ऋषिरुवाच ॥
१ ॥
The Rishi said:
चण्डे च निहते दैत्ये मुण्डे च विनिपातिते ।
बहुलेषु च सैन्येषु क्षयितेष्वसुरेश्वरः ॥
२ ॥
When the daitya Chanda had been slain and Munda struck down, and many of his armies destroyed, the lord of the asuras —
ततः कोपपराधीनचेताः शुम्भः प्रतापवान् ।
उद्योगं सर्वसैन्यानां दैत्यानामादिदेश ह ॥
३ ॥
the mighty Shumbha, his mind given over to anger, commanded all the daitya armies to make ready for war.
अद्य सर्वबलैर्दैत्याः षडशीतिरुदायुधाः ।
कम्बूनां चतुरशीतिर्निर्यान्तु स्वबलैर्वृताः ॥
४ ॥
‘Today let the eighty-six Udayudha chiefs of the daityas march out with all their forces, and the eighty-four of the Kambus, each surrounded by his own army.’
कोटिवीर्याणि पञ्चाशदसुराणां कुलानि वै ।
शतं कुलानि धौम्राणां निर्गच्छन्तु ममाज्ञया ॥
५ ॥
‘Let the fifty asura clans of the Kotiviryas and the hundred clans of the Dhaumras go forth at my command.’
कालका दौर्हृदा मौर्याः कालकेयास्तथासुराः ।
युद्धाय सज्जा निर्यान्तु आज्ञया त्वरिता मम ॥
६ ॥
‘Let the asuras called Kalakas, Daurhridas, Mauryas and Kalakeyas, armed for battle, march out swiftly at my command.’
इत्याज्ञाप्यासुरपतिः शुम्भो भैरवशासनः ।
निर्जगाम महासैन्यसहस्रैर्बहुभिर्वृतः ॥
७ ॥
Having given these orders, Shumbha, the lord of the asuras, dreadful in his rule, went out surrounded by many thousands of great armies.
आयान्तं चण्डिका दृष्ट्वा तत् सैन्यमतिभीषणम् ।
ज्यास्वनैः पूरयामास धरणीगगनान्तरम् ॥
८ ॥
Seeing that most dreadful army approach, Chandika filled the space between earth and sky with the twang of Her bowstring.
ततः सिंहो महानादमतीव कृतवान् नृप ।
घण्टास्वनेन तन्नादमम्बिका चोपबृंहयत् ॥
९ ॥
Then, O king, Her lion gave a mighty roar, and Ambika swelled that roar with the ringing of Her bell.
धनुर्ज्यासिंहघण्टानां नादापूरितदिङ्मुखा ।
निनादैर्भीषणैः काली जिग्ये विस्तारितानना ॥
१० ॥
When bowstring, lion and bell had filled every quarter with sound, Kali, opening Her mouth wide, rose above them all with Her own terrible roars.
तं निनादमुपश्रुत्य दैत्यसैन्यैश्चतुर्दिशम् ।
देवी सिंहस्तथा काली सरोषैः परिवारिताः ॥
११ ॥
Hearing that uproar, the daitya armies closed in from all four sides in fury, surrounding the Devi, the lion and Kali.
एतस्मिन्नन्तरे भूप विनाशाय सुरद्विषाम् ।
भवायामरसिंहानामतिवीर्यबलान्विताः ॥
१२ ॥
Meanwhile, O king, for the destruction of the enemies of the gods and for the good of those lions among the immortals, the shaktis, great in valour and strength —
ब्रह्मेशगुहविष्णूनां तथेन्द्रस्य च शक्तयः ।
शरीरेभ्यो विनिष्क्रम्य तद्रूपैश्चण्डिकां ययुः ॥
१३ ॥
the shaktis of Brahma, Shiva, Guha (Kartikeya), Vishnu and Indra — came forth from their bodies and went to Chandika, each in the form of the god She came from.
यस्य देवस्य यद्रूपं यथा भूषणवाहनम् ।
तद्वदेव हि तच्छक्तिरसुरान् योद्धुमाययौ ॥
१४ ॥
Whatever form each god had, with his very ornaments and mount, in just that form his shakti came to fight the asuras.
हंसयुक्तविमानाग्रे साक्षसूत्रकमण्डलुः ।
आयाता ब्रह्मणः शक्तिर्ब्रह्माणी साभिधीयते ॥
१५ ॥
Brahma's shakti came seated in a chariot drawn by swans, bearing a rosary and a water-pot; She is called Brahmani.
माहेश्वरी वृषारूढा त्रिशूलवरधारिणी ।
महाहिवलया प्राप्ता चन्द्ररेखाविभूषणा ॥
१६ ॥
Maheshwari came riding a bull, holding a fine trident, with great serpents for bracelets and the crescent moon for Her ornament.
कौमारी शक्तिहस्ता च मयूरवरवाहना ।
योद्धुमभ्याययौ दैत्यानम्बिका गुहरूपिणी ॥
१७ ॥
Kaumari, spear in hand and riding a splendid peacock, came to fight the daityas: Ambika in the form of Guha.
तथैव वैष्णवी शक्तिर्गरुडोपरि संस्थिता ।
शङ्खचक्रगदाशार्ङ्गखड्गहस्ताभ्युपाययौ ॥
१८ ॥
So too Vaishnavi, the shakti of Vishnu, came seated on Garuda, with conch, discus, mace, the Sharnga bow and a sword in Her hands.
यज्ञवाराहमतुलं रूपं या बिभ्रतो हरेः ।
शक्तिः साप्याययौ तत्र वाराहीं बिभ्रती तनुम् ॥
१९ ॥
The shakti of Hari, who takes the matchless form of the sacrificial boar, came there too, bearing a boar's body.
नारसिंही नृसिंहस्य बिभ्रती सदृशं वपुः ।
प्राप्ता तत्र सटाक्षेपक्षिप्तनक्षत्रसंहतिः ॥
२० ॥
Narasimhi came there bearing a body like Narasimha's, the tossing of Her mane scattering the hosts of stars.
वज्रहस्ता तथैवैन्द्री गजराजोपरि स्थिता ।
प्राप्ता सहस्रनयना यथा शक्रस्तथैव सा ॥
२१ ॥
So too came Aindri, thunderbolt in hand, seated on the king of elephants, with a thousand eyes: as Indra is, so was She.
ततः परिवृतस्ताभिरीशानो देवशक्तिभिः ।
हन्यन्तामसुराः शीघ्रं मम प्रीत्याऽऽह चण्डिकाम् ॥
२२ ॥
Then Shiva, surrounded by these shaktis of the gods, said to Chandika: ‘Let the asuras be slain at once, for My gladness.’
ततो देवीशरीरात्तु विनिष्क्रान्तातिभीषणा ।
चण्डिकाशक्तिरत्युग्रा शिवाशतनिनादिनी ॥
२३ ॥
Then from the Devi's body came forth the shakti of Chandika Herself, most terrible and fierce, howling like a hundred jackals.
सा चाह धूम्रजटिलमीशानमपराजिता ।
दूत त्वं गच्छ भगवन् पार्श्वं शुम्भनिशुम्भयोः ॥
२४ ॥
That unconquered Devi said to Shiva of the smoke-grey matted locks: ‘O Bhagwan, go as My messenger to Shumbha and Nishumbha.’
ब्रूहि शुम्भं निशुम्भं च दानवावतिगर्वितौ ।
ये चान्ये दानवास्तत्र युद्धाय समुपस्थिताः ॥
२५ ॥
‘Tell Shumbha and Nishumbha, those two exceedingly proud danavas, and whatever other danavas are gathered there for battle:’
त्रैलोक्यमिन्द्रो लभतां देवाः सन्तु हविर्भुजः ।
यूयं प्रयात पातालं यदि जीवितुमिच्छथ ॥
२६ ॥
‘Let Indra have the three worlds, and let the devas receive the offerings of the yajna. Go down to Patala, if you wish to live.’
बलावलेपादथ चेद्भवन्तो युद्धकाङ्क्षिणः ।
तदागच्छत तृप्यन्तु मच्छिवाः पिशितेन वः ॥
२७ ॥
‘But if, in the pride of your strength, you long for battle, then come, and let My jackals be sated with your flesh.’
यतो नियुक्तो दौत्येन तया देव्या शिवः स्वयम् ।
शिवदूतीति लोकेऽस्मिंस्ततः सा ख्यातिमागता ॥
२८ ॥
Because that Devi appointed Shiva Himself as Her messenger, She became famed in this world as Shivaduti.
तेऽपि श्रुत्वा वचो देव्याः शर्वाख्यातं महासुराः ।
अमर्षापूरिता जग्मुर्यत्र कात्यायनी स्थिता ॥
२९ ॥
The great asuras, hearing the Devi's words as Sharva (Shiva) told them, were filled with rage and went to where Katyayani stood.
ततः प्रथममेवाग्रे शरशक्त्यृष्टिवृष्टिभिः ।
ववर्षुरुद्धतामर्षास्तां देवीममरारयः ॥
३० ॥
Then, swollen with fury, the enemies of the gods struck first, raining arrows, spears and lances upon the Devi.
सा च तान् प्रहितान् बाणाञ्छूलशक्तिपरश्वधान् ।
चिच्छेद लीलयाऽऽध्मातधनुर्मुक्तैर्महेषुभिः ॥
३१ ॥
And She, as if at play, cut down the arrows, tridents, spears and axes they hurled, with great shafts loosed from Her ringing bow.
तस्याग्रतस्तथा काली शूलपातविदारितान् ।
खट्वाङ्गपोथितांश्चारीन् कुर्वती व्यचरत्तदा ॥
३२ ॥
Then Kali went about the field before Her, piercing the enemies with the blows of Her spear and crushing them with Her skull-topped staff.
कमण्डलुजलाक्षेपहतवीर्यान् हतौजसः ।
ब्रह्माणी चाकरोच्छत्रून् येन येन स्म धावति ॥
३३ ॥
And wherever Brahmani ran, She sprinkled the water of Her water-pot on the enemies and robbed them of their valour and strength.
माहेश्वरी त्रिशूलेन तथा चक्रेण वैष्णवी ।
दैत्याञ्जघान कौमारी तथा शक्त्यातिकोपना ॥
३४ ॥
Maheshwari slew the daityas with Her trident, Vaishnavi with Her discus, and Kaumari, in great wrath, with Her spear.
ऐन्द्रीकुलिशपातेन शतशो दैत्यदानवाः ।
पेतुर्विदारिताः पृथ्व्यां रुधिरौघप्रवर्षिणः ॥
३५ ॥
Torn apart by the blows of Aindri's thunderbolt, daityas and danavas fell to the earth by the hundred, pouring out streams of blood.
तुण्डप्रहारविध्वस्ता दंष्ट्राग्रक्षतवक्षसः ।
वाराहमूर्त्या न्यपतंश्चक्रेण च विदारिताः ॥
३६ ॥
Shattered by the blows of Varahi's snout, their chests torn by the tips of Her tusks, and ripped by Her discus, they fell.
नखैर्विदारितांश्चान्यान् भक्षयन्ती महासुरान् ।
नारसिंही चचाराजौ नादापूर्णदिगम्बरा ॥
३७ ॥
Narasimhi roamed the battle, devouring other great asuras torn open by Her claws, filling the quarters and the sky with Her roar.
चण्डाट्टहासैरसुराः शिवदूत्यभिदूषिताः ।
पेतुः पृथिव्यां पतितांस्तांश्चखादाथ सा तदा ॥
३८ ॥
Struck down by the fierce laughter of Shivaduti, asuras fell to the earth, and as they fell She devoured them.
इति मातृगणं क्रुद्धं मर्दयन्तं महासुरान् ।
दृष्ट्वाऽभ्युपायैर्विविधैर्नेशुर्देवारिसैनिकाः ॥
३९ ॥
Seeing the band of Mothers in their wrath crushing the great asuras by so many means, the soldiers of the gods' enemies fled.
पलायनपरान् दृष्ट्वा दैत्यान् मातृगणार्दितान् ।
योद्धुमभ्याययौ क्रुद्धो रक्तबीजो महासुरः ॥
४० ॥
Seeing the daityas, harried by the Mothers, bent on flight, the great asura Raktabija came forward in anger to fight.
रक्तबिन्दुर्यदा भूमौ पतत्यस्य शरीरतः ।
समुत्पतति मेदिन्यां तत्प्रमाणो महासुरः ॥
४१ ॥
Whenever a drop of blood fell from his body to the ground, a great asura of his own size sprang up from the earth.
युयुधे स गदापाणिरिन्द्रशक्त्या महासुरः ।
ततश्चैन्द्री स्ववज्रेण रक्तबीजमताडयत् ॥
४२ ॥
That great asura fought Indra's shakti with a mace in his hand; then Aindri struck Raktabija with Her thunderbolt.
कुलिशेनाहतस्याशु बहु सुस्राव शोणितम् ।
समुत्तस्थुस्ततो योधास्तद्रूपास्तत्पराक्रमाः ॥
४३ ॥
Struck by the thunderbolt, he bled at once and freely, and from that blood rose warriors of his form and his valour.
यावन्तः पतितास्तस्य शरीराद्रक्तबिन्दवः ।
तावन्तः पुरुषा जातास्तद्वीर्यबलविक्रमाः ॥
४४ ॥
As many drops of blood as fell from his body, so many men were born, with his vigour, strength and prowess.
ते चापि युयुधुस्तत्र पुरुषा रक्तसम्भवाः ।
समं मातृभिरत्युग्रशस्त्रपातातिभीषणम् ॥
४५ ॥
And those men born of his blood fought the Mothers there, a battle made most dreadful by the fall of fierce weapons.
पुनश्च वज्रपातेन क्षतमस्य शिरो यदा ।
ववाह रक्तं पुरुषास्ततो जाताः सहस्रशः ॥
४६ ॥
And when his head was wounded again by a blow of the thunderbolt, the blood flowed, and from it men were born in their thousands.
वैष्णवी समरे चैनं चक्रेणाभिजघान ह ।
गदया ताडयामास ऐन्द्री तमसुरेश्वरम् ॥
४७ ॥
In the battle Vaishnavi struck him with Her discus, and Aindri beat that lord of asuras with a mace.
वैष्णवीचक्रभिन्नस्य रुधिरस्रावसम्भवैः ।
सहस्रशो जगद्व्याप्तं तत्प्रमाणैर्महासुरैः ॥
४८ ॥
From the blood that flowed when Vaishnavi's discus cut him, great asuras of his size were born in their thousands, and the world was filled with them.
शक्त्या जघान कौमारी वाराही च तथासिना ।
माहेश्वरी त्रिशूलेन रक्तबीजं महासुरम् ॥
४९ ॥
Kaumari struck the great asura Raktabija with Her spear, Varahi with Her sword, and Maheshwari with Her trident.
स चापि गदया दैत्यः सर्वा एवाहनत् पृथक् ।
मातॄः कोपसमाविष्टो रक्तबीजो महासुरः ॥
५० ॥
And Raktabija, that great asura, filled with rage, struck every one of the Mothers in turn with his mace.
तस्याहतस्य बहुधा शक्तिशूलादिभिर्भुवि ।
पपात यो वै रक्तौघस्तेनासञ्छतशोऽसुराः ॥
५१ ॥
Wounded again and again by spears, tridents and other weapons, he shed streams of blood upon the ground, and from them asuras arose in their hundreds.
तैश्चासुरासृक्सम्भूतैरसुरैः सकलं जगत् ।
व्याप्तमासीत्ततो देवा भयमाजग्मुरुत्तमम् ॥
५२ ॥
The whole world was filled with those asuras born of the asura's blood, and the gods fell into the greatest fear.
तान् विषण्णान् सुरान् दृष्ट्वा चण्डिका प्राह सत्वरा ।
उवाच कालीं चामुण्डे विस्तीर्णं वदनं कुरु ॥
५३ ॥
Seeing the gods downcast, Chandika spoke swiftly to Kali: ‘O Chamunda, open Your mouth wide.’
मच्छस्त्रपातसम्भूतान् रक्तबिन्दून् महासुरान् ।
रक्तबिन्दोः प्रतीच्छ त्वं वक्त्रेणानेन वेगिना ॥
५४ ॥
‘With this swift mouth of Yours, take in the drops of blood that fall at the stroke of My weapons, and the great asuras born of those drops.’
भक्षयन्ती चर रणे तदुत्पन्नान् महासुरान् ।
एवमेष क्षयं दैत्यः क्षीणरक्तो गमिष्यति ॥
५५ ॥
‘Range over the battlefield, devouring the great asuras born of it. So this daitya, his blood spent, will come to his end.’
भक्ष्यमाणास्त्वया चोग्रा न चोत्पत्स्यन्ति चापरे ।
इत्युक्त्वा तां ततो देवी शूलेनाभिजघान तम् ॥
५६ ॥
‘As You devour these fierce ones, no others will arise.’ Having said this to Her, the Devi then struck him with Her spear.
मुखेन काली जगृहे रक्तबीजस्य शोणितम् ।
ततोऽसावाजघानाथ गदया तत्र चण्डिकाम् ॥
५७ ॥
Kali took Raktabija's blood into Her mouth. Then he struck Chandika there with his mace,
न चास्या वेदनां चक्रे गदापातोऽल्पिकामपि ।
तस्याहतस्य देहात्तु बहु सुस्राव शोणितम् ॥
५८ ॥
but the blow of the mace caused Her not the slightest pain. From his wounded body much blood flowed,
यतस्ततस्तद्वक्त्रेण चामुण्डा सम्प्रतीच्छति ।
मुखे समुद्गता येऽस्या रक्तपातान्महासुराः ॥
५९ ॥
and wherever it fell, Chamunda caught it in Her mouth. The great asuras who sprang up in Her mouth from the falling blood —
तांश्चखादाथ चामुण्डा पपौ तस्य च शोणितम् ।
देवी शूलेन वज्रेण बाणैरसिभिरृष्टिभिः ॥
६० ॥
those Chamunda devoured, and She drank his blood. Then the Devi, with spear, thunderbolt, arrows, swords and lances,
जघान रक्तबीजं तं चामुण्डापीतशोणितम् ।
स पपात महीपृष्ठे शस्त्रसङ्घसमाहतः ॥
६१ ॥
struck down that Raktabija, whose blood Chamunda had drunk. Smitten by that host of weapons, he fell to the ground —
नीरक्तश्च महीपाल रक्तबीजो महासुरः ।
ततस्ते हर्षमतुलमवापुस्त्रिदशा नृप ॥
६२ ॥
the great asura Raktabija, drained of blood, O king. Then, O king, the gods were filled with a joy beyond compare,
तेषां मातृगणो जातो ननर्तासृङ्मदोद्धतः ॥
६३ ॥
and the band of Mothers who had come forth from them danced, wild with the drink of blood.