The Slaying of Raktabija

Verse 1 (markandeya.88.1)

ऋषिरुवाच चण्डे च निहते दैत्ये मुण्डे च विनिपातिते । बहुलेषु च सैन्येषु क्षयितेष्वसुरेश्वरः ॥ 88.1 ॥

ṛṣiruvāca caṇḍe ca nihate daitye muṇḍe ca vinipātite bahuleṣu ca sainyeṣu kṣayiteṣvasureśvaraḥ

The sage said: When the daitya Chanda had been slain, and Munda struck down, and the greater part of his army had perished, the lord of the asuras...

Verse 2 (markandeya.88.2)

ततः कोपपराधीनचेताः शुम्भः प्रतापवान् । उद्योगं सर्वसैन्यानां दैत्यानामादिदेश ह ॥ 88.2 ॥

tataḥ kopaparādhīnacetāḥ śumbhaḥ pratāpavān udyogaṁ sarvasainyānāṁ daityānāmādideśa ha

...that mighty Shumbha, his mind overcome by rage, then ordered the mobilisation of all his daitya armies for battle.

Verse 3 (markandeya.88.3)

अद्य सर्वबलैर्दैत्याः षडशीतिरुदायुधाः । कम्बूनां चतुरशीतिर्निर्यान्तु स्वबलैर्वृताः ॥ 88.3 ॥

adya sarvabalairdaityāḥ ṣaḍaśītirudāyudhāḥ kambūnāṁ caturaśītirniryāntu svabalairvṛtāḥ

'Today let the eighty-six [companies of] daityas march forth with all their forces, weapons raised; let the eighty-four [companies] of the Kambus march forth, surrounded by their own troops.'

Verse 4 (markandeya.88.4)

कोटिवीर्याणि पञ्चाशदसुराणां कुलानि वै । शतं कुलानि धौम्राणां निर्गच्छन्तु ममाज्ञया ॥ 88.4 ॥

koṭivīryāṇi pañcāśadasurāṇāṁ kulāni vai śataṁ kulāni dhaumrāṇāṁ nirgacchantu mamājñayā

'Let the fifty clans of asuras, each mighty as ten million, and the hundred clans of the Dhaumras go forth at my command.'

Verse 5 (markandeya.88.5)

कालका दौर्हृदा मौर्याः कालकेयास्तथासुराः । युद्धाय सज्जा निर्यान्तु आज्ञया त्वरिता मम ॥ 88.5 ॥

kālakā daurhṛdā mauryāḥ kālakeyāstathāsurāḥ yuddhāya sajjā niryāntu ājñayā tvaritā mama

'Let the Kalakas, the Daurhridas, the Mauryas, and the Kalakeya asuras, made ready for battle, march forth swiftly at my command.'

Verse 6 (markandeya.88.6)

इत्याज्ञाप्यासुरपतिः शुम्भो भैरवशासनः । निर्जगाम महासैन्यसहस्रैर्बहुभिर्वृतः ॥ 88.6 ॥

ityājñāpyāsurapatiḥ śumbho bhairavaśāsanaḥ nirjagāma mahāsainyasahasrairbahubhirvṛtaḥ

Having thus commanded, Shumbha, the lord of the asuras, of most terrible rule, marched forth surrounded by many thousands of that great army.

Verse 7 (markandeya.88.7)

आयान्तं चण्डिका दृष्ट्वा तत्सैन्यमतिभीषणम् । ज्यास्वनैः पूरयामास धरणीगगनान्तरम् ॥ 88.7 ॥

āyāntaṁ caṇḍikā dṛṣṭvā tatsainyamatibhīṣaṇam jyāsvanaiḥ pūrayāmāsa dharaṇīgaganāntaram

Chandika, seeing that most terrifying army approaching, filled the space between earth and sky with the twanging of her bowstring.

Verse 8 (markandeya.88.8)

स च सिंहो महानादमतीव कृतवान् नृप । घण्टास्वनेन तन्नादमम्बिका चाप्यबृंहयत् ॥ 88.8 ॥

sa ca siṁho mahānādamatīva kṛtavān nṛpa ghaṇṭāsvanena tannādamambikā cāpyabṛṁhayat

And that lion, O king, let out an exceedingly great roar; and Ambika swelled that sound further with the ringing of her bell.

Verse 9 (markandeya.88.9)

धनुर्ज्यासिंहघण्टानां नादापूरितदिङ्मुखा । निनादैर्भीषणैः काली जिग्ये विस्तारितानना ॥ 88.9 ॥

dhanurjyāsiṁhaghaṇṭānāṁ nādāpūritadiṅmukhā ninādairbhīṣaṇaiḥ kālī jigye vistāritānanā

With the sounds of her bow's string, the lion, and the bell filling every quarter, Kali, her mouth opened wide, surpassed them all with her terrifying roars.

Verse 10 (markandeya.88.10)

तं निनादमुपश्रुत्य दैत्यसैन्यैश्चतुर्दिशम् । देवी सिंहस्तथा काली सरोषैः परिवारिताः ॥ 88.10 ॥

taṁ ninādamupaśrutya daityasainyaiścaturdiśam devī siṁhastathā kālī saroṣaiḥ parivāritāḥ

Hearing that great roar, the daitya armies surrounded the Devi, the lion, and Kali on all four sides in fury.

Verse 11 (markandeya.88.11)

एतस्मिन्नन्तरे भूप विनाशाय सुरद्विषाम् । भवायामरसिंहानामतिवीर्यबलान्विताः ॥ 88.11 ॥

etasminnantare bhūpa vināśāya suradviṣām bhavāyāmarasiṁhānāmativīryabalānvitāḥ

At this moment, O king, for the destruction of the enemies of the gods and for the well-being of the foremost of the immortals, possessed of surpassing might and valour...

Verse 12 (markandeya.88.12)

ब्रह्मेशगुहविष्णूनां तथेन्द्रस्य च शक्तयः । शरीरेभ्यो विनिष्क्रम्य तद्रूपैश्चण्डिकां ययुः ॥ 88.12 ॥

brahmeśaguhaviṣṇūnāṁ tathendrasya ca śaktayaḥ śarīrebhyo viniṣkramya tadrūpaiścaṇḍikāṁ yayuḥ

...the Shaktis of Brahma, Ishana, Guha, Vishnu, and Indra emerged from their own bodies and, in forms resembling those gods, went to Chandika.

Verse 13 (markandeya.88.13)

यस्य देवस्य यद्रूपं यथाभूषणवाहनम् । तद्वदेव हि तच्छक्तिरसुरान् योद्धुमाययौ ॥ 88.13 ॥

yasya devasya yadrūpaṁ yathābhūṣaṇavāhanam tadvadeva hi tacchaktirasurān yoddhumāyayau

Whatever form each god possessed, with whatever ornaments and mount, in that very same form did his Shakti come forth to fight the asuras.

Verse 14 (markandeya.88.14)

हंसयुक्तविमानाग्रे साक्षसूत्रकमण्डलुः । आयाता ब्रह्मणः शक्तिर्ब्रह्माणी साभिधीयते ॥ 88.14 ॥

haṁsayuktavimānāgre sākṣasūtrakamaṇḍaluḥ āyātā brahmaṇaḥ śaktirbrahmāṇī sābhidhīyate

Seated at the front of a chariot yoked with swans, holding a rosary and a water-pot, came the Shakti of Brahma, who is called Brahmani.

Verse 15 (markandeya.88.15)

माहेश्वरी वृषारूढा त्रिशूलवरधारिणी । महाहिवलया प्राप्ता चन्द्रलेखाविभूषणा ॥ 88.15 ॥

māheśvarī vṛṣārūḍhā triśūlavaradhāriṇī mahāhivalayā prāptā candralekhāvibhūṣaṇā

Maheshvari came, mounted upon a bull, bearing an excellent trident, wearing a great serpent as a bracelet, adorned with the crescent moon.

Verse 16 (markandeya.88.16)

कौमारी शक्तिहस्ता च मयूरवरवाहना । योद्धुमभ्याययौ दैत्यानम्बिका गुहरूपिणी ॥ 88.16 ॥

kaumārī śaktihastā ca mayūravaravāhanā yoddhumabhyāyayau daityānambikā guharūpiṇī

Kaumari, spear in hand, mounted on a splendid peacock, came in the form of the Mother-Goddess to fight against the daityas.

Verse 17 (markandeya.88.17)

तथैव वैष्णावी शक्तिर्गरुडोपरि संस्थिता । शङ्खचक्रगदाशार्ङ्गखड्गहस्ताभ्युपाययौ ॥ 88.17 ॥

tathaiva vaiṣṇāvī śaktirgaruḍopari saṁsthitā śaṅkhacakragadāśārṅgakhaḍgahastābhyupāyayau

Likewise the Shakti of Vishnu came, seated upon Garuda, her hands holding the conch, discus, mace, bow, and sword.

Verse 18 (markandeya.88.18)

जज्ञे वाराहमतुलं रूपं या बिभ्रती हरेः । शक्तिः साप्यायौ तत्र वाराहीं बिभ्रती तनुम् ॥ 88.18 ॥

jajñe vārāhamatulaṁ rūpaṁ yā bibhratī hareḥ śaktiḥ sāpyāyau tatra vārāhīṁ bibhratī tanum

The Shakti of that incomparable sacrificial-boar form of Hari came there too, bearing the very body of Varahi.

Verse 19 (markandeya.88.19)

नारसिंही नृसिंहस्य बिभ्रती सदृशं वपुः । प्राप्ता तत्र सटाक्षेपक्षिप्तनक्षत्रसंहतिः ॥ 88.19 ॥

nārasiṁhī nṛsiṁhasya bibhratī sadṛśaṁ vapuḥ prāptā tatra saṭākṣepakṣiptanakṣatrasaṁhatiḥ

Narasimhi, bearing a form resembling that of Nrisimha, arrived there, the very constellations of stars flung about by the tossing of her mane.

Verse 20 (markandeya.88.20)

वज्रहस्ता तथैवैन्द्री गजराजोपरि स्थिता । प्राप्ता सहस्रनयना यथा शक्रस्तथैव सा ॥ 88.20 ॥

vajrahastā tathaivaindrī gajarājopari sthitā prāptā sahasranayanā yathā śakrastathaiva sā

And likewise Aindri, the thunderbolt in her hand, seated upon the king of elephants, arrived — thousand-eyed, exactly as Shakra himself.

Verse 21 (markandeya.88.21)

ततः परिवृतस्ताभिरीशानो देवशक्तिभिः । हन्यन्तामसुराः शीघ्रं मम प्रीत्याऽह चण्डिकाम् ॥ 88.21 ॥

tataḥ parivṛtastābhirīśāno devaśaktibhiḥ hanyantāmasurāḥ śīghraṁ mama prītyā 'ha caṇḍikām

Then Ishana, surrounded by these divine Shaktis, said to Chandika: 'For my pleasure, let the asuras be slain at once.'

Verse 22 (markandeya.88.22)

ततो देव्याः शरीरात्तु विनिष्क्रान्तातिभीषणा । चण्डिकाशक्तिरत्युग्रा शिवाशतनिनादिनी ॥ 88.22 ॥

tato devyāḥ śarīrāttu viniṣkrāntātibhīṣaṇā caṇḍikāśaktiratyugrā śivāśataninādinī

Then from the Devi's own body there issued forth a most terrifying, exceedingly fierce power of Chandika, roaring with the cries of a hundred jackals.

Verse 23 (markandeya.88.23)

सा चाह धूम्रजटिलमीशानमपराजिता । दूत त्वं गच्छ भगवन् पार्श्वं शुम्भनिशुम्भयोः ॥ 88.23 ॥

sā cāha dhūmrajaṭilamīśānamaparājitā dūta tvaṁ gaccha bhagavan pārśvaṁ śumbhaniśumbhayoḥ

And she, unconquerable, said to Ishana of the matted, smoke-coloured locks: 'O Lord, go as my messenger to the presence of Shumbha and Nishumbha.'

Verse 24 (markandeya.88.24)

ब्रूहि शुम्भं निशुम्भं च दानवावतिगर्वितौ । ये चान्ये दानवास्तत्र युद्धाय समुपस्थिताः ॥ 88.24 ॥

brūhi śumbhaṁ niśumbhaṁ ca dānavāvatigarvitau ye cānye dānavāstatra yuddhāya samupasthitāḥ

'Tell Shumbha and Nishumbha, those two most arrogant danavas, and whatever other danavas are gathered there ready for battle —'

Verse 25 (markandeya.88.25)

त्रैलोक्यमिन्द्रो लभतां देवाः सन्तु हविर्भुजः । यूयं प्रयात पातालं यदि जीवितुमिच्छथ ॥ 88.25 ॥

trailokyamindro labhatāṁ devāḥ santu havirbhujaḥ yūyaṁ prayāta pātālaṁ yadi jīvitumicchatha

'Let Indra regain the three worlds, let the gods again partake of the sacrificial offerings; you, go down to the netherworld, if you wish to live.'

Verse 26 (markandeya.88.26)

बलावलेपादथ चेद्भवन्तो युद्धकाङ्क्षिणः । तदागच्छत तृप्यन्तु मच्छिवाः पिशितेन वः ॥ 88.26 ॥

balāvalepādatha cedbhavanto yuddhakāṅkṣiṇaḥ tadāgacchata tṛpyantu macchivāḥ piśitena vaḥ

'But if, in the pride of your strength, you still desire battle, then come — let my jackals be sated with your flesh.'

Verse 27 (markandeya.88.27)

यतो नियुक्तो दौत्येन तया देव्या शिवः स्वयम् । शिवदूतीति लोकेऽस्मिंस्ततः सा ख्यातिमागता ॥ 88.27 ॥

yato niyukto dautyena tayā devyā śivaḥ svayam śivadūtīti loke 'smiṁstataḥ sā khyātimāgatā

Since Shiva himself was appointed by that Devi as her messenger, she thereby became known in this world by the name Shivaduti.

Verse 28 (markandeya.88.28)

तेऽपि श्रुत्वा वचो देव्याः शर्वाख्यातं महासुराः । अमर्षापूरिता जग्मुर्यत्र कात्यायनी स्थिता ॥ 88.28 ॥

te 'pi śrutvā vaco devyāḥ śarvākhyātaṁ mahāsurāḥ amarṣāpūritā jagmuryatra kātyāyanī sthitā

Those great asuras too, hearing the Devi's words as declared by Sharva, filled with indignation, went to where Katyayani stood.

Verse 29 (markandeya.88.29)

ततः प्रथममेवाग्रे शरशक्त्यृष्टिवृष्टिभिः । ववर्षुरुद्धतामर्षास्तां देवीममरारयः ॥ 88.29 ॥

tataḥ prathamamevāgre śaraśaktyṛṣṭivṛṣṭibhiḥ vavarṣuruddhatāmarṣāstāṁ devīmamarārayaḥ

Then, first of all, the enemies of the gods, their indignation aroused, rained down upon the Devi showers of arrows, spears, and javelins.

Verse 30 (markandeya.88.30)

सा च तान् प्रहितान् बाणाञ्छूलशक्तिपरश्वधान् । चिच्छेद लीलयाऽध्मातधनुर्मुक्तैर्महेषुभिः ॥ 88.30 ॥

sā ca tān prahitān bāṇāñchūlaśaktiparaśvadhān ciccheda līlayā 'dhmātadhanurmuktairmaheṣubhiḥ

And she, with great arrows loosed from her drawn bow, effortlessly cut to pieces those arrows, tridents, spears, and axes hurled at her.

Verse 31 (markandeya.88.31)

तस्याग्रतस्तथा काली शूलपातविदारितान् । खट्वाङ्गपोथितांश्चारीन् कुर्वती व्यचरत्तदा ॥ 88.31 ॥

tasyāgratastathā kālī śūlapātavidāritān khaṭvāṅgapothitāṁścārīn kurvatī vyacarattadā

Before her, Kali too then moved about, tearing enemies apart with blows of her trident and crushing them with her skull-staff.

Verse 32 (markandeya.88.32)

कमण्डलुजलाक्षेपहतवीर्यान् हतौजसः । ब्रह्माणी चाकरोच्छत्रून् येन येन स्म धावति ॥ 88.32 ॥

kamaṇḍalujalākṣepahatavīryān hataujasaḥ brahmāṇī cākarocchatrūn yena yena sma dhāvati

And Brahmani, wherever she moved, robbed her enemies of their strength and vigour merely by sprinkling them with water from her pot.

Verse 33 (markandeya.88.33)

माहेश्वरी त्रिशूलेन तथा चक्रेण वैष्णवी । दैत्याञ्जघान कौमारी तथा शक्त्यातिकोपना ॥ 88.33 ॥

māheśvarī triśūlena tathā cakreṇa vaiṣṇavī daityāñjaghāna kaumārī tathā śaktyātikopanā

Maheshvari slew daityas with her trident, Vaishnavi with her discus, and Kaumari, exceedingly wrathful, with her spear.

Verse 34 (markandeya.88.34)

ऐन्द्रीकुलिशपातेन शतशो दैत्यदानवाः । पेतुर्विदारिताः पृथ्व्यां रुधिरौघप्रवर्षिणः ॥ 88.34 ॥

aindrīkuliśapātena śataśo daityadānavāḥ peturvidāritāḥ pṛthvyāṁ rudhiraughapravarṣiṇaḥ

Struck by the fall of Aindri's thunderbolt, the daityas and danavas fell by the hundreds upon the earth, torn apart, streaming rivers of blood.

Verse 35 (markandeya.88.35)

तुण्डप्रहारविध्वस्ता दंष्ट्राग्रक्षतवक्षसः । वाराहमूर्त्या न्यपतंश्चक्रेण च विदारिताः ॥ 88.35 ॥

tuṇḍaprahāravidhvastā daṁṣṭrāgrakṣatavakṣasaḥ vārāhamūrtyā nyapataṁścakreṇa ca vidāritāḥ

Shattered by blows of her snout and their chests torn by the points of her tusks, others fell before her in boar-form, and yet others were cut apart by the discus.

Verse 36 (markandeya.88.36)

नखैर्विदारितांश्चान्यान् भक्षयन्ती महासुरान् । नारसिंही चचाराजौ नादापूर्णदिगन्तरा ॥ 88.36 ॥

nakhairvidāritāṁścānyān bhakṣayantī mahāsurān nārasiṁhī cacārājau nādāpūrṇadigantarā

And Narasimhi, filling every quarter with her roar, ranged the battlefield, devouring other great asuras torn apart by her claws.

Verse 37 (markandeya.88.37)

चण्डाट्टहासैरसुराः शिवदूत्यभिदूषिताः । पेतुः पृथिव्यां पतितांस्तांश्चखादाथ सा तदा ॥ 88.37 ॥

caṇḍāṭṭahāsairasurāḥ śivadūtyabhidūṣitāḥ petuḥ pṛthivyāṁ patitāṁstāṁścakhādātha sā tadā

Asuras, stricken by the terrible laughter of Shivaduti, fell upon the earth; and she then devoured them as they lay fallen.

Verse 38 (markandeya.88.38)

इति मातृगणं क्रुद्धं मर्दयन्तं महासुरान् । दृष्ट्वाभ्युपायैर्विविधैर्नेशुर्देवारिसैनिकाः ॥ 88.38 ॥

iti mātṛgaṇaṁ kruddhaṁ mardayantaṁ mahāsurān dṛṣṭvābhyupāyairvividhairneśurdevārisainikāḥ

Seeing the enraged host of Mothers thus crushing the great asuras, the soldiers of the enemies of the gods fled by various stratagems.

Verse 39 (markandeya.88.39)

पलायनपरान् दृष्ट्वा दैत्यान् मातृगणार्दितान् । योद्धुमभ्याययौ क्रुद्धो रक्तबीजो महासुरः ॥ 88.39 ॥

palāyanaparān dṛṣṭvā daityān mātṛgaṇārditān yoddhumabhyāyayau kruddho raktabījo mahāsuraḥ

Seeing the daityas fleeing, harassed by the host of Mothers, the great asura Raktabija, enraged, came forward to fight.

Verse 40 (markandeya.88.40)

रक्तबिन्दुर्यदा भूमौ पतत्यस्य शरीरतः । समुत्पतति मेदिन्यां तत्प्रमाणो महासुरः ॥ 88.40 ॥

raktabinduryadā bhūmau patatyasya śarīrataḥ samutpatati medinyāṁ tatpramāṇo mahāsuraḥ

Whenever a drop of blood fell to the ground from his body, at that instant a great asura of like stature sprang up from the earth.

Verse 41 (markandeya.88.41)

युयुधे स गदापाणिपरिन्द्रशक्त्या महासुरः । ततश्चैन्द्री स्ववज्रेण रक्तबीजमताडयत् ॥ 88.41 ॥

yuyudhe sa gadāpāṇiparindraśaktyā mahāsuraḥ tataścaindrī svavajreṇa raktabījamatāḍayat

That great asura, mace in hand, fought with the Shakti of Indra; then Aindri struck Raktabija with her own thunderbolt.

Verse 42 (markandeya.88.42)

कुलिशेनाहतस्याशु बहु सुस्राव शोणितम् । समुत्तस्थुस्ततो योधास्तद्रूपास्तत्पराक्रमाः ॥ 88.42 ॥

kuliśenāhatasyāśu bahu susrāva śoṇitam samuttasthustato yodhāstadrūpāstatparākramāḥ

From him, struck by the thunderbolt, blood at once flowed abundantly; and from it there sprang up warriors of his own form and his own might.

Verse 43 (markandeya.88.43)

यावन्तः पतितास्तस्य शरीराद्रक्तबिन्दवः । तावन्तः पुरुषा जातास्तद्वीर्यबलविक्रमाः ॥ 88.43 ॥

yāvantaḥ patitāstasya śarīrādraktabindavaḥ tāvantaḥ puruṣā jātāstadvīryabalavikramāḥ

As many drops of blood as fell from his body, so many men were born, equal to him in valour, strength, and prowess.

Verse 44 (markandeya.88.44)

ते चापि युयुधुस्तत्र पुरुषा रक्तसम्भवाः । समं मातृभिरत्युग्रशस्त्रपातातिभीषणम् ॥ 88.44 ॥

te cāpi yuyudhustatra puruṣā raktasambhavāḥ samaṁ mātṛbhiratyugraśastrapātātibhīṣaṇam

And those men too, born of his blood, fought there alongside him against the Mothers — a battle made most terrible by the fall of exceedingly fierce weapons.

Verse 45 (markandeya.88.45)

पुनश्च वज्रपातेन क्षतमस्य शिरो यदा । ववाह रक्तं पुरुषास्ततो जाताः सहस्रशः ॥ 88.45 ॥

punaśca vajrapātena kṣatamasya śiro yadā vavāha raktaṁ puruṣāstato jātāḥ sahasraśaḥ

And again, when his head was wounded by the fall of the thunderbolt, blood flowed forth, and from it men were born by the thousand.

Verse 46 (markandeya.88.46)

वैष्णवी समरे चैनं चक्रेणाभिजघान ह । गदया ताडयामास ऐन्द्री तमसुरेश्वरम् ॥ 88.46 ॥

vaiṣṇavī samare cainaṁ cakreṇābhijaghāna ha gadayā tāḍayāmāsa aindrī tamasureśvaram

Vaishnavi struck him in the battle with her discus, and Aindri struck that lord of asuras with her mace.

Verse 47 (markandeya.88.47)

वैष्णावीचक्रभिन्नस्य रुधिरस्रावसम्भवैः । सहस्रशौ जगद्व्याप्तं तत्प्रमाणैर्महासुरैः ॥ 88.47 ॥

vaiṣṇāvīcakrabhinnasya rudhirasrāvasambhavaiḥ sahasraśau jagadvyāptaṁ tatpramāṇairmahāsuraiḥ

From the blood-flow of him who was pierced by Vaishnavi's discus, the world was filled by the thousand with great asuras of his own stature.

Verse 48 (markandeya.88.48)

शक्त्या जघान कौमारी वाराही च तथासिना । माहेश्वरी त्रिशूलेन रक्तबीजं महासुरम् ॥ 88.48 ॥

śaktyā jaghāna kaumārī vārāhī ca tathāsinā māheśvarī triśūlena raktabījaṁ mahāsuram

Kaumari struck the great asura Raktabija with her spear, Varahi with her sword, and Maheshvari with her trident.

Verse 49 (markandeya.88.49)

स चापि गदया दैत्यः सर्वा एवाहनत् पृथक् । मातः कोपसमाविष्टो रक्तबीजो महासुरः ॥ 88.49 ॥

sa cāpi gadayā daityaḥ sarvā evāhanat pṛthak mātaḥ kopasamāviṣṭo raktabījo mahāsuraḥ

And that daitya Raktabija too, overcome with fury, struck each of the Mothers in turn with his mace.

Verse 50 (markandeya.88.50)

तस्याहतस्य बहुधा शक्तिशूलादिभिर्भुवि । पपात यो वै रक्तौघस्तेनासञ्छतशोऽसुराः ॥ 88.50 ॥

tasyāhatasya bahudhā śaktiśūlādibhirbhuvi papāta yo vai raktaughastenāsañchataśo 'surāḥ

From him, struck in many ways by their spears, tridents and other weapons, whatever flood of blood fell to the ground — from that, hundreds of asuras were born.

Verse 51 (markandeya.88.51)

तैश्चासुरासृक्सम्भूतैरसुरैः सकलं जगत् । व्याप्तमासीत्ततो देवा भयमाजग्मुरुत्तमम् ॥ 88.51 ॥

taiścāsurāsṛksambhūtairasuraiḥ sakalaṁ jagat vyāptamāsīttato devā bhayamājagmuruttamam

And by those asuras born from the demon's own blood, the entire world became filled; then the gods fell into the greatest fear.

Verse 52 (markandeya.88.52)

तान् विषण्णान् सुरान् दृष्ट्वा चण्डिका प्राह सत्वरा । उवाच कालीं चामुण्डे विस्तीर्णं वदनं कुरु ॥ 88.52 ॥

tān viṣaṇṇān surān dṛṣṭvā caṇḍikā prāha satvarā uvāca kālīṁ cāmuṇḍe vistīrṇaṁ vadanaṁ kuru

Seeing the gods thus dejected, Chandika spoke at once; she said to Kali: 'O Chamunda, open wide your mouth.'

Verse 53 (markandeya.88.53)

मच्छस्त्रपातसम्भूतान् रक्तबिन्दून् महासुरान् । रक्तबिन्दोः प्रतीच्छ त्वं वक्त्रेणानेन वेगिना ॥ 88.53 ॥

macchastrapātasambhūtān raktabindūn mahāsurān raktabindoḥ pratīccha tvaṁ vaktreṇānena veginā

'With this swiftly-opened mouth of yours, receive the great asuras born from the drops of blood struck forth by my weapons — receive them from Raktabija's very blood.'

Verse 54 (markandeya.88.54)

भक्षयन्ती चर रणे तदुत्पन्नान् महासुरान् । एवमेष क्षयं दैत्यः क्षीणरक्तो गमिष्यति । भक्ष्यमाणास्त्वया चोग्रा न चोत्पत्स्यन्ति चापरे ॥ 88.54 ॥

bhakṣayantī cara raṇe tadutpannān mahāsurān evameṣa kṣayaṁ daityaḥ kṣīṇarakto gamiṣyati bhakṣyamāṇāstvayā cogrā na cotpatsyanti cāpare

'Range the battlefield devouring the great asuras born from him; thus, drained of blood, this daitya shall go to his destruction. And once these fierce ones are devoured by you, no others shall arise from them.'

Verse 55 (markandeya.88.55)

ऋषिरुवाच इत्युक्त्वा तां ततो देवी शूलेनाभिजघान तम् । मुखेन काली जगृहे रक्तबीजस्य शोणितम् ॥ 88.55 ॥

ṛṣiruvāca ityuktvā tāṁ tato devī śūlenābhijaghāna tam mukhena kālī jagṛhe raktabījasya śoṇitam

The sage said: Having spoken thus, the Devi then struck him with her trident; and Kali caught the blood of Raktabija in her mouth.

Verse 56 (markandeya.88.56)

ततोऽसावाजघानाथ गदया तत्र चण्डिकाम् । न चास्या वेदनां चक्रे गदापातोऽल्पिकामपि ॥ 88.56 ॥

tato 'sāvājaghānātha gadayā tatra caṇḍikām na cāsyā vedanāṁ cakre gadāpāto 'lpikāmapi

Then he in turn struck Chandika there with his mace; but the blow of the mace caused her not even the slightest pain.

Verse 57 (markandeya.88.57)

तस्याहतस्य देहात्तु बहु सुस्राव शोणितम् । यतस्ततः स्ववक्त्रेण चामुण्डा सम्प्रतीच्छति ॥ 88.57 ॥

tasyāhatasya dehāttu bahu susrāva śoṇitam yatastataḥ svavaktreṇa cāmuṇḍā sampratīcchati

From his body, wherever he was struck, blood flowed out abundantly — and from wherever it flowed, Chamunda caught it with her own mouth.

Verse 58 (markandeya.88.58)

मुखे समुद्गता येऽस्या रक्तपातान्महासुराः । तांश्चखादाथ चामुण्डा पपौ तस्य च शोणितम् ॥ 88.58 ॥

mukhe samudgatā ye 'syā raktapātānmahāsurāḥ tāṁścakhādātha cāmuṇḍā papau tasya ca śoṇitam

Whatever great asuras arose in her mouth from the falling drops of his blood, those Chamunda devoured, and she drank his blood as well.

Verse 59 (markandeya.88.59)

देवी शूलेन चक्रेण बाणैरसिभिरृष्टिभिः । जघान रक्तबीजं तं चामुण्डापीतशोणितम् ॥ 88.59 ॥

devī śūlena cakreṇa bāṇairasibhirṛṣṭibhiḥ jaghāna raktabījaṁ taṁ cāmuṇḍāpītaśoṇitam

The Devi struck that Raktabija, his blood now drunk up by Chamunda, with her trident, discus, arrows, sword, and javelin.

Verse 60 (markandeya.88.60)

स पपात महीपृष्ठे शस्त्रसंहतितो हतः । नीरक्तश्च महीपाल रक्तबीजो महासुरः ॥ 88.60 ॥

sa papāta mahīpṛṣṭhe śastrasaṁhatito hataḥ nīraktaśca mahīpāla raktabījo mahāsuraḥ

Struck down by the mass of her weapons, that great asura Raktabija, now bloodless, fell upon the surface of the earth, O protector of the earth.

Verse 61 (markandeya.88.61)

ततस्ते हर्षमतुलमवापुस्त्रिदशा नृप । तेषां मातृगणो जातो ननर्तासृङ्मदोद्धतः ॥ 88.61 ॥

tataste harṣamatulamavāpustridaśā nṛpa teṣāṁ mātṛgaṇo jāto nanartāsṛṅmadoddhataḥ

Then, O king, the gods obtained matchless joy; and the host of Mothers, intoxicated with the demon's blood, danced in triumph.