you, O Devi, as the jewel of women in the world. You who are such, come to us, since we are the enjoyers of the best objects."
maan vaa mamaanujan vaapi nishumbhamuruvikramam . bhaj tvan chanchalaapaangi ratnabhootaasi vai yatah.
"Take to me or to my younger brother Nisumbha of great prowess, O unsteady-eyed lady, for you are in truth a jewel."
paramaishvaryamatulan praapsyase matparigrahaat . etad buddhyaa samaalochy matparigrahataan vraj.
"Wealth, great and beyond compare, you will get by marrying me. Think over this in your mind, and become my wife."
rishiruvaach.
The Rishi said:
ityuktaa saa tadaa devee gambheeraantahsmitaa jagau . durgaa bhagavatee bhadraa yayedan dhaaryate jagat.
Thus told, Durga the adorable and kind, by whom this universe is supported, then became serene and said.
devyuvaach.
The Devi said:
satyamuktan tvayaa naatr mithyaa kinchittvayoditam . trailokyaadhipatih shumbho nishumbhashchaapi taadrishah.
"You have spoken truth; nothing false has been uttered by you in this matter. Sumbha is indeed the sovereign of the three worlds and likewise is also Nisumbha."
kin tvatr yatpratijnaatan mithyaa tatkriyate katham . shrooyataamalpabuddhitvaatpratijnaa yaa kritaa puraa.
"But in this matter, how can that which has been promised be made false? Hear what promise I had made already out of foolishness."
yo maan jayati sangraame yo me darpan vyapohati . yo me pratibalo loke s me bhartaa bhavishyati.
"He who conquers me in battle, removes my pride and is my match in strength in the world shall be my husband."
tadaagachchhatu shumbho'tr nishumbho vaa mahaasurah . maan jitvaa kin chirenaatr paanin grihnaatu me laghu.
So let Sumbha come here then, or Nisumbha the great asura. Vanquishing me here, let him soon take my hand in marriage. Why delay?
doot uvaach.
The messenger said:
avaliptaasi maivan tvan devi broohi mamaagratah . trailokye kah pumaanstishthedagre shumbhanishumbhayoh.
O Devi, you are haughty. Talk not so before me. Which man in the three worlds will stand before Sumbha and Nisumbha?
anyeshaamapi daityaanaan sarve devaa n vai yudhi . tishthanti sammukhe devi kin punah stree tvamekikaa.
All the devas verily cannot stand face to face with even the other asuras in battle. Why mention you, O Devi, a single woman?
indraadyaah sakalaa devaastasthuryeshaan n sanyuge . shumbhaadeenaan kathan teshaan stree prayaasyasi sammukham.
Indra and all other devas could not stand in battle against Sumbha and other asuras, how will you, a woman, face them?
saa tvan gachchh mayaivoktaa paarshvan shumbhanishumbhayoh . keshaakarshananirdhootagauravaa maa gamishyasi.
On my word itself, you go to Sumbha and Nishumbha. Let it not be that you go to them with your dignity lost by being dragged by your hair.
devyuvaach.
The Devi said:
evametad balee shumbho nishumbhashchaativeeryavaan . kin karomi pratijnaa me yadanaalochitaa puraa.
Yes, it is; Sumbha is strong and so is Nisumbha exceedingly heroic! What can I do since there stands my ill-considered sankalp taken long ago?
s tvan gachchh mayoktan te yadetatsarvamaadritah . tadaachakshvaasurendraay s ch yuktan karotu tat.
Go back, and tell the lord of asuras carefully all this that I have said; let him do whatever he considers proper.