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—
प्रसन्ना गिरिजा प्राह ब्रूत स्तवनकारणम् । एतस्मिन्नन्तरे यस्याः कोशरूपात्समुत्थिता
Pleased, Girijā said, 'Tell me the reason for your praise.' Meanwhile, from her sheath, she who was Kauśikī arose.
कौशिकी सा जगत्पूज्या देवान्प्रीत्येदमब्रवीत्। प्रसन्नाहं सुरश्रेष्ठाः स्तवेनोत्तमरूपिणी
Kauśikī, revered by the worlds, spoke with affection to the gods: 'I am pleased, O best of gods, by your excellent hymn.'
व्रियतां वर इत्युक्ते देवाः संवव्रिरे वरम् । शुम्भनामावरो भ्राता निशुम्भस्तस्य विश्रुतः
When she said, 'Choose a boon,' the gods requested this boon: 'There is one named Śumbha, and his renowned brother Niśumbha.'
त्रैलोक्यमोजसाक्रान्तं दैत्येन बलशालिना । तद्वधश्चिन्त्यतां देवि दुरात्मा दानवेश्वरः
The mighty demon has seized the three worlds by his strength; O Goddess, consider the slaying of that wicked lord of the Dānavas.
बाधते सततं देवि तिरस्कृत्य निजौजसा । देव्युवाच देवशत्रुं पातयिष्ये निशुम्भं शुम्भमेव च
He constantly harasses us, O Goddess, overpowering us with his own might.' The Goddess said: 'I will cast down the enemy of the gods, Niśumbha and also Śumbha.'
स्वस्थास्तिष्ठत भद्रं वः कण्टकं नाशयामि वः । इत्युक्त्वा देवदेवेशी देवान्सेन्द्रान्दयामयी
'Remain at ease, may it be well with you; I will destroy your thorn.' Having spoken thus, the Goddess of gods, full of compassion, addressed the gods and Indra.
जगामादर्शनं सद्यो मिषतां त्रिदिवौकसाम् । देवाः समागता हृष्टाः सुवर्णाद्रिगुहां शुभाम्
She immediately vanished from the sight of the gods who were watching; the delighted gods assembled and went to the auspicious cave of the golden mountain.
चण्डमुण्डौ पश्यतःस्म भृत्यौ शुम्भनिशुम्भयोः । दृष्ट्वा तां चारुसर्वाङ्गीं देवीं लोकविमोहिनीम्
As the gods watched, Caṇḍa and Muṇḍa, servants of Śumbha and Niśumbha, saw that Goddess, beautiful in every limb, who bewilders the worlds.
कथयामासतू राज्ञे भृत्यौ तौ चण्डमुण्डकौ । देव सर्वासुरश्रेष्ठ रत्नभोगार्ह मानद
Those two servants, Caṇḍa and Muṇḍa, reported to the king: 'O lord, best of all asuras, worthy of jewels and pleasures, giver of honor,'
अपूर्वा कामिनी दृष्टा चावाभ्यां रिपुमर्दन । तस्याः संभोगयोग्यत्वमस्त्येव तव साम्प्रतम्
'We have seen an extraordinary, desirable woman, O destroyer of enemies; she is now fit for your enjoyment.'