Devi Bhagvatam 5:3:1:53

An exceedingly fiery mass like a flaming mountain
Did the Gods see, filling the firmament with flames.
That peerless splendor, born from the bodies of all the Gods,
Unifying and pervading the triple world with its lustre, became a Woman.
(Devi Mahatmyam, 2.11-12.)

ayi giri nandini, nandita medini, visva vinodini, nandinute || giri vara vindhya shirodhini vasini vishnuvilaasini jisnunute || bhagavati he shitikaNthakutumbini bhoorikutumbini bhoorikrute || jaya jaya he mahishaasuramardhini ramyakapardini shailasute || Oh, Daughter of the Mountain, Who makes the whole World happy, Who makes all the Universe rejoice, Who is praised by Nandin, Who dwells on the peaks of the great Vindhya Mountains, with radiance reaching far and wide, Who is praised by those desirous of victory, Oh Goddess, Wife to blue-necked Shiva, Mother to many families, Doer of many deeds,Victory, victory to You, Oh Slayer of the Buffalo Demon! Victory, Daughter of the Himalayas, with beautifully plaited hair! suravaravarshiNi durdharadharshiNi durmukhamarshiNi harsharate || tribhuvanaposhiNi shankaratoshiNi kilbishamoshiNi ghosharate || danujaniroshiNi ditisutaroshiNi durmadashoshiNi sindhusute || jaya jaya he mahishaasuramardhini ramyakapardini shailasute || Who bestows boons upon the Gods, Who defeats the undisciplined, Who tolerates the ignorant, Who is ever rejoicing, Who nourishes the three worlds, Who pleases Shankara, Who removes sins, Who inhabits the sound of AUM, Whose wrath befalls the progeny of the demons Danu and Diti, Who destroys those drunk on the evil intoxicant of pride, Who is Daughter of the Ocean! Victory, victory to You, Oh Slayer of the Buffalo Demon! Victory, Daughter of the Himalayas, with beautifully plaited hair! ayi jagadamba madamba kadambavanapriyavaasini haasarate || shikharishiromaNi tungahimaalaya shringanijaalaya madhyagate || madhumadhure madhukaitabhaganjini kaitabhabhanjini raasarate || jaya jaya he mahishaasuramardhini ramyakapardini shailasute || Oh, Mother of the World, my Mother, Who loves Her Kadamba tree forest, Who is always smiling, Whose dwelling is in the tallest peaks of the Himalayas, the greatest of all mountain chains, Who is so very sweet, Who keeps the treasures of Madhu and Kaitabha, Who slayed Kaitabha, Who is ever dancing,Victory, victory to You, Oh Slayer of the Buffalo Demon! Victory, Daughter of the Himalayas, with beautifully plaited hair! ayi shatakhaNda vikhaNditaruNda vituNditashuNda gajaadhipate || ripugajagaNda vidaaraNachaNda paraakramashuNda mrigaadhipate || nijabhujadaNda nipaatitakhaNda vipatitamuNda bhataadhipate || jaya jaya he mahishaasuramardhini ramyakapardini shailasute || Who splinters demons' heads into hundreds of shards, Who severs the trunks of their great battle elephants, Whose great Lion mount exhibits terrifying valor, as he tears apart the temples of the enemy's elephants Who shatters the skulls of enemy chieftains with the strength of her own arms, Victory, victory to You, Oh Slayer of the Buffalo Demon! Victory, Daughter of the Himalayas, with beautifully plaited hair! ayi raNadurmadashatruvadhodita durdharanirjara shaktibhrute || chaturavicharadhuriiNamahasiva dutakrita pramathaadhipate || duritaduriihaduraashayadurmati daanavaduta krutaantamate || jaya jaya he mahishaasuramardhini ramyakapardini shailasute || Oh, it is You Who possesses the invinceable force that vanquishes hard-to-subdue enemies in battle Who promoted Pramatha, the great attendant of Shiva, a master of subtle thinking, to be Her general in battle, Who destroyed the messengers of the demons, who were sinful, with evil intention in their thoughts and minds, Victory, victory to You, Oh Slayer of the Buffalo Demon! Victory, Daughter of the Himalayas, with beautifully plaited hair! ayi sharaNaagata vairivadhoovara viiravaraabhayadaayakare || tribhuvanamastaka shoolavirodhishiirodhikritaamala shoolakare || dumidumitaamara dundubhinaada mahomukhariikrita tigmakare || jaya jaya he mahishaasuramardhini ramyakapardini shailasute || Oh, it is You Who gives protection to the wives of heroic enemy warriors when they seek refuge; Who aims a flawless spear at the head of the demon who causes great pain in all the three worlds, Who burns like a blazing hot sun, inflamed by the resounding din of the war-drums of the Gods, Victory, victory to You, Oh Slayer of the Buffalo Demon! Victory, Daughter of the Himalayas, with beautifully plaited hair! ayi nijahunkriti maatraniraakrita dhoomravilochana dhoomrashate || samravishoshita shoNitabeeja samudbhavashoNita biijalate || shivashivashumbhani shumbhamahaahavatarpita bhutapishaacharate || jaya jaya he mahishaasuramardhini ramyakapardini shailasute || Oh, it is You Who, with a single roar, disperses the streams of smoke flowing from the eyes of advancing demons, Who thrives like a vine on the blood that falls on the battleground, Who delights alike in the company of the auspicious Shiva, inauspicious Shumbha and Nishumbha, and the ghoulish spirits who feed on the battle carnage, Victory, victory to You, Oh Slayer of the Buffalo Demon! Victory, Daughter of the Himalayas, with beautifully plaited hair! dhanuranusangaraNakshaNasanga parishphuradanga naTatkaTake || kanakapishanga prishatkanishanga rasadbhatasringa hataabaTuke || krutachaturanga balakshitiranga ghatadbahuranga raTadbaTuke || jaya jaya he mahishaasuramardhini ramyakapardini shailasute || Who decks Her tender limbs with fine dancing ornaments at the moment of battle, as She readies Her bow, Who slays huge enemy soldiers with Her shining sword and arrows from Her golden-brown quiver, Who plays with the vast enemy forces arrayed on the battlefield as if they were screaming toy soldiers, Victory, victory to You, Oh Slayer of the Buffalo Demon! Victory, Daughter of the Himalayas, with beautifully plaited hair! jaya jaya japyajaye jayashabda parastutitatatpara vishvanute || jhaNa jhaNa jhinjhimijhinkritanoopura sinjitamohita bhootapate || natita nataardhanatiinatanaayaka naatitanaatyasugaanarate || jaya jaya he mahishaasuramardhini ramyakapardini shailasute || Victory to You! Victory to You! Whose victory need be sung and praised by all the Universe, Who attracts Shiva's attention with the tinkling of Her bells and ornaments as She dances Who delights in Her own beautiful singing, and Her dance in the form of Ardhanari, Victory, victory to You, Oh Slayer of the Buffalo Demon! Victory, Daughter of the Himalayas, with beautifully plaited hair! ayi sumanah sumanah sumanah sumanoharakaantiyute || shrita rajanii rajanii rajanii rajanii rajaniikaravakravrute || sunayanavibhra marabhra marabhra marabhra marabhra maraadhipate|| jaya jaya he mahishaasuramardhini ramyakapardini shailasute || Oh, it is You Whose flowerlike complexion attracts all good-hearted souls, [The meaning of the middle two lines is unclear],Victory, victory to You, Oh Slayer of the Buffalo Demon! Victory, Daughter of the Himalayas, with beautifully plaited hair! sahitamahaahava mallamatallika mallitarallaka mallarate || virachitavallika pallikamallika shrillikabhillika vargavrute || sita kruta phullisamullasitaakruNtallaja pallavasallalite || jaya jaya he mahishaasuramardhini ramyakapardini shailasute || [The meaning of this verse is unclear.] Victory, victory to You, Oh Slayer of the Buffalo Demon! Victory, Daughter of the Himalayas, with beautifully plaited hair! aviralagaNda galanmadamedura mattamatangajaraajapate || tribhuvana bhooshaNa bhootakalaanidhi roopapayonidhiraajasute || ayi sudatiijanalaalasamaanasa mohanamanmatharaajasute || jaya jaya he mahishaasuramardhini ramyakapardini shailasute || Who effortlessly steers huge royal elephants in their fury, musk streaming in rivers down their temples, Oh Great Princess, Daughter of the Ocean, Who has the beauty of the Moon, Who is Ornament of the triple world, Princess of Love, whose beautiful smile enchants the minds of those entrapped by desire,Victory, victory to You, Oh Slayer of the Buffalo Demon! Victory, Daughter of the Himalayas, with beautifully plaited hair! kamaladalaamalakomala kaantikalaakalitaamala bhaalatale || sakalavilaasakalaanilayakrama kelichalatkala hamsakule || alikulasankula kuvalayamaNdala maulimiladbakulaalikule || jaya jaya he mahishaasuramardhini ramyakapardini shailasute || Whose flawless forehead displays Her beautiful complexion, pure and delicate like lotus petals, Whose flocks of swans follow Her with the fluid grace that is the mark of all beautiful arts, Whose swarms of bees sail down from the bakula trees to light with other bees atop the lotus flowers, Victory, victory to You, Oh Slayer of the Buffalo Demon! Victory, Daughter of the Himalayas, with beautifully plaited hair! karamuraliirava viijita koojita lajjita kokila manjumate || militapulinda manoharagunjita ranjitashailanikunjagate || nijaguNabhoota mahaashabariigaNa sadguNasambhruta kelitale || jaya jaya he mahishaasuramardhini ramyakapardini shailasute || Who so sweetly plays Her flute that its music puts the Kokila bird to shame, Who always has sweet thoughts, Who dwells in colorful mountain groves that echo pleasantly with the bustle of mountain folk, Whose playground is filled with breathtaking tribal women, who are manifestations of Her own great qualities, Victory, victory to You, Oh Slayer of the Buffalo Demon! Victory, Daughter of the Himalayas, with beautifully plaited hair! katitatapiitadukoolavichitra mayookhatiraskrita chandraruche|| praNatasuraasura maulimaNisphuradamshulasannakha chandraruche|| jitakanakaachala maulipadorjita nirbharakunjara kumbhakuche || jaya jaya he mahishaasuramardhini ramyakapardini shailasute || Who outshines the brilliance of the moon with the colorful rays flashing from the yellow silks around Her waist, Whose toenails shine like the moon as well, reflecting the crest jewels of the gods and demons who bow at Her feet, Whose breasts outshine the temples of wild elephants and the high peaks of golden mountains, Victory, victory to You, Oh Slayer of the Buffalo Demon! Victory, Daughter of the Himalayas, with beautifully plaited hair! vijitasahasra karaikasahasra karaikasahasra karaikanute || krutasurataaraka sangarataaraka sangarataaraka soonusute || surathasamaadhi samaanasamaadhi samaadhi samaadhi sujaatarate || jaya jaya he mahishaasuramardhini ramyakapardini shailasute || Who surpasses the thousand-rayed sun with the brilliance of Her own thousand hands, and Who is in turn praised by a thousand suns, Who does battle to save the Gods, and Whose sons fought the demon Taraka and are Saviors, [Meaning unclear], Victory, victory to You, Oh Slayer of the Buffalo Demon! Victory, Daughter of the Himalayas, with beautifully plaited hair! padakamalam karuNaanilaye varivasyati yonudinam sashive || ayi kamale kamalaanilaye kamalaanilayah sakatham na bhavet || tava padameva param padamityanushiilayato mama kim na shive || jaya jaya he mahishaasuramardhini ramyakapardini shailasute || Oh Benevolent Goddess, accompanied by Shiva, when one daily cherishes Your lotuslike feet, Then, Oh lotus-dwelling Lakshmi, how will one not become wealthy? Oh Auspicious Goddess, what riches will not be mine, if I earnestly believe that Your feet are the highest goal to be achieved? Victory, victory to You, Oh Slayer of the Buffalo Demon! Victory, Daughter of the Himalayas, with beautifully plaited hair! kanakalasatkala sindhujalairanusinchinute guNarangabhuvam || bhajati sa kim na sachikuchakumbha tatiiparirambha sukhaanubhavam || tava charaNam sharaNam karavaaNi nataamaravaaNi nivaasisivam || jaya jaya he mahishaasuramardhini ramyakapardini shailasute || If one bathes You, the playground of virtues, in the shining golden waters of the ocean, Will one not experience in Heaven the joy, equal to that of Indra, of embracing the full bosom of Sachi? Oh Goddess worshipped by the Gods Themselves, I take refuge at Your feet, which are also the abode of Shiva. Victory, victory to You, Oh Slayer of the Buffalo Demon! Victory, Daughter of the Himalayas, with beautifully plaited hair! tava vimalendukulam vadanendum alam sakalam nanu koolayate || kimu puruhoota puriindumukhiisumukhiibhirasau vimukhiikriyate || mama tu matam sivanaamadhane bhavatii kripayaa kimuta kriyate || jaya jaya he mahishaasuramardhini ramyakapardini shailasute || When one sufficiently dedicates oneself to Your entire moonlike visage, brighter than a host of perfect moons, How will one be turned away in heaven by the moon-visaged beauties of the city of Indra? [Meaning unclear], Victory, victory to You, Oh Slayer of the Buffalo Demon! Victory, Daughter of the Himalayas, with beautifully plaited hair! ayi mayi diinadayaalutayaa krupayaiva tvayaa bhavitavyamume || ayi jagato jananii krupayaasi yathaasi tathanumitaasitare || yaduchitamatra bhavatyurariikrutaadurutaapa mapaakrurute || jaya jaya he mahishaasuramardhini ramyakapardini shailasute || Oh Uma, please look kindly upon me, because of your virtue of compassion toward the meek, [Meaning unclear], But you may do as You wish with me, Oh You who removes the pain of Her devotees. Victory, victory to You, Oh Slayer of the Buffalo Demon! Victory, Daughter of the Himalayas, with beautifully plaited hair! Translated by Devi Bhakta

MAHĀKĀLI DHYANAM

Meditation on Mahākāli

From the Devī Mahātmyam [Mārkendeya Purana]

Om Namaś Chaṇḍikāyai.

Om khaḍgaṁ chakra-gadeṣu-chāpa-parighāñ

chūlaṃ bhuśuṇḍīṁ śiraḥ

śaṅkhaṁ saṃda-dhatīṁ karai-stri-nayanāṁ

sarvāṅga-bhūṣāvṛitām

Nīlāśma-dyutimāsya pāda-daśakāṁ

seve Mahākālikāṁ

yāmastaut-svapite harau kamalajo

hantuṁ madhuṁ kaiṭabham.

Om Namaś Chaṇḍikāyai.

Om, I bow to the Goddess Chaṇḍikā.

Om, holding a scimitar, disk, mace, arrows and bow, lance, club, a skull and a conch shell in Her ten hands. The three-eyed goddess, Her body covered with ornaments, Her countenance with the brilliance of blue diamonds, with ten limbs. We offer our service to Mahākāli, She who Brahma praised for protection from the demons Madhu and Kaitava, when Vishnu was in sleep.

Book 5/Chapter 3/1:53

On the Daitya armies getting ready

1-14.  Vyâsa said :-- The very powerful Asura Mahisa, puffed up with vanity on his getting the boon, obtained sovereignty and brought the whole world under his control!  He, being the paramount power, began to protect the sea-girt earth acquired by the power of his own arms, over which he had the sole sovereignty, there being no other rival king nor any cause of the slightest fear.  

His Commander-in-Chief was then the very powerful Chiksura, maddened with pride; and Tâmra was in charge of the Royal Treasury, guarded by many soldiers.  There were, then, many generals Asilomâ, Vidâla, Udarka, Vâskala, Trinetra, Kâla, Bandhaka and others, very proud, and each in charge of his own corps respectively and occupying this sea-girt earth.

O king!  The powerful kings that reigned before were made subservient and tributary; and those, that fought valiantly befitting the Ksattriya line, were slain by Mahisa.  The Brâhmanas over the earth became subservient to Mahisa and gave their Yajña offerings to him.  When that Mahisâsura got the sole sovereign sway of this world, he, proud of his boons, desired to conquer the Heavens.  

Then Mahisa, the Lord of the Daityas, desirous to send an envoy to Indra, the Lord of S'achî, instantly called for the messenger and spoke to him thus :--

Go, O hero!  O valiant one!  to Heaven.  Act as my messenger and tell Indra fearlessly thus :-- “O thousand-eyed one!  Quit the Heavens; go anywhere you like, or offer your service to the high-souled Mahisa!  He is the lord; and if you take refuge unto him, he will certainly protect you.  Therefore, O Lord of S'achî, better seek the protection of Mahisa.  If, O Balasûdana!  Not willing, wield your Vajra at once; we know your powers; you were, in days of yore, conquered by our ancestors.  O chief of the Sûras!  You are the paramour of Ahalyâ; your strength is well known, give battle or go anywhere you like.”

15-21.  Vyâsa said :-- Hearing the messenger's words, Indra became very indignant and laughed and said :--

I did not know, O you stupid, that you were maddened with vanity; I will shortly give medicines for your master's disease.  Now I will extirpate him by the roots; wise persons do not slay messengers; I therefore let you go.  Better go and tell him what I say :-- “Son of a buffalo!  If you are willing to fight, better come and do not delay.  O Enemy of horse!  (Buffaloes and horses are always at war with each other) Your strength is well known to me; you are a grass eater and your appearance is stupid, idiotic; out of your horns I will make a good bow.  You depend on your horns for your strength; that I well know.  You are clever in striking with your horns; you don't know anything about warfare; therefore I will out off your both the weapons and render you powerless.  You are very much puffed up with vanity due to that.”

22.  Vyâsa said :-- Indra having spoken thus, the messenger quickly returned to his haughty master Mahisa and saluting, spoke :--

23-28.  The messenger said :-- Indra counts you not even a fig, as he is surrounded by his Deva forces and considers himself quite sufficient.  It ought one's servant to speak true and pleasant before one's master; how can I utter the words before my master, that are spoken by that brute Indra.

Whereas the well known maxim reigns in my mind withal that I am your well-wishing servant and I ought to speak truth before you, my master, and that truth is to be pleasant to hear also.  If pleasant words I speak only, then I fail in my duty; at the same time, harsh words ought not to be spoken by me, your sincere well-wisher.

My Lord!  The cruel poison-like words that come from the mouth of an enemy, how can I, a servant of yours, utter those harsh sayings!  O Lord of the Earth!  I will never be able to utter those rude sayings that Indra has spoken.

29-53.  Vyâsa said :-- Hearing the messenger's words full of meaning the grass-eater Mahisa Dânava got very angry and, waggling his tail behind his back, passed urine; then his eyes reddened with anger, he called the Dânavas before him and said :--

O Dânavas!  The Lord of the Devas is firmly resolved on battle; therefore collect your forces; we will have to conquer that devil, the chief of the Sûras.  Who can stand for him a my rival here!  If hundreds and thousands of warriors like Indra come I do not fear any of them at all.

O Dânavas, we will thoroughly put a end to him.  His heroism is before those only that are peaceful and quiet before the ascetics that have become lean and thin by the penances; he is licentious and can only seduce other's wives by craftiness and arts.  He is a thorough rogue and hypocrite, vicious and faultfinding; otherwise why does he put obstacles before others, depending for his strength only on the beauties of the Apsarâs or heavenly prostitutes.  He is treacherous to his very core; therefore he, being afraid at the very outset, took oaths, and entered into agreement with the high-souled Namuchi; afterwards, when his time turned favourable, that villain broke his treaty and treacherously killed him.

Again the powerful Visnu is a thorough master of treachery and hypocrisy, the mine in taking oaths and can only show his vanity and is expert in that.  He can assume many forms at will by his Magic power.  For these very reasons Visnu had to take the form of a boar and kill Hiranyâksa; and again he had to take up a man-lion form to kill Hiranya Kas'îpu.  O Dânavas!  Never shall I surrender myself to Visnu, for I never place my trust in the words or deeds of Visnu and his Devas. 

What can Indra or Visnu do against me, when the most powerful Rudra is not able to fight against me in the battle-field!  I will instantly defeat Indra, Varuna, Yama, Kuvera, Fire, Sun and Moon and get possession of their Heavens.

On our conquering the Devas, we all shall get our share of Yajñas and we along with other Dânavas drink the Soma juice and enjoy ourselves in Heaven.   O Dânavas!  I have got the boon; what do I now care for the Devas.  My death is not from men too.  What can a woman do to me?  O my emissaries!  Call without any delay the chief Dânavas from the nether regions and the mountains and make them my generals?  O Dânavas!  I can alone conquer all the Devas; only to make the war arrangements look nice, that I am taking you to defeat them.  There is no fear of mine from the Devas, consequent on the boon conferred on me.  I will kill them by my hoofs and horns.  I am not to be killed by Suras, Asuras, as men; therefore get yourselves ready to conquer the Devas.

O Dânavas!  After conquering the Heavens we will be garlanded with Pârijâta wreaths and we will enjoy the Deva women in the Nandana Garden.  We will drink the milk of the heavenly milching cow (the cow that yields all desires) and, intoxicated with the heavenly drinks, we will hear and see the music and singing the dancing of the Gandarbhas there.  You will all be served there with various bottles of wine by Urvasî, Menakâ, Rambhâ, Ghritâchî, Tillottamâ, Pramadvarâ Mahâsenâ, Mira Kesî, Madotkatâ, Viprachitti and others.  Then be all ready at once for this auspicious occasion to march to Heavens and fight there with the Suras.  And be pleased to call that pure-souled Muni S'ukrâchârya, the son of Bhrigu and the Guru of the Daityas and worship him and tell him to perform sacrificial ceremonies for the safety and victory of the Dânavas.  O king!  Thus, ordering the chief Dânavas, the wicked Mahisa went to his abode, with gladness.

Here ends the Third Chapter of the Fifth Book on the Daitya armies getting ready in S'rî Mad Devî Bhâgavatam, the Mahâpurânam by Maharsi Vedavyâsa of 18,000 verses. 

Source:  Translation of The Srimad Devi Bhagvatam by Swami Vijnanananda