O Goddess, benefactor of all beings, you embody every creature and remain steadfast, the mother of knowledge, of scriptures, and of all the arts, bearing within yourself all the elements. You, the auspicious one, knower of every divine secret, incarnate among all beings, are our sole refuge. You are knowledge and ignorance, fortune itself, O Ambikā; you are patience, yet also the disturbance within the waters, the unmanifest source of all. To you, O great Goddess, we offer salutations; to you, supreme ruler, eternal, imperishable, and unchanging among all the gods, we bow in reverence. Those who seek shelter in you, O supreme ruler, face no misfortune, even amid the perils of battle. Whoever, in the dreadful fear of tigers or bandit kings, recites this hymn to you with self-control is protected by your grace. Even one bound in chains, if they remember you, O Goddess, is freed from bondage and lives in contentment and happiness. Thus, at that time, the gods praised the beautiful-hipped Goddess with reverence. Pleased, she spoke to them: "Choose the highest boon." The gods replied, "O sinless Goddess, grant us this boon: that whoever recites this hymn of yours, you fulfill all their desires." The supreme Goddess, smiling, replied, "So be it," and, having blessed the gods, she dismissed them and remained there herself. Whoever knows this second birth of the Goddess on earth becomes free from sorrow, pure, and attains a state beyond affliction. Now listen, O Earth, to the vow and power of the Goddess who went to Nīlagiri, steadfast in her asceticism—fierce, born of darkness. For a long time she performed severe austerities, sustaining the entire world, and accomplished the radiant five-fire practice. During one such time, while the Goddess was engaged in supreme austerity, there arose an asura named Ruru, brilliant and powerful, having received a boon from Brahmā. In the midst of the ocean stood a city, rich in jewels and surrounded by a great forest. There, this demon king, a terror to all the gods, ruled supreme. He was accompanied by countless asuras—hundreds of thousands, tens of millions, even hundreds of millions—shining with glory like a second Namuci. Eventually, surrounded by his vast army, Ruru set out to conquer the ancient cities of the guardians of the worlds, spreading fear among the gods. As the great asura rose up, the ocean’s waters swelled, flooding the mountain slopes, teeming with crocodiles, sharks, and countless fish. From the depths, a mighty and splendid army emerged, adorned with many kinds of armor and weapons, filled with hosts of enemies of the gods—skilled and powerful warriors. Islands thick with daityas, terrifying in form and ringing with bells, came forth from all sides, displaying themselves with great noise. Horses, adorned with golden ornaments and shining like red fish in the water, emerged in their hundreds of thousands and millions, ready for battle. Chariots, swift as the sun’s own, with fine wheels, poles, and triple yokes, crowded with warriors and fluttering with banners, sped forth without hesitation. The warriors, closely arrayed, eager and swift-handed, victorious in many battles, shone as the foremost followers of the asuras. When the gods were defeated, the asura’s army, complete with all four divisions—infantry, cavalry, elephants, and chariots—emerged from the waters and advanced toward Indra’s city. The daitya lord Ruru fought at their head, wielding maces, clubs, spears, arrows, and staff-weapons; the daityas struck the gods, and the gods struck back. But after a moment of fierce battle, the gods, along with Indra, were overwhelmed and fled in great confusion. As the gods scattered in terror, the mighty asura pursued them relentlessly. Fleeing and overwhelmed by fear, the hosts of gods made their way to the great blue mountain, Nīlagiri, where the Goddess was present. She was deep in her austerities, fierce and of supreme power, the destroyer—known as Kalaratri. When Kalaratri saw the gods, terrified and bewildered, she spoke to them in a thunderous voice, "Do not be afraid." She asked, "Why are you so troubled, O gods? What danger threatens you? Quickly tell me the cause of your fear." The gods replied, "O supreme Goddess, the king of the daityas, Ruru of terrible might, is advancing upon us. Save us, O mother, for we are frightened." Hearing their plea, the beautiful but terrible Goddess laughed with great delight before the gods. As she laughed, countless goddesses emerged from her mouth, filling the world with their fierce forms. Each held noose and goad, bore spears, and was terrifying yet beautiful, all skilled archers with full breasts. These millions of goddesses surrounded Kalaratri, standing firm. Armed with bows and great might, they charged the demon armies, and in a moment, the demon forces were utterly destroyed by them. The assembled gods—the Adityas, Vasus, Rudras, Visvedevas, and Ashvins—also joined the battle, taking up arms against the demons. All the power of Kalaratri and the might of the gods together drove the demon army to the abode of Yama, the lord of death. Only one great demon remained—Ruru. In the thick of battle, he unleashed a terrible, fearsome illusion that grew vast and dreadful, deluding all the gods and casting them into sleep. But the Goddess, undaunted, struck Ruru with her trident on the battlefield. From the wounded demon sprang forth two beings, Charma and Munda, separate and distinct—thus the Goddess’s power was revealed, and the tide of battle shifted by her supreme might.