वर्तमाने महायुद्धे शुक्रेण प्रतिपालिताः । जयमापुस्तदा दैत्याः प्रह्लादप्रमुखा नृप
While the great war was ongoing, the demons, protected by Śukra and led by Prahlāda, gained victory, O King.
तदैवेन्द्रो गुरोर्वाक्यात्सर्वदुःखविनाशिनीम् । सस्मार मनसा देवीं मुक्तिदां परमां शिवाम्
Then, by the instruction of his teacher, Indra remembered in his mind the supreme Goddess, bestower of liberation and destroyer of all suffering.
इन्द्र उवाच जय देवि महामाये शूलधारिणि चाम्बिके । शङ्खचक्रगदापद्मखड्गहस्तेऽभयप्रदे
Indra said: Victory to you, O Goddess, great enchantress, bearer of the trident, O Ambikā! With conch, discus, mace, lotus, and sword in hand, you grant fearlessness.
नमस्ते भुवनेशानि शक्तिदर्शननायिके । दशतत्त्वात्मिके मातर्महाबिन्दुस्वरूपिणि
Salutations to you, O Lady of the worlds, initiator of the vision of power, embodiment of the ten principles, Mother, form of the great bindu.
महाकुण्डलिनीरूपे सच्चिदानन्दरूपिणि । प्राणाग्निहोत्रविद्ये ते नमो दीपशिखात्मिके
O you who are the form of the great Kuṇḍalinī, embodiment of existence, consciousness, and bliss, knower of the sacrificial fire of breath, salutations to you, whose essence is the flame of the lamp.
पञ्चकोशान्तरगते पुच्छब्रह्मस्वरूपिणि । आनन्दकलिके मातः सर्वोपनिषदर्चिते
Dwelling within the five sheaths, O Mother, whose form is the Brahman at the base of the spine, bud of bliss, worshipped by all the Upaniṣads.
मातः प्रसीद सुमुखी भव हीनसत्त्वां- स्त्रायस्व नो जननि दैत्यपराजितान् वै । त्वं देवि नः शरणदा भुवने प्रमाणा शक्तासि दुःखशमनेऽखिलवीर्ययुक्ते
Mother, be gracious, O beautiful one; rescue us, O Mother, who have been defeated by the demons. You, O Goddess, are our refuge and authority in the world; you are able to remove all suffering, endowed with all power.
ध्यायन्ति येऽपि सुखिनो नितरां भवन्ति दुःखान्विताविगतशोकभयास्तथान्ये । मोक्षार्थिनो विगतमानविमुक्तसङ्गाः संसारवारिधिजलं प्रतरन्ति सन्तः
Even those who merely meditate on you become exceedingly happy; those afflicted with sorrow and fear are freed from them. Seekers of liberation, free from pride and attachment, cross the ocean of worldly existence, O noble one.
त्वं देवि विश्वजननि प्रथितप्रभावा संरक्षणार्थमुदितार्तिहरप्रतापा । संहर्तुमेतदखिलं किल कालरूपा को वेत्ति तेऽम्ब चरितं ननु मन्दबुद्धिः
You, O Goddess, Mother of the universe, renowned for your power, arise for the protection of all, your radiance dispelling suffering. Yet, when you take the form of Time to destroy all this, who, O Mother, with dull intellect, can truly know your deeds?
ब्रह्मा हरश्च हरिदश्वरथो हरिश्च इन्द्रो यमोऽथ वरुणोऽग्निसमीरणौ च । ज्ञातुं क्षमा न मुनयोऽपि महानुभावा यस्याः प्रभावमतुलं निगमागमाश्च
Brahma, Shiva, the charioteer of the gods, Vishnu, Indra, Yama, Varuna, Agni, and Vayu—none of these, nor even the great sages, are able to comprehend the matchless power of the one whose glory is extolled in the Vedas and scriptures.
धन्यास्त एव तव भक्तिपरा महान्तः संसारदुःखरहिताः सुखसिन्धुमग्नाः । ये भक्तिभावरहिता न कदापि दुःखा-
Blessed indeed are those great souls devoted to you, immersed in the ocean of happiness, free from the sorrows of worldly existence; those devoid of devotion never experience such suffering—
ये वीज्यमानाः सितचामरैश्च क्रीडन्ति धन्याः शिबिकाधिरूढाः । तैः पूजिता त्वं किल पूर्वदेहे नानोपहारैरिति चिन्तयामि
Those who are fanned with white chowries, who play joyfully, riding in palanquins—fortunate are they. I think, O Goddess, that you were worshipped by them in previous lives with various offerings.
ये पूज्यमाना वरवारणस्था विलासिनीवृन्दविलासयुक्ताः । सामन्तकैश्चोपनतैर्व्रजन्ति मन्ये हि तैस्त्वं किल पूजितासि
Those who are honored while seated on splendid elephants, surrounded by groups of beautiful women, and attended by vassals, proceed with dignity; I believe, O Goddess, that you were worshipped by them.
व्यास उवाच एवं स्तुता मघवता देवी विश्वेश्वरी तदा । प्रादुर्बभूव तरसा सिंहारूढा चतुर्भुजा
Vyasa said: Thus praised by Maghavan, the Goddess, Sovereign of the universe, appeared swiftly, riding a lion, with four arms.
शङ्खचक्रगदापद्मान्बिभ्रती चारुलोचना । रक्ताम्बरधरा देवी दिव्यमाल्यविभूषणा
Bearing the conch, discus, mace, and lotus, with beautiful eyes, the Goddess, adorned in red garments and divine garlands and ornaments.
तानुवाच सुरान्देवी प्रसन्नवदना गिरा । भयं त्यजन्तु भो देवाः शं विधास्ये किलाधुना
The Goddess, with a gracious face, spoke to the gods: 'Let go of your fear, O gods; I will surely bring you auspiciousness now.'
इत्युक्त्वा सा तदा देवी सिंहारूढातिसुन्दरी । जगाम तरसा तत्र यत्र दैत्या मदान्विताः
Having spoken thus, the Goddess, exceedingly beautiful and riding a lion, swiftly went to where the demons, intoxicated with pride, were gathered.
प्रह्लादप्रमुखाः सर्वे दृष्ट्वा देवीं पुरःस्थिताम् । ऊचुः परस्परं भीताः किं कर्तव्यमितस्तदा
All the demons, led by Prahlada, seeing the Goddess standing before them, spoke to each other in fear, wondering what should be done now.
देवं नारायणं चात्र सम्प्राप्ता चण्डिका किल । महिषान्तकरी नूनं चण्डमुण्डविनाशिनी
Here, Narayana has arrived, and so has Chandika, the slayer of Mahisha, surely the destroyer of Chanda and Munda.
निहनिष्यति नः सर्वानम्बिका नात्र संशयः । वक्रदृष्ट्या यया पूर्वं निहतौ मधुकैटभौ
Ambika will kill us all—there is no doubt. With her crooked glance, she previously slew Madhu and Kaitabha.
एवं चिन्तातुरान्वीक्ष्य प्रह्लादस्तानुवाच ह । योद्धव्यं नाथ गन्तव्यं पलाय्य दानवोत्तमाः
Seeing them troubled by such thoughts, Prahlada spoke: 'O best of demons, we must fight, or else flee from here.'
नमुचिस्तानुवाचाथ पलायनपरानिह । हनिष्यति जगन्माता रुषिता किल हेतिभिः
Then Namuci spoke to those intent on fleeing: 'The Mother of the world, enraged, will surely slay us with her weapons.'
तथा कुरु महाभाग यथा दुःखं न जायते । व्रजामोऽद्यैव पातालं तां स्तुत्वा तदनुज्ञया
Do as you must, O fortunate ones, so that no suffering arises. Let us go today to the netherworld, having praised her and with her permission.
प्रह्लाद उवाच स्तौमि देवीं महामायां सृष्टिस्थित्यन्तकारिणीम् । सर्वेषां जननीं शक्तिं भक्तानामभयङ्करीम्
Prahlada said: I praise the Goddess, the great Maya, who creates, sustains, and destroys; the Mother of all, the power, the giver of fearlessness to devotees.
व्यास उवाच इत्युक्त्या विष्णुभक्तस्तु प्रह्लादः परमार्थवित् । तुष्टाव जगतां धात्रीं कृताञ्जलिपुटस्तदा
Vyasa said: Thus, Prahlada, devoted to Vishnu and knowing the highest truth, praised the Mother of the worlds, with hands joined in reverence.
मालासर्पवदाभाति यस्यां सर्वं चराचरम् । सर्वाधिष्ठानरूपायै तस्यै ह्रींमूर्तये नमः
All that moves and does not move shines like a garlanded serpent upon her; to her, who is the form of all abodes, to the embodiment of Hrīṃ, I bow.
त्वत्तः सर्वमिदं विश्वं स्थावरं जङ्गमं तथा । अन्ये निमित्तमात्रास्ते कर्तारस्तव निर्मिताः
From you, all this universe arises—both the immobile and the moving; others are merely instruments, O Creator, made by you.
नमो देवि महामाये सर्वेषां जननी स्मृता । को भेदस्तव देवेषु दैत्येषु स्वकृतेषु च
Salutations to you, O Goddess, great enchantress, remembered as the mother of all; what distinction exists between gods, demons, or those created by you?
मातुः पुत्रेषु को भेदोऽप्यशुभेषु शुभेषु च । तथैव देवेष्वस्मासु न कर्तव्यस्त्वयाधुना
What difference is there for a mother among her children, whether auspicious or inauspicious? In the same way, O Goddess, you should not make distinctions now between the gods and us.
यादृशास्तादृशा मातः सुतास्ते दानवाः किल । यतस्त्वं विश्वजननी पुराणेषु प्रकीर्तिता
Just as they are, so are your children, O Mother, indeed the Dānavas; for you are proclaimed in the ancient texts as the mother of the universe.