कौबेरेण तथा नासा दन्ताः सञ्जज्ञिरे तदा । प्राजापत्येनोत्तमेन तेजसा वसुधाधिप
Her nose was formed from Kubera's energy, her teeth at that time from the supreme radiance of Prajapati, O lord of the earth.
पावकेन च सञ्जातं लोचनत्रितयं शुभम् । सान्ध्येन तेजसा जाते भृकुट्यौ तेजसां निधी
Her three beautiful eyes were created by Agni, and her eyebrows by the radiance of Sandhya, the repository of energies.
कर्णौ वायव्यतो जातौ तेजसो मनुजाधिप । सर्वेषां तेजसा देवी जाता महिषमर्दिनी
Her ears were formed from Vayu's energy, O king of men; thus, from the radiance of all, the goddess Mahishamardini was born.
शूलं ददौ शिवो विष्णुश्चक्रं शङ्खं च पाशभृत् । हुताशनो ददौ शक्तिं मारुतश्चापसायकौ
Shiva gave her a trident, Vishnu a discus and a conch, the Lord of Bonds a noose, Agni gave her a spear, and Maruta a bow and arrows.
वज्रं महेन्द्रः प्रददौ घण्टां चैरावताद् गजात् । कालदण्डं यमो ब्रह्मा चाक्षमालाकमण्डलू
Mahendra gave her a thunderbolt, and a bell from Airavata the elephant; Yama gave her the staff of time, and Brahma a rosary and water-pot.
दिवाकरो रश्मिमालां रोमकूपेषु सन्ददौ । कालः खड्गं तथा चर्म निर्मलं वसुधाधिप
The Sun bestowed a garland of rays to be set in her pores; Kala gave her a sword and a spotless shield, O lord of the earth.
समुद्रो निर्मलं हारमजरे चाम्बरे नृप । चूडामणिं कुण्डले च कटकानि तथाङ्गदे
The ocean gave her a pure garland and an unaging garment, O king, as well as a crest-jewel, earrings, bracelets, and armlets.
अर्धचन्द्रं निर्मलं च नूपुराणि तथा ददौ । ग्रैवेयकं भूषणं च तस्यै देव्यै मुदान्वितः
He joyfully gave her a flawless crescent moon, anklets, a neck ornament, and other adornments.
विश्वकर्मा चोर्मिकाश्च ददौ तस्यै धरापते । हिमवान्वाहनं सिंहं रत्नानि विविधानि च
Vishvakarma gave her armlets, O lord of the earth; Himavat gave her a lion as a mount and various gems.
पानपात्रं सुरापूर्णं ददौ तस्यै धनाधिपः । शेषश्च भगवान्देवो नागहारं ददौ विभुः
The lord of wealth gave her a drinking vessel filled with divine liquor; the blessed god Shesha gave her a serpent-necklace.
अन्यैरशेषविबुधैर्मानिता सा जगन्मयी । तां तुष्टुवुर्महादेवीं देवा महिषपीडिताः
Honored by all the other gods without exception, that World-Encompassing Goddess was praised by the gods, who were afflicted by Mahisha.
नानास्तोत्रैर्महेशानीं जगदुद्भवकारिणीम् । तेषां निशम्य देवेशी स्तोत्रं विबुधपूजिता
With various hymns, they praised the great Lady, the cause of the world's creation; hearing their hymn, the goddess, worshipped by the gods, listened.
महिषस्य वधार्थाय महानादं चकार ह । तेन नादेन महिषश्चकितोऽभूद्धरापते
To slay Mahiṣa, she made a great roar; by that sound, Mahiṣa, lord of the Dānavas, was startled.
आससाद जगद्धात्रीं सर्वसैन्यसमावृतः । ततः स युयुधे देव्या महिषाख्यो महासुरः
Surrounded by his entire army, the Mother of the Universe confronted him; then that great demon, called Mahiṣa, fought with the Goddess.
शस्त्रास्त्रैर्बहुधा क्षिप्तैः पूरयन्नम्बरान्तरम् । चिक्षुरो ग्रामणीः सेनापतिर्दुर्धरदुर्मुखौ
Filling the sky with many weapons and missiles hurled, the generals—Cikṣura, Durdhara, and Durmukha—led the army.
बाष्कलस्ताम्रकश्चैव बिडालवदनोऽपरः । एतैश्चान्यैरसंख्यातैः संग्रामान्तकसन्निभैः
Bāṣkala, Tāmraka, and another with a cat-like face, along with countless others fierce as Death on the battlefield, joined them.
योधैः परिवृतो वीरो महिषो दानवोत्तमः । ततः सा कोपताम्राक्षी देवी लोकविमोहिनी
Surrounded by these warriors, the valiant Mahiṣa, best of the Dānavas, stood; then the Goddess, whose eyes blazed with anger, the bewilderer of the worlds—
जघान योधान्समरे देवी महिषमाश्रितान् । ततस्तेषु हतेष्वेव स दैत्यो रोषमूर्च्छितः
—struck down in battle the warriors who had taken refuge with Mahiṣa; seeing his followers slain, that demon was seized by furious wrath.
आससाद तदा देवीं तूर्णं मायाविशारदः । रूपान्तराणि सम्भेजे मायया दानवेश्वरः
Then, skilled in magic, he swiftly approached the Goddess; the lord of the Dānavas assumed various forms by his illusion.
तानि तान्यस्य रूपाणि नाशयामास सा तदा । ततोऽन्ते माहिषं रूपं बिभ्राणममरार्दनम्
She destroyed each of his forms as they appeared; at last, he took on his buffalo shape, the terror of the immortals.
पाशेन बद्ध्वा सुदृढं छित्त्वा खड्गेन तच्छिरः । पातयामास महिषं देवी देवगणान्तकम्
Binding him firmly with a noose and cutting off his head with her sword, the Goddess struck down Mahiṣa, the destroyer of the hosts of gods.
हाहाकृतं ततः शेषं सैन्यं भग्नं दिशो दश । तुष्टुवुर्देवदेवेशीं सर्वे देवाः प्रमोदिताः
Then, with cries of lament, the remaining army fled in all directions, broken; all the delighted gods praised the Queen of the gods.
एवं लक्ष्मीः समुत्पन्ना महिषासुरमर्दिनी । राजञ्छृणु सरस्वत्याः प्रादुर्भावो यथाभवत्
Thus Lakṣmī arose as the slayer of Mahiṣāsura; O King, now hear how Sarasvatī manifested.
एकदा शुम्भनामासीद्दैत्यो मदबलोत्कटः । निशुम्भश्चापि तद्भ्राता महाबलपराक्रमः
Once there was a demon named Śumbha, proud of his intoxicated strength, and his brother Niśumbha, mighty and powerful.
तेन सम्पीडिता देवाः सर्वे भ्रष्टश्रियो नृप । हिमवन्तमथासाद्य देवीं तुष्टुवुरादरात्
Oppressed by them, all the gods lost their splendor, O King; then, reaching Mount Himavat, they earnestly praised the Goddess.
देवा ऊचुः जय देवेशि भक्तानामार्तिनाशनकोविदे । दानवान्तकरूपे त्वमजरामरणेऽनघे
The gods said: 'Victory to you, Queen of the gods, expert in removing the suffering of devotees! In the form of the destroyer of demons, you are undecaying, immortal, and sinless.'
देवेशि भक्तिसुलभे महाबलपराक्रमे । विष्णुशङ्करब्रह्मादिस्वरूपेऽनन्तविक्रमे
'O Queen of the gods, easily accessible to devotees, of great strength and valor, you take the forms of Viṣṇu, Śaṅkara, Brahmā, and others, of infinite might.'
सृष्टिस्थितिकरे नाशकारिके कान्तिदायिनि । महाताण्डवसुप्रीते मोददायिनि माधवि
'You are the cause of creation, preservation, and destruction, the giver of radiance; greatly delighted by the supreme dance, O Mādhavī, you bestow joy.'
प्रसीद देवदेवेशि प्रसीद करुणानिधे । निशुम्भशुम्भसम्भूतभयापाराम्बुवारिधे
'Be gracious, Queen of the gods, be gracious, ocean of compassion; you are the boundless sea removing the fear born of Niśumbha and Śumbha.'
उद्धरास्मान् प्रपन्नार्तिनाशिके शरणागतान् । एवं संस्तुवतां तेषां त्रिदशानां धरापते
'Rescue us, O destroyer of the suffering of those who seek refuge, for we have come to you for shelter.' Thus, as the gods praised her, O lord of the earth—