ಮಹಿಷಾಸುರಸೈನ್ಯವಧ
Durga Saptashati Chapter 2 in Kannada
Mahiṣāsura-Sainya Vadha · The Slaughter of Mahishasura's Armies · 68 verses
🌐 Read in your language
Chapter Summary
The second chapter opens the Madhyama Charita (presided over by Mahalakshmi). After a hundred-year war the buffalo-demon Mahishasura conquers Indra and the gods and usurps heaven. Cast down to earth, the gods approach Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva; in their wrath a blazing radiance pours from the bodies of all the gods and unites into a single effulgence that becomes the Goddess, pervading the three worlds. Each god gives her his own weapon and ornament — Shiva's trident, Vishnu's discus, Indra's thunderbolt, and many more — and Himavan gives her the lion as her mount. Roaring with a great attahasa that shakes the worlds, she meets Mahishasura's vast armies and, with her hosts and her lion, annihilates the demon generals and their forces as the gods rain down flowers.
Dhyāna (meditation)
ಓಂ ಅಕ್ಷಸ್ರಕ್ಪರಶೂ ಗದೇಷುಕುಲಿಶಂ ಪದ್ಮಂ ಧನುಃ ಕುಣ್ಡಿಕಾಂ ದಣ್ಡಂ ಶಕ್ತಿಮಸಿಂ ಚ ಚರ್ಮ ಜಲಜಂ ಘಣ್ಟಾಂ ಸುರಾಭಾಜನಮ್ । ಶೂಲಂ ಪಾಶಸುದರ್ಶನೇ ಚ ದಧತೀಂ ಹಸ್ತೈಃ ಪ್ರವಾಲಪ್ರಭಾಂ ಸೇವೇ ಸೈರಿಭಮರ್ದಿನೀಮಿಹ ಮಹಾಲಕ್ಷ್ಮೀಂ ಸರೋಜಸ್ಥಿತಾಮ್ ॥
🔊 Tap ▶ to recite a shloka — it reads the original Sanskrit aloud
ಓಂ ಹ್ರೀಂ ಋಷಿರುವಾಚ ದೇವಾಸುರಮಭೂದ್ಯುದ್ಧಂ ಪೂರ್ಣಮಬ್ದಶತಂ ಪುರಾ । ಮಹಿಷೇಽಸುರಾಣಾಮಧಿಪೇ ದೇವಾನಾಂ ಚ ಪುರನ್ದರೇ ॥
oṃ hrīṃ ṛṣiruvāca devāsuramabhūdyuddhaṃ pūrṇamabdaśataṃ purā mahiṣe'surāṇāmadhipe devānāṃ ca purandare
Meaning(Om Hrim. The Rishi said:) Of old there was a battle between the gods and the asuras, lasting a full hundred years, when Mahisha was lord of the asuras and Indra (Purandara) was lord of the gods.
ತತ್ರಾಸುರೈರ್ಮಹಾವೀರ್ಯೈರ್ದೇವಸೈನ್ಯಂ ಪರಾಜಿತಮ್ । ಜಿತ್ವಾ ಚ ಸಕಲಾನ್ ದೇವಾನಿನ್ದ್ರೋಽಭೂನ್ಮಹಿಷಾಸುರಃ ॥
tatrāsurairmahāvīryairdevasainyaṃ parājitam jitvā ca sakalān devānindro'bhūnmahiṣāsuraḥ
MeaningIn it the army of the gods was vanquished by the mighty asuras; and having conquered all the gods, Mahishasura became Indra (lord of heaven).
ತತಃ ಪರಾಜಿತಾ ದೇವಾಃ ಪದ್ಮಯೋನಿಂ ಪ್ರಜಾಪತಿಮ್ । ಪುರಸ್ಕೃತ್ಯ ಗತಾಸ್ತತ್ರ ಯತ್ರೇಶಗರುಡಧ್ವಜೌ ॥
tataḥ parājitā devāḥ padmayoniṃ prajāpatim puraskṛtya gatāstatra yatreśagaruḍadhvajau
MeaningThen the vanquished gods, placing Brahma the lotus-born Prajapati at their head, went to where Shiva and Vishnu (the Garuda-bannered) were.
ಯಥಾವೃತ್ತಂ ತಯೋಸ್ತದ್ವನ್ಮಹಿಷಾಸುರಚೇಷ್ಟಿತಮ್ । ತ್ರಿದಶಾಃ ಕಥಯಾಮಾಸುರ್ದೇವಾಭಿಭವವಿಸ್ತರಮ್ ॥
yathāvṛttaṃ tayostadvanmahiṣāsuraceṣṭitam tridaśāḥ kathayāmāsurdevābhibhavavistaram
MeaningThe gods related to the two, in full as it had happened, the doings of Mahishasura and the whole account of the gods' defeat:
ಸೂರ್ಯೇನ್ದ್ರಾಗ್ನ್ಯನಿಲೇನ್ದೂನಾಂ ಯಮಸ್ಯ ವರುಣಸ್ಯ ಚ । ಅನ್ಯೇಷಾಂ ಚಾಧಿಕಾರಾನ್ಸ ಸ್ವಯಮೇವಾಧಿತಿಷ್ಠತಿ ॥
sūryendrāgnyanilendūnāṃ yamasya varuṇasya ca anyeṣāṃ cādhikārānsa svayamevādhitiṣṭhati
Meaning'He himself directly usurps the offices of Surya, Indra, Agni, Vayu and Chandra, of Yama and Varuna, and of the others.
ಸ್ವರ್ಗಾನ್ನಿರಾಕೃತಾಃ ಸರ್ವೇ ತೇನ ದೇವಗಣಾ ಭುವಿ । ವಿಚರನ್ತಿ ಯಥಾ ಮರ್ತ್ಯಾ ಮಹಿಷೇಣ ದುರಾತ್ಮನಾ ॥
svargānnirākṛtāḥ sarve tena devagaṇā bhuvi vicaranti yathā martyā mahiṣeṇa durātmanā
MeaningCast out of heaven by that evil-souled Mahisha, all the hosts of gods wander upon the earth like mortals.
ಏತದ್ವಃ ಕಥಿತಂ ಸರ್ವಮಮರಾರಿವಿಚೇಷ್ಟಿತಮ್ । ಶರಣಂ ವಃ ಪ್ರಪನ್ನಾಃ ಸ್ಮೋ ವಧಸ್ತಸ್ಯ ವಿಚಿನ್ತ್ಯತಾಮ್ ॥
etadvaḥ kathitaṃ sarvamamarāriviceṣṭitam śaraṇaṃ vaḥ prapannāḥ smo vadhastasya vicintyatām
MeaningAll this doing of the foe of the gods has been told to you; we have taken refuge in you — let the means of his slaying be devised.'
ಇತ್ಥಂ ನಿಶಮ್ಯ ದೇವಾನಾಂ ವಚಾಂಸಿ ಮಧುಸೂದನಃ । ಚಕಾರ ಕೋಪಂ ಶಮ್ಭುಶ್ಚ ಭ್ರುಕುಟೀಕುಟಿಲಾನನೌ ॥
itthaṃ niśamya devānāṃ vacāṃsi madhusūdanaḥ cakāra kopaṃ śambhuśca bhrukuṭīkuṭilānanau
MeaningHearing thus the words of the gods, Vishnu (Madhusudana) grew wrathful, and Shambhu (Shiva) too, their faces bent with frowns.
ತತೋಽತಿಕೋಪಪೂರ್ಣಸ್ಯ ಚಕ್ರಿಣೋ ವದನಾತ್ತತಃ । ನಿಶ್ಚಕ್ರಾಮ ಮಹತ್ತೇಜೋ ಬ್ರಹ್ಮಣಃ ಶಙ್ಕರಸ್ಯ ಚ ॥
tato'tikopapūrṇasya cakriṇo vadanāttataḥ niścakrāma mahattejo brahmaṇaḥ śaṅkarasya ca
MeaningThen from the mouth of Vishnu the discus-bearer, full of intense anger, came forth a great radiance, and so too from that of Brahma and of Shankara (Shiva).
ಅನ್ಯೇಷಾಂ ಚೈವ ದೇವಾನಾಂ ಶಕ್ರಾದೀನಾಂ ಶರೀರತಃ । ನಿರ್ಗತಂ ಸುಮಹತ್ತೇಜಸ್ತಚ್ಚೈಕ್ಯಂ ಸಮಗಚ್ಛತ ॥
anyeṣāṃ caiva devānāṃ śakrādīnāṃ śarīrataḥ nirgataṃ sumahattejastaccaikyaṃ samagacchata
MeaningFrom the bodies of the other gods too — Indra and the rest — issued a very great radiance, and it all merged into one.
ಅತೀವ ತೇಜಸಃ ಕೂಟಂ ಜ್ವಲನ್ತಮಿವ ಪರ್ವತಮ್ । ದದೃಶುಸ್ತೇ ಸುರಾಸ್ತತ್ರ ಜ್ವಾಲಾವ್ಯಾಪ್ತದಿಗನ್ತರಮ್ ॥
atīva tejasaḥ kūṭaṃ jvalantamiva parvatam dadṛśuste surāstatra jvālāvyāptadigantaram
MeaningThe gods beheld there an immense mass of radiance, like a blazing mountain, its flames filling the quarters of the sky.
ಅತುಲಂ ತತ್ರ ತತ್ತೇಜಃ ಸರ್ವದೇವಶರೀರಜಮ್ । ಏಕಸ್ಥಂ ತದಭೂನ್ನಾರೀ ವ್ಯಾಪ್ತಲೋಕತ್ರಯಂ ತ್ವಿಷಾ ॥
atulaṃ tatra tattejaḥ sarvadevaśarīrajam ekasthaṃ tadabhūnnārī vyāptalokatrayaṃ tviṣā
MeaningThat peerless radiance, born of the bodies of all the gods, gathering into one place became a Woman, pervading the three worlds by her lustre.
ಯದಭೂಚ್ಛಾಮ್ಭವಂ ತೇಜಸ್ತೇನಾಜಾಯತ ತನ್ಮುಖಮ್ । ಯಾಮ್ಯೇನ ಚಾಭವನ್ ಕೇಶಾ ಬಾಹವೋ ವಿಷ್ಣುತೇಜಸಾ ॥
yadabhūcchāmbhavaṃ tejastenājāyata tanmukham yāmyena cābhavan keśā bāhavo viṣṇutejasā
MeaningFrom what was Shiva's radiance her face came to be; from Yama's, her hair; from Vishnu's radiance, her arms;
ಸೌಮ್ಯೇನ ಸ್ತನಯೋರ್ಯುಗ್ಮಂ ಮಧ್ಯಂ ಚೈನ್ದ್ರೇಣ ಚಾಭವತ್ । ವಾರುಣೇನ ಚ ಜಙ್ಘೋರೂ ನಿತಮ್ಬಸ್ತೇಜಸಾ ಭುವಃ ॥
saumyena stanayoryugmaṃ madhyaṃ caindreṇa cābhavat vāruṇena ca jaṅghorū nitambastejasā bhuvaḥ
Meaningfrom Chandra's, the pair of her breasts; from Indra's, her waist; from Varuna's, her shanks and thighs; from the earth's radiance, her hips;
ಬ್ರಹ್ಮಣಸ್ತೇಜಸಾ ಪಾದೌ ತದಙ್ಗುಲ್ಯೋಽರ್ಕತೇಜಸಾ । ವಸೂನಾಂ ಚ ಕರಾಙ್ಗುಲ್ಯಃ ಕೌಬೇರೇಣ ಚ ನಾಸಿಕಾ ॥
brahmaṇastejasā pādau tadaṅgulyo'rkatejasā vasūnāṃ ca karāṅgulyaḥ kaubereṇa ca nāsikā
Meaningfrom Brahma's radiance, her feet; from the Sun's, her toes; from the Vasus', her fingers; and from Kubera's, her nose;
ತಸ್ಯಾಸ್ತು ದನ್ತಾಃ ಸಮ್ಭೂತಾಃ ಪ್ರಾಜಾಪತ್ಯೇನ ತೇಜಸಾ । ನಯನತ್ರಿತಯಂ ಜಜ್ಞೇ ತಥಾ ಪಾವಕತೇಜಸಾ ॥
tasyāstu dantāḥ sambhūtāḥ prājāpatyena tejasā nayanatritayaṃ jajñe tathā pāvakatejasā
Meaningher teeth arose from Prajapati's radiance; her three eyes were born likewise from the radiance of Agni (Pavaka);
ಭ್ರುವೌ ಚ ಸನ್ಧ್ಯಯೋಸ್ತೇಜಃ ಶ್ರವಣಾವನಿಲಸ್ಯ ಚ । ಅನ್ಯೇಷಾಂ ಚೈವ ದೇವಾನಾಂ ಸಮ್ಭವಸ್ತೇಜಸಾಂ ಶಿವಾ ॥
bhruvau ca sandhyayostejaḥ śravaṇāvanilasya ca anyeṣāṃ caiva devānāṃ sambhavastejasāṃ śivā
Meaningher two eyebrows from the radiance of the two twilights (Sandhyas), her ears from Vayu's; and the rising of the radiances of the other gods too was for the world's welfare.
ತತಃ ಸಮಸ್ತದೇವಾನಾಂ ತೇಜೋರಾಶಿಸಮುದ್ಭವಾಮ್ । ತಾಂ ವಿಲೋಕ್ಯ ಮುದಂ ಪ್ರಾಪುರಮರಾ ಮಹಿಷಾರ್ದಿತಾಃ । ತತೋ ದೇವಾ ದದುಸ್ತಸ್ಯೈ ಸ್ವಾನಿ ಸ್ವಾನ್ಯಾಯುಧಾನಿ ಚ ॥
tataḥ samastadevānāṃ tejorāśisamudbhavām tāṃ vilokya mudaṃ prāpuramarā mahiṣārditāḥ tato devā dadustasyai svāni svānyāyudhāni ca
MeaningThen, beholding her — sprung from the massed radiance of all the gods — the immortals tormented by Mahisha rejoiced. Then the gods gave her their own several weapons.
ಶೂಲಂ ಶೂಲಾದ್ವಿನಿಷ್ಕೃಷ್ಯ ದದೌ ತಸ್ಯೈ ಪಿನಾಕಧೃಕ್ । ಚಕ್ರಂ ಚ ದತ್ತವಾನ್ ಕೃಷ್ಣಃ ಸಮುತ್ಪಾಟ್ಯ ಸ್ವಚಕ್ರತಃ ॥
śūlaṃ śūlādviniṣkṛṣya dadau tasyai pinākadhṛk cakraṃ ca dattavān kṛṣṇaḥ samutpāṭya svacakrataḥ
MeaningDrawing a trident out of his own trident, Pinakadhrik (Shiva) gave it to her; and Krishna (Vishnu) gave a discus, drawing it out of his own discus.
ಶಙ್ಖಂ ಚ ವರುಣಃ ಶಕ್ತಿಂ ದದೌ ತಸ್ಯೈ ಹುತಾಶನಃ । ಮಾರುತೋ ದತ್ತವಾಂಶ್ಚಾಪಂ ಬಾಣಪೂರ್ಣೇ ತಥೇಷುಧೀ ॥
śaṅkhaṃ ca varuṇaḥ śaktiṃ dadau tasyai hutāśanaḥ māruto dattavāṃścāpaṃ bāṇapūrṇe tatheṣudhī
MeaningVaruna gave a conch; Agni (Hutashana) a spear (shakti); and Vayu (Maruta) gave a bow together with two quivers full of arrows.
ವಜ್ರಮಿನ್ದ್ರಃ ಸಮುತ್ಪಾಟ್ಯ ಕುಲಿಶಾದಮರಾಧಿಪಃ । ದದೌ ತಸ್ಯೈ ಸಹಸ್ರಾಕ್ಷೋ ಘಣ್ಟಾಮೈರಾವತಾದ್ಗಜಾತ್ ॥
vajramindraḥ samutpāṭya kuliśādamarādhipaḥ dadau tasyai sahasrākṣo ghaṇṭāmairāvatādgajāt
MeaningIndra, lord of the gods, the thousand-eyed, drew a thunderbolt out of his own thunderbolt and gave it to her, and a bell from his elephant Airavata.
ಕಾಲದಣ್ಡಾದ್ಯಮೋ ದಣ್ಡಂ ಪಾಶಂ ಚಾಮ್ಬುಪತಿರ್ದದೌ । ಪ್ರಜಾಪತಿಶ್ಚಾಕ್ಷಮಾಲಾಂ ದದೌ ಬ್ರಹ್ಮಾ ಕಮಣ್ಡಲುಮ್ ॥
kāladaṇḍādyamo daṇḍaṃ pāśaṃ cāmbupatirdadau prajāpatiścākṣamālāṃ dadau brahmā kamaṇḍalum
MeaningYama gave a staff from his staff of Death; Varuna, lord of waters, a noose; Prajapati gave a rosary, and Brahma a water-pot.
ಸಮಸ್ತರೋಮಕೂಪೇಷು ನಿಜರಶ್ಮೀನ್ ದಿವಾಕರಃ । ಕಾಲಶ್ಚ ದತ್ತವಾನ್ ಖಡ್ಗಂ ತಸ್ಯೈ ಚರ್ಮ ಚ ನಿರ್ಮಲಮ್ ॥
samastaromakūpeṣu nijaraśmīn divākaraḥ kālaśca dattavān khaḍgaṃ tasyai carma ca nirmalam
MeaningThe Sun (Divakara) set his own rays in all the pores of her skin; and Kala (Time) gave her a sword and a spotless shield.
ಕ್ಷೀರೋದಶ್ಚಾಮಲಂ ಹಾರಮಜರೇ ಚ ತಥಾಮ್ಬರೇ । ಚೂಡಾಮಣಿಂ ತಥಾ ದಿವ್ಯಂ ಕುಣ್ಡಲೇ ಕಟಕಾನಿ ಚ ॥
kṣīrodaścāmalaṃ hāramajare ca tathāmbare cūḍāmaṇiṃ tathā divyaṃ kuṇḍale kaṭakāni ca
MeaningThe Ocean of Milk gave a spotless necklace, a pair of ever-new garments, a divine crest-jewel, a pair of earrings and bracelets;
ಅರ್ಧಚನ್ದ್ರಂ ತಥಾ ಶುಭ್ರಂ ಕೇಯೂರಾನ್ ಸರ್ವಬಾಹುಷು । ನೂಪುರೌ ವಿಮಲೌ ತದ್ವದ್ ಗ್ರೈವೇಯಕಮನುತ್ತಮಮ್ ॥
ardhacandraṃ tathā śubhraṃ keyūrān sarvabāhuṣu nūpurau vimalau tadvad graiveyakamanuttamam
Meaninga bright half-moon ornament, armlets for all her arms, a pair of shining anklets, and a peerless neck-chain,
ಅಙ್ಗುಲೀಯಕರತ್ನಾನಿ ಸಮಸ್ತಾಸ್ವಙ್ಗುಲೀಷು ಚ । ವಿಶ್ವಕರ್ಮಾ ದದೌ ತಸ್ಯೈ ಪರಶುಂ ಚಾತಿನಿರ್ಮಲಮ್ ॥
aṅgulīyakaratnāni samastāsvaṅgulīṣu ca viśvakarmā dadau tasyai paraśuṃ cātinirmalam
Meaningand jewelled rings for all her fingers. Vishvakarma gave her a very bright axe (parashu),
ಅಸ್ತ್ರಾಣ್ಯನೇಕರೂಪಾಣಿ ತಥಾಭೇದ್ಯಂ ಚ ದಂಶನಮ್ । ಅಮ್ಲಾನಪಙ್ಕಜಾಂ ಮಾಲಾಂ ಶಿರಸ್ಯುರಸಿ ಚಾಪರಾಮ್ ॥
astrāṇyanekarūpāṇi tathābhedyaṃ ca daṃśanam amlānapaṅkajāṃ mālāṃ śirasyurasi cāparām
Meaningweapons of many kinds and impenetrable armour. The Ocean (Jaladhi) gave a garland of unfading lotuses for her head and another for her breast,
ಅದದಜ್ಜಲಧಿಸ್ತಸ್ಯೈ ಪಙ್ಕಜಂ ಚಾತಿಶೋಭನಮ್ । ಹಿಮವಾನ್ ವಾಹನಂ ಸಿಂಹಂ ರತ್ನಾನಿ ವಿವಿಧಾನಿ ಚ ॥
adadajjaladhistasyai paṅkajaṃ cātiśobhanam himavān vāhanaṃ siṃhaṃ ratnāni vividhāni ca
Meaningand an exceedingly beautiful lotus for her hand. Himavan (the Himalaya) gave a lion for her mount and jewels of many kinds;
ದದಾವಶೂನ್ಯಂ ಸುರಯಾ ಪಾನಪಾತ್ರಂ ಧನಾಧಿಪಃ । ಶೇಷಶ್ಚ ಸರ್ವನಾಗೇಶೋ ಮಹಾಮಣಿವಿಭೂಷಿತಮ್ ॥
dadāvaśūnyaṃ surayā pānapātraṃ dhanādhipaḥ śeṣaśca sarvanāgeśo mahāmaṇivibhūṣitam
Meaningthe lord of wealth (Kubera) gave a drinking-cup ever filled with wine; and Shesha, lord of all serpents, who upholds this earth, gave her
ನಾಗಹಾರಂ ದದೌ ತಸ್ಯೈ ಧತ್ತೇ ಯಃ ಪೃಥಿವೀಮಿಮಾಮ್ । ಅನ್ಯೈರಪಿ ಸುರೈರ್ದೇವೀ ಭೂಷಣೈರಾಯುಧೈಸ್ತಥಾ ॥
nāgahāraṃ dadau tasyai dhatte yaḥ pṛthivīmimām anyairapi surairdevī bhūṣaṇairāyudhaistathā
Meaninga serpent-necklace adorned with great gems. Thus honoured by these and by the other gods too with ornaments and weapons, the Goddess
ಸಮ್ಮಾನಿತಾ ನನಾದೋಚ್ಚೈಃ ಸಾಟ್ಟಹಾಸಂ ಮುಹುರ್ಮುಹುಃ । ತಸ್ಯಾ ನಾದೇನ ಘೋರೇಣ ಕೃತ್ಸ್ನಮಾಪೂರಿತಂ ನಭಃ ॥
sammānitā nanādoccaiḥ sāṭṭahāsaṃ muhurmuhuḥ tasyā nādena ghoreṇa kṛtsnamāpūritaṃ nabhaḥ
Meaningroared aloud again and again with a great peal of laughter (attahasa). By her terrible roar the whole sky was filled,
ಅಮಾಯತಾತಿಮಹತಾ ಪ್ರತಿಶಬ್ದೋ ಮಹಾನಭೂತ್ । ಚುಕ್ಷುಭುಃ ಸಕಲಾ ಲೋಕಾಃ ಸಮುದ್ರಾಶ್ಚ ಚಕಮ್ಪಿರೇ ॥
amāyatātimahatā pratiśabdo mahānabhūt cukṣubhuḥ sakalā lokāḥ samudrāśca cakampire
Meaningand an immeasurably vast echo arose. All the worlds were shaken and the oceans trembled;
ಚಚಾಲ ವಸುಧಾ ಚೇಲುಃ ಸಕಲಾಶ್ಚ ಮಹೀಧರಾಃ । ಜಯೇತಿ ದೇವಾಶ್ಚ ಮುದಾ ತಾಮೂಚುಃ ಸಿಂಹವಾಹಿನೀಮ್ ॥
cacāla vasudhā celuḥ sakalāśca mahīdharāḥ jayeti devāśca mudā tāmūcuḥ siṃhavāhinīm
Meaningthe earth quaked and all the mountains moved. 'Victory!' the gods cried in joy to her, the lion-rider (Simhavahini).
ತುಷ್ಟುವುರ್ಮುನಯಶ್ಚೈನಾಂ ಭಕ್ತಿನಮ್ರಾತ್ಮಮೂರ್ತಯಃ । ದೃಷ್ಟ್ವಾ ಸಮಸ್ತಂ ಸಙ್ಕ್ಷುಬ್ಧಂ ತ್ರೈಲೋಕ್ಯಮಮರಾರಯಃ ॥
tuṣṭuvurmunayaścaināṃ bhaktinamrātmamūrtayaḥ dṛṣṭvā samastaṃ saṅkṣubdhaṃ trailokyamamarārayaḥ
MeaningThe sages, their forms bowed in devotion, extolled her. Seeing the whole three worlds agitated, the foes of the gods,
ಸನ್ನದ್ಧಾಖಿಲಸೈನ್ಯಾಸ್ತೇ ಸಮುತ್ತಸ್ಥುರುದಾಯುಧಾಃ । ಆಃ ಕಿಮೇತದಿತಿ ಕ್ರೋಧಾದಾಭಾಷ್ಯ ಮಹಿಷಾಸುರಃ ॥
sannaddhākhilasainyāste samuttasthurudāyudhāḥ āḥ kimetaditi krodhādābhāṣya mahiṣāsuraḥ
Meaningwith all their armies mustered, rose up together with weapons uplifted. 'Ah! What is this?' — so saying in wrath, Mahishasura
ಅಭ್ಯಧಾವತ ತಂ ಶಬ್ದಮಶೇಷೈರಸುರೈರ್ವೃತಃ । ಸ ದದರ್ಶ ತತೋ ದೇವೀಂ ವ್ಯಾಪ್ತಲೋಕತ್ರಯಾಂ ತ್ವಿಷಾ ॥
abhyadhāvata taṃ śabdamaśeṣairasurairvṛtaḥ sa dadarśa tato devīṃ vyāptalokatrayāṃ tviṣā
Meaningrushed towards that sound, surrounded by all the asuras. Then he beheld the Goddess, pervading the three worlds with her lustre,
ಪಾದಾಕ್ರಾನ್ತ್ಯಾ ನತಭುವಂ ಕಿರೀಟೋಲ್ಲಿಖಿತಾಮ್ಬರಾಮ್ । ಕ್ಷೋಭಿತಾಶೇಷಪಾತಾಲಾಂ ಧನುರ್ಜ್ಯಾನಿಃಸ್ವನೇನ ತಾಮ್ ॥
pādākrāntyā natabhuvaṃ kirīṭollikhitāmbarām kṣobhitāśeṣapātālāṃ dhanurjyāniḥsvanena tām
Meaningmaking the earth bow beneath the tread of her foot, scraping the sky with her diadem, shaking all the nether worlds with the twang of her bowstring,
ದಿಶೋ ಭುಜಸಹಸ್ರೇಣ ಸಮನ್ತಾದ್ವ್ಯಾಪ್ಯ ಸಂಸ್ಥಿತಾಮ್ । ತತಃ ಪ್ರವವೃತೇ ಯುದ್ಧಂ ತಯಾ ದೇವ್ಯಾ ಸುರದ್ವಿಷಾಮ್ ॥
diśo bhujasahasreṇa samantādvyāpya saṃsthitām tataḥ pravavṛte yuddhaṃ tayā devyā suradviṣām
Meaningand standing there with her thousand arms pervading all the quarters on every side. Then began the battle between that Goddess and the foes of the gods,
ಶಸ್ತ್ರಾಸ್ತ್ರೈರ್ಬಹುಧಾ ಮುಕ್ತೈರಾದೀಪಿತದಿಗನ್ತರಮ್ । ಮಹಿಷಾಸುರಸೇನಾನೀಶ್ಚಿಕ್ಷುರಾಖ್ಯೋ ಮಹಾಸುರಃ ॥
śastrāstrairbahudhā muktairādīpitadigantaram mahiṣāsurasenānīścikṣurākhyo mahāsuraḥ
Meaningthe quarters of the sky lit up by the many weapons and missiles hurled. Chikshura, the great asura, the general of Mahishasura's army,
ಯುಯುಧೇ ಚಾಮರಶ್ಚಾನ್ಯೈಶ್ಚತುರಙ್ಗಬಲಾನ್ವಿತಃ । ರಥಾನಾಮಯುತೈಃ ಷಡ್ಭಿರುದಗ್ರಾಖ್ಯೋ ಮಹಾಸುರಃ ॥
yuyudhe cāmaraścānyaiścaturaṅgabalānvitaḥ rathānāmayutaiḥ ṣaḍbhirudagrākhyo mahāsuraḥ
Meaningand Chamara, attended by a fourfold army, and others fought; the great asura named Udagra with sixty thousand chariots,
ಅಯುಧ್ಯತಾಯುತಾನಾಂ ಚ ಸಹಸ್ರೇಣ ಮಹಾಹನುಃ । ಪಞ್ಚಾಶದ್ಭಿಶ್ಚ ನಿಯುತೈರಸಿಲೋಮಾ ಮಹಾಸುರಃ ॥
ayudhyatāyutānāṃ ca sahasreṇa mahāhanuḥ pañcāśadbhiśca niyutairasilomā mahāsuraḥ
Meaningand Mahahanu with ten million fought; the great asura Asiloma with fifty million,
ಅಯುತಾನಾಂ ಶತೈಃ ಷಡ್ಭಿರ್ಬಾಷ್ಕಲೋ ಯುಯುಧೇ ರಣೇ । ಗಜವಾಜಿಸಹಸ್ರೌಘೈರನೇಕೈಃ ಪರಿವಾರಿತಃ ॥
ayutānāṃ śataiḥ ṣaḍbhirbāṣkalo yuyudhe raṇe gajavājisahasraughairanekaiḥ parivāritaḥ
Meaningand Bashkala with six million fought in the battle, surrounded by many thousands of elephants and horses,
ವೃತೋ ರಥಾನಾಂ ಕೋಟ್ಯಾ ಚ ಯುದ್ಧೇ ತಸ್ಮಿನ್ನಯುಧ್ಯತ । ಬಿಡಾಲಾಖ್ಯೋಽಯುತಾನಾಂ ಚ ಪಞ್ಚಾಶದ್ಭಿರಥಾಯುತೈಃ ॥
vṛto rathānāṃ koṭyā ca yuddhe tasminnayudhyata biḍālākhyo'yutānāṃ ca pañcāśadbhirathāyutaiḥ
Meaningand, encompassed by a crore of chariots, he fought in that battle. Bidala fought there surrounded by five hundred million chariots,
ಯುಯುಧೇ ಸಂಯುಗೇ ತತ್ರ ರಥಾನಾಂ ಪರಿವಾರಿತಃ । ಅನ್ಯೇ ಚ ತತ್ರಾಯುತಶೋ ರಥನಾಗಹಯೈರ್ವೃತಾಃ ॥
yuyudhe saṃyuge tatra rathānāṃ parivāritaḥ anye ca tatrāyutaśo rathanāgahayairvṛtāḥ
MeaningAnd others there, in their myriads, surrounded by chariots, elephants and horses,
ಯುಯುಧುಃ ಸಂಯುಗೇ ದೇವ್ಯಾ ಸಹ ತತ್ರ ಮಹಾಸುರಾಃ । ಕೋಟಿಕೋಟಿಸಹಸ್ರೈಸ್ತು ರಥಾನಾಂ ದನ್ತಿನಾಂ ತಥಾ ॥
yuyudhuḥ saṃyuge devyā saha tatra mahāsurāḥ koṭikoṭisahasraistu rathānāṃ dantināṃ tathā
Meaningthe great asuras fought there with the Goddess in the battle. And surrounded by thousands upon thousands of crores of chariots, of elephants
ಹಯಾನಾಂ ಚ ವೃತೋ ಯುದ್ಧೇ ತತ್ರಾಭೂನ್ಮಹಿಷಾಸುರಃ । ತೋಮರೈರ್ಭಿನ್ದಿಪಾಲೈಶ್ಚ ಶಕ್ತಿಭಿರ್ಮುಸಲೈಸ್ತಥಾ ॥
hayānāṃ ca vṛto yuddhe tatrābhūnmahiṣāsuraḥ tomarairbhindipālaiśca śaktibhirmusalaistathā
Meaningand of horses, Mahishasura was there in the battle. With iron clubs (tomaras) and slings (bhindipalas), with spears (shaktis) and pestles (musalas),
ಯುಯುಧುಃ ಸಂಯುಗೇ ದೇವ್ಯಾ ಖಡ್ಗೈಃ ಪರಶುಪಟ್ಟಿಶೈಃ । ಕೇಚಿಚ್ಚ ಚಿಕ್ಷಿಪುಃ ಶಕ್ತೀಃ ಕೇಚಿತ್ ಪಾಶಾಂಸ್ತಥಾಪರೇ ॥
yuyudhuḥ saṃyuge devyā khaḍgaiḥ paraśupaṭṭiśaiḥ kecicca cikṣipuḥ śaktīḥ kecit pāśāṃstathāpare
Meaningthey fought in the conflict with the Goddess, with swords and axe-blades (pattishas). Some hurled spears, and others nooses,
ದೇವೀಂ ಖಡ್ಗಪ್ರಹಾರೈಸ್ತು ತೇ ತಾಂ ಹನ್ತುಂ ಪ್ರಚಕ್ರಮುಃ । ಸಾಪಿ ದೇವೀ ತತಸ್ತಾನಿ ಶಸ್ತ್ರಾಣ್ಯಸ್ತ್ರಾಣಿ ಚಣ್ಡಿಕಾ ॥
devīṃ khaḍgaprahāraistu te tāṃ hantuṃ pracakramuḥ sāpi devī tatastāni śastrāṇyastrāṇi caṇḍikā
Meaningand they began to strike the Goddess with sword-blows to slay her. But that Goddess Chandika, raining her own weapons and missiles,
ಲೀಲಯೈವ ಪ್ರಚಿಚ್ಛೇದ ನಿಜಶಸ್ತ್ರಾಸ್ತ್ರವರ್ಷಿಣೀ । ಅನಾಯಸ್ತಾನನಾ ದೇವೀ ಸ್ತೂಯಮಾನಾ ಸುರರ್ಷಿಭಿಃ ॥
līlayaiva praciccheda nijaśastrāstravarṣiṇī anāyastānanā devī stūyamānā surarṣibhiḥ
Meaningcut their weapons and missiles to pieces as if in mere play. With her face untroubled, while gods and sages extolled her,
ಮುಮೋಚಾಸುರದೇಹೇಷು ಶಸ್ತ್ರಾಣ್ಯಸ್ತ್ರಾಣಿ ಚೇಶ್ವರೀ । ಸೋಽಪಿ ಕ್ರುದ್ಧೋ ಧುತಸಟೋ ದೇವ್ಯಾ ವಾಹನಕೇಸರೀ ॥
mumocāsuradeheṣu śastrāṇyastrāṇi ceśvarī so'pi kruddho dhutasaṭo devyā vāhanakesarī
Meaningthe Ishwari hurled her weapons and missiles upon the bodies of the asuras. And that lion, her mount, shaking its mane in fury,
ಚಚಾರಾಸುರಸೈನ್ಯೇಷು ವನೇಷ್ವಿವ ಹುತಾಶನಃ । ನಿಃಶ್ವಾಸಾನ್ ಮುಮುಚೇ ಯಾಂಶ್ಚ ಯುಧ್ಯಮಾನಾ ರಣೇಽಮ್ಬಿಕಾ ॥
cacārāsurasainyeṣu vaneṣviva hutāśanaḥ niḥśvāsān mumuce yāṃśca yudhyamānā raṇe'mbikā
Meaningstalked among the asura armies like fire among forests. And the breaths that Ambika heaved as she fought in the battle —
ತ ಏವ ಸದ್ಯಃ ಸಮ್ಭೂತಾ ಗಣಾಃ ಶತಸಹಸ್ರಶಃ । ಯುಯುಧುಸ್ತೇ ಪರಶುಭಿರ್ಭಿನ್ದಿಪಾಲಾಸಿಪಟ್ಟಿಶೈಃ ॥
ta eva sadyaḥ sambhūtā gaṇāḥ śatasahasraśaḥ yuyudhuste paraśubhirbhindipālāsipaṭṭiśaiḥ
Meaningthose very breaths at once became hosts (ganas) by the hundreds and thousands. These fought with axes, slings, swords and axe-blades,
ನಾಶಯನ್ತೋಽಸುರಗಣಾನ್ ದೇವೀಶಕ್ತ್ಯುಪಬೃಂಹಿತಾಃ । ಅವಾದಯನ್ತ ಪಟಹಾನ್ ಗಣಾಃ ಶಙ್ಖಾಂಸ್ತಥಾಪರೇ ॥
nāśayanto'suragaṇān devīśaktyupabṛṃhitāḥ avādayanta paṭahān gaṇāḥ śaṅkhāṃstathāpare
Meaningdestroying the hosts of asuras, strengthened by the Devi's power. Some of these hosts beat war-drums (patahas), others blew conches,
ಮೃದಙ್ಗಾಂಶ್ಚ ತಥೈವಾನ್ಯೇ ತಸ್ಮಿನ್ ಯುದ್ಧಮಹೋತ್ಸವೇ । ತತೋ ದೇವೀ ತ್ರಿಶೂಲೇನ ಗದಯಾ ಶಕ್ತಿವೃಷ್ಟಿಭಿಃ ॥
mṛdaṅgāṃśca tathaivānye tasmin yuddhamahotsave tato devī triśūlena gadayā śaktivṛṣṭibhiḥ
Meaningand others mridangas, in that great festival of war. Then the Goddess, with her trident, her mace, and showers of spears,
ಖಡ್ಗಾದಿಭಿಶ್ಚ ಶತಶೋ ನಿಜಘಾನ ಮಹಾಸುರಾನ್ । ಪಾತಯಾಮಾಸ ಚೈವಾನ್ಯಾನ್ ಘಣ್ಟಾಸ್ವನವಿಮೋಹಿತಾನ್ ॥
khaḍgādibhiśca śataśo nijaghāna mahāsurān pātayāmāsa caivānyān ghaṇṭāsvanavimohitān
Meaningwith sword and the like, slew the great asuras by hundreds, and laid low others bewildered by the clangour of her bell;
ಅಸುರಾನ್ ಭುವಿ ಪಾಶೇನ ಬದ್ಧ್ವಾ ಚಾನ್ಯಾನಕರ್ಷಯತ್ । ಕೇಚಿದ್ ದ್ವಿಧಾಕೃತಾಸ್ತೀಕ್ಷ್ಣೈಃ ಖಡ್ಗಪಾತೈಸ್ತಥಾಪರೇ ॥
asurān bhuvi pāśena baddhvā cānyānakarṣayat kecid dvidhākṛtāstīkṣṇaiḥ khaḍgapātaistathāpare
Meaningand binding yet other asuras on the ground with her noose, she dragged them along. Some were split in two by sharp sword-strokes, others
ವಿಪೋಥಿತಾ ನಿಪಾತೇನ ಗದಯಾ ಭುವಿ ಶೇರತೇ । ವೇಮುಶ್ಚ ಕೇಚಿದ್ರುಧಿರಂ ಮುಸಲೇನ ಭೃಶಂ ಹತಾಃ ॥
vipothitā nipātena gadayā bhuvi śerate vemuśca kecidrudhiraṃ musalena bhṛśaṃ hatāḥ
Meaningsmashed down by the blow of her mace, lay upon the earth; and some, sorely struck by her pestle, vomited blood.
ಕೇಚಿನ್ನಿಪತಿತಾ ಭೂಮೌ ಭಿನ್ನಾಃ ಶೂಲೇನ ವಕ್ಷಸಿ । ನಿರನ್ತರಾಃ ಶರೌಘೇಣ ಕೃತಾಃ ಕೇಚಿದ್ರಣಾಜಿರೇ ॥
kecinnipatitā bhūmau bhinnāḥ śūlena vakṣasi nirantarāḥ śaraugheṇa kṛtāḥ kecidraṇājire
MeaningOthers fell to the ground pierced in the breast by her trident; and some, riddled by the stream of her arrows on the battlefield,
ಶ್ಯೇನಾನುಕಾರಿಣಃ ಪ್ರಾಣಾನ್ ಮುಮುಚುಸ್ತ್ರಿದಶಾರ್ದನಾಃ । ಕೇಷಾಞ್ಚಿದ್ ಬಾಹವಶ್ಛಿನ್ನಾಶ್ಛಿನ್ನಗ್ರೀವಾಸ್ತಥಾಪರೇ ॥
śyenānukāriṇaḥ prāṇān mumucustridaśārdanāḥ keṣāñcid bāhavaśchinnāśchinnagrīvāstathāpare
Meaninggave up their lives, those tormentors of the gods, dropping like (swift) hawks. The arms of some were severed, others had their necks cut off,
ಶಿರಾಂಸಿ ಪೇತುರನ್ಯೇಷಾಮನ್ಯೇ ಮಧ್ಯೇ ವಿದಾರಿತಾಃ । ವಿಚ್ಛಿನ್ನಜಙ್ಘಾಸ್ತ್ವಪರೇ ಪೇತುರುರ್ವ್ಯಾಂ ಮಹಾಸುರಾಃ ॥
śirāṃsi peturanyeṣāmanye madhye vidāritāḥ vicchinnajaṅghāstvapare petururvyāṃ mahāsurāḥ
Meaningthe heads of others rolled down, others were torn asunder in the middle; and other great asuras fell to the earth with their legs cut off.
ಏಕಬಾಹ್ವಕ್ಷಿಚರಣಾಃ ಕೇಚಿದ್ದೇವ್ಯಾ ದ್ವಿಧಾಕೃತಾಃ । ಛಿನ್ನೇಽಪಿ ಚಾನ್ಯೇ ಶಿರಸಿ ಪತಿತಾಃ ಪುನರುತ್ಥಿತಾಃ ॥
ekabāhvakṣicaraṇāḥ keciddevyā dvidhākṛtāḥ chinne'pi cānye śirasi patitāḥ punarutthitāḥ
MeaningSome were made two-fold by the Devi though (left) with one arm, one eye and one foot; and others, though their heads were severed, fell yet rose again.
ಕಬನ್ಧಾ ಯುಯುಧುರ್ದೇವ್ಯಾ ಗೃಹೀತಪರಮಾಯುಧಾಃ । ನನೃತುಶ್ಚಾಪರೇ ತತ್ರ ಯುದ್ಧೇ ತೂರ್ಯಲಯಾಶ್ರಿತಾಃ ॥
kabandhā yuyudhurdevyā gṛhītaparamāyudhāḥ nanṛtuścāpare tatra yuddhe tūryalayāśritāḥ
MeaningHeadless trunks (kabandhas), grasping the finest weapons, fought with the Devi; and others danced there in the battle, keeping time to the war-music.
ಕಬನ್ಧಾಶ್ಛಿನ್ನಶಿರಸಃ ಖಡ್ಗಶಕ್ತ್ಯೃಷ್ಟಿಪಾಣಯಃ । ತಿಷ್ಠ ತಿಷ್ಠೇತಿ ಭಾಷನ್ತೋ ದೇವೀಮನ್ಯೇ ಮಹಾಸುರಾಃ ॥
kabandhāśchinnaśirasaḥ khaḍgaśaktyṛṣṭipāṇayaḥ tiṣṭha tiṣṭheti bhāṣanto devīmanye mahāsurāḥ
MeaningHeadless trunks, sword, spear and lance in hand, and other great asuras, kept crying 'Stop! Stop!' to the Devi.
ಪಾತಿತೈ ರಥನಾಗಾಶ್ವೈರಸುರೈಶ್ಚ ವಸುನ್ಧರಾ । ಅಗಮ್ಯಾ ಸಾಭವತ್ತತ್ರ ಯತ್ರಾಭೂತ್ ಸ ಮಹಾರಣಃ ॥
pātitai rathanāgāśvairasuraiśca vasundharā agamyā sābhavattatra yatrābhūt sa mahāraṇaḥ
MeaningBy the fallen chariots, elephants, horses and asuras, the earth there — where that great battle took place — became impassable.
ಶೋಣಿತೌಘಾ ಮಹಾನದ್ಯಃ ಸದ್ಯಸ್ತತ್ರ ಪ್ರಸುಸ್ರುವುಃ । ಮಧ್ಯೇ ಚಾಸುರಸೈನ್ಯಸ್ಯ ವಾರಣಾಸುರವಾಜಿನಾಮ್ ॥
śoṇitaughā mahānadyaḥ sadyastatra prasusruvuḥ madhye cāsurasainyasya vāraṇāsuravājinām
MeaningGreat rivers of streaming blood flowed forth at once there, in the midst of the army of the asuras, their elephants and horses.
ಕ್ಷಣೇನ ತನ್ಮಹಾಸೈನ್ಯಮಸುರಾಣಾಂ ತಥಾಮ್ಬಿಕಾ । ನಿನ್ಯೇ ಕ್ಷಯಂ ಯಥಾ ವಹ್ನಿಸ್ತೃಣದಾರುಮಹಾಚಯಮ್ ॥
kṣaṇena tanmahāsainyamasurāṇāṃ tathāmbikā ninye kṣayaṃ yathā vahnistṛṇadārumahācayam
MeaningIn a moment Ambika brought that great army of the asuras to destruction, as fire consumes a vast heap of grass and wood.
ಸ ಚ ಸಿಂಹೋ ಮಹಾನಾದಮುತ್ಸೃಜನ್ ಧುತಕೇಸರಃ । ಶರೀರೇಭ್ಯೋಽಮರಾರೀಣಾಮಸೂನಿವ ವಿಚಿನ್ವತಿ ॥
sa ca siṃho mahānādamutsṛjan dhutakesaraḥ śarīrebhyo'marārīṇāmasūniva vicinvati
MeaningAnd that lion, shaking its mane and uttering a mighty roar, roamed about as if seeking out the very life-breaths from the bodies of the gods' foes.
ದೇವ್ಯಾ ಗಣೈಶ್ಚ ತೈಸ್ತತ್ರ ಕೃತಂ ಯುದ್ಧಂ ತಥಾಸುರೈಃ । ಯಥೈಷಾಂ ತುತುಷುರ್ದೇವಾಃ ಪುಷ್ಪವೃಷ್ಟಿಮುಚೋ ದಿವಿ ॥
devyā gaṇaiśca taistatra kṛtaṃ yuddhaṃ tathāsuraiḥ yathaiṣāṃ tutuṣurdevāḥ puṣpavṛṣṭimuco divi
MeaningSuch was the battle waged there by the Devi's hosts and by the asuras that the gods, showering flowers from the sky, were greatly pleased with them.