महिषासुरसैन्यवध
Mahiṣāsura-Sainya Vadha
The Slaughter of Mahishasura's Armies · 68 verses
▶ Listen to recitationChapter Summary
The second chapter opens the Madhyama Charita (presided over by Mahalakshmi). After a hundred-year war the buffalo-demon Mahishasura conquers Indra and the gods and usurps heaven. Cast down to earth, the gods approach Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva; in their wrath a blazing radiance pours from the bodies of all the gods and unites into a single effulgence that becomes the Goddess, pervading the three worlds. Each god gives her his own weapon and ornament — Shiva's trident, Vishnu's discus, Indra's thunderbolt, and many more — and Himavan gives her the lion as her mount. Roaring with a great attahasa that shakes the worlds, she meets Mahishasura's vast armies and, with her hosts and her lion, annihilates the demon generals and their forces as the gods rain down flowers.
✦ Dhyāna — Opening Meditation
ॐ अक्षस्रक्परशू गदेषुकुलिशं पद्मं धनुः कुण्डिकां दण्डं शक्तिमसिं च चर्म जलजं घण्टां सुराभाजनम् । शूलं पाशसुदर्शने च दधतीं हस्तैः प्रवालप्रभां सेवे सैरिभमर्दिनीमिह महालक्ष्मीं सरोजस्थिताम् ॥
oṃ akṣasrakparaśū gadeṣukuliśaṃ padmaṃ dhanuḥ kuṇḍikāṃ daṇḍaṃ śaktimasiṃ ca carma jalajaṃ ghaṇṭāṃ surābhājanam śūlaṃ pāśasudarśane ca dadhatīṃ hastaiḥ pravālaprabhāṃ seve sairibhamardinīmiha mahālakṣmīṃ sarojasthitām
I worship Mahalakshmi, slayer of the buffalo-demon (Mahishasura), seated on a lotus and of coral-red lustre, who holds in her hands the rosary, axe, mace, arrow, thunderbolt, lotus, bow, water-pot, staff, spear, sword, shield, conch, bell, wine-cup, trident, noose and the Sudarshana discus.
🔊 Tap any word to hear it — or ▶ to recite a shloka
ॐ ह्रीं ऋषिरुवाच देवासुरमभूद्युद्धं पूर्णमब्दशतं पुरा । महिषेऽसुराणामधिपे देवानां च पुरन्दरे ॥
oṃ hrīṃ ṛṣiruvāca devāsuramabhūdyuddhaṃ pūrṇamabdaśataṃ purā mahiṣe'surāṇāmadhipe devānāṃ ca purandare
Meaning(Om Hrim. The Rishi said:) Of old there was a battle between the gods and the asuras, lasting a full hundred years, when Mahisha was lord of the asuras and Indra (Purandara) was lord of the gods.
तत्रासुरैर्महावीर्यैर्देवसैन्यं पराजितम् । जित्वा च सकलान् देवानिन्द्रोऽभून्महिषासुरः ॥
tatrāsurairmahāvīryairdevasainyaṃ parājitam jitvā ca sakalān devānindro'bhūnmahiṣāsuraḥ
MeaningIn it the army of the gods was vanquished by the mighty asuras; and having conquered all the gods, Mahishasura became Indra (lord of heaven).
ततः पराजिता देवाः पद्मयोनिं प्रजापतिम् । पुरस्कृत्य गतास्तत्र यत्रेशगरुडध्वजौ ॥
tataḥ parājitā devāḥ padmayoniṃ prajāpatim puraskṛtya gatāstatra yatreśagaruḍadhvajau
MeaningThen the vanquished gods, placing Brahma the lotus-born Prajapati at their head, went to where Shiva and Vishnu (the Garuda-bannered) were.
यथावृत्तं तयोस्तद्वन्महिषासुरचेष्टितम् । त्रिदशाः कथयामासुर्देवाभिभवविस्तरम् ॥
yathāvṛttaṃ tayostadvanmahiṣāsuraceṣṭitam tridaśāḥ kathayāmāsurdevābhibhavavistaram
MeaningThe gods related to the two, in full as it had happened, the doings of Mahishasura and the whole account of the gods' defeat:
सूर्येन्द्राग्न्यनिलेन्दूनां यमस्य वरुणस्य च । अन्येषां चाधिकारान्स स्वयमेवाधितिष्ठति ॥
sūryendrāgnyanilendūnāṃ yamasya varuṇasya ca anyeṣāṃ cādhikārānsa svayamevādhitiṣṭhati
Meaning'He himself directly usurps the offices of Surya, Indra, Agni, Vayu and Chandra, of Yama and Varuna, and of the others.
स्वर्गान्निराकृताः सर्वे तेन देवगणा भुवि । विचरन्ति यथा मर्त्या महिषेण दुरात्मना ॥
svargānnirākṛtāḥ sarve tena devagaṇā bhuvi vicaranti yathā martyā mahiṣeṇa durātmanā
MeaningCast out of heaven by that evil-souled Mahisha, all the hosts of gods wander upon the earth like mortals.
एतद्वः कथितं सर्वममरारिविचेष्टितम् । शरणं वः प्रपन्नाः स्मो वधस्तस्य विचिन्त्यताम् ॥
etadvaḥ kathitaṃ sarvamamarāriviceṣṭitam śaraṇaṃ vaḥ prapannāḥ smo vadhastasya vicintyatām
MeaningAll this doing of the foe of the gods has been told to you; we have taken refuge in you — let the means of his slaying be devised.'
इत्थं निशम्य देवानां वचांसि मधुसूदनः । चकार कोपं शम्भुश्च भ्रुकुटीकुटिलाननौ ॥
itthaṃ niśamya devānāṃ vacāṃsi madhusūdanaḥ cakāra kopaṃ śambhuśca bhrukuṭīkuṭilānanau
MeaningHearing thus the words of the gods, Vishnu (Madhusudana) grew wrathful, and Shambhu (Shiva) too, their faces bent with frowns.
ततोऽतिकोपपूर्णस्य चक्रिणो वदनात्ततः । निश्चक्राम महत्तेजो ब्रह्मणः शङ्करस्य च ॥
tato'tikopapūrṇasya cakriṇo vadanāttataḥ niścakrāma mahattejo brahmaṇaḥ śaṅkarasya ca
MeaningThen from the mouth of Vishnu the discus-bearer, full of intense anger, came forth a great radiance, and so too from that of Brahma and of Shankara (Shiva).
अन्येषां चैव देवानां शक्रादीनां शरीरतः । निर्गतं सुमहत्तेजस्तच्चैक्यं समगच्छत ॥
anyeṣāṃ caiva devānāṃ śakrādīnāṃ śarīrataḥ nirgataṃ sumahattejastaccaikyaṃ samagacchata
MeaningFrom the bodies of the other gods too — Indra and the rest — issued a very great radiance, and it all merged into one.
अतीव तेजसः कूटं ज्वलन्तमिव पर्वतम् । ददृशुस्ते सुरास्तत्र ज्वालाव्याप्तदिगन्तरम् ॥
atīva tejasaḥ kūṭaṃ jvalantamiva parvatam dadṛśuste surāstatra jvālāvyāptadigantaram
MeaningThe gods beheld there an immense mass of radiance, like a blazing mountain, its flames filling the quarters of the sky.
अतुलं तत्र तत्तेजः सर्वदेवशरीरजम् । एकस्थं तदभून्नारी व्याप्तलोकत्रयं त्विषा ॥
atulaṃ tatra tattejaḥ sarvadevaśarīrajam ekasthaṃ tadabhūnnārī vyāptalokatrayaṃ tviṣā
MeaningThat peerless radiance, born of the bodies of all the gods, gathering into one place became a Woman, pervading the three worlds by her lustre.
यदभूच्छाम्भवं तेजस्तेनाजायत तन्मुखम् । याम्येन चाभवन् केशा बाहवो विष्णुतेजसा ॥
yadabhūcchāmbhavaṃ tejastenājāyata tanmukham yāmyena cābhavan keśā bāhavo viṣṇutejasā
MeaningFrom what was Shiva's radiance her face came to be; from Yama's, her hair; from Vishnu's radiance, her arms;
सौम्येन स्तनयोर्युग्मं मध्यं चैन्द्रेण चाभवत् । वारुणेन च जङ्घोरू नितम्बस्तेजसा भुवः ॥
saumyena stanayoryugmaṃ madhyaṃ caindreṇa cābhavat vāruṇena ca jaṅghorū nitambastejasā bhuvaḥ
Meaningfrom Chandra's, the pair of her breasts; from Indra's, her waist; from Varuna's, her shanks and thighs; from the earth's radiance, her hips;
ब्रह्मणस्तेजसा पादौ तदङ्गुल्योऽर्कतेजसा । वसूनां च कराङ्गुल्यः कौबेरेण च नासिका ॥
brahmaṇastejasā pādau tadaṅgulyo'rkatejasā vasūnāṃ ca karāṅgulyaḥ kaubereṇa ca nāsikā
Meaningfrom Brahma's radiance, her feet; from the Sun's, her toes; from the Vasus', her fingers; and from Kubera's, her nose;
तस्यास्तु दन्ताः सम्भूताः प्राजापत्येन तेजसा । नयनत्रितयं जज्ञे तथा पावकतेजसा ॥
tasyāstu dantāḥ sambhūtāḥ prājāpatyena tejasā nayanatritayaṃ jajñe tathā pāvakatejasā
Meaningher teeth arose from Prajapati's radiance; her three eyes were born likewise from the radiance of Agni (Pavaka);
भ्रुवौ च सन्ध्ययोस्तेजः श्रवणावनिलस्य च । अन्येषां चैव देवानां सम्भवस्तेजसां शिवा ॥
bhruvau ca sandhyayostejaḥ śravaṇāvanilasya ca anyeṣāṃ caiva devānāṃ sambhavastejasāṃ śivā
Meaningher two eyebrows from the radiance of the two twilights (Sandhyas), her ears from Vayu's; and the rising of the radiances of the other gods too was for the world's welfare.
ततः समस्तदेवानां तेजोराशिसमुद्भवाम् । तां विलोक्य मुदं प्रापुरमरा महिषार्दिताः । ततो देवा ददुस्तस्यै स्वानि स्वान्यायुधानि च ॥
tataḥ samastadevānāṃ tejorāśisamudbhavām tāṃ vilokya mudaṃ prāpuramarā mahiṣārditāḥ tato devā dadustasyai svāni svānyāyudhāni ca
MeaningThen, beholding her — sprung from the massed radiance of all the gods — the immortals tormented by Mahisha rejoiced. Then the gods gave her their own several weapons.
शूलं शूलाद्विनिष्कृष्य ददौ तस्यै पिनाकधृक् । चक्रं च दत्तवान् कृष्णः समुत्पाट्य स्वचक्रतः ॥
śūlaṃ śūlādviniṣkṛṣya dadau tasyai pinākadhṛk cakraṃ ca dattavān kṛṣṇaḥ samutpāṭya svacakrataḥ
MeaningDrawing a trident out of his own trident, Pinakadhrik (Shiva) gave it to her; and Krishna (Vishnu) gave a discus, drawing it out of his own discus.
शङ्खं च वरुणः शक्तिं ददौ तस्यै हुताशनः । मारुतो दत्तवांश्चापं बाणपूर्णे तथेषुधी ॥
śaṅkhaṃ ca varuṇaḥ śaktiṃ dadau tasyai hutāśanaḥ māruto dattavāṃścāpaṃ bāṇapūrṇe tatheṣudhī
MeaningVaruna gave a conch; Agni (Hutashana) a spear (shakti); and Vayu (Maruta) gave a bow together with two quivers full of arrows.
वज्रमिन्द्रः समुत्पाट्य कुलिशादमराधिपः । ददौ तस्यै सहस्राक्षो घण्टामैरावताद्गजात् ॥
vajramindraḥ samutpāṭya kuliśādamarādhipaḥ dadau tasyai sahasrākṣo ghaṇṭāmairāvatādgajāt
MeaningIndra, lord of the gods, the thousand-eyed, drew a thunderbolt out of his own thunderbolt and gave it to her, and a bell from his elephant Airavata.
कालदण्डाद्यमो दण्डं पाशं चाम्बुपतिर्ददौ । प्रजापतिश्चाक्षमालां ददौ ब्रह्मा कमण्डलुम् ॥
kāladaṇḍādyamo daṇḍaṃ pāśaṃ cāmbupatirdadau prajāpatiścākṣamālāṃ dadau brahmā kamaṇḍalum
MeaningYama gave a staff from his staff of Death; Varuna, lord of waters, a noose; Prajapati gave a rosary, and Brahma a water-pot.
समस्तरोमकूपेषु निजरश्मीन् दिवाकरः । कालश्च दत्तवान् खड्गं तस्यै चर्म च निर्मलम् ॥
samastaromakūpeṣu nijaraśmīn divākaraḥ kālaśca dattavān khaḍgaṃ tasyai carma ca nirmalam
MeaningThe Sun (Divakara) set his own rays in all the pores of her skin; and Kala (Time) gave her a sword and a spotless shield.
क्षीरोदश्चामलं हारमजरे च तथाम्बरे । चूडामणिं तथा दिव्यं कुण्डले कटकानि च ॥
kṣīrodaścāmalaṃ hāramajare ca tathāmbare cūḍāmaṇiṃ tathā divyaṃ kuṇḍale kaṭakāni ca
MeaningThe Ocean of Milk gave a spotless necklace, a pair of ever-new garments, a divine crest-jewel, a pair of earrings and bracelets;
अर्धचन्द्रं तथा शुभ्रं केयूरान् सर्वबाहुषु । नूपुरौ विमलौ तद्वद् ग्रैवेयकमनुत्तमम् ॥
ardhacandraṃ tathā śubhraṃ keyūrān sarvabāhuṣu nūpurau vimalau tadvad graiveyakamanuttamam
Meaninga bright half-moon ornament, armlets for all her arms, a pair of shining anklets, and a peerless neck-chain,
अङ्गुलीयकरत्नानि समस्तास्वङ्गुलीषु च । विश्वकर्मा ददौ तस्यै परशुं चातिनिर्मलम् ॥
aṅgulīyakaratnāni samastāsvaṅgulīṣu ca viśvakarmā dadau tasyai paraśuṃ cātinirmalam
Meaningand jewelled rings for all her fingers. Vishvakarma gave her a very bright axe (parashu),
अस्त्राण्यनेकरूपाणि तथाभेद्यं च दंशनम् । अम्लानपङ्कजां मालां शिरस्युरसि चापराम् ॥
astrāṇyanekarūpāṇi tathābhedyaṃ ca daṃśanam amlānapaṅkajāṃ mālāṃ śirasyurasi cāparām
Meaningweapons of many kinds and impenetrable armour. The Ocean (Jaladhi) gave a garland of unfading lotuses for her head and another for her breast,
अददज्जलधिस्तस्यै पङ्कजं चातिशोभनम् । हिमवान् वाहनं सिंहं रत्नानि विविधानि च ॥
adadajjaladhistasyai paṅkajaṃ cātiśobhanam himavān vāhanaṃ siṃhaṃ ratnāni vividhāni ca
Meaningand an exceedingly beautiful lotus for her hand. Himavan (the Himalaya) gave a lion for her mount and jewels of many kinds;
ददावशून्यं सुरया पानपात्रं धनाधिपः । शेषश्च सर्वनागेशो महामणिविभूषितम् ॥
dadāvaśūnyaṃ surayā pānapātraṃ dhanādhipaḥ śeṣaśca sarvanāgeśo mahāmaṇivibhūṣitam
Meaningthe lord of wealth (Kubera) gave a drinking-cup ever filled with wine; and Shesha, lord of all serpents, who upholds this earth, gave her
नागहारं ददौ तस्यै धत्ते यः पृथिवीमिमाम् । अन्यैरपि सुरैर्देवी भूषणैरायुधैस्तथा ॥
nāgahāraṃ dadau tasyai dhatte yaḥ pṛthivīmimām anyairapi surairdevī bhūṣaṇairāyudhaistathā
Meaninga serpent-necklace adorned with great gems. Thus honoured by these and by the other gods too with ornaments and weapons, the Goddess
सम्मानिता ननादोच्चैः साट्टहासं मुहुर्मुहुः । तस्या नादेन घोरेण कृत्स्नमापूरितं नभः ॥
sammānitā nanādoccaiḥ sāṭṭahāsaṃ muhurmuhuḥ tasyā nādena ghoreṇa kṛtsnamāpūritaṃ nabhaḥ
Meaningroared aloud again and again with a great peal of laughter (attahasa). By her terrible roar the whole sky was filled,
अमायतातिमहता प्रतिशब्दो महानभूत् । चुक्षुभुः सकला लोकाः समुद्राश्च चकम्पिरे ॥
amāyatātimahatā pratiśabdo mahānabhūt cukṣubhuḥ sakalā lokāḥ samudrāśca cakampire
Meaningand an immeasurably vast echo arose. All the worlds were shaken and the oceans trembled;
चचाल वसुधा चेलुः सकलाश्च महीधराः । जयेति देवाश्च मुदा तामूचुः सिंहवाहिनीम् ॥
cacāla vasudhā celuḥ sakalāśca mahīdharāḥ jayeti devāśca mudā tāmūcuḥ siṃhavāhinīm
Meaningthe earth quaked and all the mountains moved. 'Victory!' the gods cried in joy to her, the lion-rider (Simhavahini).
तुष्टुवुर्मुनयश्चैनां भक्तिनम्रात्ममूर्तयः । दृष्ट्वा समस्तं सङ्क्षुब्धं त्रैलोक्यममरारयः ॥
tuṣṭuvurmunayaścaināṃ bhaktinamrātmamūrtayaḥ dṛṣṭvā samastaṃ saṅkṣubdhaṃ trailokyamamarārayaḥ
MeaningThe sages, their forms bowed in devotion, extolled her. Seeing the whole three worlds agitated, the foes of the gods,
सन्नद्धाखिलसैन्यास्ते समुत्तस्थुरुदायुधाः । आः किमेतदिति क्रोधादाभाष्य महिषासुरः ॥
sannaddhākhilasainyāste samuttasthurudāyudhāḥ āḥ kimetaditi krodhādābhāṣya mahiṣāsuraḥ
Meaningwith all their armies mustered, rose up together with weapons uplifted. 'Ah! What is this?' — so saying in wrath, Mahishasura
अभ्यधावत तं शब्दमशेषैरसुरैर्वृतः । स ददर्श ततो देवीं व्याप्तलोकत्रयां त्विषा ॥
abhyadhāvata taṃ śabdamaśeṣairasurairvṛtaḥ sa dadarśa tato devīṃ vyāptalokatrayāṃ tviṣā
Meaningrushed towards that sound, surrounded by all the asuras. Then he beheld the Goddess, pervading the three worlds with her lustre,
पादाक्रान्त्या नतभुवं किरीटोल्लिखिताम्बराम् । क्षोभिताशेषपातालां धनुर्ज्यानिःस्वनेन ताम् ॥
pādākrāntyā natabhuvaṃ kirīṭollikhitāmbarām kṣobhitāśeṣapātālāṃ dhanurjyāniḥsvanena tām
Meaningmaking the earth bow beneath the tread of her foot, scraping the sky with her diadem, shaking all the nether worlds with the twang of her bowstring,
दिशो भुजसहस्रेण समन्ताद्व्याप्य संस्थिताम् । ततः प्रववृते युद्धं तया देव्या सुरद्विषाम् ॥
diśo bhujasahasreṇa samantādvyāpya saṃsthitām tataḥ pravavṛte yuddhaṃ tayā devyā suradviṣām
Meaningand standing there with her thousand arms pervading all the quarters on every side. Then began the battle between that Goddess and the foes of the gods,
शस्त्रास्त्रैर्बहुधा मुक्तैरादीपितदिगन्तरम् । महिषासुरसेनानीश्चिक्षुराख्यो महासुरः ॥
śastrāstrairbahudhā muktairādīpitadigantaram mahiṣāsurasenānīścikṣurākhyo mahāsuraḥ
Meaningthe quarters of the sky lit up by the many weapons and missiles hurled. Chikshura, the great asura, the general of Mahishasura's army,
युयुधे चामरश्चान्यैश्चतुरङ्गबलान्वितः । रथानामयुतैः षड्भिरुदग्राख्यो महासुरः ॥
yuyudhe cāmaraścānyaiścaturaṅgabalānvitaḥ rathānāmayutaiḥ ṣaḍbhirudagrākhyo mahāsuraḥ
Meaningand Chamara, attended by a fourfold army, and others fought; the great asura named Udagra with sixty thousand chariots,
अयुध्यतायुतानां च सहस्रेण महाहनुः । पञ्चाशद्भिश्च नियुतैरसिलोमा महासुरः ॥
ayudhyatāyutānāṃ ca sahasreṇa mahāhanuḥ pañcāśadbhiśca niyutairasilomā mahāsuraḥ
Meaningand Mahahanu with ten million fought; the great asura Asiloma with fifty million,
अयुतानां शतैः षड्भिर्बाष्कलो युयुधे रणे । गजवाजिसहस्रौघैरनेकैः परिवारितः ॥
ayutānāṃ śataiḥ ṣaḍbhirbāṣkalo yuyudhe raṇe gajavājisahasraughairanekaiḥ parivāritaḥ
Meaningand Bashkala with six million fought in the battle, surrounded by many thousands of elephants and horses,
वृतो रथानां कोट्या च युद्धे तस्मिन्नयुध्यत । बिडालाख्योऽयुतानां च पञ्चाशद्भिरथायुतैः ॥
vṛto rathānāṃ koṭyā ca yuddhe tasminnayudhyata biḍālākhyo'yutānāṃ ca pañcāśadbhirathāyutaiḥ
Meaningand, encompassed by a crore of chariots, he fought in that battle. Bidala fought there surrounded by five hundred million chariots,
युयुधे संयुगे तत्र रथानां परिवारितः । अन्ये च तत्रायुतशो रथनागहयैर्वृताः ॥
yuyudhe saṃyuge tatra rathānāṃ parivāritaḥ anye ca tatrāyutaśo rathanāgahayairvṛtāḥ
MeaningAnd others there, in their myriads, surrounded by chariots, elephants and horses,
युयुधुः संयुगे देव्या सह तत्र महासुराः । कोटिकोटिसहस्रैस्तु रथानां दन्तिनां तथा ॥
yuyudhuḥ saṃyuge devyā saha tatra mahāsurāḥ koṭikoṭisahasraistu rathānāṃ dantināṃ tathā
Meaningthe great asuras fought there with the Goddess in the battle. And surrounded by thousands upon thousands of crores of chariots, of elephants
हयानां च वृतो युद्धे तत्राभून्महिषासुरः । तोमरैर्भिन्दिपालैश्च शक्तिभिर्मुसलैस्तथा ॥
hayānāṃ ca vṛto yuddhe tatrābhūnmahiṣāsuraḥ tomarairbhindipālaiśca śaktibhirmusalaistathā
Meaningand of horses, Mahishasura was there in the battle. With iron clubs (tomaras) and slings (bhindipalas), with spears (shaktis) and pestles (musalas),
युयुधुः संयुगे देव्या खड्गैः परशुपट्टिशैः । केचिच्च चिक्षिपुः शक्तीः केचित् पाशांस्तथापरे ॥
yuyudhuḥ saṃyuge devyā khaḍgaiḥ paraśupaṭṭiśaiḥ kecicca cikṣipuḥ śaktīḥ kecit pāśāṃstathāpare
Meaningthey fought in the conflict with the Goddess, with swords and axe-blades (pattishas). Some hurled spears, and others nooses,
देवीं खड्गप्रहारैस्तु ते तां हन्तुं प्रचक्रमुः । सापि देवी ततस्तानि शस्त्राण्यस्त्राणि चण्डिका ॥
devīṃ khaḍgaprahāraistu te tāṃ hantuṃ pracakramuḥ sāpi devī tatastāni śastrāṇyastrāṇi caṇḍikā
Meaningand they began to strike the Goddess with sword-blows to slay her. But that Goddess Chandika, raining her own weapons and missiles,
लीलयैव प्रचिच्छेद निजशस्त्रास्त्रवर्षिणी । अनायस्तानना देवी स्तूयमाना सुरर्षिभिः ॥
līlayaiva praciccheda nijaśastrāstravarṣiṇī anāyastānanā devī stūyamānā surarṣibhiḥ
Meaningcut their weapons and missiles to pieces as if in mere play. With her face untroubled, while gods and sages extolled her,
मुमोचासुरदेहेषु शस्त्राण्यस्त्राणि चेश्वरी । सोऽपि क्रुद्धो धुतसटो देव्या वाहनकेसरी ॥
mumocāsuradeheṣu śastrāṇyastrāṇi ceśvarī so'pi kruddho dhutasaṭo devyā vāhanakesarī
Meaningthe Ishwari hurled her weapons and missiles upon the bodies of the asuras. And that lion, her mount, shaking its mane in fury,
चचारासुरसैन्येषु वनेष्विव हुताशनः । निःश्वासान् मुमुचे यांश्च युध्यमाना रणेऽम्बिका ॥
cacārāsurasainyeṣu vaneṣviva hutāśanaḥ niḥśvāsān mumuce yāṃśca yudhyamānā raṇe'mbikā
Meaningstalked among the asura armies like fire among forests. And the breaths that Ambika heaved as she fought in the battle —
त एव सद्यः सम्भूता गणाः शतसहस्रशः । युयुधुस्ते परशुभिर्भिन्दिपालासिपट्टिशैः ॥
ta eva sadyaḥ sambhūtā gaṇāḥ śatasahasraśaḥ yuyudhuste paraśubhirbhindipālāsipaṭṭiśaiḥ
Meaningthose very breaths at once became hosts (ganas) by the hundreds and thousands. These fought with axes, slings, swords and axe-blades,
नाशयन्तोऽसुरगणान् देवीशक्त्युपबृंहिताः । अवादयन्त पटहान् गणाः शङ्खांस्तथापरे ॥
nāśayanto'suragaṇān devīśaktyupabṛṃhitāḥ avādayanta paṭahān gaṇāḥ śaṅkhāṃstathāpare
Meaningdestroying the hosts of asuras, strengthened by the Devi's power. Some of these hosts beat war-drums (patahas), others blew conches,
मृदङ्गांश्च तथैवान्ये तस्मिन् युद्धमहोत्सवे । ततो देवी त्रिशूलेन गदया शक्तिवृष्टिभिः ॥
mṛdaṅgāṃśca tathaivānye tasmin yuddhamahotsave tato devī triśūlena gadayā śaktivṛṣṭibhiḥ
Meaningand others mridangas, in that great festival of war. Then the Goddess, with her trident, her mace, and showers of spears,
खड्गादिभिश्च शतशो निजघान महासुरान् । पातयामास चैवान्यान् घण्टास्वनविमोहितान् ॥
khaḍgādibhiśca śataśo nijaghāna mahāsurān pātayāmāsa caivānyān ghaṇṭāsvanavimohitān
Meaningwith sword and the like, slew the great asuras by hundreds, and laid low others bewildered by the clangour of her bell;
असुरान् भुवि पाशेन बद्ध्वा चान्यानकर्षयत् । केचिद् द्विधाकृतास्तीक्ष्णैः खड्गपातैस्तथापरे ॥
asurān bhuvi pāśena baddhvā cānyānakarṣayat kecid dvidhākṛtāstīkṣṇaiḥ khaḍgapātaistathāpare
Meaningand binding yet other asuras on the ground with her noose, she dragged them along. Some were split in two by sharp sword-strokes, others
विपोथिता निपातेन गदया भुवि शेरते । वेमुश्च केचिद्रुधिरं मुसलेन भृशं हताः ॥
vipothitā nipātena gadayā bhuvi śerate vemuśca kecidrudhiraṃ musalena bhṛśaṃ hatāḥ
Meaningsmashed down by the blow of her mace, lay upon the earth; and some, sorely struck by her pestle, vomited blood.
केचिन्निपतिता भूमौ भिन्नाः शूलेन वक्षसि । निरन्तराः शरौघेण कृताः केचिद्रणाजिरे ॥
kecinnipatitā bhūmau bhinnāḥ śūlena vakṣasi nirantarāḥ śaraugheṇa kṛtāḥ kecidraṇājire
MeaningOthers fell to the ground pierced in the breast by her trident; and some, riddled by the stream of her arrows on the battlefield,
श्येनानुकारिणः प्राणान् मुमुचुस्त्रिदशार्दनाः । केषाञ्चिद् बाहवश्छिन्नाश्छिन्नग्रीवास्तथापरे ॥
śyenānukāriṇaḥ prāṇān mumucustridaśārdanāḥ keṣāñcid bāhavaśchinnāśchinnagrīvāstathāpare
Meaninggave up their lives, those tormentors of the gods, dropping like (swift) hawks. The arms of some were severed, others had their necks cut off,
शिरांसि पेतुरन्येषामन्ये मध्ये विदारिताः । विच्छिन्नजङ्घास्त्वपरे पेतुरुर्व्यां महासुराः ॥
śirāṃsi peturanyeṣāmanye madhye vidāritāḥ vicchinnajaṅghāstvapare petururvyāṃ mahāsurāḥ
Meaningthe heads of others rolled down, others were torn asunder in the middle; and other great asuras fell to the earth with their legs cut off.
एकबाह्वक्षिचरणाः केचिद्देव्या द्विधाकृताः । छिन्नेऽपि चान्ये शिरसि पतिताः पुनरुत्थिताः ॥
ekabāhvakṣicaraṇāḥ keciddevyā dvidhākṛtāḥ chinne'pi cānye śirasi patitāḥ punarutthitāḥ
MeaningSome were made two-fold by the Devi though (left) with one arm, one eye and one foot; and others, though their heads were severed, fell yet rose again.
कबन्धा युयुधुर्देव्या गृहीतपरमायुधाः । ननृतुश्चापरे तत्र युद्धे तूर्यलयाश्रिताः ॥
kabandhā yuyudhurdevyā gṛhītaparamāyudhāḥ nanṛtuścāpare tatra yuddhe tūryalayāśritāḥ
MeaningHeadless trunks (kabandhas), grasping the finest weapons, fought with the Devi; and others danced there in the battle, keeping time to the war-music.
कबन्धाश्छिन्नशिरसः खड्गशक्त्यृष्टिपाणयः । तिष्ठ तिष्ठेति भाषन्तो देवीमन्ये महासुराः ॥
kabandhāśchinnaśirasaḥ khaḍgaśaktyṛṣṭipāṇayaḥ tiṣṭha tiṣṭheti bhāṣanto devīmanye mahāsurāḥ
MeaningHeadless trunks, sword, spear and lance in hand, and other great asuras, kept crying 'Stop! Stop!' to the Devi.
पातितै रथनागाश्वैरसुरैश्च वसुन्धरा । अगम्या साभवत्तत्र यत्राभूत् स महारणः ॥
pātitai rathanāgāśvairasuraiśca vasundharā agamyā sābhavattatra yatrābhūt sa mahāraṇaḥ
MeaningBy the fallen chariots, elephants, horses and asuras, the earth there — where that great battle took place — became impassable.
शोणितौघा महानद्यः सद्यस्तत्र प्रसुस्रुवुः । मध्ये चासुरसैन्यस्य वारणासुरवाजिनाम् ॥
śoṇitaughā mahānadyaḥ sadyastatra prasusruvuḥ madhye cāsurasainyasya vāraṇāsuravājinām
MeaningGreat rivers of streaming blood flowed forth at once there, in the midst of the army of the asuras, their elephants and horses.
क्षणेन तन्महासैन्यमसुराणां तथाम्बिका । निन्ये क्षयं यथा वह्निस्तृणदारुमहाचयम् ॥
kṣaṇena tanmahāsainyamasurāṇāṃ tathāmbikā ninye kṣayaṃ yathā vahnistṛṇadārumahācayam
MeaningIn a moment Ambika brought that great army of the asuras to destruction, as fire consumes a vast heap of grass and wood.
स च सिंहो महानादमुत्सृजन् धुतकेसरः । शरीरेभ्योऽमरारीणामसूनिव विचिन्वति ॥
sa ca siṃho mahānādamutsṛjan dhutakesaraḥ śarīrebhyo'marārīṇāmasūniva vicinvati
MeaningAnd that lion, shaking its mane and uttering a mighty roar, roamed about as if seeking out the very life-breaths from the bodies of the gods' foes.
देव्या गणैश्च तैस्तत्र कृतं युद्धं तथासुरैः । यथैषां तुतुषुर्देवाः पुष्पवृष्टिमुचो दिवि ॥
devyā gaṇaiśca taistatra kṛtaṃ yuddhaṃ tathāsuraiḥ yathaiṣāṃ tutuṣurdevāḥ puṣpavṛṣṭimuco divi
MeaningSuch was the battle waged there by the Devi's hosts and by the asuras that the gods, showering flowers from the sky, were greatly pleased with them.