यन्मायामोहितश्चाहं सदा वर्ते परात्मनः । परवान्दारुपाञ्चाली मायिकस्य यथा वशे
Deluded by her māyā, I always act under the sway of the Supreme Self, just as Draupadī was under the control of the magical dice.
भवतापि तथा दृष्टा विभूतिस्तस्य चाद्भुता । कल्पादौ भवयुक्तेन मयापि च सुधार्णवे
In the same way, you too have seen her wondrous power; at the beginning of the cycle, endowed with creative energy, I too saw her in the ocean of nectar.
मणिद्वीपेऽथ मन्दारविटपे रासमण्डले । समाजे तत्र सा दृष्टा श्रुता न वचसापि च
Then, on the jeweled island, beneath the coral tree, in the circle of the dance, she was seen there in the assembly—heard of, but not described in words.
तस्मात्तां परमां शक्तिं स्मरन्त्वद्य सुराः शिवाम् । सर्वकामप्रदां मायामाद्यां शक्तिं परात्मनः
Therefore, today, O gods, remember that supreme, auspicious Power, the primal māyā, the supreme energy of the Supreme Self, who grants all desires.
व्यास उवाच इत्युक्ता हरिणा देवा ब्रह्माद्या भुवनेश्वरीम् । सस्मरुर्मनसा देवीं योगमायां सनातनीम्
Vyāsa said: Thus addressed by Hari, the gods led by Brahmā remembered in their minds the Goddess, the eternal Yogamāyā, Mistress of the worlds.
स्मृतमात्रा तदा देवी प्रत्यक्षं दर्शनं ददौ । पाशाङ्कुशवराभीतिधरा देवी जपारुणा । दृष्ट्वा प्रमुदिता देवास्तुष्टुवुस्तां सुदर्शनाम्
As soon as she was remembered, the Goddess gave them direct vision; holding noose, goad, boon, and fearlessness, the crimson-hued Goddess appeared. Seeing her, the delighted gods praised her, radiant in form.
देवा ऊचुः ऊर्णनाभाद्यथा तन्तुर्विस्फुलिङ्गा विभावसोः । तथा जगद्यदेतस्या निर्गतं तां नता वयम्
The gods said: As the thread comes from the spider, as sparks from fire, so too has this world arisen from her; to her we bow.
यन्मायाशक्तिसंकॢप्तं जगत्सर्वं चराचरम् । तां चितं भुवनाधीशां स्मरामः करुणार्णवाम्
We remember her, the ocean of compassion, the Lady of the worlds, whose māyā and power have fashioned all this moving and unmoving creation.
यदज्ञानाद्भवोत्पत्तिर्यज्ज्ञानाद्भवनाशनम् । संविद्रूपां च तां देवीं स्मरामः सा प्रचोदयात्
We remember that Goddess, embodiment of consciousness, from whom, through ignorance, birth arises, and through knowledge, dissolution; may she impel us.
महालक्ष्यै च विद्महे सर्वशक्त्यै च धीमहि । तन्नो देवी प्रचोदयात्
We know Mahālakṣmī, we contemplate the All-powerful; may that Goddess inspire us.
मातर्नताः स्म भुवनार्तिहरे प्रसीद शन्तो विधेहि कुरु कार्यमिदं दयार्द्रे । भारं हरस्व विनिहत्य सुरारिवर्गं मह्या महेश्वरि सतां कुरु शं भवानि
Mother, we bow to you, Remover of the world's suffering; be gracious. O compassionate one, accomplish this task in peace. Destroy the hosts of the enemies of the gods, lighten the burden of the earth, and grant well-being to the virtuous, O Great Lady.
यद्यम्बुजाक्षि दयसे न सुरान्कदाचित् किं ते क्षमा रणमुखेऽसिशरैः प्रहर्तुम् । एतत्त्वयैव गदितं ननु यक्षरूपं धृत्वा तृणं दह हुताश पदाभिलाषैः
If, O lotus-eyed one, you never show mercy to the gods, why then do you endure the blows of swords and arrows in battle? Was it not you who, taking the form of a Yakṣa, told Agni to burn the blade of grass with longing for your feet?
कंसः कुजोऽथ यवनेन्द्रसुतश्च केशी बार्हद्रथो बकबकीखरशाल्वमुख्याः । येऽन्ये तथा नृपतयो भुवि सन्ति तांस्त्वं हत्वा हरस्व जगतो भरमाशु मातः
Kaṃsa, Kuja, the son of the Yavana king, Keśī, Bāṇāsura, and the chief among Baka, Bakī, Khara, Śālva, and others—whatever other kings there are on earth—may you swiftly destroy them, Mother, and relieve the world's burden.
ये विष्णुना न निहताः किल शङ्करेण ये वा विगृह्य जलजाक्षि पुरन्दरेण । ते ते मुखं सुखकरं सुसमीक्षमाणाः ् संख्ये शरैर्विनिहता निजलीलया ते
Those whom Viṣṇu did not slay, nor Śaṅkara, nor Indra, O lotus-eyed one, those very enemies, gazing upon your gracious face, were struck down in battle by your own play, by your arrows.
शक्तिं विना हरिहरप्रमुखाः सुराश्च ॥ नैवेश्वरा विचलितुं तव देवदेवि । किं धारणाविरहितः प्रभुरप्यनन्तो धर्तुं धराञ्च रजनीशकलावतंसे
Without your power, neither Hari, Hara, nor the other gods, nor even the Lords themselves, O Goddess of gods, are able to act; just as even the mighty Lord, adorned with the moon and night, cannot uphold the earth without the support of concentration.
इन्द्र उवाच वाचा विना विधिरलं भवतीह विश्वं कर्तुं हरिः किमु रमारहितोऽथ पातुम् । संहर्तुमीश उमयोज्झित ईश्वरः किं ते ताभिरेव सहिताः प्रभवः प्रजेशाः
Indra said: Without speech, how could Brahmā create this universe? How could Hari protect it without Lakṣmī? How could Śiva destroy it without Umā? Indeed, the lords of beings act only together with their powers.
विष्णुरुवाच कर्तुं प्रभुर्न द्रुहिणो न कदाचनाहं नापीश्वरस्तव कलारहितस्त्रिलोक्याः । कर्तुं प्रभुत्वमनघेऽत्र तथा विहर्तुं त्वं वै समस्तविभवेश्वरि भासि नूनम्
Viṣṇu said: O faultless one, neither Brahmā, nor I, nor even Śiva, can ever act in the three worlds without your portion. Truly, O Lady of all powers, you alone shine here as the sovereign of all dominion.
व्यास उवाच एवं स्तुता तदा देवी तानाह विबुधेश्वरान् । किं तत्कार्यं वदन्त्वद्य करोमि विगतज्वराः
Vyāsa said: Thus praised, the Goddess then spoke to the lords of the gods: 'Tell me now, free from anxiety, what task you wish me to accomplish.'
असाध्यमपि लोकेऽस्मिंस्तत्करोमि सुरेप्सितम् । शंसन्तु भवतां दुःखं धरायाश्च सुरोत्तमाः
'Even what is impossible in this world, I will do, if it is desired by the gods. Let the best of the gods declare your distress and that of the earth.'
देवा ऊचुः वसुधेयं भराक्रान्ता सम्प्राप्ता विबुधान्प्रति । रुदती वेपमाना च पीडिता दुष्टभूभुजैः
The gods said: 'This earth, oppressed by burden, has come to the gods, weeping and trembling, tormented by wicked kings.'
भारापहरणं चास्याः कर्तव्यं भुवनेश्वरि । देवानामीष्मित कार्यमेतदेवाधुना शिवे
'O Sovereign of the world, the burden must be removed from her. O Auspicious One, this is now the task of the gods.'
घातितस्तु पुरा मातस्त्वया महिषरूपभृत् । दानवोऽतिबलाक्रान्तस्तत्सहायाश्च कोटिशः
'In former times, O Mother, you slew the demon who took the form of a buffalo, along with his countless powerful allies.'
तथा शुम्भो निशुम्भश्च रक्तबीजस्तथापरः । चण्डमुण्डौ महावीर्यौ तथैव धूम्रलोचनः
'Likewise, Śumbha and Niśumbha, and another, Raktabīja, as well as the mighty Caṇḍa and Muṇḍa, and also Dhūmralocana.'
दुर्मुखो दुःसहश्चैव करालश्चाति वीर्यवान् । अन्ये च बहवः क्रूरास्त्वयैव च निपातिताः
'Durmukha, Duḥsaha, and Karāla, exceedingly powerful, and many other cruel ones were also slain by you.'
तथैव च सुरारींश्च जहि सर्वान्महीश्वरान् । (भारं हर धरायाश्च दुर्धरं दुष्टभूभुजाम् ।)
'In the same way, destroy all the enemies of the gods, O Sovereign of the earth. Remove the unbearable burden of the wicked kings from the earth.'
सम्प्रहस्यासितापाङ्गी मेघगम्भीरया गिरा । श्रीदेव्युवाच मयेदं चिन्तितं पूर्वमंशावतरणं सुराः
Smiling, her eyes dark as collyrium, with a voice deep as a cloud, the blessed Goddess said: 'O gods, I have already considered the descent of portions.'
भारावतरणं चैव यथा स्याद्दुष्टभूभुजाम् । मया सर्वे निहन्तव्या दैत्येशा ये महीभुजः
'And also how the burden of the wicked kings may be removed. All the great demon-lords who are kings must be slain by me.'
मागधाद्या महाभागाः स्वशक्त्या मन्दतेजसः । भवद्भिरपि स्वैरंशैरवतीर्य धरातले
'The illustrious ones beginning with the Magadhas, though weak in brilliance, must be opposed by you as well, descending to earth with your own portions.'
मच्छक्तियुक्तैः कर्तव्यं भारावतरणं सुराः । कश्यपो भार्यया सार्धं दिविजानां प्रजापतिः
'O gods, the removal of the burden must be accomplished by those endowed with my power. Kaśyapa, the lord of creatures among the gods, together with his wife—'
यादवानां कुले पूर्वं भविताऽऽनकदुन्दुभिः । तथैव भृगुशापाद्वै भगवान्विष्णुरव्ययः
'In the clan of the Yādavas, Anakadundubhi will be born. Likewise, by the curse of Bhṛgu, the imperishable Lord Viṣṇu—'