rishiruvaach . 1 .
The Rishi said:
chande ch nihate daitye munde ch vinipaatite . bahuleshu ch sainyeshu kshayiteshvasureshvarah . 2 .
When the daitya Chanda had been slain and Munda struck down, and many of his armies destroyed, the lord of the asuras —
tatah kopaparaadheenachetaah shumbhah prataapavaan . udyogan sarvasainyaanaan daityaanaamaadidesh h . 3 .
the mighty Shumbha, his mind given over to anger, commanded all the daitya armies to make ready for war.
ady sarvabalairdaityaah shadasheetirudaayudhaah . kamboonaan chaturasheetirniryaantu svabalairvritaah . 4 .
‘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.’
kotiveeryaani panchaashadasuraanaan kulaani vai . shatan kulaani dhaumraanaan nirgachchhantu mamaajnayaa . 5 .
‘Let the fifty asura clans of the Kotiviryas and the hundred clans of the Dhaumras go forth at my command.’
kaalakaa daurhridaa mauryaah kaalakeyaastathaasuraah . yuddhaay sajjaa niryaantu aajnayaa tvaritaa mam . 6 .
‘Let the asuras called Kalakas, Daurhridas, Mauryas and Kalakeyas, armed for battle, march out swiftly at my command.’
ityaajnaapyaasurapatih shumbho bhairavashaasanah . nirjagaam mahaasainyasahasrairbahubhirvritah . 7 .
Having given these orders, Shumbha, the lord of the asuras, dreadful in his rule, went out surrounded by many thousands of great armies.
aayaantan chandikaa drishtvaa tat sainyamatibheeshanam . jyaasvanaih poorayaamaas dharaneegaganaantaram . 8 .
Seeing that most dreadful army approach, Chandika filled the space between earth and sky with the twang of Her bowstring.
tatah sinho mahaanaadamateev kritavaan nrip . ghantaasvanen tannaadamambikaa chopabrinhayat . 9 .
Then, O king, Her lion gave a mighty roar, and Ambika swelled that roar with the ringing of Her bell.
dhanurjyaasinhaghantaanaan naadaapooritadinmukhaa . ninaadairbheeshanaih kaalee jigye vistaaritaananaa . 10 .
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.
tan ninaadamupashruty daityasainyaishchaturdisham . devee sinhastathaa kaalee saroshaih parivaaritaah . 11 .
Hearing that uproar, the daitya armies closed in from all four sides in fury, surrounding the Devi, the lion and Kali.
etasminnantare bhoop vinaashaay suradvishaam . bhavaayaamarasinhaanaamativeeryabalaanvitaah . 12 .
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 —
brahmeshaguhavishnoonaan tathendrasy ch shaktayah . shareerebhyo vinishkramy tadroopaishchandikaan yayuh . 13 .
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.
yasy devasy yadroopan yathaa bhooshanavaahanam . tadvadev hi tachchhaktirasuraan yoddhumaayayau . 14 .
Whatever form each god had, with his very ornaments and mount, in just that form his shakti came to fight the asuras.
hansayuktavimaanaagre saakshasootrakamandaluh . aayaataa brahmanah shaktirbrahmaanee saabhidheeyate . 15 .
Brahma's shakti came seated in a chariot drawn by swans, bearing a rosary and a water-pot; She is called Brahmani.
maaheshvaree vrishaaroodhaa trishoolavaradhaarinee . mahaahivalayaa praaptaa chandrarekhaavibhooshanaa . 16 .
Maheshwari came riding a bull, holding a fine trident, with great serpents for bracelets and the crescent moon for Her ornament.
kaumaaree shaktihastaa ch mayooravaravaahanaa . yoddhumabhyaayayau daityaanambikaa guharoopinee . 17 .
Kaumari, spear in hand and riding a splendid peacock, came to fight the daityas: Ambika in the form of Guha.
tathaiv vaishnavee shaktirgarudopari sansthitaa . shankhachakragadaashaarngakhadgahastaabhyupaayayau . 18 .
So too Vaishnavi, the shakti of Vishnu, came seated on Garuda, with conch, discus, mace, the Sharnga bow and a sword in Her hands.
yajnavaaraahamatulan roopan yaa bibhrato hareh . shaktih saapyaayayau tatr vaaraaheen bibhratee tanum . 19 .
The shakti of Hari, who takes the matchless form of the sacrificial boar, came there too, bearing a boar's body.
naarasinhee nrisinhasy bibhratee sadrishan vapuh . praaptaa tatr sataakshepakshiptanakshatrasanhatih . 20 .
Narasimhi came there bearing a body like Narasimha's, the tossing of Her mane scattering the hosts of stars.
vajrahastaa tathaivaindree gajaraajopari sthitaa . praaptaa sahasranayanaa yathaa shakrastathaiv saa . 21 .
So too came Aindri, thunderbolt in hand, seated on the king of elephants, with a thousand eyes: as Indra is, so was She.
tatah parivritastaabhireeshaano devashaktibhih . hanyantaamasuraah sheeghran mam preetyaa''h chandikaam . 22 .
Then Shiva, surrounded by these shaktis of the gods, said to Chandika: ‘Let the asuras be slain at once, for My gladness.’
tato deveeshareeraattu vinishkraantaatibheeshanaa . chandikaashaktiratyugraa shivaashataninaadinee . 23 .
Then from the Devi's body came forth the shakti of Chandika Herself, most terrible and fierce, howling like a hundred jackals.
saa chaah dhoomrajatilameeshaanamaparaajitaa . doot tvan gachchh bhagavan paarshvan shumbhanishumbhayoh . 24 .
That unconquered Devi said to Shiva of the smoke-grey matted locks: ‘O Bhagwan, go as My messenger to Shumbha and Nishumbha.’
broohi shumbhan nishumbhan ch daanavaavatigarvitau . ye chaanye daanavaastatr yuddhaay samupasthitaah . 25 .
‘Tell Shumbha and Nishumbha, those two exceedingly proud danavas, and whatever other danavas are gathered there for battle:’
trailokyamindro labhataan devaah santu havirbhujah . yooyan prayaat paataalan yadi jeevitumichchhath . 26 .
‘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.’
balaavalepaadath chedbhavanto yuddhakaankshinah . tadaagachchhat tripyantu machchhivaah pishiten vah . 27 .
‘But if, in the pride of your strength, you long for battle, then come, and let My jackals be sated with your flesh.’
yato niyukto dautyen tayaa devyaa shivah svayam . shivadooteeti loke'sminstatah saa khyaatimaagataa . 28 .
Because that Devi appointed Shiva Himself as Her messenger, She became famed in this world as Shivaduti.
te'pi shrutvaa vacho devyaah sharvaakhyaatan mahaasuraah . amarshaapooritaa jagmuryatr kaatyaayanee sthitaa . 29 .
The great asuras, hearing the Devi's words as Sharva (Shiva) told them, were filled with rage and went to where Katyayani stood.
tatah prathamamevaagre sharashaktyrishtivrishtibhih . vavarshuruddhataamarshaastaan deveemamaraarayah . 30 .
Then, swollen with fury, the enemies of the gods struck first, raining arrows, spears and lances upon the Devi.
saa ch taan prahitaan baanaanchhoolashaktiparashvadhaan . chichchhed leelayaa''dhmaatadhanurmuktairmaheshubhih . 31 .
And She, as if at play, cut down the arrows, tridents, spears and axes they hurled, with great shafts loosed from Her ringing bow.
tasyaagratastathaa kaalee shoolapaatavidaaritaan . khatvaangapothitaanshchaareen kurvatee vyacharattadaa . 32 .
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.
kamandalujalaakshepahataveeryaan hataujasah . brahmaanee chaakarochchhatroon yen yen sm dhaavati . 33 .
And wherever Brahmani ran, She sprinkled the water of Her water-pot on the enemies and robbed them of their valour and strength.
maaheshvaree trishoolen tathaa chakren vaishnavee . daityaanjaghaan kaumaaree tathaa shaktyaatikopanaa . 34 .
Maheshwari slew the daityas with Her trident, Vaishnavi with Her discus, and Kaumari, in great wrath, with Her spear.
aindreekulishapaaten shatasho daityadaanavaah . peturvidaaritaah prithvyaan rudhiraughapravarshinah . 35 .
Torn apart by the blows of Aindri's thunderbolt, daityas and danavas fell to the earth by the hundred, pouring out streams of blood.
tundaprahaaravidhvastaa danshtraagrakshatavakshasah . vaaraahamoortyaa nyapatanshchakren ch vidaaritaah . 36 .
Shattered by the blows of Varahi's snout, their chests torn by the tips of Her tusks, and ripped by Her discus, they fell.
nakhairvidaaritaanshchaanyaan bhakshayantee mahaasuraan . naarasinhee chachaaraajau naadaapoornadigambaraa . 37 .
Narasimhi roamed the battle, devouring other great asuras torn open by Her claws, filling the quarters and the sky with Her roar.
chandaattahaasairasuraah shivadootyabhidooshitaah . petuh prithivyaan patitaanstaanshchakhaadaath saa tadaa . 38 .
Struck down by the fierce laughter of Shivaduti, asuras fell to the earth, and as they fell She devoured them.
iti maatriganan kruddhan mardayantan mahaasuraan . drishtvaa'bhyupaayairvividhairneshurdevaarisainikaah . 39 .
Seeing the band of Mothers in their wrath crushing the great asuras by so many means, the soldiers of the gods' enemies fled.
palaayanaparaan drishtvaa daityaan maatriganaarditaan . yoddhumabhyaayayau kruddho raktabeejo mahaasurah . 40 .
Seeing the daityas, harried by the Mothers, bent on flight, the great asura Raktabija came forward in anger to fight.
raktabinduryadaa bhoomau patatyasy shareeratah . samutpatati medinyaan tatpramaano mahaasurah . 41 .
Whenever a drop of blood fell from his body to the ground, a great asura of his own size sprang up from the earth.
yuyudhe s gadaapaanirindrashaktyaa mahaasurah . tatashchaindree svavajren raktabeejamataadayat . 42 .
That great asura fought Indra's shakti with a mace in his hand; then Aindri struck Raktabija with Her thunderbolt.
kulishenaahatasyaashu bahu susraav shonitam . samuttasthustato yodhaastadroopaastatparaakramaah . 43 .
Struck by the thunderbolt, he bled at once and freely, and from that blood rose warriors of his form and his valour.
yaavantah patitaastasy shareeraadraktabindavah . taavantah purushaa jaataastadveeryabalavikramaah . 44 .
As many drops of blood as fell from his body, so many men were born, with his vigour, strength and prowess.
te chaapi yuyudhustatr purushaa raktasambhavaah . saman maatribhiratyugrashastrapaataatibheeshanam . 45 .
And those men born of his blood fought the Mothers there, a battle made most dreadful by the fall of fierce weapons.
punashch vajrapaaten kshatamasy shiro yadaa . vavaah raktan purushaastato jaataah sahasrashah . 46 .
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.
vaishnavee samare chainan chakrenaabhijaghaan h . gadayaa taadayaamaas aindree tamasureshvaram . 47 .
In the battle Vaishnavi struck him with Her discus, and Aindri beat that lord of asuras with a mace.
vaishnaveechakrabhinnasy rudhirasraavasambhavaih . sahasrasho jagadvyaaptan tatpramaanairmahaasuraih . 48 .
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.
shaktyaa jaghaan kaumaaree vaaraahee ch tathaasinaa . maaheshvaree trishoolen raktabeejan mahaasuram . 49 .
Kaumari struck the great asura Raktabija with Her spear, Varahi with Her sword, and Maheshwari with Her trident.
s chaapi gadayaa daityah sarvaa evaahanat prithak . maatॄh kopasamaavishto raktabeejo mahaasurah . 50 .
And Raktabija, that great asura, filled with rage, struck every one of the Mothers in turn with his mace.
tasyaahatasy bahudhaa shaktishoolaadibhirbhuvi . papaat yo vai raktaughastenaasanchhatasho'suraah . 51 .
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.
taishchaasuraasriksambhootairasuraih sakalan jagat . vyaaptamaaseettato devaa bhayamaajagmuruttamam . 52 .
The whole world was filled with those asuras born of the asura's blood, and the gods fell into the greatest fear.
taan vishannaan suraan drishtvaa chandikaa praah satvaraa . uvaach kaaleen chaamunde visteernan vadanan kuru . 53 .
Seeing the gods downcast, Chandika spoke swiftly to Kali: ‘O Chamunda, open Your mouth wide.’
machchhastrapaatasambhootaan raktabindoon mahaasuraan . raktabindoh prateechchh tvan vaktrenaanen veginaa . 54 .
‘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.’
bhakshayantee char rane tadutpannaan mahaasuraan . evamesh kshayan daityah ksheenarakto gamishyati . 55 .
‘Range over the battlefield, devouring the great asuras born of it. So this daitya, his blood spent, will come to his end.’
bhakshyamaanaastvayaa chograa n chotpatsyanti chaapare . ityuktvaa taan tato devee shoolenaabhijaghaan tam . 56 .
‘As You devour these fierce ones, no others will arise.’ Having said this to Her, the Devi then struck him with Her spear.
mukhen kaalee jagrihe raktabeejasy shonitam . tato'saavaajaghaanaath gadayaa tatr chandikaam . 57 .
Kali took Raktabija's blood into Her mouth. Then he struck Chandika there with his mace,
n chaasyaa vedanaan chakre gadaapaato'lpikaamapi . tasyaahatasy dehaattu bahu susraav shonitam . 58 .
but the blow of the mace caused Her not the slightest pain. From his wounded body much blood flowed,
yatastatastadvaktren chaamundaa samprateechchhati . mukhe samudgataa ye'syaa raktapaataanmahaasuraah . 59 .
and wherever it fell, Chamunda caught it in Her mouth. The great asuras who sprang up in Her mouth from the falling blood —
taanshchakhaadaath chaamundaa papau tasy ch shonitam . devee shoolen vajren baanairasibhirrishtibhih . 60 .
those Chamunda devoured, and She drank his blood. Then the Devi, with spear, thunderbolt, arrows, swords and lances,
jaghaan raktabeejan tan chaamundaapeetashonitam . s papaat maheeprishthe shastrasanghasamaahatah . 61 .
struck down that Raktabija, whose blood Chamunda had drunk. Smitten by that host of weapons, he fell to the ground —
neeraktashch maheepaal raktabeejo mahaasurah . tataste harshamatulamavaapustridashaa nrip . 62 .
the great asura Raktabija, drained of blood, O king. Then, O king, the gods were filled with a joy beyond compare,
teshaan maatrigano jaato nanartaasrinmadoddhatah . 63 .
and the band of Mothers who had come forth from them danced, wild with the drink of blood.