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?
प्रसन्ना कस्य वरदा केन प्राप्तं फलं महत् । आराध्य कामदां देवीं कथयस्व कृपानिधे
To whom did the gracious, wish-granting Goddess bestow a great boon, and who, having worshipped her, obtained the supreme fruit? Tell me, O ocean of compassion.
उपासनाविधिं ब्रह्मस्तथा पूजाविधिं वद । विस्तरेण महाभाग होमस्य च विधिं पुनः
Describe in detail the method of worship, O blessed one, as well as the procedure of her adoration, and again the rite of sacrifice.
सूत उवाच। इति भूपवचः श्रुत्वा प्रीतः सत्यवतीसुतः । प्रत्युवाच नृपं कृष्णो महामायाप्रपूजनम्
Suta said: Hearing the king’s words, Satyavati’s son was pleased; Krishna replied to the king about the worship of the Great Maya.
व्यास उवाच। स्वारोचिषेऽन्तरे पूर्वं सुरथो नाम पार्थिवः । बभूव परमोदारः प्रजापालनतत्परः
Vyasa said: In the previous Svārociṣa Manvantara, there was a king named Suratha, exceedingly noble and devoted to the protection of his subjects.
सत्यवादी कर्मपरो ब्राह्मणानां च पूजकः । गुरुभक्तिरतो नित्यं स्वदारगमने रतः
He was truthful, devoted to action, a worshipper of Brahmins, always devoted to his teachers, and attached to his own wife.
दानशीलोsविरोधी च धनुर्वेदैकपारगः । एवं पालयतो राज्यं म्लेच्छाः पर्वतवासिनः
He was generous, free from hostility, and thoroughly skilled in the science of archery; while he ruled the kingdom thus, barbarians dwelling in the mountains—
बलाच्छत्रुत्वमापन्नाः सैन्यं कृत्वा चतुर्विधम् । हस्त्यश्वरथपादातिसहितास्ते मदोत्कटाः
By force became his enemies, assembling a fourfold army; with elephants, horses, chariots, and infantry, they, intoxicated with pride,
कोलाविध्वंसिनः प्राप्ताः पृथ्वीग्रहणतत्पराः । सुरथः सैन्यमादाय संमुखः समपद्यत
Arrived, intent on seizing the land, destroying villages; Suratha, taking his army, confronted them directly.
युद्धं समभवद्घोरं तस्य तैरतिदारुणैः । म्लेच्छानां तु बलं स्वल्पं राज्ञस्तद्बलमद्भुतम्
A fierce and terrible battle took place between him and those barbarians; though their force was small and the king’s army was astonishing,
तथापि तैर्जितो युद्धे दैवाद्राजा पराजितः । भग्नश्च स्वपुरं प्राप्तः सुरक्षं दुर्गमंडितम्
Still, by fate, the king was defeated in battle by them; broken, he returned to his city, which was well-protected and fortified.