। ध्यानम् ।
ॐ बन्धूककाञ्चननिभं रुचिराक्षमालां
पाशाङ्कुशौ च वरदां निजबाहुदण्डैः ।
बिभ्राणमिन्दुशकलाभरणं त्रिनेत्र-
मर्धांबिकेशमनिशं वपुराश्रयामि ॥
| dhyānam |
oṃ bandhūkakāñcananibhaṃ rucirākṣamālāṃ
pāśāṅkuśau ca varadāṃ nijabāhudaṇḍaiḥ |
bibhrāṇaminduśakalābharaṇaṃ trinetra-
mardhāṃbikeśamaniśaṃ vapurāśrayāmi ||
Meaning Meditation (dhyāna) verse — invocatory: I ever take refuge in the form of the Goddess, radiant like the bandhūka flower and gold, who holds in her arms a lovely rosary, the noose and goad, and the boon-granting gesture, adorned with a crescent moon and three-eyed — the form of Ardha-Ambikeśa (the Lord who is half-Ambikā, i.e. Ardhanārīśvara).
ॐ राजोवाच ॥ ९.१॥
oṃ rājovāca || 9.1||
Meaning Om. The king (Suratha) said:
विचित्रमिदमाख्यातं भगवन् भवता मम ।
देव्याश्चरितमाहात्म्यं रक्तबीजवधाश्रितम् ॥ ९.२॥
vicitramidamākhyātaṃ bhagavan bhavatā mama |
devyāścaritamāhātmyaṃ raktabījavadhāśritam || 9.2||
Meaning O revered one (Bhagavan), you have narrated to me this wondrous account and glory of the Devi, centred upon the slaying of Raktabīja.
भूयश्चेच्छाम्यहं श्रोतुं रक्तबीजे निपातिते ।
चकार शुम्भो यत्कर्म निशुम्भश्चातिकोपनः ॥ ९.३॥
bhūyaścecchāmyahaṃ śrotuṃ raktabīje nipātite |
cakāra śumbho yatkarma niśumbhaścātikopanaḥ || 9.3||
Meaning I wish to hear further what deed the exceedingly wrathful Śumbha and Niśumbha performed after Raktabīja had been felled.
ऋषिरुवाच ॥ ९.४॥
ṛṣiruvāca || 9.4||
Meaning The sage (Medhas) said:
चकार कोपमतुलं रक्तबीजे निपातिते ।
शुम्भासुरो निशुम्भश्च हतेष्वन्येषु चाहवे ॥ ९.५॥
cakāra kopamatulaṃ raktabīje nipātite |
śumbhāsuro niśumbhaśca hateṣvanyeṣu cāhave || 9.5||
Meaning When Raktabīja had been slain and the other demons too had been killed in battle, the demon Śumbha and Niśumbha were seized with unequalled fury.
हन्यमानं महासैन्यं विलोक्यामर्षमुद्वहन् ।
अभ्यधावन्निशुम्भोऽथ मुख्ययासुरसेनया ॥ ९.६॥
hanyamānaṃ mahāsainyaṃ vilokyāmarṣamudvahan |
abhyadhāvanniśumbho'tha mukhyayāsurasenayā || 9.6||
Meaning Seeing his vast army being slaughtered, and filled with indignation, Niśumbha then charged forward with the foremost demon host.
तस्याग्रतस्तथा पृष्ठे पार्श्वयोश्च महासुराः ।
सन्दष्टौष्ठपुटाः क्रुद्धा हन्तुं देवीमुपाययुः ॥ ९.७॥
tasyāgratastathā pṛṣṭhe pārśvayośca mahāsurāḥ |
sandaṣṭauṣṭhapuṭāḥ kruddhā hantuṃ devīmupāyayuḥ || 9.7||
Meaning In front of him, behind, and on both his flanks, the great demons, biting their lips in rage, advanced to slay the Devi.
आजगाम महावीर्यः शुम्भोऽपि स्वबलैर्वृतः ।
निहन्तुं चण्डिकां कोपात्कृत्वा युद्धं तु मातृभिः ॥ ९.८॥
ājagāma mahāvīryaḥ śumbho'pi svabalairvṛtaḥ |
nihantuṃ caṇḍikāṃ kopātkṛtvā yuddhaṃ tu mātṛbhiḥ || 9.8||
Meaning Śumbha too, of great might, having waged war with the Mothers (Mātṛs), came surrounded by his own forces, in wrath to slay Caṇḍikā.
ततो युद्धमतीवासीद्देव्या शुम्भनिशुम्भयोः ।
शरवर्षमतीवोग्रं मेघयोरिव वर्षतोः ॥ ९.९॥
tato yuddhamatīvāsīddevyā śumbhaniśumbhayoḥ |
śaravarṣamatīvograṃ meghayoriva varṣatoḥ || 9.9||
Meaning Then there ensued a most fierce battle between the Devi and Śumbha and Niśumbha, with an exceedingly terrible rain of arrows, like two clouds pouring down rain.
चिच्छेदास्ताञ्छरांस्ताभ्यां चण्डिका स्वशरोत्करैः ।
ताडयामास चाङ्गेषु शस्त्रौघैरसुरेश्वरौ ॥ ९.१०॥
cicchedāstāñcharāṃstābhyāṃ caṇḍikā svaśarotkaraiḥ |
tāḍayāmāsa cāṅgeṣu śastraughairasureśvarau || 9.10||
Meaning Caṇḍikā cut down the arrows loosed by the two with her own volleys of arrows, and struck those two demon lords upon their limbs with floods of weapons.
निशुम्भो निशितं खड्गं चर्म चादाय सुप्रभम् ।
अताडयन्मूर्ध्नि सिंहं देव्या वाहनमुत्तमम् ॥ ९.११॥
niśumbho niśitaṃ khaḍgaṃ carma cādāya suprabham |
atāḍayanmūrdhni siṃhaṃ devyā vāhanamuttamam || 9.11||
Meaning Niśumbha, taking up a sharp sword and a bright shield, struck upon the head the lion, the Devi's excellent mount.
ताडिते वाहने देवी क्षुरप्रेणासिमुत्तमम् ।
निशुम्भस्याशु चिच्छेद चर्म चाप्यष्टचन्द्रकम् ॥ ९.१२॥
tāḍite vāhane devī kṣurapreṇāsimuttamam |
niśumbhasyāśu ciccheda carma cāpyaṣṭacandrakam || 9.12||
Meaning When her mount was struck, the Devi swiftly, with a razor-edged (crescent) arrow, cut off Niśumbha's fine sword and also his shield marked with eight moons.
छिन्ने चर्मणि खड्गे च शक्तिं चिक्षेप सोऽसुरः ।
तामप्यस्य द्विधा चक्रे चक्रेणाभिमुखागताम् ॥ ९.१३॥
chinne carmaṇi khaḍge ca śaktiṃ cikṣepa so'suraḥ |
tāmapyasya dvidhā cakre cakreṇābhimukhāgatām || 9.13||
Meaning His shield and sword being severed, that demon hurled his śakti (dart); as it came toward her, she too split it in two with her discus.
कोपाध्मातो निशुम्भोऽथ शूलं जग्राह दानवः ।
आयातं मुष्टिपातेन देवी तच्चाप्यचूर्णयत् ॥ ९.१४॥
kopādhmāto niśumbho'tha śūlaṃ jagrāha dānavaḥ |
āyātaṃ muṣṭipātena devī taccāpyacūrṇayat || 9.14||
Meaning Then Niśumbha the dānava, swollen with rage, seized a trident; as it came on, the Devi shattered even that to powder with a blow of her fist.
आविद्याथ गदां सोऽपि चिक्षेप चण्डिकां प्रति ।
सापि देव्यास् त्रिशूलेन भिन्ना भस्मत्वमागता ॥ ९.१५॥
āvidyātha gadāṃ so'pi cikṣepa caṇḍikāṃ prati |
sāpi devyās triśūlena bhinnā bhasmatvamāgatā || 9.15||
Meaning Then, brandishing a mace, he too hurled it at Caṇḍikā; but that too, cleft by the Devi's trident, was reduced to ashes.
ततः परशुहस्तं तमायान्तं दैत्यपुङ्गवम् ।
आहत्य देवी बाणौघैरपातयत भूतले ॥ ९.१६॥
tataḥ paraśuhastaṃ tamāyāntaṃ daityapuṅgavam |
āhatya devī bāṇaughairapātayata bhūtale || 9.16||
Meaning Then, as that bull among daityas advanced with an axe in hand, the Devi struck him with showers of arrows and felled him to the ground.
तस्मिन्निपतिते भूमौ निशुम्भे भीमविक्रमे ।
भ्रातर्यतीव सङ्क्रुद्धः प्रययौ हन्तुमम्बिकाम् ॥ ९.१७॥
tasminnipatite bhūmau niśumbhe bhīmavikrame |
bhrātaryatīva saṅkruddhaḥ prayayau hantumambikām || 9.17||
Meaning When his brother Niśumbha of terrible valour had fallen to the ground, (Śumbha,) exceedingly enraged, advanced to slay Ambikā.
स रथस्थस्तथात्युच्चैर्गृहीतपरमायुधैः ।
भुजैरष्टाभिरतुलैर्व्याप्याशेषं बभौ नभः ॥ ९.१८॥
sa rathasthastathātyuccairgṛhītaparamāyudhaiḥ |
bhujairaṣṭābhiratulairvyāpyāśeṣaṃ babhau nabhaḥ || 9.18||
Meaning Standing in his chariot, towering exceedingly high, grasping supreme weapons in his eight matchless arms, he (Śumbha) shone, pervading the whole sky.
तमायान्तं समालोक्य देवी शङ्खमवादयत् ।
ज्याशब्दं चापि धनुषश्चकारातीव दुःसहम् ॥ ९.१९॥
tamāyāntaṃ samālokya devī śaṅkhamavādayat |
jyāśabdaṃ cāpi dhanuṣaścakārātīva duḥsaham || 9.19||
Meaning Seeing him approach, the Devi blew her conch and made the twang of her bowstring exceedingly hard to bear.
पूरयामास ककुभो निजघण्टास्वनेन च ।
समस्तदैत्यसैन्यानां तेजोवधविधायिना ॥ ९.२०॥
pūrayāmāsa kakubho nijaghaṇṭāsvanena ca |
samastadaityasainyānāṃ tejovadhavidhāyinā || 9.20||
Meaning And she filled all the quarters with the peal of her bell, which destroyed the vigour of the entire demon host.
ततः सिंहो महानादैस्त्याजितेभमहामदैः ।
पूरयामास गगनं गां तथैव दिशो दश ॥ ९.२१॥
tataḥ siṃho mahānādaistyājitebhamahāmadaiḥ |
pūrayāmāsa gaganaṃ gāṃ tathaiva diśo daśa || 9.21||
Meaning Then the lion, with mighty roars that made even the rut-maddened elephants abandon their frenzy, filled the sky, the earth, and likewise the ten directions.
ततः काली समुत्पत्य गगनं क्ष्मामताडयत् ।
कराभ्यां तन्निनादेन प्राक्स्वनास्ते तिरोहिताः ॥ ९.२२॥
tataḥ kālī samutpatya gaganaṃ kṣmāmatāḍayat |
karābhyāṃ tanninādena prāksvanāste tirohitāḥ || 9.22||
Meaning Then Kālī, leaping up into the sky, struck the earth with both her hands; by that sound the earlier sounds (of conch, bell and lion) were drowned out.
अट्टाट्टहासमशिवं शिवदूती चकार ह ।
वैः शब्दैरसुरास्त्रेसुः शुम्भः कोपं परं ययौ ॥ ९.२३॥
aṭṭāṭṭahāsamaśivaṃ śivadūtī cakāra ha |
vaiḥ śabdairasurāstresuḥ śumbhaḥ kopaṃ paraṃ yayau || 9.23||
Meaning Śivadūtī let forth an inauspicious, roaring laughter; at those sounds the demons trembled in fear, and Śumbha fell into the utmost rage.
दुरात्मंस्तिष्ठ तिष्ठेति व्याजहाराम्बिका यदा ।
तदा जयेत्यभिहितं देवैराकाशसंस्थितैः ॥ ९.२४॥
durātmaṃstiṣṭha tiṣṭheti vyājahārāmbikā yadā |
tadā jayetyabhihitaṃ devairākāśasaṃsthitaiḥ || 9.24||
Meaning When Ambikā called out, 'O evil-souled one, stop, stop!', then the gods stationed in the sky cried out, 'Victory (to you)!'
शुम्भेनागत्य या शक्तिर्मुक्ता ज्वालातिभीषणा ।
आयान्ती वह्निकूटाभा सा निरस्ता महोल्कया ॥ ९.२५॥
śumbhenāgatya yā śaktirmuktā jvālātibhīṣaṇā |
āyāntī vahnikūṭābhā sā nirastā maholkayā || 9.25||
Meaning The śakti of most fearsome flames, which Śumbha came and hurled, advancing like a mass of fire, was struck down by a great firebrand (meteor-like missile).
सिंहनादेन शुम्भस्य व्याप्तं लोकत्रयान्तरम् ।
निर्घातनिःस्वनो घोरो जितवानवनीपते ॥ ९.२६॥
siṃhanādena śumbhasya vyāptaṃ lokatrayāntaram |
nirghātaniḥsvano ghoro jitavānavanīpate || 9.26||
Meaning The space within the three worlds was pervaded by Śumbha's lion-roar; but, O lord of the earth, the Devi's terrible thunderclap-like sound overcame it.
शुम्भमुक्ताञ्छरान्देवी शुम्भस्तत्प्रहिताञ्छरान् ।
चिच्छेद स्वशरैरुग्रैः शतशोऽथ सहस्रशः ॥ ९.२७॥
śumbhamuktāñcharāndevī śumbhastatprahitāñcharān |
ciccheda svaśarairugraiḥ śataśo'tha sahasraśaḥ || 9.27||
Meaning The Devi cut down the arrows loosed by Śumbha, and Śumbha the arrows sent by her, each with their own fierce arrows, by the hundreds and by the thousands.
ततः सा चण्डिका क्रुद्धा शूलेनाभिजघान तम् ।
स तदाभिहतो भूमौ मूर्च्छितो निपपात ह ॥ ९.२८॥
tataḥ sā caṇḍikā kruddhā śūlenābhijaghāna tam |
sa tadābhihato bhūmau mūrcchito nipapāta ha || 9.28||
Meaning Then that Caṇḍikā, enraged, smote him with a trident; struck by it, he fell to the ground, fainting.
ततो निशुम्भः सम्प्राप्य चेतनामात्तकार्मुकः ।
आजघान शरैर्देवीं कालीं केसरिणं तथा ॥ ९.२९॥
tato niśumbhaḥ samprāpya cetanāmāttakārmukaḥ |
ājaghāna śarairdevīṃ kālīṃ kesariṇaṃ tathā || 9.29||
Meaning Then Niśumbha, regaining consciousness and taking up his bow, struck with arrows the Devi, Kālī, and the lion.
पुनश्च कृत्वा बाहूनामयुतं दनुजेश्वरः ।
चक्रायुधेन दितिजश्छादयामास चण्डिकाम् ॥ ९.३०॥
punaśca kṛtvā bāhūnāmayutaṃ danujeśvaraḥ |
cakrāyudhena ditijaśchādayāmāsa caṇḍikām || 9.30||
Meaning And once more the lord of the dānavas, son of Diti, making ten thousand arms, covered Caṇḍikā with discus-weapons.
ततो भगवती क्रुद्धा दुर्गा दुर्गार्तिनाशिनी ।
चिच्छेद देवी चक्राणि स्वशरैः सायकांश्च तान् ॥ ९.३१॥
tato bhagavatī kruddhā durgā durgārtināśinī |
ciccheda devī cakrāṇi svaśaraiḥ sāyakāṃśca tān || 9.31||
Meaning Then the Bhagavatī Durgā, destroyer of afflictions and dangers, the Devi, enraged, cut down those discuses and those arrows with her own arrows.
ततो निशुम्भो वेगेन गदामादाय चण्डिकाम् ।
अभ्यधावत वै हन्तुं दैत्यसैन्यसमावृतः ॥ ९.३२॥
tato niśumbho vegena gadāmādāya caṇḍikām |
abhyadhāvata vai hantuṃ daityasainyasamāvṛtaḥ || 9.32||
Meaning Then Niśumbha, swiftly seizing a mace and surrounded by the demon host, rushed to slay Caṇḍikā.
तस्यापतत एवाशु गदां चिच्छेद चण्डिका ।
खड्गेन शितधारेण स च शूलं समाददे ॥ ९.३३॥
tasyāpatata evāśu gadāṃ ciccheda caṇḍikā |
khaḍgena śitadhāreṇa sa ca śūlaṃ samādade || 9.33||
Meaning As he rushed upon her, Caṇḍikā at once cut off his mace with her keen-edged sword; and he took up a trident.
शूलहस्तं समायान्तं निशुम्भममरार्दनम् ।
हृदि विव्याध शूलेन वेगाविद्धेन चण्डिका ॥ ९.३४॥
śūlahastaṃ samāyāntaṃ niśumbhamamarārdanam |
hṛdi vivyādha śūlena vegāviddhena caṇḍikā || 9.34||
Meaning As Niśumbha, tormentor of the gods, came on with a trident in hand, Caṇḍikā pierced him in the heart with a trident hurled with force.
भिन्नस्य तस्य शूलेन हृदयान्निःसृतोऽपरः ।
महाबलो महावीर्यस्तिष्ठेति पुरुषो वदन् ॥ ९.३५॥
bhinnasya tasya śūlena hṛdayānniḥsṛto'paraḥ |
mahābalo mahāvīryastiṣṭheti puruṣo vadan || 9.35||
Meaning From the heart of him who was pierced by the trident there came forth another being (puruṣa), of great strength and great valour, crying, 'Stop!'
तस्य निष्क्रामतो देवी प्रहस्य स्वनवत्ततः ।
शिरश्चिच्छेद खड्गेन ततोऽसावपतद्भुवि ॥ ९.३६॥
tasya niṣkrāmato devī prahasya svanavattataḥ |
śiraściccheda khaḍgena tato'sāvapatadbhuvi || 9.36||
Meaning As he was coming out, the Devi, laughing aloud, cut off his head with her sword; thereupon he fell to the ground.
ततः सिंहश्चखादोग्रदंष्ट्राक्षुण्णशिरोधरान् ।
असुरांस्तांस्तथा काली शिवदूती तथापरान् ॥ ९.३७॥
tataḥ siṃhaścakhādogradaṃṣṭrākṣuṇṇaśirodharān |
asurāṃstāṃstathā kālī śivadūtī tathāparān || 9.37||
Meaning Then the lion devoured those demons whose necks it had crushed with its fierce fangs; and Kālī and Śivadūtī likewise devoured others.
कौमारीशक्तिनिर्भिन्नाः केचिन्नेशुर्महासुराः ।
ब्रह्माणीमन्त्रपूतेन तोयेनान्ये निराकृताः ॥ ९.३८॥
kaumārīśaktinirbhinnāḥ kecinneśurmahāsurāḥ |
brahmāṇīmantrapūtena toyenānye nirākṛtāḥ || 9.38||
Meaning Some great demons perished, pierced through by Kaumārī's spear; others were repelled (destroyed) by water sanctified with Brahmāṇī's mantra.
माहेश्वरीत्रिशूलेन भिन्नाः पेतुस्तथापरे ।
वाराहीतुण्डघातेन केचिच्चूर्णीकृता भुवि ॥ ९.३९॥
māheśvarītriśūlena bhinnāḥ petustathāpare |
vārāhītuṇḍaghātena keciccūrṇīkṛtā bhuvi || 9.39||
Meaning Others fell, cleft by Māheśvarī's trident; and some were ground to dust upon the earth by the blow of Vārāhī's snout.
खण्डं खण्डं च चक्रेण वैष्णव्या दानवाः कृताः ।
वज्रेण चैन्द्रीहस्ताग्रविमुक्तेन तथापरे ॥ ९.४०॥
khaṇḍaṃ khaṇḍaṃ ca cakreṇa vaiṣṇavyā dānavāḥ kṛtāḥ |
vajreṇa caindrīhastāgravimuktena tathāpare || 9.40||
Meaning The dānavas were hewn to pieces by Vaiṣṇavī's discus; and others likewise by the thunderbolt loosed from the hand of Aindrī (Indrāṇī).
केचिद्विनेशुरसुराः केचिन्नष्टा महाहवात् ।
भक्षिताश्चापरे कालीशिवदूतीमृगाधिपैः ॥ ९.४१॥
kecidvineśurasurāḥ kecinnaṣṭā mahāhavāt |
bhakṣitāścāpare kālīśivadūtīmṛgādhipaiḥ || 9.41||
Meaning Some demons perished, some vanished, fleeing the great battle; and others were devoured by Kālī, Śivadūtī, and the lion (lord of beasts).
उवाच २, अर्धश्लोकाः ३९, श्लोकाः ४१, एवमादितः ॥ ५४३॥
uvāca 2, ardhaślokāḥ 39, ślokāḥ 41, evamāditaḥ || 543||
Meaning (A scribal verse-count colophon): speaker-lines (uvāca) 2, half-verses 39, full verses 41; thus 543 in all counting from the beginning. This is a counting note, not a narrative verse.