Hearing the terror of the gods, who cried out in fear, “O supreme goddess, protect us! The mighty king of the daityas, Ruru, is coming with terrible force,” the goddess of immense and awe-inspiring power, radiant in her beauty, looked upon them and laughed with great delight. As her laughter rang out before the assembled gods, from her very mouth emerged countless goddesses, fierce and wondrous in form, filling the world with their presence. Each of these divine beings held nooses and goads, their forms both fearsome and beautiful. Their breasts were full, they bore sharp spears, and each was a skilled archer, ready for battle. These millions of goddesses surrounded the supreme goddess, standing firm and resolute. Armed with bows and possessed of immense might, they rushed into the demon armies and, in a single moment, destroyed all the forces of the daityas. The gods themselves—Adityas, Vasus, Rudras, Visvedevas, and the Ashvins—gathered and joined the battle, seizing their weapons and fighting the demon hosts. All the power of Kalaratri and the combined strength of the gods surged forth, driving the demon army toward the abode of Yama, the lord of death. Yet, amidst the devastation, one great demon remained: Ruru, standing alone on the battlefield. He unleashed a dreadful and bewildering illusion, which grew in size and terror, deluding the gods and casting them instantly into deep sleep. But the goddess, undaunted, struck Ruru with her trident. From the demon’s body, thus pierced by her, sprang forth two beings—Charma and Munda—distinct and separate. These two, emerging from Ruru, were seized by the goddess, who from that moment became known as Chamunda. Now, the supreme goddess, the most terrible and powerful destroyer, known as Kalaratri, stood surrounded by her countless attendant goddesses. These fierce, hungry beings, eager for the flesh of demons, addressed her: “We are hungry, O auspicious one. Give us food, O goddess!” Hearing their plea, the goddess searched her mind and the battlefield for suitable food for her attendants, but could find nothing nearby. So, she turned her thoughts to Mahadeva, Rudra, the lord of all creatures, the all-pervading three-eyed one. Instantly, Rudra arose from his meditation and addressed her: “What task do you wish to accomplish, O beautiful one? Tell me what is on your mind.” The goddess replied, “O lord of the gods, these mighty ones are demanding food from me. You must provide something for them to eat, or else, O lord, in their hunger they may even devour me.” Rudra answered, “Hear me, O queen of the gods. I have prepared a kind of food for them. Listen as I declare it, O radiant Kalaratri. Any woman who, while pregnant, wears the clothing of another woman, or even touches it—especially that of a man—let that portion be given to some of your attendants on earth. Others may take their share at doorways, receiving offerings and remaining satisfied for hundreds of years. Some, honored in the birthing chamber, may take their place at the opening there; others may dwell as takers of newborns. In homes, fields, ponds, reservoirs, and gardens, when women stand distracted and weeping, some beings may enter their bodies and be satisfied.” Having thus spoken, Rudra, radiant and powerful, looked upon the fallen Ruru and his defeated army. The three-eyed god then offered praise to the goddess: “Victory to you, O Chamunda! Triumph, remover of beings! Triumph, all-pervading goddess! O Kalaratri, I bow to you. O universal form, auspicious and pure, three-eyed with wondrous eyes, fierce in appearance—O Shiva, O knowledge, O great illusion, O great awakening! Swift as the mind, victorious and expanding, fierce-eyed destroyer, great death, of wondrous form, lover of song and dance, auspicious one! O terrible, great Kali, remover of sin, holding a noose and staff, fierce and frightening! O Chamunda, with blazing mouth and sharp fangs, mighty strength, seated upon a corpse, Shiva among spirits! Fierce-eyed, terrifying goddess, causing fear to all beings, dreadful, great time, powerful Kalaratri, I bow to you. O goddess with a dreadful face, flame-mouthed, benefactor of all beings, goddess of all, I bow to you.” Pleased by Rudra’s praise, the supreme goddess smiled and said, “Choose a boon, O lord of gods. Whatever is in your mind, ask and it shall be granted.” Rudra replied, “O goddess, may those who praise you with this hymn be granted boons by you, O ever-present and true one. Whoever, with devotion, recites this threefold hymn to you, O beautiful goddess, may they attain sons, grandsons, livestock, and prosperity. Whoever hears this account of the origin of your three powers with devotion, may they be freed from all sin and suffering.” Having thus honored the supreme goddess Chamunda, Rudra (Bhava) vanished in an instant, and the gods returned to heaven. It is said that whoever knows and remembers this threefold origin of the goddess is freed from all sin and attains supreme liberation. If a king, deprived of his kingdom, observes the ninth day with purity and fasts on the eighth and fourteenth days, within a year he will regain his kingdom, free from obstacles. This threefold power—white, supreme, and sattvic—has been declared, rooted in Brahma. The same power, red in passion, is called Vaishnavi; and in its black, tamasic aspect, it is known as Raudri, the goddess.