The Divine Mother spoke, assuring all who listen: “Whether offerings and worship are made to me knowingly or unknowingly, I accept them with delight. Every fire oblation performed in my name brings me joy. Especially during autumn, at the time of the great annual festival, whoever listens with devotion to the account of my greatness—by my grace, that person is freed from all afflictions and blessed with wealth and abundance. There is no doubt in this. When one hears the stories of my origins and my valor in battle, they become fearless. Enemies are destroyed, auspiciousness arises, and the families of those who listen to my greatness rejoice. In all rites for peace, in times of troubling dreams, and when afflicted by the malice of planets, one should listen to my deeds. Such afflictions subside, planetary torments are calmed, and those who have seen bad dreams begin to see good ones. For children troubled by evil influences, my story brings peace. Where there is discord among people, harmony is restored. For those of wicked conduct, their strength is diminished; and by merely reciting these accounts, demons, spirits, and ghouls are destroyed. With offerings—be they animals, flowers, precious substances, incense, the finest perfumes and lamps, meals for Brahmins, or golden vessels—one should perform sprinkling rites day and night. And with whatever gifts and enjoyments can be offered each year, know that the satisfaction gained by hearing this noble tale even once surpasses all. Listening removes sins, grants health, and protects from harm—such is the power of hearing the story of my birth. When my deeds in battle are recounted—my destruction of wicked demons—fear of enemies does not arise. The hymns composed by you, by the Brahmarishis, and by Brahma himself, all grant auspicious paths. Whether in the forest or at its edge, surrounded by wildfire, encircled by robbers, seized by enemies, pursued by lions or tigers, threatened by wild elephants, condemned by an angry king, imprisoned, tossed by the wind on a vast ocean, or caught in the midst of a dreadful battle—whatever the calamity, if a person remembers my deeds, they are freed from distress. By my power, lions and other beasts, as well as enemies and robbers, flee from afar when my deeds are remembered. Having thus spoken, the Blessed Goddess Caṇḍikā, fierce in her valor, vanished before the very eyes of the gods. Freed from danger by her grace, all the gods, their enemies destroyed, resumed their rightful shares of the sacrifices as before. When the Goddess had slain Śumbha, the fierce enemy of the gods, and Niśumbha, the remaining demons fled to the underworld. Though she is eternal, the Blessed Goddess again and again takes form to protect the world. By her, this universe is deluded; she herself gives birth to the world. When propitiated, she bestows wisdom; when pleased, she grants prosperity. O lord of men, this entire universe is pervaded by her—by Mahākālī, the great doer. She alone becomes the great destroyer in time; she alone, though unborn, becomes creation; she alone, eternal, brings beings into existence as time unfolds. In times of prosperity, she is Lakṣmī, bestower of growth in the home; in her absence, she becomes Alakṣmī, bringing about destruction. When praised and worshipped with flowers, incense, fragrances, and the like, she grants wealth, sons, intelligence in righteousness, and an auspicious path. O king, thus have I told you the supreme glory of the Goddess, by whose power this world is sustained. Knowledge, too, is produced by the divine Māyā of Viṣṇu; thus, you and this merchant, and all discerning ones, are deluded, have been deluded, and others will also be deluded. Seek refuge in her, O great king, in the Supreme Goddess; when worshipped, she bestows enjoyment, heaven, and liberation. Upon hearing these words, Suratha, the lord of men, bowed reverently to the illustrious sage. Distressed by his attachment and the loss of his kingdom, he and the merchant set out to perform austerities, seeking a vision of the Mother. They stayed on the riverbank, and the merchant, reciting the supreme hymn to the Goddess, undertook severe penance. There, they fashioned an earthen image of the Goddess and worshipped her with flowers, incense, fire, and libations. Fasting, self-controlled, and with minds wholly intent, they even offered a blood-sacrifice, moistening the offering with blood from their own bodies. Thus, with self-discipline, they worshipped for three years. At last, the Mother of the Universe, fully satisfied, appeared before them and spoke: “Whatever you desire, O King, and you, delight of your lineage—let all that be obtained from me. Satisfied, I grant it all.” The king requested the return of his kingdom in this very life, free from enemies by force, and in another birth, unbroken sovereignty. The merchant, weary of worldly ties, asked for knowledge that severs attachment—the wisdom that removes the notions of ‘mine’ and ‘I’.