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Devi Mahatmya / Chapter 2

Chapter 2 · Markandeya Purana canto 82

Slaughter of the army of the Asura Mahisha

महिषासुरसैन्यवधो नाम

69 verses.

Verses follow the standard 700-verse numbering of the Durga Saptashati. Pargiter numbered the Purana differently, so his English was matched to each Sanskrit verse by its content; at a few joins a word or two may sit with the neighbouring verse. Lines found only in some printed editions are marked.

Artist's impression of this chapter.
Artist's impression.

Verses 1 to 9

1ऋषिरुवाच ॥

1The rishi spoke:

2देवासुरमभूद् युद्धं पूर्णमब्दशतं पुरा । महिषेऽसुराणामधिपे देवानां च पुरन्दरे ॥

2Of yore there was a fight for a full hundred years between the gods and Asuras, when Mahisha was lord of the Asuras and Indra lord of the gods;

3तत्रासुरैर्महावीर्यैर्देवसैन्यं पराजितम् । जित्वा च सकलान् देवानिन्द्रोऽभून्महिषासुरः ॥

3in it the army of the gods was vanquished by the Asuras who excelled in valour, and the Asura Mahisha after conquering all the gods became the Indra.

4ततः पराजिता देवाः पद्मयोनिं प्रजापतिम् । पुरस्कृत्य गतास्तत्र यत्रेश-गरुडध्वजौ ॥

4Then the vanquished gods, placing the Praja-pati Brahma at their head, went where abode Siva and Vishnu.

5यथावृत्तं तयोस्तद्वन्महिषासुरचेष्टितम् । त्रिदशाः कथयामासुर्देवाभिभवविस्तरम् ॥

5The thirty gods described to them accurately what had happened, the full story of the gods’ discomfiture which had been wrought by the Asura Mahisha,—

6सूर्येन्द्रग्न्यनिलेन्दूनां यमस्य वरुणस्य च । अन्येषां चाधिकारान् स स्वयमेवाधितिष्ठिति ॥

6“He, Mahisha, in his own person domineers over the jurisdictions of the Sun, Indra, Agni, Vayu and the Moon, of Yama and Varuna and of the other gods.

7स्वर्गान्निराकृताः सर्वे तेन देवगणा भुवि । विचरन्ति यथा मर्त्या महिषेण दुरात्मना ॥

7Cast out by that evil-souled Mahisha from Svarga all the hosts of the gods wander on the earth like mortals.

8एतद्वः कथितं सर्वममरारिविचेष्टितम् । शरणं वः प्रपन्नाः स्मो वधस्तस्य विचिन्त्यताम् ॥

8It has now been related to you both, all that has been wrought by the foe of the Immortals, and we have sought you both as a refuge; let his destruction be devised!”

8aऋषिरुवाच ॥

8aA line found in some editions; Pargiter does not translate it.

9इत्थं निशम्य देवानां वचांसि मधुसूदनः । चकार कोपं शम्भुश्च भ्रुकुटीकुटिलाननौ ॥

9Having thus heard the words of the gods, Vishnu was wroth and Siva also; both their faces became furrowed with frowns.

Verses 10 to 19

10ततोऽतिकोपपूर्णस्य चक्रिणो वदनात्ततः । निश्चक्राम महत्तेजो ब्रह्मणः शङ्करस्य च ॥

10Then issued forth great energy from the mouth of Vishnu who was full of intense anger, and from the mouths of Brahma and Siva;

11अन्येषाञ्चैव देवानां शक्रादीनां शरीरतः । निर्गतं सुमहत्तेजस्तच्चैक्यं समगच्छत ॥

11and from the bodies of Indra and the other gods went forth a very great energy; and it all amalgamated.

12अतीव तेजसः कूटं ज्वलन्तमिव पर्वतम् । ददृशुस्ते सुरास्तत्र ज्वालाव्याप्तदिगन्तरम् ॥

12The gods beheld the mass of intense energy there like a burning mountain, pervading the other regions of the sky with its blaze;

13अतुलं तत्र तत्तेजः सर्वदेवशरीरजम् । एकस्थं तदभून्नारी व्याप्तलोकत्रयं त्विषा ॥

13and that unparalleled energy born of the bodies of all the gods, which pervaded the three worlds with its light, gathering into one became a female.

14यदभूच्छाम्भवं तेजस्तेनाजायत तन्मुखम् । याम्येन चाभवन् केशा बहवो विष्णुतेजसा ॥

14By what was Siva’s energy her face was developed, and by Yama’s energy grew her hair, and her arms by Vishnu’s energy,

15सौम्येन स्तनयोर्युग्मं मध्यं चैन्द्रेण चाभवत् । वारुणेन च जङ्घोरू नितम्बस्तेजसा भुवः ॥

15by the Moon’s her twin breasts; and her waist came into being by Indra’s energy, and by Varuna’s her legs and thighs, by the Earth’s energy her hips,

16ब्रह्मणस्तेजसा पादौ तदङ्गुल्योऽर्कतेजसा । वसूनाञ्च कराङ्गुल्यः कौबेरेण च नासिका ॥

16by Brahma’s energy her feet, her toes by the Sun’s energy, and by the Vasus’ energy her hands and fingers, and by Kuvera’s her nose;

17तस्यास्तु दन्ताः सम्भूताः प्राजापत्येन तेजसा । नयनत्रितयं जज्ञे तथा पावकतेजसा ॥

17and her teeth grew by the Praja-pati’s energy, and three eyes were developed by Agni’s energy;

18भ्रुवौ च सन्ध्ययोस्तेजः श्रवणावनिलस्य च । अन्येषां चैव देवानां सम्भवस्तेजसां शिवा ॥

18and her eyebrows were the energy of the two twilights, and her ears Vayu’s energy; and the coming into being of the energies of the other gods became the auspicious goddess.

19ततः समस्तदेवानां तेजोराशिसमुद्भवाम् । तां विलोक्य मुदं प्रापुरमरा महिषार्दिताः । ततो देवा ददुस्तस्यै स्वानि स्वान्यायुधानि च ॥

19Then gazing at her, who had sprung from the combined energies of all the gods, the Immortals who were afflicted by Mahisha felt a keen joy.

Verses 19a to 28

19aऊचुर्जयजयेत्युच्चैर्जयन्तीं ते जयैषिणः ॥

19aA line found in some editions; Pargiter does not translate it.

20शूलं शूलाद्विनिष्कृष्य ददौ तस्यै पिनाकधृक् । चक्रं च दत्तवान् कृष्णः समुत्पाद्य स्वचक्रतः ॥

20The bearer of the bow Pinaka drawing a trident forth from his own trident gave it to her; and Krishna gave a discus pulling it out of his own discus;

21शङ्खञ्च वरुणः शक्तिं ददौ तस्यै हुताशनः । मारुतो दत्तवांश्चापं बाणपूर्णे तथेषुधी ॥

21and Varuna gave her a conch, Agni a spear, Maruta gave a bow and a quiver filled with arrows.

22वज्रमिन्द्रः समुत्पाद्य कुलिशादमराधिपः । ददौ तस्यै सहस्राक्षो घण्टामैरावताद् गजात् ॥

22Indra lord of the Immortals gave a thunder-bolt pulling it out of his own thunder-bolt; the Thousand-eyed gave her a bell from his elephant Airavata.

23कालदण्डाद्यमो दण्डं माशं चाम्बुपतिर्ददौ । प्रजापतिश्चाक्षमालां ददौ ब्रह्मा कमण्डलुम् ॥

23Yama gave a rod from his own rod of Fate, and the lord of the waters a noose; and the Praja-pati gave her a necklace of beads, Brahma an earthen water-pot;

24समस्तरोमकूपेषु निजरश्मीन् दिवाकरः । कालख्च दत्तवान् खड्गं तस्याश्चर्म च निर्मलम् ॥

24the Sun bestowed his own rays on all the pores of her skin, and Destiny gave her a sword and a spotless shield;

25क्षीरोदश्चामलं हारमजरे च तथाम्बरे । चूडामणिं तथा दिव्यं कुण्डले कटकानि च ॥

25and the Ocean of milk a spotless necklace of pearls and also a pair of undecaying garments. And a celestial crest-jewel, a pair of ear-rings,

26अर्धचन्द्रं तथा शुभ्रं केयूरान् सर्वबाहुषु । नूपुरौ विमलौ तद्वद् ग्रैवेयकमनुत्तमम् ॥

26and bracelets, and a brilliant half-moon ornament, and armlets over all her arms, and also a pair of bright anclets,

27अङ्गुलीयकरत्नानि समस्तास्वङ्गुलीषु च । विश्वकर्मा ददौ तस्यै परशुञ्चातिनिर्मलम् ॥

27a necklet of the finest make, and rings and gems on all her fingers these Visva-karman gave to her, and also a brightly polished axe,

28अस्त्राण्यनेकरूपाणि तथाभेद्यं च दंशनम् । अम्लानपङ्कजां मालां शिरस्युरसि चापराम् ॥

28weapons of many shapes and also armour that could not be pierced. And Ocean gave her a

Verses 29 to 38

29अददज्जलधिस्तस्यै पङ्कजं चातिशोभनम् । हिमवान् वाहनं सिंहं रत्नानि विविधानि च ॥

29garland of fadeless lotus-flowers for her head and another for her breast, and a very brilliant lotus-flower besides, Himavat

30ददावशून्यं सुरया पानपात्रं धनाधिपः । शेषश्च सर्वनागेशो महामणिविभूषितम् ॥

30gave her a lion to ride on and gems of various kinds. Kuvera gave a drinking cup full of wine. And Sesha, the lord of all the serpents,

31नागहारं ददौ तस्यै धत्ते यः पृथिवीमिमाम् । अन्यैरपि सुरैर्देवी भूषणैरायुधैस्तथा ॥

31who supports this earth, gave her a serpent-necklace adorned with large gems. Honoured by other gods also with gifts of ornaments and weapons,

32संमानिता ननादोच्चैः साट्टहासं मुहुर्मुहुः । तस्या नादेन घोरेण कृत्स्त्रमापूरितं नभः ॥

32the goddess uttered a loud roar blended with a horse-laugh again and again. The whole welkin was filled with her terrible roar.

33अमायतातिमहता प्रतिशब्दो महानभूत् । चुक्षुभुः सकला लोकाः समुद्राश्च चकम्पिरे ॥

33By that penetrating and exceedingly great roar a great echo arose, all the worlds shook and the seas trembled,

34चचाल वसुधा चेलुः सकलाश्च महीधराः । जयेति देवाश्च मुदा तामूचुः सिंहवाहिनीम् ॥

34the earth quaked and all the mountains moved. And “Conquer thou!” exclaimed the gods with joy to her who rode on the lion

35तुष्टुवुर्मुनयश्चैनां भक्तिनम्रात्ममूर्तयः । दृष्ट्वा समस्तं संक्षुब्धं त्रैलोक्यममरारयः ॥

35and the munis extolled her as they bowed their bodies in faith. Seeing all the three worlds greatly agitated, the foes of the Immortals uniting all their armies rose up together,

36सन्नद्धाखिलसैन्यास्ते समुत्तस्थुरुदायुधाः । आः किमेतदिति क्रोधादाभाष्य महिषासुरः ॥

36with uplifted weapons. “Ha! what is this?” exclaimed the Asura Mahisha in wrath,

37अभ्यधावत तं शब्दमशेषैरसुरैर्वृतः । स ददर्श ततो देवीं व्याप्तलोकत्रयां त्विषा ॥

37and rushed surrounded by all the Asuras towards that roar. Then he saw the goddess, pervading the three worlds with her light,

38पादाक्रान्त्या नतभुवं किरीटोल्लिखिताम्बराम् । क्षोभिताशेषपातालां धनुर्ज्यानिः स्वनेन ताम् ॥

38causing the earth to bow at the touch of her feet, grazing the firmament with her crest, shaking the whole of Patala with the twang of her bow-string,

Verses 39 to 47

39दिशो भुजसहस्रेण समन्ताद् व्याप्य संस्थिताम् । ततः प्रववृते युद्धं तया देव्या सुरद्विषाम् ॥

39standing pervading the sky all around with her thousand arms. Then began a battle between the goddess and the enemies of the gods,

40शस्त्रास्त्रैर्बहुधा मुक्तैरादीपितदिगन्तरम् । महिषासुरसेनानीश्चिक्षुराख्यो महासुरः ॥

40in which every region of the sky was illumined with the weapons and arms hurled in abundance. And the Asura Mahisha’s general, the great Asura named C'ikshura, fought with her;

41युयुधे चामरश्चान्यैश्चतुरङ्गबलान्वितः । रथानामयुतैः षड्भिरुदग्राख्यो महासुरः ॥

41and the Asura C'amara attended by his cavalry fought along with others. The great Asura named Udagra with six myriads of chariots fought;

42अयुध्यतायुतानाञ्च सहस्रेण महाहनुः । पञ्चाशद्भिश्च नियुतैरसिलोमा महासुरः ॥

42and Maha-hanu with a thousand myriads gave battle; and the great Asura Asi-loman with fifty millions;

43अयुतानां शतैः षड्भिर्वाष्कलो युयुधे रणे । गजवाजिसहस्रौघैरनेकैरुग्रदर्शनः ॥

43with six hundred myriads Vaskala fought in the battle; Ugra-darsana with many troops of thousands of elephants and horses,

44वृतो रथानां कोट्या च युद्धे तस्मिन्नयुध्यत । बिडालाक्षोऽयुतानाञ्च पञ्चाशद्भिरथायुतैः ॥

44and surrounded with ten million chariots fought in that battle; and the Asura named Vidala fought in the battle there,

45युयुधे संयुगे तत्र रथानां परिवारितः । अन्ये च तत्रायुतशो रथनागहयैर्वृताः ॥

45surrounded with fifty myriads of myriads of chariots. And other great Asuras in myriads,

45aवृतः कालो रथानाञ्च रणे पञ्चाशतायुतैः । युयुधे संयुगे तत्र तावद्भिः परिवारितः ॥

45aA line found in some editions; Pargiter does not translate it.

46युयुधुः संयुगे देव्या सह तत्र महासुराः । कोटिकोटिसहस्रैस्तु रथानां दन्तिनां तथा ॥

46surrounded with chariots, elephants and horses, fought with the goddess in that battle there. Now

47हयानाञ्च वृतो युद्धे तत्राभून्महिषासुरः । तोमरैर्भिन्दिपालैश्च शक्तिभिर्मुसलैस्तथा ॥

47the Asura Mahisha was surrounded with thousands of ten million times ten millions of chariots and elephants and horses in the battle there. With iron maces and javelins, with spears and clubs,

Verses 48 to 57

48युयुधुः संयुगे देव्या खड्गैः परशुपट्टिशैः । केचिच्च चिक्षिपुः शक्तीः केचित् पाशांस्तथापरे ॥

48with swords, with axes and halberds they fought in the battle against the goddess. And some hurled spears, and others nooses,

49देवीं खड्गप्रहारैस्तु ते तां हन्तुं प्रचक्रमुः । सापि देवी ततस्तानि शस्त्राण्यस्त्राणि चण्डिका ॥

49but they assailed the goddess with blows from their swords in order to slay her. And then the goddess C'andika clove, as it were in merest play,

50लीलयैव प्रचिच्छेद निजशस्त्रास्त्रवर्षिणी । अनायस्तानना देवी स्तूयमाना सुरर्षिभिः ॥

50those weapons and arms by raining forth her own weapons and arms. The goddess betrayed no exertion in her countenance, while the gods and rishis were praising her.

51मुमोचासुरदेहेषु शस्त्राण्यस्त्राणि चेश्वरी । सोऽपि क्रुद्धो धुतसटो देव्या वाहनकेशरी ॥

51The queenly goddess hurled her weapons and arms at the Asuras’ bodies. The lion also that bore the goddess, enraged and with ruffled mane,

52चचारासुरसैन्येषु वनेष्विव हुताशनः । निश्वसान्मुमुचे यांश्च युध्यमाना रणेऽम्बिका ॥

52stalked among the armies of Asuras, like fire through the forests. And the deep breaths, which Ambika fighting in the battle breathed forth,

53त एव सद्यः सम्भूता गणाः शतसहस्रशः । युयुधुस्ते परशुभिर्भिन्दिपालासिपट्टिशैः ॥

53came into real being at once as troops by hundreds and thousands. These fought with axes, with javelins, and swords and halberds, destroying the Asura bands,

54नाशयन्तोऽसुरगणान् देवीशक्त्युपबृंहिताः । अवादयन्त पटहान् गणाः शङ्खांस्तथापरे ॥

54being invigorated by the goddess’ energy. And of these bands some raised a din with large drums,

55मृदङ्गांश्च तथैवान्ये तस्मिन् युद्धमहोत्सवे । ततो देवी त्रिशूलेन गदया शक्तिवृष्टिभिः ॥

55and others with conchs, and others besides with drums, in that great battle-festival. Then the goddess with her trident,

56शड्गादिभिश्च शतशो निजघान महासुरान् । पातयामास चैवान्यान् घण्टास्वनविमोहितान् ॥

56her club, with showers of spears, and with her sword and other weapons slaughtered the great Asuras in hundreds,

57असुरान् भुवि पाशेन बद्ध्वा चान्यानकर्षयत् । केचिद् द्विधा कृतास्तीक्ष्णैः खड्गपातैस्तथापरे ॥

57and laid others low who were bewitched with the ringing of her bell; and binding other Asuras with her noose dragged them on the ground. And others again, cloven in

Verses 58 to 66

58विपोथिता निपातेन गदया भुवि शेरते । वेमुश्च केचिद्रुधिरं मुसले भृशं हताः ॥

58twain by sharp slashes of her sword and crushed by blows with her mace, lie on the ground; and some grievously battered by her club vomited forth blood.

59केचिन्नपातिता भूमौ भिन्नाः शूलेन वक्षसि । निरन्तराः शरौघेण कृताः केचिद्रणाजिरे ॥

59Some were felled to the ground, pierced in the breast by her trident. Some being closely massed together were cut in pieces by the torrent of her arrows in the battle-field.

60शैलानुकारिणः प्राणान् मुमुचुस्त्रिदशार्दनाः । केषाञ्चिद्वाहवश्छिन्नाश्छिन्नग्रीवास्तथापरे ॥

60Following the manner of an army,! the afflicters of the thirty gods gave up the ghost; some with their arms cut off, and others with severed necks;

61शिरांसि पेतुरन्येषामन्ये मध्ये विदारिताः । विच्छिन्नजङ्घास्त्वपरे पेतुरुर्व्यां महासुराः ॥

61their heads fell from others, others were torn asunder in the middle; and other great Asuras fell to the earth with legs clean cut off;

62एकबाह्वक्षिचरणाः केचिद्देव्या द्विधा कृताः । छिन्नेऽपि चान्ये शिरसि पतिताः पुनरुत्थिताः ॥

62some were cloven by the goddess into two parts, with a single arm and eye and foot to each part; and others fell and rose again, although with head cut off.

63कबन्धा युयुधुर्देव्या गृहीतपरमायुधाः । ननृतुश्चापरे तत्र युद्धे तूर्यलयाश्रिताः ॥

63Headless corpses, still grasping the finest weapons, fought with the goddess; and others danced there in the battle, keeping time to the strains of the musical instruments.

64कबन्धाश्छिन्नखिरसः खड्ग-शक्त्यृष्टिपाणयः । तिष्ठ तिष्ठेति भाषन्तो देवीमन्ये महासुराः ॥

64Corpses, with heads severed, still held swords and spears and lances in their hands; and other great Asuras were shouting to the goddess, “Stand!

64aरुधिरौघविलुप्ताङ्गाः संग्रामे लोमहर्षणे ॥

64aA line found in some editions; Pargiter does not translate it.

65पातितै रथनागाश्वैरसुरैश्च वसुन्धरा । अगम्या साभवत् तत्र यत्राभूत् स महारणः ॥

65stand!” With the prostrate chariots, elephants and horses and Asuras the earth became impassable where that great battle took place.

66शोणितौघा महानद्यः सद्यस्तत्र विसुस्त्रुवुः । मध्ये चासुरसैन्यस्य वारणासुरवाजिनाम् ॥

66And large rivers formed of torrents of blood straightway flowed along there amidst the armies of Asuras, and among the elephants, Asuras and horses.

Verses 67 to 69

67क्षणेन तन्महासैन्यमसुराणां तथाम्बिका । निन्ये क्षयं यथा वह्निस्तृणदारुमहाचयम् ॥

67Thus Ambika brought that great army of the Asuras to utter destruction in a moment, even as fire utterly consumes a huge pile of grass and timber.

68स च सिंहो महानादमुत्सृजन् धुतकेसरः । शरीरेभ्योऽमरारीणामसूनिव विचिन्वति ॥

68And the lion, with quivering mane, stalked on roaring aloud. While he prowled as it were for lives out of the bodies of the foes of the Immortals,

69देव्या गणैश्च तैस्तत्र कृतं युद्धं तथासुरैः । यथैषां तुतुषुर्देवाः पुष्पवृष्टिमुचो दिवि ॥

69the battle was fought there between those troops of the goddess and the Asuras, so that the gods in heaven sending down showers of flowers gratified her.

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