THE DEVI-MAHATMYAM-Chapter 5

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{CHAPTER 5}*****Devi's conversation with the messenger

 

Meditation of Mahasaraswati I meditate on the

incomparable Mahasaraswati who holds in her

(eight) lotus-like hands bell, trident, plough, conch,

mace, discus, bow and arrow; who is effulgent like

destroyer of Sumbha and other asuras, who issued

forth from Parvati's body and is the substratum of

the three worlds. The Rishi said:

 

1-2. Of yore Indra's (sovereignty) over the three

worlds and his portions of the sacrifices were taken

away by the asuras, Sumbha and Nisumbha, by force

of their pride and strength.

 

3. The two, themselves, took over likewise, the

offices of the sun, the moon, Kubera, Yama, and

Varuna.

 

4. They themselves exercised Vayu's authority and

Agni's duty. Deprived of their lordships and

sovereignties, the devas were defeated.

 

5. Deprived of their functions and expelled by these

two great asuras, all the devas thought of the

invincible Devi.

 

6. 'She had granted us the boon, "Whenever in

calamities you think of me, that very moment I will

put an end to all your worst calamities."'

 

7. Resolving thus, the devas went to Himavat, lord

of the mountains, and there extolled the Devi, who is

the illusive power of Vishnu. The devas said:

 

8-9. 'Salutation to the Devi, to the Mahadevi.

Salutation always to her who is ever auspicious.

Salutation to her who is the primordial cause and the

sustaining power. With attention, we have made

obeisance to her.

 

10. 'Salutation to her who is terrible, to her who is

eternal. Salutation to Gauri, the supporter(of the

Universe). salutation always to her who's is of the

form of the moon and moon-light and happiness

itself.

 

11. 'We bow to her who is welfare; we make

salutations to her who is prosperity and success.

Salutation to the consort of Shiva who is herself the

good fortune as well as misfortune of kings.

 

12. 'Salutations always to Durga who takes one

across in difficulties, who is essence, who is the

authority of everything; who is knowledge of

discrimination and who is blue-black as also smoke-

like in complexion.

 

13. 'We prostrate before her who is at once most

gentle and most terrible; we salute her again and

again. Salutation to her who is the support of the

world. Salutation to the devi who is the form of

volition.

 

14-16. 'Salutations again and again to the Devi who

in all beings is called Vishnumaya.

 

17-19. 'Salutations again and again to the Devi who

abides in all beings as consciousness;

 

20-22. 'Salutations again and again to the Devi who

abides in all beings in the form of intelligence;

 

23-25. 'Salutations again and again to the Devi who

abides in all beings in the form of sleep;

 

26-28. 'Salutations again and again to the Devi who

abides in all beings in the form of hunger:

 

29-31. 'Salutations again and again to the Devi who

abides in all beings in the form of reflection;

 

32-34. 'Salutations again and again to the Devi who

abides in all beings in the form of power.

 

35-37. 'Salutations again and again to the Devi who

abides in all beings in the form of thirst;

 

38-40. 'Salutations again and again to the Devi who

abides in all beings in the form of forgiveness;

 

41-43. 'Salutations again and again to the Devi who

abides in all beings in the form of genus;

 

44-46. 'Salutations again and again to the Devi who

abides in all beings in the form of modesty;

 

47-49. 'Salutations again and again to the Devi who

abides in all beings in the form of peace;

 

50-52. 'Salutations again and again to the Devi who

abides in all beings in the form of faith;

 

53-55. 'Salutations again and again to the Devi who

abides in all beings in the form of loveliness;

 

56-58. 'Salutations again and again to the Devi who

abides in all beings in the form of good fortune;

 

59-61. 'Salutations again and again to the Devi who

abides in all beings in the form of activity;

 

62-64. 'Salutations again and again to the Devi who

abides in all beings in the form of memory;

 

65-67. 'Salutations again and again to the Devi who

abides in all beings in the form of compassion;

 

68-70. 'Salutations again and again to the Devi who

abides in all beings in the form of contentment;

 

71-73. 'Salutations again and again to the Devi who

abides in all beings in the form of mother;

 

74-76. 'Salutations again and again to the Devi who

abides in all beings in the form of error;

 

77. 'Salutations again and again to the all-pervading

Devi who constantly presides over the senses of all

beings and (governs) all the elements;

 

78-80. 'Salutations again and again to her who,

pervading the entire world, abides in the form of

consciousness.

 

81. 'Invoked of yore by the devas for the sake of

their desired object, and adored by the lord of the

devas every day, may she, the Isvari, the source of

all good, accomplish for us all auspicious things and

put an end to our calamities!

 

82. 'And who is now again, reverenced by us, devas,

tormented by arrogant asuras and who, called to

mind by us obeisant with devotion, destroys this

very moment all our calamities.' The Rishi said:

 

83-84. O Prince, while the devas were thus engaged

in praises and (other acts of adoration), Parvathi

came there to bathe in the waters of the Ganga.

 

85. She, the lovely-browed, said to those devas,

'Who is praised by you here?' An auspicious

goddess, sprung forth from her physical sheath, gave

the reply:

 

86. 'This hymn is addressed to me by the assembled

devas set at naught by the asura Sumbha and routed

in battle by Nisumbha.

 

87. Because that Ambika came out of Parvati's

physical sheath (Kosa), she is glorified as Kaushiki

in all the worlds.

 

88. After she had issued forth, Parvati became dark

and was called Kalika and stationed on mount

Himalaya.

 

89. Then, Canda, and Munda, two servants of

Sumbha and Nisumbha, saw that Ambika (Kausiki)

bearing a surpassingly charming form. They both

told Sumbha:

 

90. 'O King, a certain woman, most surpassingly

beautiful, dwells there shedding lustre on mount

Himalaya.

 

91. 'Such supreme beauty was never seen by any one

anywhere. Ascertain who that Goddess is and take

possession of her, O Lord of the asuras!

 

92. 'A gem among women, of exquisitely beautiful

limbs, illuminating the quarters with her lustre there

she is, O Lord of the daityas. You should see her.

 

93. 'O Lord, whatever jewels, precious stones,

elephants, horses and others there are in the three

worlds, they are all now in your house.

 

94. 'Airavata, gem among elephants, has been

brought away from Indra and so also this Parijata

tree and the horse Uccaihsravas.

 

95. 'Here stands in your courtyard the wonderful

chariot yoked with swans, a wonderful gem (of its

class). It has been brought here from Brahma to

whom it originally belonged.

 

96. 'Here is the treasure named Mahapadma brought

from the lord of wealth. And the ocean gave a

garland named Kinjalkini made of unfading lotus

flowers.

 

97. 'In your house stands the gold-showering

umbrella of Varuna. And here is the excellent chariot

that was formerly Prajapati's.

 

98. By you, O Lord, Death's shakti weapon named

Utkrantida has been carried off. the noose of the

ocean-king is among your brother's possessions.

 

99. 'Nishumbha has every kind of gem produced in

the sea. Fire also gave you two garments which are

purified by fire.

 

100. 'Thus, O Lord of asuras, all gems have been

brought by you. Why this beautiful lady-jewel is not

seized by you? The Rishi said:

 

101-102. On hearing these words of Chanda and

Munda, Sumbha sent the great asura Sugriva as

messenger to the Devi. He said:

 

103. 'Go and tell her thus in my words and do the

thing in such a manner that she may quickly come to

me in love.'

 

104. He went there where the Devi was staying in a

very beautiful spot on the mountain and spoke to her

in fine and sweet words. The messenger said:

 

105-106. 'O Devi, Sumbha, lord of asuras, is the

supreme sovereign of three worlds. Sent by him as

messenger, I have come here to your presence.

 

107. 'Hearken to what has been said by him whose

command is never resisted among the devas and

who has vanquished all the foes of the asuras:

 

108. '(He says), "All the three worlds are mine and

the devas are obedient to me. I enjoy all their hares

in sacrifices separately.

 

109-110. "All the choicest gems in the three worlds

are in my possession; and so is the gem of elephants,

Airavata, the vehicle of the king of devas carried

away be me. The devas themselves offered to me

with salutations that gem of horses named

Uccaisravas which arose at the churning of milk-

ocean.

 

111. "O beautiful lady, whatever other rare objects

there existed among the devas, the gandharvas and

nagas are now with me.

 

112. "We look upon you, O Devi, as the jewel of

womankind in the world. You who are such, come

to me, since we are the enjoyers of the best objects.

 

113. "Take to me or to my younger brother

Nisumbha of great prowess, O unsteady-eyed lady,

for you are in truth a jewel.

 

114. "Wealth, great and beyond compare, you will

get by marrying me. Think over this in your mind,

and become my wife."' The Rishi said:

 

115-116. Thus told, Durga the adorable and

auspicious, by whom this universe is supported, then

became serene and said. The Devi said:

 

117-118. You have spoken truth; nothing false has

been uttered by you in this matter. Sumbha is indeed

the sovereign of the three worlds an likewise is also

Nisumbha.

 

119. 'But in this matter, how can that which has

been promised be made false? Hear what promise I

had made already out of foolishness.

 

120. "He who conquers me in battle, removes my

pride and is my match is strength in the world shall

be my husband."

 

121. 'So let Sumbha come here then, or Nisumbha

the great asura. Vanquishing me here, let him soon

take my hand in marriage. Why delay?' The

messenger said:

 

122-123. 'O Devi, you are haughty. Talk not so

before me. Which man in the three worlds will stand

before Sumbha and Nisumbha?

 

124. 'All the devas verily cannot stand face to face

with even the other asuras in battle. Why mention

you, O Devi, a single woman?

 

125. 'Indra and all other devas could not stand in

battle against Sumbha and other demons, how will

you, a woman, face them?

 

126. 'On my word itself, you go to Sumbha and

Nisumbha. Let it not be that you go to them with

your dignity lost be being dragged by your hair.' The

Devi said:

 

127-128. 'Yes, it is; Sumbha is strong and so is

Nisumbha exceedingly heroic! What can I do since

there stands my ill-considered vow taken long ago?

 

129. 'Go back, and tell the lord of asuras carefully all

this that I have said; let him do whatever he

considers proper.' Here ends the fifth chapter called

'Devi's conversation with the messenger' of the Devi-

mahatmya in Markandeya-purana during the period

of Savarni, the Manu.

 

 

 

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