Who is Mahakali? Ch13 Granting Boons to Suratha and Vaisya. - Page 3

On hearing Sumbha's order Chanda and Munda started with a huge army . They then saw Devi gently smiling sitting on her lion on the golden mountain.

Chaturanga balopeta yayuh...

On seeing her some of the asuras got excited and made an effort to capture her, and others approached her, with their swords drawn and bows bent.

Te drishtva tam...

Thereupon Ambika became terribly angry with those foes, and in her anger her countenance then became dark as ink. Suddenly, Kali of the terrible countenance, armed with a sword and noose, emerged forth from the surface of Ambika's forehead that was fierce with a frown.

Kali Karbala vadana vinishkranta...

Holding a strange skull- topped staff, decorated with a garland of skulls, clad in a tiger's skin, very appalling due to her emaciated body, with a gaping mouth and tongue lolling out fearfully, with deep-sunk reddish eyes, she filled the quarters with her roars.

Nimagna rakta nayana..

Kali destroyed the army of the foes of the gods, falling upon them impetuously and slaughtering the great asuras in that army. Killing some, crushing others, chewing most frightfully with her teeth, she swallowed the entire army of the mighty wicked asuras.

Mukhena jagraha rusha

Seeing the entire army of asuras laid to the ground in a moment, Chanda ran towards the terrible Kali. While Chanda showered arrows at her, Munda hurled discuses in thousands at her eyes

Chadayamasa chakraischa...

. The numerous discuses entering her mouth shone like so many orbs of the Sun as Kali just swallowed them. Laughing fiercely, Kali of the terrible countenance mounted the great lion and rushed at Chanda. Seizing him by his hair, she severed his head with her sword.

Uthaya cha mahasim..devi chanda madhanata..

Munda fumed on seeing Chanda slain and rushed towards Kali.

Kali bacame furious and killed him striking him ferociously with her sword.

Atha mundobhyatha..

Seeing the most valiant Chanda and Munda vanquished, the remaining army became panicky and fled in all directions.

Diso bheje bhayaturam.

And Kali, holding the heads of Chanda and Munda in her hands, approached Chandika and said, "In this sacrifice of battle, here have I brought you the heads of Chanda and Munda the great beasts. Shumbha and Nishumbha, you shall yourself slay.

Swayam Sumbham NisumbhaIn

Thereupon, seeing the two great asuras Chanda and Munda brought to her, the auspicious Chandika, said to Kali these playful words, "As you have brought me both Chanda and Munda, you O Devi, shall be famed in the world by the name Chamunda.

Chamundeti Tato loke khyata devi bhavishyasi

End of 7th chapter. Slaining of Chanda and Munda by Kali

Lakshmi

When Chanda and Munda were killed and many of the asuras destroyed, the lord of the asuras, the mighty Sumbha, with intellect clouded by rage, commanded the marshalling of all the asura armies.

Chande cha nihate daitye...

"Now, let the eighty-six Udayudhas with all their forces and uplifted weapons, and the eighty-four Kambus, along with their own forces, set out for battle. Let the fifty asura families of Kotiviryas and the hundred families of Dhaumras go forth at my command.

Shada siti rudayudhah

Likewise let the asura clans, Kalakas, Daurhrdas, the Mauryas and the Kalakeyas hasten at my command and march forth ready for battle. Issuing these orders, Sumbha, the lord of the asuras, the cruel demon set out surrounded with thousands of huge forces.

Nirjagama mahasainya...

Seeing that most terrible army advancing, Chandika filled the space between the earth and the sky with twangs of her bow-string. Then her lion roared very loudly. Ambika amplified those sounds with the ringing of the bell.

...purayamasa dharani gaganantaram

Filling the quarters with roars from her gaping mouth, Kali accompanied the sounds of the bow-string, lion and bell by her terrific roars. On hearing that roar the infuriated armies of the asuras surrounded the lion, the Goddess (Chandika) and Kali on all the four sides.

Devi simhastatha kali...

Meanwhile, in order to ensure the annihilation of the enemies of the gods and also for the well-being of the great gods, there issued forth, endowed with exceeding valour and strength, Shaktis from the bodies of Brahma, Shiva, Guha, Vishnu and Indra, Whatever was the form of the Godhead, whatever his ornaments and vehicle, in that very form his Shakti advanced to fight the asuras.

Yasya devasya yadrupam..

In a heavenly chariot yoked by swans came Brahma's Shakti carrying a rosary and water-pot (kamandalu). She is called Brahmani.

...brahmani sabhidhiyate

Maheshvari arrived, mounted on a bull, holding the great trident, with huge serpents for bangles, with the digit of the moon as an ornament.

Maheswari Vrisharudha...

The mother Kaumari came in the form of Guha, riding on a fine peacock wielding the spear in her hand, to attack the asuras.

Kaumari saktihasta cha...

Likewise seated upon Garuda, holding conch, club, bow and sword in hand, came Vaishnavi, the Shakti of Vishnu.

Tathaiva Vaishnavi Shaktih...

Varahi, who assumed the incomparable form of Hari as the sacrificial boar, also came.

Tatra Varahim bibhrati tanum.

Narasmihi too arrived, assuming a form like that of Narasmiha, half-woman and half-lioness, bringing down the constellations by the toss of her mane.

Narasimhi nrisimhasya...

Likewise the thousand-eyed Aindri, holding a thunderbolt in hand and riding on the lord of elephants arrived just like Indra.

Vajra hasta tathaivaindri...

To be continued.

Thereupon Shiva, surrounded by those shaktis of the devas, said to Chandika, "Let the asuras be killed forthwith by you for my gratification.

Tatah parivritastabhirisano..

Then, from the body of the Goddess issued forth the most terrific Shakti of Chandika, exceedingly fierce and yelling like a hundred jackals together. She, the invincible, told Shiva, of smoke-hued matted locks, "Go, O lord, as an ambassador to the presence of Sumbha and Nisumbha. Tell the two arrogant asuras and the other asuras assembled there for battle- Let Indra obtain the sovereignty of the three worlds and let the gods take the oblations. You go to the nether world, if you wish to live. But if through pride of strength you are anxious for battle, then come by all means. Let my jackals be satisfied with your flesh'.

Bruhi Sumbham Nisumbham cha...

Since that Devi appointed Shiva himself as her ambassador, from then she became famous in this world as Shiva-duti'.

Sivadutiti loke...

Hearing the words of the Devi communicated by Shiva, those great asuras, on their part, were filled with carelessness and went to the place where Katyayani stood. Then in the very beginning, the enraged foes of the gods showered arrows, lances and double-edged swords on the Goddess.

Jagmuryatra Katyayani Sthita..

The Goddess cut playfully those arrows, spears, lances and battle-axes hurled by them, with powerful arrows shot from her full-drawn bow.

Then, Kali raced towards Sumbha, tearing the foes to pieces with her spear and crushing them with her skull-topped staff.

Whomsoever Brahmani attacked, she made those enemies bereft of valour and prowess by sprinkling on them the water from her water-pot.

Maheshvari slew the daityas with her trident, Vaisnavi, with her discus and Kaumari, with her lance.

Maheswari trisulena tatha chakrena Vaishnavi

Torn to pieces by Aindr's thunderbolt which come down upon them, the demons the fell on the earth in hundreds, streams of blood flowing. Pounded by blows from the snout of the boar-formed goddess Varahi, wounded in their chests by the point of her tusk and struck by her discus, the asuras fell down.

Filling the sky and the quarters with her roars, Narasmihi, roamed about in the battle, killing other great asuras torn by her claws. Effected by the violent laughter of Shivaduti, the asuras fell on the earth as she promptly killed those who had fallen down.

Sivadutyabhidushita..

Seeing the enraged band of Mothers (Matru ganas) crushing the great asuras by various means, the troops of the enemies of gods took to their heels. Noticing the fleeing demons assailed by the Matru ganas, the great asura Raktabija strode forward to fight in wrath.

Yayau Raktabijo mahasurah...

No sooner a drop of blood from Raktabija's body fell on the ground than a great asura of his very stature would spring forth on the earth. With mace in hand the great asura fought with Indra's shakti . Then Aindri struck Ranktabija with her thunderbolt. As blood flowed profusely from Raktabija, who was wounded by the thunderbolt, there arose from his blood, combatants of his stature and might.

Samutpatati medinyam

As many drops of blood fell from his body, so many persons with his valour, strength and prowess came into being. And they who took birth from his blood, too fought with the Mother-goddesses more terribly, hurling formidable weapons.

Again when Raktabija's head was wounded by the thunderbolt, his blood flowed, and from that blood were born thousands more. In the battle Vaisnavi struck him with her discus. Aindri hit the great asura with her mace. The world was pervaded by thousands of great asuras of his stature, born from the blood that flowed out of the cut inflicted by Vaisnavi's discus.

Kaumari struck him with her spear and Varahi with her sword. Maheshvari assaulted him with her trident. And the enraged Raktabija struck the Mother-goddesses individually as well as severally with his club.

Hundreds of asuras came into being from the blood drops that fell on the ground as he received multiple wounds by the lances, spears and other weapons. The entire world was pervaded by the asuras who took birth from the blood of Raktabija.

Vyaptamasittato deva.

The gods were intensely alarmed at this. Seeing the devas dejected, Chandika laughed and said to Kali, "O Chamunda, keep your mouth wide open. And with this mouth quickly take in the drops of blood generated by the blow of my weapon and also the great asuras born of the drops of blood of Raktabija. Roam about in the battlefield, killing the great asuras born from his blood. Thus this demon shall perish, losing all his blood. As you go on killing them, other fierce asuras will not be born.

Uvacha kalim chamunde

Having Instructed her thus , the Goddess then struck Raktabija with her spear. Thereupon Kali drank Raktabija's blood with her mouth. Rightaway Raktabija struck Chandika with his mace. The the blow did not cause her even the slightest pain. On the other hand, blood flowed profusely from the stricken parts of his body and from wherever it flowed Chamunda (Kali) swallowed it with her mouth.

Devi sulena vajrena..

And Chamunda killed the asuras born from the blood in her mouth, as she carried on with drinking his blood. The Goddess struck Raktabija with her spear, thunderbolt, arrows, swords, and double-edged swords, while Kali went on drinking his blood.

Jaghana Raktabijam tam...

Hit by a multitude of weapons that made him lose all his blood, the great asura Raktabija eventually fell on the ground. Thereupon the gods attained great joy. The Mother- goddesses who emerged from them danced drunk with the asura's blood.

Tesham matrugano jato..

Here ends the eighth chapter " Killing of Rakta bija."

Lakshmi

Hanyamanam mahasainyam..

On seeing his great army slaughtered, Nishumbha rushed forth with the chief forces of the asuras. In front of him, at his back and on his sides great asuras, biting their lips in ire advanced to slay the Goddess.

Aajagama mahaviryah Sumbhopi...

Having fought with the Mother-goddesses, the great warrior Shumbha too arrived in fury, accompanied by his forces, to slay Chandika.

Tato yuddhamativasid..

Then commenced a severe combat between the Devi on one side and, Shumbha and Nishumbha on the other, from whom rained a devastating shower of arrows on her like showers from two clouds.

Chicheda...Chandika swasarotkaraih.

With a shower of arrows Chandika quickly split the arrows shot by the two asuras and hit the two lords of asuras on their limbs with a multitude of weapons. In the ensuing combat Nishumbha hit the lion of the Goddess on the head, upon which the Goddess destroyed his weapons one after another.

Simham devya vahanamanuttamam.

Then the asura Nishumbha, bloated with anger, seized the spear and that also, as it came, the Goddess powdered with a blow of her fist. Then Goddess laid the advancing Nishumbha to the ground, striking him with a torrent of arrows.

Nisumbhasu chicheda..

When the mighty Nishumbha was thus laid flat on the ground the exceedingly angry Shumbha set out to slay Ambika. Standing in his chariot and pervading the entire sky with his long and incomparable eight arms holding excellent weapons, he shone.

Tamayantam samalokya..

Seeing him advancing, the Goddess blew her conch, and made an extremely unbearable twang of her bow-string. She filled all the quarters with the sound of her bell that rang the death-knell to the splendour of the entire armies of asuras. Then the lion filled the heaven, the earth and the ten quarters of the sky with loud roars.

Tatah simho maha nadaih...

Tatah Kali samutpatya..

Then Kali rose higher covering the sky and earth with her hands sounding dreadfully. All the other sounds merged into that all pervading thunder like noise Sivaduti then started her thunderous and fierce laughter, terrifying the asuras and Sumbha flew into an utmost rage. No sooner had the Mother said "Stand fast, O evil-natured one, the gods stationed in the sky cheered, "Victory to thee.

Tada jayetyabhihitam..

The spear , flaming most terribly and shining like a mass of fire, hurled by the advancing Shumbha, as it was coming along, was put out by a great firebrand from the Goddess. The interspace between the three worlds was pervaded by Shumbha's war cry, but the dreadful thunder-clap of the Goddess smothered that too.

Simhanadena Sumbhasya..

In hundreds and thousands the Goddess and Shumbha split the arrows shot by each other. Then the enraged Chandika struck him with a spear. Wounded therewith, Shumbha fainted and fell to the ground. Then regaining consciousness,seized his bow and struck with arrows the Goddess, Kali and the lion.

Devim kalim kesarinam tatha..

Putting forth ten thousand arms, the lord of the asuras covered Chandika with ten thousand discuses. Then the Goddess Durga, the destroyer of difficulties and afflictions, became angry and cut those discuses and arrows with her own arrows.

Tato bhagawati kruddha

Thereupon Nisumbha, accompanied by the army of asuras, swiftly seizing his mace, rushed forward to kill Chandika. As he was rushing at her, Chandika broke his mace to pieces with her sharp-edged sword.

Chicheda tani chakrani.

Then he seized the spear and rushed forth. Quickly Chandika pierced him in the heart with a swiftly hurled spear. From Nishumbha's heart that was pierced issued forth another person of great strength and valour, exclaiming "Stop.

Tishteti purusho vadan..

As he emerged the Goddess severed his head with her sword, laughing loudly. Thereupon he fell to the ground.

Siraschicheda khadgena..

The lion then killed. those asuras whose necks he had crushed with his fierce teeth, while Kali and Sivaduti destroyed others.

Kali sivaduti tathaparan..

The Mother-goddesses Kaumari, Brahmani, Maheshwari, Varahi, Vaishnavi and Aindri, slaughtered many asuras, as Kali, Sivaduti and the lion destroyed others , while some asuras fled from the battle.

Here ends the nineth chapter called " Slaining of Nisumbha"

Lakshmi

Seeing his brother Nisumbha who was dearer to him as his life, slain and his army being slaughtered, Shumbha spoke in fury, "O Durga, wicked and possessed by pride in your strength, do not be arrogant. You fight dependant on the strength of others and yet think highly of yourself

...Yudhyase yati manini..

. The Goddess said, "In this universe, I alone exist. Who else is there besides me? Look, O wicked one, these manifestations of mine merge into my own self!

Ekaivaham jagatyatra...

Then all those goddesses headed by Brahmani merged in the body of the Goddess. Then Mother Ambika alone remained there. The Goddess said "The many manifestations, which I manifested here by my own power, have been withdrawn by me, and now I stand alone. Be steadfast in fight."

...Sthiro bhava

Then began a dreadful battle between them both, the Devi and Shumbha, while all the devas and asuras looked on. With showers of arrows, with sharp weapons and frightful missiles, both engaged again in a combat that frightened all the worlds.

Pasyatam Sarva devanam...

The asura king broke the hundreds of divine missiles that the Goddess launched, with neutralising weapons. The great Goddess too playfully destroyed all the celestial missiles shot by him

Muktani tena chastrani...

. In the fierce combat that ensued, the Goddess destroyed Shumbha's weapons one by one, then his horses, chariot, bow and mace, fighting gallantly. In spite of the last of his weapons being destroyed by the Goddess, the distinguished asura leaped at her swiftly, bringing his fist down on her heart.

As mushtim patayamasa...