The Avatar of Mahakali

Verse 1 (shiva.uma.45.1)

मुनय ऊचुः । श्रुता शम्भोः कथा रम्या नानाख्यानसमन्विता । नानावतारसंयुक्ता भुक्तिमुक्तिप्रदा नृणाम्

munaya ūcuḥ śrutā śambhoḥ kathā ramyā nānākhyānasamanvitā nānāvatārasaṁyuktā bhuktimuktipradā nṛṇām

The sages said: We have heard the lovely tale of Shambhu, filled with many stories, endowed with many incarnations, and bestowing on men both worldly enjoyment and liberation.

Verse 2 (shiva.uma.45.2)

इदानीं श्रोतुमिच्छामस्त्वत्तो ब्रह्मविदांवर । चरित्रं जगदम्बाया भगवत्या मनोहरम्

idānīṁ śrotumicchāmastvatto brahmavidāṁvara caritraṁ jagadambāyā bhagavatyā manoharam

Now, O foremost among the knowers of Brahman, we wish to hear from you the enchanting story of the blessed Mother of the world.

Verse 3 (shiva.uma.45.3)

परब्रह्ममहेशस्य शक्तिराद्या सनातनी । उमा या समभिख्याता त्रैलोक्यजननी परा

parabrahmamaheśasya śaktirādyā sanātanī umā yā samabhikhyātā trailokyajananī parā

The primordial, eternal power of the supreme Lord Mahesha — she who is known by the name 'Uma', who is the supreme mother of the three worlds —

Verse 4 (shiva.uma.45.4)

सती हैमवती तस्या अवतारद्वयं श्रुतम् । अपरानवतारांस्त्वं ब्रूहि सूत महामते

satī haimavatī tasyā avatāradvayaṁ śrutam aparānavatārāṁstvaṁ brūhi sūta mahāmate

of her, we have heard of two incarnations, as Satī and as Haimavatī. O greatly wise Suta, now tell us of her other incarnations.

Verse 5 (shiva.uma.45.5)

को विरज्येत मतिमान् गुणश्रवणकर्मणि । श्रीमातुर्ज्ञानिनो यानि न त्यजन्ति कदाचन

ko virajyeta matimān guṇaśravaṇakarmaṇi śrīmāturjñānino yāni na tyajanti kadācana

What wise person could ever turn away from hearing of the qualities and deeds of the blessed Mother — deeds which the wise never forsake?

Verse 6 (shiva.uma.45.6)

सूत उवाच । धन्या यूयं महात्मानः कृतकृत्याः स्थ सर्वदा । यत्पृच्छथ पराम्बाया उमायाश्चरितं महत्

sūta uvāca dhanyā yūyaṁ mahātmānaḥ kṛtakṛtyāḥ stha sarvadā yatpṛcchatha parāmbāyā umāyāścaritaṁ mahat

Suta said: Blessed are you, O great souls, ever fulfilled in your purpose, in that you ask of this great story of the supreme Mother, Umā.

Verse 7 (shiva.uma.45.7)

शृण्वतां पृच्छतां चैव तथा वाचयतां च तत् । पादाम्बुजरजांस्येव तीर्थानि मुनयो विदुः

śṛṇvatāṁ pṛcchatāṁ caiva tathā vācayatāṁ ca tat pādāmbujarajāṁsyeva tīrthāni munayo viduḥ

For those who hear it, ask about it, and recite it, that story itself becomes a sacred ford, like the very dust of her lotus feet — so the sages know.

Verse 8 (shiva.uma.45.8)

ते धन्या कृतकृत्याः स्युर्धन्या तेषां प्रसूः कुलम् । येषां चित्तं भवेल्लीनं श्रीदेव्यां परसंविदि

te dhanyā kṛtakṛtyāḥ syurdhanyā teṣāṁ prasūḥ kulam yeṣāṁ cittaṁ bhavellīnaṁ śrīdevyāṁ parasaṁvidi

Blessed indeed are they, and fulfilled, and blessed too is their line of descent, whose minds become absorbed in the supreme consciousness of the blessed Goddess.

Verse 9 (shiva.uma.45.9)

ये न स्तुवन्ति देवेशीं सर्वकारणकारणाम् । मायागुणैर्मोहिताः स्युर्हतभाग्या न संशयः

ye na stuvanti deveśīṁ sarvakāraṇakāraṇām māyāguṇairmohitāḥ syurhatabhāgyā na saṁśayaḥ

Those who do not praise the sovereign Goddess, the cause of all causes, are deluded by the strands of Māyā and are truly ill-starred — of this there is no doubt.

Verse 10 (shiva.uma.45.10)

न भजन्ति महादेवीं करुणारससागराम् । अन्धकूपे पतन्त्येते घोरे संसाररूपिणि

na bhajanti mahādevīṁ karuṇārasasāgarām andhakūpe patantyete ghore saṁsārarūpiṇi

Those who do not worship the great Goddess, that ocean of the essence of compassion, fall into this terrible blind well that is worldly existence.

Verse 11 (shiva.uma.45.11)

गङ्गां विहाय तृप्त्यर्थं मरुवारि यथा व्रजेत् । विहाय देवीं तद्भिन्नं तथा देवान्तरं व्रजेत्

gaṅgāṁ vihāya tṛptyarthaṁ maruvāri yathā vrajet vihāya devīṁ tadbhinnaṁ tathā devāntaraṁ vrajet

As one who abandons the Ganges and goes toward desert water in search of satisfaction, so is it to abandon the Goddess and turn toward some other, lesser deity.

Verse 12 (shiva.uma.45.12)

यस्याः स्मरणमात्रेण पुरुषार्थचतुष्टयम् । अनायासेन लभते कस्त्यजेत्तां नरोत्तमः

yasyāḥ smaraṇamātreṇa puruṣārthacatuṣṭayam anāyāsena labhate kastyajettāṁ narottamaḥ

By the mere remembrance of whom a man attains, without effort, the four goals of human life — dharma, artha, kāma and moksha — what person of worth would ever forsake her?

Verse 13 (shiva.uma.45.13)

एतत्पृष्टः पुरा मेधाः सुरथेन महात्मना । यदुक्तं मेधसा पूर्वं तच्छृणुष्व वदामि ते

etatpṛṣṭaḥ purā medhāḥ surathena mahātmanā yaduktaṁ medhasā pūrvaṁ tacchṛṇuṣva vadāmi te

This very question was once asked, long ago, by the great-souled Suratha of the sage Medhas; hear now what Medhas then said, as I relate it to you.

Verse 14 (shiva.uma.45.14)

स्वारोचिषेऽन्तरे पूर्वं विरथो नाम पार्थिवः । सुरथस्तस्य पुत्रोऽभून्महाबलपराक्रमः

svārociṣe'ntare pūrvaṁ viratho nāma pārthivaḥ surathastasya putro'bhūnmahābalaparākramaḥ

Long ago, in the Svārochiṣa Manvantara, there was a king named Viratha; his son was Suratha, a man of great might and valour.

Verse 15 (shiva.uma.45.15)

दानशौण्डः सत्यवादी स्वधर्मकुशलः कृती । देवीभक्तो दयासिन्धुः प्रजानां परिपालकः

dānaśauṇḍaḥ satyavādī svadharmakuśalaḥ kṛtī devībhakto dayāsindhuḥ prajānāṁ paripālakaḥ

He was generous in giving, truthful in speech, skilled in his own dharma, dutiful, a devotee of the Goddess, an ocean of compassion, and a protector of his subjects.

Verse 16 (shiva.uma.45.16)

पृथिवीं शासतस्तस्य पाकशासनतेजसः । बभूवुर्नव ये भूपाः पृथ्वीग्रहणतत्पराः

pṛthivīṁ śāsatastasya pākaśāsanatejasaḥ babhūvurnava ye bhūpāḥ pṛthvīgrahaṇatatparāḥ

While that king, radiant as Indra, ruled the earth, nine kings arose who were bent upon seizing his territory.

Verse 17 (shiva.uma.45.17)

कोलानाम्नीं राजधानीं रुरुधुस्तस्य भूपतेः । तैः समं तुमुलं युद्धं समपद्यत दारुणम्

kolānāmnīṁ rājadhānīṁ rurudhustasya bhūpateḥ taiḥ samaṁ tumulaṁ yuddhaṁ samapadyata dāruṇam

They laid siege to that king's capital, named Kolā; and with them a fierce and terrible battle took place.

Verse 18 (shiva.uma.45.18)

युद्धे स निर्जितो भूपः प्रबलैस्तैर्द्विषद्गणैः । उज्जासितश्च कोलाया हृत्वा राज्यमशेषतः

yuddhe sa nirjito bhūpaḥ prabalaistairdviṣadgaṇaiḥ ujjāsitaśca kolāyā hṛtvā rājyamaśeṣataḥ

In that battle the king was defeated by those powerful bands of enemies, driven out from Kolā, and his entire kingdom was seized from him.

Verse 19 (shiva.uma.45.19)

स राजा स्वपुरीमेत्याकरोद्राज्यं स्वमन्त्रिभिः । तत्रापि च महापक्षैर्विपक्षैः स पराजितः

sa rājā svapurīmetyākarodrājyaṁ svamantribhiḥ tatrāpi ca mahāpakṣairvipakṣaiḥ sa parājitaḥ

That king, coming back to his own city, began to rule with the aid of his ministers; but there too he was overcome by powerful, hostile factions.

Verse 20 (shiva.uma.45.20)

दैवाच्छत्रुत्वमापन्नैरमात्यप्रमुखैर्गणैः । कोशस्थितं च यद्वित्तं तत्सर्वं चात्मसात्कृतम्

daivācchatrutvamāpannairamātyapramukhairgaṇaiḥ kośasthitaṁ ca yadvittaṁ tatsarvaṁ cātmasātkṛtam

By fate's decree, his own chief ministers and their followers, turned into enemies, seized for themselves all the wealth that lay stored in his treasury.

Verse 21 (shiva.uma.45.21)

ततः स निर्गतो राजा नगरान्मृगयाछलात् । असहायोऽश्वमारुह्य जगाम गहनं वनम्

tataḥ sa nirgato rājā nagarānmṛgayāchalāt asahāyo'śvamāruhya jagāma gahanaṁ vanam

Then that king went forth from the city on the pretext of hunting; helpless and alone, mounted on his horse, he went into the dense forest.

Verse 22 (shiva.uma.45.22)

इतस्ततस्तत्र गच्छन्राजा मुनिवराश्रमम् । ददर्श कुसुमारामभ्राजितं सर्वतोदिशम्

itastatastatra gacchanrājā munivarāśramam dadarśa kusumārāmabhrājitaṁ sarvatodiśam

Wandering here and there, the king came upon the hermitage of a most excellent sage, adorned on every side by flowering groves.

Verse 23 (shiva.uma.45.23)

वेदध्वनिसमाकीर्णं शान्तजन्तुसमाश्रितम् । शिष्यैः प्रशिष्यैस्तच्छिष्यैः समन्तात्परिवेष्टितम्

vedadhvanisamākīrṇaṁ śāntajantusamāśritam śiṣyaiḥ praśiṣyaistacchiṣyaiḥ samantātpariveṣṭitam

It resounded with the chant of the Vedas, was home to gentle creatures living in peace, and was surrounded on every side by his disciples, their disciples, and their disciples' disciples.

Verse 24 (shiva.uma.45.24)

व्याघ्रादयो महावीर्या अल्पवीर्यान्महामते । तदाश्रमे न बाधन्ते द्विजवर्यप्रभावतः

vyāghrādayo mahāvīryā alpavīryānmahāmate tadāśrame na bādhante dvijavaryaprabhāvataḥ

O greatly wise one, even mighty tigers and the like never harmed the weaker creatures in that hermitage, so great was the power of that foremost of brahmins.

Verse 25 (shiva.uma.45.25)

उवास तत्र नृपतिर्महाकारुणिको बुधः । सत्कृतो मुनिनाथेन सुवचो भोजनासनैः

uvāsa tatra nṛpatirmahākāruṇiko budhaḥ satkṛto munināthena suvaco bhojanāsanaiḥ

There that most compassionate and wise king stayed, and the lord of sages honoured him with gracious words, with food, and with a seat.

Verse 26 (shiva.uma.45.26)

एकदा स महाराजश्चिन्तामाप दुरत्ययाम् । अहो मे हीनभाग्यस्य दुर्बुद्धेर्हीनतेजसः

ekadā sa mahārājaścintāmāpa duratyayām aho me hīnabhāgyasya durbuddherhīnatejasaḥ

One day an unbearable anxiety seized that great king: "Ah, ill-starred, foolish, and bereft of glory as I am,

Verse 27 (shiva.uma.45.27)

हृतं राज्यमशेषेण शत्रुवर्गैर्मदोद्धतैः । मत्पूर्वै रक्षितं राज्यं शत्रुभिर्भुज्यतेऽधुना

hṛtaṁ rājyamaśeṣeṇa śatruvargairmadoddhataiḥ matpūrvai rakṣitaṁ rājyaṁ śatrubhirbhujyate'dhunā

my entire kingdom has been taken from me by bands of enemies swollen with pride; that kingdom, guarded by my forefathers, is now enjoyed by my foes.

Verse 28 (shiva.uma.45.28)

मादृशश्चैत्रवंशेऽस्मिन्न कोऽप्यासीन्महीपतिः । किं करोमि क्व गच्छामि कथं राज्यं लभेय हि

mādṛśaścaitravaṁśe'sminna ko'pyāsīnmahīpatiḥ kiṁ karomi kva gacchāmi kathaṁ rājyaṁ labheya hi

Never in this Chaitra lineage was there a king so wretched as I; what should I do, where should I go, how might I regain my kingdom?

Verse 29 (shiva.uma.45.29)

अमात्या मन्त्रिणश्चैव मामका ये सनातनाः । न जाने कं च नृपतिं समासाद्याधुनासते

amātyā mantriṇaścaiva māmakā ye sanātanāḥ na jāne kaṁ ca nṛpatiṁ samāsādyādhunāsate

My ministers and counsellors, who had served my house for generations — with what king they now sit in refuge, I do not know.

Verse 30 (shiva.uma.45.30)

विनाश्य राज्यमधुना न जाने कां गतिं गताः । रणभूमिमहोत्साहा अरिवर्गनिकर्तनाः

vināśya rājyamadhunā na jāne kāṁ gatiṁ gatāḥ raṇabhūmimahotsāhā arivarganikartanāḥ

And those heroes of mine, so eager for the battlefield, who cut down whole ranks of enemies — what has become of them now, since my kingdom's ruin, I do not know either.

Verse 31 (shiva.uma.45.31)

मामका ये महाशूरा नृपमन्यं भजन्ति ते । पर्वताभा गजा अश्वा वातवद्वेगगामिनः

māmakā ye mahāśūrā nṛpamanyaṁ bhajanti te parvatābhā gajā aśvā vātavadvegagāminaḥ

My great heroes must now be serving some other king; and my elephants, huge as mountains, and my horses swift as the wind —

Verse 32 (shiva.uma.45.32)

पूर्वपूर्वार्जितः कोशः पाल्यते तैर्न वाधुना । एवं मोहवशं यातो राजा परमधार्मिकः

pūrvapūrvārjitaḥ kośaḥ pālyate tairna vādhunā evaṁ mohavaśaṁ yāto rājā paramadhārmikaḥ

the treasury accumulated by former kings is no longer safeguarded by them." Thus that most righteous king fell prey to delusion.

Verse 33 (shiva.uma.45.33)

एतस्मिन्नन्तरे तत्र वैश्यः कश्चित्समागतः । राजा पप्रच्छ कस्त्वं भोः किमर्थमिह चागतः

etasminnantare tatra vaiśyaḥ kaścitsamāgataḥ rājā papraccha kastvaṁ bhoḥ kimarthamiha cāgataḥ

Meanwhile, there arrived at that same place a certain vaishya. The king asked him: "Who are you, sir, and for what reason have you come here?

Verse 34 (shiva.uma.45.34)

दुर्मना लक्ष्यसे कस्मादेतन्मे ब्रूहि साम्प्रतम् । इत्याकर्ण्य वचो रम्यं नरपालेन भाषितम्

durmanā lakṣyase kasmādetanme brūhi sāmpratam ityākarṇya vaco ramyaṁ narapālena bhāṣitam

You appear troubled in mind — tell me now the reason." Hearing these gracious words spoken by the king,

Verse 35 (shiva.uma.45.35)

दृग्भ्यां विमुञ्चन्नश्रूणि समाधिर्वैश्यपुङ्गवः । प्रत्युवाच महीपालं प्रणयावनतां गिरम्

dṛgbhyāṁ vimuñcannaśrūṇi samādhirvaiśyapuṅgavaḥ pratyuvāca mahīpālaṁ praṇayāvanatāṁ giram

shedding tears from both eyes, that foremost of vaishyas, named Samādhi, replied to the king in a voice bowed with humility.

Verse 36 (shiva.uma.45.36)

वैश्य उवाच । समाधिर्नाम वैश्योऽहं धनिवंशसमुद्भवः । पुत्रदारादिभिस्त्यक्तो धनलोभान्महीपते

vaiśya uvāca samādhirnāma vaiśyo'haṁ dhanivaṁśasamudbhavaḥ putradārādibhistyakto dhanalobhānmahīpate

The vaishya said: I am a vaishya named Samādhi, born into a wealthy family; through greed for wealth, O king, my own sons and wife have cast me aside.

Verse 37 (shiva.uma.45.37)

वनमभ्यागतो राजन्दुःखितः स्वेन कर्मणा । सोऽहं पुत्रप्रपौत्राणां कलत्राणां तथैव च

vanamabhyāgato rājanduḥkhitaḥ svena karmaṇā so'haṁ putraprapautrāṇāṁ kalatrāṇāṁ tathaiva ca

Grieving, through my own deed's consequence, I have come into the forest, O king; and I — as for my sons, grandsons, wives,

Verse 38 (shiva.uma.45.38)

भ्रातृणां भ्रातृपुत्राणां परेषां सुहृदां तथा । न वेद्मि कुशलं सम्यक् करुणासागर प्रभो

bhrātṛṇāṁ bhrātṛputrāṇāṁ pareṣāṁ suhṛdāṁ tathā na vedmi kuśalaṁ samyak karuṇāsāgara prabho

brothers, nephews, and other friends — O lord, ocean of compassion, I do not even properly know their welfare.

Verse 39 (shiva.uma.45.39)

राजोवाच । निष्कासितो यैः पुत्राद्यैर्दुर्वृत्तैर्धनगर्धिभिः । तेषु किं भवता प्रीतिः क्रियते मूर्खजन्तुवत्

rājovāca niṣkāsito yaiḥ putrādyairdurvṛttairdhanagardhibhiḥ teṣu kiṁ bhavatā prītiḥ kriyate mūrkhajantuvat

The king said: For those sons and others, wicked and greedy for wealth, who cast you out — do you still feel affection for them, like some foolish creature?

Verse 40 (shiva.uma.45.40)

वैश्य उवाच । सम्यगुक्तं त्वया राजन्वचः सारार्थबृंहितम् । तथापि स्नेहपाशेन मोह्यतेऽतीव मे मनः

vaiśya uvāca samyaguktaṁ tvayā rājanvacaḥ sārārthabṛṁhitam tathāpi snehapāśena mohyate'tīva me manaḥ

The vaishya said: O king, you have spoken well — words weighty with truth; and yet, by the noose of affection, my mind is overwhelmed nonetheless.

Verse 41 (shiva.uma.45.41)

एवं मोहाकुलौ वैश्यपार्थिवौ मुनिसत्तम । जग्मतुर्मुनिवर्यस्य मेधसः सन्निधिं तदा

evaṁ mohākulau vaiśyapārthivau munisattama jagmaturmunivaryasya medhasaḥ sannidhiṁ tadā

O foremost of sages, thus troubled alike by delusion, that vaishya and that king then went together to the presence of that excellent sage, Medhas.

Verse 42 (shiva.uma.45.42)

स वैश्यराजसहितो नरराजः प्रतापवान् । प्रणनाम महावीरः शिरसा योगिनां वरम्

sa vaiśyarājasahito nararājaḥ pratāpavān praṇanāma mahāvīraḥ śirasā yogināṁ varam

That mighty and glorious king, together with the vaishya, bowed his head in prostration before that foremost of yogis.

Verse 43 (shiva.uma.45.43)

बद्ध्वाञ्जलिमिमां वाचमुवाच नृपतिर्मुनिम् । भगवन्नावयोर्मोहं छेत्तुमर्हसि साम्प्रतम्

baddhvāñjalimimāṁ vācamuvāca nṛpatirmunim bhagavannāvayormohaṁ chettumarhasi sāmpratam

With joined palms the king spoke these words to the sage: "O venerable one, it is now for you to dispel the delusion of us both.

Verse 44 (shiva.uma.45.44)

अहं राजश्रिया त्यक्तो गहनं वनमाश्रितः । तथापि हृतराज्यस्य तोषो नैवाभिजायते

ahaṁ rājaśriyā tyakto gahanaṁ vanamāśritaḥ tathāpi hṛtarājyasya toṣo naivābhijāyate

Abandoned by royal fortune, I have taken refuge in this dense forest; and yet no detachment ever arises in me from my seized kingdom.

Verse 45 (shiva.uma.45.45)

अयं च वैश्यः स्वजनैर्दाराद्यैर्निष्कृतो गृहात् । तथाप्येतस्य ममता न निवृत्तिं समश्नुते

ayaṁ ca vaiśyaḥ svajanairdārādyairniṣkṛto gṛhāt tathāpyetasya mamatā na nivṛttiṁ samaśnute

And this vaishya too has been cast out from his own home by his own kin — his wife and the rest — yet his attachment to them does not cease.

Verse 46 (shiva.uma.45.46)

किमत्र कारणं ब्रूहि ज्ञानिनोरपि नो मनः । मोहेन व्याकुलं जातं महत्येषा हि मूर्खता

kimatra kāraṇaṁ brūhi jñāninorapi no manaḥ mohena vyākulaṁ jātaṁ mahatyeṣā hi mūrkhatā

Tell us the reason for this — though both of us possess understanding, our minds have become disturbed by delusion; this indeed is a very great folly.

Verse 47 (shiva.uma.45.47)

ऋषिरुवाच । महामाया जगद्धात्री शक्तिरूपा सनातनी । सा मोहयति सर्वेषां समाकृष्य मनांसि वै

ṛṣiruvāca mahāmāyā jagaddhātrī śaktirūpā sanātanī sā mohayati sarveṣāṁ samākṛṣya manāṁsi vai

The sage said: It is Mahāmāyā, the eternal power that upholds the universe, who, drawing forth the minds of all, casts a spell of delusion upon them.

Verse 48 (shiva.uma.45.48)

ब्रह्मादयः सुराः सर्वे यन्मायामोहिताः प्रभो । न जानन्ति परं तत्त्वं मनुष्याणां च का कथा

brahmādayaḥ surāḥ sarve yanmāyāmohitāḥ prabho na jānanti paraṁ tattvaṁ manuṣyāṇāṁ ca kā kathā

O lord, even Brahmā and all the gods are deluded by her Māyā and do not know the highest truth — what then to speak of men?

Verse 49 (shiva.uma.45.49)

सा सृजत्यखिलं विश्वं सैव पालयतीति च । सैव संहरते काले त्रिगुणा परमेश्वरी

sā sṛjatyakhilaṁ viśvaṁ saiva pālayatīti ca saiva saṁharate kāle triguṇā parameśvarī

She creates the whole universe, she alone sustains it, and when the time comes, she alone destroys it — that supreme goddess composed of the three gunas.

Verse 50 (shiva.uma.45.50)

यस्योपरि प्रसन्ना सा वरदा कामरूपिणी । स एव मोहमत्येति नान्यथा नृपसत्तम

yasyopari prasannā sā varadā kāmarūpiṇī sa eva mohamatyeti nānyathā nṛpasattama

The one upon whom she, the boon-giving goddess who takes forms at will, becomes pleased — he alone crosses beyond delusion, and none other, O best of kings.

Verse 51 (shiva.uma.45.51)

राजोवाच । का सा देवी महामाया या च मोहयतेऽखिलान् । कथं जाता च सा देवी कृपया वद मे मुने

rājovāca kā sā devī mahāmāyā yā ca mohayate'khilān kathaṁ jātā ca sā devī kṛpayā vada me mune

The king said: Who is that goddess Mahāmāyā, who casts her delusion upon all beings? And how did that goddess come to be? Tell me, O sage, out of your compassion.

Verse 52 (shiva.uma.45.52)

ऋषिरुवाच । जगत्येकार्णवे जाते शेषमास्तीर्य योगराट् । योगनिद्रामुपाश्रित्य यदा सुष्वाप केशवः

ṛṣiruvāca jagatyekārṇave jāte śeṣamāstīrya yogarāṭ yoganidrāmupāśritya yadā suṣvāpa keśavaḥ

The sage said: When the whole world had become a single ocean, Keshava, the king of yogis, having stretched himself upon Shesha, took refuge in yogic slumber and slept.

Verse 53 (shiva.uma.45.53)

तदा द्वावसुरौ जातौ विष्णोः कर्णमलेन वै । मधुकैटभनामानौ विख्यातौ पृथिवीतले

tadā dvāvasurau jātau viṣṇoḥ karṇamalena vai madhukaiṭabhanāmānau vikhyātau pṛthivītale

At that time, from the wax of Vishnu's ear, two demons were born, who became renowned upon the earth by the names Madhu and Kaitabha.

Verse 54 (shiva.uma.45.54)

प्रलयार्कप्रभौ घोरौ महाकायौ महाहनू । दंष्ट्राकरालवदनौ भक्षयन्तौ जगन्ति वा

pralayārkaprabhau ghorau mahākāyau mahāhanū daṁṣṭrākarālavadanau bhakṣayantau jaganti vā

Terrible, huge of body, huge of jaw, their faces grim with fangs, radiant as the sun of universal dissolution — those two stood ready to devour the worlds.

Verse 55 (shiva.uma.45.55)

तौ दृष्ट्वा भगवन्नाभिपङ्कजे कमलासनम् । हननायोद्यतावास्तां कस्त्वं भोरिति वादिनौ

tau dṛṣṭvā bhagavannābhipaṅkaje kamalāsanam hananāyodyatāvāstāṁ kastvaṁ bhoriti vādinau

Seeing Brahmā seated upon the lotus of the Lord's navel, those two, ready to slay him, said, "Who are you, there?"

Verse 56 (shiva.uma.45.56)

समालोक्य तु तौ दैत्यौ सुरज्येष्ठो जनार्दनम् । शयानं च पयोम्भोधौ तुष्टाव परमेश्वरीम्

samālokya tu tau daityau surajyeṣṭho janārdanam śayānaṁ ca payombhodhau tuṣṭāva parameśvarīm

Seeing those two demons, Brahmā, eldest of the gods, praised the supreme Goddess so that Janārdana, who lay sleeping upon the ocean of milk, might awaken.

Verse 57 (shiva.uma.45.57)

ब्रह्मोवाच । रक्ष रक्ष महामाये शरणागतवत्सले । एताभ्यां घोररूपाभ्यां दैत्याभ्यां जगदम्बिके

brahmovāca rakṣa rakṣa mahāmāye śaraṇāgatavatsale etābhyāṁ ghorarūpābhyāṁ daityābhyāṁ jagadambike

Brahmā said: Protect us, O Mahāmāyā, protect us! O lover of those who seek refuge, O Mother of the world! Protect us from these two terrible-formed demons.

Verse 58 (shiva.uma.45.58)

प्रणमामि महामायां योगनिद्रामुमां सतीम् । कालरात्रिं महारात्रिं मोहरात्रिं परात्पराम्

praṇamāmi mahāmāyāṁ yoganidrāmumāṁ satīm kālarātriṁ mahārātriṁ moharātriṁ parātparām

I bow to that Mahāmāyā, that Yoganidrā, that virtuous Umā, Kālarātri, Mahārātri, Moharātri, the highest beyond the highest.

Verse 59 (shiva.uma.45.59)

त्रिदेवजननीं नित्यां भक्ताभीष्टफलप्रदाम् । पालिनीं सर्वदेवानां करुणावरुणालयाम्

tridevajananīṁ nityāṁ bhaktābhīṣṭaphalapradām pālinīṁ sarvadevānāṁ karuṇāvaruṇālayām

To the eternal mother of the three gods, the granter of her devotees' desired fruits, the protectress of all the gods, the very abode of the ocean of compassion — to her, salutation.

Verse 60 (shiva.uma.45.60)

त्वत्प्रभावादहं ब्रह्मा माधवो गिरिजापतिः । सृजत्यवति संसारं काले संहरतीति च

tvatprabhāvādahaṁ brahmā mādhavo girijāpatiḥ sṛjatyavati saṁsāraṁ kāle saṁharatīti ca

Through your power alone do I, Brahmā, and Mādhava, the lord of the mountain's daughter — create, protect, and, when the time comes, destroy the universe.

Verse 61 (shiva.uma.45.61)

त्वं स्वाहा त्वं स्वधा त्वं ह्रीस्त्वं बुद्धिर्विमला मता । तुष्टिः पुष्टिस्त्वमेवाम्ब शान्तिः क्षान्तिः क्षुधा दया

tvaṁ svāhā tvaṁ svadhā tvaṁ hrīstvaṁ buddhirvimalā matā tuṣṭiḥ puṣṭistvamevāmba śāntiḥ kṣāntiḥ kṣudhā dayā

You are Svāhā, you are Svadhā, you are Hrī, you are held to be the stainless intellect; O Mother, you alone are contentment, nourishment, peace, forbearance, hunger, and compassion.

Verse 62 (shiva.uma.45.62)

विष्णुमाया त्वमेवाम्ब त्वमेव चेतना मता । त्वं शक्तिः परमा प्रोक्ता लज्जा तृष्णा त्वमेव च

viṣṇumāyā tvamevāmba tvameva cetanā matā tvaṁ śaktiḥ paramā proktā lajjā tṛṣṇā tvameva ca

O Mother, you alone are Vishnu's Māyā, and you alone are held to be Consciousness itself; you are declared the supreme Power, and you alone are Shame, and you alone are Craving.

Verse 63 (shiva.uma.45.63)

भ्रान्तिस्त्वं स्मृतिरूपा त्वं मातृरूपेण संस्थिता । त्वं लक्ष्मीर्भवने पुंसां पुण्याचारप्रवर्तिनाम्

bhrāntistvaṁ smṛtirūpā tvaṁ mātṛrūpeṇa saṁsthitā tvaṁ lakṣmīrbhavane puṁsāṁ puṇyācārapravartinām

You are Delusion itself, you are Memory in its very form, you abide in the form of every mother; you are the Fortune dwelling in the homes of men devoted to righteous conduct.

Verse 64 (shiva.uma.45.64)

त्वं जातिस्त्वं मता वृत्तिर्व्याप्तिरूपा त्वमेव हि । त्वमेव चित्तिरूपेण व्याप्य कृत्स्नं प्रतिष्ठिता

tvaṁ jātistvaṁ matā vṛttirvyāptirūpā tvameva hi tvameva cittirūpeṇa vyāpya kṛtsnaṁ pratiṣṭhitā

You are Species itself, you are held to be Livelihood, you alone are Pervasion in its very form; and you, in the form of Consciousness, pervade and abide within the whole of existence.

Verse 65 (shiva.uma.45.65)

सा त्वमेतौ दुराधर्षावसुरौ मोहयाम्बिके । प्रबोधय जगद्योने नारायणमजं विभुम्

sā tvametau durādharṣāvasurau mohayāmbike prabodhaya jagadyone nārāyaṇamajaṁ vibhum

You, O Mother, delude these two unassailable demons; and, O source of the world, awaken all-pervading, unborn Nārāyaṇa.

Verse 66 (shiva.uma.45.66)

ऋषिरुवाच । ब्रह्मणा प्रार्थिता सेयं मधुकैटभनाशने । महाविद्या जगद्धात्री सर्वविद्याधिदेवता

ṛṣiruvāca brahmaṇā prārthitā seyaṁ madhukaiṭabhanāśane mahāvidyā jagaddhātrī sarvavidyādhidevatā

The sage said: That great Wisdom, sustainer of the world, presiding deity of all knowledge, whom Brahmā entreated for the destruction of Madhu and Kaitabha —

Verse 67 (shiva.uma.45.67)

द्वादश्यां फाल्गुनस्यैव शुक्लायां समभून्नृप । महाकालीति विख्याता शक्तिस्त्रैलोक्यमोहिनी

dvādaśyāṁ phālgunasyaiva śuklāyāṁ samabhūnnṛpa mahākālīti vikhyātā śaktistrailokyamohinī

she, O king, appeared on the twelfth day of the bright fortnight of the month of Phālguna, renowned as Mahākālī, the power that bewitches the three worlds.

Verse 68 (shiva.uma.45.68)

ततोऽभवद्वियद्वाणी मा भैषीः कमलासन । कण्टकं नाशयाम्यद्य हत्वाजौ मधुकैटभौ

tato'bhavadviyadvāṇī mā bhaiṣīḥ kamalāsana kaṇṭakaṁ nāśayāmyadya hatvājau madhukaiṭabhau

Then a voice sounded from the sky: "Fear not, O lotus-seated one; this day I shall destroy this thorn by slaying Madhu and Kaitabha."

Verse 69 (shiva.uma.45.69)

इत्युक्त्वा सा महामाया नेत्रवक्त्रादितो हरेः । निर्गम्य दर्शने तस्थौ ब्रह्मणोऽव्यक्तजन्मनः

ityuktvā sā mahāmāyā netravaktrādito hareḥ nirgamya darśane tasthau brahmaṇo'vyaktajanmanaḥ

So saying, that Mahāmāyā emerged from the eyes and mouth of Vishnu and came to stand there, visible before Brahmā of unmanifest birth.

Verse 70 (shiva.uma.45.70)

उत्तस्थौ च हृषीकेशो देवदेवो जनार्दनः । स ददर्श पुरो दैत्यौ मधुकैटभसंज्ञकौ

uttasthau ca hṛṣīkeśo devadevo janārdanaḥ sa dadarśa puro daityau madhukaiṭabhasaṁjñakau

Then Hrishikesha, the God of gods, Janārdana, awoke, and beheld before him the two demons named Madhu and Kaitabha.

Verse 71 (shiva.uma.45.71)

ताभ्यां प्रववृत्ते युद्धं विष्णोरतुलतेजसः । पञ्चवर्षसहस्राणि बाहुयुद्धमभूत्तदा

tābhyāṁ pravavṛtte yuddhaṁ viṣṇoratulatejasaḥ pañcavarṣasahasrāṇi bāhuyuddhamabhūttadā

A battle then broke out between Vishnu of unmatched splendour and those two; for five thousand years there raged a battle fought hand to hand.

Verse 72 (shiva.uma.45.72)

महामायाप्रभावेण मोहितौ दानवोत्तमौ । जजल्पतू रमाकान्तं गृहाण वरमीप्सितम्

mahāmāyāprabhāveṇa mohitau dānavottamau jajalpatū ramākāntaṁ gṛhāṇa varamīpsitam

Deluded by the power of Mahāmāyā, those two foremost demons said to the lord of Lakshmi, "Ask of us whatever boon you desire."

Verse 73 (shiva.uma.45.73)

नारायण उवाच । मयि प्रसन्नौ यदि वां दीयतामेष मे वरः । मम वध्यावुभौ नान्यं युवाभ्यां प्रार्थये वरम्

nārāyaṇa uvāca mayi prasannau yadi vāṁ dīyatāmeṣa me varaḥ mama vadhyāvubhau nānyaṁ yuvābhyāṁ prārthaye varam

Nārāyaṇa said: "If you two are pleased with me, then grant me this boon — that you two shall be slain by me alone; no other boon do I ask of you."

Verse 74 (shiva.uma.45.74)

ऋषिरुवाच । एकार्णवां महीं दृष्ट्वा प्रोचतुः केशवं वचः । आवां जहि न यत्रासौ धरणी पयसाप्लुता

ṛṣiruvāca ekārṇavāṁ mahīṁ dṛṣṭvā procatuḥ keśavaṁ vacaḥ āvāṁ jahi na yatrāsau dharaṇī payasāplutā

The sage said: Seeing the earth as a single ocean, those two said to Keshava, "Do not slay us where this earth is not submerged beneath the waters."

Verse 75 (shiva.uma.45.75)

तथास्तु प्रोच्य भगवांश्चक्रमुत्थाप्य सूज्ज्वलम् । चिच्छेद शिरसी कृत्वा स्वकीयजघने तयोः

tathāstu procya bhagavāṁścakramutthāpya sūjjvalam ciccheda śirasī kṛtvā svakīyajaghane tayoḥ

Saying "So be it," the Lord raised his blazing discus, and, placing them upon his own thigh, severed the heads of both those demons.

Verse 76 (shiva.uma.45.76)

एवं ते कथितो राजन् कालिकायाः समुद्भवः । महालक्ष्म्यास्तथोत्पत्तिं निशामय महामते

evaṁ te kathito rājan kālikāyāḥ samudbhavaḥ mahālakṣmyāstathotpattiṁ niśāmaya mahāmate

O king, thus have I related to you the origin of Kālikā; now hear also, O greatly wise one, the account of the origin of Mahālakṣmī.

Verse 77 (shiva.uma.45.77)

निर्विकारादि साकारा निराकारापि देव्युमा । देवानां तापनाशार्थं प्रादुरासीद्युगे युगे

nirvikārādi sākārā nirākārāpi devyumā devānāṁ tāpanāśārthaṁ prādurāsīdyuge yuge

Essentially without change, and yet possessing form, and formless too — the goddess Umā appears age after age for the removal of the gods' distress.

Verse 78 (shiva.uma.45.78)

यदिच्छावैभवं सर्वं तस्या देहग्रहः स्मृतः । लीलया सापि भक्तानां गुणवर्णनहेतवे

yadicchāvaibhavaṁ sarvaṁ tasyā dehagrahaḥ smṛtaḥ līlayā sāpi bhaktānāṁ guṇavarṇanahetave

Whatever majesty and glory belongs to her — that itself is reckoned as her taking of a body; and in her playful sport, she does so for the sake of her devotees' praise of her qualities.