सा तु मायात्मिका शक्तिर्योगनिद्रा च वैष्णवी शंखचक्रत्रिशूलादिसायुधाष्टमहाभुजा
That power, consisting of Māyā, also known as the sleep of Viṣṇu, was armed with conch, discus, trident, and other weapons, and had eight mighty arms.
सौम्या घोरा च मिश्रा च त्रिनेत्रा चन्द्रशेखरा अजातपुंस्पर्शरतिरधृष्या चातिसुन्दरी
She was gentle, terrible, and mixed in form, three-eyed, adorned with the moon, untouched by men, invincible, and exceedingly beautiful.
दत्ता च ब्रह्मणे देव्या शक्तिरेषा सनातनी निशुंभस्य च शुंभस्य निहंत्री दैत्यसिंहयोः
This eternal power was given by the goddess to Brahmā, the slayer of Niśumbha and Śumbha, the lion among Daityas.
ब्रह्मणापि प्रहृष्टेन तस्यै परमशक्तये प्रबलः केसरी दत्तो वाहनत्वे समागतः
Even Brahmā, delighted, gave her a powerful lion to serve as her mount for that supreme power.
विन्ध्ये च वसतिं तस्याः पूजामासवपूर्वकैः मांसैर्मत्स्यैरपूपैश्च निर्वर्त्यासौ समादिशत्
He instructed that her worship should be performed in the Vindhya mountains with offerings of wine, meat, fish, and cakes.
सा चैव संमता शक्तिर्ब्रह्मणो विश्वकर्मणः प्रणम्य मातरं गौरीं ब्रह्माणं चानुपूर्वशः
That power, approved by Brahmā and Viśvakarman, after bowing in order to Mother Gaurī and to Brahmā, was honored.
शक्तिभिश्चापि तुल्याभिः स्वात्मजाभिरनेकशः परीता प्रययौ विन्ध्यं दैत्येन्द्रौ हन्तुमुद्यता
Surrounded by many powers equal to herself, her own daughters, she set out for Vindhya, intent on slaying the Daitya lords.
निहतौ च तया तत्र समरे दैत्यपुंगवौ तद्बाणैः कामबाणैश्च च्छिन्नभिन्नांगमानसौ
There, in battle, those foremost Daityas were slain by her; struck by her arrows and the arrows of Kāma, their bodies and minds were shattered.
तद्युद्धविस्तरश्चात्र न कृतो ऽन्यत्र वर्णनात् ऊहनीयं परस्माच्च प्रस्तुतं वर्णयामि वः
The full account of that battle is not given here; it is to be inferred from elsewhere, but I will narrate to you what is relevant.
उत्पाद्य कौशिकीं गौरी ब्रह्मणे प्रतिपाद्य ताम् तस्य प्रत्युपकाराय पितामहमथाब्रवीत्
Having produced Kauśikī, Gaurī entrusted her to Brahmā; then, to reciprocate, the Grandfather spoke.
दृष्टः किमेष भवता शार्दूलो मदुपाश्रयः अनेन दुष्टसत्त्वेभ्यो रक्षितं मत्तपोवनम्
Have you seen this tiger, who has taken refuge with me? By him, my hermitage has been protected from evil beings.
मय्यर्पितमना एष भजते मामनन्यधीः अस्य संरक्षणादन्यत्प्रियं मम न विद्यते
With his mind fixed on me, devoted to me alone, nothing is dearer to me than his protection.
भवितव्यमनेनातो ममान्तःपुरचारिणा गणेश्वरपदं चास्मै प्रीत्या दास्यति शंकरः
Therefore, he is destined to dwell in my inner chambers; out of affection, Śaṅkara will grant him the status of lord of the Gaṇas.
एनमग्रेसरं कृत्वा सखीभिर्गन्तुमुत्सहे
Making him the leader, I am able to go forth with my companions.
इत्युक्तः प्रहसन्ब्रह्मा देवीम्मुग्धामिव स्मयन्
Thus addressed, Brahma laughed, smiling at the goddess as if she were innocent.
पशौ देवि मृगाः क्रूराः क्व च ते ऽनुग्रहः शुभः आशीविषमुखे साक्षादमृतं किं निषिच्यते
O goddess, wild beasts are cruel; where is your auspicious compassion? Who pours nectar directly into the mouth of a venomous serpent?
व्याघ्रमात्रेण सन्नेष दुष्टः को ऽपि निशाचरः अनेन भक्षिता गावो ब्राह्मणाश्च तपोधनाः
A wicked night-dweller, accompanied by a tigress, has devoured cows and ascetic Brahmins.
तर्पयंस्तान्यथाकामं कामरूपी चरत्यसौ अवश्यं खलु भोक्तव्यं फलं पापस्य कर्मणः
Taking whatever form he desires, he roams, satisfying them as he wishes; surely, one must reap the fruit of sinful deeds.
अतः किं कृपया कृत्यमीदृशेषु दुरात्मसु अनेन देव्याः किं कृत्यं प्रकृत्या कलुषात्मना
Therefore, what is the use of compassion for such evil souls? What purpose does the goddess have for one whose nature is impure?
यदुक्तं भवता सर्वं तथ्यमस्त्वयमीदृशः तथापि मां प्रपन्नो ऽभून्न त्याज्यो मामुपाश्रितः
All that you have said is true; he is indeed such as you describe. Yet, having sought refuge in me, he should not be abandoned.
अस्य भक्तिमविज्ञाय प्राग्वृत्तं ते निवेदितम् भक्तिश्चेदस्य किं पापैर्न ते भक्तः प्रणश्यति
Without knowing his devotion, you have recounted his past deeds; but if he is devoted, what do his sins matter? A devotee does not perish.
पुण्यकर्मापि किं कुर्यात्त्वदीयाज्ञानपेक्षया अजा प्रज्ञा पुराणी च त्वमेव परमेश्वरी
Even one who acts virtuously does so only by your command; you are the unborn, ancient wisdom, the supreme goddess.
त्वदधीना हि सर्वेषां बंधमोक्षव्यवस्थितिः त्वदृते परमा शक्तिः संसिद्धिः कस्य कर्मणा
For all, bondage and liberation depend on you; apart from you, whose action attains the highest power or accomplishment?
त्वमेव विविधा शक्तिः भवानामथ वा स्वयम् अशक्तः कर्मकरणे कर्ता वा किं करिष्यति
You alone are manifold power; whether beings act or not, without you, what can the agent accomplish?
विष्णोश्च मम चान्येषां देवदानवरक्षसाम् तत्तदैश्वर्यसम्प्राप्त्यै तवैवाज्ञा हि कारणम्
For Vishnu, for myself, and for others—gods, demons, and spirits—the attainment of their respective dominions is caused only by your command.
अतीताः खल्वसंख्याता ब्रह्माणो हरयो भवाः अनागतास्त्वसंख्यातास्त्वदाज्ञानुविधायिनः
Countless Brahmas, Vishnus, and Shivas have passed, and countless are yet to come, all following your command.
त्वामनाराध्य देवेशि पुरुषार्थचतुष्टयम् लब्धुं न शक्यमस्माभिरपि सर्वैः सुरोत्तमैः
Without worshipping you, O goddess of the gods, even the highest among us cannot attain the four aims of life.
व्यत्यासो ऽपि भवेत्सद्यो ब्रह्मत्वस्थावरत्वयोः सुकृतं दुष्कृतं चापि त्वयेव स्थापितं यतः
There may be an immediate exchange between the state of Brahma and that of immobile beings; merit and demerit are established by you alone.
त्वं हि सर्वजगद्भर्तुश्शिवस्य परमात्मनः अनादिमध्यनिधना शक्तिराद्या सनातनी
You are the primal, eternal power of Shiva, the supreme soul, who sustains the entire universe, without beginning, middle, or end.
समस्तलोकयात्रार्थं मूर्तिमाविश्य कामपि
For the purpose of the world's journey, you assume some form.