त्वं वै तदाज्ञया प्राप्तस्तस्य कार्यार्थसिद्धये । संग्रामं कुरु पातालं गच्छ वा पतिना सह
"You have come here by their command to accomplish their purpose; so wage battle, or go to the netherworld with your master."
व्यास उवाच तच्छ्रुत्वा वचनं देव्याः स दैत्योऽमर्षपूरितः । मुमोच तरसा बाणान्सिंहस्योपरि दारुणान्
Vyasa said: Hearing the Goddess's words, that demon, filled with rage, swiftly released fierce arrows upon the lion.
अम्बिका ताच्छरान्वीक्ष्य गगने पन्नगोपमान् । चिच्छेद सायकैस्तीक्ष्णैर्लघुहस्ततया क्षणात्
Ambika, seeing those arrows in the sky, resembling serpents, cut them down in an instant with her sharp arrows, her hands moving lightly.
अन्यैर्जघान विशिखै रक्तबीजं महासुरम् । अम्बिकाचापनिर्मुक्तैः कर्णाकृष्टैः शिलाशितैः
With other arrows, she struck Raktabija, the great demon, with stones sharpened and drawn to the ear, released from Ambika's bow.
देवीबाणहतः पापो मूर्च्छामाप रथोपरि । पतिते रक्तबीजे तु हाहाकारो महानभूत्
Struck by the Goddess's arrows, the wicked one fell unconscious upon his chariot; and when Raktabija fell, a great outcry arose.
सैनिकाश्चुक्रुशुः सर्वे हताः स्म इति चाब्रुवन् । ततो बुम्बारवं श्रुत्वा शुम्भः परमदारुणम्
All the soldiers cried out, saying, 'We are slain!' Then, hearing that terrible tumult, Shumbha—
उद्योगं सर्वसैन्यानां दैत्यानामादिदेश ह । शुम्भ उवाच निर्यान्तु दानवाः सर्वे काम्बोजाः स्वबलैर्वृताः
Ordered the mobilization of all the demon armies. Shumbha said: 'Let all the Danavas go forth, the Kambojas with their own forces.'
अन्येऽप्यतिबलाः शूराः कालकेया विशेषतः । व्यास उवाच इत्याज्ञप्तं बलं सर्वं शुम्भेन च चतुर्विधम्
'Let others also, exceedingly strong and heroic, especially the Kalakeyas, go forth.' Vyasa said: Thus, Shumbha ordered all four divisions of his army.
निर्जगाम मदाऽऽविष्टं देवीसमरमण्डले । तमागतं समालोक्य चण्डिका दानवं बलम्
In the midst of the assembly of goddesses, the demon, overcome with arrogance, emerged; seeing him approach, Caṇḍikā gazed at the demon's force.
घण्टानादं चकाराशु भीषणं भयदं मुहुः । ज्यास्वनं शङ्खनादञ्च चकार जगदम्बिका
She swiftly sounded a terrifying, fearsome ringing of her bell again and again; and the Mother of the Universe made the twang of her bowstring and the blast of her conch resound.
तेन नादेन सा जाता काली विस्तारितानना । श्रुत्वा तन्निनदं घोरं सिंहो देव्याश्च वाहनम्
At that sound, Kālī became wide-mouthed; hearing that dreadful roar, the lion, the goddess's mount,
जगर्ज सोऽपि बलवाञ्जनयन्भयमद्भुतम् । तन्निनादमुपश्रुत्य दानवाः क्रोधमूर्च्छिताः
also roared mightily, producing a wondrous and fearsome noise; hearing that tumult, the demons, seized by wrath,
सर्वे चिक्षिपुरस्त्राणि देवीं प्रति महाबलाः । तस्मिन्नेवायते युद्धे दारुणे लोमहर्षणे
all those mighty ones hurled their weapons at the goddess; in that very moment, in that fierce and hair-raising battle,
ब्रह्मादीनाञ्च देवानां शक्तयश्चण्डिकां ययुः । यस्य देवस्य यद्रूपं यथा भूषणवाहनम्
the powers of Brahmā and the other gods entered Caṇḍikā; each goddess took on the form, ornaments, and mount of her respective deity.
तादृग्रूपास्तदा देव्यः प्रययुः समराङ्गणे । ब्रह्माणी वरटारूढा साक्षसूत्रकमण्डलुः
In such forms, those goddesses entered the battlefield; Brahmāṇī arrived riding a swan, holding a rosary and water-pot.
आगता ब्रह्मणः शक्तिर्ब्रह्माणीति प्रतिश्रुता । वैष्णवी गरुडारूढा शङ्खचक्रगदाधरा
The power of Brahmā, known as Brahmāṇī, came forth; Vaiṣṇavī arrived mounted on Garuḍa, bearing conch, discus, and mace.
पद्महस्ता समायाता पीताम्बरविभूषिता । शाङ्करी तु वृषारूढा त्रिशूलवरधारिणी
She came holding a lotus, adorned with yellow garments; Śāṅkarī, mounted on a bull, bearing a trident,
अर्धचन्द्रधरा देवी तथाहिवलया शिवा । कौमारी शिखिसंरूढा शक्तिहस्ता वरानना
the goddess adorned with a crescent moon and snake bracelets, auspicious; Kaumārī, riding a peacock, holding a spear, with a beautiful face,
युद्धकामा समायाता कार्तिकेयस्वरूपिणी । इन्द्राणी सुष्ठुवदना सुश्वेतगजवाहना
desiring battle, arrived in the form of Kārttikeya; Indrāṇī, with a lovely face, riding a pure white elephant,
वज्रहस्तातिरोषाढ्या संग्रामाभिमुखी ययौ । वाराही शूकराकारा प्रौढप्रेतासना मता
holding a thunderbolt, filled with intense wrath, advanced toward the battle; Vārāhī, boar-formed, seated on a powerful corpse,
नारसिंही नृसिंहस्य बिभ्रती सदृशं वपुः । याम्या च महिषारूढा दण्डहस्ता भयप्रदा
Nārasiṃhī, resembling Narasiṃha, bore a similar form; Yāmī, riding a buffalo, holding a staff, bestower of fear,
समायाताथ संग्रामे यमरूपा शुचिस्मिता । तथैव वारुणी शक्तिः कौबेरी च मदोत्कटा
also arrived in the battle, smiling beautifully, in the form of Yama; likewise, the powers of Varuṇa and Kubera, fierce with intoxication,
एवंविधास्तथाऽऽकारा ययुः स्वस्वबलैर्वृताः । आगतास्ताः समालोक्य देवी मुदमवाप च
such goddesses, in those forms, came, each surrounded by their own forces; seeing them assembled, the goddess rejoiced.
स्वस्था मुमुदिरे देवा दैत्याश्च भयमाययुः । ताभिः परिवृतस्तत्र शङ्करो लोकशङ्करः
The gods became at ease and delighted, while the demons were seized by fear; surrounded by those goddesses, Śaṅkara, the benefactor of the worlds,
समागम्य च संग्रामे चण्डिकामित्युवाच ह । हन्यन्तामसुराः शीघ्रं देवानां कार्यसिद्धये
having come together in battle, addressed Caṇḍikā, saying: 'Let the demons be swiftly slain for the accomplishment of the gods' purpose.'
निशुम्भं चैव शुम्भं च ये चान्ये दानवाः स्थिताः । हत्वा दैत्यबलं सर्वं कृत्वा च निर्भयं जगत्
'Niśumbha and Śumbha, and all other demons present—having slain all the demon forces, make the world free from fear.'
स्वानि स्वानि च धिष्ण्यानि समागच्छन्तु शक्तयः । देवा यज्ञभुजः सन्तु ब्राह्मणा यजने रताः
Let each power return to its own proper seat; let the gods partake of the offerings, and let the Brahmins be devoted to the performance of sacrifice.
प्राणिनः सन्तु सन्तुष्टाः सर्वे स्थावरजङ्गमाः । शमं यान्तु तथोत्पाता ईतयश्च तथा पुनः
Let all living beings, both moving and unmoving, be content; let disturbances and calamities subside and come to peace once more.
घनाः काले प्रवर्षन्तु कृषिर्बहुफला तथा । व्यास उवाच एवं ब्रुवति देवेशे शङ्करे लोकशङ्करे
Let the clouds rain at the proper time, and let the crops yield abundant fruit. Vyasa said: As the Lord of the gods, Shankara, the benefactor of the worlds, spoke thus—
चण्डिकाया शरीरात्तु निर्गता शक्तिरद्भुता । भीषणातिप्रचण्डा च शिवाशतनिनादिनी
From the body of Chandika emerged a wondrous power, terrifying and exceedingly fierce, roaring like a hundred thunderbolts.