The lion of the Goddess let out a tremendous, earth-shaking roar, O King, and Ambika herself magnified this tumult with the resonant ringing of her bell. The very quarters of the sky reverberated with the sounds of bowstrings being drawn, the lion’s thunderous roar, and the pealing of bells. Kali, her mouth wide open, overwhelmed the enemy with her own wild shouts and cries. Roused by this uproar, the armies of the demons, burning with fury, surrounded the Goddess, her lion, and Kali from all sides. At that very moment, for the destruction of the enemies of the gods and to secure the welfare of the immortals, the divine powers—endowed with immense strength—arose. From the bodies of Brahma, Shiva, Guha, Vishnu, and Indra, their energies emerged, each taking a form identical to their own and approached Chandika. Each power appeared with the same form, ornaments, and vehicle as their source deity, prepared for battle with the demons. At the forefront, riding an aerial chariot drawn by swans, holding a rosary and water-pot, came Brahma’s power, Brahmani. Maheshvari arrived next, mounted on a bull, bearing a trident, granting boons, adorned with great serpents and the crescent moon. Kaumari, the power of Guha, advanced on a magnificent peacock, weapons in hand, ready for war. Vishnu’s power, Vaishnavi, came upon Garuda, wielding conch, discus, mace, bow, and sword. The power of Hari appeared in the form of Varahi, assuming the body of a boar. Narasimhi, resembling Narasimha himself, arrived, her wild mane scattering the stars. Indrani, holding the thunderbolt, stood upon the king of elephants, her thousand eyes shining like Indra’s own. Surrounded by these divine powers, the Lord addressed Chandika: “Let the asuras be swiftly slain for my satisfaction.” At that moment, from the body of the God, a terrifying and fierce power of Chandika emerged, her voice resounding like a hundred thunderbolts. This unconquered goddess, her hair matted, spoke to the Lord: “O messenger, go to Shumbha and Nishumbha.” She commanded: “Tell Shumbha and Nishumbha, those excessively proud demons, and all the other assembled asuras: ‘Let Indra regain the three worlds, let the gods receive their offerings. Go to the netherworld if you wish to live. But if, out of arrogance, you still desire battle, then come—my attendants shall be satisfied with your flesh. Because Shiva himself has been sent as my messenger, I am known in this world as Shivaduti, the Messenger of Shiva.’” Hearing the words of the Goddess, as declared by Sharva, the great asuras, filled with rage, advanced to where Katyayani stood. First among them, driven by violent anger, they showered the Goddess with arrows, spears, and javelins. Yet she, undaunted, cut down all the missiles with ease, her own arrows flying swift and true from her drawn bow. In front of her, Kali moved fiercely among the enemies, some she tore apart with her spear, others she struck down with her skull-topped staff. Brahmani, sprinkling water from her pot, sapped the strength and vigor of the demons wherever she pursued them. Maheshvari struck the foes with her trident, Vaishnavi with her discus, while Kaumari, filled with intense fury, pierced them with her spear. Aindri’s thunderbolt felled hundreds of demons and danavas, their bodies torn and blood streaming to the earth. Others were shattered by the snout of Varahi, the boar-form, or wounded on the chest by her sharp fangs, while some were torn apart by her discus. Narasimhi, roaring so that all directions echoed, tore apart great demons with her claws and devoured them on the field. The demons, terrified by Chandika’s loud laughter and the threats of Shivaduti, fell to the ground, and Shivaduti devoured those who had fallen. Seeing the host of enraged Mothers crushing the great demons, the armies of the enemies of the gods perished in many ways. When he saw his forces fleeing, afflicted by the onslaught of the Mothers, the great demon Raktabija, enraged, advanced to the battle. Whenever a drop of blood fell from his body to the earth, from that spot another great demon arose, equal in size and might. Raktabija, wielding a mace, fought fiercely with Indrani’s spear, and Indrani struck him with her thunderbolt. Each time he was struck, blood poured from his wounds, and from every drop, warriors arose, each bearing his form and valor. As many drops of blood as fell, so many demons were born, possessing his strength, power, and courage. These new-born warriors joined the battle with the Mothers, making the conflict even more terrible, as fierce weapons clashed and blood flowed. Again and again, whenever his head was wounded by the thunderbolt, blood gushed forth, and from it thousands of demons arose. In battle, Vaishnavi struck him with her discus, and Aindri battered the lord of demons with her mace. Yet from the streams of blood flowing from Raktabija’s wounds, countless great demons arose, filling the world, each one equal to him.