The Slaying of Madhu and Kaitabha

ॐ नमश्चण्डिकायै

Original Text

1. ॐ ऐं मार्कण्डेय उवाचoṃ aiṃ mārkaṇḍeya uvāca(Markandeya said)॥ 1 ॥

2. सावर्णिः सूर्यतनयो यो मनुः कथ्यतेऽष्टमः।निशामय तदुत्पत्तिं विस्तराद् गदतो मम॥ 2 ॥

   sāvarṇiḥ sūryatanayo yo manuḥ kathyate'ṣṭamaḥ|niśāmaya tadutpattiṃ vistarād gadato mama

   Savarni, son of the Sun, is called the eighth Manu. Hear from me in full the story of how he came to be.

3. महामायानुभावेन यथा मन्वन्तराधिपः।स बभूव महाभागः सावर्णिस्तनयो रवेः॥ 3 ॥

   mahāmāyānubhāvena yathā manvantarādhipaḥ|sa babhūva mahābhāgaḥ sāvarṇistanayo raveḥ

   Hear how, by the power of Mahamaya, the blessed Savarni, son of the Sun, became the lord of a Manvantara.

4. स्वारोचिषेऽन्तरे पूर्वं चैत्रवंशसमुद्भवः।सुरथो नाम राजाभूत्समस्ते क्षितिमण्डले॥ 4 ॥

   svārociṣe'ntare pūrvaṃ caitravaṃśasamudbhavaḥ|suratho nāma rājābhūtsamaste kṣitimaṇḍale

   Long ago, in the Svarochisha Manvantara, there was a king named Suratha, born in the line of Chaitra, who ruled the whole earth.

5. तस्य पालयतः सम्यक् प्रजाः पुत्रानिवौरसान्।बभूवुः शत्रवो भूपाः कोलाविध्वंसिनस्तदा॥ 5 ॥

   tasya pālayataḥ samyak prajāḥ putrānivaurasān|babhūvuḥ śatravo bhūpāḥ kolāvidhvaṃsinastadā

   He cared for his people well, as if they were his own sons. In that time the Kolavidhvamsi kings became his enemies.

6. तस्य तैरभवद् युद्धमतिप्रबलदण्डिनः।न्यूनैरपि स तैर्युद्धे कोलाविध्वंसिभिर्जितः॥ 6 ॥

   tasya tairabhavad yuddhamatiprabaladaṇḍinaḥ|nyūnairapi sa tairyuddhe kolāvidhvaṃsibhirjitaḥ

   Suratha, whose army was very strong, went to war with them, and though they were fewer, the Kolavidhvamsis defeated him.

7. ततः स्वपुरमायातो निजदेशाधिपोऽभवत्।आक्रान्तः स महाभागस्तैस्तदा प्रबलारिभिः॥ 7 ॥

   tataḥ svapuramāyāto nijadeśādhipo'bhavat|ākrāntaḥ sa mahābhāgastaistadā prabalāribhiḥ

   He returned to his capital and ruled only his own land. But there too those powerful enemies attacked him.

8. अमात्यैर्बलिभिर्दुष्टैर्दुर्बलस्य दुरात्मभिः।कोशो बलं चापहृतं तत्रापि स्वपुरे ततः॥ 8 ॥

   amātyairbalibhirduṣṭairdurbalasya durātmabhiḥ|kośo balaṃ cāpahṛtaṃ tatrāpi svapure tataḥ

   Now that the king was weak, even in his own capital his powerful, wicked and evil-minded ministers seized his treasury and his army.

9. ततो मृगयाव्याजेन हृतस्वाम्यः स भूपतिः।एकाकी हयमारुह्य जगाम गहनं वनम्॥ 9 ॥

   tato mṛgayāvyājena hṛtasvāmyaḥ sa bhūpatiḥ|ekākī hayamāruhya jagāma gahanaṃ vanam

   Stripped of his rule, the king mounted a horse on the pretext of a hunt and rode alone into a deep forest.

10. स तत्राश्रममद्राक्षीद् द्विजवर्यस्य मेधसः।प्रशान्तश्वापदाकीर्णं मुनिशिष्योपशोभितम्॥ 10 ॥

    sa tatrāśramamadrākṣīd dvijavaryasya medhasaḥ|praśāntaśvāpadākīrṇaṃ muniśiṣyopaśobhitam

    There he saw the hermitage of Medhas, the best of Brahmins, where even wild beasts lived in peace and the sage's disciples lent it grace.

11. तस्थौ कंचित्स कालं च मुनिना तेन सत्कृतः।इतश्चेतश्च विचरंस्तस्मिन्मुनिवराश्रमे॥ 11 ॥

    tasthau kaṃcitsa kālaṃ ca muninā tena satkṛtaḥ|itaścetaśca vicaraṃstasminmunivarāśrame

    Welcomed with honour by the sage, he stayed there for some time, wandering here and there in that fine hermitage.

12. सोऽचिन्तयत्तदा तत्र ममत्वाकृष्टचेतनः।मत्पूर्वैः पालितं पूर्वं मया हीनं पुरं हि तत्॥ 12 ॥

    so'cintayattadā tatra mamatvākṛṣṭacetanaḥ|matpūrvaiḥ pālitaṃ pūrvaṃ mayā hīnaṃ puraṃ hi tat

    There, his mind pulled by attachment, the king began to think: "The city my forefathers ruled is lost to me now.

13. मद्भृत्यैस्तैरसद्वृत्तैर्धर्मतः पाल्यते न वा।न जाने स प्रधानो मे शूरहस्ती सदामदः॥ 13 ॥

    madbhṛtyaistairasadvṛttairdharmataḥ pālyate na vā|na jāne sa pradhāno me śūrahastī sadāmadaḥ

    Are my wicked servants ruling it justly or not? I do not know. My chief elephant, so brave and always in rut,

14. मम वैरिवशं यातः कान् भोगानुपलप्स्यते।ये ममानुगता नित्यं प्रसादधनभोजनैः॥ 14 ॥

    mama vairivaśaṃ yātaḥ kān bhogānupalapsyate|ye mamānugatā nityaṃ prasādadhanabhojanaiḥ

    now in my enemies' hands, what comforts will he find? Those who always followed me for my favour, wealth and food

15. अनुवृत्तिं ध्रुवं तेऽद्य कुर्वन्त्यन्यमहीभृताम्।असम्यग्व्ययशीलैस्तैः कुर्वद्भिः सततं व्ययम्॥ 15 ॥

    anuvṛttiṃ dhruvaṃ te'dya kurvantyanyamahībhṛtām|asamyagvyayaśīlaistaiḥ kurvadbhiḥ satataṃ vyayam

    are surely serving other kings today. And those wasteful men, spending all the time,

16. संचितः सोऽतिदुःखेन क्षयं कोशो गमिष्यति।एतच्चान्यच्च सततं चिन्तयामास पार्थिवः॥ 16 ॥

    saṃcitaḥ so'tiduḥkhena kṣayaṃ kośo gamiṣyati|etaccānyacca satataṃ cintayāmāsa pārthivaḥ

    will empty the treasury I gathered with such hardship." The king kept thinking of these and other such things.

17. तत्र विप्राश्रमाभ्याशे वैश्यमेकं ददर्श सः।स पृष्टस्तेन कस्त्वं भो हेतुश्चागमनेऽत्र कः॥ 17 ॥

    tatra viprāśramābhyāśe vaiśyamekaṃ dadarśa saḥ|sa pṛṣṭastena kastvaṃ bho hetuścāgamane'tra kaḥ

    Near the Brahmin's hermitage he saw a merchant and asked him, "Who are you, friend, and why have you come here?

18. सशोक इव कस्मात्त्वं दुर्मना इव लक्ष्यसे।इत्याकर्ण्य वचस्तस्य भूपतेः प्रणयोदितम्॥ 18 ॥

    saśoka iva kasmāttvaṃ durmanā iva lakṣyase|ityākarṇya vacastasya bhūpateḥ praṇayoditam

    Why do you look so grieved and downcast?" Hearing these kind words from the king,

19. प्रत्युवाच स तं वैश्यः प्रश्रयावनतो नृपम्॥ 19 ॥

    pratyuvāca sa taṃ vaiśyaḥ praśrayāvanato nṛpam

    the merchant bowed humbly and answered him.

20. वैश्य उवाचvaiśya uvāca(The merchant said)॥ 20 ॥

21. समाधिर्नाम वैश्योऽहमुत्पन्नो धनिनां कुले॥ 21 ॥

    samādhirnāma vaiśyo'hamutpanno dhanināṃ kule

    I am a merchant named Samadhi, born into a wealthy family.

22. पुत्रदारैर्निरस्तश्च धनलोभादसाधुभिः।विहीनश्च धनैर्दारैः पुत्रैरादाय मे धनम्॥ 22 ॥

    putradārairnirastaśca dhanalobhādasādhubhiḥ|vihīnaśca dhanairdāraiḥ putrairādāya me dhanam

    My wicked sons and wife, greedy for wealth, have cast me out. They took my money, and I am left without wealth, wife or sons.

23. वनमभ्यागतो दुःखी निरस्तश्चाप्तबन्धुभिः।सोऽहं न वेद्मि पुत्राणां कुशलाकुशलात्मिकाम्॥ 23 ॥

    vanamabhyāgato duḥkhī nirastaścāptabandhubhiḥ|so'haṃ na vedmi putrāṇāṃ kuśalākuśalātmikām

    Rejected even by the relatives I trusted, I came to the forest in sorrow. Staying here, I do not know whether my sons,

24. प्रवृत्तिं स्वजनानां च दाराणां चात्र संस्थितः।किं नु तेषां गृहे क्षेममक्षेमं किं नु साम्प्रतम्॥ 24 ॥

    pravṛttiṃ svajanānāṃ ca dārāṇāṃ cātra saṃsthitaḥ|kiṃ nu teṣāṃ gṛhe kṣemamakṣemaṃ kiṃ nu sāmpratam

    my kin and my wife are well or not. Is all well in their home now, or has some harm come to it?

25. कथं ते किं नु सद्वृत्ता दुर्वृत्ताः किं नु मे सुताः॥ 25 ॥

    kathaṃ te kiṃ nu sadvṛttā durvṛttāḥ kiṃ nu me sutāḥ

    How are they? Are my sons living rightly or wrongly?

26. राजोवाचrājovāca(The king said)॥ 26 ॥

27. यैर्निरस्तो भवाँल्लुब्धैः पुत्रदारादिभिर्धनैः॥ 27 ॥

    yairnirasto bhavām̐llubdhaiḥ putradārādibhirdhanaiḥ

    Those greedy sons, wife and others who drove you out for money,

28. तेषु किं भवतः स्नेहमनुबध्नाति मानसम्॥ 28 ॥

    teṣu kiṃ bhavataḥ snehamanubadhnāti mānasam

    why is your heart still bound to them in affection?

29. वैश्य उवाचvaiśya uvāca(The merchant said)॥ 29 ॥

30. एवमेतद्यथा प्राह भवानस्मद्गतं वचः॥ 30 ॥

    evametadyathā prāha bhavānasmadgataṃ vacaḥ

    What you say about me is exactly so.

31. किं करोमि न बध्नाति मम निष्ठुरतां मनः।यैः संत्यज्य पितृस्नेहं धनलुब्धैर्निराकृतः॥ 31 ॥

    kiṃ karomi na badhnāti mama niṣṭhuratāṃ manaḥ|yaiḥ saṃtyajya pitṛsnehaṃ dhanalubdhairnirākṛtaḥ

    But what can I do? My mind will not harden. Those who, greedy for wealth, threw aside a father's love and cast me out,

32. पतिस्वजनहार्दं च हार्दि तेष्वेव मे मनः।किमेतन्नाभिजानामि जानन्नपि महामते॥ 32 ॥

    patisvajanahārdaṃ ca hārdi teṣveva me manaḥ|kimetannābhijānāmi jānannapi mahāmate

    who gave up all love for husband and kin, it is to them that my heart still clings. O wise one, though I know this, I cannot understand

33. यत्प्रेमप्रवणं चित्तं विगुणेष्वपि बन्धुषु।तेषां कृते मे निःश्वासो दौर्मनस्यं च जायते॥ 33 ॥

    yatpremapravaṇaṃ cittaṃ viguṇeṣvapi bandhuṣu|teṣāṃ kṛte me niḥśvāso daurmanasyaṃ ca jāyate

    why my heart leans in love towards kin who have no virtue. For them I sigh, and sadness comes over me.

34. करोमि किं यन्न मनस्तेष्वप्रीतिषु निष्ठुरम्॥ 34 ॥

    karomi kiṃ yanna manasteṣvaprītiṣu niṣṭhuram

    What shall I do, when my mind will not turn hard towards those who have no love for me?

35. मार्कण्डेय उवाचmārkaṇḍeya uvāca(Markandeya said)॥ 35 ॥

36. ततस्तौ सहितौ विप्र तं मुनिं समुपस्थितौ॥ 36 ॥

    tatastau sahitau vipra taṃ muniṃ samupasthitau

    Then, O Brahmin, the two went together to the sage.

37. समाधिर्नाम वैश्योऽसौ स च पार्थिवसत्तमः।कृत्वा तु तौ यथान्यायं यथार्हं तेन संविदम्॥ 37 ॥

    samādhirnāma vaiśyo'sau sa ca pārthivasattamaḥ|kṛtvā tu tau yathānyāyaṃ yathārhaṃ tena saṃvidam

    The merchant named Samadhi and that best of kings greeted him with due respect, and

38. उपविष्टौ कथाः काश्चिच्चक्रतुर्वैश्यपार्थिवौ॥ 38 ॥

    upaviṣṭau kathāḥ kāściccakraturvaiśyapārthivau

    sitting down, the merchant and the king spoke with him.

39. राजोवाचrājovāca(The king said)॥ 39 ॥

40. भगवंस्त्वामहं प्रष्टुमिच्छाम्येकं वदस्व तत्॥ 40 ॥

    bhagavaṃstvāmahaṃ praṣṭumicchāmyekaṃ vadasva tat

    Revered one, I wish to ask you one thing. Please tell me.

41. दुःखाय यन्मे मनसः स्वचित्तायत्ततां विना।ममत्वं गतराज्यस्य राज्याङ्गेष्वखिलेष्वपि॥ 41 ॥

    duḥkhāya yanme manasaḥ svacittāyattatāṃ vinā|mamatvaṃ gatarājyasya rājyāṅgeṣvakhileṣvapi

    My mind is not under my control, and that is the cause of my sorrow. Though I have lost my kingdom, I am still attached to every part of it.

42. जानतोऽपि यथाज्ञस्य किमेतन्मुनिसत्तम।अयं च निकृतः पुत्रैर्दारैर्भृत्यैस्तथोज्झितः॥ 42 ॥

    jānato'pi yathājñasya kimetanmunisattama|ayaṃ ca nikṛtaḥ putrairdārairbhṛtyaistathojjhitaḥ

    O best of sages, why is this happening to me, who know better, as if I were ignorant? And this merchant too has been wronged by his sons and abandoned by his wife and servants,

43. स्वजनेन च संत्यक्तस्तेषु हार्दी तथाप्यति।एवमेष तथाहं च द्वावप्यत्यन्तदुःखितौ॥ 43 ॥

    svajanena ca saṃtyaktasteṣu hārdī tathāpyati|evameṣa tathāhaṃ ca dvāvapyatyantaduḥkhitau

    and cast off by his kin, yet he loves them dearly. So both he and I are in deep sorrow.

44. दृष्टदोषेऽपि विषये ममत्वाकृष्टमानसौ।तत्किमेतन्महाभाग यन्मोहो ज्ञानिनोरपि॥ 44 ॥

    dṛṣṭadoṣe'pi viṣaye mamatvākṛṣṭamānasau|tatkimetanmahābhāga yanmoho jñāninorapi

    Our minds are drawn by attachment to the very things whose faults we have seen. O blessed one, why do we, who understand, still fall into this delusion?

45. ममास्य च भवत्येषा विवेकान्धस्य मूढता॥ 45 ॥

    mamāsya ca bhavatyeṣā vivekāndhasya mūḍhatā

    Why is there this foolishness in him and in me, blind for want of discernment?

46. ऋषिरुवाचṛṣiruvāca(The sage Medhas said)॥ 46 ॥

47. ज्ञानमस्ति समस्तस्य जन्तोर्विषयगोचरे॥ 47 ॥

    jñānamasti samastasya jantorviṣayagocare

    Every creature has knowledge of the objects of the senses.

48. विषयश्च महाभाग याति चैवं पृथक् पृथक्।दिवान्धाः प्राणिनः केचिद्रात्रावन्धास्तथापरे॥ 48 ॥

    viṣayaśca mahābhāga yāti caivaṃ pṛthak pṛthak|divāndhāḥ prāṇinaḥ kecidrātrāvandhāstathāpare

    And, O blessed one, these objects reach each creature in its own way. Some creatures are blind by day and others by night.

49. केचिद्दिवा तथा रात्रौ प्राणिनस्तुल्यदृष्टयः।ज्ञानिनो मनुजाः सत्यं किं तु ते न हि केवलम्॥ 49 ॥

    keciddivā tathā rātrau prāṇinastulyadṛṣṭayaḥ|jñānino manujāḥ satyaṃ kiṃ tu te na hi kevalam

    Some see equally by day and by night. It is true that humans have knowledge, but they are not the only ones,

50. यतो हि ज्ञानिनः सर्वे पशुपक्षिमृगादयः।ज्ञानं च तन्मनुष्याणां यत्तेषां मृगपक्षिणाम्॥ 50 ॥

    yato hi jñāninaḥ sarve paśupakṣimṛgādayaḥ|jñānaṃ ca tanmanuṣyāṇāṃ yatteṣāṃ mṛgapakṣiṇām

    for cattle, birds, deer and all other creatures also have knowledge. The knowledge humans have, the deer and birds have too,

51. मनुष्याणां च यत्तेषां तुल्यमन्यत्तथोभयोः।ज्ञानेऽपि सति पश्यैतान् पतङ्गाञ्छावचञ्चुषु॥ 51 ॥

    manuṣyāṇāṃ ca yatteṣāṃ tulyamanyattathobhayoḥ|jñāne'pi sati paśyaitān pataṅgāñchāvacañcuṣu

    and what they have, humans have; in other ways too the two are alike. Look at these birds, who have knowledge and yet,

52. कणमोक्षादृतान्मोहात्पीड्यमानानपि क्षुधा।मानुषा मनुजव्याघ्र साभिलाषाः सुतान् प्रति॥ 52 ॥

    kaṇamokṣādṛtānmohātpīḍyamānānapi kṣudhā|mānuṣā manujavyāghra sābhilāṣāḥ sutān prati

    though tormented by hunger themselves, drop grain into their chicks' beaks out of attachment. O tiger among men, humans too long for children

53. लोभात्प्रत्युपकाराय नन्वेतान् किं न पश्यसि।तथापि ममतावर्त्ते मोहगर्ते निपातिताः॥ 53 ॥

    lobhātpratyupakārāya nanvetān kiṃ na paśyasi|tathāpi mamatāvartte mohagarte nipātitāḥ

    in the hope that they will repay them; do you not see this? Even so, people are thrown into the pit of delusion with its whirlpool of attachment

54. महामायाप्रभावेण संसारस्थितिकारिणा।तन्नात्र विस्मयः कार्यो योगनिद्रा जगत्पतेः॥ 54 ॥

    mahāmāyāprabhāveṇa saṃsārasthitikāriṇā|tannātra vismayaḥ kāryo yoganidrā jagatpateḥ

    by the power of Mahamaya, who keeps the world in being. So there is no cause for wonder here. She who is the yoga-sleep of Vishnu, lord of the world,

55. महामाया हरेश्चैषा तया सम्मोह्यते जगत्।ज्ञानिनामपि चेतांसि देवी भगवती हि सा॥ 55 ॥

    mahāmāyā hareścaiṣā tayā sammohyate jagat|jñānināmapi cetāṃsi devī bhagavatī hi sā

    is Mahamaya, the power of Hari, and by her this world is held in delusion. That divine goddess takes even the minds of the wise

56. बलादाकृष्य मोहाय महामाया प्रयच्छति।तया विसृज्यते विश्वं जगदेतच्चराचरम्॥ 56 ॥

    balādākṛṣya mohāya mahāmāyā prayacchati|tayā visṛjyate viśvaṃ jagadetaccarācaram

    and drags them by force into delusion. It is she who brings forth this whole universe, moving and unmoving.

57. सैषा प्रसन्ना वरदा नृणां भवति मुक्तये।सा विद्या परमा मुक्तेर्हेतुभूता सनातनी॥ 57 ॥

    saiṣā prasannā varadā nṛṇāṃ bhavati muktaye|sā vidyā paramā mukterhetubhūtā sanātanī

    When pleased, she grants people the boon of liberation. She is the supreme knowledge, the eternal cause of liberation,

58. संसारबन्धहेतुश्च सैव सर्वेश्वरेश्वरी॥ 58 ॥

    saṃsārabandhahetuśca saiva sarveśvareśvarī

    and she alone is also the cause of bondage to the world. She is the ruler over all rulers.

59. राजोवाचrājovāca(The king said)॥ 59 ॥

60. भगवन् का हि सा देवी महामायेति यां भवान्॥ 60 ॥

    bhagavan kā hi sā devī mahāmāyeti yāṃ bhavān

    Revered one, who is this goddess you call Mahamaya?

61. ब्रवीति कथमुत्पन्ना सा कर्मास्याश्च किं द्विज।यत्प्रभावा च सा देवी यत्स्वरूपा यदुद्भवा॥ 61 ॥

    bravīti kathamutpannā sā karmāsyāśca kiṃ dvija|yatprabhāvā ca sā devī yatsvarūpā yadudbhavā

    How did she come forth, O Brahmin, and what are her deeds? What is her power, what is her nature and what is her origin?

62. तत्सर्वं श्रोतुमिच्छामि त्वत्तो ब्रह्मविदां वर॥ 62 ॥

    tatsarvaṃ śrotumicchāmi tvatto brahmavidāṃ vara

    O best of the knowers of Brahman, I wish to hear all of this from you.

63. ऋषिरुवाचṛṣiruvāca(The sage Medhas said)॥ 63 ॥

64. नित्यैव सा जगन्मूर्तिस्तया सर्वमिदं ततम्॥ 64 ॥

    nityaiva sā jaganmūrtistayā sarvamidaṃ tatam

    She is eternal. The world is her form, and by her all this is pervaded.

65. तथापि तत्समुत्पत्तिर्बहुधा श्रूयतां मम।देवानां कार्यसिद्ध्यर्थमाविर्भवति सा यदा॥ 65 ॥

    tathāpi tatsamutpattirbahudhā śrūyatāṃ mama|devānāṃ kāryasiddhyarthamāvirbhavati sā yadā

    Yet she comes forth in many ways; hear of them from me. When she appears to accomplish the purpose of the gods,

66. उत्पन्नेति तदा लोके सा नित्याप्यभिधीयते।योगनिद्रां यदा विष्णुर्जगत्येकार्णवीकृते॥ 66 ॥

    utpanneti tadā loke sā nityāpyabhidhīyate|yoganidrāṃ yadā viṣṇurjagatyekārṇavīkṛte

    then, though eternal, she is said in the world to have been born. At the end of a kalpa, when the world had become a single ocean,

67. आस्तीर्य शेषमभजत्कल्पान्ते भगवान् प्रभुः।तदा द्वावसुरौ घोरौ विख्यातौ मधुकैटभौ॥ 67 ॥

    āstīrya śeṣamabhajatkalpānte bhagavān prabhuḥ|tadā dvāvasurau ghorau vikhyātau madhukaiṭabhau

    Lord Vishnu spread out Shesha as his bed and sank into yoga-sleep. Then two terrible demons, the famous Madhu and Kaitabha,

68. विष्णुकर्णमलोद्भूतौ हन्तुं ब्रह्माणमुद्यतौ।स नाभिकमले विष्णोः स्थितो ब्रह्मा प्रजापतिः॥ 68 ॥

    viṣṇukarṇamalodbhūtau hantuṃ brahmāṇamudyatau|sa nābhikamale viṣṇoḥ sthito brahmā prajāpatiḥ

    born from the wax of Vishnu's ears, rose up to kill Brahma. Brahma, the lord of creatures, seated on the lotus of Vishnu's navel,

69. दृष्ट्वा तावसुरौ चोग्रौ प्रसुप्तं च जनार्दनम्।तुष्टाव योगनिद्रां तामेकाग्रहृदयस्थितः॥ 69 ॥

    dṛṣṭvā tāvasurau cograu prasuptaṃ ca janārdanam|tuṣṭāva yoganidrāṃ tāmekāgrahṛdayasthitaḥ

    saw those two fierce demons and Janardana asleep, and with a single-pointed heart he praised Yoganidra

70. विबोधनार्थाय हरेर्हरिनेत्रकृतालयाम्।विश्वेश्वरीं जगद्धात्रीं स्थितिसंहारकारिणीम्॥ 70 ॥

    vibodhanārthāya harerharinetrakṛtālayām|viśveśvarīṃ jagaddhātrīṃ sthitisaṃhārakāriṇīm

    to wake Hari: she who dwells in Hari's eyes, the queen of the universe, who sustains the world and brings about its keeping and its end.

71. निद्रां भगवतीं विष्णोरतुलां तेजसः प्रभुः॥ 71 ॥

    nidrāṃ bhagavatīṃ viṣṇoratulāṃ tejasaḥ prabhuḥ

    The radiant lord Brahma praised the goddess who is Vishnu's matchless sleep.

72. ब्रह्मोवाचbrahmovāca(Brahma said)॥ 72 ॥

73. त्वं स्वाहा त्वं स्वधा त्वं हि वषट्कारःस्वरात्मिका॥ 73 ॥

    tvaṃ svāhā tvaṃ svadhā tvaṃ hi vaṣaṭkāraḥsvarātmikā

    You are Svaha, you are Svadha, you are the sacred call Vashat. The very sounds of speech are your form.

74. सुधा त्वमक्षरे नित्ये त्रिधा मात्रात्मिका स्थिता।अर्धमात्रास्थिता नित्या यानुच्चार्या विशेषतः॥ 74 ॥

    sudhā tvamakṣare nitye tridhā mātrātmikā sthitā|ardhamātrāsthitā nityā yānuccāryā viśeṣataḥ

    You are the nectar of life. In the eternal syllable Om you abide as its three measures, A, U and M, and you are also the eternal half-measure beyond them, which cannot be spoken.

75. त्वमेव संध्या सावित्री त्वं देवि जननी परा।त्वयैतद्धार्यते विश्वं त्वयैतत्सृज्यते जगत्॥ 75 ॥

    tvameva saṃdhyā sāvitrī tvaṃ devi jananī parā|tvayaitaddhāryate viśvaṃ tvayaitatsṛjyate jagat

    You are Sandhya, you are Savitri, you are the supreme Mother. By you this universe is upheld and by you it is created.

76. त्वयैतत्पाल्यते देवि त्वमत्स्यन्ते च सर्वदा।विसृष्टौ सृष्टिरूपा त्वं स्थितिरूपा च पालने॥ 76 ॥

    tvayaitatpālyate devi tvamatsyante ca sarvadā|visṛṣṭau sṛṣṭirūpā tvaṃ sthitirūpā ca pālane

    By you, O Devi, it is protected, and at the end you always take it back into yourself. In creation you are creation, in preservation you are preservation,

77. तथा संहृतिरूपान्ते जगतोऽस्य जगन्मये।महाविद्या महामाया महामेधा महास्मृतिः॥ 77 ॥

    tathā saṃhṛtirūpānte jagato'sya jaganmaye|mahāvidyā mahāmāyā mahāmedhā mahāsmṛtiḥ

    and at the world's end, O you who are the world, you are its dissolution. You are the great knowledge, the great illusion, the great intellect and the great memory,

78. महामोहा च भवती महादेवी महासुरी।प्रकृतिस्त्वं च सर्वस्य गुणत्रयविभाविनी॥ 78 ॥

    mahāmohā ca bhavatī mahādevī mahāsurī|prakṛtistvaṃ ca sarvasya guṇatrayavibhāvinī

    the great delusion, the great goddess and the great power of the asuras. You are the primal nature of all, who brings forth the three gunas.

79. कालरात्रिर्महारात्रिर्मोहरात्रिश्च दारुणा।त्वं श्रीस्त्वमीश्वरी त्वं ह्रीस्त्वं बुद्धिर्बोधलक्षणा॥ 79 ॥

    kālarātrirmahārātrirmoharātriśca dāruṇā|tvaṃ śrīstvamīśvarī tvaṃ hrīstvaṃ buddhirbodhalakṣaṇā

    You are the dreadful night of death, the great night and the night of delusion. You are Shri, you are the sovereign, you are modesty, you are intellect marked by understanding.

80. लज्जा पुष्टिस्तथा तुष्टिस्त्वं शान्तिः क्षान्तिरेव च।खङ्गिनी शूलिनी घोरा गदिनी चक्रिणी तथा॥ 80 ॥

    lajjā puṣṭistathā tuṣṭistvaṃ śāntiḥ kṣāntireva ca|khaṅginī śūlinī ghorā gadinī cakriṇī tathā

    You are shame, nourishment and contentment, peace and forbearance. Terrible one, you bear the sword, the spear, the mace and the discus,

81. शङ्खिनी चापिनी बाणभुशुण्डीपरिघायुधा।सौम्या सौम्यतराशेषसौम्येभ्यस्त्वतिसुन्दरी॥ 81 ॥

    śaṅkhinī cāpinī bāṇabhuśuṇḍīparighāyudhā|saumyā saumyatarāśeṣasaumyebhyastvatisundarī

    the conch, the bow, the arrow, the bhushundi and the club. You are gentle, gentler than the gentlest, and more beautiful than all things beautiful.

82. परापराणां परमा त्वमेव परमेश्वरी।यच्च किंचित्क्वचिद्वस्तु सदसद्वाखिलात्मिके॥ 82 ॥

    parāparāṇāṃ paramā tvameva parameśvarī|yacca kiṃcitkvacidvastu sadasadvākhilātmike

    You are beyond both the higher and the lower, the supreme ruler. O self of all, whatever exists anywhere, real or unreal,

83. तस्य सर्वस्य या शक्तिः सा त्वं किं स्तूयसे तदा।यया त्वया जगत्स्रष्टा जगत्पात्यत्ति यो जगत्॥ 83 ॥

    tasya sarvasya yā śaktiḥ sā tvaṃ kiṃ stūyase tadā|yayā tvayā jagatsraṣṭā jagatpātyatti yo jagat

    the power of all of it is you; how then can you be praised? He who creates, protects and consumes the world has been

84. सोऽपि निद्रावशं नीतः कस्त्वां स्तोतुमिहेश्वरः।विष्णुः शरीरग्रहणमहमीशान एव च॥ 84 ॥

    so'pi nidrāvaśaṃ nītaḥ kastvāṃ stotumiheśvaraḥ|viṣṇuḥ śarīragrahaṇamahamīśāna eva ca

    put to sleep by you, so who here is able to praise you? Vishnu, myself and Shiva

85. कारितास्ते यतोऽतस्त्वां कः स्तोतुं शक्तिमान् भवेत्।सा त्वमित्थं प्रभावैः स्वैरुदारैर्देवि संस्तुता॥ 85 ॥

    kāritāste yato'tastvāṃ kaḥ stotuṃ śaktimān bhavet|sā tvamitthaṃ prabhāvaiḥ svairudārairdevi saṃstutā

    have been made by you to take bodily form, so who could have the power to praise you? O Devi, praised thus for your own noble powers,

86. मोहयैतौ दुराधर्षावसुरौ मधुकैटभौ।प्रबोधं च जगत्स्वामी नीयतामच्युतो लघु॥ 86 ॥

    mohayaitau durādharṣāvasurau madhukaiṭabhau|prabodhaṃ ca jagatsvāmī nīyatāmacyuto laghu

    bewilder these two unconquerable demons, Madhu and Kaitabha, and let Achyuta, the lord of the world, be quickly woken,

87. बोधश्च क्रियतामस्य हन्तुमेतौ महासुरौ॥ 87 ॥

    bodhaśca kriyatāmasya hantumetau mahāsurau

    and roused to slay these two great demons.

88. ऋषिरुवाचṛṣiruvāca(The sage Medhas said)॥ 88 ॥

89. एवं स्तुता तदा देवी तामसी तत्र वेधसा॥ 89 ॥

    evaṃ stutā tadā devī tāmasī tatra vedhasā

    Praised in this way by Brahma, the goddess of tamas, Yoganidra,

90. विष्णोः प्रबोधनार्थाय निहन्तुं मधुकैटभौ।नेत्रास्यनासिकाबाहुहृदयेभ्यस्तथोरसः॥ 90 ॥

    viṣṇoḥ prabodhanārthāya nihantuṃ madhukaiṭabhau|netrāsyanāsikābāhuhṛdayebhyastathorasaḥ

    in order to wake Vishnu and to have Madhu and Kaitabha slain, came out of his eyes, mouth, nose, arms, heart and chest

91. निर्गम्य दर्शने तस्थौ ब्रह्मणोऽव्यक्तजन्मनः।उत्तस्थौ च जगन्नाथस्तया मुक्तो जनार्दनः॥ 91 ॥

    nirgamya darśane tasthau brahmaṇo'vyaktajanmanaḥ|uttasthau ca jagannāthastayā mukto janārdanaḥ

    and stood before Brahma, whose birth is beyond knowing. Released by her, Janardana, lord of the world, rose up.

92. एकार्णवेऽहिशयनात्ततः स ददृशे च तौ।मधुकैटभौ दुरात्मानावतिवीर्यपराक्रमौ॥ 92 ॥

    ekārṇave'hiśayanāttataḥ sa dadṛśe ca tau|madhukaiṭabhau durātmānāvativīryaparākramau

    Rising from his serpent-bed on the single ocean, he saw them: the evil Madhu and Kaitabha, of immense strength and valour,

93. क्रोधरक्तेक्षणावत्तुं ब्रह्माणं जनितोद्यमौ।समुत्थाय ततस्ताभ्यां युयुधे भगवान् हरिः॥ 93 ॥

    krodharaktekṣaṇāvattuṃ brahmāṇaṃ janitodyamau|samutthāya tatastābhyāṃ yuyudhe bhagavān hariḥ

    their eyes red with rage, ready to devour Brahma. Then Lord Hari rose and fought them.

94. पञ्चवर्षसहस्राणि बाहुप्रहरणो विभुः।तावप्यतिबलोन्मत्तौ महामायाविमोहितौ॥ 94 ॥

    pañcavarṣasahasrāṇi bāhupraharaṇo vibhuḥ|tāvapyatibalonmattau mahāmāyāvimohitau

    For five thousand years the all-pervading lord fought them with his arms alone. Drunk on their great strength and bewildered by Mahamaya, the two

95. उक्तवन्तौ वरोऽस्मत्तो व्रियतामिति केशवम्॥ 95 ॥

    uktavantau varo'smatto vriyatāmiti keśavam

    said to Keshava, "Ask a boon of us."

96. श्रीभगवानुवाचśrībhagavānuvāca(Lord Vishnu said)॥ 96 ॥

97. भवेतामद्य मे तुष्टौ मम वध्यावुभावपि॥ 97 ॥

    bhavetāmadya me tuṣṭau mama vadhyāvubhāvapi

    If you are pleased with me, then let both of you now be slain by me.

98. किमन्येन वरेणात्र एतावद्धि वृतं मम॥ 98 ॥

    kimanyena vareṇātra etāvaddhi vṛtaṃ mama

    What need is there of any other boon? This alone is what I choose.

99. ऋषिरुवाचṛṣiruvāca(The sage Medhas said)॥ 99 ॥

100. वञ्चिताभ्यामिति तदा सर्वमापोमयं जगत्॥ 100 ॥

     vañcitābhyāmiti tadā sarvamāpomayaṃ jagat

     Tricked in this way, and seeing that the whole world was water,

101. विलोक्य ताभ्यां गदितो भगवान् कमलेक्षणः।आवां जहि न यत्रोर्वी सलिलेन परिप्लुता॥ 101 ॥

     vilokya tābhyāṃ gadito bhagavān kamalekṣaṇaḥ|āvāṃ jahi na yatrorvī salilena pariplutā

     they said to the lotus-eyed Lord, "Kill us where the earth is not flooded with water."

102. ऋषिरुवाचṛṣiruvāca(The sage Medhas said)॥ 102 ॥

103. तथेत्युक्त्वा भगवता शङ्खचक्रगदाभृता।कृत्वा चक्रेण वै च्छिन्ने जघने शिरसी तयोः॥ 103 ॥

     tathetyuktvā bhagavatā śaṅkhacakragadābhṛtā|kṛtvā cakreṇa vai cchinne jaghane śirasī tayoḥ

     "So be it," said the Lord who bears the conch, discus and mace, and he cut off their heads with his discus upon his thighs.

104. एवमेषा समुत्पन्ना ब्रह्मणा संस्तुता स्वयम्।प्रभावमस्या देव्यास्तु भूयः शृणु वदामि ते॥ ऐं ॐ॥ 104 ॥

     evameṣā samutpannā brahmaṇā saṃstutā svayam|prabhāvamasyā devyāstu bhūyaḥ śṛṇu vadāmi te|| aiṃ oṃ

     In this way the Devi herself came forth when Brahma praised her. Now hear more of this goddess's power; I will tell you.

इति श्रीमार्कण्डेयपुराणे सावर्णिके मन्वन्तरे देवीमाहात्म्येमधुकैटभवधो नाम प्रथमोऽध्यायः॥ १॥उवाच १४, अर्धश्लोकाः २४, श्लोकाः ६६,एवमादितः॥ १०४॥