Varaha Purana

सर्वदेवरहस्यानां सर्वसत्त्ववतां शुभे । त्वमेव शरणं देवि विद्येऽविद्ये श्रियेऽम्बिके । विरूपाक्षि तथा क्षान्ति क्षोभितान्तर्जलेऽविले ।। ९४.

O auspicious one, knower of all divine secrets, incarnate among all beings; you alone are our refuge, O Goddess, knowledge and ignorance, fortune, O Ambikā; O distorted-eyed one, patience, disturbed in the waters within, unmanifest.

नमोऽस्तु ते महादेवि नमोऽस्तु परमेश्वरि । नमस्ते सर्वदेवानां भावनित्येऽक्षयेऽव्यये ।। ९४.

Salutations to you, O great Goddess; salutations to you, supreme ruler; salutations to you, eternal, imperishable, unchanging among all the gods.

शरणं त्वां प्रपद्यन्ते ये देवि परमेश्वरि । न तेषां जायते किञ्चिदशुभं रणसङ्कटे ।। ९४.

Those who seek refuge in you, O Goddess, supreme ruler, nothing inauspicious befalls them in the dangers of battle.

यश्च व्याघ्रभये घोरे चौरराजभये तथा । स्तबवमेनं सदा देवि पठिष्यति यतात्मवान् ।। ९४.

Whoever, in the terrible fear of tigers or in the fear of bandit kings, always recites this hymn, O Goddess, with self-control—

निगडस्थोऽपि यो देवि त्वां स्मरिष्यति मानवः । सोऽपि बन्धैर्विमुक्तस्ते सुसुखं वसते सुखी ।। ९४.

Even a person bound in chains, O Goddess, who remembers you, is freed from bondage and lives happily, content.

श्रीवराह उवाच । एवं स्तुता तदा देवी देवैः प्रणतिपूर्वकम् । उवाच देवान् सुश्रोणी वृणुध्वं वरमुत्तमम् ।। ९४.

Śrī Varāha said: Thus praised at that time by the gods with reverence, the beautiful-hipped Goddess spoke to the gods: 'Choose the highest boon.'

देवा ऊचुः । देवि स्तोत्रमिदं ये हि पठिष्यन्ति तवानघे । सर्वकामसमापन्नान् कुरु देवि स नो वरः ।। ९४.

The gods said: O sinless Goddess, whoever recites this hymn of yours, grant us this boon—that you fulfill all their desires.

एवमस्त्विति तान् देवानुक्त्वा देवी पराऽपरा । विससर्ज ततो देवान् स्वयं तत्रैव संस्थिता ।। ९४.

Saying 'So be it,' the supreme Goddess addressed the gods, then dismissed them, and herself remained there.

एतद् द्वितीयं यो जन्म वेद देव्या धराधरे । स वीतशोको विरजाः पदं गच्छत्यनामयम् ।। ९४.

Whoever knows this second birth of the Goddess on earth becomes free from sorrow, pure, and attains the state without affliction.

श्रीवराह उवाच । या सा नीलगिरिं याता तपसे धृतमानसा । रौद्री तमोद्भवा शक्तिस्तस्याः श्रृणु धरे व्रतम् ।। ९५.

Śrī Varāha said: She who went to Nīlagiri, steadfast in asceticism, fierce, born of darkness—hear, O Earth, the vow of her power.

तपः कृत्वा चिरं कालं पालयाम्यखिलं जगत् । एवमुद्दिश्य पञ्चाग्निं साधयामास भामिनी ।। ९५.

Having performed austerities for a long time, she sustains the entire world; thus, the radiant one accomplished the five-fire practice.

तस्याः कालान्तरे देव्यास्तपन्त्यास्तप उत्तमम् । रुरुर्नाम महातेजा ब्रह्मदत्तवरोऽसुरः ।। ९५.

At another time, while the Goddess was performing supreme austerity, there was an asura named Ruru, of great brilliance, granted a boon by Brahmā.

समुद्रमध्ये रत्नाढ्यं पुरमस्ति महावनम् । तत्र राजा स दैत्येन्द्रः सर्वदेवभयंकरः ।। ९५.

In the midst of the ocean is a city rich in jewels, with a great forest; there, that demon king, terror of all the gods, ruled.

अनेकशतसाहस्त्रकोटिकोटिशतोत्तरैः । असुरैरन्वितः श्रीमान् द्वितीयो नमुचिर्यथा ।। ९५.

Accompanied by countless hundreds of thousands, tens of millions, and hundreds of millions of asuras, he was glorious, like a second Namuci.

कालेन महता चासौ लोकपालपुराण्यथ । जिगीषुः सैन्यसंवीतो देवैर्भयमरोचयत् ।। ९५.

In due course, surrounded by a great army, he desired to conquer the ancient cities of the guardians of the worlds, and caused fear among the gods.

उत्तिष्ठतस्तस्य महासुरस्य समुद्रतोयं ववृधेऽतिमात्रम् । अनेकनक्रग्रहमीनजुष्ट - माप्लावयत् पर्वतसानुदेशान् ।। ९५.

As that great asura rose up, the ocean's waters swelled immensely, flooding the slopes of the mountains, teeming with countless crocodiles, sharks, and fish.

अन्तः स्थितानेकसुरारिसंघं विचित्रचर्मायुधचित्रशोभम् । भीमं बलं बलिनं चारुयोधं विनिर्ययौ सिन्धुजलाद् विशालम् ।। ९५.

From within, a vast, formidable, and splendid army emerged from the ocean's waters—adorned with diverse armor and weapons, filled with many groups of enemies of the gods, mighty and skilled in battle.

तत्र द्विपा दैत्यवरैरुपेता समानघण्टासुसमूहयुक्ताः । विनिर्ययुः स्वाकृतिभीषणानि समन्तमुच्चैः खलु दर्शयन्तः ।। ९५.

There, islands filled with the foremost daityas, equipped with masses of bells and terrifying in their own forms, came forth on all sides, displaying themselves loudly.

अश्वास्तथा काञ्चनपीडनद्धा रोहीतमत्स्यैः समतां जलान्तः । व्यवस्थितास्ते सममेव तूर्णं विनिर्ययुः लक्षशः कोटिशश्च ।। ९५.

Horses, adorned with golden ornaments and resembling red fish in the water, stood ready and swiftly emerged in hundreds of thousands and millions.

रथा रविस्यन्दनतुल्यवेगाः सुचक्रदण्डाक्षत्रिवेणुयुक्ताः । सुशस्त्रयन्त्राः परिपीडिताङ्गा - श्चलत्पताकास्त्वरितं विशङ्काः ।। ९५.

Chariots, with speed like the sun's chariot, equipped with fine wheels, poles, and triple yokes, well-armed and crowded with warriors, their flags fluttering, moved quickly without hesitation.

तथैव योधाः स्थगितेतरेतरा - स्तितीर्षवः प्रवरास्तूर्णपाणयः । रणे रणे लब्धजयाः प्रहारिणो विरेजुरुच्चैरसुरानुगा भृशम् ।। ९५.

Likewise, the warriors, closely arrayed and eager to cross over, foremost and swift-handed, victorious in battle after battle, shone greatly as followers of the asuras.

देवेषु चैव भग्नेषु विनिर्गत्य जलात् ततः । चतुरङ्गबलोपेतः प्रायादिन्द्रपुरं प्रति ।। ९५.

And when the gods were defeated, that army, equipped with fourfold forces, emerged from the water and advanced towards the city of Indra.

युयोध च सूरैः सार्द्धं रुरुर्दैत्यपतिस्तथा । मुद्गरैर्मुशलैः शूलैः शरैर्दण्डायुधैस्तथा । जघ्नुर्दैत्याः सुरान् संख्ये सुराश्चैव तथाऽसुरान् ।। ९५.

The lord of the daityas, Ruru, fought together with his heroes, using maces, clubs, spears, arrows, and staff-weapons; the daityas struck the gods in battle, and the gods likewise struck the asuras.

एवं क्षणमथो युद्धं तदा देवाः सवासवाः । असुरैर्निर्जिताः सद्यो दुद्रुवुर्विमुखा भृशम् ।। ९५.

Thus, after a moment of battle, the gods along with Indra were suddenly defeated by the asuras and fled in great disarray.

देवेषु चैव भग्नेषु विद्रुतेषु विशेषतः । असुरः सर्वदेवानामन्वधावत वीर्यवान् ।। ९५.

When the gods were broken and especially scattered, the mighty asura pursued all the gods.

ततो देवगणाः सर्वे द्रवन्तो भयविह्वलाः । नीलं गिरिवरं जग्मुर्यत्र देवी व्यवस्थिता ।। ९५.

Then all the hosts of gods, fleeing and overwhelmed by fear, went to the great blue mountain where the goddess was present.

ौद्री तपोरता देवी तामसी शक्तिरुत्तमा । संहारकारिणी देवी कालरात्रीति तां विदुः ।। ९५.

That goddess, devoted to austerities, fierce, and of supreme power, the destroyer, is known as Kalaratri.

सा दृष्ट्वा तान् तदा देवान् भयत्रस्तान् विचेतसः । मा भैष्टेत्युच्चकैर्देवी तानुवाच सुरोत्तमान् ।। ९५.

Seeing those gods then, terrified and bewildered by fear, the goddess loudly spoke to those best of gods, 'Do not be afraid.'

देव्युवाच । किमियं व्याकुला देवा गतिर्व उपलक्ष्यते । कथयध्वं द्रुतं देवाः सर्वथा भयकारणम् ।। ९५.

The goddess said: 'Why are you so troubled, O gods? What danger is seen? Quickly tell me, O gods, the cause of your fear.'