As the fierce battle raged, the Goddess’s sword flashed with dazzling brilliance, and her spear’s tip shone with a radiance so intense that the asuras, gazing upon her face—fit to be adorned with the crescent moon—could not withstand her splendor. Their eyes failed them, and their forms dissolved before her power. O Goddess, your very nature is to subdue the wicked. Your form is wondrous—beyond all thought and unequalled by any other. Your valor, O Slayer of the enemies of the gods, stands unmatched. Yet, even towards your foes, your compassion shines forth, unmistakably present. How could your valor ever be measured? Where else in the worlds could one find a form that dispels the fear of enemies as yours does? Only in you, O Bestower of Boons, do both fierce strength in battle and deep compassion reside together, visible throughout all three worlds. Through your destruction of enemies in battle, you have protected this entire threefold world. The hosts of foes have been sent to the heavens, and the fear born from the arrogance of the asura enemies has been dispelled. To you, we bow in reverence. Protect us, O Goddess, with your spear; protect us, O Ambika, with your sword. Guard us with the ringing of your bell, and with the twang of your bowstring. Guard us in the east and in the west, O Chandika; protect us in the south. By the whirling of your spear, O Sovereign, protect us likewise in the north. With your gentle forms that move throughout the three worlds, and with your exceedingly terrifying forms as well, protect us and the earth. O Mother, with those weapons—sword, spear, mace, and others—held in your tender hands, protect us on all sides. Thus the gods praised her, showering her with divine flowers from Nandana, and worshipped her with fragrant ointments, offered by the Sustainer of the worlds. All the immortals, filled with devotion, perfumed the air with divine incense. She, gracious-faced, addressed the gods who had bowed before her. “Let all the gods declare whatever boon they desire from me; I am greatly pleased and well-honored by these hymns, and will grant it,” she said. The dwellers of heaven replied, “We do not know if there is anything else to be done, or anything difficult to accomplish. By you, O Goddess, everything has been accomplished; nothing remains undone, for our enemy, Mahishasura, has been slain. And if you would grant us a boon, O Great Goddess, let it be that whenever we remember you, you will protect us from the greatest dangers. And whoever among mortals praises you with these hymns, O stainless-faced one, may you, O Mother, always be pleased to grant him increase in wealth, prosperity, riches, wives, and all kinds of blessings.” Thus, having been propitiated by the gods for the sake of the world and themselves, Bhadrakali replied, “So be it,” and vanished. O King, thus has it been told how the Goddess arose long ago from the bodies of the gods, desiring the welfare of the three worlds. And again, how she emerged from the body of Gauri for the destruction of wicked demons, and of Shumbha and Nishumbha. For the protection of the worlds and as a benefactor of the gods, listen now as I recount to you, just as it happened. Long ago, by the power of my strength, the two demons Shumbha and Nishumbha seized the three worlds and took away the shares of sacrifices from Indra, lord of Shachi. They themselves assumed the positions of the sun, the moon, Kubera, Yama, and Varuna, just as those deities had held. They took over the roles of the wind and the ocean, as well as the duties of fire; and all other positions, they themselves occupied. The gods were cast out, deprived of their kingdoms, and defeated. All the gods, stripped of their authority by these two great demons, remembered that unconquered Goddess. She had granted them a boon: “Whenever you remember me in times of distress, I will instantly destroy your utmost calamities.” Having resolved to seek her aid, the gods went to Himavat, the lord of mountains. There, they praised the Goddess, the power of Vishnu: “Salutations to the Goddess, to the Great Goddess, to Shiva’s consort—unceasing salutations; salutations to Prakriti, to the auspicious one; we, ever devoted, bow to her. Salutations to the fierce one, to the eternal one, to the fair one, to the supporter—again and again salutations; salutations to the foundation of the world, to the Goddess, to the doer—again and again salutations. Salutations always to her who is radiant, who has the form of the moon, who is blissful; to the auspicious one, to the increaser of those who bow, to the accomplisher—we offer repeated salutations. Salutations to Nairriti, to the fortune of the lords of earth, to Sharvani; to Durga, who carries across difficulties, to the essence, to the doer of all; to Khyati, likewise to Krishna, to Dhumra—unceasing salutations. To her who is exceedingly gentle and exceedingly fierce, to her who is bowed to, salutations again and again; to the mind, to the foundation of the world, to the Goddess, to the doer—salutations again and again. To that Goddess who abides in all beings as the power of Vishnu, we bow to her, we bow to her, we bow to her again and again. To that Goddess who is called consciousness in all beings, we bow to her, we bow to her, we bow to her again and again. To that Goddess who dwells in all beings in the form of intelligence, we bow to her, we bow to her, we bow to her again and again. To that Goddess who abides in all beings in the form of sleep, we bow to her, we bow to her, we bow to her again and again. To that Goddess who abides in all beings in the form of hunger, we bow to her, we bow to her, we bow to her again and again. To that Goddess who abides in all beings in the form of shadow, we bow to her, we bow to her, we bow to her again and again. To that Goddess who abides in all beings in the form of power, salutations to her, salutations to her, salutations to her, again and again. To that Goddess who abides in all beings in the form of thirst, salutations to her, salutations to her, salutations to her, again and again. To that Goddess who abides in all beings in the form of forbearance, salutations to her, salutations to her, salutations to her, again and again. To that Goddess who abides in all beings in the form of birth, salutations to her, salutations to her, salutations to her, again and again.” Thus, the gods remembered and praised the Goddess, seeking her protection and blessings for themselves and for all the worlds.