Worship of Ambika by Indra & other devas – Sri Durga Saptashati (Chapter 4)

​Worship of Ambika by Indra & other devas – Sri Durga Saptashati (Chapter 4)

When that most valiant evil souled Mahishasura and his army were destroyed by the Devi, Indra and the hosts of other gods poured forth their praises to her with their voices, reverently bending down their necks and shoulders, while they looked extremely delighted with horripilation and exultation. (1-2)

Devas said:

1. Ambika who is embodiment of powers of all the devas and pervades this world with her power.  She is worthy of worship by all devas and sages. We bow before Her in devotion. May she grant us auspicious things!’
2. Whose incomparable greatness and power, even Bhagavan Vishnu, Brahma and Rudra are incapable to describe, that Bhagwati Chandika ponder over to protect the entire world and destroy the fear.
3. Who resides as good fortune in the dwellings of the virtuous, as ill-fortune in those of the vicious, as intellect in the persons of pure heart, as devotional faith in the hearts of the good people, and as modesty in the hearts of the elite people, we bow down in the salutation of that Bhagwati devi? Devi, please protect the universe!
4. Devi, this form of you is beyond imagination. Might displayed in destruction of demons and amazing characteristics shown in battles are beyond description.
5. You are primordial cause of origin of this universe. You are equipped with sattvic, rajas and tamas, all three attributes. Still, you are not having any company with shortcomings. Even by Hari, Hara and the other gods are not able to comprehend your designs and boundaries. You are refuge of all. This universe is your part as you verily art sublime original Nature untransformed!    
6. Devi! In the entire fire sacrifices (Yajnas), all the devas find satisfaction by the divine utterances. In these divine utterances, you are “Swaha”. You are also means of satisfaction of manes; hence people call you “Savdha”.
7. Devi! The means of liberation; your unimaginable form of great vows; who is without any flaw; eternal; who believe in essence and who endeavor for final emancipation (liberation), such saints who performs great thought-transcending penances, that Bhagwati “para vidya” (transcendental knowledge or ultimate truth) is you only.
8. You, Goddess are the soul sound of syllable and the foundation of hymns of Rigveda, Yajurveda, Samaveda. You, Devi, are triple Vedas and six prosperities. You have appeared as farming, agriculture & livelihood for the creation and maintenance of the world. You are the supreme destroyer of their pains of the world!
9. Devi! You are the mental Vigour that comprehended the essence of all the Scriptures! As Durga devi, you are the boat to cross the difficult ocean of existence. Goddess, you are devoid of attachments! You are Sri, who has planted her dominion alone in the heart of Kaiṭabha’s foe, Bhagwan Vishnu! You indeed are Gauri, who only has fixed her dwelling in the moon-crested god, Bhagwan Chandra Shekhar!
10. Goddess, your face is always smiling slightly, spotless, resembling the full moon and beautiful as the choicest gold, and lovely!  Yet, it was very amazing that, Mahishasura being swayed by anger and still more wonderful that the Asura Mahiṣa suddenly smote your face when he saw it.
11. Devi! this face became sheeny in hue like the rising moon and wrathful due to raised eyebrows. O goddess, seeing the terrible face with its frowns, that Mahiṣa did not forthwith yield up his life, it was more than wonderful! For who can live after beholding the King of Death enraged?
12. Be gracious, O goddess, as supreme lady, to life! When you are pleased, world come into existence and when you are enraged, you destroy forthwith the entire generations! This is experienced at this very moment as the Asura Mahiṣa’s most extensive might and army here are brought to its end.
13. Goddess, who always confers elevation, people on whom you are pleased, they are esteemed among the nations, acquire prosperity & glories, their righteousness (Dharma) never perishes, they are indeed happy, and they possess devoted children, servants, and wives.
14. O Goddess! With your blessings, virtuous persons daily perform all righteous actions ever indeed devotionally, and gains heaven thereafter by your favour. So, you bestow rewards in the three worlds,
15. O goddess! when you are remembered, you remove terror from every creature and when remembered by healthy persons, you bestow a mind extremely bright and munificent! Dispeller of poverty, pain and fear, who else is, whose mind is always compassionate for the beneficence of all?
16. O Goddess! You slay the demons, so that world attain happiness and these demons who had been practicing sin for long time to descend to hell, they also meet death in the battle thereby proceed to heaven. With these benevolent thoughts, you slay the foes.
17. O goddess! Why you attack on foes by weapons, instead of reducing them to ashes by simply by the glance. There is a mystery behind. Those enemies even, are purified by dying in arms and attain higher realms of world — such is your most kindly intention towards them.
18. The eyes of the Asuras were not blinded neither by the sharp flashes of abundant light from your scymitar, nor by the copious luster of your spear-point, reason being as they gazed upon your countenance which bore a portion of the radiant moon, this very thing happened.
19. Devi! your disposition subdues the conduct of men of evil conduct. And yours this form surpasses thought and rivalry by others; And your valour vanquishes those who have robbed the gods of their prowess; so, you have manifested pity thus even on enemies!
20. Bestower of boons! With whom yours this prowess can be compared? And the most charming form, which strikes fear among foes, who else have? Compassion in mind and relentlessness in battle, both attributes together in the three worlds are seen only in you.
21. O goddess, through the destruction of the foes, you have saved all the three worlds. Having slain them in the battlefield, you have led even those host of foes to heaven and dispelled the fear which beset us from the frenzied foes of the gods. We bow before you with reverence!
22. O Goddess, with your spear protect us! O Ambika, protect us with your sword, with the clanging of thy bell and by the twanging of the thong of your bow!
23. O Chandika! Guard us in the east, west and south directions and Ishwari, guard us in the north by the brandishing of your trident!
24. O goddess! Whatever your gentle forms and exceedingly terrible forms wander about in the three worlds, please guard us and the earth by means of them!
25. O Ambika! Scimitar, spear, and club, and whatever other weapons, rest in your pliant hand, with them guard us on every side!

 The rishi spoke:

1. Thus, was she, the Upholder of the worlds, hymned by the gods, and they paid honour to her with celestial flowers that blossomed in Nandan forest, and with perfumes and unguents.
2. Moreover, all the gods in faith censed her with heavenly incenses. Benignly sweet in countenance she spoke to all the prostrate gods.

 The goddess spoke:

1. Choose, you all devas! whatever you desire of me, I shall grant it with pleasure, being highly honored by these hymns.

 The gods spoke:

1. Bhagwati! You have accomplished all, naught remains undone.
2. Since this Asura Mahiṣa, our foe has been slain. Maheshwari! Even if you wish to grant us a boon.
3. O goddess great! whenever we remember you, then every time you give us vision and do away our huge trouble; And smilingly faced Ambika! whosoever mortal shall praise you with these hymns, prosper him in wealth, prosperity, and splendor.
4. Besides, by increasing his means of riches, wife, and other blessings etc. you always be propitious to us!

 The rishi spoke:

1. When devas thus propitiated Bhadrakali for the good of the world and on their own behalf, “Be it so!” said she; and vanished from their sight, O king.
2. O King, thus I have narrated this, how the goddess came into being from out of the gods’ bodies, she who desires the good of all the three worlds.
3. And again, she came into existence having the body of Gauri Devi, just as she did before, to slay the wicked Daityas and Shumbha and Nishumbha, and to preserve the worlds, as benefactress of the gods, and for the protection of worlds, listen as I relate it. I shall tell it to you as it happened.

Here ends the fourth chapter called ‘The Devi Stuti’ of the Devi-Mahatmya in Markandeya-Purana during the period of Savarni, the Man

॥ चतुर्थोऽध्यायः ॥
ॐ ऋषिरुवाच ॥ १॥
शक्रादयः सुरगणा निहतेऽतिवीर्ये तस्मिन्दुरात्मनि सुरारिबले च देव्या । तां तुष्टुवुः प्रणतिनम्रशिरोधरांसा वाग्भिः प्रहर्षपुलकोद्गमचारुदेहाः ॥ २॥
 
देव्या यया ततमिदं जगदात्मशक्त्या निःशेषदेवगणशक्तिसमूहमूर्त्या । तामम्बिकामखिलदेवमहर्षिपूज्यां भक्त्या नताः स्म विदधातु शुभानि सा नः ॥ ३॥
 
यस्याः प्रभावमतुलं भगवाननन्तो ब्रह्मा हरश्च न हि वक्तुमलं बलं च । सा चण्डिकाखिलजगत्परिपालनाय नाशाय चाशुभभयस्य मतिं करोतु ॥ ४॥
 
या श्रीः स्वयं सुकृतिनां भवनेष्वलक्ष्मीः पापात्मनां कृतधियां हृदयेषु बुद्धिः । श्रद्धा सतां कुलजनप्रभवस्य लज्जा तां त्वां नताः स्म परिपालय देवि विश्वम् ॥ ५॥
 
किं वर्णयाम तव रूपमचिन्त्यमेतत् किञ्चातिवीर्यमसुरक्षयकारि भूरि । किं चाहवेषु चरितानि तवाति यानि सर्वेषु देव्यसुरदेवगणादिकेषु ॥ ६॥
 
हेतुः समस्तजगतां त्रिगुणापि दोषैर्न ज्ञायसे हरिहरादिभिरप्यपारा | सर्वाश्रयाखिलमिदं जगदंशभूतमव्याकृता हि परमा प्रकृतिस्त्वमाद्या ॥ ७॥
 
यस्याः समस्तसुरता समुदीरणेन तृप्तिं प्रयाति सकलेषु मखेषु देवि । स्वाहासि वै पितृगणस्य च तृप्तिहेतुरुच्चार्यसे त्वमत एव जनैः स्वधा च ॥ ८॥
 
या मुक्तिहेतुरविचिन्त्यमहाव्रता त्वं अभ्यस्यसे सुनियतेन्द्रियतत्त्वसारैः । मोक्षार्थिभिर्मुनिभिरस्तसमस्तदोषै र्विद्यासि सा भगवती परमा हि देवि ॥ ९॥
 
शब्दात्मिका सुविमलर्ग्यजुषां निधानमुद्गीथरम्यपदपाठवतां च साम्नाम् । देवि त्रयी भगवती भवभावनाय वार्तासि सर्वजगतां परमार्तिहन्त्री ॥ १०॥
 
मेधासि देवि विदिताखिलशास्त्रसारा दुर्गासि दुर्गभवसागरनौरसङ्गा । श्रीः कैटभारिहृदयैककृताधिवासा गौरी त्वमेव शशिमौलिकृतप्रतिष्ठा ॥ ११॥
 
ईषत्सहासममलं परिपूर्णचन्द्रबिम्बानुकारि कनकोत्तमकान्तिकान्तम् । अत्यद्भुतं प्रहृतमात्तरुषा तथापि वक्त्रं विलोक्य सहसा महिषासुरेण ॥ १२॥
 
दृष्ट्वा तु देवि कुपितं भ्रुकुटीकराल मुद्यच्छशाङ्कसदृशच्छवि यन्न सद्यः । प्राणान् मुमोच महिषस्तदतीव चित्रं कैर्जीव्यते हि कुपितान्तकदर्शनेन ॥ १३॥
 
देवि प्रसीद परमा भवती भवाय सद्यो विनाशयसि कोपवती कुलानि । विज्ञातमेतदधुनैव यदस्तमेतन्नीतं बलं सुविपुलं महिषासुरस्य ॥ १४॥
 
ते सम्मता जनपदेषु धनानि तेषां तेषां यशांसि न च सीदति बन्धुवर्गः । धन्यास्त एव निभृतात्मजभृत्यदारा येषां सदाभ्युदयदा भवती प्रसन्ना ॥ १५॥
 
धर्म्याणि देवि सकलानि सदैव कर्माण्यत्यादृतः प्रतिदिनं सुकृती करोति । स्वर्गं प्रयाति च ततो भवती प्रसादाल्लोकत्रयेऽपि फलदा ननु देवि तेन ॥ १६॥
 
दुर्गे स्मृता हरसि भीतिमशेषजन्तोः स्वस्थैः स्मृता मतिमतीव शुभां ददासि । दारिद्र्यदुःखभयहारिणि का त्वदन्या सर्वोपकारकरणाय सदार्द्रचित्ता ॥ १७॥
एभिर्हतैर्जगदुपैति सुखं तथैते कुर्वन्तु नाम नरकाय चिराय पापम् । सङ्ग्राममृत्युमधिगम्य दिवं प्रयान्तु मत्वेति नूनमहितान्विनिहंसि देवि ॥ १८॥
 
दृष्ट्वैव किं न भवती प्रकरोति भस्म सर्वासुरानरिषु यत्प्रहिणोषि शस्त्रम् । लोकान्प्रयान्तु रिपवोऽपि हि शस्त्रपूता इत्थं मतिर्भवति तेष्वहितेषुसाध्वी ॥ १९॥
 
खड्गप्रभानिकरविस्फुरणैस्तथोग्रैः शूलाग्रकान्तिनिवहेन दृशोऽसुराणाम् । यन्नागता विलयमंशुमदिन्दुखण्डयोग्याननं तव विलोकयतां तदेतत् ॥ २०॥
 
दुर्वृत्तवृत्तशमनं तव देवि शीलं रूपं तथैतदविचिन्त्यमतुल्यमन्यैः । वीर्यं च हन्तृ हृतदेवपराक्रमाणां वैरिष्वपि प्रकटितैव दया त्वयेत्थम् ॥ २१॥
 
केनोपमा भवतु तेऽस्य पराक्रमस्य रूपं च शत्रुभयकार्यतिहारि कुत्र । चित्ते कृपा समरनिष्ठुरता च दृष्टा त्वय्येव देवि वरदे भुवनत्रयेऽपि ॥ २२॥
 
त्रैलोक्यमेतदखिलं रिपुनाशनेनत्रातं त्वया समरमूर्धनि तेऽपि हत्वा । नीता दिवं रिपुगणा भयमप्यपास्तम् अस्माकमुन्मदसुरारिभवं नमस्ते ॥ २३॥
 
शूलेन पाहि नो देवि पाहि खड्गेन चाम्बिके । घण्टास्वनेन नः पाहि चापज्यानिःस्वनेन च ॥ २४॥
 
प्राच्यां रक्ष प्रतीच्यां च चण्डिके रक्ष दक्षिणे । भ्रामणेनात्मशूलस्य उत्तरस्यां तथेश्वरि ॥ २५॥
 
सौम्यानि यानि रूपाणि त्रैलोक्ये विचरन्ति ते । यानि चात्यन्तघोराणि तै रक्षास्मांस्तथा भुवम् ॥ २६॥
 
खड्गशूलगदादीनि यानि चास्त्रानि तेऽम्बिके । करपल्लवसङ्गीनि तैरस्मान्रक्ष सर्वतः ॥ २७॥
 
ऋषिरुवाच ॥ २८॥
 
एवं स्तुता सुरैर्दिव्यैः कुसुमैर्नन्दनोद्भवैः । अर्चिता जगतां धात्री तथा गन्धानुलेपनैः ॥ २९॥
 
भक्त्या समस्तैस्त्रिदशैर्दिव्यैर्धूपैः सुधूपिता । प्राह प्रसादसुमुखी समस्तान् प्रणतान् सुरान् ॥ ३०॥
 
 देव्युवाच ॥ ३१॥
 
व्रियतां त्रिदशाः सर्वे यदस्मत्तोऽभिवाञ्छितम् ॥ ३२॥
 
 देवा ऊचुः ॥ ३३॥
 
भगवत्या कृतं सर्वं न किञ्चिदवशिष्यते ॥ ३४॥
 
यदयं निहतः शत्रुरस्माकं महिषासुरः । यदि चापि वरो देयस्त्वयास्माकं महेश्वरि ॥ ३५॥
 
संस्मृता संस्मृता त्वं नो हिंसेथाः परमापदः । यश्च मर्त्यः स्तवैरेभिस्त्वां स्तोष्यत्यमलानने ॥ ३६॥
 
तस्य वित्तर्द्धिविभवैर्धनदारादिसम्पदाम् । वृद्धयेऽस्मत्प्रसन्ना त्वं भवेथाः सर्वदाम्बिके ॥ ३७॥
 
ऋषिरुवाच ॥ ३८॥
 
इति प्रसादिता देवैर्जगतोऽर्थे तथात्मनः । तथेत्युक्त्वा भद्रकाली बभूवान्तर्हिता नृप ॥ ३९॥
 
इत्येतत्कथितं भूप सम्भूता सा यथा पुरा । देवी देवशरीरेभ्यो जगत्त्रयहितैषिणी ॥ ४०॥
 
पुनश्च गौरीदेहात्सा समुद्भूता यथाभवत् । वधाय दुष्टदैत्यानां तथा शुम्भनिशुम्भयोः ॥ ४१॥
 
रक्षणाय च लोकानां देवानामुपकारिणी । तच्छृणुष्व मयाख्यातं यथावत्कथयामि ते ॥ ४२॥
 
। ह्रीं ॐ ।
॥ स्वस्ति श्रीमार्कण्डेयपुराणे सावर्णिके मन्वन्तरे देवीमाहात्म्ये शक्रादिस्तुतिर्नाम चतुर्थोऽध्यायः ॥ ४॥