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Part of: श्रीदुर्गासप्तशती

द्वितीयोऽध्यायः · महिषासुरसैन्यवध

Chapter 2 · The slaying of Mahishasura's armies

Durga Saptashati, chapter 2: the Devi and Mahishasura's army

72 verses Audio will be added later

About this stotra

The Durga Saptashati, also known as the Devi Mahatmya, is a section of the Markandeya Purana, set within the account of the Savarni Manvantara. Its seven hundred mantras are arranged in thirteen chapters. According to tradition, it is recited as three episodes (caritra): the first belongs to Mahakali, the middle to Mahalakshmi and the last to Mahasarasvati. This second chapter opens the middle episode, which runs through chapter 4.

What happens in this chapter

After a hundred years of war, Mahishasura has beaten the gods and made himself Indra. The defeated gods, with Brahma at their head, go to Vishnu and Shiva. Hearing them, Vishnu and Shiva grow angry, and a great radiance pours out of them and out of every other god. The radiance merges into one form, and the Devi appears. Each god gives her a weapon drawn from his own, or an ornament, and the Himalaya gives her a lion to ride. Her roar shakes the three worlds. Mahishasura's armies, led by generals such as Chikshura, Chamara, Udagra and Bashkala, rush at her. The Devi, with the ganas born from her breath, destroys them.

Structure

In the Gita Press edition the chapter has 69 mantras: one speaker line and 68 verses. The viniyoga and meditation verse of the middle episode come first, and a colophon closes the chapter.

If you are reading it for the first time

  • Say the viniyoga and meditation slowly, then begin the verses.
  • Keep ष (ṣ) and श (ś) apart: mahiṣa has ṣ, while śakra and śambhu have ś.
  • Sound the क्ष (kṣ) clearly in cikṣura and akṣasrak, and join h and r in hrīṃ.
  • Do not drop the visarga: devāḥ and tataḥ end with a light breath of h.

The meanings on this page were written by our team directly from the Sanskrit. Their scholar review status is shown on the page.

ॐ मध्यमचरित्रस्य विष्णुर्ऋषिः, महालक्ष्मीर्देवता, उष्णिक् छन्दः, शाकम्भरी शक्तिः, दुर्गा बीजम्, वायुस्तत्त्वम्, यजुर्वेदः स्वरूपम्, श्रीमहालक्ष्मीप्रीत्यर्थं मध्यमचरित्रजपे विनियोगः।

oṃ madhyamacaritrasya viṣṇurṛṣiḥ, mahālakṣmīrdevatā, uṣṇik chandaḥ, śākambharī śaktiḥ, durgā bījam, vāyustattvam, yajurvedaḥ svarūpam, śrīmahālakṣmīprītyarthaṃ madhyamacaritrajape viniyogaḥ |

The viniyoga of the middle episode (madhyama caritra): its seer is Vishnu, its deity Mahalakshmi, its metre Ushnik, its power (śakti) Shakambhari, its seed (bīja) Durga, its element Vayu, and its form the Yajurveda. The recitation of the middle episode is undertaken for the pleasure of Shri Mahalakshmi.

ॐ अक्षस्रक्परशुं गदेषुकुलिशं पद्मं धनुष्कुण्डिकां दण्डं शक्तिमसिं च चर्म जलजं घण्टां सुराभाजनम्। शूलं पाशसुदर्शने च दधतीं हस्तैः प्रसन्नाननां सेवे सैरिभमर्दिनीमिह महालक्ष्मीं सरोजस्थिताम्॥

oṃ akṣasrakparaśuṃ gadeṣukuliśaṃ padmaṃ dhanuṣkuṇḍikāṃ daṇḍaṃ śaktimasiṃ ca carma jalajaṃ ghaṇṭāṃ surābhājanam | śūlaṃ pāśasudarśane ca dadhatīṃ hastaiḥ prasannānanāṃ seve sairibhamardinīmiha mahālakṣmīṃ sarojasthitām ||

Here I worship Mahalakshmi, the slayer of the buffalo, seated on a lotus, her face serene. In her hands she holds a rosary, an axe, a mace, an arrow, a thunderbolt, a lotus, a bow, a water-pot, a staff, a spear, a sword, a shield, a conch, a bell, a wine-cup, a trident, a noose and the Sudarshana discus. (This is the eighteen-armed form of the Devi.)

ॐ ह्रीं ऋषिरुवाच॥

oṃ hrīṃ ṛṣiruvāca ||

Om hrīṃ. The sage said:

देवासुरमभूद्युद्धं पूर्णमब्दशतं पुरा। महिषेऽसुराणामधिपे देवानां च पुरन्दरे॥

devāsuramabhūdyuddhaṃ pūrṇamabdaśataṃ purā | mahiṣe'surāṇāmadhipe devānāṃ ca purandare ||

Long ago the gods and the asuras fought a war that lasted a full hundred years. Mahisha was then lord of the asuras, and Indra lord of the gods.

तत्रासुरैर्महावीर्यैर्देवसैन्यं पराजितम्। जित्वा च सकलान् देवानिन्द्रोऽभून्महिषासुरः॥

tatrāsurairmahāvīryairdevasainyaṃ parājitam | jitvā ca sakalān devānindro'bhūnmahiṣāsuraḥ ||

In that war the mighty asuras defeated the army of the gods. Having conquered all the gods, Mahishasura made himself Indra.

ततः पराजिता देवाः पद्मयोनिं प्रजापतिम्। पुरस्कृत्य गतास्तत्र यत्रेशगरुडध्वजौ॥

tataḥ parājitā devāḥ padmayoniṃ prajāpatim | puraskṛtya gatāstatra yatreśagaruḍadhvajau ||

Then the defeated gods, with Brahma, the lotus-born lord of creatures, leading them, went to where Shiva and Vishnu, whose banner bears Garuda, were.

यथावृत्तं तयोस्तद्वन्महिषासुरचेष्टितम्। त्रिदशाः कथयामासुर्देवाभिभवविस्तरम्॥

yathāvṛttaṃ tayostadvanmahiṣāsuraceṣṭitam | tridaśāḥ kathayāmāsurdevābhibhavavistaram ||

The gods told the two of them everything Mahishasura had done, just as it happened, and gave a full account of how they had been overthrown.

सूर्येन्द्राग्न्यनिलेन्दूनां यमस्य वरुणस्य च। अन्येषां चाधिकारान् स स्वयमेवाधितिष्ठति॥

sūryendrāgnyanilendūnāṃ yamasya varuṇasya ca | anyeṣāṃ cādhikārān sa svayamevādhitiṣṭhati ||

"He has taken over the offices of the Sun, Indra, Agni, Vayu, the Moon, Yama, Varuna and the other gods, and runs them himself.

स्वर्गान्निराकृताः सर्वे तेन देवगणा भुवि। विचरन्ति यथा मर्त्या महिषेण दुरात्मना॥

svargānnirākṛtāḥ sarve tena devagaṇā bhuvi | vicaranti yathā martyā mahiṣeṇa durātmanā ||

That wicked Mahisha has driven all the gods out of heaven. Now they wander the earth like mortals.

एतद्वः कथितं सर्वममरारिविचेष्टितम्। शरणं वः प्रपन्नाः स्मो वधस्तस्य विचिन्त्यताम्॥

etadvaḥ kathitaṃ sarvamamarāriviceṣṭitam | śaraṇaṃ vaḥ prapannāḥ smo vadhastasya vicintyatām ||

We have told you all that the enemy of the gods has done. We have come to you for refuge. Think how he may be slain."

इत्थं निशम्य देवानां वचांसि मधुसूदनः। चकार कोपं शम्भुश्च भ्रुकुटीकुटिलाननौ॥

itthaṃ niśamya devānāṃ vacāṃsi madhusūdanaḥ | cakāra kopaṃ śambhuśca bhrukuṭīkuṭilānanau ||

Hearing the gods' words, Vishnu, slayer of Madhu, grew angry, and so did Shiva. Their brows drew together and their faces darkened with a frown.

ततोऽतिकोपपूर्णस्य चक्रिणो वदनात्ततः। निश्चक्राम महत्तेजो ब्रह्मणः शंकरस्य च॥

tato'tikopapūrṇasya cakriṇo vadanāttataḥ | niścakrāma mahattejo brahmaṇaḥ śaṃkarasya ca ||

Then from the face of Vishnu, the discus-bearer, filled with fierce anger, a great radiance came forth. Radiance came forth from Brahma and from Shiva too.

अन्येषां चैव देवानां शक्रादीनां शरीरतः। निर्गतं सुमहत्तेजस्तच्चैक्यं समगच्छत॥

anyeṣāṃ caiva devānāṃ śakrādīnāṃ śarīrataḥ | nirgataṃ sumahattejastaccaikyaṃ samagacchata ||

From the bodies of Indra and the other gods as well a very great radiance poured out, and all of it merged into one.

अतीव तेजसः कूटं ज्वलन्तमिव पर्वतम्। ददृशुस्ते सुरास्तत्र ज्वालाव्याप्तदिगन्तरम्॥

atīva tejasaḥ kūṭaṃ jvalantamiva parvatam | dadṛśuste surāstatra jvālāvyāptadigantaram ||

The gods saw there an immense mass of radiance, like a mountain on fire, its flames spreading to every quarter.

अतुलं तत्र तत्तेजः सर्वदेवशरीरजम्। एकस्थं तदभून्नारी व्याप्तलोकत्रयं त्विषा॥

atulaṃ tatra tattejaḥ sarvadevaśarīrajam | ekasthaṃ tadabhūnnārī vyāptalokatrayaṃ tviṣā ||

That matchless radiance, born from the bodies of all the gods, gathered in one place and became a woman. Her light filled the three worlds.

यदभूच्छाम्भवं तेजस्तेनाजायत तन्मुखम्। याम्येन चाभवन् केशा बाहवो विष्णुतेजसा॥

yadabhūcchāmbhavaṃ tejastenājāyata tanmukham | yāmyena cābhavan keśā bāhavo viṣṇutejasā ||

Shiva's radiance became her face. Yama's radiance became her hair, and Vishnu's radiance her arms.

सौम्येन स्तनयोर्युग्मं मध्यं चैन्द्रेण चाभवत्। वारुणेन च जङ्घोरू नितम्बस्तेजसा भुवः॥

saumyena stanayoryugmaṃ madhyaṃ caindreṇa cābhavat | vāruṇena ca jaṅghorū nitambastejasā bhuvaḥ ||

From the Moon's radiance came her two breasts, from Indra's her waist, from Varuna's her shanks and thighs, and from the Earth's her hips.

ब्रह्मणस्तेजसा पादौ तदङ्गुल्योऽर्कतेजसा। वसूनां च कराङ्गुल्यः कौबेरेण च नासिका॥

brahmaṇastejasā pādau tadaṅgulyo'rkatejasā | vasūnāṃ ca karāṅgulyaḥ kaubereṇa ca nāsikā ||

Brahma's radiance became her feet and the Sun's her toes. The Vasus' radiance became her fingers, and Kubera's her nose.

तस्यास्तु दन्ताः सम्भूताः प्राजापत्येन तेजसा। नयनत्रितयं जज्ञे तथा पावकतेजसा॥

tasyāstu dantāḥ sambhūtāḥ prājāpatyena tejasā | nayanatritayaṃ jajñe tathā pāvakatejasā ||

Her teeth arose from the radiance of Prajapati, and her three eyes from the radiance of Agni.

भ्रुवौ च संध्ययोस्तेजः श्रवणावनिलस्य च। अन्येषां चैव देवानां सम्भवस्तेजसां शिवा॥

bhruvau ca saṃdhyayostejaḥ śravaṇāvanilasya ca | anyeṣāṃ caiva devānāṃ sambhavastejasāṃ śivā ||

The radiance of the two twilights became her brows, and that of Vayu her ears. In this way the radiance of the other gods too went into the making of the auspicious goddess.

ततः समस्तदेवानां तेजोराशिसमुद्भवाम्। तां विलोक्य मुदं प्रापुरमरा महिषार्दिताः॥

tataḥ samastadevānāṃ tejorāśisamudbhavām | tāṃ vilokya mudaṃ prāpuramarā mahiṣārditāḥ ||

When the gods, so long tormented by Mahisha, saw her, risen from the gathered radiance of them all, they were filled with joy.

शूलं शूलाद्विनिष्कृष्य ददौ तस्यै पिनाकधृक्। चक्रं च दत्तवान् कृष्णः समुत्पाद्य स्वचक्रतः॥

śūlaṃ śūlādviniṣkṛṣya dadau tasyai pinākadhṛk | cakraṃ ca dattavān kṛṣṇaḥ samutpādya svacakrataḥ ||

Shiva, bearer of the Pinaka bow, drew a trident out of his own trident and gave it to her. Krishna (Vishnu) brought forth a discus from his own discus and gave it to her.

शङ्खं च वरुणः शक्तिं ददौ तस्यै हुताशनः। मारुतो दत्तवांश्चापं बाणपूर्णे तथेषुधी॥

śaṅkhaṃ ca varuṇaḥ śaktiṃ dadau tasyai hutāśanaḥ | māruto dattavāṃścāpaṃ bāṇapūrṇe tatheṣudhī ||

Varuna gave her a conch, and Agni a spear. Vayu gave a bow and two quivers full of arrows.

वज्रमिन्द्रः समुत्पाद्य कुलिशादमराधिपः। ददौ तस्यै सहस्राक्षो घण्टामैरावताद् गजात्॥

vajramindraḥ samutpādya kuliśādamarādhipaḥ | dadau tasyai sahasrākṣo ghaṇṭāmairāvatād gajāt ||

Indra, the thousand-eyed king of the gods, brought forth a thunderbolt from his own and gave it to her, along with a bell taken from his elephant Airavata.

कालदण्डाद्यमो दण्डं पाशं चाम्बुपतिर्ददौ। प्रजापतिश्चाक्षमालां ददौ ब्रह्मा कमण्डलुम्॥

kāladaṇḍādyamo daṇḍaṃ pāśaṃ cāmbupatirdadau | prajāpatiścākṣamālāṃ dadau brahmā kamaṇḍalum ||

Yama gave a staff drawn from his staff of death, and Varuna, lord of the waters, a noose. Brahma, lord of creatures, gave a rosary and a water-pot.

समस्तरोमकूपेषु निजरश्मीन् दिवाकरः। कालश्च दत्तवान् खड्गं तस्याश्चर्म च निर्मलम्॥

samastaromakūpeṣu nijaraśmīn divākaraḥ | kālaśca dattavān khaḍgaṃ tasyāścarma ca nirmalam ||

The Sun filled every pore of her skin with his own rays. Kala, Time, gave her a sword and a spotless shield.

क्षीरोदश्चामलं हारमजरे च तथाम्बरे। चूडामणिं तथा दिव्यं कुण्डले कटकानि च॥

kṣīrodaścāmalaṃ hāramajare ca tathāmbare | cūḍāmaṇiṃ tathā divyaṃ kuṇḍale kaṭakāni ca ||

The Ocean of Milk gave her a flawless necklace, a pair of garments that never wear out, a divine crest-jewel, two earrings and bangles,

अर्धचन्द्रं तथा शुभ्रं केयूरान् सर्वबाहुषु। नूपुरौ विमलौ तद्वद् ग्रैवेयकमनुत्तमम्॥

ardhacandraṃ tathā śubhraṃ keyūrān sarvabāhuṣu | nūpurau vimalau tadvad graiveyakamanuttamam ||

a shining crescent moon, armlets for all her arms, a pair of bright anklets and a peerless necklace for her throat,

अङ्गुलीयकरत्नानि समस्तास्वङ्गुलीषु च। विश्वकर्मा ददौ तस्यै परशुं चातिनिर्मलम्॥

aṅgulīyakaratnāni samastāsvaṅgulīṣu ca | viśvakarmā dadau tasyai paraśuṃ cātinirmalam ||

and jewelled rings for every finger. Vishvakarma gave her a gleaming axe,

अस्त्राण्यनेकरूपाणि तथाभेद्यं च दंशनम्। अम्लानपङ्कजां मालां शिरस्युरसि चापराम्॥

astrāṇyanekarūpāṇi tathābhedyaṃ ca daṃśanam | amlānapaṅkajāṃ mālāṃ śirasyurasi cāparām ||

weapons of many kinds and armour that nothing can pierce. A garland of unfading lotuses for her head and another for her breast,

अददज्जलधिस्तस्यै पङ्कजं चातिशोभनम्। हिमवान् वाहनं सिंहं रत्नानि विविधानि च॥

adadajjaladhistasyai paṅkajaṃ cātiśobhanam | himavān vāhanaṃ siṃhaṃ ratnāni vividhāni ca ||

along with a most beautiful lotus, the Ocean gave to her. Himavan gave her a lion to ride and gems of many kinds.

ददावशून्यं सुरया पानपात्रं धनाधिपः। शेषश्च सर्वनागेशो महामणिविभूषितम्॥

dadāvaśūnyaṃ surayā pānapātraṃ dhanādhipaḥ | śeṣaśca sarvanāgeśo mahāmaṇivibhūṣitam ||

Kubera, lord of wealth, gave a drinking cup that is never empty of wine. And Shesha, king of all serpents,

नागहारं ददौ तस्यै धत्ते यः पृथिवीमिमाम्। अन्यैरपि सुरैर्देवी भूषणैरायुधैस्तथा॥

nāgahāraṃ dadau tasyai dhatte yaḥ pṛthivīmimām | anyairapi surairdevī bhūṣaṇairāyudhaistathā ||

who bears this earth, gave her a serpent-necklace set with great gems. The other gods too honoured the Devi with ornaments and weapons.

सम्मानिता ननादोच्चैः साट्टहासं मुहुर्मुहुः। तस्या नादेन घोरेण कृत्स्नमापूरितं नभः॥

sammānitā nanādoccaiḥ sāṭṭahāsaṃ muhurmuhuḥ | tasyā nādena ghoreṇa kṛtsnamāpūritaṃ nabhaḥ ||

Honoured in this way, the Devi roared aloud again and again with peals of laughter. Her terrible roar filled the whole sky.

अमायतातिमहता प्रतिशब्दो महानभूत्। चुक्षुभुः सकला लोकाः समुद्राश्च चकम्पिरे॥

amāyatātimahatā pratiśabdo mahānabhūt | cukṣubhuḥ sakalā lokāḥ samudrāśca cakampire ||

The roar was too vast to be contained, and a mighty echo rose from it. All the worlds were shaken and the oceans trembled.

चचाल वसुधा चेलुः सकलाश्च महीधराः। जयेति देवाश्च मुदा तामूचुः सिंहवाहिनीम्॥

cacāla vasudhā celuḥ sakalāśca mahīdharāḥ | jayeti devāśca mudā tāmūcuḥ siṃhavāhinīm ||

The earth quaked and all the mountains shook. Joyfully the gods hailed her, the rider of the lion, with cries of "Victory"

तुष्टुवुर्मुनयश्चैनां भक्तिनम्रात्ममूर्तयः। दृष्ट्वा समस्तं संक्षुब्धं त्रैलोक्यममरारयः॥

tuṣṭuvurmunayaścaināṃ bhaktinamrātmamūrtayaḥ | dṛṣṭvā samastaṃ saṃkṣubdhaṃ trailokyamamarārayaḥ ||

The sages, their whole bodies bowed in devotion, sang her praise. Meanwhile the enemies of the gods, seeing all three worlds in turmoil,

सन्नद्धाखिलसैन्यास्ते समुत्तस्थुरुदायुधाः। आः किमेतदिति क्रोधादाभाष्य महिषासुरः॥

sannaddhākhilasainyāste samuttasthurudāyudhāḥ | āḥ kimetaditi krodhādābhāṣya mahiṣāsuraḥ ||

rose up with all their armies in readiness and their weapons raised. Crying out in anger, "Ah, what is this?", Mahishasura

अभ्यधावत तं शब्दमशेषैरसुरैर्वृतः। स ददर्श ततो देवीं व्याप्तलोकत्रयां त्विषा॥

abhyadhāvata taṃ śabdamaśeṣairasurairvṛtaḥ | sa dadarśa tato devīṃ vyāptalokatrayāṃ tviṣā ||

rushed toward the sound with every asura at his side. There he saw the Devi, her radiance filling the three worlds.

पादाक्रान्त्या नतभुवं किरीटोल्लिखिताम्बराम्। क्षोभिताशेषपातालां धनुर्ज्यानिःस्वनेन ताम्॥

pādākrāntyā natabhuvaṃ kirīṭollikhitāmbarām | kṣobhitāśeṣapātālāṃ dhanurjyāniḥsvanena tām ||

The tread of her feet pressed the earth down. Her crown grazed the sky. The twang of her bowstring shook all the underworlds.

दिशो भुजसहस्रेण समन्ताद् व्याप्य संस्थिताम्। ततः प्रववृते युद्धं तया देव्या सुरद्विषाम्॥

diśo bhujasahasreṇa samantād vyāpya saṃsthitām | tataḥ pravavṛte yuddhaṃ tayā devyā suradviṣām ||

She stood with her thousand arms spread out to fill every direction. Then battle broke out between the Devi and the enemies of the gods.

शस्त्रास्त्रैर्बहुधा मुक्तैरादीपितदिगन्तरम्। महिषासुरसेनानीश्चिक्षुराख्यो महासुरः॥

śastrāstrairbahudhā muktairādīpitadigantaram | mahiṣāsurasenānīścikṣurākhyo mahāsuraḥ ||

Weapons and missiles were let fly in every way, and the quarters of the sky blazed with them. Mahishasura's general, the great asura Chikshura,

युयुधे चामरश्चान्यैश्चतुरङ्गबलान्वितः। रथानामयुतैः षड्भिरुदग्राख्यो महासुरः॥

yuyudhe cāmaraścānyaiścaturaṅgabalānvitaḥ | rathānāmayutaiḥ ṣaḍbhirudagrākhyo mahāsuraḥ ||

fought, and so did Chamara with the others, leading a fourfold army of chariots, elephants, horse and foot. The great asura Udagra, with sixty thousand chariots,

अयुध्यतायुतानां च सहस्रेण महाहनुः। पञ्चाशद्भिश्च नियुतैरसिलोमा महासुरः॥

ayudhyatāyutānāṃ ca sahasreṇa mahāhanuḥ | pañcāśadbhiśca niyutairasilomā mahāsuraḥ ||

fought, and Mahahanu fought with a thousand ayutas, ten million in all. The great asura Asiloma came with fifty niyutas, a host running into millions.

अयुतानां शतैः षड्भिर्बाष्कलो युयुधे रणे। गजवाजिसहस्रौघैरनेकैः परिवारितः॥

ayutānāṃ śataiḥ ṣaḍbhirbāṣkalo yuyudhe raṇe | gajavājisahasraughairanekaiḥ parivāritaḥ ||

Bashkala fought on the field with six hundred ayutas, six million in all. Ringed by many thousands of elephants and horses

वृतो रथानां कोट्या च युद्धे तस्मिन्नयुध्यत। बिडालाख्योऽयुतानां च पञ्चाशद्भिरथायुतैः॥

vṛto rathānāṃ koṭyā ca yuddhe tasminnayudhyata | biḍālākhyo'yutānāṃ ca pañcāśadbhirathāyutaiḥ ||

and surrounded by a crore of chariots, another asura fought in that battle. (Tradition takes his name to be Parivarita, "the one hemmed in".) Bidala, with fifty ayutas, five hundred thousand

युयुधे संयुगे तत्र रथानां परिवारितः। अन्ये च तत्रायुतशो रथनागहयैर्वृताः॥

yuyudhe saṃyuge tatra rathānāṃ parivāritaḥ | anye ca tatrāyutaśo rathanāgahayairvṛtāḥ ||

chariots around him, fought there on the field. Other great asuras too, each with chariots, elephants and horses by the tens of thousands,

युयुधुः संयुगे देव्या सह तत्र महासुराः। कोटिकोटिसहस्रैस्तु रथानां दन्तिनां तथा॥

yuyudhuḥ saṃyuge devyā saha tatra mahāsurāḥ | koṭikoṭisahasraistu rathānāṃ dantināṃ tathā ||

fought the Devi there on the field. With thousands upon thousands of crores of chariots and elephants

हयानां च वृतो युद्धे तत्राभून्महिषासुरः। तोमरैर्भिन्दिपालैश्च शक्तिभिर्मुसलैस्तथा॥

hayānāṃ ca vṛto yuddhe tatrābhūnmahiṣāsuraḥ | tomarairbhindipālaiśca śaktibhirmusalaistathā ||

and horses, Mahishasura himself stood in that battle. With lances, bhindipala darts, spears and clubs,

युयुधुः संयुगे देव्या खड्गैः परशुपट्टिशैः। केचिच्च चिक्षिपुः शक्तीः केचित्पाशांस्तथापरे॥

yuyudhuḥ saṃyuge devyā khaḍgaiḥ paraśupaṭṭiśaiḥ | kecicca cikṣipuḥ śaktīḥ kecitpāśāṃstathāpare ||

and with swords, axes and broad-bladed pattishas they fought the Devi on the field. Some hurled spears, some threw nooses, and others

देवीं खड्गप्रहारैस्तु ते तां हन्तुं प्रचक्रमुः। सापि देवी ततस्तानि शस्त्राण्यस्त्राणि चण्डिका॥

devīṃ khaḍgaprahāraistu te tāṃ hantuṃ pracakramuḥ | sāpi devī tatastāni śastrāṇyastrāṇi caṇḍikā ||

set about trying to cut her down with their swords. Then all those weapons and missiles of theirs, the Devi Chandika

लीलयैव प्रचिच्छेद निजशस्त्रास्त्रवर्षिणी। अनायस्तानना देवी स्तूयमाना सुरर्षिभिः॥

līlayaiva praciccheda nijaśastrāstravarṣiṇī | anāyastānanā devī stūyamānā surarṣibhiḥ ||

cut to pieces with ease, as if at play, while raining down her own weapons and missiles. Her face showed no strain at all. Gods and seers sang her praise.

मुमोचासुरदेहेषु शस्त्राण्यस्त्राणि चेश्वरी। सोऽपि क्रुद्धो धुतसटो देव्या वाहनकेसरी॥

mumocāsuradeheṣu śastrāṇyastrāṇi ceśvarī | so'pi kruddho dhutasaṭo devyā vāhanakesarī ||

The sovereign goddess loosed her weapons and missiles into the bodies of the asuras. Her mount, the lion, enraged too and shaking his mane,

चचारासुरसैन्येषु वनेष्विव हुताशनः। निःश्वासान् मुमुचे यांश्च युध्यमाना रणेऽम्बिका॥

cacārāsurasainyeṣu vaneṣviva hutāśanaḥ | niḥśvāsān mumuce yāṃśca yudhyamānā raṇe'mbikā ||

ranged through the asura armies like fire through a forest. And the breaths that Ambika let out as she fought on the field

त एव सद्यः सम्भूता गणाः शतसहस्रशः। युयुधुस्ते परशुभिर्भिन्दिपालासिपट्टिशैः॥

ta eva sadyaḥ sambhūtā gaṇāḥ śatasahasraśaḥ | yuyudhuste paraśubhirbhindipālāsipaṭṭiśaiḥ ||

turned at once into attendant warriors, the ganas, in hundreds of thousands. They fought with axes, darts, swords and pattishas,

नाशयन्तोऽसुरगणान् देवीशक्त्युपबृंहिताः। अवादयन्त पटहान् गणाः शङ्खांस्तथापरे॥

nāśayanto'suragaṇān devīśaktyupabṛṃhitāḥ | avādayanta paṭahān gaṇāḥ śaṅkhāṃstathāpare ||

strengthened by the Devi's power, and wiped out the asura bands. Some of the ganas beat drums, others blew conches,

मृदङ्गांश्च तथैवान्ये तस्मिन् युद्धमहोत्सवे। ततो देवी त्रिशूलेन गदया शक्तिवृष्टिभिः॥

mṛdaṅgāṃśca tathaivānye tasmin yuddhamahotsave | tato devī triśūlena gadayā śaktivṛṣṭibhiḥ ||

and still others played the mridanga, in that great festival of war. Then with her trident, her mace, showers of spears,

खड्गादिभिश्च शतशो निजघान महासुरान्। पातयामास चैवान्यान् घण्टास्वनविमोहितान्॥

khaḍgādibhiśca śataśo nijaghāna mahāsurān | pātayāmāsa caivānyān ghaṇṭāsvanavimohitān ||

her sword and the rest, the Devi slew great asuras by the hundred. Others, dazed by the sound of her bell, she brought down.

असुरान् भुवि पाशेन बद्ध्वा चान्यानकर्षयत्। केचिद् द्विधा कृतास्तीक्ष्णैः खड्गपातैस्तथापरे॥

asurān bhuvi pāśena baddhvā cānyānakarṣayat | kecid dvidhā kṛtāstīkṣṇaiḥ khaḍgapātaistathāpare ||

Others she bound with her noose and dragged along the ground. Some were cut in two by sharp sword strokes, and others,

विपोथिता निपातेन गदया भुवि शेरते। वेमुश्च केचिद्रुधिरं मुसलेन भृशं हताः॥

vipothitā nipātena gadayā bhuvi śerate | vemuśca kecidrudhiraṃ musalena bhṛśaṃ hatāḥ ||

crushed by the falling mace, lay on the ground. Some, struck hard by the club, vomited blood.

केचिन्निपतिता भूमौ भिन्नाः शूलेन वक्षसि। निरन्तराः शरौघेण कृताः केचिद्रणाजिरे॥

kecinnipatitā bhūmau bhinnāḥ śūlena vakṣasi | nirantarāḥ śaraugheṇa kṛtāḥ kecidraṇājire ||

Some fell to the earth, their chests split by the trident. On the field some were so thickly struck by the flood of arrows that no gap was left on them,

श्येनानुकारिणः प्राणान् मुमुचुस्त्रिदशार्दनाः। केषांचिद् बाहवश्छिन्नाश्छिन्नग्रीवास्तथापरे॥

śyenānukāriṇaḥ prāṇān mumucustridaśārdanāḥ | keṣāṃcid bāhavaśchinnāśchinnagrīvāstathāpare ||

and these tormentors of the gods, bristling with arrows like hawks with feathers, gave up their lives. Some had their arms cut off, others their necks.

शिरांसि पेतुरन्येषामन्ये मध्ये विदारिताः। विच्छिन्नजङ्घास्त्वपरे पेतुरुर्व्यां महासुराः॥

śirāṃsi peturanyeṣāmanye madhye vidāritāḥ | vicchinnajaṅghāstvapare petururvyāṃ mahāsurāḥ ||

The heads of others fell. Others were split through the middle. Still other great asuras, their legs cut through, fell to the ground.

एकबाह्वक्षिचरणाः केचिद्देव्या द्विधा कृताः। छिन्नेऽपि चान्ये शिरसि पतिताः पुनरुत्थिताः॥

ekabāhvakṣicaraṇāḥ keciddevyā dvidhā kṛtāḥ | chinne'pi cānye śirasi patitāḥ punarutthitāḥ ||

Some the Devi split in two from head to foot, leaving each half with one arm, one eye and one leg. Others, even with their heads cut off, fell and rose up again.

कबन्धा युयुधुर्देव्या गृहीतपरमायुधाः। ननृतुश्चापरे तत्र युद्धे तूर्यलयाश्रिताः॥

kabandhā yuyudhurdevyā gṛhītaparamāyudhāḥ | nanṛtuścāpare tatra yuddhe tūryalayāśritāḥ ||

These headless trunks took up their finest weapons and fought the Devi. Others danced there in the battle to the beat of the war music.

कबन्धाश्छिन्नशिरसः खड्गशक्त्यृष्टिपाणयः। तिष्ठ तिष्ठेति भाषन्तो देवीमन्ये महासुराः॥

kabandhāśchinnaśirasaḥ khaḍgaśaktyṛṣṭipāṇayaḥ | tiṣṭha tiṣṭheti bhāṣanto devīmanye mahāsurāḥ ||

Other great asuras, headless trunks now, with swords, spears and rishti blades in hand, kept calling to the Devi, "Stand, stand there."

पातितै रथनागाश्वैरसुरैश्च वसुन्धरा। अगम्या साभवत्तत्र यत्राभूत्स महारणः॥

pātitai rathanāgāśvairasuraiśca vasundharā | agamyā sābhavattatra yatrābhūtsa mahāraṇaḥ ||

Where that great battle raged, the ground was so heaped with fallen chariots, elephants, horses and asuras that no one could cross it.

शोणितौघा महानद्यः सद्यस्तत्र प्रसुस्रुवुः। मध्ये चासुरसैन्यस्य वारणासुरवाजिनाम्॥

śoṇitaughā mahānadyaḥ sadyastatra prasusruvuḥ | madhye cāsurasainyasya vāraṇāsuravājinām ||

There, in the midst of the asura army, floods of blood from elephants, asuras and horses at once ran like great rivers.

क्षणेन तन्महासैन्यमसुराणां तथाम्बिका। निन्ये क्षयं यथा वह्निस्तृणदारुमहाचयम्॥

kṣaṇena tanmahāsainyamasurāṇāṃ tathāmbikā | ninye kṣayaṃ yathā vahnistṛṇadārumahācayam ||

In a moment Ambika brought that vast asura army to ruin, as fire consumes a great pile of grass and wood.

स च सिंहो महानादमुत्सृजन्धुतकेसरः। शरीरेभ्योऽमरारीणामसूनिव विचिन्वति॥

sa ca siṃho mahānādamutsṛjandhutakesaraḥ | śarīrebhyo'marārīṇāmasūniva vicinvati ||

And the lion, shaking his mane and letting out great roars, seemed to be picking the life-breath out of the bodies of the gods' enemies.

देव्या गणैश्च तैस्तत्र कृतं युद्धं महासुरैः। यथैषां तुतुषुर्देवाः पुष्पवृष्टिमुचो दिवि॥ ॐ॥

devyā gaṇaiśca taistatra kṛtaṃ yuddhaṃ mahāsuraiḥ | yathaiṣāṃ tutuṣurdevāḥ puṣpavṛṣṭimuco divi || oṃ ||

The Devi and her ganas fought the great asuras there in such a way that the gods in heaven were delighted and rained down flowers. Om.

॥ इति श्रीमार्कण्डेयपुराणे सावर्णिके मन्वन्तरे देवीमाहात्म्ये महिषासुरसैन्यवधो नाम द्वितीयोऽध्यायः॥

|| iti śrīmārkaṇḍeyapurāṇe sāvarṇike manvantare devīmāhātmye mahiṣāsurasainyavadho nāma dvitīyo'dhyāyaḥ ||

Here ends the second chapter, called ‘The Slaying of Mahishasura's Armies’, of the Devi Mahatmya, in the account of the Savarni Manvantara in the Shri Markandeya Purana.