Who is Mahakali? Ch13 Granting Boons to Suratha and Vaisya. - Page 4

Then the goddess stuck him on the chest ,wounded by her palm, the king of asuras fell on the ground. Rising up again without delay, the king of asuras, leapt up towards the sky, seizing the Goddess.

...Devim gaganamasthitah.

There too Chandika fought with him without any support. Then much to the wonder of the siddhas and the sages Shumbha and Chandika fought as never before, wrestling with each other in the sky.

...Prathamam siddha muni vismaya karakam.

After wrestling with him for a while, the Mother Goddess Ambika lifted him up, whirled him around and flung him down to the earth. Thus thrown to the ground, the wicked asura rose swiftly on reaching the ground, and rushed forward raising his fist, intending to kill Chandika.

Abhyadhavata dushtatma..

Seeing the lord of all the asura-folks approaching, the Goddess chucked him down to the earth piercing him on the chest with a spear. Pierced by the pointed spear of the Goddess, he fell lifeless on the ground, shaking the entire earth with its oceans, islands and mountains.

Chalayan sakalam prithvim..

When that wicked one was slain, everything became clear and bright the universe regained its original state of perfect peace, and the sky became clear the rivers kept within their courses after Shumbha's collapse.

Sarito margia vahinyo...

As he had been slain, the minds of all the hosts of gods were filled with joy and the celestial musicians (gandharvas) sang sweetly. Others played their musical instruments and the bevy of celestial nymphs (apsaras) danced. Likewise the winds blew favourably and the sun became resplendent.

...Suprabho abhut divakarah.

Here ends the tenth chapter... Slaining of Sumbha.

Lakshmi

Devya hate tatra..

When the Lord of Asuras was slain by Goddess, Indra and other gods headed by Agni, lauded Goddess Katyayani, illuminating the quarters with their moon-like faces, cheerfully as their wishes had been fulfilled.

Katyayanim tushtuvuh..

Gods praised Ambika with folded hands.

Sarva mangala Mangalye Sive Sarvartha sadhike

Saranye triyambale devi narayani namostute..

( there are many verses that sing the glory of Parvati I would present them after completing the story)

The Goddess said "O host of gods, I shall grant a boon. Choose whatever boon you desire in your mind. I shall grant it for the welfare of the world.

Varadaaham suraganah ..

The gods said "O Sovereign of all, in this very manner, you should accomplish the destruction of our foes and also the pacification of all the afflictions of three worlds.

Evameva tvaya karyam asmadvairi vinasanam.

The Devi said "In the time of Vaivasvata Manu, when the twenty-eighth yuga has arrived two other great asuras, Sumbha and Nisumbha will be born. Then born from the womb of Yasoda, in the home of cowherd Nanda, taking abode in the Vindhya mountains, I shall destroy them both. Again, I shall incarnate on earth in a very terrible form and shall slay the descendants of asura Vipracitti. When I devour those fierce asuras, the descendants of Vipracitti, my teeth shall become red like the flower of pomegranate. Therefore, when lauding me, the gods and the mortals shall always speak of me as Raktadantika, the red-toothed.

Rakta danta bhavishyanti

And again when there is no water for a period of hundred years on account of failure of rains, propitiated by the sages, I will be self-manifest on the drought-ridden earth, but not womb- begotten .

Sambhavishyamyayonija

Tatah satena netranam...

Then I shall behold the sages with a hundred eyes and so mankind will glorify me as the hundred-eyed'. O gods, then till the rains set in, I shall maintain the whole world with life -sustaining vegetables born out of my own body. I shall then be famed on the earth as Sakambhari. At that very period I shall slay the great asura named Durgama. Thereby I shall have the celebrated name of Durgadevi.

Durga deviti vikhyatam..

Again, assuming a terrible form on the mountain Himalaya, I shall destroy the demons for the protection of the sages. Then all the sages, shall praise me with their bodies bent in reverence. Then I shall have the celebrated name of Bhimadevi.

Bhima deviti vikhyatam.

When the asura named Aruna works great havoc in the three worlds, I shall take the form of a cluster of innumerable bees and shall slay the great asura for the good of the world. Then people shall laud me everywhere as Bhramari.

Bhramariti cha mam..

Thus whenever trouble arises due to the advent of the danavas, I shall incarnate for the for the accomplishment of the destruction of the foes.

End of eleventh chapter " Praise of Devi"

Lakshmi

Ebhih stavaischa...

Tasyaham sakalam badham nasayishyami...

Devi said thus "With a concentrated mind whoever pray to me constantly with these hymns, I shall without doubt put an end to all his troubles. Whoever extols my deeds relating to the destruction of Madhu and Kaitabha, the killing of Mahishasura and likewise the slaughter of Shumbha and Nishumbha, whoever listens devotedly with a focused mind, to my glories sung in this Mahatmyam, on the eighth, the fourteenth and on the ninth days of the fortnight, to them nothing bad shall happen, nor calamities that arise from wrong doings nor poverty nor separation from beloved ones.

Bhavishyati na daridryam...

Neither fear from enemies, robbers, kings, nor from weapons, fire and floods. Hence this, my Mahatmyam, must be chanted by those of concentrated minds and listened to constantly with devotion, for it is the supreme way to well-being.

...mahatmyam samayenmama

"This Mahatmyam will quell all sufferings due to epidemics, as also the three types of calamities1. I will never forsake and the place of my sanctuary where this poem is duly chanted every day, there I shall certainly be. When offerings are made, during worship, in fire-rituals and on great festivals, this Mahatmyam should be entirely chanted and heard. I shall fondly accept the sacrifice, the worship and the fire-ritual thus done, whether they are done with appropriate knowledge or not.

Janata ajanata napi..

"During the time of the Great worship in autumn2 as well as the beginning of the New Year3, those who hear this Mahatmyam of mine with devotion shall be surely delivered from all troubles and be blessed with riches, grains and children.

Sarvabadha vinirmukto. Dhana dhanya sutanvitah...

Devi further said Listening to Devi mahatmyam with all my manifestations ,prowess in battles, one becomes fearless. Enemies perish, welfare happens and families rejoice for those who listen to this Mahatmyam of mine. My Mahatmyam should be listened to everywhere, at a propitiatory ceremony, on seeing a bad dream, and for planetary afflictions. Thereby troubles subside, as also the terrible afflictions of planets. The bad dream turns into a good one.

Graha pidasu cho grasu mahatmyam srinuyanmama

"It will result in the pacification of children under the grasp of bala grahas. It is the best promoter of friendship amongst men when there is a break in relationships. It destroys most effectively the strength of all evil-doers. Verily demons, ghosts and spirits are destroyed by its mere chanting. This Mahatmyam of mine chanted in its entirety makes a devotee very close to me. By means of finest flowers, arghya and incenses, and by perfumes and lamps, by feeding Brahmanas, by oblations, by sprinkling consecrated water, and by various other offerings and gifts, if one worships day and night for a full year, the satisfaction that I get, the same is attained by reciting or listening but once to this Mahatmyam of mine.

Pritirme Kurute...

"Hearing the story destroys sins, and grants freedom from illness. The recital of my manifestations affords protection from evil spirits. If my exploits of exterminating the wicked demons in battles are heard, people will have no fear from enemies. Let the hymns recited by you, and those by the divine sages, and those by Brahma bestow an auspicious in thought. Lost in a desolate area in a forest, or surrounded by a forest fire, or encircled by robbers, or captured by enemies in a desolate spot, or pursued by a lion, tiger, or wild elephants in a forest, or sentenced to death by the orders of a wrathful king, or imprisoned, or caught in a boat tossed by winds on the high seas, or facing a volley of arrows in the most terrible battle, or amidst all kinds of dreadful troubles, or afflicted with pain, - remembering this story of mine, saves one from the predicament. By my power, animals like lions, robbers and enemies, flee from a distance from one who remembers this story of mine.

Smaranmamaitat charitam naro muchyeta bandhanat.

The Sage (Medhas) said "Having thus spoken, the great Chandika, of fierce prowess, vanished on that very spot even as the gods were gazing at her. Their enemies having been destroyed, the gods, relieved of uncertainty in their minds, began to enjoy their shares in yagnas and weild their authorities as before. With Shumbha and Nishumbha of great prowess slain by the Goddess, the remaining demons were off to the netherworlds. Thus O King, the Goddess, although eternal, manifesting again and again, carries out the protection of the world. By her this universe is deluded, and it is she who gives birth to this universe. When entreated, she bestows supreme knowledge, and when propitiated, she confers prosperity. This entire cosmos is pervaded by the great Goddess in the form of Mahakali and Mahamari.

Mahakalya Mahakale Mahamari swarupaya.

At one time She is Mahamari, the destroyer and at another time She, the unborn, becomes this creation. She herself, the eternal Being, sustains the beings at other times. In times of prosperity, She is verily Lakshmi, who bestows prosperity in the homes of men and in times of misfortune, she herself becomes the goddess of misfortune, and brings about ruin. When lauded and worshipped with flowers, perfumes and incense, she bestows wealth, offspring and an auspicious mind bent on Dharma.

Dadatinvittam putran cha matim dharma gating Subham.

Sarva mangala mangalye sive sarvartha sadhike

Saranye triyambake Devi narayani namostute.

Ya Devi sarva Bhuteshu

Vidya rupena sansthita

Namastasyai namastasyai

Namastasyai namo namah

Here ends the 12th chapter..Phalastuti The fruit of praise of Goddess.

Lakshmi

Etat te Kathitam Bhupa..Devi mahatmyamuttamam

Then sage Medhas said." This sublime glory of the Goddess has been narrated to you. Such is the glory of the Goddess by whom this world is upheld and sustained. Likewise She, Vishnu-Maya, the illusive power of Lord Vishnu, confers knowledge. By her, you, this merchant and others of discerning intellect are deluded. Others have been deluded in the past and many others will be deluded in the future. O great King, take refuge in her, the supreme Isvari. She indeed when worshipped bestows on men enjoyment, heaven and liberation from transmigration.

Aaradhita Saiva...

Markandeya said to his disciple Bhaguri, "Hearing the sage Medhas' words, O great sage, King Suratha who had become despondent due to excessive attachment, the sense of mine', and the dispossession of his kingdom, prostrated before the illustrious Rishi of sever penances and immediately repaired to perform austerities. The merchant too went with the king. They repaired to the sandy banks of a river in order to obtain a vision of the Mother. The king and the merchant practised penances, chanting the supreme Devi-sukta.

As cha Vaisyastapastepe...

Having made an earthen image of the Goddess on the sands of the river, they both worshipped her in the image with flowers, incense, fire-rituals and ritual offerings of water. Abstaining from partaking food, with only one thought, their minds fixed on her, with concentration, they both offered sacrifices sprinkled with blood drawn from their own bodies. When they, propitiated her thus for three years, exercising self-control, Chandika, the upholder and sustainer of the world, became pleased, appeared before them and spoke to them. "O King, whatever you prayed for, and O delight of your family (referring to the merchant), whatever you too prayed for, receive all that from me. Well-pleased, I bestow those boons to you both.

...Paritushta dadami tat.

Then the King chose a kingdom that would be imperishable even in a future life, while in this life, he sought strength to destroy the strength of his enemies and thereby the restoration of his own kingdom. But the wise merchant, whose mind was full of dispassion for the world, chose the knowledge, which releases one from the attachment of mine' and I'.

Tato vavre nripo..

Devi said." O King you shall obtain back your own kingdom after slaying your foes, and it will not be lost thereafter. After your death, you will attain another birth through the Sun god, and shall be a Manu on earth by name Savarni. O the best amongst merchants, I grant you the boon, which you have desired of me. Supreme knowledge shall be yours, for your self-fulfilment.

Savarniko nama manurbhavan bhuvi bhavishyati

Markandeya said "Having thus granted both of them the boon that they desired, the Goddess vanished forthwith, as they were extolling her with devotion. Thus, Suratha, the best of warriors, having attained the boon from the Goddess, shall obtain another birth through Surya and shall be the eighth Manu named Savarni.

Savarnirbhavita manuh klim Om

End of the thirteenth chapter " Boons to Suratha and merchant"

Durga Sapta Sati completed.

Lakshmi