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.'
ज्ञायतां कस्य पुत्रीयं किमर्थमिह चागता । गृह्यतां राजशार्दूल तव योग्यास्ति कामिनी
'Let it be known whose daughter she is and why she has come here; O tiger among kings, take her, for she is a suitable woman for you.'
ज्ञात्वाऽऽनय गृहे भार्यां कुरु कल्याणलोचनाम् । निश्चितं नास्ति संसारे नारी त्वेवंविधा किल
'Find out and bring her here; make her your wife, she of auspicious eyes. Surely, there is no woman like her in all the world.'
देवानां सर्वरत्नानि गृहीतानि त्वया नृप । कस्मान्नेमां वरारोहां प्रगह्णासि नृपोत्तम
O king, you have seized all the jewels of the gods; why, then, do you not take this beautiful woman, O best of kings?
इन्द्रस्यैरावतः श्रीमान्पारिजाततरुस्तथा । गृहीतोऽश्वः सप्तमुखस्त्वया नृप बलात्किल
You have forcibly taken Indra’s splendid Airavata elephant, the Parijata tree, and the seven-headed horse, O king.
विमानं वैधसं दिव्यं मरालध्वजसंयुतम् । त्वयात्तं रत्नभूतं तद्बलेन नृप चाद्भुतम्
You have seized the divine Vaidhasa chariot, adorned with the banner of a swan, which is a wondrous jewel by your might, O king.
कुबेरस्य निधिः पद्मस्त्वया राजन् समाहृतः । छत्रं जलपतेः शुभ्रं गृहीतं तत्त्वया बलात्
You have brought Kubera’s treasure, the lotus, O king, and by force you have taken the shining umbrella of the lord of waters.
पाशश्चापि निशुम्भेन भ्रात्रा तव नृपोत्तम । गृहीतोऽस्ति हठात्कामं वरुणस्य जितस्य च
And, O best of kings, your brother Nishumbha has also seized by force the noose of Varuna, after defeating him.
अम्लानपङ्कजां तुभ्यं मालां जलनिधिर्ददौ । भयात्तव महाराज रत्नानि विविधानि च
Out of fear of you, O great king, the ocean gave you a garland of unfading lotuses and various other jewels.
मृत्योः शक्तिर्यमस्यापि दण्डः परमदारुणः । त्वया जित्वा हृतः कामं किमन्यद्वर्ण्यते नृप
You have conquered and taken the power of Death and even Yama’s dreadful staff at will; what more can be said, O king?
कामधेनुर्गहीताद्य वर्तते सागरोद्भवा । मेनकाद्या वशे राजंस्तव तिष्ठन्ति चाप्सराः
Today you have taken the wish-fulfilling cow, born of the ocean; Menaka and other Apsarasas are under your control, O king.