तप्तकाञ्चनवर्णाभा सूर्य्यकोटिसमप्रभा
Her complexion shines like molten gold, her brilliance equal to ten million suns.
रक्तवस्त्रपरीधाना रत्नाभरणभूषिता
She is clad in red garments and adorned with jeweled ornaments.
तासां च सर्वशक्तीनामीशाधिष्ठातृदेवता
And among all those powers, the presiding deity is the Lord.
आत्मनः शक्तिरूपा सा जगतां जननी परा
That supreme Mother of the worlds is the very form of his own power.
शंख चक्रगदापद्ममक्षमालां कमण्डलुम्
Conch, discus, mace, lotus, rosary, and water-pot—
नारायणास्त्रं ब्रह्मास्त्रं रौद्रं पाशुपतं तथा कृष्णस्य पुरतः स्थित्वा तुष्टाव तं मुदाऽन्विता
The Narayana weapon, the Brahma weapon, the Rudra weapon, and the Pashupata weapon as well—standing before Krishna, she praised him, filled with joy.
प्रकृतिरुवाच सर्वशक्तिस्वरूपा च मया च शक्तिमज्जगत्
Prakriti said: The universe, endowed with all powers, exists through me, and is pervaded by power.
त्वया सृष्टा न स्वतन्त्रा त्वमेव जगतां पतिः
Created by you, it is not independent; you alone are the Lord of the worlds.
स्रष्टुं स्रष्टा च संहर्तुं संहर्ता वेधसा विधिः चक्षुर्निमेषकाले च ब्रह्मणः पतनं भवेत्
To create, you are the creator; to dissolve, you are the destroyer; and in the blink of Brahma’s eye, dissolution comes upon him.
तस्य प्रभावमतुलं वर्णितुं कः क्षमो विभो 1.3.
O Lord, who is able to describe his immeasurable power?
चराचरांश्च विश्वेषु देवान्ब्रह्मपुरोगमान्
All the moving and unmoving beings in the universe, and the gods with Brahma at their head—
परिपूर्णतमं स्वीड्यं वन्दे चानन्दपूर्वकम् वन्दे चानन्दपूर्वं तं परमात्मानमीश्वरम्
I bow to that Supreme Self, the Lord, who is the most complete, the most praiseworthy, and ever blissful.
यं च स्तोतुमशक्ताश्च ब्रह्मविष्णुशिवादयः
Even Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva, and others are unable to praise him.
वेदाश्च विदुषां श्रेष्ठाः स्तोतुं शक्ताश्च न क्षमाः
Nor are the Vedas, the best of the wise, able to praise him.
इत्येवमुक्त्वा सा दुर्गा रत्नसिंहासने वरे
Having spoken thus, Durga, seated on a jeweled lion-throne—
इति दुर्गाकृतं स्तोत्रं कृष्णस्य परमात्मनः
Thus ends the hymn to Krishna, the Supreme Self, composed by Durga.
दुर्गा तस्य गृहं त्यक्त्वा नैव याति कदाचन
Durga, having left his house, never departs from it at any time.
सौतिरुवाच शुद्धस्फटिकसंकाशा देवी चैका मनोहरा
Sauti said: The goddess, radiant like pure crystal, was singular and enchanting.
शुक्लवस्त्रपरीधाना सर्वालङ्कारभूषिता
Clad in white garments, adorned with every ornament,
सा तुष्टाव पुरः स्थित्वा परं ब्रह्म सनातनम्
Standing before the Supreme, Eternal Brahman, she offered praise.
सावित्र्युवाच परात्परतरं श्यामं निर्विकारं निरञ्जनम्
Savitri said: The One who is beyond the highest, dark-hued, changeless, and stainless.
इत्युक्त्वा सस्मिता देवी रत्नसिंहासने वरे
Having spoken thus, the smiling goddess sat upon the splendid jeweled throne.
आविर्बभूव तत्पश्चात्कृष्णस्य परमात्मनः
After that, she appeared before Krishna, the Supreme Self.
मनो मथ्नाति सर्वेषां पञ्चबाणेन कामिनाम्
He agitates the minds of all lovers with his five arrows.
तस्य पुंसो वामपार्श्वात्कामस्य कामिनी वरा
From the left side of that man, the best of desiring women, Kama’s beloved, arose.
रतिर्बभूव सर्वेषां तां दृष्ट्वा सस्मितां सतीम्
Rati, the beloved of all, appeared, seeing her, smiling and virtuous.
हरिं स्तुत्वा तया सार्द्धं स उवास हरेः पुरः 1.4.
Having praised Hari, he remained there together with her before Hari’s presence.
मारणं स्तम्भनं चैव जृम्भणं शोषणं तथा
Kama released all his arrows—of killing, stupefying, causing yawning, and drying up.
बाणांश्चिक्षेप सर्वांश्च कामो बाणपरीक्षया
Kama shot all his arrows as a test of their power.
रतिं दृष्ट्वा ब्रह्मणश्च रेतः पातो वभूव ह
Seeing Rati, Brahma’s seed fell forth.