सायुधां भूषणैर्युक्तां दृष्ट्वा ते विस्मयं गताः । तुष्टुवुस्तां सुरा देवीं त्रैलोक्यमोहिनीं शिवाम्
Seeing her equipped with weapons and adorned with ornaments, they were filled with wonder; the gods praised that Goddess, the enchantress of the three worlds, the auspicious one.
देवा ऊचुः नमः शिवायै कल्याण्यै शान्त्यै पुष्ट्यै नमो नमः । भगवत्यै नमो देव्यै रुद्राण्यै सततं नमः
The gods said: Salutations to Shiva, to the auspicious one, to the peaceful, to the nourisher—repeated salutations! Salutations always to the blessed Goddess, to Rudrani.
कालरात्र्यै तथाम्बायै इन्द्राण्यै ते नमो नमः । सिद्ध्यै बुद्ध्यै तथा वृद्ध्यै वैष्णव्यै ते नमो नमः
Salutations to you as Kalaratri, as Mother, as Indrani; salutations to you as Siddhi, as Buddhi, as Prosperity, as Vaishnavi.
पृथिव्यां या स्थिता पृथ्व्या न ज्ञाता पृथिवीञ्च या । अन्तःस्थिता यमयति वन्दे तामीश्वरीं पराम्
She who abides in the earth, yet is not known by the earth, who dwells within and restrains—her, the supreme Lady, I salute.
मायायां या स्थिता ज्ञाता मायया न च तामजाम् । अन्तःस्थिता प्रेरयति प्रेरयित्रीं नुमः शिवाम्
We bow to the auspicious One, who, though abiding in Māyā, is known by Māyā yet is unborn; who, dwelling within, impels even the power that impels all.
कल्याणं कुरु भो मातस्त्राहि नः शत्रुतापितान् । जहि पापं हयारिं त्वं तेजसा स्वेन मोहितम्
O Mother, bring us welfare! Protect us, who are tormented by enemies. Destroy sin and the foe of the gods, who is deluded by his own power.
खलं मायाविनं घोरं स्त्रीवध्यं वरदर्पितम् । दुःखदं सर्वदेवानां नानारूपधरं शतम्
Slay the wicked, deceitful, terrible one—proud of his boons, a slayer of women, the cause of suffering to all the gods, who assumes many forms, a hundredfold.
त्वमेका सर्वदेवानां शरणं भक्तवत्सले । पीडितान्दानवेनाद्य त्राहि देवि नमोऽस्तु ते
You alone are the refuge of all the gods, O lover of devotees. O Goddess, today, save those who are afflicted by the demon Dānava. Salutations to you!
व्यास उवाच एवं स्तुता तदा देवी सुरैः सर्वसुखप्रदा । तानुवाच महादेवी स्मितपूर्वं शुभं वचः
Vyāsa said: Thus praised by the gods, the Goddess, bestower of all happiness, addressed them with auspicious words, smiling gently.
देव्युवाच भयं त्यजन्तु गीर्वाणा महिषान्मन्दचेतसः । हनिष्यामि रणेऽद्यैव वरदृप्तं विमोहितम्
The Goddess said: Let the gods cast away fear from the slow-witted Mahiṣa. Today, I shall slay in battle the boon-arrogant and deluded one.
व्यास उवाच इत्युक्त्वा सा सुरान्देवी जहासातीव सुस्वरम् । चित्रमेतच्च संसारे भ्रममोहयुतं जगत्
Vyāsa said: Having spoken thus to the gods, the Goddess laughed sweetly. Indeed, it is wondrous how this world, filled with delusion and confusion, wanders.
ब्रह्मविष्णुमहेशाद्याः सेन्द्राश्चान्ये सुरास्तथा । कम्पयुक्ता भयत्रस्ता वर्तन्ते महिषात्किल
Brahmā, Viṣṇu, Maheśa, Indra, and the other gods, trembling and terrified with fear, remained distressed because of Mahiṣa.
अहो दैवबलं घोरं दुर्जयं सुरसत्तमाः । कालः कर्तास्ति दुःखानां सुखानां प्रभुरीश्वरः
Ah! Such is the dreadful power of fate, O best of gods—unconquerable. Time is the maker of sorrows and the lord of happiness.
सृष्टिपालनसंहारे समर्था अपि ते यदा । मुह्यन्ति क्लेशसन्तप्ता महिषेण प्रपीडिताः
Even those capable of creation, preservation, and destruction, when afflicted by Mahiṣa, become bewildered and tormented by suffering.
इति कृत्वा स्मितं देवी साट्टहासं चकार ह । उच्चैः शब्दं महाघोरं दानवानां भयप्रदम्
Having smiled thus, the Goddess let out a loud, roaring laugh, terrifying to the demons.
चकम्पे वसुधा तत्र श्रुत्वा तच्छब्दमद्भुतम् । चेलुश्च पर्वताः सर्वे चुक्षोभाब्धिश्च वीर्यवान्
There, upon hearing that wondrous sound, the earth trembled, all the mountains shook, and the mighty ocean was agitated.
मेरुश्चचाल शब्देन दिशः सर्वाः प्रपूरिताः । भयं जग्मुस्तदा श्रुत्वा दानवास्तत्स्वनं महत्
Mount Meru quaked from the sound, all directions were filled, and upon hearing that great roar, the demons were seized with fear.
जय पाहीति देवास्तामूचुः परमहर्षिताः । महिषोऽपि स्वनं श्रुत्वा चुकोप मदगर्वितः
The gods, overjoyed, cried out to her, 'Victory! Protect us!' Mahiṣa too, upon hearing the roar, became enraged, intoxicated with pride.
किमेतदिति तान्दैत्यान्पप्रच्छ स्वनशङ्कितः । गच्छन्तु त्वरिता दूता ज्ञातुं शब्दसमुद्भवम्
Suspicious of the sound, he asked the demons, 'What is this?' Let messengers go swiftly to discover the source of the noise.
कृतः केनायमत्युग्रः शब्दः कर्णव्यथाकरः । देवो वा दानवो वापि यो भवेत्स्वनकारकः
Who has made this exceedingly fierce sound, painful to the ears? Whether god or demon, whoever is the cause of this roar—
गृहीत्वा तं दुरात्मानं मत्समीपं नयन्त्विह । हनिष्यामि दुराचारं गर्जन्तं स्मयदुर्मदम्
Seize that wicked one and bring him here to me. I will slay the evil-doer, who roars in arrogant pride.
क्षीणायुष्यं मन्दमतिं नयामि यमसादनम् । पराजिताः सुराः कामं न गर्जन्ति भयातुराः
I shall send to Yama's abode the one whose life is waning and whose mind is dull. The defeated gods, out of fear, do not roar as they wish.
नासुरा मम वश्यास्ते कस्येदं मूढचेष्टितम् । त्वरिता मामुपायान्तु ज्ञात्वा शब्दस्य कारणम्
These Asuras are not under my control; whose foolish action is this? Let them quickly come to me, having understood the cause of this sound.
अहं गत्वा हनिष्यामि तं पापं वितथश्रमम् । व्यास उवाच इत्युक्तास्तेन ते दूता देवीं सर्वाङ्गसुन्दरीम्
I myself will go and kill that sinful one, whose efforts are in vain. Vyasa said: Thus addressed by him, those messengers approached the Goddess, beautiful in every limb.
अष्टादशभुजां दिव्यां सर्वाभरणभूषिताम् । सर्वलक्षणसम्पन्नां वरायुधधरां शुभाम्
They saw the divine Goddess with eighteen arms, adorned with all ornaments, endowed with every auspicious mark, holding excellent weapons, and auspicious in form.
दधतीं चषकं हस्ते पिबन्तीं च मुहुर्मधु । संवीक्ष्य भयभीतास्ते जग्मुस्त्रस्ताः सुशङ्किताः
Holding a cup in her hand and repeatedly drinking honey, seeing her, those messengers, terrified and anxious, departed in fear.
सकाशे महिषस्याशु तमूचुः स्वनकारणम् । दूता ऊचुः देवी दैत्येश्वर प्रौढा दृश्यते काचिदङ्गना
They quickly went to Mahisha and told him the cause of the sound. The messengers said: O Lord of the Daityas, a certain proud woman is seen there.
सर्वाङ्गभूषणा नारी सर्वरत्नोपशोभिता । न मानुषी नासुरी सा दिव्यरूपा मनोहरा
A woman adorned with ornaments on every limb, shining with all jewels; she is neither human nor Asura—she is of divine and captivating form.
सिंहारूढायुधधरा चाष्टादशकरा वरा । सा नादं कुरुते नारी लक्ष्यते मदगर्विता
Mounted on a lion, bearing weapons, with eighteen arms, that woman is making a loud sound, appearing intoxicated with pride.
सुरापानरता कामं जानीमो न सभर्तृका । अन्तरिक्षस्थिता देवास्तां स्तुवन्ति मुदान्विताः
She openly delights in drinking wine; we do not know if she has a husband. The gods, standing in the sky, praise her with joy.