The Slaying of Madhu and Kaitabha, in the Devi Mahatmya

Verse 1 (devibhagavatam.10.11.1)

राजोवाच । का सा देवी त्वया प्रोक्ता ब्रूहि कालविदां वर । का मोहयति सत्त्वानि कारणं किं भवेद् द्विज ॥

rājovāca kā sā devī tvayā proktā brūhi kālavidāṁ vara kā mohayati sattvāni kāraṇaṁ kiṁ bhaved dvija

The king said: Who is that Goddess whom you have spoken of, tell me, O best of those who know time! Who deludes all beings, and what is the cause of this, O brahmin?

Verse 2 (devibhagavatam.10.11.2)

कस्मादुत्पद्यते देवी किंरूपा सा किमात्मिका । सर्वमाख्याहि भूदेव कृपया मम सर्वतः ॥

kasmādutpadyate devī kiṁrūpā sā kimātmikā sarvamākhyāhi bhūdeva kṛpayā mama sarvataḥ

From what does the Goddess arise, of what form is she, of what essence is she? Relate all this to me fully, O earth-god, out of your compassion.

Verse 3 (devibhagavatam.10.11.3)

मुनिरुवाच । राजन् देव्याः स्वरूपं ते वर्णयामि निशामय । यथा चोत्पतिता देवी येन वा सा जगन्मयी ॥

muniruvāca rājan devyāḥ svarūpaṁ te varṇayāmi niśāmaya yathā cotpatitā devī yena vā sā jaganmayī

The sage said: O king, I shall describe to you the true nature of the Goddess; listen — how the Goddess arose, and by whom, she whose form is the universe.

Verse 4 (devibhagavatam.10.11.4)

यदा नारायणो देवो विश्वं संहृत्य योगराट् । आस्तीर्य शेषं भगवान् समुद्रे निद्रितोऽभवत् ॥

yadā nārāyaṇo devo viśvaṁ saṁhṛtya yogarāṭ āstīrya śeṣaṁ bhagavān samudre nidrito'bhavat

When the Lord Narayana, sovereign of yoga, having withdrawn the universe, spreading out Shesha, the Lord lay asleep upon the ocean —

Verse 5 (devibhagavatam.10.11.5)

तदा प्रस्वापवशगो देवदेवो जनार्दनः । तत्कर्णमलसञ्जातौ दानवौ मधुकैटभौ ॥

tadā prasvāpavaśago devadevo janārdanaḥ tatkarṇamalasañjātau dānavau madhukaiṭabhau

— then, that god of gods, Janardana, overcome by sleep — from the wax of his ear were born two danavas, Madhu and Kaitabha.

Verse 6 (devibhagavatam.10.11.6)

ब्रह्माणं हन्तुमुद्युक्तौ दानवौ घोररूपिणौ । तदा कमलजो देवो दृष्ट्वा तौ मधुकैटभौ ॥

brahmāṇaṁ hantumudyuktau dānavau ghorarūpiṇau tadā kamalajo devo dṛṣṭvā tau madhukaiṭabhau

Those two danavas, terrible in form, set out to kill Brahma. Then the lotus-born god, seeing those two, Madhu and Kaitabha —

Verse 7 (devibhagavatam.10.11.7)

निद्रितं देवदेवेशं चिन्तामाप दुरत्ययाम् । निद्रितो भगवानीशो दानवौ च दुरासदौ ॥

nidritaṁ devadeveśaṁ cintāmāpa duratyayām nidrito bhagavānīśo dānavau ca durāsadau

— and seeing the god of gods asleep, fell into insurmountable anxiety. The Lord Ishvara was asleep, and the two danavas were unassailable —

Verse 8 (devibhagavatam.10.11.8)

किं करोमि क्व गच्छामि कथं शर्म लभे ह्यहम् । एवं चिन्तयतस्तस्य पद्ययोनेर्महात्मनः ॥

kiṁ karomi kva gacchāmi kathaṁ śarma labhe hyaham evaṁ cintayatastasya padyayonermahātmanaḥ

'What shall I do, where shall I go, how shall I find safety?' As the great-souled lotus-born one thus brooded —

Verse 9 (devibhagavatam.10.11.9)

बुद्धिः प्रादूरभूत्तात तदा कार्यप्रसाधिनी । यस्या वशं गतो देवो निद्रितो भगवान् हरिः ॥

buddhiḥ prādūrabhūttāta tadā kāryaprasādhinī yasyā vaśaṁ gato devo nidrito bhagavān hariḥ

— O child, wisdom, accomplisher of his task, then arose in him: 'that under whose sway even the sleeping Lord Hari has fallen —'

Verse 10 (devibhagavatam.10.11.10)

तां देवीं शरणं यामि निद्रां सर्वप्रसूतिकाम् । ब्रह्मोवाच । देवि देवि जगद्धात्रि भक्ताभीष्टफलप्रदे ॥

tāṁ devīṁ śaraṇaṁ yāmi nidrāṁ sarvaprasūtikām brahmovāca devi devi jagaddhātri bhaktābhīṣṭaphalaprade

'— to that Goddess, Nidra, the mother of all creation, I go for refuge.' Brahma said: 'O Goddess, Goddess, sustainer of the world, giver of the desired fruit to devotees —'

Verse 11 (devibhagavatam.10.11.11)

जगन्माये महामाये समुद्रशयने शिवे । त्वदाज्ञावशगाः सर्वे स्वस्वकार्यविधायिनः ॥

jaganmāye mahāmāye samudraśayane śive tvadājñāvaśagāḥ sarve svasvakāryavidhāyinaḥ

'— world-embodied Maya, great Maya, dwelling upon the ocean's sleeper, auspicious one! All beings are subject to your command, performing each their own tasks —'

Verse 12 (devibhagavatam.10.11.12)

कालरात्रिर्महारात्रिर्मोहरात्रिर्मदोत्कटा । व्यापिनी वशगा मान्या महानन्दैकशेवधिः ॥

kālarātrirmahārātrirmoharātrirmadotkaṭā vyāpinī vaśagā mānyā mahānandaikaśevadhiḥ

'— Kalaratri, the great night, the night of delusion, fierce with intoxication, all-pervading, subjugator, honored, the sole treasury of supreme bliss —'

Verse 13 (devibhagavatam.10.11.13)

महनीया महाराध्या माया मधुमती मही । परापराणां सर्वेषां परमा त्वं प्रकीर्तिता ॥

mahanīyā mahārādhyā māyā madhumatī mahī parāparāṇāṁ sarveṣāṁ paramā tvaṁ prakīrtitā

'— greatly venerable, greatly worthy of worship, Maya, sweet as honey, the earth itself — of all things higher and lower, you are proclaimed as the supreme.'

Verse 14 (devibhagavatam.10.11.14)

लज्जा पुष्टिः क्षमा कीर्तिः कान्तिः कारुण्यविग्रहा । कमनीया जगद्वन्द्या जाग्रदादिस्वरूपिणी ॥

lajjā puṣṭiḥ kṣamā kīrtiḥ kāntiḥ kāruṇyavigrahā kamanīyā jagadvandyā jāgradādisvarūpiṇī

'— Modesty, Nourishment, Forbearance, Fame, Radiance, whose very form is compassion, lovely, worshipped by the universe, whose nature is that of waking and the other states —'

Verse 15 (devibhagavatam.10.11.15)

परमा परमेशानी परानन्दपरायणा । एकाप्येकस्वरूपा च सद्वितीया द्वयात्मिका ॥

paramā parameśānī parānandaparāyaṇā ekāpyekasvarūpā ca sadvitīyā dvayātmikā

'— supreme, sovereign among the supreme, devoted to supreme bliss; though one, of one form, yet accompanied by a second, of two-fold nature —'

Verse 16 (devibhagavatam.10.11.16)

त्रयी त्रिवर्गनिलया तुर्या तुर्यपदात्मिका । पञ्चमी पञ्चभूतेशी षष्ठी षष्ठेश्वरीति च ॥

trayī trivarganilayā turyā turyapadātmikā pañcamī pañcabhūteśī ṣaṣṭhī ṣaṣṭheśvarīti ca

'— the triad, the abode of the three goals of life, the fourth, whose nature is the fourth state; the fifth, ruling the five elements, the sixth, and the lady of the sixth —'

Verse 17 (devibhagavatam.10.11.17)

सप्तमी सप्तवारेशी सप्तसप्तवरप्रदा । अष्टमी वसुनाथा च नवग्रहमयीश्वरी ॥

saptamī saptavāreśī saptasaptavarapradā aṣṭamī vasunāthā ca navagrahamayīśvarī

'— the seventh, ruling the seven days, the giver of the forty-nine boons; the eighth, mistress of the Vasus, the sovereign composed of the nine planets —'

Verse 18 (devibhagavatam.10.11.18)

नवरागकला रम्या नवसङ्ख्या नवेश्वरी । दशमी दशदिक्पूज्या दशाशाव्यापिनी रमा ॥

navarāgakalā ramyā navasaṅkhyā naveśvarī daśamī daśadikpūjyā daśāśāvyāpinī ramā

'— lovely with the nine melodic modes, the number nine, sovereign of the ninth; the tenth, worshipped in the ten directions, pervading the ten quarters, Rama —'

Verse 19 (devibhagavatam.10.11.19)

एकादशात्मिका चैकादशरुद्रनिषेविता । एकादशीतिथिप्रीता एकादशगणाधिपा ॥

ekādaśātmikā caikādaśarudraniṣevitā ekādaśītithiprītā ekādaśagaṇādhipā

'— of eleven-fold nature, served by the eleven Rudras; beloved of the eleventh lunar day, lord of the eleven ganas —'

Verse 20 (devibhagavatam.10.11.20)

द्वादशी द्वादशभुजा द्वादशादित्यजन्मभूः । त्रयोदशात्मिका देवी त्रयोदशगणप्रिया ॥

dvādaśī dvādaśabhujā dvādaśādityajanmabhūḥ trayodaśātmikā devī trayodaśagaṇapriyā

'— the twelfth, twelve-armed, the birthplace of the twelve Adityas; the Goddess of thirteen-fold nature, dear to the thirteen ganas —'

Verse 21 (devibhagavatam.10.11.21)

त्रयोदशाभिधा भिन्ना विश्वेदेवाधिदेवता । चतुर्दशेन्द्रवरदा चतुर्दशमनुप्रसूः ॥

trayodaśābhidhā bhinnā viśvedevādhidevatā caturdaśendravaradā caturdaśamanuprasūḥ

'— known by thirteen distinct names, the presiding deity of the Vishvedevas; the fourteenth, granter of boons to Indra, mother of the fourteen Manus —'

Verse 22 (devibhagavatam.10.11.22)

पञ्चाधिकदशी वेद्या पञ्चाधिकदशी तिथिः । षोडशी षोडशभुजा षोडशेन्दुकलामयी ॥

pañcādhikadaśī vedyā pañcādhikadaśī tithiḥ ṣoḍaśī ṣoḍaśabhujā ṣoḍaśendukalāmayī

'— the fifteenth, to be known, the fifteenth lunar day; the sixteenth, sixteen-armed, composed of the sixteen digits of the moon —'

Verse 23 (devibhagavatam.10.11.23)

षोडशात्मकचन्द्रांशुव्याप्तदिव्यकलेवरा । एवंरूपासि देवेशि निर्गुणे तामसोदये ॥

ṣoḍaśātmakacandrāṁśuvyāptadivyakalevarā evaṁrūpāsi deveśi nirguṇe tāmasodaye

'— your divine form pervaded by the rays of the sixteen-phased moon. Such is your form, O sovereign of the gods, in this rise of tamas in your attributeless state —'

Verse 24 (devibhagavatam.10.11.24)

त्वया गृहीतो भगवान्देवदेवो रमापतिः । एतौ दुरासदौ दैत्यौ विक्रान्तौ मधुकैटभौ ॥

tvayā gṛhīto bhagavāndevadevo ramāpatiḥ etau durāsadau daityau vikrāntau madhukaiṭabhau

'— by you has the Lord, god of gods, husband of Rama, been seized. These two unassailable, valorous daityas, Madhu and Kaitabha —'

Verse 25 (devibhagavatam.10.11.25)

एतयोश्च वधार्थाय देवेशं प्रतिबोधय । मुनिरुवाच । एवं स्तुता भगवती तामसी भगवत्प्रिया ॥

etayośca vadhārthāya deveśaṁ pratibodhaya muniruvāca evaṁ stutā bhagavatī tāmasī bhagavatpriyā

'— for the sake of their destruction, please awaken the lord of the gods.' The sage said: Thus praised, the tamasic Bhagavati, beloved of the Lord —

Verse 26 (devibhagavatam.10.11.26)

देवदेवं तदा त्यक्त्वा मोहयामास दानवौ । तदैव भगवान्विष्णुः परमात्मा जगत्पतिः ॥

devadevaṁ tadā tyaktvā mohayāmāsa dānavau tadaiva bhagavānviṣṇuḥ paramātmā jagatpatiḥ

— then left the god of gods, and deluded the two danavas. And at that very moment, Lord Vishnu, the supreme Self, lord of the world —

Verse 27 (devibhagavatam.10.11.27)

प्रबोधमाप देवेशो ददृशे दानवोत्तमौ । तदा तौ दानवौ घोरौ दृष्ट्वा तं मधुसूदनम् ॥

prabodhamāpa deveśo dadṛśe dānavottamau tadā tau dānavau ghorau dṛṣṭvā taṁ madhusūdanam

— the lord of the gods, awoke, and beheld the two foremost of the danavas. Then those two terrible danavas, seeing that Madhusudana —

Verse 28 (devibhagavatam.10.11.28)

युद्धाय कृतसङ्कल्पौ जग्मतुः सन्निधिं हरेः । युयुधे च ततस्ताभ्यां भगवान्मधुसूदनः ॥

yuddhāya kṛtasaṅkalpau jagmatuḥ sannidhiṁ hareḥ yuyudhe ca tatastābhyāṁ bhagavānmadhusūdanaḥ

— resolved upon battle, went into his presence. Then the Lord Madhusudana fought with those two —

Verse 29 (devibhagavatam.10.11.29)

पञ्चवर्षसहस्राणि बाहुप्रहरणो विभुः । तौ तदातिबलोन्मत्तौ जगन्मायाविमोहितौ ॥

pañcavarṣasahasrāṇi bāhupraharaṇo vibhuḥ tau tadātibalonmattau jaganmāyāvimohitau

— for five thousand years, that mighty one, his arms his weapons. Those two, then, exceedingly strong and intoxicated, deluded by the world-Maya —

Verse 30 (devibhagavatam.10.11.30)

व्रियतां वर इत्येवमूचतुः परमेश्वरम् । एवं तयोर्वचः श्रुत्वा भगवानादिपूरुषः ॥

vriyatāṁ vara ityevamūcatuḥ parameśvaram evaṁ tayorvacaḥ śrutvā bhagavānādipūruṣaḥ

— said to the supreme Lord: 'Choose a boon.' Having heard their words thus, the Lord, the primal being —

Verse 31 (devibhagavatam.10.11.31)

वव्रे वध्याबुभौ मेऽद्य भवेतामिति निश्चितम् । तौ तदातिबलौ देवं पुनरेवोचतुर्हरिम् ॥

vavre vadhyābubhau me'dya bhavetāmiti niścitam tau tadātibalau devaṁ punarevocaturharim

— chose: 'Let the two of you be slain by me today' — this was resolved. Then those two, of surpassing strength, again said to the Lord Hari —

Verse 32 (devibhagavatam.10.11.32)

आवां जहि न यत्रोर्वी पयसा च परिप्लुता । तथेत्युक्त्वा भगवता गदाशङ्खभृता नृप ॥

āvāṁ jahi na yatrorvī payasā ca pariplutā tathetyuktvā bhagavatā gadāśaṅkhabhṛtā nṛpa

'Slay us where the earth is not flooded by water.' Having said 'So be it,' the Lord, mace- and conch-bearer, O king —

Verse 33 (devibhagavatam.10.11.33)

कृत्वा चक्रेण वै छिन्ने जघने शिरसी तयोः । एवं देवी समुत्पन्ना ब्रह्मणा संस्तुता नृप ॥

kṛtvā cakreṇa vai chinne jaghane śirasī tayoḥ evaṁ devī samutpannā brahmaṇā saṁstutā nṛpa

— having with his discus cut off their loins and heads. Thus, O king, the Goddess arose, praised by Brahma —

Verse 34 (devibhagavatam.10.11.34)

महाकाली महाराज सर्वयोगेश्वरेश्वरी । महालक्ष्म्यास्तथोत्पत्तिं निशामय महीपते ॥

mahākālī mahārāja sarvayogeśvareśvarī mahālakṣmyāstathotpattiṁ niśāmaya mahīpate

— as Mahakali, O great king, sovereign of all the lords of yoga. Now hear likewise the origin of Mahalakshmi, O lord of the earth.