अग्रेसरः समभवद्दुर्गमो वाहिनीपतिः । शक्तिभिः सह युद्धं च चकार प्रथमं रिपुः
Durgama, the commander, advanced at the front, and the enemy engaged in battle with the powers for the first time.
महद्युद्धं समभवद्यत्राभूद्रक्तवाहिनी । अक्षौहिण्यस्तु ताः सर्वा विनष्टा दशभिर्दिनैः
A great battle occurred there, where a river of blood flowed; all those divisions were destroyed within ten days.
तत एकादशे प्राप्ते दिने परमदारुणे । रक्तमाल्याम्बरधरो रक्तगन्धानुलेपनः
Then, on the eleventh day, exceedingly dreadful, he appeared adorned with red garlands and garments, and smeared with red sandal paste.
कृत्वोत्सवं महान्तं तु युद्धाय रथसंस्थितः । संरम्भेणैव महता शक्तीः सर्वा विजित्य च
Having performed a great festival, he mounted his chariot for battle, and with great fury, after conquering all the powers,
महादेवीरथाग्रे तु स्वरथं संन्यवेशयत् । ततोऽभवन्महद्युद्धं देव्या दैत्यस्य चोभयोः
He stationed his own chariot before the chariot of the Great Goddess; then a great battle took place between the Goddess and the demon.
प्रहरद्वयपर्यन्तं हृदयत्रासकारकम् । ततः पञ्चदशात्युग्रबाणान्देवी मुमोच ह
For the duration of two watches, the fight caused terror in the hearts; then the Goddess released fifteen exceedingly fierce arrows.
चतुर्भिश्चतुरो वाहान्बाणेनैकेन सारथिम् । द्वाभ्यां नेत्रे भुजौ द्वाभ्यां ध्वजमेकेन पत्रिणा
With four arrows she struck his four horses, with one arrow the charioteer, with two his eyes, with two his arms, with one the banner.
पञ्चभिर्हृदयं तस्य विव्याध जगदम्बिका । ततो वमन् स रुधिरं ममार पुर ईशितुः
With five arrows, Jagadambikā pierced his heart; then he vomited blood and died on the spot.
तस्य तेजस्तु निर्गत्य देवीरूपे विवेश ह । हते तस्मिन्महावीर्ये शान्तमासीज्जगत्त्रयम्
His energy, departing, entered into the form of the Goddess; with that mighty hero slain, the three worlds became peaceful.
ततो ब्रह्मादयः सर्वे तुष्टुवुर्जगदम्बिकाम् । पुरस्कृत्य हरीशानौ भक्त्या गद्गदया गिरा
Then Brahmā and the others all praised Jagadambikā, with Hari and Īśāna at the forefront, with voices choked with devotion.
देवा ऊचुः जगद्भ्रमविवर्तैककारणे परमेश्वरि । नमः शाकम्भरि शिवे नमस्ते शतलोचने
The gods said: O Supreme Lady, sole cause of the world's whirling illusion, obeisance to you, O Śākambharī, O Śivā, O hundred-eyed one, we bow to you.
सर्वोपनिषदुद्घुष्टे दुर्गमासुरनाशिनि । नमो मायेश्वरि शिवे पञ्चकोशान्तरस्थिते
Destroyer of the demon Durgama, proclaimed by all the Upaniṣads, obeisance to you, O Māyeśvarī, O Śivā, who dwells within the five sheaths.
चेतसा निर्विकल्पेन यां ध्यायन्ति मुनीश्वराः । प्रणवार्थस्वरूपां तां भजामो भुवनेश्वरीम्
We worship the Lady of the Universe, whose true nature is the meaning of the sacred syllable Om, whom the great sages contemplate with unwavering mind.
अनन्तकोटिब्रह्माण्डजननीं दिव्यविग्रहाम् । ब्रह्मविष्ण्वादिजननीं सर्वभावैर्नता वयम्
We bow with all our being to Her, the Mother of countless millions of universes, of divine form, the Mother of Brahma, Vishnu, and the others.
कः कुर्यात्पामरान्दृष्ट्वा रोदनं सकलेश्वरः । सदयां परमेशानीं शताक्षीं मातरं विना
What lord of all would witness the suffering of ordinary people and not weep, without the compassionate Supreme Lady, the hundred-eyed Mother?
व्यास उवाच - इति स्तुता सुरैर्देवी ब्रह्मविष्ण्वादिभिर्वरैः । पूजिता विविधैर्द्रव्यैः सन्तुष्टाभूच्च तत्क्षणे
Vyasa said: Thus praised by the gods—by Brahma, Vishnu, and the others—the Goddess, worshipped with various offerings, was satisfied at that very moment.
प्रसन्ना सा तदा देवी वेदानाहृत्य सा ददौ । ब्राह्मणेभ्यो विशेषेण प्रोवाच पिकभाषिणी
Then the gracious Goddess brought forth the Vedas and gave them, especially to the brahmins, speaking in a voice sweet as a cuckoo.
ममेयं तनुरुत्कृष्टा पालनीया विशेषतः । यया विनानर्थ एष जातो दृष्टोऽधुनैव हि
This body of mine is supremely excellent and must be especially protected; without it, this misfortune has now been seen to arise.
पूज्याहं सर्वदा सेव्या युष्माभिः सर्वदैव हि । नातः परतरं किञ्चित्कल्याणायोपदिश्यते
I am always to be worshipped and served by you at all times; nothing higher than this is taught for well-being.
पठनीयं ममैतद्धि माहात्म्यं सर्वदोत्तमम् । तेन तुष्टा भविष्यामि हरिष्यामि तथापदः
This, my supreme glory, should always be recited; by this I will be pleased and will remove afflictions.
दुर्गमासुरहन्त्रीत्वाद्दुर्गेति मम नाम यः । गृह्णाति च शताक्षीति मायां भित्त्वा व्रजत्यसौ
Because I am the slayer of the demon Durgama, my name is Durga; whoever takes up the name Shatakshi breaks through illusion and attains me.
किमुक्तेनात्र बहुना सारं वक्ष्यामि तत्त्वतः । संसेव्याहं सदा देवाः सर्वैरपि सुरासुरैः
Why speak at length here? I will state the essence truly: I am always to be served by all gods and demons.
इत्युक्त्वान्तर्हिता देवी देवानां चैव पश्यताम् । सन्तोषं जनयन्त्येवं सच्चिदनन्दरूपिणी
Having spoken thus, the Goddess vanished before the eyes of the gods, bringing them joy, being of the nature of existence, consciousness, and bliss.
एतत्ते सर्वमाख्यातं रहस्यं परमं महत् । गोपनीयं प्रयत्नेन सर्वकल्याणकारकम्
All this supreme and great secret has been told to you; it must be carefully guarded, for it brings all auspiciousness.
य इमं शृणुयान्नित्यमध्यायं भक्तितत्परः । सर्वान्कामानवाप्नोति देवीलोके महीयते
Whoever, devoted to faith, hears this chapter daily attains all desires and is honored in the realm of the Goddess.
भगवतीं समाराधयिषूणां देवानां तपःकरणवर्णनम् व्यास उवाच - इत्येवं सूर्यवंश्यानां राज्ञां चरितमुत्तमम् । सोमवंशोद्भवानां च वर्णनीयं मया कियत्
Description of the austerities performed by the gods who wished to worship the Blessed Goddess. Vyasa said: Thus I have recounted the excellent deeds of the kings of the solar dynasty; now I will briefly describe those born of the lunar line.
पराशक्तिप्रसादेन महत्त्वं प्रतिपेदिरे । राजन् सुनिश्चितं विद्धि पराशक्तिप्रसादतः
By the grace of the Supreme Power they attained greatness; know for certain, O King, that it is by the grace of the Supreme Power.
यद्यद्विभूतिमत्सत्त्वं श्रीमदूर्जितमेव वा । तत्तदेवावगच्छ त्वं पराशक्त्यंशसम्भवम्
Whatever being is endowed with majesty, prosperity, or power, know that it arises from a portion of the Supreme Power.
एते चान्ये च राजानः पराशक्तेरुपासकाः । संसारतरुमूलस्य कुठारा अभवन्नृप
These and other kings were worshippers of the Supreme Power; O King, they became axes at the root of the tree of worldly existence.
तस्मात्सर्वप्रयत्नेन संसेव्या भुवनेश्वरी । पलालमिव धान्यार्थी त्यजेदन्यमशेषतः
Therefore, with all effort, the Lady of the Universe should be worshipped; just as one seeking grain discards chaff, so should all else be abandoned completely.