क्रीडन्ति मानवाः सर्वे स्वर्गे देवगणा इव । न चौरा न च पाखण्डा वञ्चका दम्भकास्तथा
All people played joyfully, like hosts of gods in heaven; there were no thieves, no hypocrites, no deceivers, nor pretenders.
पिशुना लम्पटाः स्तब्धा न बभूवुस्तदा नृप । न वेदद्वेषिणः पापा मानवाः पृथिवीपते
At that time, O king, there were no slanderers, libertines, or arrogant ones; nor were there any who hated the Vedas or sinful men.
सर्वधर्मरता नित्यं द्विजसेवापरायणाः । त्रिधात्वात्सृष्टिधर्मस्य त्रिविधा ब्राह्मणास्ततः
All were always devoted to all duties and intent on serving the twice-born; thus, according to the threefold nature of creation, the Brahmins were of three kinds.
सात्त्विका राजसाश्चैव तामसाश्च तथापरे । सर्वे वेदविदो दक्षाः सात्त्विकाः सत्त्ववृत्तयः
Some were sattvic, some rajasic, and others tamasic; all were skilled in the Vedas, but the sattvic were of pure disposition.
प्रतिग्रहविहीनाश्च दयादमपरायणाः । यज्ञास्ते सात्त्विकैरन्नैः कुर्वाणा धर्मतत्पराः
They were free from accepting gifts and intent on compassion and self-control; those devoted to righteousness performed sacrifices with pure foods.
पुरोडाशविधानैश्च पशुभिर्न कदाचन । दानमध्ययनञ्चैव यजनं तु तृतीयकम्
They never used animal offerings in the preparation of sacrificial cakes; giving, study, and sacrifice were their threefold duties.
त्रिकर्मरसिकास्ते वै सात्त्विका ब्राह्मणा नृप । राजसा वेदविद्वांसः क्षत्रियाणां पुरोहिताः
O king, those sattvic Brahmins delighted in these three acts; the rajasic ones, learned in the Vedas, served as priests for the Kshatriyas.
षट्कर्मनिरता सर्वे विधिवन्मांसभक्षकाः । यजनं याजनं दानं तथैव च प्रतिग्रहः
All were engaged in the six duties, and, according to rule, consumed meat; sacrifice, officiating at sacrifices, giving, and likewise accepting gifts.
अध्ययनं तु वेदानां तथैवाध्यापनं तु षट् । तामसाः क्रोधसंयुक्ता रागद्वेषपराः पुनः
The study of the Vedas, and likewise the teaching of the six (Vedāṅgas), were performed by those of tamasic nature, filled with anger, and devoted to passion and hatred.
राज्ञां कर्मकरा नित्यं किञ्चिदध्ययने रताः । महिषे निहते सर्वे सुखिनो वेदतत्पराः
The servants of kings, always engaged in their duties, took some delight in study; when the buffalo was slain, all became happy and devoted to the Vedas.
बभूवुर्व्रतनिष्णाता दानधर्मपरास्तथा । क्षत्रियाः पालने युक्ता वैश्या वणिजवृत्तयः
They became skilled in vows and devoted to charity and righteousness; the kṣatriyas were engaged in protection, and the vaiśyas in the occupation of trade.
कृषिवाणिज्यगोरक्षाकुसीदवृत्तयः परे । एवं प्रमुदितो लोको महिषे विनिपातिते
Others took up the occupations of agriculture, trade, cattle-rearing, and lending; thus, when the buffalo was destroyed, the world became joyful.
अनुद्वेगः प्रजानां वै सम्बभूव धनागमः । बहुक्षीरा शुभा गावो नद्यश्चैव बहूदकाः
There was no distress among the people, and wealth increased; the cows gave much milk and were auspicious, and the rivers were full of water.
वृक्षा बहुफलाश्चासन्मानवा रोगवर्जिताः । नाधयो नेतयः क्वापि प्रजानां दुःखदायकाः
The trees bore much fruit, people were healthy and free from disease; nowhere did suffering or misfortune afflict the people.
न निधनमुपयान्ति प्राणिनस्तेऽप्यकाले सकलविभवयुक्ता रोगहीनाः सदैव । निगमविहितधर्मे तत्पराश्चण्डिकाया- श्चरणसरसिजानां सेवने दत्तचित्ताः
Living beings did not die prematurely; endowed with all prosperity and always free from disease, they were devoted to the dharma prescribed by the Vedas, and their minds were set on serving the lotus feet of Caṇḍikā.
शुम्भनिशुम्भद्वारा स्वर्गविजयवर्णनम् व्यास उवाच शृणु राजन् प्रवक्ष्यामि देव्याश्चरितमुत्तमम् । सुखदं सर्वजन्तूनां सर्वपापप्रणाशनम्
Vyāsa said: Listen, O King, I will tell you the supreme deeds of the Goddess, which bring happiness to all beings and destroy all sins.
यथा शुम्भो निशुम्भश्च भ्रातरौ बलवत्तरौ । बभूवतुर्महावीरौ अवध्यौ पुरुषैः किल
How Śumbha and Niśumbha, two mighty brothers, became great heroes, invincible by men.
बहुसेनावृतौ शूरौ देवानां दुःखदौ सदा दुराचारौ मदोत्सिक्तौ बहुदानवसंयुतौ
Surrounded by a great army, these fierce warriors always brought suffering to the gods, were of evil conduct, intoxicated with pride, and accompanied by many demons.
हतावम्बिकया तौ तु संग्रामेऽतीव दारुणे । देवानाञ्ज हितार्थाय सर्वैः परिचरैः सह
Those two were slain by Ambikā in a most terrible battle, along with all their attendants, for the welfare of the gods.
चण्डमुण्डौ महाबाहू रक्तबीजोऽतिदारुणः । धूम्रलोचननामा च निहतास्ते रणाङ्गणे
Caṇḍa and Muṇḍa, of great arms, the dreadful Raktabīja, and also Dhūmralocana by name, were all slain on the battlefield.
तान्निहत्य सुराणां सा जहार भयमुत्तमम् । स्तुता सम्पूजिता देवैर्गिरौ हेमाचले शुभे
Having slain them, she removed the greatest fear of the gods; praised and worshipped by the gods on the auspicious golden mountain.
राजोवाच कावेतावसुरावादौ कथं तौ बलिनां वरौ । केन संस्थापितौ चेह स्त्रीवध्यत्वं कुतो गतौ
The king said: Who were these two demons at first, and how did they become the foremost of the strong? By whom were they established here, and how did they come to be slain by a woman?
तपसा वरदानेन कस्य जातौ महाबलौ । कथञ्च निहतौ सर्वं कथयस्व सविस्तरम्
By whose austerity or boon were they born so powerful? And how were they slain? Tell me everything in detail.
व्यास उवाच शृणु राजन्कथां दिव्यां सर्वपापप्रणाशिनीम् । देव्याश्चरितसंयुक्तां सर्वार्थफलदां शुभाम्
Vyāsa said: Listen, O King, to this divine story, which destroys all sins, is filled with the deeds of the Goddess, and bestows all desired results.
पुरा शुम्भनिशुम्भौ द्वावसुरौ भूमिमण्डले । पातालतश्च सम्प्राप्तौ भ्रातरौ शुभदर्शनौ
Long ago, Śumbha and Niśumbha, two demons, came to the earth from the underworld, brothers of auspicious appearance.
तौ प्राप्तयौवनौ चैव चेरतुस्तप उत्तमम् । अन्नोदकं परित्यज्य पुष्करे लोकपावने
When they reached youth, they practiced supreme austerity, giving up food and water at Puṣkara, the purifier of worlds.
वर्षाणामयुतं यावद्योगविद्यापरायणौ । एकत्रैवासनं कृत्वा तेपाते परमं तपः
For ten thousand years, devoted to yoga and sacred knowledge, they sat together on one seat, performing the highest austerity.
तयोस्तुष्टोऽभवद् ब्रह्मा सर्वलोकपितामहः । तत्रागतश्च भगवानारुह्य वरटापतिम्
Pleased with them, Brahmā, the grandsire of all worlds, arrived there, the blessed Lord mounting the king of mountains.
तावुभौ च जगत्स्रष्टा दृष्ट्वा ध्यानपरौ स्थितौ । उत्तिष्ठत महाभागौ तुष्टोऽहं तपसा किल
Seeing both, the creators of the world, absorbed in meditation, he said: 'Rise up, O greatly fortunate ones, I am pleased indeed by your austerity.'
वाञ्छितं वां वरं कामं ददामि ब्रुवतामिह । कामदोऽहं समायातो दृष्ट्वा वां तपसो बलम्
'I will grant you whatever boon you desire; speak it here. I, the fulfiller of wishes, have come, having witnessed the power of your penance.'