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Devi Mahatmyam or Durga Saptashati or Chandi Path -2

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Devi Mahatmyam or Durga Saptashati or Chandi Path

{CHAPTER 6} *****{The Slaying of Dhumralocana}

The Rishi said:
1-2. The messenger, filled with indignation on hearing the words the Devi, returned and related them in detail to the king of the daityas.
3-4. Then the asura monarch, enraged on hearing that report from his messenger, told Dhumralocana, a chieftain of the daityas: ‘O Dhumralocana, hasten together with your army and fetch here by force that shrew, distressed when dragged by her hair.
5. ‘Or if any one else stands up as her saviors, let him be slain, be he a god, a yaksa or a gandharva.’ The Rishi said:
6-7. Then the asura Dhuralocana, commanded thus by Sumbha, went forth quickly, accompanied by sixty thousand asuras.
8. On seeing the Devi stationed on the snowy mountain, he asked her aloud, ‘Come to the presence of Sumbha and Nisumbha.
9. ‘If you will not go to my lord with pleasure now, here I take you by force, distressed when dragged by your hair.’ The Devi said:
10-11. ‘You are sent by the lord of the asuras, mighty yourself and accompanied by an army. If you thus take me by force, then what can I do to you?’ The Rishi said:
12-13. Thus told, the asura Dhumralocana rushed towards her and thereupon Ambika reduced him to ashes with a mere heave of the sound ‘hum’
14. Then the great army of asuras became enraged and showered on Ambika sharp arrows, javelins, and axes.
15. Then the lion, vehicle of the Devi, shaking its mane in anger, and making the most terrific roar, fell on the army of the asuras.
16. Some asuras, it slaughtered with a blow of its fore paw, others with its mouth, and other great asuras, by treading over with its hind legs.
17. The lion, with its claws, tore out the hearts of some and severed heads with a blow of the paw.
18. And it severed arms and heads from others, and shaking its mane drank the blood from the hearts of others.
19. In a moment all that army was destroyed by that high-spirited and exceedingly enraged lion who bore the Devi.
20-21. When Sumbha, the lord of asuras, heard that asura Dhumralocana was slain by the Devi and all his army was destroyed by the lion of the Devi, he was infuriated, his lip quivered and he commanded the two mighty asuras Chanda and Munda:
22-23. ‘O Chanda, O Munda, go there with large forces, and bring her here speedily, dragging her by her hair or binding her. But if you have any doubt about doing that, then let the asuras strike (her) in the fight with all their weapons.
24. ‘When that shrew is wounded and her lion stricken down, seize that Ambika, bind and bring her quickly.’ Here ends the sixth chapter called ‘The Slaying of Dhumralocana’ of Devi-mahatmya in Markandeya purana during the period of Savarni, the Manu.


{CHAPTER 7*****The slaying of Chanda and Munda}
The Rishi said:
1-2. Then at his command the asuras, fully armed, and with Chanda and Munda at their head, marched in fourfold array.
3. They saw the Devi, smiling gently, seated upon the lion on a huge golden peak of the great mountain.
4. On seeing her, some of them excited themselves and made an effort to capture her, and others approached her, with their bows bent and swords drawn.
5. Thereupon Ambika became terribly angry with those foes, and in her anger her countenance then became dark as ink.
6. Out from the surface of her forehead, fierce with frown, issued suddenly Kali of terrible countenance, armed with a sword and noose.
7-9. Bearing the strange skull-topped staff, decorated with a garland of skull, clad in a tiger’s skin, very appalling owing to her emaciated flesh, with gaping mouth, fearful with her tongue lolling out, having deep-sunk reddish eyes and filling the regions of the sky with her roars, and falling upon impetuously and slaughtering the great asuras in that army, she devoured those hosts of the foes of the devas.
10. Snatching the elephants with one hand she flung them into her mouth together with their rear men and drivers and their warrior-riders and bells.
11. Taking likewise into her mouth the cavalry with the horses, and chariot with its driver, she ground them most frightfully with her teeth.
12. She seized one by the hair and another by the neck; one she crushed by the weight of the foot, and another of her body.
13. And she caught with her mouth the weapons and the great arms shot by those asuras and crunched them up with her teeth in her fury.
14. She destroyed all that host of mighty and evil-natured asuras, devoured some and battered others.
15. Some were killed with her word, some were beaten with her skull-topped staff, and other asuras met their death being ground with the edge of her teeth.
16. On seeing all the hosts of asuras laid low in a moment, Chanda rushed against that Kali, who was exceedingly terrible.
17. The great asura (Chanda) with very terrible showers of arrows, and Munda with discuses hurled in thousands covered that terrible-eyed(Devi).
18. Those numerous discuses, disappearing into her mouth, looked like numerous solar orbs disappearing into the midst of a cloud.
19. Thereat Kali, who was roaring frightfully, whose fearful teeth were gleaming within her dreadful mouth, laughed terribly with exceeding fury.
20. Then the Devi, mounting upon her great lion, rushed at Chanda, and seizing him by his hair, severed his head with her sword.
21. Seeing Chanda laid low, Munda also rushed at her. She felled him also the ground, striking him with her sword in her fury.
22. Seeing the most valiant Chanda and Munda laid low, the remaining army there became panicky and fled in all directions.
23. And Kali, holding the heads of Chanda and Munda in her hands, approached Chandika and said, her words mingled with very loud laughter.
24. ‘Here have I brought you the heads of Chanda and Munda as two great animal offerings in this sacrifice of battle; Sumbha and Nisumbha, you shall yourself slay.’ The Rishi said:
25-27. Thereupon seeing those asuras, Chanda and Munda brought to her, the auspicious Chandika said to Kali these playful words: ‘Because you have brought me both Chanda and Munda, you O Devi, shall be famed in the world by the name Chamunda. Here ends the seventh chapter called ‘The slaying of Chanda and Munda’ of Devi-mahatmya in Markandeya purana, during the period of Savarni, the Manu.


{CHAPTER 8} *****{The Slaying of Raktabija}
The Rishi said:
1-3. After the daitya Chanda was slain and Munda was laid low, and many of the battalions were destroyed, the lord of the asuras, powerful Sumbha, with mid overcome by anger, commanded then the mobilization of all the daitya hosts:
4. ‘Now let the eighty-six asuras – upraising their weapons – with all their forces, and the eighty-four Kambus, surrounded by their own forces, go out.
5. ‘Let the fifty asura families of Kotiviryas and the hundred families of Dhaumras go forth at my command.
6. ‘Let the asurasa Kalakas, Daurhrdas, the Mauryas and the Kalakeyas hasten at my command and march forth ready for battle.’
7. After issuing these orders, Sumbha, the lord of the asuras and a ferocious ruler, went forth, attended by many thousands of big forces.
8. Seeing that most terrible army coming, Chandika filled into space between the earth and the sky with the twang of her bow-string.
9. Thereon her lion made an exceedingly loud roar, O King, and Ambika magnified those roars with the clanging of the bell.
10. Kali, expanding her mouth wide and filling the quarters with the sound (hum ) overwhelmed the noises of her bow-string, lion and bell by her terrific roars.
11. On hearing that roar the enraged asura battalions surrounded the lion, the Devi (Chandika) and Kali on all the four sides.
12-13. At this moment, O King, in order to annihilate the enemies of devas and for the well-being of the supreme devas, there issued forth, endowed with exceeding vigour and strength, Shaktis from the bodies of Brahma, Shiva, Guha, Vishnu and Indra, and with the form of those devas went to Chandika.
14. Whatever was the form of each deva, whatever his ornaments and vehicle, in that very form his Shakti advanced to fight with the asuras.
15. In a heavenly chariot drawn by swans advanced Brahma’s Shakti carrying a rosary and Kamandalu. She is called Brahmani.
16. Maheshvari arrived, seated on a bull, holding a fine trident, wearing bracelets of great snakes and adorned with a digit of the moon.
17. Ambika Kaumari, in the form of Guha, holding a spear in hand riding on a fine peacock, advanced to attack the asuras.
18. Likewise the Shakti of Vishnu came, seated upon Garuda, holding conch, club, bow and sword in hand.
19. The Shakti of Hari, who assumed the incomparable form of a sacrificial boar, she also advanced there in a boar-like form.
20. Narasmihi arrived there, assuming a body like that of a Narasmiha, bringing down the constellations by the toss of her mane.
21. Likewise the thousand-eyed Aindri, holding a thunderbolt in hand and riding on the lord of elephants arrive just like Sakra (Indra).
22. Then Shiva, surrounded by those shaktis of the devas, said to Chandika, ‘Let the asuras be killed forthwith by you for my gratification.’
23. Thereupon from the body of Devi issued forth the Shakti of Chandika, most terrific, exceedingly fierce and yelling like a hundred jackals.
24. And that invincible (Shakti) told Shiva, of dark coloured matted locks, ‘Go, my lord, as ambassador to the presence of Sumbha and Nisumbha.
25. ‘Tell the two haughty asuras, Sumbha and Nisumbha, and the other asuras assembled there for battle.
26. “Let Indra obtain the three worlds and let the devas enjoy the sacrificial oblations. You go to the nether world, if you wish to live.
27. “But if through pride of strength you are anxious for battle, come on then. Let my jackals be satiated with your flesh.”‘
28. Because that Devi appointed “Shiva” himself as ambassador thenceforth she became renowned in this world as Shiva-duti.
29. Those great asuras, on their part, hearing the words of the Devi communicated by Shiva, were filled with indignation and went where Katyayani stood.
30. Then in the very beginning, the enraged foes of the devas poured in front on the Devi showers of arrows, javelins and spears.
31. And lightly, with the huge arrows shot from her full-drawn bow, she clove those arrows, spears, darts and axes hurled by them.
32. Then, in front of him (Sumbha), stalked Kali, piercing the enemies to pieces with her spear and crushing them with her skull-topped staff.
33. And Brahmani, wherever she moved, made the enemies bereft of valour and prowess by sprinkling on them the water from her Kamandalu.
34. The very wrathful Maheshvari slew the daityas with her trident, and Vaisnavi, with her discus and Kaumari, with her javelin.
35. Torn to pieces by the thunderbolt which come down upon them, hurled by Aindri, daityas and danavas fell on the earth in hundreds, streams of blood flowing out of them.
36. Shattered by the boar-formed goddess (Varahi)with blows of her snout, wounded in their chests by the point of her tusk and torn by her discus, (the asuras) fell down.
37. Narasmihi, filling all the quarters and the sky with her roars, roamed about in the battle, devouring other great asuras torn by her claws.
38. Demoralised by the violent laughter of Shivaduti, the asuras fell down on the earth; she then devoured them who had fallen down.
39. Seeing the enraged band of Matrs crushing the great asuras thus by various means, the troops of the enemies of devas took to their heels.
40. Seeing the asuras harassed by the band of Matrs and fleeing, the great asura Raktabija strode forward to fight in wrath.
41. Whenever from his body there fell to the ground a drop of blood, at that moment rose up from the earth asura of his stature.
42. The great asura fought with Indra’s shakti with club in his hand; then Aindri also struck Ranktabija with her thunderbolt.
43. Blood flowed quickly and profusely from him who was wounded by the thunderbolt. From the blood rose up (fresh)combatants of his form and valour.
44. As many drops of blood fell from his body, so may persons came into being, with his courage, strength and valour.
45. And those persons also sprung up from his blood fought there with the Matrs in a more dreadful manner hurling the very formidable weapons.
46. And again when his head was wounded by the fall of her thunder-bolt, his blood flowed and therefrom were born persons in thousands.
47. Vaisnavi struck him with her discus in the battle, Aindri beat that lord of asuras with her club.
48. The world was pervaded by thousands of great asuras who were of his stature and who rose up from the blood that flowed from him when cloven by the discus of Vaisnavi.
49. Kaumari struck the great asura Raktabija with her spear, Varahi with her sword, and Mahesvari with her trident.
50. And Raktabija, that great asura also, filled with wrath, struck everyone of the Matrs severally with his club.
51. From the stream of blood which fell on the earth from him when he received multiple wounds by the spears, darts and other weapons, hundreds of asuras came into being.
52. And those asuras that were born from the blood of Raktabija pervaded the whole world; the devas got intensely alarmed at this.
53-54. Seeing the devas dejected, Chandika laughed and said to Kali, ‘O Chamunda, open out your mouth wide; with this mouth quickly take in the drops of blood generated by the blow of my weapon and (also) the great asuras born of the drops of blood of Raktabija.
55. ‘Roam about in the battle-field, devouring the great asuras that spring from him. So shall this daitya, with his blood emptied, perish.
56. ‘As you go on devouring these, other fierce (asuras) will not be born.’ Having enjoined her thus, the Devi next smote him (Raktabija) with her dart.
57. Then Kali drank Raktabija’s blood with her mouth. Then and there he struck Chandika with his club.
58-60. The blow of his club caused her not even the slightest pain. And from his stricken body wherever blood flowed copiously, there Chamunda swallowed it with her mouth. The Chamunda devoured those great asuras who sprang up from the flow of blood in her mouth, and drank his (Raktabija’s ) blood.
61. The Devi (Kausiki) smote Raktabija with her dart, thunderbolt, arrows, swords, and spears, when Chamunda went on drinking his book.
62. Stricken with a multitude of weapons and bloodless, the great asura (Raktabija) fell on the ground, O King.
63. Thereupon the devas attained great joy, O King. The band of Matrs who sprang from them dance, being intoxicated with blood. Here ends the eighth chapter called ‘The Slaying of Raktabija’ of Devi-mahatmya in Markandeya-purana, during the period of Savarni, the Manu.


{CHAPTER 9} *****{The Slaying of Nisumbha}
The king (Suratha) said:
1-2. ‘Wonderful is this that you, adorable sir, have related to me about the greatness of the Devi’s act in slaying Raktabija.
3. ‘I wish to hear further what the very irate Sumbha and Nisumbha did after Raktabija was killed.’ The Rishi said:
4-5. After Raktabija was slain and other asuras were killed in the fight, the asura Sumbha and Nisumbha gave way to unbounded wrath.
6. Enraged on seeing his great army slaughtered, Nisumbha then rushed forward with the chief forces of the asuras.
7. In front of him behind him and on both sides of him, great asuras, enraged and biting their lips, advanced to slay the Devi.
8. Sumbha also, mighty in valour, went forward, surrounded, with his own troops to slay Chandika in this rage, after fighting with the Matrs.
9. Then commenced severe combat between the Devi on one side and on the other, Sumbha and Nisumbha who, like two thunder-clouds, rained a most tempestuous shower of arrows on her.
10. Chandika with numerous arrows quickly split the arrows shot by the two asuras and smote the two lords of asuras on their limbs with her mass of weapons.
11. Nisumbha, grasping a sharp sword and a shining shield, struck the lion, the great carrier of the Devi on the head.
12. When her carrier was struck, the Devi quickly cut Nisumbha’s superb sword with a sharp-edged arrow and also his shield on which eight moons were figured.
13. When his shield was slit and his sword too broken, the asura hurled his spear; and that missile also, as it advanced towards her, was split into two by her discus.
14. Then the danava Nisumbha, swelling with wrath, seized a dart; and that also, as it came, the Devi powdered with a blow of her fist.
15. Then brandishing his club, he flung it against Chandika; cleft by the trident of the Devi, it also turned to ashes.
16. Then the Devi assailed the heroic danava advancing with battle-axe in hand, and laid him low on the ground.
17. When his brother Nisumbha of terrific prowess fell to the ground, (Sumbha) got infuriated in the extreme, and strode forward to slay Ambika.
18. Standing in his chariot and grasping excellent weapons in his long and incomparable eight arms, he shone by pervading the entire sky.
19. Seeing him approaching, the Devi blew her conch, and made a twang of her bow-string, which was unbearable in the extreme.
20. And (the Devi) filled all directions with the ringing of her bell, which destroys the strength of all the daitya hosts.
21. The lion filled the heaven, the earth and the ten quarters of the sky with loud roars, which made the elephants give up their violent rut.
22. Then Kali, springing upwards in the sky, (came down) and struck the earth with both her hands; by its noise all the previous sounds were drowned.
23. Sivaduti made a loud ominous peal of laughter, the asuras were frightened by those sounds, and Sumbha flew into an utmost rage.
24. As Ambika said, ‘O evil-natured one, stop, stop’, the devas stationed in the sky cheered her with the words, ‘Be victorious’.
25. The spear, flaming most terribly and shining like a mass of fire, which Sumbha approaching hurled was, as it was coming along, put out by a great firebrand (from the Devi).
26. The interspace between the three worlds was pervaded by Sumbha’s lion-like roar, but the dreadful thunder-clap ( of the Devi) smothered that, O King.
27. The Devi split the arrows shot by Sumbha, and Sumbha also split the arrows discharged by her, (each with her and his) sharp arrows in hundreds and thousands.
28. Then Chandika became angry and smote him with a trident. Wounded therewith, he fainted and fell to the ground.
29. Then Nisumbha, regaining consciousness seized his bow and struck with arrows the Devi and Kali and the lion
30. And the danuja-lord, the son of Diti, putting forth a myriad arms, covered Chandika with myriad discuses.
31. Then Bhagavati Durga, the destroyer of difficulties and afflictions, became angry and split those discuses and those arrows with her own arrows.
32. Thereupon Nisumbha, surrounded by the daitya host, swiftly seizing his club, rushed at Chandika to sly her.
33. As he was just rushing at her, Chandika colve his club with her sharp-edged sword; and her took hold of a dart.
34. As Nisumbha, the afflictor of the devas, was advancing with the dart in hand, Chandika pierced him in the heart with a swiftly hurled dart.
35. From his (Nisumbha’s) heart that was pierced by the dart, issued forth another person of great strength and valour, exclaiming (at the Devi) ‘Stop.’
36. Then the Devi, laughing aloud, severed the head of him, who issued forth, with her sword. Thereupon he fell to the ground.
37. The lion then devoured those asuras whose necks he had crushed with his fierce teeth, and Kali and Sivaduti devoured others.
38. Some great asuras perished, being pierced through by the spear if Kaumari. Others were repulsed by (sprinkling of ) the water purified by the incantation of Brahmani.
39. Others fell, pierced by a trident wielded by Mahesvari; some were powdered on the ground by the blows from the snout of Varahi.
40. Some danavas were cut to pieces by the discus of Vaisnavi, and others again by the thunderbolt discharged from the palm of Aindri. 41. Some asuras perished (themselves), some fled from the great battle, and others were devoured by Kali, Sivaduti and the lion. Here ends the ninth chapter called ‘the Slaying of Nisumbha’ of Devi mahatmya in Markandeya-purana during the period of Savarni, the Manu.


{CHAPTER 10} *****{The Slaying of Sumbha}
The Rishi said:
1-3. Seeing his brother Nisumbha slain, who was dear to him as his life, and his army being slaughter, Sumbha angrily said. ‘O Durga who are puffed up with pride of strength, don’t show your pride (here). Though you are exceedingly haughty, you, resorting to the strength of others, fight.’ The Devi said:
4-5. ‘I am all alone in the world here. Who else is there besides me? See, O vile one, these Goddesses, who are but my own powers, entering into my own self!’
6. Then all those, Brahmani and the rest, were absorbed in the body of the Devi. Ambika alone then remained. The Devi said:
7-8. ‘ The numerous forms which I projected by my power here – those have been withdrawn by me, and (now) I stand alone. Be steadfast in combat.’ The Rishi said:
9-10. Then began a dreadful battle between them both, the Devi and Sumbha, while all the devas and asuras looked on.
11. With showers of arrows, with sharp weapons and frightful missiles, both engaged again in a combat that frightened all the worlds.
12. Then the lord of daityas broke the divine missiles, which Ambika discharged in hundreds, with (weapons) that repulsed them.
13. With fierce shout of hum and the like, the Paramesvari playfully broke the excellent missiles that he discharged.
14. Then the asura covered the Devi with hundreds of arrows, and the Devi in wrath split his bow with her arrows.
15. And when the bow was split the lord of the daityas took up his spear. With a discus, the Devi split that (spear) also in this hand.
16. Next the supreme monarch of the daityas, taking his sword bright like the sun and shining shield bearing the images of a hundred moons, rushed at the Devi at that moment.
17. Just as he was rushing forward, Chandika split his sword with sharp arrows shot from her bow, as also his shield as bright as the solar rays.
18. With his steeds slain, with his bow broken, without a charioteer, the daitya then grasped his terrible mace, being ready to kill Ambika.
19. With sharp arrows, she split the mace of Sumbha, who was rushing at her. Even then, raising his fist, he rushed swiftly at her.
20. The daitya-king brought his fist down on the heart of the Devi, and the Devi also with her palm smote him on his chest.
21. The daitya-king, wounded by the blow of her palm fell on the earth, but immediately he rose up again.
22. Seizing the Devi, he sprang up and mounted on high into the sky. There also Chandika, without any support, fought with him.
23. Then the daitya (Sumbha) and Chandika fought, a never before, with each other in the sky in a close contact, which wrought surprise to the Siddhas and sages.
24. Ambika then, after carrying on a close fight for a vary long time with him, lifted him up, whirled him around and flung him down on the earth.
25. Flung thus, the evil-natured (Sumbha) reaching the earth and raising his fist, hastily rushed forward desiring to kill Chandika.
26. Seeing that lord of all the daitya-folk approaching, the Devi, piercing him on the chest with a dart, threw him down on the earth.
27. Pierced by the pointed dart of the Devi he fell lifeless on the ground, shaking the entire earth with its seas, islands and mountains.
28. When that evil-natured (asura) was slain, the universe became happy and regained perfect peace, and the sky grew clear.
29. Flaming portent-clouds that were in evidence before became tranquil, and the rivers kept within their courses when (Sumbha) was stricken down there.
30. When he had been slain, the minds of all the bands of devas became overjoyed, and the Gandharvas sang sweetly.
31-32. Others sounded (their instruments), and the bands of nymphs danced; likewise favourable winds blew; the sun became very brilliant; the sacred fires blazed peacefully and tranquil became the strange sounds that had risen in different quarters. Here ends the tenth chapter called ‘The Slaying of Sumbha’ of Devi-mahatmya in Markandeya-purana, during the period of Savarni, the Manu.


{CHAPTER 11} *****{Hymn to Narayani}
The Rishi said:
1-2. When the great lord of asuras was slain there by the Devi, Indra and other devas led by Agni, with their object fulfilled and their cheerful faces illumining the quarters, praised her, Katyayani: The devas said:
3. ‘O Devi, you who remove the sufferings of your suppliants, be gracious. Be propitious, O Mother of the whole world. Be gracious, O Mother of the universe. Protect the universe. You are, O Devi, the ruler of all that is moving and unmoving.
4. ‘You are the sole substratum of the world, because you subsist in the form of the earth. By you, who exist in the shape of water, all this (universe) is gratified, O Devi of inviolable valour!
5. ‘You are the power of Vishnu, and have endless valour. You are the primeval maya, which is the source of the universe; by you all this (universe) has been thrown into an illusion. O Devi. If you become gracious, you become the cause of final emancipation in this world.
6. ‘All lords are your aspects O Devi; so are all women in the world, endowed with various attributes. By you alone, the Mother, this world is filled. What praise can there be for you who are of the nature of primary and secondary expression regarding (objects)worthy of praise?
7. ‘When you have been lauded as the embodiment of all beings, the Devi (the effulgent one), and bestower of the enjoyment and liberation, what words, however excellent, can praise you?
8. ‘Salutation be to you, O Devi Narayani, O you who abide as intelligence in the hearts of all creatures, and bestow enjoyment and liberation.
9. ‘Salutation be to you, O Narayani, O you who, in the form of minutes, moments and other divisions of time, bring about change in things, and have (thus ) the power to destroy the universe.
10. ‘Salutation be to you O Narayani, O you who are the good of all good, O auspicious Devi, who accomplish every object, the giver of refuge, O three eyed Gauri!
11. ‘Salutation be to you, O Narayani, you who have the power of creation, sustentation and destruction and are eternal. You are the substratum and embodiment of the three gunas.
12. ‘Salutation be to you, O Narayani, O you who are intent on saving the dejected and distressed that take refuge under YOU. O you, Devi, who remove the sufferings of all!
13. ‘Salutation be to you, O Narayani, O you who ride in the heavenly chariot yoked with swans and assume the form of Brahmani, O Devi, who sprinkle water with Kusa grass.
14. ‘Salutation be to you, O Narayani, O you who bear the trident, the moon and the serpent, and ride a big bull, and have the form of Mahesvari.
15. ‘Salutation be to you, O Narayani, O you who are attended by peacock and cock, and bear a great spear. O you, who are sinless and take the form of Kaumari.
16. ‘Salutation be to you, O Naraayani, O you who hold the great weapons of conch, discus, club and bow, and take the form of Vaisnavi, be gracious.
17. ‘Salutation be to you, O Narayani, O you who grasp a huge formidable discus, and uplift the earth with thy tusk, O auspicious Devi, who has a boar-like form.
18. ‘Salutation be to you, O Narayani, O you who, in the fierce form of a man-lion, put forth your efforts to sly the daityas, O you who possess the benevolence of saving the three worlds.
19. ‘Salutation be to you, O Narayani, you who have a diadem and a great thunderbolt, are dazzling with a thousand eyes, and took away the life of Vrtra, O Aindri!
20. ‘Salutation be to you, O Narayani, O you who in the form of Sivaduti slew the mighty hosts of the daitya, O you of terrible form and loud throat!
21. ‘Salutation be to you, O Narayani, O you who have a face terrible with tusks, and are adorned with a garland of heads, Chamunda, O slayer of Munda!
22. ‘Salutation be to you, O Narayani, O you who are good fortune, modesty, great wisdom, faith, nourishment and Svadha, O you who are immovable O you, great Night and great Illusion.
23. ‘Salutation be to you, O Narayani, O you who are intelligence and Sarasvati, O best one, prosperity, consort of Vishnu, dark one, nature, be propitious.
24. ‘O Queen of all, you who exist in the form of all, and possess every might, save us from error, O Devi. Salutation be to you, Devi Durga!
25. ‘May this benign countenance of yours adorned with three eyes, protect us from all fears. Salutation be to you, O Katyayani!
26. ‘Terrible with flames, exceedingly sharp destroyer of all the asuras, may your trident guard us from fear. salutation be to you, O Bhadrakali!
27. ‘May your bell that fills the world with its ringing, and destroys the prowess of the daityas, guard us, O Devi, as a mother protects her children, from all evils.
28. ‘May your sword, smeared with the mire like blood and fat of asuras, and gleaming with rays, be for our welfare, O Chandika, we bow to you.
29. ‘When satisfied, you destroy all illness but when wrathful you (frustrate) all the longed-for desires. No calamity befalls men who have sought you. Those who have sought you become verily a refuge of others.
30. ‘This slaughter that you, O Devi, multiplying your won form into many, have now wrought on the great asuras who hate righteousness, O Ambika, which other (goddess) can do that work?
31. ‘Who is there except you in the sciences, in the scriptures, and in the Vedic sayings the light the lamp of discrimination? (Still) you cause this universe to whirl about again and again within the dense darkness of the depths of attachment.
32. ‘Where raksasas and snakes of virulent poison (are), where foes and hosts of robbers (exist), where forest conflagrations (occur), there and in the mid-sea, you stand and save world.
33. ‘O Queen of the universe, you protect the universe. As the self of the universe, you support the universe. You are the (goddess) worthy to be adored by the Lord of the universe. Those who bow in devotion to you themselves become the refuge of the universe.
34. ‘O Devi, be pleased and protect us always from fear of foes, as you have done just now by the slaughter of asuras. And destroy quickly the sins of all worlds and the great calamities which have sprung from the maturing of evil portents.
35. ‘O Devi you who remove the afflictions of the universe, be gracious to us who have bowed to you. O you worthy of adoration by the dwellers of the three worlds, be boon-giver to the worlds.’ The Devi said:
36-37. ‘O Devas, I am prepared to bestow a boon. Choose whatever boon you desire in your mind, for the welfare of the world. I shall grant it.’ The devas said:
38-39. ‘ O Queen of all, this same manner, you must destroy all our enemies and all the afflictions of three worlds. The Devi said:
40-41. ‘When the twenty-eighth age has arrived during the period of Avaisvsvata Manu, two other great asuras, Sumbha and Nisumbha will be born.
42. ‘Then born from the womb of Yasoda, in the home of cowherd Nanda, and dwelling on the Vindhya mountains, I will destroy them both.
43. ‘And again having incarnated in a very terrible form on the earth, I shall slay the danavas, who are the descendants of Vipracitti.
44. ‘When I shall devour the fierce and great asuras descended from Vipracitti, my teeth shall become red like the flower of pomegranate.
45. ‘Therefore when devas in heaven and men on the earth praise me, shall always talk of me as the ‘Red-toothed.’
46. ‘And again when rain shall fail for a period of hundred years, propitiated by the munis I shall be born on the drought-ridden earth, but not womb-begotten.
47. ‘Then I shall behold the munis with a hundred eyes and so mankind shall glorify me as the ‘hundred-eyed.’
48. ‘At that time, O devas, I shall maintain the whole world with life -sustaining vegetables, born out of my own (cosmic) body, till rains set in.
49. ‘I shall be famed on the earth then as Sakambhari. At that very period I shall slay the great asura named Durgama.
50-53. ‘Thereby I shall have the celebrated name of Durgadevi and again, assuming a terrible form on the mountain Himalaya, I shall destroy the raksasas for the protection of the munis. Then all the munis, bowing their bodies reverently, shall praise me, and thereby I shall have the celebrated name of Bhimadevi. When the (asura) named Aruna shall work great havoc in the three worlds, having taken a (collective) bee-form, consisting of innumerable bees, I shall slay the great asura for the good of the world.
54-55. ‘And then people shall laud me every where as Bhramari. Thus whenever trouble arises due to the advent of the danavas, I shall incarnate and destroy the foes.’ Here ends the eleventh chapter called ‘Hymn to Narayani’ of Devi-mahatmyam in Markandeyapurana, during the period of Savarni, the Manu.


{CHAPTER 12} *****{Eulogy of the Merits}
The Devi said:
1-2. ‘And whoever with a concentrated mind shall pray to me constantly with these, hymns, I shall without doubt put down every trouble of his.
3. ‘And those who shall laud (the story of) the destruction of Madhu and Kaitabha, the slaughter Nisumbha likewise.
4-5. ‘And those also who shall listen with devotion to this sublime poem on my greatness on the eighth, the fourteenth and on the ninth days of the fortnight with concentrated mind, to them nothing wrong shall happen, nor calamities that arise from wrong doings nor poverty and never separation from beloved ones.
6. ‘He shall not experience fear from enemies, or from robbers and kings, or from weapon, fire and flood.
7. ‘Hence this poem of my greatness must be chanted by men of concentrated minds an dlistened to always with devotion; for it is the supreme course of well-being.
8. ‘May this poem of my glories quell all epidemic calamities, as also the threefold naturral calamities.
9. ‘The place of my sanctuary where this poem os duly chanted everyday, I will never forsake and there my presence is certain.
10. ‘When sacrifice is offered, during worship, in the fire-ceremony, and at a great festival, all this poem on my acts must be chanted and heard.
11. ‘I will accept with love the sacrifice and worship that are made and the fire-offering that is offered likewise, whethere they are done with due knowledge (of sacrifice) or not.
12-13. ‘During autumnal seasson, when the great annual worship is performed, the man hearing this glorification of mine with devotion shall certainly through my grace, be delivered without doubt from all troubles and be blessed with riches, grains and children.
14. ‘Hearing this glorification and auspicious appearances of mine, and my feats of prowess in battles, a man becomes fearless.
15. ‘Enemies perish, welfare accrues and the family rejoices for those who listen to this glorification of mine.
16. ‘Let one listen to this glorification of mine everywhere, at a propitiatory ceremony, on seeing a bad dream, and when there is the great evil influence of planets.
17. ‘(By that means) evil protents subside, as also the unfavourable influence of planets, and the bad dream seen by men turns into a good dream.
18. ‘It creates peacefulness in children possessed by the seizes of children(i.e., evil spirits), and it is the best promoter of friendship among men when split occurs in their union.
19. ‘It diminishes most effectively the power of all men of evil ways. Verily demons, goblins, and ogres are destroyed by its mere chanting.
20-30. ‘This entire glorification of mine draws ( a devotee) very near to me. And by means of finest cattle, flowers, arghya and incenses, and by perfumes and lamps, by feeding Brahmanas, by oblations, by sprinkling (consecrated) water, and by various other offerings and gifts (if one worships) day and night in a year-the gratificattion, which is done to me, is attained by listening but once to this holy story of mine. The chanting and hearing of the story of my manifestations remove sins, and grant perfect health and protect one from evil spirits; and when my martial exploit in the form of the slaughter of the wicked daityas is listened to, men will have no fear from enemies. And the hymns uttered by you, and those by the divine sages, and those by Brahma bestow a pious mind. He who is (lost) on a lonesome spot in a forest, or is surrounded by forest fire, or who is surrounded by robbers in a desolate sopt, or who is captured by enemies, or who is pursued by a lion, or tiger, or by wild elephants in a forest, or who, under the orders of a wrathful kinng, is sentenced to death, or has been imprisoned, or who is tossed about in his boat by a tempest in the vast sea, or who is in the most terrible battle under shower of weapons, or who is amidst all kinds of dreadful troubles, or who is afflicted with pain – such a man on remembering this story of mine is saved from his strait. Through my power, lions etc., robbers and enemies, flee from a distance from him who remembers this story of mine.’ The Rishi said:
31-32. Having spoken thus the adorable Chandika, fierce in prowess, vanished on that very spot even as the Devas were gazing one.
33. Their foes having been killed, all the devas also were delivered from fear; all of them resumed their own duties as before and participated in their shares of sacrifices.
34-35. When the exceedingly valourous Sumbha and Nisumbha, the most fierce foes of devas, who brought ruin on the world, and who were unparallelled in prowess had been slain by the Devi in battle, the remaining daityas went away to Patala.
36. Thus O King, the adorable Devi, although eternal, incarnating again and again, protects the world.
37. By her this universe is deluded, and it is she who creates this universe. And when entreated, she bestows supreme knowledge, and whne propitiated, whe bestows prosperity.
38. By her, the Mahakali, who takes the form of the great destroyer at the end of time, all this cosmic sphere is pervaded.
39. She indeed takes the form of the great destroyer at the (proper) time. She, the unborn, indeed becomes this creation (at the time proper for re-creation), She herself, the eternal Being, sustains the beings at (another) time.
40. In times of prosperity, she indeed is Lakshmi, who bestows prosperity in the homes of men; and in times of misfortune, she herself becomes the goddess of misfortune, and brings about ruin.
41. When praised and worshipped with flowers, incense, perfumes, etc., she bestows wealth and sons, and a mind bent on righteousness and prosperous life. Here ends the twelfth chapter called ‘Eulogy of the Merits’ of Devi-mahatmya in the period of Markandya-purana, during the period of Savarni, the Manu.


Devi Mahatmyam or Durga Saptashati or Chandi Path

{CHAPTER 13} *****{The bestowing of boons to Suratha and Vaisya}
The Rishi said:
1-2. I have now narrated to you, O King, this sublime poem on the glory of the Devi.
3. The Devi is endowed with such majestic power. By her this world is upheld. Knowledge is similarly conferred by her, the illusive power of Bhagavan Vishnu.
4. By her, you, this merchant and other men of discrimination, are being deluded; and others were deluded (in the past), and will be deluded (in the future).
5. O great King, take refuge in her, the supremem Isvari. She indeed when worshipped bestows on men enjoyment, heaven and final release (from transmigration). Markandeya said (to his disciple Bhaguri):
6-8. O great sage, King Suratha who had become despondent consequent on his excessive attachment and the deprivation of his kingdom, and the merchant, having heard this speech prostrated before the illustrious Rishi of sever penances and immediately repaired to perform austerities.
9. Both king and the merchant, in order to obtain a vision of Amba, stationed themselves on the sand-bank of a river and practised penances, chanting the supreme Devi-sukta (hymn to the Devi).
10. Having made an earthen image of the Devi on the sands of the river, they both wroshipped her with flowers, incense, fire and libation of water.
11. Now abstaining from food, and now restraining in their food, with their minds on ther and with concentration, they both offered sacrifices sprinkled with blood drawn from their own bodies.
12. When they, with controlled minds propitiated her thus for three years, Chandika, the upholder of the world, was well pleased and spoke to them in visible form. The Devi said:
13-15. What you solicit, O King, and you, the delight of your family, receive all that from me. Well-leased I bestow those to you both. Markandaya said:
16-17. Then the King chose a kingdom, imperishable even in another life, and in this life itself, his own kingdom wherein the power of his enemies is destroyed by force.
18. Then the wise merchant also, whose mind was full of dipassion for the world, chose tha knowledge which removes the attachment (in the form of) ‘mine’ and ‘I’. The Devi said:
19-21. O King, after slaying your foes in a few days, you shall obtain your own kingodm and it shall last with you there.
22-23. ‘And, when you are dead, you shall gain another birth from the Deva Vivasvat (Sun), and shall be a Manu on earth by name Savarni.
24-25. ‘and, O the best of merchants, I grant you the boon which you have desired of me. (Supreme) knowledge shall be yours, for your self-realization’. Markandeya said:
26-27. Having thus granted them both the boon that wach desired, the Devi disappeared forthwith, as they were extolling her with devotion.
28-29. Having thus gained the boon from the Devi, Suratha, the foremost of Ksatriyas, shall obtain a new birth through Surya (and of his wife Savarna), and shall be the Manu(eighth) named Savarni, shall be the Manu named Savarni. Here ends the thirteenth chpater called ‘The bestowing of boons to Suratha and Vaisya’ of Devi-mahatmya in Markandeyapurana, during the period of Savarni, the Manu.
Here ends the Devi-Mahatmya of 700 Mantras.
 

1 (My humble salutations to Swamyjis , Philosophic Scholars, Knowledge seekers for the collection)



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