रक्तबीजवध
Raktabīja Vadha
The Slaying of Raktabija · 62 verses
▶ Listen to recitationChapter Summary
Enraged by the deaths of Chanda and Munda, Shumbha musters every asura clan for war. As the host closes in, the shaktis of Brahma, Shiva, Kartikeya, Vishnu, Varaha, Nrisimha and Indra stream from the gods' bodies — the Saptamatrikas: Brahmani, Maheshwari, Kaumari, Vaishnavi, Varahi, Narasimhi and Aindri — and from the Devi herself issues Shivaduti, named because she made Shiva her messenger. The Mothers shatter the demon armies, until Raktabija comes forth — every drop of his blood that touches the ground becomes a new demon of equal might, so that the world is soon flooded with his clones and the gods despair. Then Chandika bids Chamunda (Kali) open her mouth wide and drink every drop of his blood and devour each demon born from it; drained of blood, Raktabija at last falls, and the Mothers dance, drunk with the joy of victory.
✦ Dhyāna — Opening Meditation
ॐ अरुणां करुणातरङ्गिताक्षीं धृतपाशाङ्कुशबाणाचापहस्ताम् । अणिमादिभिरावृतां मयूखै- रहमित्येव विभावये भवानीम् ॥
oṃ aruṇāṃ karuṇātaraṅgitākṣīṃ dhṛtapāśāṅkuśabāṇācāpahastām aṇimādibhirāvṛtāṃ mayūkhai- rahamityeva vibhāvaye bhavānīm
I contemplate Bhavani as my very Self — ruddy of hue, her eyes rippling with compassion, holding in her hands the noose, the goad, the arrow and the bow, and surrounded by rays of light that are the eight siddhis beginning with Anima.
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ॐ ऋषिरुवाच चण्डे च निहते दैत्ये मुण्डे च विनिपातिते । बहुलेषु च सैन्येषु क्षयितेष्वसुरेश्वरः ॥
oṃ ṛṣiruvāca caṇḍe ca nihate daitye muṇḍe ca vinipātite bahuleṣu ca sainyeṣu kṣayiteṣvasureśvaraḥ
Meaning(Om. The Rishi said:) When the daitya Chanda was slain and Munda laid low, and many armies destroyed, the lord of the asuras (Shumbha) —
ततः कोपपराधीनचेताः शुम्भः प्रतापवान् । उद्योगं सर्वसैन्यानां दैत्यानामादिदेश ह ॥
tataḥ kopaparādhīnacetāḥ śumbhaḥ pratāpavān udyogaṃ sarvasainyānāṃ daityānāmādideśa ha
Meaningthen mighty Shumbha, his mind overcome by wrath, ordered the mustering of all the armies of the daityas:
अद्य सर्वबलैर्दैत्याः षडशीतिरुदायुधाः । कम्बूनां चतुरशीतिर्निर्यान्तु स्वबलैर्वृताः ॥
adya sarvabalairdaityāḥ ṣaḍaśītirudāyudhāḥ kambūnāṃ caturaśītirniryāntu svabalairvṛtāḥ
Meaning'Today let the eighty-six Udayudha daityas march out with all their forces, weapons raised, and the eighty-four Kambus surrounded by their own troops.
कोटिवीर्याणि पञ्चाशदसुराणां कुलानि वै । शतं कुलानि धौम्राणां निर्गच्छन्तु ममाज्ञया ॥
koṭivīryāṇi pañcāśadasurāṇāṃ kulāni vai śataṃ kulāni dhaumrāṇāṃ nirgacchantu mamājñayā
MeaningLet the fifty clans of the Kotiviryas (asuras of crore-fold might), and the hundred clans of the Dhaumras, go forth at my command.
कालका दौर्हृदा मौर्वाः कालिकेयास्तथासुराः । युद्धाय सज्जा निर्यान्तु आज्ञया त्वरिता मम ॥
kālakā daurhṛdā maurvāḥ kālikeyāstathāsurāḥ yuddhāya sajjā niryāntu ājñayā tvaritā mama
MeaningLet the Kalakas, Daurhridas, Mauryas and the Kalikeya asuras, made ready for battle, march out swiftly at my command.'
इत्याज्ञाप्यासुरपतिः शुम्भो भैरवशासनः । निर्जगाम महासैन्यसहस्रैर्बहुभिर्वृतः ॥
ityājñāpyāsurapatiḥ śumbho bhairavaśāsanaḥ nirjagāma mahāsainyasahasrairbahubhirvṛtaḥ
MeaningHaving thus commanded, Shumbha, the lord of the asuras, of terrible rule, went forth surrounded by many thousands of great armies.
आयान्तं चण्डिका दृष्ट्वा तत्सैन्यमतिभीषणम् । ज्यास्वनैः पूरयामास धरणीगगनान्तरम् ॥
āyāntaṃ caṇḍikā dṛṣṭvā tatsainyamatibhīṣaṇam jyāsvanaiḥ pūrayāmāsa dharaṇīgaganāntaram
MeaningSeeing that most terrible army approaching, Chandika filled the space between earth and sky with the twang of her bowstring.
ततः सिंहो महानादमतीव कृतवान्नृप । घण्टास्वनेन तान्नादानम्बिका चोपबृंहयत् ॥
tataḥ siṃho mahānādamatīva kṛtavānnṛpa ghaṇṭāsvanena tānnādānambikā copabṛṃhayat
MeaningThereupon her lion made an exceedingly loud roar, O King; and Ambika swelled those roars with the clang of her bell.
धनुर्ज्यासिंहघण्टानां नादापूरितदिङ्मुखा । निनादैर्भीषणैः काली जिग्ये विस्तारितानना ॥
dhanurjyāsiṃhaghaṇṭānāṃ nādāpūritadiṅmukhā ninādairbhīṣaṇaiḥ kālī jigye vistāritānanā
MeaningFilling the quarters with the twang of bow, the roar of the lion and the clang of the bell, Kali, her mouth gaping wide, overwhelmed (the foe) with terrible bellows.
तं निनादमुपश्रुत्य दैत्यसैन्यैश्चतुर्दिशम् । देवी सिंहस्तथा काली सरोषैः परिवारिताः ॥
taṃ ninādamupaśrutya daityasainyaiścaturdiśam devī siṃhastathā kālī saroṣaiḥ parivāritāḥ
MeaningHearing that roar, the daitya armies surrounded the Devi, her lion and Kali on all four sides, full of fury.
एतस्मिन्नन्तरे भूप विनाशाय सुरद्विषाम् । भवायामरसिंहानामतिवीर्यबलान्विताः ॥
etasminnantare bhūpa vināśāya suradviṣām bhavāyāmarasiṃhānāmativīryabalānvitāḥ
MeaningAt this moment, O King, for the destruction of the gods' foes and the well-being of the foremost of the gods, endowed with surpassing valour and strength —
ब्रह्मेशगुहविष्णूनां तथेन्द्रस्य च शक्तयः । शरीरेभ्यो विनिष्क्रम्य तद्रूपैश्चण्डिकां ययुः ॥
brahmeśaguhaviṣṇūnāṃ tathendrasya ca śaktayaḥ śarīrebhyo viniṣkramya tadrūpaiścaṇḍikāṃ yayuḥ
Meaningthe shaktis of Brahma, Shiva (Isha), Kartikeya (Guha), Vishnu and Indra issued forth from their bodies in their (own) forms and went to Chandika.
यस्य देवस्य यद्रूपं यथा भूषणवाहनम् । तद्वदेव हि तच्छक्तिरसुरान्योद्धुमाययौ ॥
yasya devasya yadrūpaṃ yathā bhūṣaṇavāhanam tadvadeva hi tacchaktirasurānyoddhumāyayau
MeaningWhatever the form of each god, with his ornaments and mount, in just that form his shakti came forth to fight the asuras.
हंसयुक्तविमानस्थे साक्षसूत्रकमण्डलुः । आयाता ब्रह्मणः शक्तिर्ब्रह्माणीत्यभिधीयते ॥
haṃsayuktavimānasthe sākṣasūtrakamaṇḍaluḥ āyātā brahmaṇaḥ śaktirbrahmāṇītyabhidhīyate
MeaningThe shakti of Brahma, seated in a swan-yoked aerial car, bearing a rosary and a water-pot, came forth; she is called Brahmani.
माहेश्वरी वृषारूढा त्रिशूलवरधारिणी । महाहिवलया प्राप्ता चन्द्ररेखाविभूषणा ॥
māheśvarī vṛṣārūḍhā triśūlavaradhāriṇī mahāhivalayā prāptā candrarekhāvibhūṣaṇā
MeaningMaheshwari arrived mounted on a bull, bearing the finest trident, with great serpents for bracelets and adorned with the crescent moon.
कौमारी शक्तिहस्ता च मयूरवरवाहना । योद्धुमभ्याययौ दैत्यानम्बिका गुहरूपिणी ॥
kaumārī śaktihastā ca mayūravaravāhanā yoddhumabhyāyayau daityānambikā guharūpiṇī
MeaningKaumari, in the form of Guha (Kartikeya), spear in hand and riding a fine peacock — (she who is) Ambika herself — came to fight the daityas.
तथैव वैष्णवी शक्तिर्गरुडोपरि संस्थिता । शङ्खचक्रगदाशार्ङ्गखड्गहस्ताभ्युपाययौ ॥
tathaiva vaiṣṇavī śaktirgaruḍopari saṃsthitā śaṅkhacakragadāśārṅgakhaḍgahastābhyupāyayau
MeaningLikewise the Vaishnavi shakti, seated upon Garuda, came holding conch, discus, mace, the Sharnga bow and a sword in her hands.
यज्ञवाराहमतुलं रूपं या बिभ्रतो हरेः । शक्तिः साप्याययौ तत्र वाराहीं बिभ्रती तनुम् ॥
yajñavārāhamatulaṃ rūpaṃ yā bibhrato hareḥ śaktiḥ sāpyāyayau tatra vārāhīṃ bibhratī tanum
MeaningThe shakti of Hari (Vishnu) who bears the matchless form of the Sacrificial Boar (Yajna-Varaha) also came there, bearing the body of Varahi.
नारसिंही नृसिंहस्य बिभ्रती सदृशं वपुः । प्राप्ता तत्र सटाक्षेपक्षिप्तनक्षत्रसंहतिः ॥
nārasiṃhī nṛsiṃhasya bibhratī sadṛśaṃ vapuḥ prāptā tatra saṭākṣepakṣiptanakṣatrasaṃhatiḥ
MeaningNarasimhi, bearing a body like that of Nrisimha (the Man-lion), arrived there, tossing the clusters of stars by the shaking of her mane.
वज्रहस्ता तथैवैन्द्री गजराजोपरि स्थिता । प्राप्ता सहस्रनयना यथा शक्रस्तथैव सा ॥
vajrahastā tathaivaindrī gajarājopari sthitā prāptā sahasranayanā yathā śakrastathaiva sā
MeaningLikewise Aindri, thunderbolt in hand, seated upon the king of elephants, arrived — thousand-eyed, just like Shakra (Indra).
ततः परिवृतस्ताभिरीशानो देवशक्तिभिः । हन्यन्तामसुराः शीघ्रं मम प्रीत्याह चण्डिकाम् ॥
tataḥ parivṛtastābhirīśāno devaśaktibhiḥ hanyantāmasurāḥ śīghraṃ mama prītyāha caṇḍikām
MeaningThen Ishana (Shiva), surrounded by those shaktis of the gods, said to Chandika: 'Let the asuras be slain quickly, for my satisfaction.'
ततो देवीशरीरात्तु विनिष्क्रान्तातिभीषणा । चण्डिका शक्तिरत्युग्रा शिवाशतनिनादिनी ॥
tato devīśarīrāttu viniṣkrāntātibhīṣaṇā caṇḍikā śaktiratyugrā śivāśataninādinī
MeaningThereupon from the body of the Devi came forth the shakti of Chandika, most terrible and exceedingly fierce, howling like a hundred jackals (shivas).
सा चाह धूम्रजटिलमीशानमपराजिता । दूत त्वं गच्छ भगवन् पार्श्वं शुम्भनिशुम्भयोः ॥
sā cāha dhūmrajaṭilamīśānamaparājitā dūta tvaṃ gaccha bhagavan pārśvaṃ śumbhaniśumbhayoḥ
MeaningAnd she, the unconquered one, said to Ishana (Shiva) of smoke-coloured matted locks: 'Go, O Lord, as a messenger, to the side of Shumbha and Nishumbha.
ब्रूहि शुम्भं निशुम्भं च दानवावतिगर्वितौ । ये चान्ये दानवास्तत्र युद्धाय समुपस्थिताः ॥
brūhi śumbhaṃ niśumbhaṃ ca dānavāvatigarvitau ye cānye dānavāstatra yuddhāya samupasthitāḥ
MeaningTell Shumbha and Nishumbha, the two exceedingly arrogant danavas, and the other danavas assembled there for battle:
त्रैलोक्यमिन्द्रो लभतां देवाः सन्तु हविर्भुजः । यूयं प्रयात पातालं यदि जीवितुमिच्छथ ॥
trailokyamindro labhatāṃ devāḥ santu havirbhujaḥ yūyaṃ prayāta pātālaṃ yadi jīvitumicchatha
Meaning'Let Indra obtain the three worlds, let the gods enjoy their sacrificial shares; go you to the nether world (patala), if you wish to live.
बलावलेपादथ चेद्भवन्तो युद्धकाङ्क्षिणः । तदागच्छत तृप्यन्तु मच्छिवाः पिशितेन वः ॥
balāvalepādatha cedbhavanto yuddhakāṅkṣiṇaḥ tadāgacchata tṛpyantu macchivāḥ piśitena vaḥ
MeaningBut if, out of pride in your strength, you long for battle — then come, and let my jackals (shivas) be sated with your flesh.''
यतो नियुक्तो दौत्येन तया देव्या शिवः स्वयम् । शिवदूतीति लोकेऽस्मिंस्ततः सा ख्यातिमागता ॥
yato niyukto dautyena tayā devyā śivaḥ svayam śivadūtīti loke'smiṃstataḥ sā khyātimāgatā
MeaningBecause Shiva himself was appointed by that Devi as a messenger (duta), she therefore became renowned in this world as Shivaduti.
तेऽपि श्रुत्वा वचो देव्याः शर्वाख्यातं महासुराः । अमर्षापूरिता जग्मुर्यत्र कात्यायनी स्थिता ॥
te'pi śrutvā vaco devyāḥ śarvākhyātaṃ mahāsurāḥ amarṣāpūritā jagmuryatra kātyāyanī sthitā
MeaningThose great asuras too, hearing the Devi's words reported by Sharva (Shiva), filled with indignation, went to where Katyayani stood.
ततः प्रथममेवाग्रे शरशक्त्यृष्टिवृष्टिभिः । ववर्षुरुद्धतामर्षास्तां देवीममरारयः ॥
tataḥ prathamamevāgre śaraśaktyṛṣṭivṛṣṭibhiḥ vavarṣuruddhatāmarṣāstāṃ devīmamarārayaḥ
MeaningThen, at the very outset, the foes of the gods, swollen with rage, rained showers of arrows, spears and lances upon that Devi.
सा च तान् प्रहितान् बाणाञ्छूलशक्तिपरश्वधान् । चिच्छेद लीलयाध्मातधनुर्मुक्तैर्महेषुभिः ॥
sā ca tān prahitān bāṇāñchūlaśaktiparaśvadhān ciccheda līlayādhmātadhanurmuktairmaheṣubhiḥ
MeaningAnd she, with great arrows shot from her resounding drawn bow, cleft as if in play those arrows, pikes, spears and axes hurled at her.
तस्याग्रतस्तथा काली शूलपातविदारितान् । खट्वाङ्गपोथितांश्चारीन्कुर्वती व्यचरत्तदा ॥
tasyāgratastathā kālī śūlapātavidāritān khaṭvāṅgapothitāṃścārīnkurvatī vyacarattadā
MeaningBefore her, then, ranged Kali, rending the foes with the fall of her pike and crushing them with her skull-staff (khatvanga).
कमण्डलुजलाक्षेपहतवीर्यान् हतौजसः । ब्रह्माणी चाकरोच्छत्रून्येन येन स्म धावति ॥
kamaṇḍalujalākṣepahatavīryān hataujasaḥ brahmāṇī cākarocchatrūnyena yena sma dhāvati
MeaningBrahmani, wherever she ran, robbed the enemies of their valour and vigour by sprinkling water from her water-pot (kamandalu).
माहेश्वरी त्रिशूलेन तथा चक्रेण वैष्णवी । दैत्याञ्जघान कौमारी तथा शक्त्यातिकोपना ॥
māheśvarī triśūlena tathā cakreṇa vaiṣṇavī daityāñjaghāna kaumārī tathā śaktyātikopanā
MeaningMaheshwari slew the daityas with her trident, Vaishnavi with her discus, and Kaumari, full of wrath, with her spear.
ऐन्द्री कुलिशपातेन शतशो दैत्यदानवाः । पेतुर्विदारिताः पृथ्व्यां रुधिरौघप्रवर्षिणः ॥
aindrī kuliśapātena śataśo daityadānavāḥ peturvidāritāḥ pṛthvyāṃ rudhiraughapravarṣiṇaḥ
MeaningBy the fall of Aindri's thunderbolt the daityas and danavas fell by the hundred upon the earth, torn open and pouring streams of blood.
तुण्डप्रहारविध्वस्ता दंष्ट्राग्रक्षतवक्षसः । वाराहमूर्त्या न्यपतंश्चक्रेण च विदारिताः ॥
tuṇḍaprahāravidhvastā daṃṣṭrāgrakṣatavakṣasaḥ vārāhamūrtyā nyapataṃścakreṇa ca vidāritāḥ
MeaningShattered by blows of the (boar's) snout, their breasts gashed by the tips of her tusks, and torn by her discus, (the asuras) fell before the Boar-form (Varahi).
नखैर्विदारितांश्चान्यान् भक्षयन्ती महासुरान् । नारसिंही चचाराजौ नादापूर्णदिगम्बरा ॥
nakhairvidāritāṃścānyān bhakṣayantī mahāsurān nārasiṃhī cacārājau nādāpūrṇadigambarā
MeaningTearing other great asuras with her claws and devouring them, Narasimhi roamed the battlefield, filling the quarters with her roar.
चण्डाट्टहासैरसुराः शिवदूत्यभिदूषिताः । पेतुः पृथिव्यां पतितांस्तांश्चखादाथ सा तदा ॥
caṇḍāṭṭahāsairasurāḥ śivadūtyabhidūṣitāḥ petuḥ pṛthivyāṃ patitāṃstāṃścakhādātha sā tadā
MeaningThe asuras, deranged by the fierce loud laughter (attahasa) of Shivaduti, fell upon the earth; and she then devoured those fallen ones.
इति मातृगणं क्रुद्धं मर्दयन्तं महासुरान् । दृष्ट्वाभ्युपायैर्विविधैर्नेशुर्देवारिसैनिकाः ॥
iti mātṛgaṇaṃ kruddhaṃ mardayantaṃ mahāsurān dṛṣṭvābhyupāyairvividhairneśurdevārisainikāḥ
MeaningSeeing the band of Mothers (Matrigana), thus enraged, crushing the great asuras by various means, the soldiers of the gods' foes fled.
पलायनपरान्दृष्ट्वा दैत्यान्मातृगणार्दितान् । योद्धुमभ्याययौ क्रुद्धो रक्तबीजो महासुरः ॥
palāyanaparāndṛṣṭvā daityānmātṛgaṇārditān yoddhumabhyāyayau kruddho raktabījo mahāsuraḥ
MeaningSeeing the daityas, tormented by the band of Mothers, bent on flight, the great asura Raktabija came forth in wrath to fight.
रक्तबिन्दुर्यदा भूमौ पतत्यस्य शरीरतः । समुत्पतति मेदिन्यां तत्प्रमाणो महासुरः ॥
raktabinduryadā bhūmau patatyasya śarīrataḥ samutpatati medinyāṃ tatpramāṇo mahāsuraḥ
MeaningWhenever a drop of blood fell from his body to the ground, there sprang up from the earth a great asura of equal stature.
युयुधे स गदापाणिरिन्द्रशक्त्या महासुरः । ततश्चैन्द्री स्ववज्रेण रक्तबीजमताडयत् ॥
yuyudhe sa gadāpāṇirindraśaktyā mahāsuraḥ tataścaindrī svavajreṇa raktabījamatāḍayat
MeaningThat great asura fought, mace in hand, with Indra's shakti (Aindri); then Aindri struck Raktabija with her own thunderbolt.
कुलिशेनाहतस्याशु बहु सुस्राव शोणितम् । समुत्तस्थुस्ततो योधास्तद्रूपास्तत्पराक्रमाः ॥
kuliśenāhatasyāśu bahu susrāva śoṇitam samuttasthustato yodhāstadrūpāstatparākramāḥ
MeaningStruck by the thunderbolt, blood at once flowed copiously from him; thereupon arose warriors of his form and his valour.
यावन्तः पतितास्तस्य शरीराद्रक्तबिन्दवः । तावन्तः पुरुषा जातास्तद्वीर्यबलविक्रमाः ॥
yāvantaḥ patitāstasya śarīrādraktabindavaḥ tāvantaḥ puruṣā jātāstadvīryabalavikramāḥ
MeaningAs many drops of blood as fell from his body, so many men (purushas) were born, of his might, strength and prowess.
ते चापि युयुधुस्तत्र पुरुषा रक्तसम्भवाः । समं मातृभिरत्युग्रशस्त्रपातातिभीषणम् ॥
te cāpi yuyudhustatra puruṣā raktasambhavāḥ samaṃ mātṛbhiratyugraśastrapātātibhīṣaṇam
MeaningAnd those men, born of blood, also fought there with the Mothers, most terribly, amid the falling of fierce weapons.
पुनश्च वज्रपातेन क्षतमस्य शिरो यदा । ववाह रक्तं पुरुषास्ततो जाताः सहस्रशः ॥
punaśca vajrapātena kṣatamasya śiro yadā vavāha raktaṃ puruṣāstato jātāḥ sahasraśaḥ
MeaningAnd again, when his head was wounded by the fall of the thunderbolt, blood flowed, and from it men were born by the thousand.
वैष्णवी समरे चैनं चक्रेणाभिजघान ह । गदया ताडयामास ऐन्द्री तमसुरेश्वरम् ॥
vaiṣṇavī samare cainaṃ cakreṇābhijaghāna ha gadayā tāḍayāmāsa aindrī tamasureśvaram
MeaningVaishnavi struck him in the battle with her discus; Aindri beat that lord of asuras with her mace.
वैष्णवीचक्रभिन्नस्य रुधिरस्रावसम्भवैः । सहस्रशो जगद्व्याप्तं तत्प्रमाणैर्महासुरैः ॥
vaiṣṇavīcakrabhinnasya rudhirasrāvasambhavaiḥ sahasraśo jagadvyāptaṃ tatpramāṇairmahāsuraiḥ
MeaningBy the streams of blood flowing from him, split by Vaishnavi's discus, the world was pervaded, thousandfold, by great asuras of his size.
शक्त्या जघान कौमारी वाराही च तथासिना । माहेश्वरी त्रिशूलेन रक्तबीजं महासुरम् ॥
śaktyā jaghāna kaumārī vārāhī ca tathāsinā māheśvarī triśūlena raktabījaṃ mahāsuram
MeaningKaumari struck the great asura Raktabija with her spear, Varahi with her sword, and Maheshwari with her trident.
स चापि गदया दैत्यः सर्वा एवाहनत् पृथक् । मातॄः कोपसमाविष्टो रक्तबीजो महासुरः ॥
sa cāpi gadayā daityaḥ sarvā evāhanat pṛthak mātṝḥ kopasamāviṣṭo raktabījo mahāsuraḥ
MeaningAnd that daitya, Raktabija the great asura, filled with wrath, smote all the Mothers, each separately, with his mace.
तस्याहतस्य बहुधा शक्तिशूलादिभिर्भुवि । पपात यो वै रक्तौघस्तेनासञ्छतशोऽसुराः ॥
tasyāhatasya bahudhā śaktiśūlādibhirbhuvi papāta yo vai raktaughastenāsañchataśo'surāḥ
MeaningFrom the stream of blood that fell to the ground from him, struck in many places by spears, pikes and the rest, hundreds of asuras came into being.
तैश्चासुरासृक्सम्भूतैरसुरैः सकलं जगत् । व्याप्तमासीत्ततो देवा भयमाजग्मुरुत्तमम् ॥
taiścāsurāsṛksambhūtairasuraiḥ sakalaṃ jagat vyāptamāsīttato devā bhayamājagmuruttamam
MeaningAnd by those asuras born of the asura's blood the whole world was pervaded; thereupon the gods fell into the deepest fear.
तान् विषण्णान् सुरान् दृष्ट्वा चण्डिका प्राहसत्वरम् । उवाच कालीं चामुण्डे विस्तीर्णं वदनं कुरु ॥
tān viṣaṇṇān surān dṛṣṭvā caṇḍikā prāhasatvaram uvāca kālīṃ cāmuṇḍe vistīrṇaṃ vadanaṃ kuru
MeaningSeeing the gods dejected, Chandika laughed and quickly said to Kali: 'O Chamunda, open wide your mouth!
मच्छस्त्रपातसम्भूतान् रक्तबिन्दून् महासुरान् । रक्तबिन्दोः प्रतीच्छ त्वं वक्त्रेणानेन वेगिना ॥
macchastrapātasambhūtān raktabindūn mahāsurān raktabindoḥ pratīccha tvaṃ vaktreṇānena veginā
MeaningWith this swift mouth of yours, receive the drops of blood, and the great asuras sprung from the drops of blood, born of the fall of my weapon.
भक्षयन्ती चरन् रणे तदुत्पन्नान्महासुरान् । एवमेष क्षयं दैत्यः क्षेणरक्तो गमिष्यति ॥
bhakṣayantī caran raṇe tadutpannānmahāsurān evameṣa kṣayaṃ daityaḥ kṣeṇarakto gamiṣyati
MeaningRoam the battlefield devouring the great asuras born from him; thus this daitya, his blood drained, shall go to destruction.
भक्ष्यमाणास्त्वया चोग्रा न चोत्पत्स्यन्ति चापरे । इत्युक्त्वा तां ततो देवी शूलेनाभिजघान तम् ॥
bhakṣyamāṇāstvayā cogrā na cotpatsyanti cāpare ityuktvā tāṃ tato devī śūlenābhijaghāna tam
MeaningAs you devour them, these fierce ones (will perish), and no others shall arise.' Having said this, the Devi then smote him with her pike.
मुखेन काली जगृहे रक्तबीजस्य शोणितम् । ततोऽसावाजघानाथ गदया तत्र चण्डिकाम् ॥
mukhena kālī jagṛhe raktabījasya śoṇitam tato'sāvājaghānātha gadayā tatra caṇḍikām
MeaningKali caught the blood of Raktabija with her mouth. Then he struck Chandika there with his mace.
न चास्या वेदनां चक्रे गदापातोऽल्पिकामपि । तस्याहतस्य देहात्तु बहु सुस्राव शोणितम् ॥
na cāsyā vedanāṃ cakre gadāpāto'lpikāmapi tasyāhatasya dehāttu bahu susrāva śoṇitam
MeaningBut the blow of his mace caused her not even the slightest pain; and from his stricken body blood flowed copiously.
यतस्ततस्तद्वक्त्रेण चामुण्डा सम्प्रतीच्छति । मुखे समुद्गता येऽस्या रक्तपातान्महासुराः ॥
yatastatastadvaktreṇa cāmuṇḍā sampratīcchati mukhe samudgatā ye'syā raktapātānmahāsurāḥ
MeaningFrom wherever it flowed, Chamunda received it with her mouth; and whatever great asuras arose in her mouth from the falling blood —
तांश्चखादाथ चामुण्डा पपौ तस्य च शोणितम् । देवी शूलेन वज्रेण बाणैरसिभिरृष्टिभिः ॥
tāṃścakhādātha cāmuṇḍā papau tasya ca śoṇitam devī śūlena vajreṇa bāṇairasibhirṛṣṭibhiḥ
Meaningthose Chamunda devoured, and drank his blood. The Devi, with pike, thunderbolt, arrows, swords and lances,
जघान रक्तबीजं तं चामुण्डापीतशोणितम् । स पपात महीपृष्ठे शस्त्रसङ्घसमाहतः ॥
jaghāna raktabījaṃ taṃ cāmuṇḍāpītaśoṇitam sa papāta mahīpṛṣṭhe śastrasaṅghasamāhataḥ
Meaningsmote that Raktabija whose blood was being drunk by Chamunda; and he fell upon the surface of the earth, struck down by the multitude of weapons.
नीरक्तश्च महीपाल रक्तबीजो महासुरः । ततस्ते हर्षमतुलमवापुस्त्रिदशा नृप ॥
nīraktaśca mahīpāla raktabījo mahāsuraḥ tataste harṣamatulamavāpustridaśā nṛpa
MeaningAnd Raktabija, the great asura, became bloodless, O protector of the earth; thereupon the gods attained boundless joy, O King.
तेषां मातृगणो जातो ननर्तासृङ्मदोद्धतः ॥
teṣāṃ mātṛgaṇo jāto nanartāsṛṅmadoddhataḥ
MeaningAnd the band of Mothers belonging to them, grown frenzied with the intoxication of blood, danced.