Adhyaya 94: The Birth of Mahiṣāsura and the Goddess’s Victory as Mahīṣamardinī

Verse 1

श्रीवराह उवाच । अथ विद्युत्प्रभो दैत्यस्तथा दूतः विसर्जितः । देव्याः सकाशं गत्वाऽसौ तामुवाच सुमध्यमाम् ॥

Śrī Varāha said: Then the Daitya Vidyutprabha, dispatched as a messenger, went into the presence of the Goddess and spoke to her, the fair-waisted one.

Verse 2

एवं सञ्चिन्त्य सा देवी महीषी सम्बभूव ह । सखीभिः सह विश्वेशि तीक्ष्णशृङ्गाग्रधारिणी ॥

Thus reflecting, the Goddess became a mahīṣī, a buffalo-cow; O Mistress of the universe, she bore sharp horn-tips, accompanied by her companions.

Verse 3

तमृषिं भीषितुं ताभिः सह गत्वा वरानना । असौ बिभीषितस्ताभिस्तां ज्ञात्वा ज्ञानचक्षुषा । आसुरीं क्रोधसम्पन्नः शशाप शुभलोचनाम् ॥

Going with them to frighten that sage, the fair-faced one approached. He, alarmed by them, recognized her through the eye of knowledge as of Asuric nature; filled with anger, he cursed the fair-eyed one.

Verse 4

यस्माद्भीषयसे मां त्वं महिषीरूपधारिणी । अतो भव महिष्येव पापकर्मे शतं समाः ॥

Since you frighten me, you who have assumed the form of a she-buffalo, therefore, because of this sinful deed, become truly a buffalo for a hundred years.

Verse 5

एवमुक्ता ततः सा तु सखीभिः सह वेपती । पादयोर्न्यपतत्तस्य शापान्तं कुरु जल्पती ॥

Thus addressed, she—trembling along with her companions—fell at his feet, pleading: “Bring the curse to an end.”

Verse 6

तस्यास्तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा स मुनिः करुणान्वितः । शापान्तमकरोत्तस्या वाक्यं छेदमुवाच ह ॥

Hearing her words, the sage, moved with compassion, arranged an ending to her curse and then spoke words that set a condition for its cessation.

Verse 7

अनेनैव स्वरूपेण पुत्रमेकं प्रसूय वै । शापान्तो भविता भद्रे मद्वाक्यं न मृषा भवेत् ॥

“In this very form, indeed, after giving birth to a single son, the curse will come to an end, O auspicious one; my statement shall not prove false.”

Verse 8

एवमुक्ता गता सा तु नर्मदातीरमुत्तमम् । यत्र तेपे तपो घोरं सिन्धुद्वीपो महातपाः ॥

Thus instructed, she went to the excellent bank of the Narmadā, where the great ascetic Sindhudvīpa had practiced severe austerities.

Verse 9

तत्र चेन्दुमती नाम दैत्यकन्या अतिरूपिणी । सा दृष्टा तेन मुनिना विवस्त्रा मज्जती जले ॥

There was a demon-clan maiden named Cendumatī, exceedingly beautiful; that sage saw her, unclothed, bathing in the water.

Verse 10

चस्कन्द स मुनिः शुक्रं शिलाद्रोण्यां महातपाः । तच्च माहिष्मती दृष्ट्वा दिव्यगन्धि सुगन्धि च । ततः सखीरुवाचेदं पिबामीदं जलं शुभम् ॥

That great ascetic discharged semen into a stone-trough. Seeing it—divinely fragrant and sweet-smelling—the woman of Mahiṣmatī then said to her companions: “I shall drink this auspicious water.”

Verse 11

एवमुक्त्वा तु सा पीत्वा तच्छुक्रं मुनिसंभवम् । प्राप्ता गर्भं मुनेर्बीजात् सुषाव च तदा सतः ॥

Having spoken thus, she drank that semen, originating from the sage; from the sage’s seed she conceived, and at that time she gave birth to a worthy offspring.

Verse 12

प्रणम्य प्रयतो भूत्वा कुमारिशतसंकुलाम् । आस्थाने विनयापन्नस्ततो वचनमब्रवीत् ॥

After bowing and composing himself, adopting a posture of humility, he spoke in the assembly hall crowded with hundreds of maidens.

Verse 13

तस्याः पुत्रोऽभवद् धीमान् महाबलपराक्रमः । महिषेति स्मृतो नाम्ना ब्रह्मवंशविवर्धनः । स त्वां वरयते देवि देवसैन्यविमर्दनः ॥

Her son was born—intelligent, of great strength and valor—remembered by the name “Mahiṣa,” one who increases the lineage of Brahmā. He, the crusher of the hosts of the gods, seeks you in marriage, O goddess.

Verse 14

स सुरानपि जित्वाजौ त्रैलोक्यं च तवानघे । दास्यते देवि सुप्रोतस्तव सर्वं महासुरः ॥ तस्यात्मोपप्रदानेन कुरु देवि महत्कृतम् ॥

Having conquered even the gods in battle and gained the three worlds, O blameless goddess, this great asura Suprota will give you everything. Offering his very self, O Devi, he asks you to perform a great deed—namely, to accept his proposal.

Verse 15

एवमुक्ता तदा देवी तेन दूतेन शोभना । जहास परमा देवी वाक्यं नोवाच किञ्चन ॥

Thus addressed at that time by the messenger, the radiant goddess merely laughed; the supreme goddess did not speak a single word.

Verse 16

तस्या हसन्त्या दूतोऽसौ त्रैलोक्यं सचराचरम् । ददर्श कुक्षौ संभ्रान्तस्तत्क्षणात् समपद्यत ॥

As she laughed, that messenger beheld within her belly the three worlds together with all that moves and does not move; overwhelmed, he collapsed at that very moment.

Verse 17

ततो देव्याः प्रतीहारी जया नामातितेजना । देव्याः हृदि स्थितं वाक्यमुवाच तनुमध्यमा ॥

Then the goddess’s chamber-attendant, named Jayā, exceedingly radiant and slender-waisted, spoke the words that stood in the goddess’s heart.

Verse 18

जया उवाच । कन्यार्थी वदते यद्धि तत्त्वया समुदीरितम् । यदि नाम व्रतं चास्याः कौमारं सार्वकालिकम् । अपि चान्याः कुमार्योऽत्र सन्ति देव्याः पदानुगाः ॥

Jayā said: What you have stated is indeed what one seeking a maiden would say. Yet even if her vow of maidenhood is perpetual, there are other maidens here as well, attendants who follow in the goddess’s retinue.

Verse 19

तासामेकापि नो लभ्या किमु देवी स्वयं शुभा । याहि दूत त्वरण् मा ते किञ्चिदन्यद् भविष्यति ॥

Not even one of those maidens is obtainable—how much less the goddess herself, auspicious in her own right. Go, messenger, quickly; nothing else will come of this for you.

Verse 20

एवमुक्तो गतो दूतस्तावद् व्योम्नि महामुनिः । आयातो नारदस्तूर्णं नृत्यन्नुच्चैर्महातपाः ॥

Thus addressed, the messenger departed. Meanwhile, in the sky the great sage Nārada arrived swiftly, dancing and calling out loudly—he, the great ascetic.

Verse 21

दिष्ट्या दिष्ट्येति वदतस्तां देवीं शुभलोचनाम् । उपविष्टो जगादाथ आसने परमेऽर्चितः ॥

Saying, “Fortune, fortune!” he addressed the goddess of lovely eyes; then, seated and honored upon an excellent seat, he spoke.

Verse 22

प्रणम्य देवीं सर्वेशीमुवाच च महातपाः । देवि देवैरहं प्रीतैः प्रेषितोऽस्मि तवान्तिकम् ॥

Having bowed to the goddess, the sovereign of all, the great ascetic spoke: “O goddess, I have been sent by the pleased gods to your presence.”

Verse 23

विद्युत्प्रभा उवाच । देवि पूर्वमृषिस्त्वासीदादिसर्गे कसंभवः । सखा सारस्वतो जातः सुपार्श्वो नाम वै विभुः ॥

Vidyutprabhā said: “O goddess, formerly, in the primordial creation, there was a sage named Kasaṃbhava. His companion, born through association with Sarasvatī, was the powerful one named Supārśva.”

Verse 24

विजिता देवि दैत्येन महिषाख्येन निर्जराः । त्वां गृहीतुं प्रयत्नं स कृतवान् देवि दैत्यराट् ॥

O Goddess, the immortals were defeated by the demon called Mahiṣa; and that king of demons, O Goddess, then undertook an effort to seize you.

Verse 25

एवमुक्तोऽस्मि देवैस्त्वां बोधयामि वरानने । स्थिरीभूता महादेवि तं दैत्यं प्रतिघातय ॥

Thus instructed by the gods, I address you, O fair-faced one: become steadfast, O great Goddess, and strike down that demon.

Verse 26

उक्त्वैवान्तरहितः सद्यो नारदः स्वेच्छया ययौ । देवी च कन्यास्ताः सर्वाः सन्नह्यन्तामुवाच ह ॥

Having spoken, Nārada at once disappeared and departed at will. And the Goddess said to all those maidens: “Arm yourselves and make ready.”

Verse 27

ततः कन्या महाभागाः सर्वास्ता देविशासनात् । बभूवुर्घोररूपिण्यः खङ्गचर्मधनुर्धराः । सङ्ग्रामहेतोः सन्तस्थुर्दैत्यविध्वंसनाय ताः ॥

Then all those most fortunate maidens, in accordance with the Goddess’s command, assumed fearsome forms, bearing swords, shields, and bows; for the sake of battle they took their stand, intent on the destruction of the demons.

Verse 28

तावद् दैत्यबलं सर्वं मुक्त्वा देवचमूं द्रुतम् । आययौ यत्र तद् देव्याः सन्नद्धं स्त्रीबलं महत् ॥

Meanwhile, the entire demon host, swiftly abandoning the army of the gods, came to where the Goddess’s great, fully armed force of women stood prepared.

Verse 29

ततस्ताः युयुधुः कन्या दानवैः सह दर्पिताः । क्षणेन तद् बलं ताभिश्चतुरङ्गं निपातितम् ॥

Then those maidens, filled with martial ardor, fought together with the Dānavas; in a moment, by them, that fourfold army was brought down.

Verse 30

शिरांसि तत्र केषाञ्चिच्छिन्नानि पतितानि च । अपरेषां विदार्योरः क्रव्यादाः पान्ति शोणितम् ॥

There, some heads were severed and had fallen; for others, their chests having been torn open, flesh-eaters drank the blood.

Verse 31

अन्ये कबन्धभूतास्तु ननृतुर्दैत्यनायकाः । एवं क्षणेन ते सर्वे विध्वस्ताः पापचेतसः । अपरे विद्रुताः सर्वे यत्रासौ महिषासुरः ॥

Others—becoming headless trunks—danced about, those leaders of demons. Thus, in a moment, all of them, evil-minded, were destroyed; and the rest all fled to where that Mahiṣāsura was.

Verse 32

ततो हाहाकृतं सर्वं यथा दैत्यबलं महत् । एवं तदाकुलं दृष्ट्वा महिषो वाक्यमब्रवीत् । सेनापते किमेतद्धि बलं भग्नं ममाग्रतः ॥

Then the great demon host raised a cry of lamentation. Seeing it thus thrown into confusion, Mahiṣa spoke: “Commander, what is this—my army shattered before my very eyes?”

Verse 33

ततो यज्ञहनुर्नामा दैत्यो हस्तिस्वरूपवान् । उवाच भग्नमेतद्धि कुमारिभिः समन्ततः ॥

Then the demon named Yajñahanu, of elephant-like form, said: “Indeed, this has been shattered on all sides by the maidens.”

Verse 34

तस्याभवन्महातेजाः सिन्धुद्वीपः प्रतापवान् । स हि तीव्रं तपस्तेपे माहिष्मत्यां पुरोत्तमे ॥

From him arose Sindhudvīpa, endowed with great radiance and prowess. Indeed, he performed intense austerities in Māhiṣmatī, the most excellent city.

Verse 35

ततो दुद्राव महिषस्ताः कन्याः शुभलोचनाः । गदामादाय तरसा कन्या दुद्राव वेगवान् ॥

Then the buffalo (asura) charged toward those maidens of auspicious eyes. Seizing a mace (gadā) with force, the maiden ran forth swiftly.

Verse 36

यत्र तिष्ठति सा देवी देवगन्धर्वपूजिता । तत्रैव सोऽसुरः प्रायाद् यत्र देवी व्यवस्थिताः । सा च दृष्ट्वा तमायान्तं विंशद्धस्ता बभूव ह ॥

Wherever that Goddess, honored by gods and gandharvas, stood—there the asura went, to the very place where she was stationed. And seeing him approaching, she became twenty-handed.

Verse 37

धनुः खङ्गं तथा शक्तिं शरान् शूलं गदां तथा । परशुं डमरुं चैव तथा घण्टां विशालिनीम् । शतघ्नीं मुद्गरं घोरं भुशुण्डीं कुन्तमेव च ॥

She bore a bow, a sword, a spear, arrows, a trident, and a mace; an axe, a ḍamaru-drum, and also a great bell; a śataghnī weapon, a formidable hammer, a bhuśuṇḍī, and a javelin as well.

Verse 38

मुसलं च तथा चक्रं भिन्दिपालं तथैव च । दण्डं पाशं ध्वजं चैव पद्मं चेति च विंशतिः ॥

And also a pestle (musala), a discus (cakra), and the bhindipāla weapon; a staff (daṇḍa), a noose (pāśa), a banner (dhvaja), and a lotus (padma)—thus making twenty.

Verse 39

भूत्वा विंशभुजा देवी सिंहमास्थाय दंशिता । सस्मार रुद्रं देवेशं रौद्रं संहारकारणम् ॥

Having become twenty-armed, the Goddess mounted a lion, poised for battle; she called to mind Rudra, the Lord of the gods—Rudra, the fierce principle of dissolution.

Verse 40

ततो वृषध्वजः साक्षाद् रुद्रस्तत्रैव आययौ । तया प्रणम्य विज्ञप्तः सर्वान् दैत्यान् जयाम्यहम् ॥

Then Vṛṣadhvaja—Rudra himself—came there directly. Having bowed to him, she addressed him: “I shall conquer all the daityas.”

Verse 41

त्वयि सन्निधिमात्रे तु देवदेव सनातन । एवमुक्त्वाऽसुरान् सर्वान् जिगाय परमेश्वरी ॥

“With only your presence nearby, O God of gods, the Eternal”—having spoken thus, the Supreme Goddess conquered all the asuras.

Verse 42

मुक्तवा तमेेकं महिषं शेषं हत्वा तमभ्ययात् । यावद् देवी ततः साऽपि तां दृष्ट्वा सोऽपि दुद्रुवे ॥

Releasing that one buffalo (demon) and slaying the rest, she advanced toward him. As the Goddess moved on, he too—seeing her—ran away.

Verse 43

क्वचिद् युध्यति दैत्येन्द्रः क्वचिच्चैव पलायति । क्वचित् पुनर्मृधं चक्रे क्वचित् पुनरुपारमत् ॥

At one moment the lord of the daityas fights; at another he flees. At one moment he resumes the battle; at another he desists again.

Verse 44

एवं वर्षसहस्राणि दश तस्य तया सह । दिव्यानि विगतानि स्युर्युध्यतस्तस्य शोभने । बभ्राम सकलं त्वाजौ ब्रह्माण्डं भीतमानसम् ॥

Thus, O beautiful one, ten thousand divine years passed for him while he fought together with her; and in that battle the entire universe reeled, its mind seized with fear.

Verse 45

कुर्वतस्तु तपो घोरं निराहारस्य शोभने । आद्या तु विप्रचित्तेस्तु सुता सुरसुतोपमा । माहिष्मतीति विख्याता रूपेणासदृशी भुवि ॥

While he was performing severe austerity, fasting, O beautiful one, Vipracitti’s first daughter—comparable to a daughter of the gods—was renowned by the name Māhiṣmatī, unequalled on earth in beauty.

Verse 46

ततः कालेन महता शतशृङ्गे महागिरौ । पद्भ्यामाक्रम्य शूलेन निहतो दैत्यसत्तमः ॥

Then, after a long time, on the great mountain called Śataśṛṅga, the foremost of the daityas was slain—trampled underfoot and struck down with a trident.

Verse 47

शिरश्चिच्छेद खङ्गेन तत्र चान्तःस्थितः पुमान् । निर्गत्य विगतः स्वर्गं देव्याः शस्त्रनिपातनात् ॥

With a sword she cut off the head; and the being that was within it, coming forth, departed to heaven—through the goddess’s casting down of her weapon.

Verse 48

ततो देवगणाः सर्वे महिषं वीक्ष्य निर्जितम् । सब्रह्मका स्तुतिं चक्रुर्देव्यास्तुष्टेन चेतसा ॥

Then all the hosts of gods, seeing Mahīṣa subdued, together with Brahmā offered a hymn of praise to the goddess, their minds satisfied.

Verse 49

देवा ऊचुः । नमो देवि महाभागे गम्भीरे भीमदर्शने । जयस्ते स्थितिसिद्धान्ते त्रिनेत्रे विश्वतोमुखि ॥

The gods said: Salutation to You, O Goddess—most fortunate, profound, of awe-inspiring appearance. Victory to You, whose doctrine is steadfast stability; O Three-Eyed One, O She whose faces are turned to all directions.

Verse 50

विद्याविद्ये जये याज्ये महिषासुरमर्दिनि । सर्वगे सर्वदेवेशि विश्वरूपिणि वैष्णवि ॥

O Knowledge and Non-knowledge; O Victory; O One worthy of worship; O Slayer of the demon Mahīṣāsura; O All-pervading One; O Sovereign of all the gods; O She whose form is the universe; O Vaiṣṇavī.

Verse 51

वीतशोके ध्रुवे देवि पद्मपत्रशुभेक्षणे । शुद्धसत्त्वव्रतस्थे च चण्डरूपे विभावरि ॥

O Goddess, free from sorrow, steadfast; O You whose auspicious gaze is like lotus-petals; O You established in the vow of pure sattva; and yet, O You of fierce form, O Radiant One.

Verse 52

ऋद्धिसिद्धिप्रदे देवि विद्याविद्येऽमृते शिवे । शांकरी वैष्णवी ब्राह्मी सर्वदेवनमस्कृते ॥

O Goddess, giver of prosperity and accomplishment; O Knowledge and Non-knowledge; O Immortal One, O Auspicious One; O Śāṁkarī, O Vaiṣṇavī, O Brāhmī—O You who are saluted by all the gods.

Verse 53

घण्टाहस्ते त्रिशूलास्त्रे महामहिषमर्दिनि । उग्ररूपे विरूपाक्षि महामायेऽमृतस्त्रवे ॥

O You who hold a bell in Your hand; O You whose weapon is the trident; O great slayer of the mighty Mahīṣa; O You of terrifying form; O strange-eyed One; O Great Māyā; O stream of immortality.

Verse 54

सर्वसत्त्वहिते देवि सर्वसत्त्वमये ध्रुवे । विद्यापुराणशिल्पानां जननी भूतधारिणी ॥

O Goddess devoted to the welfare of all beings, steadfast and pervading all beings—mother of learning, the Purāṇas, and the arts, sustainer of created beings.

Verse 55

सर्वदेवरहस्यानां सर्वसत्त्ववतां शुभे । त्वमेव शरणं देवि विद्येऽविद्ये श्रियेऽम्बिके । विरूपाक्षि तथा क्षान्ति क्षोभितान्तरजलेऽविले ॥

O auspicious one, you are the secret of all the gods and of all sentient beings. You alone are the refuge, O Goddess—O Knowledge and Non-knowledge, O Prosperity, O Mother; O wide-eyed one, and O Forbearance—unfailing even when the inner waters are stirred.

Verse 56

सा सखीभिः परिवृता विहरन्ती यदृच्छया । आगता मन्दरद्रोणीं तत्रापश्यत्तपोवनम् । मुनेरम्बरसंज्ञस्य विविधद्रुममालिनम् ॥

Surrounded by her companions, roaming at will, she came to the Mandara valley; there she saw a forest hermitage (tapovana) of the sage named Ambara, garlanded with diverse trees.

Verse 57

नमोऽस्तु ते महादेवि नमोऽस्तु परमेश्वरि । नमस्ते सर्वदेवानां भावनित्येऽक्षयेऽव्यये ॥

Salutations to you, O Great Goddess; salutations to you, O Supreme Sovereign. Salutations to you—the ever-abiding source of becoming for all the gods—eternal, imperishable, and undecaying.

Verse 58

शरणं त्वां प्रपद्यन्ते ये देवि परमेश्वरि । न तेषां जायते किञ्चिदशुभं रणसङ्कटे ॥

Those who take refuge in you, O Goddess, O Supreme Sovereign—no misfortune arises for them in the perils of battle.

Verse 59

यश्च व्याघ्रभये घोरे चौरराजभये तथा । स्तबवमेनं सदा देवि पठिष्यति यतात्मवान् ॥

And whoever, in dreadful fear of a tiger, or likewise in fear of thieves or a ruler, will always recite this hymn, O Goddess—being self-controlled—is safeguarded.

Verse 60

निगडस्थोऽपि यो देवि त्वां स्मरिष्यति मानवः । सोऽपि बन्धैर्विमुक्तस्ते सुसुखं वसते सुखी ॥

Even a person who is in shackles, O Goddess—if he remembers you—he too is freed from bonds and lives in great ease, content.

Verse 61

श्रीवराह उवाच । एवं स्तुता तदा देवी देवैः प्रणतिपूर्वकम् । उवाच देवान् सुश्रोणी वृणुध्वं वरमुत्तमम् ॥

Śrī Varāha said: Thus praised at that time by the gods with prior salutations, the Goddess—she of fair hips—addressed the gods: “Choose an excellent boon.”

Verse 62

देवा ऊचुः । देवि स्तोत्रमिदं ये हि पठिष्यन्ति तवानघे । सर्वकामसमापन्नान् कुरु देवि स नो वरः ॥

The gods said: O Goddess, O faultless one—those who will recite this hymn of yours, make them endowed with the fulfillment of all aims. O Goddess, let this be the boon for us.

Verse 63

एवमस्त्विति तान् देवानुक्त्वा देवी पराऽपरा । विससर्ज ततो देवान् स्वयं तत्रैव संस्थिता ॥

Saying to those gods, “So be it,” the Goddess—both transcendent and immanent—then dismissed the gods, while she herself remained there.

Verse 64

एतद्द्वितीयं यो जन्म वेद देव्याः धराधरे । स वीतशोको विरजाः पदं गच्छत्यनामयम् ॥

Whoever knows this second birth of the Goddess upon the Earth-supporting mountain becomes free from sorrow and impurity, and attains the unailing state.

Verse 65

लतागृहैस्तु विविधैर्वकुलैर्लकुचैस्तथा । चन्दनैः स्पन्दनैः शालैः सरलैरुपशोभितम् । विचित्रवनखण्डैश्च भूषितं तु महात्मनः ॥

It was adorned with many vine-bowers, with bakula and lakuca trees, beautified by sandalwood, spandana, śāla, and sarala trees, and further ornamented by varied groves—the hermitage of that great-souled one.

Verse 66

दृष्ट्वाश्रमपदं रम्यं सासुरी कन्यका शुभम् । माहिष्मती वरारोहा चिन्तयामास भामिनी ॥

Having seen the delightful hermitage-site, the auspicious maiden of asuric lineage—Māhiṣmatī, the noble-limbed woman—began to reflect.

Verse 67

भीषयित्वाहमेनं तु तापसं त्वाश्रमे स्वयम् । तिष्ठामि क्रीडती सार्धं सखीभिः परमर्चिता ॥

After frightening this ascetic here in the hermitage myself, I remain, playing together with my companions, highly honored.