Om Madhyamacharitrasya Vishnurrishih Mahalakshmirdevata, Ushnik

Chhandah,Shakambhari Shaktih, Durga Bijam,Vayustattvam, Yajurvedah Svarupam,

Shrimahalakshmiprityartham Madhyamacharitrajape Viniyogah।

॥ Dhyanam ॥
Om Akshasrakparashum Gadeshukulisham Padmam Dhanushkundikam
Dandam Shaktimasim Cha Charma Jalajam Ghantam Surabhajanam।
Shulam Pashasudarshane Cha Dadhatim Hastaih Prasannananam
Seve Sairi bhamardini miha Mahalakshmim Sarojasthitam॥

OṀ hṛīm ṛṣir uvāca

devāsuram abhūd yuddhaṁ pūrṇa mabda sataṁ purā

mahiṣe ‘surāṇām adhipe devānāṁ ca purandare
2.2 “Long ago, when Mahiṣa was chief of the asuras and Indra was chief of the gods,
there was a war between their forces for a full hundred years.

tatrāsurair mahāvīryair devasainyaṁ parājitam

jitvā ca sakalān devān indro ‘bhūn mahiṣāsuraḥ
2.3 The valorous asuras vanquished the army of the gods, and after all were
conquered, Mahiṣa became the lord of heaven.

tataḥ parājitā devāḥ padmayoniṁ prajāpatim

puraskṛtya gatās tatra yatreśa garuḍadhvajau
2.4 Then led by Brahmā, the lord of beings, the defeated gods went to Viṣṇu and
Śiva

yathāvṛttaṁ tayos tadvan mahiṣāsuraceṣṭitam

tridaśāḥ kathayāmāsur devābhi bhavavistaram
2.5 and related in detail what had happened. The thirty gods told how Mahiṣāsura
had wrought their defeat:

sūryendrāgnya nilendūnāṁ yamasya vanmasya ca

anyeṣām cādhikārān sa svayam evādhitiṣṭhati
2.6 ‘He has usurped the authority of Sūrya, Indra, Agni, Vāyu, and Candra, and of
Yama, Varuṇa, and all the others.

svargān nirākṛtāḥ sarve tena devagaṇā bhuvi

vicaranti yathā martyā mahiseṇa durātmanā
2.7 Cast out from heaven by the evil Mahiṣa, all the multitudes of gods wander over
the earth as mere mortals.

etad vaḥ kathitaṁ sarvam amarāri viceṣṭitam

śaraṇaṁ vaḥ prapannāḥ smo vadhas tasya vicintyatām
2.8 We have related all that this foe of the gods has done, and we seek refuge in
You. Be pleased to devise a means for his destruction.’

itthaṁ niśamya devānāṁ vacāmsi madhusūdanaḥ

cakāra kopāṁ śambhuś ca bhrukuṭīkuṭilānanau
2.9 When Viṣṇu and Śiva heard the entreaties of the gods, they knit their brows in
fury and contorted their faces,

tato ‘tikopapūrṇasya cakriṇo vadanāt tataḥ

niścakrāma mahat tejo brahmaṇaḥ śaṅkarasya ca
2.10 whereupon a great radiance came forth from Viṣṇu’s rage- filled countenance,
and so, too, from Brahmā’s and Śiva’s.

anyeṣāṁ caiva devānāṁ śakrādīnāṁ śarīrataḥ

nirgataṁ sumahat tejas tac caikyaṁ samagacchata
2.11 And from Indra’s body and from the bodies of all the other gods, a very great
light issued, and it united and became one.

atīva tejasaḥ kūṭaṁ jvalantam iva parvatam

dadṛ śuste sūrās tatra jvālā vyāpta digantaram
2.12 The gods saw before them a peak of light like a mountain, blazing brightly and
pervading the sky in every direction with its flames.

atulaṁ tatra tat tejaḥ sarvadevaśarīrajam

ekasthaṁ tadabhūn nārī vyāptalokatrayaṁ tviṣā
2.13 Unequaled light, born from the bodies of all the gods, coalesced into a female
form and pervaded the three worlds with its splendor.

yad abhūc chāmbhavaṁ tejas tenājāyata tan mukham

yāmyena cābhavan keśā bāhavo viṣṇutejasā
2.14 From Śiva’s light came that which formed the Devī’s face. Yama’s radiance
formed Her hair, and Viṣṇu’s effulgence became Her arms.

saumyena stanayor yugmaṁ madhyaṁ caindreṇa cābhavat

vāruṇena ca jaṅghorū nitambas tejasā bhuvaḥ
2.15 The moon god’s soft light formed Her breasts, and Indra’s brilliance became
Her waist. Varuṇa’s light became Her legs, and earth’s splendor formed Her hips.

brahmaṇas tejasā pādau tad aṅgulyo ‘rkatejasā

vasūnāṁ ca karāṅgulyaḥ kaubereṇa ca nāsikā
2.16 Her feet took shape from Brahmā’s light and Her toes from Sürya’s brilliance.
From the Vasus’ light Her fingers formed and from Kubera’s light, Her nose.

tasyāstu dantāḥ sambhūtāḥ prājāpatyena tejasā

nayanatrita yaṁjajñe tathā pāvakatejasā
2.17 From Prajāpati’s lustre came Her teeth, and from Agni’s radiance Her three
eyes were born.

bhruvau ca sandhyayos tejah śravaṇāv anilasya ca

anyeṣāṁ caiva devānāṁ sambhavas tejasāṁ śivā
2.18 Dawn and dusk became Her eyebrows, the wind god’s splendor shaped Her ears,
and all else born of the other gods’ light shone too as the auspicious Devī.

tataḥ samastadevānāṁ tejorāśisamudbhavām

tāṁ vilokya mudaṁ prāpur amarā mahiṣārditāḥ
2.19 Then, beholding Her who appeared from out of their amassed light, all those
gods, tormented by Mahiṣa, rejoiced.
śūlam śūlād viniṣkṛṣya dadau tasyai pinākadhṛk
2.20 Then the gods bestowed on Her their own weapons and adornments. From his
trident Śiva drew forth another and gave it to Her,

cakraṁ ca dattavān kṛṣṇaḥ samutpāṭya svacakrataḥ

śaṅkhaṁ ca varuṇaḥ śaktiṁ dadau tasyai hutāśanaḥ

2.21 and Viṣṇu bestowed a discus spun out from his own. Varuṇa gave Her a conch;
and Agni, the eater of oblations, gave Her a spear.

māruto dattavāṁś cāpaṁ bāṇapūrṇe tatheṣudhī

vajram indraḥ samutpāṭya kuliśād amarādhipaḥ

2.22 Vāyu, the wind god, presented a bow and two quivers filled with arrows.
Extracting a thunderbolt from his own, Indra, the lord of the immortals,

dadau tasyai sahasrākṣo ghaṇṭām airāvatād gājāt

kāla daṇḍād yamo daṇḍaṁ pāśaṁ cāmbupatir dadau

2.23 the all-seeing one, gave it to Her along with a bell from his elephant
Airāvata. From his staff of death Yama produced another staff, and Varuṇa, the lord
of waters, gave a noose.

prajāpatiś cākṣamālāṁ dadau brahmā kamaṇḍalum

samastaromakūpeṣu nijaraśmīn divākarah

2.24 Brahmā, the lord of beings, gave prayer beads and an ascetic’s waterpot.
Sūrya, the bringer of day, bestowed his rays of sunlight on all the pores of Her
skin;

kālaś ca dattavān khaḍgaṁ tasyāś carma ca nirmalam

kṣīrodaś cāmalaṁ hāram ajare ca tathāmbare

2.25 and Kāla, the lord of time, presented a sword and shining shield. The ocean of
milk bestowed a necklace of flawless pearls, ever-new garments,

cūḍāmaṇiṁ tathā divyaṁ kuṇḍale kaṭakāni ca

ardhacandram tathā śubhraṁ keyūrān sarvabāhuṣu

2.26 a celestial crest-jewel, earrings, and bracelets, a radiant crescent-shaped

ornament, armlets for all Her arms,
nūpurau vimalau tadvad graiveyakam anuttamam
aṅgullyakaratnāni samastāsvangulīṣu ca

2.27 a pair of shining anklets, a necklace beyond compare, and bejeweled rings for
all Her fingers.

viśvakarmā dadau tasyai paraśuṁ cātinirmalam

astrāṇy anekarūpāṇi tathā ‘bhedyaṁ ca daṁśanam

2.28 Viśvakarman gave Her a gleaming ax, weapons of all kinds, and impenetrable
armor.

amlāna pankajāṁ mālāṁ śirasy urasi cāparām

adadaj jaladhis tasyai pankajaṁ cātiśobhanam
2.29 Garlands of unfading lotuses for Her head and breast the ocean gave to Her,
and yet another magnificent lotus to grace Her hand.

himavān vāhanam siṁhaṁ ratnāni vividhāni ca

dadāv asūnyaṁ surayā pānapātraṁ dhanādhipaḥ

2.30 Himālaya, the lord of mountains, gave Her a lion to ride upon and jewels of
many kinds; and Kubera, the lord of wealth, presented a drinking vessel ever-
brimming with wine.

śeṣaś ca sarvanāgeśo mahāmaṇi vibhūṣitam

nāgahāraṁ dadau tasyai dhatte yaḥ pṛthivīmimām
2.31 Śeṣa, the lord of serpents, who supports this earth, gave Her a garland of
snakes, adorned with precious gems.

anyair api surair Devī bhūsaṇair āyudhais tathā

sammānitā nanādoccaiḥ sāṭṭahāsaṁ muhur muhuḥ
2.32 Honored also by the other gods with adornments and weapons, the Devī laughed
thunderously and defiantly again and again.

tasyā nādena ghoreṇa kṛtsnam āpūritaṁ nabhaḥ

amāyatāti mahatā pratiśabdo mahānabhūt
2.33 She filled the entire sky with Her terrible roar, and from the immeasurable
din a great echo resounded.

cukṣubhuh sakala lokāḥ samudraś ca cakampire

cacāla vasudhā celuḥ sakalāś ca mahldharāḥ

2.34 All the worlds shook, and the oceans churned. The earth quaked, and the
mountains heaved.
jayeti devās ca mudā tām ūcuḥ simhavāhinīm
tuṣṭuvur munayaś caināṁ bhaktinamrāt mamūrtayaḥ

2.35 In joy the gods exclaimed, ‘Victory! ’ to the lion-mounted Devī; and with
bodies bowed in devotion, the sages praised Her.

dṛṣṭvā samastaṁ saṁkṣubdhaṁ trailokyam amarārayaḥ

sannaddhākhilasainyāste samuttasthur udāyudhāḥ

2.36 When the enemies of the gods saw the three worlds in upheaval, they readied
all their forces for battle and rose up as one, with weapons held high.

āḥ kim etad iti krodhād ābhāṣya mahiṣāsuraḥ

abhyadhāvata taṁ śabdam aśeṣair asurair vṛtaḥ

2.37 ‘Aha! What is this?’ Mahiṣāsura bellowed in wrath. Surrounded by countless

asuras, he rushed toward the sound

sa dadarśa tato Devīṁ vyāptalokatrayāṁ tviṣā

pādākrāntyā natabhuvaṁ kirīṭollikhitāmbarām

2.38 and then beheld the Devī, who pervaded the three worlds with Her radiance,
bending the earth under Her tread, scraping the sky with Her diadem,

kṣobhitāśeṣapātālāṁ dhanur jyāniḥ svanena tām

diśo bhujasahasreṇa samantād vyāpya samsthitām

2.39 shaking all the nether regions with the resonance of Her bowstring, and
standing there, penetrating every direction with Her thousand arms.

tataḥ pravavṛte yuddhaṁ tayā Devyā suradviṣām

śastrāstrair bahudhā muktair ādīpita digantaram

2.40 Thereupon, the battle began between the Devī and the enemies of the gods.
Swords and missiles, hurled in every direction, lit up the quarters of the sky.

mahiṣāsurasenānīś cikṣurākhyo mahāsurah

yuyudhe cāmaraś cānyaiś caturangabalānvitaḥ

2.41 Mahiṣāsura’s general, the great asura named Cikṣura, battled there, and Cāmara
led cavalry, charioteers, elephant-drivers, and foot soldiers.

rathānāmayutaiḥ ṣaḍbhir udagrākhyo mahāsuraḥ

ayudhyatā yutānāṁ ca sahasreṇa mahāhanuḥ

2.42 The great asura called Udagra commanded sixty thousand chariots, Mahāhanu gave
battle with his ten million,

pañcāśadbhiś ca niyutair asilomā mahāsuraḥ

ayutānāṁ śataiḥ ṣaḍbhir bāṣkalo yuyudhe raṇe

2.43 and the mighty Asiloman fought with forces fifty million strong. With sixty
million Bāṣkala fought in the conflict.

gajavājisahasraughair anekaiḥ parivāritaḥ

vṛto rathānāṁ koṭyā ca yuddhe tasminn ayudhyata

2.44 Encircled by streaming multitudes of elephants and horses, Parivārita fought

in that battle with ten million chariots,

biḍālākhyo ‘yutānāṁ ca pañcāśadbhir athāyutaiḥ

yuyudhe saṁyuge tatra rathānāṁ parivāritaḥ

2.45 and he who is called Biḍāla, with five billion chariots surrounding him,
engaged in combat there.

anye ca tatrāyutaso rathanāgahayair vṛtāḥ

yuyudhuḥ samyuge Devyā saha tatra mahāsurāḥ

2.46 Amid chariots, elephants, and horses, myriads of other great asuras battled
with the Devī,

koṭikoṭisahasrais tu rathānām dantināṁ tathā

hayānāṁ ca vṛto yuddhe tatrābhūn mahiṣāsuraḥ

2.47 their countless chariots, elephants, and horses surrounding Māhiṣāsura there
in the fray.

tomarair bhindipālaiś ca śaktibhir musalais tathā

yuyudhuḥ samyuge Devyā khaḍgaiḥ paraśupaṭṭiśaiḥ

2.48 With lances and javelins, spears and clubs, swords and axes, and sharp-edged
spears, they fought with the Devī.

kecic ca cikṣipuḥ śaktīḥ kecit pāśāṁs tathāpare

Devīṁ khaḍgaprahārais tu te tāṁ hantuṁ pracakramuḥ

2.49 Some hurled spears while others threw nooses; intent on killing Her, they
began an assault with their swords.

sāpi Devī tatas tāni śastrāṇy astrāṇi Caṇḍikā

lllayaiva praciccheda nija śastrāstra varṣiṇī

2.50 But She, the Devī Caṇḍikā, showered down all manner of weapons and cut through
their armaments as if in play.

anāyastānanā Devī stūyamānā surarṣibhiḥ

mumocā suradeheṣu śastrāṇyastrāṇi ceśvarī

2.51 Praised by gods and seers, She remained serene, even while unleashing Her
weapons at the asuras’ bodies.

so ‘pi kruddho dhutasaṭo Devyā vāhanakesarī

cacārāsurasainyeṣu vanesv iva hutāśanaḥ

2.52 Her lion-mount, shaking its mane in fury, stalked among the demon throngs as
fire rages through a Forest.

niḥśvāsān mumuce yāṁś ca yudhyamānā raṇe ‘mbikā

ta eva sadyaḥ sambhūtā gaṇāḥ śatasa hasraśaḥ

2.53 The sighs that Ambikā heaved while fighting became at once Her legions by the
hundreds and thousands.

yuyudhus te paraśubhir bhindipālāsipaṭṭiśaiḥ

nāsayanto ‘suragaṇān Devīsaktyu pabṛmhitāḥ

2.54 They fought with axes, javelins, swords, and sharp- edged spears, and drawing
strength from Her power, they destroyed the demon hordes.

avādayanta paṭahān gaṇāḥ śankhāms tathāpare

mṛdaṅgāṁś ca tathaivānye tasmin yuddhamahotsave

2.55 Some of Her throngs beat war drums resoundingly, some blew conches, and others
drummed upon tabors in their zest for battle.

tato Devī triśūlena gadayā śaktivṛṣṭibhiḥ

khaḍgādibhiś ca śataśo nijaghāna mahāsurān

2.56 Then the Devī, with Her trident, club, and volleys of spears, with Her swords
and other weapons, slew great asuras by the hundreds
pātayāmāsa caivānyān ghaṇṭāsvanavimohitān
asurān bhuvi pāśena baddhvā cānyān akarṣayat

2.57 and brought down still more with the confounding din of Her bell. Binding
other asuras with Her noose, She dragged them along the ground.

kecid dvidhākṛtās tīkṣṇaiḥ khaḍgapātais tathāpare

vipothitā nipātena gadayā bhuvi serate

2.58 Her swordstrokes slashed others in two, while crushing blows from Her mace
brought still more down,

vemuś ca kecid rudhiraṁ musalena bhṛśaṁ hatāḥ

kecin nipatitā bhūmau bhinnāḥ śūlena vakṣasi

2.59 and those bludgeoned by Her club vomited forth blood. Others fell to the
ground, pierced through the chest by Her trident.

nirantarāḥ śaraugheṇa kṛtāḥ kecid

raṇājire śalyānukāriṇaḥ prāṇān mumucus tridaśārdanāḥ

2.60 Her steady stream of arrows made some on that battlefield resemble bristling
porcupines, and those tormenters of the gods breathed their last.

keṣāñcid bāhavaś chinnāś chinnagrīvās tathāpare

śirāmsi petur anyeṣām anye madhye vidāritāḥ

2.61 Some had their arms severed, others their necks broken. The heads of others
rolled, and still others had their bodies ripped apart.

vicchinnajanghās tv apare petur urvyāṁ mahāsurāḥ

ekabāhvakṣicaraṇāḥ kecid Devyā dvidhākṛtāḥ
2.62 Great asuras, their legs cut from under them, toppled to the ground. Some,
severed lengthwise by the Devī, were left one-armed, one-eyed, one-legged.

chinne ‘pi cānye śirasi patitāḥ punar utthitāḥ

nanṛtuś cāpare tatra yuddhe tūryalayāśritāḥ
2.63 While others there in the battle danced to the throbbing drums, those that She
decapitated fell and rose again,

kabandhāś chinnaśirasaḥ khadga śaktyṛṣṭipāṇayaḥ

tiṣṭha tiṣṭheti bhāṣanto Devīm anye mahāsurāḥ
2.64 headless bodies, still grasping swords, spears, and lances in hand. ‘Stop!
Stop!’ other great asuras cried out to the Devī.
pātitai rathanāgāśvair asuraiś ca vasundharā
agamyā sābhavat tatra yatrābhūt sa mahāraṇaḥ
2.65 Where that great battle raged, the earth was impassable with fallen chariots,
elephants, horses, and corpses.

śoṇitaughā mahānadyaḥ sadyas tatra visusruvuḥ

madhye cāsura sainyasya vāraṇāsuravājinām
2.66 Torrents of blood, like mighty rivers, gushed from elephants, asuras, and
horses there in the midst of the demon army.

ksaṇena tan mahāsainyam asurāṇām tathāmbikā

ninye kṣayaṁ yathā vahnis ṭṛṇadārumahācayam
2.67 In an instant, Ambikā led that vast legion of foes to its destruction, as
quickly as fire consumes a heap of straw and wood.

sa ca simho mahānādam utsṛjan dhutakesaraḥ

sarīrebhyo ‘marārīṇām asūn iva vicinvati
2.68 And Her lion, roaring thunderously and shaking its mane, prowled about in
search of life- breath still issuing from the enemies’ bodies.

Devyā gaṇaiś ca tais tatra kṛtaṁ yuddhaṁ tathāsuraiḥ

yathaiṣāṁ tuṣṭuvur devāḥ puspavṛṣṭimuco divi
2.69 So did the Devī’s hosts wage war against the asuras. So also did the gods in
heaven shower down flowers in praise.”