तस्माद्यूयं पराम्बां तां शरणं यात मा चिरम् । निर्व्याजया चित्तवृत्त्या सा वः कार्यं विधास्यति
Therefore, all of you should quickly take refuge in the Supreme Mother; with sincere intent, she will accomplish your purpose.
इत्यादिश्य सुरान्सर्वान्महाविष्णुः स्वजायया । संयुतो निर्जगामाशु देवैः सह सुराधिपः
Thus instructing all the gods, Mahāviṣṇu, together with his consort, swiftly departed with the gods and the lord of the gods.
आजगाम महाशैलं हिमवन्तं नगाधिपम् । अभवंश्च सुराः सर्वे पुरश्चरणकर्मिणः
They arrived at the great mountain, Himavat, the lord of peaks, and all the gods who performed preliminary rites were present.
अम्बायज्ञविधानज्ञा अम्बायज्ञं च चक्रिरे । तृतीयादिव्रतान्याशु चक्रुः सर्वे सुरा नृप
Those skilled in the procedures of Ambā's sacrifice performed the Ambā sacrifice; all the gods, O king, quickly observed the vows beginning with the third day.
केचित्समाधिनिष्णाताः केचिन्नामपरायणाः । केचित्सूक्तपराः केचिन्नामपारायणोत्सुकाः
Some were immersed in meditation, some devoted to reciting names, some intent on hymns, and others eager for the recitation of names.
मन्त्रपारायणपराः केचित्कृच्छ्रादिकारिणः । अन्तर्यागपराः केचित्केचिन्न्यासपरायणाः
Some were devoted to the recitation of mantras, some performed austerities and similar rites; some were intent on inner worship, and others on the practice of nyāsa.
हृल्लेखया पराशक्तेः पूजां चक्रुरतन्द्रिताः । इत्येवं बहुवर्षाणि कालोऽगाज्जनमेजय
With the syllable hrīṃ, they tirelessly worshipped the supreme power; thus, many years passed, O Janamejaya.
अकस्माच्चैत्रमासीयनवम्यां च भृगोर्दिने । प्रादुर्बभूव पुरतस्तन्महः श्रुतिबोधितम्
Suddenly, on the ninth day of the bright half of the month of Caitra, on a Friday, that radiance described in the Vedas appeared before them.
चतुर्दिक्षु चतुर्वेदैर्मूर्तिमद्भिरभिष्टुतम् । कोटिसूर्यप्रतीकाशं चन्द्रकोटिसुशीतलम्
Praised in all directions by the embodied Vedas, it shone like ten million suns, yet was as cool as ten million moons.
विद्युत्कोटिसमानाभमरुणं तत्परं महः । नैव चोर्ध्वं न तिर्यक्च न मध्ये परिजग्रभत्
That supreme radiance was reddish like ten million flashes of lightning; it was not grasped as above, across, or in the middle.
आद्यन्तरहितं तत्तु न हस्ताद्यङ्गसंयुतम् । न च स्त्रीरूपमथवा न पुंरूपमथोभयम्
It was without beginning or end, not joined with hands or other limbs; neither in the form of a woman, nor a man, nor both.
दीप्त्या पिधानं नेत्राणां तेषामासीन्महीपते । पुनश्च धैर्यमालम्ब्य यावत्ते ददृशुः सुराः
Its brilliance veiled their eyes, O king; but regaining their composure, the gods beheld it.
तावत्तदेव स्त्रीरूपेणाभाद्दिव्यं मनोहरम् । अतीव रमणीयाङ्गीं कुमारीं नवयौवनाम्
Then, that very radiance appeared in the form of a divine, enchanting woman, exceedingly beautiful in every limb, a maiden in the bloom of youth.
उद्यत्पीनकुचद्वन्द्वनिन्दिताम्भोजकुड्मलाम् । रणत्किङ्किणिकाजालसिञ्जन्मञ्जीरमेखलाम्
Her budding breasts shamed lotus buds, her waist was adorned with a jingling girdle of tinkling bells.
कनकाङ्गदकेयूरग्रैवेयकविभूषिताम् । अनर्घ्यमणिसम्भिन्नगलबन्धविराजिताम्
She was adorned with golden armlets, bracelets, and necklaces, her neck radiant with priceless gems.
तनुकेतकसंराजन्नीलभ्रमरकुन्तलाम् । नितम्बबिम्बसुभगां रोमराजिविराजिताम्
Her hair was dark as swarms of bees, crowned with ketaka flowers; her hips were lovely as round mirrors, and a line of fine hair adorned her body.
कर्पूरशकलोन्मिश्रताम्बूलपूरिताननाम् । कनत्कनकताटङ्कविटङ्कवदनाम्बुजाम्
Her face was filled with betel mixed with camphor, her lotus-like face adorned with golden earrings.
अष्टमीचन्द्रबिम्बाभललाटामायतभ्रुवम् । रक्तारविन्दनयनामुन्नसां मधुराधराम्
Her forehead shone like the eighth-day moon, her brows were long, her eyes red lotuses, her nose high, her lips sweet.
कुन्दकुड्मलदन्ताग्रां मुक्ताहारविराजिताम् । रत्नसम्भिन्नमुकुटां चन्द्ररेखावतंसिनीम्
Her teeth were like jasmine buds, she was adorned with a pearl necklace, her crown set with jewels, and she wore a crescent moon as an ornament.
मल्लिकामालतीमालाकेशपाशविराजिताम् । काश्मीरबिन्दुनिटिलां नेत्रत्रयविलासिनीम्
Her hair was adorned with garlands of jasmine and mālatī flowers, her forehead marked with a spot of saffron, and she sported three eyes.
पाशाङ्कुशवराभीतिचतुर्बाहुं त्रिलोचनाम् । रक्तवस्त्रपरीधानां दाडिमीकुसुमप्रभाम्
They saw her with four arms, holding a noose, goad, boon, and gesture of fearlessness; three-eyed, clothed in red garments, shining like the blossom of a pomegranate flower.
सर्वशृङ्गारवेषाढ्यां सर्वदेवनमस्कृताम् । सर्वाशापूरिकां सर्वमातरं सर्वमोहिनीम्
Adorned in all the ornaments of beauty, worshipped by all the gods, fulfilling every desire, the mother of all, the bewilderer of all.
प्रसादसुमुखीमम्बां मन्दस्मितमुखाम्बुजाम् । अव्याजकरुणामूर्तिं ददृशुः पुरतः सुराः
The gods beheld before them the Mother, with a face full of grace, a lotus face adorned with a gentle smile, the very embodiment of spontaneous compassion.
दृष्ट्वा तां करुणामुर्तिं प्रणेमुः सकलाः सुराः । वक्तुं नाशक्नुवन् किञ्चिद्वाष्पसंरुद्धनिःस्वनाः
Seeing that form of compassion, all the gods bowed down; unable to speak, their voices choked with tears.
कथञ्चित्स्थैर्यमालम्ब्य भक्त्या चानतकन्धराः । प्रेमाश्रुपूर्णनयनास्तुष्टुवुर्जगदम्बिकाम्
Somehow regaining composure, their heads bowed with devotion, their eyes filled with tears of love, they praised the Mother of the universe.
देवा ऊचुः नमो देव्यै महादेव्यै शिवायै सततं नमः । नमः प्रकृत्यै भद्रायै नियताः प्रणताः स्म ताम्
The gods said: Salutations to the Goddess, the Great Goddess, to Shiva, always we bow; salutations to Prakriti, to the Auspicious One, we are ever devoted to her.
तामग्निवर्णां तपसा ज्वलन्तीं वैरोचनीं कर्मफलेषु जुष्टाम् । दुर्गां देवीं शरणमहं प्रपद्ये सुतरसि तरसे नमः
To her who is of the color of fire, blazing with austerity, the daughter of Vairocana, who delights in the fruits of action; to Goddess Durga I take refuge—salutations to the swift and powerful one.
देवीं वाचमजनयन्त देवा- स्तां विश्वरूपाः पशवो वदन्ति । सा नो मन्द्रेषमूर्जं दुहाना धेनुर्वागस्मानुपसुष्टुतैतु
The gods generated the Goddess of Speech; the beings of the world call her of manifold forms; may that Cow of Speech, yielding sweet nourishment, come to us with her most delightful milk.
कालरात्रिं ब्रह्मस्तुतां वैष्णवीं स्कन्दमातरम् । सरस्वतीमदितिं दक्षदुहितरं नमामः पावनां शिवाम्
We bow to Kālarātri, praised by Brahma, to the Vaishnavi, to the Mother of Skanda, to Sarasvati, to Aditi, to Daksha's daughter, to the pure and auspicious one.
महालक्ष्म्यै च विद्महे सर्वशक्त्यै च धीमहि । तन्नो देवी प्रचोदयात्
We contemplate Mahalakshmi, we meditate on the All-Powerful; may that Goddess inspire us.