Hear now the wondrous story of the Divine Mother, as revealed in the sacred verses. She is the very foundation of all doctrines, the source of number itself, arising from the wisdom of Sāṃkhya and the discipline of Yoga. Born from bindu and nāda, she is the beloved of Śambhu, and her radiance shines like the moon. She is the bringer of great fortune and prosperity, established beyond the reach of darkness. Transcending peace and impurity, she is changeless and independent, relying on nothing. She is the creator of the Daityas and Dānavas, born of Kaśyapa, and she is the measure of time itself. Known as Nārāyaṇī, arising from Nara, she illuminates all and bears the liṅga. Her greatness emerges at the end of the supreme, and she is the mare-faced one with lovely eyes. Wise and discerning, she is the mother of wrath and the source of great anger. Her interests are diverse, and she delights in gold and silver; yet, she is not to be grieved for. Radiant and difficult to comprehend, she bestows the fruits of the Jyotiṣṭoma sacrifice. With a long neck and charming presence, she gives peace and increases tranquility. She is the mother of the three powers, victorious over the six waves, and sustains the world by drawing it together. She is the crowned source of desire. Beloved of Pradyumna, she is restrained, possesses twin vision, and has three eyes. She is possessed by the bull, mother of the sky, and dwells upon Mount Vindhya. As the daughter who slew Cāṇūra, she knows ethics and can assume any form at will. Beloved of Vīrabhadra and heroic, she is born from Mahākāla. She nourishes and takes away, purifies and fosters, and is abundant. She ploughs the earth, pours nectar, and is devoted to playing the vīṇā. Known as Arundhatī, she is golden-eyed, marked by the moon, and bestows honor. She bears streams, possesses excellent form, and grants countless boons both great and small. She brings fortune and prosperity, is auspicious, and shares half the body of Śrīdhara. Destroyer of demon hosts, daughter of Sihikā, she rides a lion. She knows taste, gives taste, is pleasing, and nectar ever drips from her tongue. Wielding the thunderbolt staff, with a thunderbolt tongue, she is a divine maiden of adamantine form. She is Gandharva, mistress of serpents, lunar in nature, and fond of Kambala and Aśvatara. Her enclosure is adorned with golden champaka flowers, and she is the taker of Kaṃsa’s life-breath. Manifest as the divine goddess, she possesses celestial fragrance and is beyond the day. Desired and most excellent, she is cherished by the noble and worshipped by both the worthy and unworthy. She is the mother of the lord of the gods, radiant, established in the subtle channel and in the sun. Skilled in the meaning of the Dharma-śāstras, she knows righteousness and bears Dharma. She is the power of Dharma, composed of Dharma, transcending unrighteousness, and the universal upholder of Dharma. As the teacher of Dharma, of righteous nature, she is attainable through Dharma and supports the earth. Free from all powers, she is nevertheless the refuge and source of all powers. Ever-auspicious, she is of the form of space, of universal form, and yet formless. Then, bowing with fear in his heart, one spoke with joined palms, “I am now afraid, having seen this form; show me another form.” Withdrawing that form, she revealed another of her own—a gentle form with two eyes and two arms, adorned with dark blue locks. Her splendid, broad forehead was radiant, marked with a shining tilaka. Such is the glory and mystery of the Divine Mother, whose forms are infinite, whose nature is unfathomable, and whose blessings sustain the worlds.