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.'
इत्युक्त्वा सा तदा देवी सिंहारूढा मदोत्कटा । कालिकां पार्श्वतः कृत्वा जगाम नगरे रिपोः
Having spoken thus, the Goddess, intoxicated with power, mounted her lion, placed Kalika at her side, and went to the city of the enemy.
सा गत्वोपवने तस्थावम्बिका कालिकान्विता । जगावथ कलं तत्र जगन्मोहनमोहनम्
Ambika, accompanied by Kalika, went and stood in a grove, and there she sang a melodious song that enchanted the whole world.
श्रुत्वा तन्मधुरं गानं मोहमीयुः खगा मृगाः । मुदञ्च परमां प्रापुरमरा गगने स्थिताः
Hearing that sweet song, the birds and animals fell into a trance, and the gods in the sky attained supreme joy.
तस्मिन्नवसरे तत्र दानवौ शुम्भसेवकौ । चण्डमुण्डाभिधौ घोरौ रममाणौ यदृच्छया
At that moment, the two fierce attendants of Shumbha, named Chanda and Munda, happened to arrive there, delighting themselves.
आगतौ ददृशाते तु तां तदा दिव्यरूपिणीम् । अम्बिकां गानसंयुक्तां कालिकां पुरतः स्थिताम्
Arriving, they saw the Goddess of divine form—Ambika, engaged in song, with Kalika standing before her.
दृष्ट्वा तां दिव्यरूपाञ्च दानवौ विस्मयान्वितौ । जग्मतुस्तरसा पार्श्वं शुम्भस्य नृपसत्तम
Seeing her in that divine form, the two demons were filled with amazement and quickly went to Shumbha's side, O best of kings.
तौ गत्वा तं समासीनं दैत्यानामधिपं गृहे । ऊचतुर्मधुरां वाणीं प्रणम्य शिरसा नृपम्
They went to the house where the lord of the demons was seated, bowed their heads to the king, and spoke sweet words.
राजन् हिमालयात्कामं कामिनी काममोहिनी । सम्प्राप्ता सिंहमारूढा सर्वलक्षणसंयुता
'O King, from the Himalayas has come a woman of desire, enchanting with her beauty, riding a lion and possessing all auspicious marks.'
नेदृशी देवलोकेऽस्ति न गन्धर्वपुरे तथा । न दृष्टा न श्रुता क्वापि पृथिव्यां प्रमदोत्तमा
'There is no such woman in the world of the gods, nor in the city of the Gandharvas; nowhere on earth has such a supreme woman been seen or heard of.'
गानञ्च तादृशं राजन् करोति जनरञ्जनम् । मृगास्तिष्ठन्ति तत्पार्श्वे मथुरस्वरमोहिताः
'Her singing, O King, delights all people; even the animals stand by her side, enchanted by her sweet voice.'