The Hymn to Narayani

Verse 1 (markandeya.91.1)

ऋषिरुवाच देव्या हते तत्र महासुरेन्द्रे सेन्द्राः सुरा वह्निपुरोगमास्ताम् । कात्यायनीं तुष्टुवुरिष्टलाभाद् विकाशिवक्त्राब्जविकाशिताशाः ॥ 91.1 ॥

ṛṣiruvāca devyā hate tatra mahāsurendre sendrāḥ surā vahnipurogamāstām kātyāyanīṁ tuṣṭuvuriṣṭalābhād vikāśivaktrābjavikāśitāśāḥ

The sage said: When that great lord of the asuras was slain there by the Goddess, the gods, with Indra and Agni at their head, having gained their heart's desire, praised Katyayani—their faces blossoming like lotuses, their very hopes now in bloom.

Verse 2 (markandeya.91.2)

देवा ऊचुः देवि प्रपन्नार्तिहरे प्रसीद प्रसीद मातर्जगतोऽखिलस्य । प्रसीद विश्वेश्वरि पाहि विश्वं त्वमीश्वरी देवि चराचरस्य ॥ 91.2 ॥

devā ūcuḥ devi prapannārtihare prasīda prasīda mātarjagato 'khilasya prasīda viśveśvari pāhi viśvaṁ tvamīśvarī devi carācarasya

The gods said: O Goddess who removes the suffering of those who take refuge in you, be gracious. Be gracious, O Mother of this entire universe. Be gracious, O Sovereign of all, and protect the universe; you, O Goddess, are the ruler of all that moves and does not move.

Verse 3 (markandeya.91.3)

आधारभूता जगतस्त्वमेका महीस्वरूपेण यतः स्थितासि । अपां स्वरूपस्थितया त्वयैतद् आप्याय्यते कृत्स्त्रमलङ्घ्यवीर्ये ॥ 91.3 ॥

ādhārabhūtā jagatastvamekā mahīsvarūpeṇa yataḥ sthitāsi apāṁ svarūpasthitayā tvayaitad āpyāyyate kṛtstramalaṅghyavīrye

You alone are the foundation of the world, for you stand established in the very form of the earth; and abiding in the nature of water, by you this entire universe is sustained and nourished, O you of unsurpassable power.

Verse 4 (markandeya.91.4)

त्वं वैष्णवी शक्तिरनन्तवीर्या विश्वस्य बीजं परमासि माया । संमोहितं देवि समस्तमेतत् तेवं वै प्रसन्ना भुवि मुक्तिहेतुः ॥ 91.4 ॥

tvaṁ vaiṣṇavī śaktiranantavīryā viśvasya bījaṁ paramāsi māyā saṁmohitaṁ devi samastametat tevaṁ vai prasannā bhuvi muktihetuḥ

You are the power of Vishnu, of boundless might; you are the supreme Maya, the very seed of the universe. By you, O Goddess, this entire world lies bewildered; and you, when gracious, become the very cause of liberation upon this earth.

Verse 5 (markandeya.91.5)

विद्याः समस्तास्तव देवि भेदाः स्त्रियः समस्ताः सकला जगत्सु । त्वयैकया पूरितमम्बयैतत् का ते स्तुतिः स्तव्यपरा परोक्तिः ॥ 91.5 ॥

vidyāḥ samastāstava devi bhedāḥ striyaḥ samastāḥ sakalā jagatsu tvayaikayā pūritamambayaitat kā te stutiḥ stavyaparā paroktiḥ

All learning, O Goddess, is but a form of you; all women in all the worlds are your own manifestations. By you alone, O Mother, is this entire world pervaded—what praise, then, could ever be worthy of you, what words could truly extol you?

Verse 6 (markandeya.91.6)

सर्वभूता यदा देवी स्वर्गमुक्तिप्रदायिनी । त्वं स्तुता स्तुतये का वा भवन्तु परमोक्तयः ॥ 91.6 ॥

sarvabhūtā yadā devī svargamuktipradāyinī tvaṁ stutā stutaye kā vā bhavantu paramoktayaḥ

Since the Goddess herself dwells in all beings, and is herself the giver of heaven and of liberation, what praise could there be for you when you are already praised in every form—what supreme words remain to be said?

Verse 7 (markandeya.91.7)

सर्वस्य बुद्धिरूपेण जनस्य हृदि संस्थिते । स्वर्गापवर्गदे देवि नारायणि नमोऽस्तु ते ॥ 91.7 ॥

sarvasya buddhirūpeṇa janasya hṛdi saṁsthite svargāpavargade devi nārāyaṇi namo 'stu te

O you who dwell in the hearts of all people in the very form of understanding, O giver of heaven and of liberation, O Goddess Narayani, salutations to you.

Verse 8 (markandeya.91.8)

कलाकाष्ठादिरूपेण परिणामप्रदायिनी । विश्वस्योपरतौ शक्ते नारायणि नमोऽस्तु ते ॥ 91.8 ॥

kalākāṣṭhādirūpeṇa pariṇāmapradāyinī viśvasyoparatau śakte nārāyaṇi namo 'stu te

O you who, in the form of the kala, the kashtha, and all such measures of time, bring about every change, O power at the dissolution of the universe, O Narayani, salutations to you.

Verse 9 (markandeya.91.9)

सर्वमङ्गलमाङ्गल्ये शिवे सर्वार्थसाधिके । शरण्ये त्र्यम्बके गौरि नारायणि नमोऽस्तु ते ॥ 91.9 ॥

sarvamaṅgalamāṅgalye śive sarvārthasādhike śaraṇye tryambake gauri nārāyaṇi namo 'stu te

O most auspicious among all auspicious things, O benevolent one, O accomplisher of every aim, O refuge, O three-eyed one, O Gauri, O Narayani, salutations to you.

Verse 10 (markandeya.91.10)

सृष्टिस्थितिविनाशानां शक्तिभूते सनातनि । गुणाश्रये गुणमये नारायणि नमोऽस्तु ते ॥ 91.10 ॥

sṛṣṭisthitivināśānāṁ śaktibhūte sanātani guṇāśraye guṇamaye nārāyaṇi namo 'stu te

O eternal one who are the very power behind creation, preservation and destruction, O refuge of the gunas, O you who consist of the gunas, O Narayani, salutations to you.

Verse 11 (markandeya.91.11)

शरणागतदीनार्तपरित्राणपरायणे । सर्वस्यार्तिहरे देवि नारायणि नमोऽस्तु ते ॥ 91.11 ॥

śaraṇāgatadīnārtaparitrāṇaparāyaṇe sarvasyārtihare devi nārāyaṇi namo 'stu te

O you devoted to the protection of the humble and the afflicted who take refuge in you, O Goddess who removes the suffering of all, O Narayani, salutations to you.

Verse 12 (markandeya.91.12)

हंसयुक्तविमानस्थे ब्रह्माणीरूपधारिणि । कौशाम्भः क्षरिके देवि नारायणि नमोऽस्तु ते ॥ 91.12 ॥

haṁsayuktavimānasthe brahmāṇīrūpadhāriṇi kauśāmbhaḥ kṣarike devi nārāyaṇi namo 'stu te

O you who ride upon a chariot yoked with swans, bearing the form of Brahmani, O Goddess who sprinkles the sacred water from your kusha-grass vessel, O Narayani, salutations to you.

Verse 13 (markandeya.91.13)

त्रिशूलचन्द्राहिधरे महावृषभवाहिनि । माहेश्वरीस्वरूपेण नारायणि नमोऽस्तु ते ॥ 91.13 ॥

triśūlacandrāhidhare mahāvṛṣabhavāhini māheśvarīsvarūpeṇa nārāyaṇi namo 'stu te

O you who bear the trident, the crescent moon and the serpent, who ride upon the great bull, in the very form of Maheshvari, O Narayani, salutations to you.

Verse 14 (markandeya.91.14)

मयूरकुक्कुटवृते महाशक्तिधरेऽमघे । कौमारीरूपसंस्थाने नारायणि नमोऽस्तु ते ॥ 91.14 ॥

mayūrakukkuṭavṛte mahāśaktidhare 'maghe kaumārīrūpasaṁsthāne nārāyaṇi namo 'stu te

O you surrounded by peacock and cock, bearing the great spear, O faultless one, abiding in the form of Kaumari, O Narayani, salutations to you.

Verse 15 (markandeya.91.15)

शङ्खचक्रगदाशार्ङ्गगृहीतपरमायुधे । प्रसीद वैष्णवीरूपे नारायणि नमोऽस्तु ते ॥ 91.15 ॥

śaṅkhacakragadāśārṅgagṛhītaparamāyudhe prasīda vaiṣṇavīrūpe nārāyaṇi namo 'stu te

O you who hold the conch, the discus, the mace and the bow Sharnga, those supreme weapons, be gracious, O you in the form of Vaishnavi, O Narayani, salutations to you.

Verse 16 (markandeya.91.16)

गृहीतोग्रमहाचक्रे दंष्ट्रोद्धृतवसुन्धरे । वराहरूपिणि शिवे नारायणि नमोऽस्तु ते ॥ 91.16 ॥

gṛhītogramahācakre daṁṣṭroddhṛtavasundhare varāharūpiṇi śive nārāyaṇi namo 'stu te

O you who hold the fierce great discus, who lifted up the earth upon your tusk, O benevolent one in the form of the Boar, O Narayani, salutations to you.

Verse 17 (markandeya.91.17)

नृसिंहरूपेणोग्रेण हन्तुं दैत्यान् कृतोद्यमे । त्रैलोक्यत्राणसहिते नारायणि नमोऽस्तु ते ॥ 91.17 ॥

nṛsiṁharūpeṇogreṇa hantuṁ daityān kṛtodyame trailokyatrāṇasahite nārāyaṇi namo 'stu te

O you who, in the fierce form of the Man-Lion, rose up to slay the daityas, granting protection to all three worlds, O Narayani, salutations to you.

Verse 18 (markandeya.91.18)

किरीटिनि महावज्रे सहस्रनयनोज्ज्वले । वृत्रप्राणहरे चैन्द्रि नारायणि नमोऽस्तु ते ॥ 91.18 ॥

kirīṭini mahāvajre sahasranayanojjvale vṛtraprāṇahare caindri nārāyaṇi namo 'stu te

O you who are crowned, who bear the great thunderbolt, resplendent with a thousand eyes, who took the life of Vritra, O form of Indra, O Narayani, salutations to you.

Verse 19 (markandeya.91.19)

शिवदूतीस्वरूपेण हतदैत्यमहाबले । घोररूपे महारावे नारायणि नमोऽस्तु ते ॥ 91.19 ॥

śivadūtīsvarūpeṇa hatadaityamahābale ghorarūpe mahārāve nārāyaṇi namo 'stu te

O you who, in the form of Shivaduti, destroyed the great might of the daityas, O terrible-formed one of the mighty roar, O Narayani, salutations to you.

Verse 20 (markandeya.91.20)

दंष्ट्राकरालवदने शिरोमालाविभूषणे । चामुण्डे मुण्डमथने नारायणि नमोऽस्तु ते ॥ 91.20 ॥

daṁṣṭrākarālavadane śiromālāvibhūṣaṇe cāmuṇḍe muṇḍamathane nārāyaṇi namo 'stu te

O you whose face is fearsome with tusks, adorned with a garland of heads, O Chamunda, destroyer of Munda, O Narayani, salutations to you.

Verse 21 (markandeya.91.21)

लक्ष्मि लज्जे महाविद्ये श्रद्धे पुष्टे स्वधे ध्रुवे । महारात्रे महामाये नारायणि नमोऽस्तु ते ॥ 91.21 ॥

lakṣmi lajje mahāvidye śraddhe puṣṭe svadhe dhruve mahārātre mahāmāye nārāyaṇi namo 'stu te

O Lakshmi, O Modesty, O great Knowledge, O Faith, O Nourishment, O Svadha, O Steadfast one, O great Night, O great Illusion, O Narayani, salutations to you.

Verse 22 (markandeya.91.22)

मेधे सरस्वति वरे भूति बाभ्रवि तामसि । नियते त्वं प्रसीदेशे नारायणि नमोऽस्तु ते ॥ 91.22 ॥

medhe sarasvati vare bhūti bābhravi tāmasi niyate tvaṁ prasīdeśe nārāyaṇi namo 'stu te

O Intellect, O Sarasvati, O most excellent one, O Prosperity, O tawny one, O Tamasi, O Fate itself, be gracious, O Sovereign, O Narayani, salutations to you.

Verse 23 (markandeya.91.23)

सर्वतः पाणिपादान्ते सर्वतोऽक्षिशिरोमुखे । सर्वतः श्रवणघ्राणे नारायणि नमोऽस्तु ते ॥ 91.23 ॥

sarvataḥ pāṇipādānte sarvato 'kṣiśiromukhe sarvataḥ śravaṇaghrāṇe nārāyaṇi namo 'stu te

O you whose hands and feet extend on every side, whose eyes, heads and faces are everywhere, whose ears and nostrils are everywhere, O Narayani, salutations to you.

Verse 24 (markandeya.91.24)

सर्वस्वरूपे सर्वेशे सर्वशक्तिसमन्विते । भयेभ्यस्त्राहि नो देवि दुर्गे देवि नमोऽस्तु ते ॥ 91.24 ॥

sarvasvarūpe sarveśe sarvaśaktisamanvite bhayebhyastrāhi no devi durge devi namo 'stu te

O you whose form is all things, ruler of all, endowed with every power, save us from our fears, O Goddess; O Durga, O Goddess, salutations to you.

Verse 25 (markandeya.91.25)

एतत्ते वदनं सौम्यं लोचनत्रयभूषितम् । पातु नः सर्वभीतिभ्यः कात्यायनि नमोऽस्तु ते ॥ 91.25 ॥

etatte vadanaṁ saumyaṁ locanatrayabhūṣitam pātu naḥ sarvabhītibhyaḥ kātyāyani namo 'stu te

May this gentle face of yours, adorned with three eyes, protect us from every fear; O Katyayani, salutations to you.

Verse 26 (markandeya.91.26)

ज्वालाकरालमत्युग्रमशेषासुरशूदनम् । त्रिशूलं पातु नो भीतेर्भद्रकालि नमोऽस्तुते ॥ 91.26 ॥

jvālākarālamatyugramaśeṣāsuraśūdanam triśūlaṁ pātu no bhīterbhadrakāli namo 'stute

May your trident, terrible with flame, exceedingly fierce, destroyer of all the asuras, protect us from fear; O Bhadrakali, salutations to you.

Verse 27 (markandeya.91.27)

हिनस्ति दैत्यतेजांसि स्वनेनापूर्य या जगत् । सा घण्टा पातु नो देवि पापेभ्यो नः सुतानिव ॥ 91.27 ॥

hinasti daityatejāṁsi svanenāpūrya yā jagat sā ghaṇṭā pātu no devi pāpebhyo naḥ sutāniva

May that bell of yours, O Goddess, which destroys the vitality of the daityas by filling the world with its sound, protect us from our sins, as a mother protects her own children.

Verse 28 (markandeya.91.28)

असुरासृग्वसापङ्कचर्चितस्ते करोज्ज्वलः । शुभाय खड्गो भवतु चण्डिके त्वां नता वयम् ॥ 91.28 ॥

asurāsṛgvasāpaṅkacarcitaste karojjvalaḥ śubhāya khaḍgo bhavatu caṇḍike tvāṁ natā vayam

May your sword, gleaming in your hand though smeared with the mire of the blood and fat of asuras, become the cause of our good fortune; O Chandika, we bow before you.

Verse 29 (markandeya.91.29)

रोगानशेषानपहंसि तुष्टा रुष्टा तु कामान् सकलानभीष्टान् । त्वामाश्रितानां न विपन्नराणां त्वामाश्रिता ह्याश्रयतां प्रयान्ति ॥ 91.29 ॥

rogānaśeṣānapahaṁsi tuṣṭā ruṣṭā tu kāmān sakalānabhīṣṭān tvāmāśritānāṁ na vipannarāṇāṁ tvāmāśritā hyāśrayatāṁ prayānti

When pleased, you take away every one of our illnesses; but when angered, you destroy all our cherished desires as well. No calamity ever befalls those who have taken refuge in you; and those who take refuge in you themselves become, in turn, a refuge for others.

Verse 30 (markandeya.91.30)

एतत्कृतं यत्कदनं त्वयाद्य धर्मद्विषां देवि महासुराणाम् । रूपैरनेकैर्बहुधाऽत्ममूर्ति कृत्वाम्बिके तत्प्रकरोति कान्या ॥ 91.30 ॥

etatkṛtaṁ yatkadanaṁ tvayādya dharmadviṣāṁ devi mahāsurāṇām rūpairanekairbahudhā'tmamūrti kṛtvāmbike tatprakaroti kānyā

This slaughter that you have wrought today, O Goddess, of these great asuras who hated dharma—dividing your own single form into so many manifold shapes—O Ambika, what other being could accomplish such a deed?

Verse 31 (markandeya.91.31)

विद्यासु शास्त्रेषु विवेकदीपेष्व् आद्येषु वाक्येषु च का त्वदन्या । ममत्वगर्तेऽतिमहान्धकारे विभ्रामयत्येतदतीव विश्वम् ॥ 91.31 ॥

vidyāsu śāstreṣu vivekadīpeṣv ādyeṣu vākyeṣu ca kā tvadanyā mamatvagarte 'timahāndhakāre vibhrāmayatyetadatīva viśvam

Who but you exists within all learning, within the scriptures, within the very lamps of discernment, within the primal utterances themselves? And who but you it is that makes this entire world wander, lost, in the vast and deep darkness of the pit of self-attachment?

Verse 32 (markandeya.91.32)

रक्षांसि यत्रोग्रविषाश्च नागा यत्रारयो दस्युबलानि यत्र । दावानलो यत्र तथाब्धिमध्ये तत्र स्थिता त्वं परिपासि विश्वम् ॥ 91.32 ॥

rakṣāṁsi yatrograviṣāśca nāgā yatrārayo dasyubalāni yatra dāvānalo yatra tathābdhimadhye tatra sthitā tvaṁ paripāsi viśvam

Wherever there are rakshasas, wherever there are venomous serpents, wherever there are enemies or bands of robbers, wherever there is a forest fire, or in the very midst of the ocean—there you stand, and there you protect the world.

Verse 33 (markandeya.91.33)

विश्वेश्वरि त्वं परिपासि विश्वं विश्वात्मिका धारयसीति विश्वम् । विश्वेशवन्द्या भवती भवन्ति विश्वाश्रया ये त्वयि भक्तिनम्राः ॥ 91.33 ॥

viśveśvari tvaṁ paripāsi viśvaṁ viśvātmikā dhārayasīti viśvam viśveśavandyā bhavatī bhavanti viśvāśrayā ye tvayi bhaktinamrāḥ

O Sovereign of the universe, you protect the universe; being the very soul of the universe, you sustain the universe. You, worthy of homage even from the lord of the universe, become the refuge of the whole world for those who bow to you in devotion.

Verse 34 (markandeya.91.34)

देवि प्रसीद परिपालय नोऽपरिभीतेर् नित्यं यथासुरवधादधुनैव सद्यः । पापानि सर्वजगतां प्रशमं नयाशु उत्पातपाकजनितांश्च महोपसर्गान् ॥ 91.34 ॥

devi prasīda paripālaya no 'paribhīter nityaṁ yathāsuravadhādadhunaiva sadyaḥ pāpāni sarvajagatāṁ praśamaṁ nayāśu utpātapākajanitāṁśca mahopasargān

O Goddess, be gracious; protect us always from the fear of our enemies, just as you have this very day, at once, through the slaying of these demons. Swiftly bring to an end the sins of all the worlds, and the great calamities born of evil omens and their ripening.

Verse 35 (markandeya.91.35)

प्रणतानां प्रसीद त्वं देवि विश्वार्तिहारिणी । त्रैलोक्यवासिनामीड्ये लोकानां वरदा भव ॥ 91.35 ॥

praṇatānāṁ prasīda tvaṁ devi viśvārtihāriṇī trailokyavāsināmīḍye lokānāṁ varadā bhava

Be gracious to those who bow before you, O Goddess who removes the suffering of the whole world; O you who are worthy of praise by the dwellers of the three worlds, become the giver of boons to all the worlds.

Verse 36 (markandeya.91.36)

श्रीदेव्युवाच वरदाहं सुरगण वरं यन्मनसेच्छथ । तं वृणुध्वं प्रयच्छामि जगतामुपकारकम् ॥ 91.36 ॥

śrīdevyuvāca varadāhaṁ suragaṇa varaṁ yanmanasecchatha taṁ vṛṇudhvaṁ prayacchāmi jagatāmupakārakam

The Goddess said: O hosts of gods, I am the giver of boons; whatever boon you desire in your hearts, ask it of me, and I shall grant it, for the benefit of all the worlds.

Verse 37 (markandeya.91.37)

देवा ऊचुः सर्वबाधाप्रशमनं त्रैलोक्यस्याखिलेश्वरि । एवमेव त्वया कार्यमस्मद्वैरिविनाशनम् ॥ 91.37 ॥

devā ūcuḥ sarvabādhāpraśamanaṁ trailokyasyākhileśvari evameva tvayā kāryamasmadvairivināśanam

The gods said: O Sovereign of all, may all the afflictions of the three worlds be brought to an end; and just as you have done this day, so may you always destroy our enemies.

Verse 38 (markandeya.91.38)

श्रीदेव्युवाच वैवस्वतेऽन्तरे प्राप्ते अष्टाविंशतिमे युगे । शुम्भो निशुम्भश्चैवान्यावुत्पत्स्येते महासुरौ ॥ 91.38 ॥

śrīdevyuvāca vaivasvate 'ntare prāpte aṣṭāviṁśatime yuge śumbho niśumbhaścaivānyāvutpatsyete mahāsurau

The Goddess said: When the Manvantara of Vaivasvata arrives, in its twenty-eighth Yuga, two other great asuras will be born, again named Shumbha and Nishumbha.

Verse 39 (markandeya.91.39)

नन्दगोपगृहे जाता यशोदागर्भसम्भवा । ततस्तौ नाशयिष्यामि विन्ध्याचलनिवासिनी ॥ 91.39 ॥

nandagopagṛhe jātā yaśodāgarbhasambhavā tatastau nāśayiṣyāmi vindhyācalanivāsinī

Born in the house of the cowherd Nanda, come forth from Yashoda's womb, and dwelling upon the Vindhya mountain, I shall then destroy those two.

Verse 40 (markandeya.91.40)

पुनरप्यतिरौद्रेण रूपेण पृथिवीतले । अवतीर्य हनिष्यामि वैप्रचित्तांस्तु दानवान् ॥ 91.40 ॥

punarapyatiraudreṇa rūpeṇa pṛthivītale avatīrya haniṣyāmi vaipracittāṁstu dānavān

And again, taking on an exceedingly fierce form, I shall descend upon the earth and slay the Vaiprachitta danavas.

Verse 41 (markandeya.91.41)

भक्षयन्त्याश्च तानुग्रान् वैप्रचित्तान् सुदानवान् । रक्ता दन्ता भविष्यन्ति दाडिमीकुसुमोपमाः ॥ 91.41 ॥

bhakṣayantyāśca tānugrān vaipracittān sudānavān raktā dantā bhaviṣyanti dāḍimīkusumopamāḥ

And as I devour those fierce and mighty Vaiprachitta danavas, my teeth shall turn red, like the blossoms of the pomegranate.

Verse 42 (markandeya.91.42)

ततो मां देवताः स्वर्गे मर्त्यलोके च मानवाः । स्तुवन्तो व्याहरिष्यन्ति सततं रक्तदन्तिकाम् ॥ 91.42 ॥

tato māṁ devatāḥ svarge martyaloke ca mānavāḥ stuvanto vyāhariṣyanti satataṁ raktadantikām

Then the gods in heaven, and mortals upon this earth, praising me, shall forever call me by the name Raktadantika, the Red-Toothed One.

Verse 43 (markandeya.91.43)

भूयश्च शतवार्षिक्यामनावृष्ट्यामनम्भसि । मुनिभिः संस्तुता भूमौ संभविष्याम्ययोनिजा ॥ 91.43 ॥

bhuyaśca śatavārṣikyāmanāvṛṣṭyāmanambhasi munibhiḥ saṁstutā bhūmau saṁbhaviṣyāmyayonijā

And again, during a drought lasting a hundred years, when there is no water anywhere, praised by the sages, I shall come into being upon the earth, born from no womb.

Verse 44 (markandeya.91.44)

ततः शतेन नेत्राणां निरीक्षिष्यामि यन्मुनीन् । कीर्तयिष्यन्ति मनुजाः शताक्षीमिति मां ततः ॥ 91.44 ॥

tataḥ śatena netrāṇāṁ nirīkṣiṣyāmi yanmunīn kīrtayiṣyanti manujāḥ śatākṣīmiti māṁ tataḥ

Then, with a hundred eyes, I shall gaze upon those sages; and thereafter men shall proclaim me by the name Shatakshi, the Hundred-Eyed.

Verse 45 (markandeya.91.45)

ततोऽहमखिलं लोकमात्मदेहसमुद्भवैः । भरिष्यामि सुराः शाकैरावृष्टेः प्राणधारकैः ॥ 91.45 ॥

tato 'hamakhilaṁ lokamātmadehasamudbhavaiḥ bhariṣyāmi surāḥ śākairāvṛṣṭeḥ prāṇadhārakaiḥ

Then, O gods, until the rains return, I shall sustain the entire world with life-sustaining herbs and vegetables born from my own body.

Verse 46 (markandeya.91.46)

शाकम्भरीति विख्यातिं तदा यास्याम्यहं भुवि । तत्रैव च वधिष्यामि दुर्गमाख्यं महासुरम् । दुर्गा देवीति विख्यातं तन्मे नाम भविष्यति ॥ 91.46 ॥

śākambharīti vikhyātiṁ tadā yāsyāmyahaṁ bhuvi tatraiva ca vadhiṣyāmi durgamākhyaṁ mahāsuram durgā devīti vikhyātaṁ tanme nāma bhaviṣyati

Then upon the earth I shall become renowned by the name Shakambhari, the Bearer of Herbs; and there, too, I shall slay the great asura named Durgama, and thereupon my name shall become celebrated as the Goddess Durga.

Verse 47 (markandeya.91.47)

पुनश्चाहं यदा भीमं रूप कृत्वा हिमाचले । रक्षांसि भक्षयिष्यामि पुनीनां त्राणकारणात् ॥ 91.47 ॥

punaścāhaṁ yadā bhīmaṁ rūpa kṛtvā himācale rakṣāṁsi bhakṣayiṣyāmi punīnāṁ trāṇakāraṇāt

And again, when, taking on a terrifying form upon the Himalaya, I shall devour the rakshasas for the sake of protecting the sages,

Verse 48 (markandeya.91.48)

तदा मां मुनयः सर्वे स्तोष्यन्त्यानम्रमूर्तयः । भीमा देवीति विख्यातं तन्मे नाम भविष्यति ॥ 91.48 ॥

tadā māṁ munayaḥ sarve stoṣyantyānamramūrtayaḥ bhīmā devīti vikhyātaṁ tanme nāma bhaviṣyati

then all the sages, their bodies bowed low, shall praise me; and my name shall then become celebrated as the Goddess Bhima, the Terrible One.

Verse 49 (markandeya.91.49)

यदारुणाख्यस्त्रैलोक्ये महाबाधां करिष्यति । तदाहं भ्रामरं रूपं कृत्वासंख्येयषट्पदम् ॥ 91.49 ॥

yadāruṇākhyastrailokye mahābādhāṁ kariṣyati tadāhaṁ bhrāmaraṁ rūpaṁ kṛtvāsaṁkhyeyaṣaṭpadam

When the asura named Aruna brings great affliction upon the three worlds, then I shall take on the form of Bhramari, with countless swarming bees,

Verse 50 (markandeya.91.50)

त्रैलोक्यस्य हितार्थाय वधिष्यामि महासुरम् । भ्रामरीति च मां चोकास्तदा स्तोष्यन्ति सर्वतः ॥ 91.50 ॥

trailokyasya hitārthāya vadhiṣyāmi mahāsuram bhrāmarīti ca māṁ cokāstadā stoṣyanti sarvataḥ

and for the welfare of the three worlds I shall slay that great asura; and then all people everywhere shall praise me by the name Bhramari, the Goddess of the Bees.

Verse 51 (markandeya.91.51)

इत्थं यदा यदा बाधा दानवोत्था भविष्यति । तदा तदावतीर्याहं करिष्याम्यरिसंक्षयम् ॥ 91.51 ॥

itthaṁ yadā yadā bādhā dānavotthā bhaviṣyati tadā tadāvatīryāhaṁ kariṣyāmyarisaṁkṣayam

Thus, whenever affliction shall arise from the danavas, then, descending again and again, I shall bring about the destruction of my foes.