Varaha Purana

भीषयित्वाहमेनं तु तापसं त्वाश्रमे स्वयम् । तिष्ठामि क्रीडती सार्धं सखीभिः परमार्चिता ।। ९४.

"I will frighten this ascetic myself here in his hermitage, and remain here playing with my companions, greatly honored."

एवं संचिन्त्य सा देवी महिषी संबभूव ह । सखीभिः सह विश्वेशि तीक्ष्णश्रृङ्गाग्रधारिणी ।। ९४.

Thinking thus, that goddess, O mistress of the universe, assumed the form of a buffalo, bearing sharp-tipped horns, together with her companions.

तमृषिं भीषितुं ताभिः सह गत्वा वरानना । असौ बिभीषितस्ताभिस्तां ज्ञात्वा ज्ञानचक्षुषा । आसुरीं क्रोधसंपन्नः शशाप शुभलोचनाम् ।। ९४.

Accompanied by them, the beautiful-faced one went to frighten the sage; but perceiving her true nature with his eye of knowledge, he, filled with anger, cursed the auspicious-eyed demon maiden.

यस्माद् भीषयसे मां त्वं महिषीरूपधारिणी । अतो भव महिष्येव पापकर्मे शतं समाः ।। ९४.

"Because you frighten me, taking the form of a buffalo, therefore, O doer of evil, become a buffalo for a hundred years."

एवमुक्ता ततः सा तु सखीभिः सह वेपती । पादयोर्न्यपतत् तस्य शापान्तं कुरु जल्पती ।। ९४.

Thus addressed, she trembled along with her companions, and fell at his feet, murmuring, "End the curse."

तस्यास्तद् वचनं श्रुत्वा स मुनिः करुणान्वितः । शापान्तमकरोत् तस्या वाक्यं चेदमुवाच ह ।। ९४.

Hearing her words, the sage, filled with compassion, granted her release from the curse and spoke these words.

अनेनैव स्वरूपेण पुत्रमेकं प्रसूय वै । शापान्तो भविता भद्रे मद्वाक्यं न मृषा भवेत् ।। ९४.

"By giving birth to a son in this very form, O blessed one, the curse will end; my words shall not be in vain."

एवमुक्ता गता सा तु नर्मदातीरमुत्तमम् । यत्र तेपे तपो घोरं सिन्धुद्वीपो महातपाः ।। ९४.

Thus addressed, she went to the excellent bank of the Narmadā, where Sindhudvīpa, the great ascetic, was performing severe penance.

तत्र चेन्दुमती नाम दैत्यकन्याऽतिरूपिणी । सा दृष्टा तेन मुनिना विवस्त्रा मज्जती जले ।। ९४.

There, a demon maiden named Endumatī, of surpassing beauty, was seen by that sage, unclothed, plunging into the water.

चस्कन्द स मुनिः शुक्रं शिलाद्रोण्यां महातपाः । तच्च माहिष्मती दृष्ट्वा दिव्यगन्धि सुगन्धि च । ततः सखीरुवाचेदं पिबामीदं जलं शुभम् ।। ९४.

The great ascetic's semen fell on a rocky slope; Māhiṣmatī, seeing it, fragrant with a divine scent, said to her companion, "I will drink this pure water."

एवमुक्त्वा तु सा पीत्वा तच्छुक्रं मुनिसंभवम् । प्राप्ता गर्भं मुनेर्बीजात् सुषाव च तदा सतो ।। ९४.

Having said this, she drank the sage's semen mixed with water, and thus, from the sage's seed, she conceived and gave birth at that time.

तस्याः पुत्रोऽभवद् धीमान् महाबलपराक्रमः । महिषेति स्मृतो नाम्ना ब्रह्मवंशविवर्धनः । स त्वां वरयते देवि देवसैन्यविमर्दनः ।। ९४.

Her son was wise, of great strength and valor; he was known by the name Mahisha, the enhancer of the Brahma lineage. He now seeks you, O goddess, the one who crushes the armies of the gods.

स सुरानपि जित्वाऽऽजौ त्रैलोक्यं च तवानघे । दास्यते देवि सुप्रोतस्तव सर्वं महासुरः । तस्यात्मोपप्रदानेन कुरु देवि महत् कृतम् ।। ९४.

Having conquered even the gods in battle and the three worlds, O faultless one, that great asura will give you everything, O goddess, well-protected. By offering himself, O goddess, accomplish a great deed.

एवमुक्ता तदा देवी तेन दूतेन शोभना । जहास परमा देवी वाक्यं नोवाच किञ्चन ।। ९४.

Thus addressed by that messenger, the radiant goddess laughed; the supreme goddess spoke not a single word.

तस्या हसन्त्या दूतोऽसौ त्रैलोक्यं सचराचरम् । ददर्श कुक्षौ संभ्रान्तस्तत्क्षणात् समपद्यत ।। ९४.

As she laughed, the messenger, bewildered, saw the entire universe of moving and unmoving beings within her belly, and at that moment he was overcome.

ततो देव्याः प्रतीहारी जया नामातितेजना । देव्या हृदि स्थितं वाक्यमुवाच तनुमध्यमा ।। ९४.

Then the goddess’s attendant, named Jaya, exceedingly powerful, spoke the words held in the goddess’s heart, she of slender waist.

जया उवाच । कन्यार्थी वदते यद्धि तत्त्वया समुदीरितम् । यदि नाम व्रतं चास्याः कौमारं सार्वकालिकम् । अपि चान्याः कुमार्योऽत्र सन्ति देव्याः पदानुगाः ।। ९४.

Jaya said: What you have spoken regarding seeking the maiden has been expressed by you. If indeed her vow of maidenhood is eternal, there are other maidens here who follow the goddess.

तासामेकाऽपि नो लभ्या किमु देवी स्वयं शुभा । याहि दूत त्वरन् मा ते किञ्चिदन्यद् भविष्यति ।। ९४.

Not even one of them is attainable, let alone the auspicious goddess herself. Go, messenger, hasten; nothing else will come of this for you.

एवमुक्तो गतो दूतस्तावद् व्योम्नि महामुनिः । आयातो नारदस्तूर्णं नृत्यन्नुच्चैर्महातपाः ।। ९४.

Thus addressed, the messenger departed, and at that moment the great sage Narada arrived swiftly in the sky, dancing loudly, possessed of great austerity.

दिष्ट्या दिष्ट्येति वदतस्तां देवीं शुभलोचनाम् । उपविष्टो जगादाथ आसने परमेऽर्चितः ।। ९४.

Saying, 'By fortune, by fortune,' he addressed the goddess of beautiful eyes, and, seated and highly honored, he then spoke.

प्रणम्य देवीं सर्वेशीमुवाच च महातपाः । देवि देवैरहं प्रीतैः प्रेषितोऽस्मि तवान्तिकम् ।। ९४.

Having bowed to the goddess, the ruler of all, the great ascetic said: O goddess, sent by the pleased gods, I have come to you.

विजिता देवि दैत्येन महिषाख्येन निर्जराः । त्वां गृहीतुं प्रयत्नं स कृतवान् देवि दैत्यराट् ।। ९४.

O goddess, the immortals have been conquered by the demon named Mahisha; that king of demons has made efforts to seize you, O goddess.

एवमुक्तोऽस्मि देवैस्त्वां बोधयामि वरानने । स्थिरीभूता महादेवि तं दैत्यं प्रतिघातय ।। ९४.

Thus addressed by the gods, I inform you, O beautiful-faced one. O great goddess, now firmly oppose that demon.

उक्त्वैवान्तर्हितः सद्यो नारदः स्वेच्छया ययौ । देवी च कन्यास्ताः सर्वाः सन्नह्यन्तामुवाच ह ।। ९४.

Having spoken thus, Narada vanished at once by his own will, and the goddess commanded all the maidens to arm themselves.

ततः कन्या महाभागाः सर्वास्ता देविशासनात् । बभूवुर्घोररूपिण्यः खङ्गचर्मधनुर्धराः । संग्रामहेतोः संतस्थुर्दैत्यविध्वंसनाय ताः ।। ९४.

Then all those highly fortunate maidens, by the goddess’s command, assumed terrifying forms, armed with swords, shields, and bows; they stood ready for battle, to destroy the demons.

तावद् दैत्यबलं सर्वं मुक्त्वा देवचमूं द्रुतम् । आययौ यत्र तद् देव्याः संनद्धं स्त्रीबलं महत् ।। ९४.

Meanwhile, all the demon forces, abandoning the army of the gods, quickly came to where the goddess’s great army of women was assembled.

ततस्ता युयुधुः कन्या दानवैः सह दर्पिताः । क्षणेन तद् बलं ताभिश्चतुरङ्गं निपातितम् ।। ९४.

Then those proud maidens fought with the demons; in a moment, they struck down that fourfold army.

शिरांसि तत्र केषांचिच्छिन्नानि पतितानि च । अपरेषां विदार्योरः क्रव्यादाः पान्ति शोणितम् ।। ९४.

There, some heads were cut off and fell; others had their chests torn open, and flesh-eating beings drank their blood.

अन्ये कबन्धभूतास्तु ननृतुर्दैत्यनायकाः । एवं क्षणेन ते सर्वे विध्वस्ताः पापचेतसः । अपरे विद्रुताः सर्वे यत्रासौ महिषासुरः ।। ९४.

Other demon leaders, turned into headless bodies, danced; thus, in a moment, all those evil-minded ones were destroyed. The rest fled to where Mahishasura was.