With a sudden leap, the mighty demon seized the Goddess and soared high into the sky. Yet even there, suspended in the air and unsupported, Caṇḍikā continued to battle him fiercely. In that vast expanse above, the asura and the radiant Goddess engaged in single combat, a wondrous spectacle that astonished all the accomplished sages and ascetics who beheld it. For a long time, they wrestled hand-to-hand, neither yielding. At last, the asura lifted Ambikā, spun her around with all his might, and hurled her down toward the earth. As she struck the ground, he too descended, raising his fist with violent force and rushing at Caṇḍikā, his wicked mind intent on her destruction. But as he charged, the Goddess met him head-on. With divine power, she struck the lord of all the demon hosts, piercing his chest with her spear and casting him down upon the earth. Wounded by the sharp point of her weapon, the great demon fell lifeless, his body shaking the entire world—its oceans, islands, and mountains trembling at his fall. With the slaying of that wicked one, all of creation was suffused with tranquility and contentment. The sky cleared, becoming pure and bright. The ominous clouds and meteors that had threatened before now vanished, and the rivers, freed from disturbance, resumed their natural courses. At this, all the hosts of the gods rejoiced. Their hearts overflowed with joy as they celebrated the demon’s defeat. The Gandharvas sang melodious songs, others played instruments, and groups of Apsaras danced in delight. Auspicious winds began to blow, and the sun shone forth with renewed brilliance. When the great lord of the demons had been slain by the Goddess, the gods—led by Agni and Indra—approached Kātyāyanī. Their faces bloomed with happiness, for their deepest wishes had been fulfilled. With reverence, they offered praise to her: “O Goddess, you who remove the distress of those who seek your refuge, be gracious! Be gracious, Mother of the entire world! Be gracious, Sovereign of the universe—protect this world, for you are the Lady of all that moves and does not move. You alone are the very foundation of the world, abiding as the earth itself. By your presence as the essence of water, this whole world is nourished, O you of unfathomable power. You are the Vaiṣṇavī power, infinite in strength, the supreme Māyā, the very seed of the universe. All this is deluded by you, O Goddess; yet when you are pleased, you become the cause of liberation on earth. All forms of knowledge are but your aspects, O Goddess; all women in the worlds are manifestations of you. By you alone is this universe filled, O Mother—what praise could suffice for you? Any praise is but an indirect description. O Goddess, you grant heaven and liberation to all beings; when you are praised, what supreme words could possibly be worthy? O Goddess Nārāyaṇī, abiding in the hearts of all as intelligence, granting heaven and liberation—salutations to you. O Nārāyaṇī, who takes the form of time and its divisions, who brings about transformation, who is the power at the universe’s end—salutations to you. O Nārāyaṇī, auspicious among all that is auspicious, O Śivā, accomplisher of all aims, refuge of the distressed, three-eyed one, fair Gaurī—salutations to you. O Nārāyaṇī, eternal foundation of the powers of creation, preservation, and destruction, support and substance of all qualities—salutations to you. O Goddess Nārāyaṇī, protector of the distressed and afflicted who seek your refuge, remover of all suffering—salutations to you. O Goddess Nārāyaṇī, who dwells in an aerial chariot yoked with swans, who assumes the form of Brahmāṇī, essence of pure waters—salutations to you. O bearer of the trident, crescent moon, and great serpent, riding the mighty bull, in Māheśvarī’s form—O Nārāyaṇī, I bow to you. Surrounded by peacock and cock, wielder of the great spear, resplendent as Kaumārī—O Nārāyaṇī, I bow to you. Holding conch, discus, mace, and the bow Śārṅga, supreme weapons in hand—be gracious in your Vaiṣṇavī form, O Nārāyaṇī, I bow to you. Holding the fierce great discus, lifting up the earth with your tusks in the form of Varāha, O auspicious one—O Nārāyaṇī, I bow to you. In the fierce form of Narasiṃha, intent on destroying the demons, protector of the three worlds—O Nārāyaṇī, I bow to you. Crowned, bearing the great thunderbolt, shining with a thousand radiant eyes, slayer of Vṛtra in the form of Indrāṇī—O Nārāyaṇī, I bow to you. O Nārāyaṇī, in the form of Shivaduti, who destroyed the might of the demons, fierce and terrifying in your roar—I bow to you. O Nārāyaṇī, as Chamunda, with dreadful face, protruding fangs, adorned with a garland of heads, crusher of skulls—I bow to you. O Nārāyaṇī, as Lakshmi, Lajja, Mahavidya, Shraddha, Pushti, Swadha, Dhruva, great night, great illusion—I bow to you. O Nārāyaṇī, as Medha, Sarasvati, Vara, Bhuti, Babhravi, Tamasi, Niyate—be gracious, O ruler. O Nārāyaṇī, present at the ends of all hands and feet, in every eye, head, mouth, ear, and nose—I bow to you. O Devi Durga, essence of all forms, ruler of all, endowed with all powers—protect us from all fears, O Devi. May your gentle face, adorned with three eyes, protect us from all fears; O Kātyāyanī, salutations to you. May your trident, fierce and blazing, destroyer of all demons, protect us from fear; O Bhadrakālī, salutations to you. May your bell, whose sound fills the worlds and shatters the strength of demons, protect us from sin, as a mother protects her children. May your shining sword, smeared with the blood and fat of demons, bring us auspiciousness; O Caṇḍikā, we bow to you. When pleased, you remove all diseases; when angered, you destroy all that is desired. Those who take refuge in you never fall into misfortune; indeed, those who seek your protection become a refuge for others. This destruction of the great demons, the enemies of righteousness, which you have accomplished today by assuming many forms and manifestations—who else but you, O Ambikā, could ever do this?” Thus did the gods and all beings praise and honor the Goddess, whose power and compassion had restored harmony to the world.