Having conquered the earth with its seven continents, the powerful Daitya then ascended the heights of Mount Meru. There, in his pride and might, he confronted and defeated the greatest of the gods: first Indra, then Agni, Yama, Nirriti, Varuna, Vayu, Kubera, and finally even Ishvara himself. Indra, vanquished, fled to Agni for refuge; Agni, in turn, sought Yama; Yama approached Nirriti, and Nirriti hastened to Varuna. Varuna, gathering Indra and the others, went to Vayu; Vayu, with all the gods beginning with Indra, proceeded to Kubera. Kubera, joined by his friend Ishvara and the assembly of gods, set out together. But the Daitya, intoxicated by his own strength, seized his mace and rushed toward the very realm of Shiva. Shiva, recognizing the Daitya’s invincibility, withdrew with the gods to a secret city, a place honored by Brahma and other virtuous deities and Siddhas. There, Brahma, the creator of worlds, stood in the water that had arisen from Vishnu’s feet, stationed in the sky. Immersed in the pure water, he recited the sacred Gayatri mantra, invoking the goddess who knows the field of all existence. The gods, overwhelmed, cried out in supplication: "Protect us, O Lord of creatures! Protect all the gods, sages, and ancestors! Save us from the fear of the Asura!" Hearing their plea, Brahma saw the gods assembled before him and began to ponder deeply: "This world is pervaded by the Lord’s illusion. Here, neither Asuras nor gods truly exist—what is the nature of this illusion?" As Brahma reflected, a radiant maiden emerged from his body, clad in white garments, her face shining with a garland and crown, and endowed with eight arms, each raised with a divine weapon. She held a discus, conch, mace, noose, sword, bell, bow, and other weapons, with a quiver fastened at her side, rising from the water. This great goddess, swift as a lion’s mount, appeared alone but in many forms, and she engaged in battle with all the Asuras. For a thousand divine years she fought the mighty Daitya with celestial weapons. When the destined time arrived, the goddess slew Vaitrāsura in combat, and a great tumultuous sound of victory arose among the army of the gods. With the fearsome Vaitrāsura slain, all the dwellers of heaven bowed down, exclaiming "Victory in battle!" and the Lord himself sang her praise. Maheśvara declared: "Victory to you, O Goddess Gāyatrī, great enchantress, supreme power, great goddess, most fortunate, of immense strength, in this grand festival! O you whose limbs are anointed with divine fragrance, adorned with garlands and ornaments of celestial weapons, mother of the Vedas, I bow to you, O Maheśvarī, who abides in the three syllables. O you who dwell in the three worlds, established in the three principles, abiding in the three fires, bearer of the trident, three-eyed, with a fearsome face and terrifying eyes, O goddess born from the lotus seat, Sarasvatī, I bow to you. Salutations to you, lotus-eyed one, great enchantress, flowing with nectar, all-pervading, ruler of all beings, embodied in the words svāhā and svadhā, O mother. You are complete, radiant as the full moon, shining in form, source of the world, great knowledge, supreme wisdom, destroyer of mighty demons, origin of great intelligence, goddess free from sorrow, huntress. You are righteousness, O greatly fortunate one; you are song, you are the cow, you are the imperishable; you are intellect, you are prosperity, you are Om, and you are established in the essence; O goddess, benefactress of all beings, I bow to you, supreme ruler." Thus praised by Bhava, the supreme lord, the goddess was also hailed with shouts of victory by all the gods. As long as Brahma, the four-faced one, remained, so long did she stay outside the waters. Then, seeing the goddess, her divine task accomplished, Brahma addressed her, speaking of what was yet to come. Brahmā said: "Let this goddess of noble form go to the mountain born of snow; there, all you gods, go quickly and rejoice. On the ninth day, this goddess should always be worshipped with concentration; she will be the granter of boons to all worlds, without doubt. Any man or woman who eats pounded grain on the ninth day will have their heart’s desire fulfilled. Whoever recites this hymn, composed by you, O Mahādeva, in the evening and morning, will be united with the goddess. O god, bestower of boons, rescue him from all calamities." Having said this, Brahmā again addressed the goddess: "O goddess, there is yet another great task for you to accomplish for us: the future destruction of the asura named Mahiṣa." Having spoken thus, Brahmā and all the gods departed as they had come, leaving the goddess established on the snowy mountain. Because she was established there with joy, she became known as Nandā. Whoever hears or recites this account of the goddess’s birth becomes freed from all sins and attains the highest liberation. Mahātapā then said: "Listen attentively, O king, protector of the people, to this story—how, when the directions arose from the ears, O lord of the earth. When Brahmā was creating the world at the beginning of creation, a great concern arose in him: 'Who among my created beings will sustain the progeny?' As he thus pondered, from his ears appeared ten radiant maidens, providing space for the beings here. Among them were the eastern, southern, western, and northern directions, as well as the upward and downward—these six were the principal maidens at that time, O king. The other four maidens among them were supremely beautiful, endowed with form, great fortune, and depth of character. With affection, those maidens addressed the sinless lord of creatures: 'Grant us a place, O god of gods, O lord of creatures, where we may all dwell happily with our husbands; and grant us, O source of all, illustrious husbands as well.' Brahmā replied: 'O fair-hipped ones, this universe extends a hundred crores in breadth; at its end, dwell as you wish, O blessed ones, do not delay. I will also grant you husbands, creating them, endowed with form and free from sin. Go wherever each of you desires now.' Thus addressed, all those maidens went as they wished, and Brahmā swiftly created the powerful guardians of the worlds.