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.
तेऽपि स्वार्थपरा नूनं यथैव वयमप्युत । नान्तरं दैत्यसुरयोर्भेदोऽयं मोहसम्भवः
They too are surely intent on their own interests, just as we are; there is no real difference between demon and god—this division arises from delusion.
धनदारादिभोगेषु वयं सक्ता दिवानिशम् । तथैव देवा देवेशि को भेदोऽसुरदेवयोः
We are attached day and night to enjoyments such as wealth and wives; so too are the gods, O Goddess of the gods—what difference is there between gods and demons?
तेऽपि कश्यपदायादा वयं तत्सम्भवाः किल । कुतो विरोधसम्भूतिर्जाता मातस्तवाधुना
They too are descendants of Kaśyapa, and we are also born from him; how, O Mother, has this enmity arisen among your children now?
न तथा विहितं मातस्त्वयि सर्वसमुद्भवे । साम्यतैव त्वया स्थाप्या देवेष्वस्मासु चैव हि
Such division is not ordained by you, O Mother, source of all; you should establish equality between the gods and us.
गुणव्यतिकरात्सर्वे समुत्पन्नाः सुरासुराः । गुणान्विता भवेयुस्ते कथं देहभृतोऽमराः
All gods and demons are born from the intermingling of qualities; as embodied beings, how could they, even the immortals, be without qualities?
कामः क्रोधश्च लोभश्च सर्वदेहेषु संस्थिताः । वर्तन्ते सर्वदा तस्मात् कोऽविरोधी भवेञ्चनः
Desire, anger, and greed reside in all bodies; they always operate, so who could ever be free from conflict?
त्वया मिथो विरोधोऽयं कल्पितः किल कौतुकात् । मन्यामहे विभेदेन नूनं युद्धदिदृक्षया
This mutual conflict has indeed been arranged by you out of sport; we believe that, through division, you surely wish to witness battle.
अन्यथा खलु भ्रातॄणां विरोधः कीदृशोऽनघे । त्वं चेन्नेच्छसि चामुण्डे वीक्षितुं कलहं किल
Otherwise, what kind of conflict could there be among brothers, O faultless one? If you, O Cāmuṇḍā, did not wish to see strife, it would not occur.
जानामि धर्मं धर्मज्ञे वेद्मि चाहं शतक्रतुम् । तथापि कलहोऽस्माकं भोगार्थं देवि सर्वदा
I know righteousness, O knower of righteousness, and I know Indra as well; yet, O Goddess, still there is always quarrel among us for the sake of enjoyment.
एकः कोऽपि न शास्तास्ति संसारे त्वां विनाम्बिके । स्पृहावतस्तु कः कर्तुं क्षमते वचनं बुधः
In this world, there is truly no ruler apart from you, O Ambikā; who, being full of desire, is able to obey another's command?