Mahishāsura, the mighty asura, advanced in furious anticipation of battle, his followers surging behind him. The air was thick with violence—charioteers, armed with bows, had blood streaming from their heads, and all directions echoed with terrifying lion-roars. The powerful warriors on both sides clashed fiercely, unable to endure the onslaught. As the battle raged, the invincibility of Mahishāsura—born of illusion—was spoken of, for he seemed impossible to defeat. In this moment of dire need, the goddess appeared, manifesting from the yoga-sleep in the lotus eyes of Viṣṇu. Even the formidable demons Madhuka and Kaitabha could not lay a hand upon her, O Mother. It was said that if you, Kauśikī, had not been born, death would never have come to Śumbha and Niśumbha. O Dweller on the Vindhya, what austerity of yours has ever been fruitless? Even the bed of a monkey was enjoyed and presented as a gift to the Lord of Wealth. You are the creative power of Brahma, and the sustaining force of the enemy of Madhu. You are known as Ekānanshā, born as the joy of Yaśodā. You are knowledge itself, the great illusion, Lakshmi, and Sarasvati. Pleased, the goddess went forth to confront Mahishāsura. Fierce and radiant, she wielded a deadly circle and a club, and carried a fly-whisk. Her terrifying face, gleaming axe, and spear, with eyes that inspired fear, announced her intent. With wrath, she struck down Mahishāsura’s forces before him and fought with burning anger. Enraged, Mahishāsura attacked Durgā with a volley of arrows. Durga, equally incensed, seized the lord of the asuras. The demon retaliated, striking her face with three arrows. With another arrow he wounded her charioteer, with eight he battered her chariot, and with three more he targeted her bow. Mahishāsura, whether on foot or in his chariot, wielded a hundred-bladed, blazing weapon. The gods cried out in distress, and the assembled Mothers were filled with terror. The demon took up a sword, an elephant goad, a noose, a club, and a handful of other weapons—an axe, a club, a spear, and a mace—ready for destruction. Weapons hurled by the enemies rushed toward Durgā, but she seized them all. Even her lion, drawn near, was marked by the tip of her tail. Mahishāsura’s forms shifted with his wrath—at one moment he was a lion, then a boar, then a tiger, then an elephant, and finally a furious buffalo with sharp horns. He leapt from sky to earth, his rage uncontained. At the plea of the circle of Mothers, Durgā attacked the buffalo-demon with all her might. As the demon fell, a thunderous, roaring sound shook the heavens. Strangled at the throat, the enemy of the immortals lost his life. Thus did Durgā destroy the demon Kāśara, the sole thorn of all the worlds. Ah, what valor belongs to Durgā, the remover of misfortune! When Bhadrakālī slew the buffalo-demon, Gaurī bowed with another hand, the one holding the sword. Seeing her dance in joy, moved by compassion, the gods praised her: "O dweller on Vindhya, by you a most difficult deed has been accomplished. Now, take away this buffalo’s head, impure and terrifying.