Devi Mahatmya / Chapter 4
Chapter 4 · Markandeya Purana canto 84
The slaying of the Asura Mahisha concluded
42 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.
Verses 1 to 8
1ऋषिरुवाच ॥
1The rishi spoke:
1aततः सुरगणाः सर्वे देव्या इन्द्रपुरोगमाः । स्तुतिमारेभिरे कर्तुं निहते महिषासुरे ॥
1aA line found in some editions; Pargiter does not translate it.
2शक्रादयः सुरगणा निहतेऽतिवीर्ये तस्मिन् दुरात्मनि सुरारिबले च देव्या । तां तुष्टुवुः प्रणतिनम्रशिरोधरांसा वाग्भिः प्रहर्षपुलकोद्गमचारुदेहाः ॥
2When that most valiant evil-souled army of the gods’ foes was vanquished by the goddess, Sakra and the hosts of other gods poured forth their praises to her with their voices, reverently bending down their necks and shoulders, while their bodies looked handsome because their hair stood erect with exultation.
2aदेवा ऊचुः ॥
2aA line found in some editions; Pargiter does not translate it.
3देव्या यया ततमिदं जगदात्मशक्त्या निः शेषदेवगणशक्तिसमूहमूर्त्या । तामम्बिकामखिलदेवमर्षिपूज्यां भक्त्या नताः स्म विदधातु शुभानि सा नः ॥
3The goddess, who stretched out this world by her power, Whose body comprises the entire powers of all the hosts of gods, Her, Ambika, worthy of worship by all gods and great rishis, We bow before in faith; may she ordain blessings for us!
4यस्याः प्रभावमतुलं भगवाननन्तो ब्रह्मा हरश्च नहि वक्तुमलं बलं च । सा चण्डिकाखिलजगत्परिपालनाय नाशाय चाशुभयस्य मतिं करोतु ॥
4May she, whose peerless majesty and power Ananta Adorable, Brahma and Hara cannot in sooth declare, May she, C'andika, to protect the entire world And to destroy the fear of evil turn her mind!
5या श्रीः स्वयं सुकृतिनां भवनेष्वलक्ष्मीः पापात्मनां कृतधियां हृदयेषु बुद्धिः । श्रद्धां सतां कुलजनप्रभवस्य लज्जा तां त्वां नताः स्म परिपालय देवि विश्वम् ॥
5Her, who is Good-Fortune herself in the dwellings of men of good deeds, Ill-Fortune In those of men of sinful souls; who is Intelligence in the hearts of the prudent, Who is Faith in those of the good, and Modesty in that of the high-born man; Her, even thee, we bow before; protect the universe, O goddess!
6किं वर्णयाम तव रूपमचिन्त्यमेतत् किं चातिवीर्यमसुरक्षयकारि भूरि । किं चाहवेषु चरितानि तवाद्भुतानि सर्वेषु देव्यसुरदेवगणादिकेषु ॥
6Can we describe this thy thought-transcending form? Or thy abundant surpassing valour that destroyed the Asuras? Or thy surpassing feats which were displayed in battles Among all the hosts of Asuras, gods and others, O goddess? Thou art the cause of all the worlds!
7हेतुः समस्तजगतां त्रिगुणापि दोषैर् न ज्ञायसे हरिहरादिभिरप्यपारा । सर्वाश्रयाखिलमिदं जगदंशभूतम् अव्याकृता हि परमा प्रकृतिस्त्वमाद्या ॥
7Though characterized by the three qualities, by faults Thou art not known! Even by Hari, Hara and the other gods thou art incomprehensible! Thou art the resort of all; thou art this entire world which is composed of parts! Thou verily art sublime original Nature untransformed!
8यस्याः समस्तसुरता समुदीरणेन तृप्तिं प्रयान्ति सकलेषु मखेषु देवि । स्वाहासि वै पितृगणस्य च तृप्तिहेतुर् उच्चार्यसे त्वमत एव जनैः स्वधा च ॥
8Thou, whose complete divinity by means of utterance Finds satisfaction in all sacrifices, O goddess, Art verily Svaha, and givest satisfaction to the Pitri-hosts! Hence thou art in truth declared by men to be Svadha also. Thou art she, who effects final emancipation,
Verses 9 to 18
9या मुक्तिहेतुरविचिन्त्यमहाव्रता त्वम् अभ्यस्यसे सुनियतेन्द्रियतत्त्वसारैः । मोक्षार्थिभिर्मुनिभिरस्तसमस्तदोषैर् विद्यासि सा भगवती परमा हि देवि ॥
9and performs great thought-transcending penances! Thou studiest with thy organs, which are the essence of strength, well-restrained! With munis, who seek final emancipation and who have shed all their faults, Thou art The Knowledge, adorable, sublime in sooth, O goddess!
10शब्दात्मिका सुविमलर्ग्यजुषां निधानम् उद्गीथरम्यपदपाठवतां च साम्नाम् । देवी त्रयी भगवती भवभावनाय वार्ता च सर्वजगतां परमार्तिहन्त्री ॥
10Sound is thy soul! thou art the repository of the most spotless ric and yajus hymns, And of the simans, which have the charming-worded texts of the Ud-githa! Thou as goddess art the triple Veda, the adorable, and for the existence and production Of all the worlds art active; thou art the supreme destroyer of their pains! Thou art Mental Vigour, O goddess!
11मेधासि देवि विदिताखिलशास्त्रसारा दुर्गासि दुर्गभवसागरनौरसङ्गा । श्रीः कैटभारिहृदयैककृताधिवासा गौरी त्वमेव शशिमौलिकृतप्रतिष्ठा ॥
11thou hast comprehended the essence of all the Scriptures! Thou art Durga; the boat to cross the difficult ocean of existence; devoid of attachments! Thou art S'ri, who has planted her dominion alone in the heart of Kaitabha’s foe Thou indeed art Gauri, who has fixed her dweling in the moon-crested god!
12ईषत्सहासममलं परिपूर्णचन्द्र- बिम्बानुकारि कनकोत्तमकान्तिकान्तम् । अत्यद्भुतं प्रहृतमात्तरुषा तथापि वक्त्रं विलोक्य सहसा महिषासुरेण ॥
12Slightly-smiling, spotless, resembling the full moon’s Orb, beautiful as the choicest gold, and lovely was thy face! Yet ’t was very marvellous that, being swayed by anger, The Asura Mahisha suddenly smote thy face when he saw it.
13दृष्ट्वा तु देवि कुपितं भ्रुकुटीकरालम् उद्यच्छशाङ्कसदृशच्छवि यन्न सद्यः । प्राणान्मुमोच महीषस्तदतीव चित्रं कैर्जीव्यते हि कुपितान्तकदर्शनेन ॥
13But after seeing thy wrathful face, O goddess, terrible with its frowns, And sheeny in hue like the rising moon, that Mahisha Did not forthwith yield up his life, was passing wonderful! For who can live after beholding the King of Death enraged?
14देवि प्रसीद परमा भवती भवाय सद्यो विनाशयसि कोपवती कुलानि । विज्ञातमेतदधुनैव यदस्तमेतन् नीतं बलं सुविपुलं महिषासुरस्य ॥
14Be gracious, O goddess, as supreme lady, to life! When enraged thou dost forthwith destroy whole families! Known at this very moment is this, that here is brought to its end The Asura Mahisha’s most extensive might!
15ते संमता जनपदेषु धनानि तेषां तेषां यशांसि न च सीदति धर्मवर्गः । धन्यास्त एव निभृतात्मजभृत्यदारा येषां सदाभ्युदयदा भवती प्रसन्ना ॥
15Esteemed are they among the nations, theirs are riches, Theirs are glories, and their sum of righteousness perishes not, Happy are they indeed, and they possess devoted children, servants and wives, On whom thou, well-pleased, dost always bestow prosperity, O lady!
16धर्म्याणि देवि सकलानि सदैव कर्माण्य् अत्यादृतः प्रतिदिनं सुकृती करोति । स्वर्गं प्रयाति च ततो भवतीप्रसादाल् लोकत्रयेऽपि फलदा ननु देवि तेन ॥
16All righteous actions ever indeed, O goddess, With utmost respect the man of good deeds daily performs, And gains heaven thereafter by thy favour, O lady. Dost thou not by him bestow rewards even on the three worlds, O goddess? Thou, O Durga, when called to mind,
17दुर्गे स्मृता हरसि भीतिमशेषजन्तोः स्वस्थैः स्मृता मतिमतीव शुभां ददासि । दारिद्र्यदुःखभयहारिणि का त्वदन्या सर्वोपकारकरणाय सदाऽऽर्द्रचित्ता ॥
17dost remove terror from every creature! Thou, when called to mind by those in health, dost bestow a mind extremely bright! What goddess but thou, O dispeller of poverty, pain and fear, Has ever benevolent thoughts in order to work benefits to all?
18एभिर्हतैर्जगदुपैति सुखं तथैते कुर्वन्तु नाम नरकाय चिराय पापम् । संग्राममृत्युमधिगम्य दिवं प्रयान्तु मत्वेति नूनमहितान् विनिहंसि देवि ॥
18By these slain foes the world attains to happiness; thus let these Forsooth practise sin so as to descend to hell for long! ‘Meeting death in battle let them proceed to heaven ’— Thinking thus, thou dost assuredly destroy the enemies, O goddess!
Verses 19 to 28
19दृष्ट्वैव किं न भवती प्रकरोति भस्म सर्वासुरानरिषु यत्प्रहिणोषि शस्त्रम् । लोकान् प्रयान्तु रिपवोऽपि हि शस्त्रपूता इत्थं मतिर्भवति तेष्वपि तेऽतिसाध्वी ॥
19Having indeed seen them, why dost thou not, O lady, reduce to ashes All the Asuras, since thou directest thy weapons against the foes? ‘Let even enemies, purified by dying in arms, attain in sooth to the bright worlds ’— Such is thy most kindly intention towards even them.
20खड्गप्रभानिकरविस्फुरणैस्तथोग्रैः शूलाग्रकान्तिनिवहेन दृशोऽसुराणाम् । यन्नागता विलयमंशुमदिन्दुखण्ड- योग्याननं तव विलोकयतां तदेतत् ॥
20And though, neither by the sharp flashes of abundant light from thy scymitar, Nor by the copious lustre of thy spear-point, the eyes of the Asuras Were destroyed; yet, as they gazed upon thy countenance Which bore a portion of the radiant moon, this very thing happened.
21दुर्वृत्तवृत्तशमनं तव देवि शीलं रूपं तथैतदविचिन्त्यमतुल्यमन्यैः । वीर्यं च हन्तृ हृतदेवपराक्रमाणां वैरिष्वपि प्रकटितैव दया त्वयेत्थम् ॥
21Thy disposition, O goddess, subdues the conduct of men of evil conduct; And this thy form surpasses thought and rivalry by others; And thy valour vanquishes those who have robbed the gods of their prowess; Thou hast as it were manifested pity thus even on enemies
22केनोपमा भवतु तेऽस्य पराक्रमस्य रूपं च शत्रुभयकार्यतिहारि कुत्र । चित्ते कृपा समरनिष्ठुरता च दृष्टा त्वय्येव देवि वरदे भुवनत्रयेऽपि ॥
22To what my this thy prowess be compared? And whereto thy form most charming, which strikes fear among foes? Compassion in mind and relentlessness in battle are seen In thee, O goddess, who bestowest boons even on the three worlds!
23त्रैलोक्यमेतदखिलं रिपुनाशनेन त्रातं त्वया समरमूर्धनि तेऽपि हत्वा । नीता दिवं रिपुगणा भयमप्यपास्तम् अस्माकमुन्मदसुरारिभवं नमस्ते ॥
23Through the destruction of the foes, these three worlds entire Have been saved by thee. Having slain them in the battlefront Thou hast led even those hosts of foes to heaven, and dispelled the fear Which beset us from the frenzied foes of the gods. Reverence to thee!
24शूलेन पाहि नो देवि पाहि खड्गेन चाम्बिके । घण्टास्वनेन नः पाहि चापज्यानिः स्वनेन च ॥
24With thy spear protect us, O goddess! Protect us with thy sword also, O Ambika! By the clanging of thy bell protect us, And by the twanging of the thong of thy bow!
25प्राच्यां रक्ष प्रतीच्यां च चण्डिके रक्ष दक्षिणे । भ्रामणेनात्मशूलस्य उत्तरस्यां तथेश्वरि ॥
25In the east guard us, and in the west; O C'andika, guard us in the south By the brandishing of thy spear, And also in the north, O goddess!
26सौम्यानि यानि रूपाणि त्रैलोक्ये विचरन्ति ते । यानि चात्यर्थघोराणि तै रक्षास्मांस्तथा भुवम् ॥
26Whatever gentle forms of thee wander about in the three worlds, And whatever exceedingly terrible forms wander, by means of them guard us and the earth!
27खड्गशूलगदादीनि यानि चास्त्राणि तेऽम्बिके । करपल्लवसङ्गीनि तैरस्मान् रक्ष सर्वतः ॥
27Thy sword and spear and club, and whatever other weapons, O Ambika, Rest in thy pliant hand, with them guard us on every side!
28ऋषीरुवाच ॥
28The rishi spoke:
Verses 29 to 36
29एवं स्तुता सुरैर्दिव्यैः कुसुमैर्नन्दनोद्भवैः । अर्चिता जगतां धात्री तथा गन्धानुलेपनैः ॥
29Thus was she, the Upholder of the worlds, hymned by the gods, and they paid honour to her with celestial flowers that blossomed in Nandana, and with perfumes and unguents.
30भक्त्या समस्तैस्त्रिदशार्दिव्यैर्धूपैस्तु धूपिता । प्राह प्रसादसुमुखी समस्तान् प्रणतान् सुरान् ॥
30Moreover all the thirty gods in faith censed her with heavenly incenses. Benignly sweet in countenance she spoke to all the prostrate gods.
31देव्युवाच ॥
31The goddess spoke:
32व्रियतां त्रिदशाः सर्वे यदस्मत्तोऽभिवाञ्छितम् ॥
32Choose, ye thirty all! whatever ye desire of me, for I grant it with pleasure, being highly honoured by these hymns.
32aददाम्यहमतिप्रीत्या स्तवैरेभिः सुपूजिता ॥
32aA line found in some editions; Pargiter does not translate it.
32bकर्तव्यमपरं यच्च दुष्करं तन्न विद्महे । इत्याकर्ण्ये वचो देव्याः प्रत्यूचुस्ते दिवौकसः ॥
32bA line found in some editions; Pargiter does not translate it.
33देवा ऊचुः ॥
33The gods spoke:
34भगवत्या कृतं सर्वं न किञ्चिदवशिष्यते ॥
34Thou, O adorable lady, hast accomplished all, nought remains undone,
35यदयं निहतः शत्रुरस्माकं महिषासुरः । यदि चापि वरो देयस्त्वयास्माकं महेश्वरि ॥
35in that this Asura Mahisha, our foe has been slain. Yet if thou must grant us a boon, O goddess great! whenever we call thee,
36संस्मृता संस्मृता त्वं नो हिंसेथाः परमापदः । यश्च मर्त्यः स्तवैरेभिस्त्वां स्तोष्यत्यमलानने ॥
36call thee to mind, do thou away with our direst calamities! And whatever mortal shall praise thee with these hymns, O lady of spotless countenance,
Verses 37 to 42
37तस्य वित्तर्धिविभवैर्धनदारादिसम्पदाम् । वृद्धयेऽस्मात्प्रसन्ना त्वं भवेथाः सर्वदाम्बिके ॥
37to prosper him in wealth and wife and other blessings by means of riches, success and power do thou incline always, O Ambika, who art propitious to us!
38ऋषिरुवाच ॥
38The rishi spoke:
39इति प्रसादिता देवैर्जगतोर्ऽथे तथाऽत्मनः । तथेत्युक्त्वा भद्रकाली बभूवान्तर्हिता नृप ॥
39Being thus propitiated by the gods for the good of the world and on their own behalf, “Be it so!” said she, Bhadra-kali; and vanished from their sight, O king.
40इत्येतत्कथितं भूप सम्भूता सा यथा पुरा । देवी देवशरीरेभ्यो जगत्त्रयहितैषिणी ॥
40Thus I have narrated this, O king, how the goddess came into being of yore from out of the gods’ bodies, she who desires the good of all the three worlds.
41पुनश्च गौरीदेहात् सा समुद्भूता यथाभवत् । वधाय दुष्टदैत्यानां तथा शुम्भनिशुम्भयोः ॥
41And again she came into existence having the body of Gauri, just as she did before, in order to slay the wicked Daityas and Sumbha and Nisumbha,
42रक्षणाय च लोकानां देवानामुपकारिणी । तच्छृणुष्व मयाऽख्यातं यथावत्कथयामि ते ॥
42and to preserve the worlds, as benefactress of the gods. Hearken then to what I have declared to thee. I have truly told it thee.
- Sanskrit: मार्कण्डेयपुराणम्, अध्यायाः ८१-९३ (देवीमाहात्म्यम्), Sanskrit Wikisource ↗, by Sanskrit Wikisource contributors, used under CC BY-SA 4.0; the Sanskrit on this page is shared under the same licence. Not proofread against a printed edition.
- English: The Markandeya Purana, translated with notes by F. Eden Pargiter (Bibliotheca Indica, Asiatic Society of Bengal, Calcutta, 1904), cantos LXXXI to XCIII ↗. Public domain (published 1904; the translator died in 1927). Text taken from archive.org OCR of five scans of the printed book, compared word by word. Pargiter's wording is kept as printed; his footnotes are omitted.