ऊचुर्वाक्यं महादेवीं वर्म ह्याबन्ध चाम्बिके
They spoke to the great goddess: 'O Ambikā, fasten your armor!'
कवचं को ऽत्र संतिष्ठेत् ममाग्रे दानवाधमः
Which lowly demon here would dare to stand before me with armor?
तदा रक्षार्थमस्यास्तु विष्णुपञ्जरमुक्तवान्
Then, for her protection, the Viṣṇu-cage was invoked.
अवध्यं दैवतैः सर्वेर्महिषं प्रत्यपीयत्
The buffalo demon was declared invulnerable to all the gods.
प्रोक्तं तया चापि हि पादघातैर्निषूदितो ऽसौ महिषासुरेन्द्रः
But by her, with blows of her feet, that king of the buffalo demons was struck down, as has been told.
कस्तस्य कुर्याद् युधि दर्फहानिं यस्य स्थितश्चेतसि चक्रपाणिः
Who could diminish his pride in battle, in whose mind the wielder of the discus abides?
सवाहनं हतवती तथा विस्तरतो वाद
She slew him along with his mount, and thus, in detail, the dispute was resolved.
विद्यामानेषु शस्त्रेषु यत्पद्भ्यां तममर्दयत्
Though weapons were present, she crushed him with her feet.
वृत्तां देवयुगस्यादौ पुण्यां पापभयापहाम्
This event, at the beginning of the age of the gods, is holy and removes the fear of sin.
सगजाश्वरथो ब्रह्मन् दृष्टो देव्या यथेच्छया
O Brahman, with elephants, horses, and chariots, the goddess was seen as she wished.
ववर्ष शैलं धारौघैर्द्यैरिवाम्बुदवृष्टिभिः
He rained down upon the mountain with torrents, as the clouds in the sky pour forth showers.
क्रुद्धा भगवती वेगादाचकर्ष धनुर्वरम्
The enraged Goddess, with great force, seized her excellent bow.
सुवर्णपृष्ठं विबभौ विद्युदम्बुधरेष्विव
Its golden back shone like lightning among rainclouds.
गदया मुसलेनान्यांश्चर्मणान्यानपातयत्
With her mace and club she struck down some, and with her shield she felled others.
विधुन्वन् केसरसटां निषूदयति दानवान्
Shaking her lion’s mane, she struck down the demons.
लाङ्गलैर्दारितग्रीवा विनिकृत्ताः परश्वधैः
Some had their necks torn by ploughs, others were cut down by axes.
चेलुः पेतुश्च मम्लुश् च तत्यजुश्चापरे रणम्
Some fled, some fell, some withered, and others abandoned the battle.
कालरात्रिं मन्यमाना दुद्रुवुर्भयपीडिताः
Thinking her to be the Night of Destruction, they ran, afflicted by fear.
दृष्ट्वाजगाम नमरो मत्तकुञ्जरसंस्थितः
Seeing this, Namara approached, mounted upon a maddened elephant.
त्रिशुलमपि सिंहाय प्राहिणोद् दानवो रणे
In battle, the demon hurled a trident at the lion.
कृतावथ गजेन्द्रेण गृहीतो मध्यतो हरिः
Then Hari was seized in the middle by the lord of elephants.
गतासुः सुञ्जरस्कन्धात् क्षिप्य दैव्यै निवेदितः
Having lost his life, he was thrown from the elephant’s shoulder and offered to the gods.
सव्येन पाणिना भ्राम्य वादयत् पहं यथा
Spinning it with his left hand, he sounded it like a drum.
हास्यात् समुद्भवंस्तस्या भूता नानाविधाद्भुताः
From her laughter arose beings of many wondrous forms.
हयास्या महिषास्याश्च वराहवदनाः परे
Some had horse faces, some buffalo faces, and others the faces of boars.
नानावक्त्राक्षिचरणा नानायुधधरास्तथा
They had various faces, eyes, and feet, and likewise bore many kinds of weapons.
वादयन्त्यपरे तत्र स्तुवन्त्यन्ये तथाम्बिकाम्
Some there played instruments, while others praised Ambika.
शातयामास चाक्रम्य यथा सस्यं महाशनिः
She struck them down as a great thunderbolt shatters a crop.
चिक्षुरः सैन्यपालस्तु योधयामास देवताः
Cikṣura, the commander of the army, engaged in battle with the gods.
ववर्ष शरजालानि यथा मेघो वसुन्धराम्
He rained down volleys of arrows upon the earth like a cloud.