Markandeya Purana

प्रबोधञ्च जगत्स्वामी नीयतामच्युतो लघु । बोधश्च क्रियतामस्य हन्तुमेतौ महासुरौ॥८१.

Let the lord of the world, Achyuta, be quickly awakened, and let awareness be brought to him, so that he may slay these two great demons.

ऋषिरुवाच एवं स्तुता तदा देवी तामसी तत्र वेधसा । विष्णोः प्रबोधनार्थाय निहन्तुं मधुकैटभौ॥८१.

The sage said: Thus praised at that time by the creator, the dark goddess appeared there for the purpose of awakening Vishnu, to slay Madhu and Kaitabha.

नेत्रास्यनासिका-बाहु-हृदयेभ्यस्तथोरसः । निर्गम्य दर्शने तस्थौ ब्रह्मणोऽव्यक्तजन्मनः॥८१.

Emerging from the eyes, mouth, nose, arms, heart, and chest of Brahma, the one of unmanifest birth, she stood visible.

उत्तस्थौ च जगन्नाथस्तया मुक्तो जनार्दनः । एकार्णवेऽहिशयनात्ततः स ददृशे च तौ॥८१.

Then, released by her, the lord of the universe, Janardana, rose from his serpent couch on the single ocean, and saw those two.

मधुकैटभौ दुरात्मानावतिवीर्यपराक्रमौ । क्रोधरक्तेक्षणावत्तुं ब्रह्माणं जनितोद्यमौ॥८१.

Madhu and Kaitabha, evil-minded and exceedingly powerful, with eyes red with anger, intent on killing Brahma, were filled with energy.

समुत्थाय ततस्ताभ्यां युयुधे भगवान् हरिः । पञ्चवर्षसहस्राणि बाहुप्रहरणो विभुः॥८१.

Then the blessed Hari rose up and fought with them, armed only with his arms, for five thousand years.

तावप्यतिबलोन्मत्तौ महामायाविमोहितौ । उक्तवन्तौ वरोऽस्मत्तो व्रियतामिति केशवम्॥८१.

Those two, intoxicated by their immense strength and deluded by the great illusion, said to Keshava: 'Choose a boon from us.'

भगवानुवाच भवनेतामद्य मे तुष्टौ मम वध्यावुभावपि । किमन्येन वरेणात्र एतावद्धि वृतं मम॥८१.

The Blessed Lord said: 'You two are pleased with me—let both of you be slain by me today. What other boon is needed here? This alone is my wish.'

ऋषिरुवाच वञ्चिताभ्यामिति तदा सर्वमापोमयं जगत् । विलोक्य ताभ्यां गदितो भगवान् कमलेक्षणः॥८१.

The sage said: Then, realizing they had been deceived, and seeing the whole world composed of water, those two were addressed by the lotus-eyed Lord.

आवां जहि न यत्रोर्वो सलिलेन परिप्लुता । प्रीतौ स्वस्तव युद्धेन श्लाघ्यस्त्वं मृत्युरावयोः॥८१.

Slay us both where the earth is not flooded by water; let us fall in battle, for you are praiseworthy, and death is ours.

ऋषिरुवाच तथेत्युक्त्वा भगवता शङ्ख-चक्र-गदाभृता । कृत्वा चक्रेण वै च्छिन्ने जघने शिरसी तयोः॥८१.

The sage said: 'So be it,' replied the Lord, bearer of conch, discus, and mace; then, with the discus, he severed their heads and hips.

एवमेषा समुत्पन्ना ब्रह्मणा संस्तुता स्वयम् । प्रभावमस्या देव्यास्तु भूयः शृणु वदामि ते॥८१.

Thus she arose, praised by Brahma himself; now hear further of the power of this goddess, as I tell you.

एकाशीतितमोऽध्यायः

Eighty-first chapter.