अशक्तास्तेन ते योद्धुं वज्रदेहासुरेण च । पलायनं तदा कृत्वा निर्गता निर्जराः क्वचित्
Unable to fight against that demon with a body hard as a thunderbolt, the immortals fled and escaped to various places.
निलयं गिरिदुर्गेषु रत्नसानुगुहासु च । संस्थिताः परमां शक्तिं ध्यायन्तस्ते पराम्बिकाम्
They took refuge in mountain fortresses and in caves adorned with jewels, meditating with utmost concentration on the supreme Mother.
अग्नौ होमाद्यभावात्तु वृष्ट्यभावोऽप्यभून्नृप । वृष्टेरभावे संशुष्कं निर्जलं चापि भूतलम्
Because there were no fire offerings, O King, there was also no rain; and in the absence of rain, the earth became parched and waterless.
कूपवापीतडागाश्च सरितः शुष्कतां गताः । अनावृष्टिरियं राजन्नभूच्च शतवार्षिकी
Wells, ponds, tanks, and rivers all dried up; O King, this drought lasted for a hundred years.
मृताः प्रजाश्च बहुधा गोमहिष्यादयस्तथा । गृहे गृहे मनुष्याणामभवच्छवसंग्रहः
Many living beings died, including cows, buffaloes, and others; in every house, there were heaps of corpses among humans.
अनर्थे त्वेवमुद्भूते ब्राह्मणाः शान्तचेतसः । गत्वा हिमवतः पार्श्वे रिराधयिषवः शिवम्
When this disaster arose, the Brahmins, with peaceful minds, went to the slopes of the Himalayas, desiring to worship Shiva.
समाधिध्यानपूजाभिर्देवीं तुष्टुवुरन्वहम् । निराहारास्तदासक्तास्तामेव शरणं ययुः
Through meditation, contemplation, and worship, they praised the Goddess daily; fasting and absorbed in her, they sought refuge in her alone.
दयां कुरु महेशानि पामरेषु जनेषु हि । सर्वापराधयुक्तेषु नैतच्छ्लाघ्यं तवाम्बिके
Show compassion, O Great Goddess, to these humble people; O Mother, it is not fitting for you to be praised for this, when all are bound by faults.
कोपं संहर देवेशि सर्वान्तर्यामिरूपिणि । त्वया यथा प्रेर्यतेऽयं करोति स तथा जनः
Withdraw your anger, O Goddess of the gods, who dwell within all; as you direct, so do people act.
नान्या गतिर्जनस्यास्य किं पश्यसि पुनः पुनः । यथेच्छसि तथा कर्तुं समर्थासि महेश्वरि
There is no other refuge for these people; why do you keep observing again and again? O Great Goddess, you are able to act as you wish.
समुद्धर महेशानि संकटात्परमोत्थितात् । जीवनेन विनास्माकं कथं स्यात्स्थितिरम्बिके
O Great Goddess, rescue us from this supreme calamity; O Mother, without life, how can we continue to exist?
प्रसीद त्वं महेशानि प्रसीद जगदम्बिके । अनन्तकोटिब्रह्माण्डनायिके ते नमो नमः
Be gracious, O Great Goddess, be gracious, O Mother of the universe; O ruler of countless millions of universes, we bow to you again and again.
नमः कूटस्थरूपायै चिद्रूपायै नमो नमः । नमो वेदान्तवेद्यायै भुवनेश्यै नमो नमः
Salutations to her whose form is changeless, salutations to her whose nature is consciousness; salutations to her who is known through the Vedanta, salutations to the Lady of the worlds.
नेति नेतीति वाक्यैर्या बोध्यते सकलागमैः । तां सर्वकारणां देवीं सर्वभावेन सन्नताः
She who is realized by all the scriptures through the words 'not this, not this,' to that Goddess, the cause of all, we bow with all our being.
इति सम्प्रार्थिता देवी भुवनेशी महेश्वरी । अनन्ताक्षिमयं रूपं दर्शयामास पार्वती
Thus entreated, the Goddess, the Lady of the worlds, the Great Goddess, Parvati, revealed a form composed of countless eyes.
नीलाञ्जनसमप्रख्यं नीलपद्मायतेक्षणम् । सुकर्कशसमोत्तुङ्गवृत्तपीनघनस्तनम्
Her complexion was like dark collyrium, her eyes resembled blue lotuses, her breasts were full, round, firm, and high, surpassing even the best of elephants.
बाणमुष्टिं च कमलं पुष्पपल्लवमूलकान् । शाकादीन्फलसंयुक्ताननन्तरससंयुतान्
She held a fistful of arrows, a lotus, tender shoots and roots, and vegetables mixed with fruits, all accompanied by various flavors.
क्षुत्तृड्जरापहान् हस्तैर्बिभ्रती च महाधनुः । सर्वसौन्दर्यसारं तद्रूपं लावण्यशोभितम्
Holding the great bow in her hands, which dispelled hunger, thirst, and disease, her form was the very essence of all beauty, radiant with grace.
कोटिसूर्यप्रतीकाशं करुणारससागरम् । दर्शयित्वा जगद्धात्री सानन्तनयनोद्भवा
Her appearance shone like millions of suns, an ocean of compassion; the Mother of the world, born from countless eyes, revealed herself.
मोचयामास लोकेषु वारिधारां सहस्रशः । नवरात्रं महावृष्टिरभून्नेत्रोद्भवैर्जलैः
She released torrents of water upon the worlds in thousands of streams; for nine nights, a great rain fell from the waters arising from her eyes.
दुःखितान्वीक्ष्य सकलान्नेत्राश्रूणि विमुञ्चती । तर्पितास्तेन ते लोका ओषध्यः सकला अपि
Seeing all beings afflicted, she shed tears from her eyes; by those tears, all the worlds and every plant were satisfied.
नदीनदप्रवाहास्तैर्जलैः समभवन्नृप । निलीय संस्थिताः पूर्वं सुरास्ते निर्गता बहिः
By those waters, rivers and streams were formed, O King; the gods who had previously hidden emerged outside.
मिलित्वा ससुरा विप्रा देवीं समभितुष्टुवुः । नमो वेदान्तवेद्ये ते नमो ब्रह्मस्वरूपिणि
Gathering together with the gods and sages, they praised the Goddess: 'Salutations to you, who are known through the Vedanta, salutations to you, who are the very form of Brahman.'
स्वमायया सर्वजगद्विधात्र्यै ते नमो नमः । भक्तकल्पद्रुमे देवि भक्तार्थं देहधारिणि
'Salutations again and again to you, who by your own power create all the worlds; O Goddess, wish-fulfilling tree for devotees, who take form for the sake of your worshippers.'
नित्यतृप्ते निरुपमे भुवनेश्वरि ते नमः । अस्मच्छान्त्यर्थमतुलं लोचनानां सहस्रकम्
'Salutations to you, ever-content, incomparable, sovereign of the world; for our peace, you have borne countless eyes.'
त्वया यतो धृतं देवि शताक्षी त्वं ततो भव । क्षुधया पीडिता मातः स्तोतुं शक्तिर्न चास्ति नः
'Since you have borne them, O Goddess, you are called Shatakshi (Hundred-Eyed); O Mother, afflicted by hunger, we have no strength to praise you.'
कृपां कुरु महेशानि वेदानप्याहराम्बिके । व्यास उवाच - इति तेषां वचः श्रुत्वा शाकान्स्वकरसंस्थितान्
'Show us compassion, O great Goddess, O Mother of the Vedas, restore the Vedas to us.' Vyasa said: Hearing their words, she took the vegetables before her.
स्वादूनि फलमूलानि भक्षणार्थं ददौ शिवा । नानाविधानि चान्नानि पशुभोज्यानि यानि च
The auspicious one gave sweet fruits and roots for eating, and various kinds of food, including those suitable for animals.
काम्यानन्तरसैर्युक्तान्यानवीनोद्भवं ददौ । शाकम्भरीति नामापि तद्दिनात्समभून्नृप
She gave foods desired and accompanied by various flavors, and those that arose from her own body; from that day, she became known as Shakambhari.
ततः कोलाहले जाते दूतवाक्येन बोधितः । ससैन्यः सायुधो योद्धुं दुर्गमाख्योऽसुरो ययौ
Then, as tumult arose, having been informed by a messenger, the demon named Durgama, armed and with his army, went forth to fight.