The Goddess, radiant and gracious, stood before the assembled gods, her presence a beacon of divine power and compassion. Deeply pleased and honored by their hymns, she addressed them with warmth: “Let all the gods declare whatever boon they desire from me. I am greatly pleased—ask, and I will grant your wish.” The gods, hearing her generous offer, looked among themselves, uncertain. They replied with humility, “O Goddess, we do not know if anything remains to be done, or if there is any task too difficult to accomplish. By your grace, all has already been achieved. Our greatest enemy, Mahishasura, has been slain by you—nothing remains undone.” Yet, wishing to honor her promise, the gods made a request. “If you would grant us a boon, O Great Goddess, let it be this: whenever we remember you, may you protect us from the gravest dangers. And for any mortal who praises you with these hymns, O stainless-faced Mother, may you be pleased to grant them increase in wealth, prosperity, riches, wives, and all manner of blessings.” Thus entreated by the gods for the sake of both the world and themselves, the compassionate Bhadrakali replied, “So be it.” With that, she vanished from their sight. 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 the wicked demons Shumbha and Nishumbha. For the protection of the worlds and as a benefactor of the gods, listen now as I recount to you exactly as it happened. Long ago, by the might of their strength, the two demons Shumbha and Nishumbha seized the three worlds and took for themselves the shares of sacrifices that belonged to Indra, the lord of Shachi. They usurped the positions of the sun, the moon, Kubera, Yama, and Varuna, just as those deities had held them. They assumed the roles of the wind and the ocean, as well as the duties of fire; all other positions, they themselves occupied. The gods were cast out, deprived of their kingdoms and defeated. Stripped of their authority by those two great demons, the gods remembered that unconquered Goddess. They recalled the boon she had granted: “Whenever you remember me in times of distress, I will instantly destroy your utmost calamities.” Resolving to seek her aid, the gods went to Himavat, the lord of mountains. There, they praised the Goddess, the very power of Vishnu, with deep devotion: “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, 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. To that Goddess who abides in all beings in the form of modesty, salutations to her, salutations to her, salutations to her, again and again. To that Goddess who abides in all beings in the form of peace, salutations to her, salutations to her, salutations to her, again and again. To that Goddess who abides in all beings in the form of faith, salutations to her, salutations to her, salutations to her, again and again. To that Goddess who abides in all beings in the form of beauty, salutations to her, salutations to her, salutations to her, again and again. To that Goddess who abides in all beings in the form of prosperity, salutations to her, salutations to her, salutations to her, again and again. To that Goddess who abides in all beings in the form of fortitude, salutations to her, salutations to her, salutations to her, again and again. To that Goddess who abides in all beings in the form of sustenance, salutations to her, salutations to her, salutations to her, again and again. To that Goddess who abides in all beings in the form of memory, salutations to her, salutations to her, salutations to her, again and again. To the Goddess who abides in all beings in the form of compassion, salutations to her, salutations to her, salutations to her, again and again. To the Goddess who abides in all beings in the form of righteousness, salutations to her, salutations to her, salutations to her, again and again.” Thus did the gods, with utmost reverence and devotion, remember and praise the Divine Mother, calling upon her to restore balance and righteousness to the worlds.