Devi Bhagvatam 5:7:1:55

You art the substratum of all luminaries

1. You create and destroy all
   The Lord of all Celestials
   We meditate fully on Thee
   
   
   Planets Stars Galaxies are your body
   Divinity is established in Thee alone
   You are the AdiPurusha/AdiPrakruti The Foremost of all Beings
   All sins are destroyed by remembering Thee.
   
   
   
   

   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 7/1:55
   On the going of the Devas to Kailâsa

1-3.  Vyâsa said :-- O King!  Mahisa seeing the Dânavas afflicted with grief, quitted his buffalo appearance, assumed a lion form and spreading this long manes began to roar aloud and fell amidst the Deva forces; then the Devas were terrified on seeing his sharp nails.  That lion-form Mahisa first attacked so severely the Garuda with his nails, that his whole body was besmeared with blood; then he attacked Visnu's arms with his nails.

4-11.  Seeing the Dânava, Vâsudeva Hari raised his discus in anger and attacked him with great force to kill him.  Just when Hari struck the Dânava violently with his Chakra, the powerful Dânava quitted immediately his lion-form, assumed the buffalo form and struck Hari with his two horns.  Vâsudeva, thus pierced in his breast with the horns, became confounded and fled away as best as he could till he reached his own abode, Vaikuntha.

Seeing Hari thus fleeing away, S'ankara, too, thought him invulnerable and fled to his Kailâs'a mountain with fear.

Brahmâ, too, fled to his own abode with terror; but the powerful Vâsava took patience and remained steady in the battle.  Varuna taking his S'akti waited patiently for battle.  Yama, too, with his staff remained there ready to fight.  Kuvera, the Lord of the Yaksas, remained very busy in close fighting with the Dânavas; Fire, taking S’akti, also waited.  The Sun and Moon, the Lord of the stars, both remained in firm resolve to fight with Mahisa, the lord of the Dânavas.

12-22.  O King!  In the meanwhile, the Dânava forces got angry and attacked them on all sides, shooting at the enemies a mass of dangerous serpent-like arrows.  The Lord of the Dânavas, Mahisa, too, assuming the buffalo appearance, reigned supreme in the middle.  At this moment fierce sounds of the warriors on both the sides were heard.  During the sharp contest of the Devas and Dânavas, the sounds from the bowstrings and the clappings of the hands were heard like the roarings of thunder.  The powerful Dânava, then, swelled with pride, began to hurl the mountain tops with his horns, thus killing the Deva forces.  Some by hoofs and some by the lashing of the tail, that angry Mahisa, very wonderful to behold, sent to the region of Death.

Then the Devas and Gandarbhas became very much frightened; so much so, that Indra fled away at once on the sight of Mahisa.  Indra thus retreating from the field, Yama, Kuvera, and Varuna all quitted the battle-ground with fear.  Indra fled away quitting his Airâvata elephant and Uchchais'ravâ horse; so Mahisa got the possession of the elephant and the horse, as well the heavenly cow of the Sun.  So the Dânavas considered themselves preeminently victorious and returned to their abodes.  Next they wanted to go, as early as possible, to the Heavens, with all their forces.

In no time Mahisa went to the abode of Indra, deserted by all the terror-stricken Devas and got the possession thereof.  Then taking his seat on the beautiful throne of Indra, he made the other Dânavas occupy the several seats of the other Devas.

23-27.  Thus fighting full one hundred years, the Dânava Mahisa, puffed up with pride, acquired the seat of Indra, his desired object.  He banished the Devas from the Heavens; the Devas, thus tormented began to wander in the caves of hills and dales for a period of good many years.

O King!  The Devas, at last, were quite tired and took the fourfaced Brahmâ, the Creator's refuge.  At that instant, the Lord of the world, the Rajas incarnate, the Originator of the Vedas, was seated on His lotus seat; surrounding Him were standing his mortal sons Marîchi, etc., with their passions subdued, mind calm and beyond the sphere of the Vedas and Vedângas; there were there also Siddhas, Gandarbhas, Kinnaras, Châranas, Uragas, and Pannagas.  The terrified Devas then began to praise and chant hymns to Brahmâ, the Lord of the world.

28-33.  The Devas said :-- “O Creator!  O Lotus-born!  O Thou, the Remover of the pains and afflictions of all this world!  How is it that you are not moved with pity towards the Devas, seeing that we are defeated by the lord of the Dânavas and have been banished from our abode; what more shall we say, our troubles are now indescribable, as we are living in the caves of hills and dales.

O Creator!  A son may be a hundred times guilty of offence; is it, then, that the father, devoid of any feeling of covetousness, deserts his sons and gives them trouble!  We are oppressed by the Dânavas, we who are wholly devoted to your lotus-feet, why are you today showing signs of indifference towards us!  That wicked Dânava is thoroughly enjoying to-day the Heavens of the Devas, is forcibly taking their share of the oblations of clarified butter in the Yajñas (sacrifices) from the Brâhmanas; is enjoying the Pârijâta tree and also the heavenly milching cow, the jewel of the ocean.  What more shall we describe to you the strange doings of the Asuras; O Lord of the Devas!  You are perfectly aware of all that they strive and execute; for, by your knowledge, you know everything of this world; therefore, O Lord!  We lie prostrate at your feet.  That vicious Dânava, of wicked character and full of mischievous actions, gives us troubles in various ways wherever we go;

O Lord of the Devas!  Thou art our only Protector; therefore, O Lord!  Do what is good to us.  Thou art the Awarder of the desires of the Devas.  Thou art the First Creator of the world, and Preserver; therefore if Thou dost not do us our good, to whom else shall we take refuge, when we are so severely oppressed as if we are burnt in a forest conflagration!  Who else is more lustrous, more beneficent and more peace-giving Governor?

34-35.  Vyâsa said :-- O king!  All the Devas, praising Him thus, bowed down to the Lord of creation with folded hands and saluted him, with their faces very heavy, overladen with deep sorrow.  The Grand Sire of all the Lokas, seeing the plight of the Devas, consoled them with sweet words and made them happy.

36-43.  O Suras!  What shall I do?  The Dânava has become exceedingly haughty on account of his getting boons; he can be killed by females only; He is invulnerable by any male.  What remedy is there now?  Therefore, O Suras!  Let us all go to Kailâsa, the best of all the mountains; thence we will take S'ankara, the expert in doing the works of Gods, and go to Vaikuntha, where Visnu, the Deva of the Devas resides.  There we all will unite and hold a counsel and decide what is best to do, to serve the purpose of the gods.

Thus making out the programme, Brahmâ riding on his Hamsa went to Kailâsa, accompanied by all the Devas.  At the same time S'iva came to know out of his introspection about the coming of Brahmâ and the other Devas and soon came out of his dwelling abode.  When they met each other, they saluted each other and felt very glad.  The Devas then bowed down to them.  Seats were given to the Devas; and when they sat respectively on their Âsanas, the Lord of Pârvatî also took his own seat.  S'iva asked the welfare of Brahmâ and the Devas and asked the reasons of their coming to Kailâsa.

44.  O Brahmâ!  What has caused you to come here along with Indra and the other

Devas?  O highly fortunate one!  Please mention it.

45-47.  Brahmâ said :-- O Deva of the Devas!  The Dânava Mahisa is oppressing all the Devas in the Heavens; they therefore terrified are wandering hither and thither in the caves and hills with Indra.  Mahisa and the other Dânavas are now accepting their share of Yajñas; the Lokopâlas, being oppressed, have come to-day and are now taking shelter of Thee.  O S'ambhu!

Considering the situation serious, I have taken them with me here; therefore, O Deva, do that which is reasonable and by which the purpose of the Devas can be carried out. O Bhûta Bhâvana!  (The creator of the world) The whole charge and responsibility of all the Devas devolves on Thee.

48.  Vyâsa said :-- O King!  Hearing thus, S'ankara smiled a little and spoke charming words to the Lotus-born in the following manner :--

49-55.  O Bibhu!  It is You that gave before this boon to Mahisa; and therefore it is you that have wrought this mischief.  The Dânava has become so strong a hero that he has caused terror to all the Devas even.  Now where can we get such a noble woman who becomes able to kill that Dânava, elated with pride.  My wife nor your wife ought to go to battle; even if they, the good ladies go, how will they be able to fight?  The fortunate wife of Indra, too, is not expert in the art of warfare; where else there is another lady who can kill this demon, blinded with pride.  I, therefore, propose this; let us all go today to Visnu and, praising him with hymns, engage him quickly to this cause of the gods.  Visnu is foremost amongst the intelligent; therefore it is highly advisable to execute all actions after duly consulting with him.  He, by dint of his high intelligence, will find out means and effect our purpose.

Vyâsa said :-- O King!  Brahmâ and the other Devas heard Rudra and approved heartily and saying, “Be it so” instantly rose up.  At the time, seeing all the auspicious signs concerning the success of the gods, they all became glad; and, riding on their respective vehicles, drove towards the abode of Visnu.  Favourable fragrant winds, pleasant to touch, began to blow gently, birds began to chant hymns of praise and signs of success were seen all along their way.  The sky was clear and the quarters became free; in short, everything showed favourable all along their way.

Here ends the Seventh Chapter on the going of the Devas to Kailâsa in the Fifth

Skandha of S'rî Mad Devî Bhâgavatam, the Mahâ Purânam of 18,000 verses by

Maharsi Veda Vyâsa.

Source:  Translation of The Srimad Devi Bhagvatam by Swami Vijnanananda