O Narayani, the gods and sages sang their praises to the Divine Mother with deep reverence. They bowed before her, calling her by many sacred names: Lakshmi, the bringer of prosperity; Lajja, the embodiment of modesty; Mahavidya, the supreme wisdom; Shraddha, the very essence of faith; Pushti, the giver of strength; Swadha, the sustainer of ancestral rites; and Dhruva, the steadfast one. They hailed her as the great night of dissolution and the supreme illusion that veils the world. Again, they bowed to her as Medha, the power of intellect; Sarasvati, the goddess of learning; Vara, the bestower of boons; Bhuti, the source of all wealth; Babhravi, the dark and mysterious one; Tamasi, the night herself; and Niyate, the force of destiny. With folded hands, they implored her, the sovereign ruler of all, to be gracious. They praised her as the one who dwells at the ends of all hands and feet, in every eye, head, and mouth, and in every ear and nose—pervading all beings, the very life of the universe. “O Devi Durga,” they prayed, “you are the essence of all forms, the ruler of all, endowed with infinite power. Protect us from every fear, O Mother.” They gazed upon her gentle face, adorned with three radiant eyes, and prayed, “May this auspicious vision shield us from all terrors. O Kātyāyanī, we bow to you in devotion.” They spoke of her fearsome trident, blazing with flames, which destroys all demons. “O Bhadrakālī, may your mighty weapon protect us from fear. We offer you our salutations.” They remembered her bell, whose thunderous sound fills the world and shatters the strength of evil. “O Goddess, let your bell protect us from sin, just as a mother protects her children.” They honored her shining sword, smeared with the blood and fat of slain demons. “O Caṇḍikā, may your sword bring us auspiciousness. To you, we bow.” They recognized her dual nature: “When pleased, you remove all diseases; when angered, you destroy all that is desired. But those who seek refuge in you never fall into misfortune; indeed, they become a refuge for others.” They marveled at her power: “This destruction of the great demons, the enemies of righteousness, which you have accomplished today by assuming many forms—who but you, O Ambikā, could achieve this?” They acknowledged her role in creation and delusion: “In knowledge, in the scriptures, in the lamps of discernment, in the highest teachings—who but you, O Mother, casts the world into the vast darkness of delusion and the pit of possessiveness?” They recalled her protection: “Wherever there are demons, venomous serpents, enemies, robbers, raging fires, or the dangers of the ocean—there you stand, safeguarding the world.” “O Lady of the Universe,” they proclaimed, “you protect and sustain all. Those who bow to you with devotion become a refuge for others, and even the Lord of the universe worships you.” With devotion, they prayed, “O Goddess, be gracious! Protect us always, as you have just done by destroying the demons. Quickly bring to rest the sins of all beings, and remove the great calamities born of ripened misfortunes.” They pleaded, “Be gracious to all who bow before you, O remover of the world’s distress. Praised by the dwellers of the three worlds, grant boons to all beings.” Moved by their devotion, the Goddess spoke: “I am the granter of boons, O assembly of gods. Whatever you desire in your hearts, ask for it—I shall grant it for the well-being of the worlds.” The gods replied, “O Sovereign of all, continue to remove afflictions and destroy our enemies.” The Goddess then revealed the future: “When the time of Vaivasvata Manu arrives, in the twenty-eighth yuga, two mighty asuras, Shumbha and Nishumbha, will arise. Born in the house of Nanda the cowherd, emerging from the womb of Yashoda, I will dwell on Mount Vindhya and destroy these two demons. “Again, I will descend in a fierce form to slay the Vaipracitta danavas. Devouring these fierce demons, my teeth will become red like pomegranate blossoms. Then, gods and humans will praise me as Raktadantika. “In a time of drought lasting a hundred years, when there is no water, praised by the sages, I shall be born without a womb. With a hundred eyes, I shall look upon the sages, and people will call me Shatakshi, the Hundred-Eyed. “Then, I shall sustain the world with vegetables produced from my own body, providing life-sustaining food during the drought. Thus, I shall become renowned as Shakambhari. There, I shall slay the demon Durgama, and my name will become famous as Durga Devi. “Again, assuming a terrifying form on the Himalaya, I will devour the rakshasas to protect the virtuous. The sages will praise me, and my name will be known as Bhima Devi. “When the demon Aruna brings great distress to the three worlds, I will take the form of a countless swarm of bees. For the welfare of all, I will destroy him, and all will praise me as Bhramari. “Thus, whenever affliction arises from demons, I will descend and destroy the enemies, bringing relief to the worlds.” The Goddess then declared, “Whoever, with a focused mind, praises me daily with these hymns, I will surely remove all troubles without doubt. Those who recount the destruction of Madhu and Kaitabha, the slaying of Mahishasura, and likewise the killing of Shumbha and Nishumbha—and those who, with single-minded devotion, praise my supreme glory on the eighth, fourteenth, or ninth day—will be free from evil deeds and misfortune. They will not suffer poverty or separation from what they desire. “There will be no fear for them from enemies, thieves, or rulers, nor any danger from weapons, fire, or floods. Therefore, my glory should be recited by my devotees and always heard with devotion, for it is the highest and greatest means of well-being. “My glory dispels all obstacles, even those arising from great epidemics and the threefold calamities. Where this is recited daily in my temple, I will never abandon that place; my presence will be established there. “At the offering of oblations, during worship, at fire rituals, and at great festivals, my entire story should be recited and heard.” Thus, the Goddess assured her devotees of her unfailing protection and blessings, promising to descend whenever evil threatens the world, and to dwell wherever her glory is remembered with devotion.