क्व मन्दगमनं कुत्र गदामादाय धावनम् । बुद्धिदा कालिका तेऽत्र चामुंडा परनायिका
Where is the slow, graceful walk, and where is the running with a mace in hand? Here, Kālikā is your giver of wisdom, and Cāmuṇḍā your chief.
चंडिकामन्त्रमध्यस्था लालनेऽसुस्वरा शिवा । वाहनं मृगराडास्ते सर्वसत्त्वभयंकरः
You dwell amidst the mantras of Caṇḍikā, O gentle-voiced, auspicious one; your mount is the king of beasts, terrifying to all creatures.
वीणानादं परित्यज्य घंटानादं करोषि यत् । रूपयौवनयोः सर्वं विरोधि वरवर्णिनि
Abandoning the sound of the lute, you now make the sound of bells; all this opposes your beauty and youth, O radiant one.
यदि ते संगरेच्छाऽस्ति कुरूपा भव भामिनि । लम्बोष्ठी कुनखी क्रूरा ध्वांक्षवर्णा विलोचना
If you truly desire battle, O beautiful one, then become ugly—let your lips hang, your nails be deformed, your eyes cruel, your complexion that of a vulture.
लम्बपादा कुदन्ती च मार्जारनयनाकृतिः । ईदृशं रूपमास्थाय तिष्ठ युद्धे स्थिरा भव
Take on a form with hanging feet, crooked teeth, and eyes like a cat; assume such an appearance and stand firm in battle.
कर्कशं वचनं ब्रूहि ततो युद्धं करोम्यहम् । ईदृशीं सुदतीं दृष्ट्वा न मे पाणिः प्रसीदति
Speak harsh words, then I will fight; seeing you with such lovely teeth, my hand does not find resolve.
हन्तुं त्वां मृगशावाक्षि कामकांतोपमे मृधे । व्यास उवाच। इति ब्रुवाणं कामार्तं वीक्ष्य तं जगदम्बिका
How can I slay you, doe-eyed one, whose beauty rivals the god of love, in battle? Vyasa said: Seeing him, overcome by desire, speak thus, the Mother of the Universe—
स्मितपूर्वमिदं वाक्यमुवाच भरतोत्तम । देव्युवाच। किं विषीदसि मन्दात्मन्कामबाणविमोहितः
—smiling first, spoke these words, O best of the Bharatas: The Goddess said: Why do you despair, dull-minded one, bewildered by the arrows of desire?
प्रेक्षिकाऽहं स्थिता मूढ कुरु कालिकया मृधम् । चामुण्डया वा कुर्वेते तव योग्ये रणांगणे
I am here as a witness, fool; fight with Kali or with Camunda, whichever is fit for you on the battlefield.
प्रहरस्व यथाकामं नाहं त्वां योद्धुमुत्सहे । इत्युक्त्वा कालिकां प्राह देवी मधुरया गिरा
Strike as you wish; I am not inclined to fight you. Having said this, the Goddess addressed Kali with sweet words:
जह्येनं कालिके क्रूरे कुरूपप्रियमाहवे । व्यास उवाच। इत्युक्ता कालिका कालप्रेरिता कालरूपिणी
Slay him, O fierce Kali, do what is pleasing to me in battle. Vyasa said: Thus addressed, Kali, impelled by Time and embodying Time—
गदां प्रगृह्य तरसा तस्थावाजौ कृतोद्यमा । तयोः परस्परं युद्धं बभूवातिभयानकम्
—seized her mace and stood swiftly prepared for battle; between the two, a most terrifying fight ensued.
पश्यतां सर्वदेवानां मुनीनां च महात्मनाम् । गदामुद्यम्य शुंभोऽथ जघान कालिकां रणे
As all the gods and great sages looked on, Shumbha raised his mace and struck Kali in battle.
कालिका दैत्यराजानं गदया न्यहनद्भृशम्। बभंजास्य रथं चंडी गदया कनकोज्ज्वलम्
Kali struck the king of the demons fiercely with her mace; Candika shattered his golden, shining chariot with her mace.
खरान्हत्वा जघानाशु दारुकं दारुणस्वना। स पदातिर्गदां गुर्वी समादाय क्रुधान्वितः
Having slain the harsh horses, she quickly killed the charioteer with a dreadful cry; then, on foot, he seized his heavy mace, filled with wrath.
कालिकाभुजयोर्मध्ये प्रहसन्नहनत्तदा । वंचयित्वा गदाघातं खड्गमादाय सत्वरा
Then, laughing, he struck between Kali's arms; evading the blow of his mace, she swiftly took up her sword.
चिच्छेदास्य भुजं सव्यं सायुधं चंदनार्चितम् । स छिन्नबाहुविरथो गदापाणि: परिप्लुतः
She cut off his left arm, weapon in hand and adorned with sandalwood; with his arm severed, chariotless, yet still grasping his mace, he was drenched in blood.
अचिरेण समागत्य कालिकामहनत्तदा । काली च करवालेन भुजं तस्याथ दक्षिणम्
Soon he approached and struck at Kali; then Kali, with her sword, cut off his right arm.
चिच्छेद प्रहसंती सा सगदं किल सांगदम् । कर्तुं पादप्रहारं स कुपितः प्रययौ जवात्
She, laughing, cut it off—mace and bracelet together; enraged, he rushed swiftly to strike with his foot.
काली चिच्छेद चरणौ खड्गेनास्य त्वरान्विता । सच्छिन्नकरपादोऽपि तिष्ठ तिष्ठेति च ब्रुवन्
Kali, quick with her sword, cut off his legs; though deprived of hands and feet, he still cried, 'Stand, stand!'
धावमानो ययावाशु कालिकां भीषयन्निव । तमागच्छंतमालोक्य कालिका कमलोपमम्
Running, he quickly advanced on Kali, as if to terrify her; seeing him approach, Kali, beautiful as a lotus—
चकर्त मस्तकं कंठाद्रुधिरौघवहं भृशम् । छिन्नेऽसौ मस्तके भूमौ पपात गिरिसन्निभः
—severed his head from his neck, causing a great torrent of blood; when his head was cut off, he fell to the ground like a mountain.
प्राणा विनिर्ययुस्तस्य देहादुत्क्रम्य सत्वरम् । गतासुं पतितं दैत्यं दृष्ट्वा देवाः सवासवाः
His life-breath swiftly departed from his body; seeing the demon fallen lifeless, the gods along with Indra looked on.
तुष्टुवुस्तां तदा देवीं चामुंडां कालिकां तथा । ववुर्वाता: शिवास्तत्र दिशश्च विमला भृशम्
Then the gods praised that Goddess, Chamunda and also Kalika; gentle winds blew there, and the directions became exceedingly pure.
बभूवुश्चाग्नयो होमे प्रदक्षिणशिखाः शुभाः । हतशेषाश्च ये दैत्याः प्रणम्य जगदंबिकाम्
The sacrificial fires became auspicious, with their flames circling to the right; and those demons who survived, bowing to the Mother of the Universe,
त्यक्त्वाऽऽयुधानि ते सर्वे पातालं प्रययुर्नृप । एतत्ते सर्वमाख्यातं देव्याश्चरितमुत्तमम्
All of them abandoned their weapons and went to the netherworld, O King; thus, all the supreme deeds of the Goddess have been recounted to you.
शुम्भादीनां वधं चैव सुराणां रक्षणं तथा । एतदाख्यानकं सर्वं पठन्ति भुवि मानवाः
The slaying of Shumbha and others, and the protection of the gods as well—this entire narrative, when recited on earth by people,
शृण्वन्ति च सदा भक्त्या ते कृतार्था भवंति हि । अपुत्रो लभते पुत्रान्निर्धनश्च धनं बहु
And when always heard with devotion, they indeed become fulfilled; the childless obtain sons, and the poor much wealth.
रोगी च मुच्यते रोगात्सर्वान्कामानवाप्नुयात् । शत्रुतो न भयं तस्य य इदं चरितं शुभम्
The sick are freed from illness, all desires are attained; there is no fear from enemies for one who recites this auspicious story.
अथ द्वात्रिंशोऽध्यायः जनमेजय उवाच। महिमा वर्ण्यते सम्यक्चंडिकायास्त्वया मुने । केन चाराधिता पूर्वं चरित्रत्रययोगतः
Chapter Thirty-Two. Janamejaya said: You have properly described the greatness of Chandika, O Sage; by whom was she formerly worshipped through the three stories?