त्रिभिस्त्वं पुराराधिता देवि दत्ता त्वया शक्तिरुग्रा च तेभ्यः समग्रा । त्वया संयुतास्ते प्रकुर्वन्ति कामं जगत्पालनोत्पत्तिसंहारमेव
You were worshipped by the three (Brahmā, Viṣṇu, Śiva), O Goddess, and you granted them your full and fierce power; united with you, they accomplish at will the creation, preservation, and destruction of the world.
ते किं न मन्दमतयो यतयो विमूढा- स्त्वां ये न विश्वजननीं समुपाश्रयन्ति । विद्यां परां सकलकामफलप्रदां तां मुक्तिप्रदां विबुधवृन्दसुवन्दिताङ्घ्रिम्
Why would not those of dull mind, the deluded ascetics, who do not seek refuge in you, the universal mother, miss out? You are the supreme knowledge, bestower of all desired fruits, giver of liberation, whose feet are praised by hosts of gods.
ये वैष्णवाः पाशपताश्च सौरा दम्भास्त एव प्रतिभान्ति नूनम् । ध्यायन्ति न त्वां कमलाञ्च लज्जां कान्तिं स्थितिं कीर्तिमथापि पुष्टिम्
Those who are Vaiṣṇavas, Pāśupatas, and Sauras, they alone appear as hypocrites; they do not meditate on you, nor on Lakṣmī, modesty, beauty, stability, fame, or nourishment.
हरिहरादिभिरप्यथ सेविता त्वमिह देववरैरसुरैस्तथा । भुवि भजन्ति न येऽल्पधियो नरा जननि ते विधिना खलु वञ्चिताः
Even Hari, Hara, and other gods, as well as the best of demons, serve you here; but those men of little understanding on earth who do not worship you, O Mother, are indeed deceived by fate.
जलधिजापदपङ्कजरञ्जनं जतुरसेन करोति हरिः स्वयम् । त्रिनयनोऽपि धराधरजाङ्घ्रिपं- कजपरागनिषेवणतत्परः
Hari himself colors his body with the dust of the lotus feet of Lakṣmī, born from the ocean; even the three-eyed one is intent on serving the dust of the lotus feet of the daughter of the mountain.
किमपरस्य नरस्य कथानकै- स्तव पदाब्जयुगं न भजन्ति के । विगतरागगृहाश्च दयां क्षमां कृतधियो मुनयोऽपि भजन्ति ते
What need is there to speak of other men who do not worship your pair of lotus feet? Even sages, whose hearts are free from passion, who are established in compassion and forgiveness, worship you.
देवि त्वदङ्घ्रिभजने न जना रता ये संसारकूपपतिताः पतिताः किलामी । ते कुष्ठगुल्मशिरआधियुता भवन्ति दारिद्र्यदैन्यसहिता रहिताः सुखौघैः
O Goddess, those who are not devoted to the worship of Your feet fall into the pit of worldly existence, truly fallen and exhausted. They become afflicted with leprosy, tumors, headaches, and sorrows, beset by poverty and misery, deprived of all happiness.
ये काष्ठभारवहने यवसावहारे कार्ये भवन्ति निपुणा धनदारहीनाः । जानीमहेऽल्पमतिभिर्भवदङ्घ्रिसेवा पूर्वे भवे जननि तैर्न कृता कदापि
Those who are skilled only in carrying loads of wood or eating coarse grain, who are without wealth or spouse—we know, O Mother, that in their previous lives, due to their limited understanding, they never once served Your feet.
व्यास उवाच एवं स्तुता सुरैः सर्वैरम्बिका करुणान्विता । प्रादुर्बभूव तरसा रूपयौवनसंयुता
Vyasa said: Thus praised by all the gods, Ambika, filled with compassion, suddenly appeared, endowed with beauty and youth.
दिव्याम्बरधरा देवी दिव्यभूषणभूषिता । दिव्यमाल्यसमायुक्ता दिव्यचन्दनचर्चिता
The Goddess was adorned with divine garments, decorated with celestial ornaments, garlanded with heavenly flowers, and anointed with divine sandalwood paste.
जगन्मोहनलावण्या सर्वलक्षणलक्षिता । अद्वितीयस्वरूपा सा देवानां दर्शनं गता
She possessed enchanting beauty that bewitched the universe, marked by all auspicious signs; she was of incomparable form and appeared before the gods.
जाह्नव्यां स्नातुकामा सा निर्गता गिरिगह्वरात् । दिव्यरूपधरा देवी विश्वमोहनमोहिनी
Desiring to bathe in the Ganges, she emerged from the mountain cave, the Goddess assuming a divine form, the enchantress who bewilders the entire world.
देवान्स्तुतिपरानाह मेघगम्भीरया गिरा । प्रेमपूर्वं स्मितं कृत्वा कोकिलामञ्जुवादिनी
She addressed the gods, who were engaged in praise, with a voice deep as a cloud, smiling with affection, her speech as sweet as a cuckoo's song.
देव्युवाच भो भोः सुरवराः कात्र भवद्भिः स्तूयते भृशम् । किमर्थं ब्रूत वः कार्यं चिन्ताविष्टाः कुतः पुनः
The Goddess said: O best of gods, why do you praise me so intensely here? Tell me, what is your purpose? Why are you troubled again?
व्यास उवाच तच्छ्रुत्वा भाषितं तस्या मोहिता रूपसम्पदा । प्रेमपूर्वं हृदुत्साहास्तामूचुः सुरसत्तमाः
Vyasa said: Hearing her words and captivated by her beauty, the foremost of the gods, filled with love and enthusiasm, spoke to her.
देवा ऊचुः देवि स्तुमस्त्वां विश्वेशि प्रणताः स्म कृपार्णवे । पाहि नः सर्वदुःखेभ्यः संविग्नान्दैत्यतापितान्
The gods said: O Goddess, O Ruler of the universe, we bow to you, ocean of compassion. Protect us from all sorrows, for we are distressed and tormented by demons.
पुरा त्वया महादेवि निहत्यासुरकण्टकम् । महिषं नो वरो दत्तः स्मर्तव्याहं सदापदि
O Great Goddess, in the past, after you destroyed the thorn of the demons, Mahisha, you granted us a boon: 'I will be remembered in every calamity.'
स्मरणाद्दैत्यजां पीडां नाशयिष्याम्यसंशयम् । तेन त्वं संस्मृता देवि नूनमस्माभिरित्यपि
By remembering me, I will surely destroy the pain caused by demons—there is no doubt. Therefore, O Goddess, we have now certainly remembered you.
अद्य शुम्भनिशुम्भौ द्वावसुरौ घोरदर्शनौ । उत्पन्नौ विघ्नकर्तारावहन्यौ पुरुषैः किल
Today, two terrible-looking demons, Shumbha and Nishumbha, have arisen; they are obstacles and cannot be slain by men.
रक्तबीजश्च बलवांश्चण्डमुण्डौ तथासुरौ । एतैरन्यैश्च देवानां हृतं राज्यं महाबलैः
There is also the powerful Raktabija, and the demons Chanda and Munda; along with others of great might, they have seized the kingdom of the gods.
गतिरन्या न चास्माकं त्वमेवासि महाबले । कुरु कार्यं सुराणां वै दुःखितानां सुमध्यमे
We have no other refuge, O mighty one; you alone are our strength. O slender-waisted one, fulfill the task of the sorrowful gods.
देवास्त्वदङ्घ्रिभजने निरताः सदैव ते दानवैरतिबलैर्विपदं सुनीताः । तान्देवि दुःखरहितान् कुरु भक्तियुक्ता- न्मातस्त्वमेव शरणं भव दुःखितानाम्
The gods are always devoted to the worship of your feet, yet they have been brought to distress by the powerful demons. O Goddess, make them free from sorrow, filled with devotion; Mother, you alone are the refuge of the afflicted.
सकलभुवनरक्षा देवि कार्या त्वयाद्य स्वकृतमिति विदित्वा विश्वमेतद्युगादौ । जननि जगति पीडां दानवा दर्पयुक्ताः स्वबलमदसमेतास्ते प्रकुर्वन्ति मातः
O Goddess, today you must protect all the worlds, for this is your own work. Knowing this, at the beginning of the age, the arrogant demons, intoxicated by their own strength, cause suffering in the world, O Mother.
देव्या सुग्रीवदूताय स्वव्रतकथनम् व्यास उवाच एवं स्तुता तदा देवी दैवतैः शत्रुतापितैः । स्वशरीरात्परं रूपं प्रादुर्भूतं चकार ह
Vyasa said: Thus praised at that time by the gods, who were tormented by enemies, the Goddess manifested from her own body a supreme form.
पार्वत्यास्तु शरीराद्वै निःसृता चाम्बिका यदा । कौशिकीति समस्तेषु ततो लोकेषु पठ्यते
When Ambika emerged from Parvati's body, she became known throughout all the worlds as Kaushiki.
निःसृतायां तु तस्यां सा पार्वती तनुव्यत्ययात् । कृष्णरूपाथ सञ्जाता कालिका सा प्रकीर्तिता
When she emerged, Parvati, due to the change of form, became dark in appearance and was then called Kalika.
मषीवर्णा महाघोरा दैत्यानां भयवर्धिनी । कालरात्रीति सा प्रोक्ता सर्वकामफलप्रदा
She was ink-black, exceedingly fierce, and increased the terror of the demons; she is called Kalaratri, the bestower of all desired fruits.
अम्बिकायाः परं रूपं विरराज मनोहरम् । सर्वभूषणसंयुक्तं लावण्यगुणसंयुतम्
The supreme form of Ambika shone forth, enchanting to behold, adorned with every ornament and endowed with the qualities of beauty.
ततोऽम्बिका तदा देवानित्युवाच ह सस्मिता । तिष्ठन्तु निर्भया यूयं हनिष्यामि रिपूनिह
Then Ambika, smiling, said to the gods: 'Remain without fear; I will slay your enemies here.'
कार्यं वः सर्वथा कार्यं विहरिष्याम्यहं रणे । निशुम्भादीन्वधिष्यामि युष्माकं सुखहेतवे
'I will surely accomplish your task; I will delight in battle and destroy Nishumbha and the others for your happiness.'