Varaha Purana — Chapter 95

VrP 95.95

श्रीवराह उवाच । या सा नीलगिरिं याता तपसे धृतमानसा । रौद्री तमोद्भवा शक्तिस्तस्याः श्रृणु धरे व्रतम् तपः कृत्वा चिरं कालं पालयाम्यखिलं जगत् । एवमुद्दिश्य पञ्चाग्निं साधयामास भामिनी तस्याः कालान्तरे देव्यास्तपन्त्यास्तप उत्तमम् । रुरुर्नाम महातेजा ब्रह्मदत्तवरोऽसुरः समुद्रमध्ये रत्नाढ्यं पुरमस्ति महावनम् । तत्र राजा स दैत्येन्द्रः सर्वदेवभयंकरः अनेकशतसाहस्त्रकोटिकोटिशतोत्तरैः । असुरैरन्वितः श्रीमान् द्वितीयो नमुचिर्यथा कालेन महता चासौ लोकपालपुराण्यथ । जिगीषुः सैन्यसंवीतो देवैर्भयमरोचयत् उत्तिष्ठतस्तस्य महासुरस्य समुद्रतोयं ववृधेऽतिमात्रम् । अनेकनक्रग्रहमीनजुष्ट - माप्लावयत् पर्वतसानुदेशान् अन्तः स्थितानेकसुरारिसंघं विचित्रचर्मायुधचित्रशोभम् । भीमं बलं बलिनं चारुयोधं विनिर्ययौ सिन्धुजलाद् विशालम् तत्र द्विपा दैत्यवरैरुपेता समानघण्टासुसमूहयुक्ताः । विनिर्ययुः स्वाकृतिभीषणानि समन्तमुच्चैः खलु दर्शयन्तः अश्वास्तथा काञ्चनपीडनद्धा रोहीतमत्स्यैः समतां जलान्तः । व्यवस्थितास्ते सममेव तूर्णं विनिर्ययुः लक्षशः कोटिशश्च रथा रविस्यन्दनतुल्यवेगाः सुचक्रदण्डाक्षत्रिवेणुयुक्ताः । सुशस्त्रयन्त्राः परिपीडिताङ्गा - श्चलत्पताकास्त्वरितं विशङ्काः तथैव योधाः स्थगितेतरेतरा - स्तितीर्षवः प्रवरास्तूर्णपाणयः । रणे रणे लब्धजयाः प्रहारिणो विरेजुरुच्चैरसुरानुगा भृशम् देवेषु चैव भग्नेषु विनिर्गत्य जलात् ततः । चतुरङ्गबलोपेतः प्रायादिन्द्रपुरं प्रति युयोध च सूरैः सार्द्धं रुरुर्दैत्यपतिस्तथा । मुद्गरैर्मुशलैः शूलैः शरैर्दण्डायुधैस्तथा । जघ्नुर्दैत्याः सुरान् संख्ये सुराश्चैव तथाऽसुरान् एवं क्षणमथो युद्धं तदा देवाः सवासवाः । असुरैर्निर्जिताः सद्यो दुद्रुवुर्विमुखा भृशम् देवेषु चैव भग्नेषु विद्रुतेषु विशेषतः । असुरः सर्वदेवानामन्वधावत वीर्यवान् ततो देवगणाः सर्वे द्रवन्तो भयविह्वलाः । नीलं गिरिवरं जग्मुर्यत्र देवी व्यवस्थिता ौद्री तपोरता देवी तामसी शक्तिरुत्तमा । संहारकारिणी देवी कालरात्रीति तां विदुः सा दृष्ट्वा तान् तदा देवान् भयत्रस्तान् विचेतसः । मा भैष्टेत्युच्चकैर्देवी तानुवाच सुरोत्तमान् देव्युवाच । किमियं व्याकुला देवा गतिर्व उपलक्ष्यते । कथयध्वं द्रुतं देवाः सर्वथा भयकारणम् देवा ऊचुः । अयमायाति दैत्येन्द्रो रुरुर्भीमपराक्रमः । एतस्य भीतान् रक्षस्व त्वं देवान् परमेश्वरि एवमुक्ता तदा देवैर्देवी भीमपराक्रमा । जहास परया प्रीत्या देवानां पुरतः शुभा तस्या हसन्त्या वक्त्रात् तु बह्व्यो देव्यो विनिर्ययुः । याभिर्विश्वमिदं व्याप्तं विकृताभिरनेकशः पाशाङ्कुशधराः सर्वाः सर्वाः पीनपयोधराः । सर्वाः शूलधरा भीमाः सर्वाश्चापधराः शुभाः ताः सर्वाः कोटिशो देव्यस्तां देवीं वेष्ट्य संस्थिताः । युयुधुदर्निवैः सार्द्धं बद्धतूणा महाबलाः । क्षणेन दानवबलं तत्सर्वं निहतं तु तैः देवाश्च सर्वे संयत्ता युयुधुर्दानवं बलम् । आदित्या वसवो रुद्रा विश्वेदेवास्तथाश्विनौ । सर्वे शस्त्राणि संगृह्य युयुधुर्दानवं बलम् कालरात्र्या बलं यच्च यच्च देवबलं महत् । तत्सर्वं दानवबलमनयद् यमसादनम् एक एव महादैत्यो रुरुस्तस्थौ महामृधे । स च मायां महारौद्रीं रौरवीं विससर्ज ह सा माया ववृधे भीमा सर्वदेवप्रमोहिनी । तया तु मोहिता देवाः सद्यो निद्रां तु भेजिरे देवी च त्रिशिखेनाजौ तं दैत्यं समताड्यत् । तया तु ताडितान्तस्य दैत्यस्य शुभलोचने । चर्ममुण्डे उभे सम्यक् पृथग्भूते बभूवतुः रुरोस्तु दानवेन्द्रस्य चर्ममुण्डे क्षणाद् यतः । अपहृत्याहरद् देवी चामुण्डा तेन साभवत् सर्वभूतमहारौद्री या देवी परमेश्वरी । संहारिणी तु या चैव कालरात्रिः प्रकीर्तिता तस्या ह्यनुचरा देव्यो या ह्यसंख्यातकोटयः । तास्तां देवीं महाभागां परिवार्य व्यवस्थिताः या क्यामासुरव्यग्रास्तास्तां देवीं बुभुक्षिताः । बुभुक्षिता वयं देवि देहि नो भोजनं शुभे एवमुक्ता तदा देवी दध्यौ तासां तु भोजनम् । न चाध्यगच्छच्च यदा तासां भोजनमन्तिकात् ततो दध्यौ महादेवं रुद्रं पशुपतिं विभुम् । सोऽपि ध्यानात् समुत्तस्थौ परमात्मा त्रिलोचनः उवाच च द्रुतं देवीं किं ते कार्यं विवक्षितम् । ब्रूहि देवि वरारोहे यत् ते मनसि वर्त्तते देव्युवाच । भक्ष्यार्थमासां देवेश किञ्चिद् दातुमिहार्हसि । बलात्कुर्वन्ति मामेता भक्षार्थिन्यो महाबलाः । अन्यथा मामपि बलाद् भक्षयिष्यन्ति मां प्रभो रुद्र उवाच । एतासां श्रृणु देवेशि भक्षमेकं मयोद्यतम् । कथ्यमानं वरारोहे कालरात्रि महाप्रभे या स्त्री सगर्भा देवेशि अन्यस्त्रीपरिधानकम् । परिधत्ते स्पृशेच्चापि पुरुषस्य विशेषतः स भागोऽस्तु महाभागे कासाञ्चित् पृथिवीतले । अन्याश्छिद्रेषु बालानि गृहीत्वा तत्र वै बलिम् । लब्ध्वा तिष्ठन्तु सुप्रीता अपि वर्षशतान्यपि अन्याः सूतिगृहे छिद्रं गृह्णीयुस्तत्र पूजिताः । निवसिष्यन्ति देवेशि तथान्या जातहारिकाः गृहे क्षेत्रे तडागेषु वाप्युद्यानेषु चैव हि । अन्यचित्ता रुदन्त्यो याः स्त्रियस्तिष्ठन्ति नित्यशः । तासां शरीराण्याविश्य काश्चित्तृप्तिमवाप्स्यथ एवमुक्त्वा तदा देवीं स्वयं रुद्रः प्रतापवान् । दृष्ट्वा रुरुं च सबलमसुरेन्द्रं निपातितम् । स्तुतिं चकार भगवान् स्वयं देवस्त्रिलोचनः रुद्र उवाच । जयस्व देवि चामुण्डे जय भूतापहारिणि । जय सर्वगते देवि कालरात्रि नमोऽस्तु ते विश्वमूर्त्ते शुभे शुद्धे विरूपाक्षि त्रिलोचने । भीमरूपे शिवे विद्ये महामाये महोदये मनोजवे जये जृम्भे भीमाक्षि क्षुभितक्षये । महामारि विचित्राङ्गे गेयनृत्यप्रिये शुभे विकराले महाकालि कालिके पापहारिणि । पाशहस्ते दण्डहस्ते भीमरूपे भयानके चामुण्डे ज्वलमानास्ये तीक्ष्णदंष्ट्रे महाबले । शवयानस्थिते देवि प्रेतासनगते शिवे भीमाक्षि भीषणे देवि सर्वभूतभयंकरि । कराले विकराले च महाकाले करालिनि । काली कराली विक्रान्ता कालरात्रि नमोऽस्तु ते विकरालमुखी देवि ज्वालामुखि नमोऽस्तु ते । सर्वसत्त्वहिते देवि सर्वदेवि नमोऽस्तु ते इति स्तुता तदा देवी रुद्रेण परमेष्ठिना । तुतोष परमा देवी वाक्यं चेदमुवाच ह । वरं वृणीष्व देवेश यत् ते मनसि वर्त्तते रुद्र उवाच । स्तोत्रेणानेन ये देवि त्वां स्तुवन्ति वरानने । तेषां त्वं वरदा देवि भव सर्वगता सती यश्चेमं त्रिप्रकारं तु देवि भक्त्या समन्वितः । स पुत्रपौत्रपशुमान् समृद्धिमुपगच्छति यश्चेमं श्रृणुयाद् भक्त्या त्रिशक्तयास्तु समुद्भवम् । सर्वपापविनिर्मुक्तः पदं गच्छत्यनामयम् एवं स्तुत्वा भवो देवीं चामुण्डां परमेश्वरीम् । क्षणादन्तर्हितो देवस्ते च देवा दिवं ययुः य एतां वेद वै देव्या उत्पत्तिं त्रिविधां धरे । सर्वपापविनिर्मुक्तः परं निर्वाणमृच्छति भ्रष्टराज्यो यदा राजा नवम्यां नियतः शुचिः । अष्टम्यां च चतुर्दश्यामुपवासी नरोत्तमः । संवत्सरेण लभते राज्यं निष्कण्टकं नृपः एषा त्रिशक्तिरुद्दिष्टा नयसिद्धान्तगामिनी । एषा श्वेता परा सृष्टिः सात्त्विकी ब्रह्मसंस्थिता एषैव रक्ता रजसि वैष्णवी परिकीर्त्तिता । एषैव कृष्णा तमसि रौद्री देवी प्रकीर्त्तिता परमात्मा यथा देव एक एव त्रिधा स्थितः । प्रयोजनवशाच्छक्तिरेकैव त्रिविधाऽभवत् य एतं श्रृणुयात् सर्गं त्रिशक्त्याः परमं शिवम् । सर्वपापविनिर्मुक्तः परं निर्वाणमाप्नुयात् यश्चेदं श्रृणुयाद् भक्त्या नवम्यां नियतः स्थितः । स राज्यमतुलं लेभे भयेभ्यश्च प्रमुच्यते यस्येदं लिखितं गेहे सदा तिष्ठति धारिणि । न तस्याग्निभयं घोरं सर्पचौरादिकं भवेत् यश्चैतत् पूजयेद् भक्तया पुस्तकेऽपि स्थितं बुधः । तेन यष्टं भवेत् सर्वं त्रैलोक्यं सचराचरम् जायन्ते पशवः पुत्रा धनं धान्यं वरस्त्रियः । रत्नान्यश्वा गजा भृत्या यानाश्चाशु भवन्त्युत । यस्येदं तिष्ठते गेहे तस्येदं जायते ध्रुवम् श्रीवराह उवाच । एतदेव रहस्यं ते कीर्त्तितं भूतधारिणि । रुद्रस्य खलु माहात्म्यं सकलं कीर्त्तितं मया नवकोट्यस्तु चामुण्डा भेदभिन्ना व्यवस्थिता । या रौद्री तामसी शक्तिः सा चामुण्डा प्रकीर्त्तिता अष्टादश तथा कोट्यो वैष्णव्या भेद उच्यते । या सा च राजसी शक्तिः पालनी चैव वैष्णवी । या ब्रह्मशक्तिः सत्त्वस्था अनन्तास्ताः प्रकीर्त्तिता एतासां सर्वभेदेषु पृथगेकैकशो धरे । सर्वासां भगवान् रुद्रः सर्वगश्च पतिर्भवेत् यावन्त्यस्या महाशक्त्यास्तावद् रूपाणि शंकरः । कृतवांस्ताश्च भजते पतिरूपेण सर्वदा यश्चाराधयते तास्तु रुद्रस्तुष्टो भविष्यति । सिद्ध्यन्ते तास्तदा देव्यो मन्त्रिणो नात्र संशयः

śrīvarāha uvāca | yā sā nīlagiriṃ yātā tapase dhṛtamānasā | raudrī tamodbhavā śaktistasyāḥ śrṛṇu dhare vratam tapaḥ kṛtvā ciraṃ kālaṃ pālayāmyakhilaṃ jagat | evamuddiśya pañcāgniṃ sādhayāmāsa bhāminī tasyāḥ kālāntare devyāstapantyāstapa uttamam | rururnāma mahātejā brahmadattavaro'suraḥ samudramadhye ratnāḍhyaṃ puramasti mahāvanam | tatra rājā sa daityendraḥ sarvadevabhayaṃkaraḥ anekaśatasāhastrakoṭikoṭiśatottaraiḥ | asurairanvitaḥ śrīmān dvitīyo namuciryathā kālena mahatā cāsau lokapālapurāṇyatha | jigīṣuḥ sainyasaṃvīto devairbhayamarocayat uttiṣṭhatastasya mahāsurasya samudratoyaṃ vavṛdhe'timātram | anekanakragrahamīnajuṣṭa - māplāvayat parvatasānudeśān antaḥ sthitānekasurārisaṃghaṃ vicitracarmāyudhacitraśobham | bhīmaṃ balaṃ balinaṃ cāruyodhaṃ viniryayau sindhujalād viśālam tatra dvipā daityavarairupetā samānaghaṇṭāsusamūhayuktāḥ | viniryayuḥ svākṛtibhīṣaṇāni samantamuccaiḥ khalu darśayantaḥ aśvāstathā kāñcanapīḍanaddhā rohītamatsyaiḥ samatāṃ jalāntaḥ | vyavasthitāste samameva tūrṇaṃ viniryayuḥ lakṣaśaḥ koṭiśaśca rathā ravisyandanatulyavegāḥ sucakradaṇḍākṣatriveṇuyuktāḥ | suśastrayantrāḥ paripīḍitāṅgā - ścalatpatākāstvaritaṃ viśaṅkāḥ tathaiva yodhāḥ sthagitetaretarā - stitīrṣavaḥ pravarāstūrṇapāṇayaḥ | raṇe raṇe labdhajayāḥ prahāriṇo virejuruccairasurānugā bhṛśam deveṣu caiva bhagneṣu vinirgatya jalāt tataḥ | caturaṅgabalopetaḥ prāyādindrapuraṃ prati yuyodha ca sūraiḥ sārddhaṃ rururdaityapatistathā | mudgarairmuśalaiḥ śūlaiḥ śarairdaṇḍāyudhaistathā | jaghnurdaityāḥ surān saṃkhye surāścaiva tathā'surān evaṃ kṣaṇamatho yuddhaṃ tadā devāḥ savāsavāḥ | asurairnirjitāḥ sadyo dudruvurvimukhā bhṛśam deveṣu caiva bhagneṣu vidruteṣu viśeṣataḥ | asuraḥ sarvadevānāmanvadhāvata vīryavān tato devagaṇāḥ sarve dravanto bhayavihvalāḥ | nīlaṃ girivaraṃ jagmuryatra devī vyavasthitā audrī taporatā devī tāmasī śaktiruttamā | saṃhārakāriṇī devī kālarātrīti tāṃ viduḥ sā dṛṣṭvā tān tadā devān bhayatrastān vicetasaḥ | mā bhaiṣṭetyuccakairdevī tānuvāca surottamān devyuvāca | kimiyaṃ vyākulā devā gatirva upalakṣyate | kathayadhvaṃ drutaṃ devāḥ sarvathā bhayakāraṇam devā ūcuḥ | ayamāyāti daityendro rururbhīmaparākramaḥ | etasya bhītān rakṣasva tvaṃ devān parameśvari evamuktā tadā devairdevī bhīmaparākramā | jahāsa parayā prītyā devānāṃ purataḥ śubhā tasyā hasantyā vaktrāt tu bahvyo devyo viniryayuḥ | yābhirviśvamidaṃ vyāptaṃ vikṛtābhiranekaśaḥ pāśāṅkuśadharāḥ sarvāḥ sarvāḥ pīnapayodharāḥ | sarvāḥ śūladharā bhīmāḥ sarvāścāpadharāḥ śubhāḥ tāḥ sarvāḥ koṭiśo devyastāṃ devīṃ veṣṭya saṃsthitāḥ | yuyudhudarnivaiḥ sārddhaṃ baddhatūṇā mahābalāḥ | kṣaṇena dānavabalaṃ tatsarvaṃ nihataṃ tu taiḥ devāśca sarve saṃyattā yuyudhurdānavaṃ balam | ādityā vasavo rudrā viśvedevāstathāśvinau | sarve śastrāṇi saṃgṛhya yuyudhurdānavaṃ balam kālarātryā balaṃ yacca yacca devabalaṃ mahat | tatsarvaṃ dānavabalamanayad yamasādanam eka eva mahādaityo rurustasthau mahāmṛdhe | sa ca māyāṃ mahāraudrīṃ rauravīṃ visasarja ha sā māyā vavṛdhe bhīmā sarvadevapramohinī | tayā tu mohitā devāḥ sadyo nidrāṃ tu bhejire devī ca triśikhenājau taṃ daityaṃ samatāḍyat | tayā tu tāḍitāntasya daityasya śubhalocane | carmamuṇḍe ubhe samyak pṛthagbhūte babhūvatuḥ rurostu dānavendrasya carmamuṇḍe kṣaṇād yataḥ | apahṛtyāharad devī cāmuṇḍā tena sābhavat sarvabhūtamahāraudrī yā devī parameśvarī | saṃhāriṇī tu yā caiva kālarātriḥ prakīrtitā tasyā hyanucarā devyo yā hyasaṃkhyātakoṭayaḥ | tāstāṃ devīṃ mahābhāgāṃ parivārya vyavasthitāḥ yā kyāmāsuravyagrāstāstāṃ devīṃ bubhukṣitāḥ | bubhukṣitā vayaṃ devi dehi no bhojanaṃ śubhe evamuktā tadā devī dadhyau tāsāṃ tu bhojanam | na cādhyagacchacca yadā tāsāṃ bhojanamantikāt tato dadhyau mahādevaṃ rudraṃ paśupatiṃ vibhum | so'pi dhyānāt samuttasthau paramātmā trilocanaḥ uvāca ca drutaṃ devīṃ kiṃ te kāryaṃ vivakṣitam | brūhi devi varārohe yat te manasi varttate devyuvāca | bhakṣyārthamāsāṃ deveśa kiñcid dātumihārhasi | balātkurvanti māmetā bhakṣārthinyo mahābalāḥ | anyathā māmapi balād bhakṣayiṣyanti māṃ prabho rudra uvāca | etāsāṃ śrṛṇu deveśi bhakṣamekaṃ mayodyatam | kathyamānaṃ varārohe kālarātri mahāprabhe yā strī sagarbhā deveśi anyastrīparidhānakam | paridhatte spṛśeccāpi puruṣasya viśeṣataḥ sa bhāgo'stu mahābhāge kāsāñcit pṛthivītale | anyāśchidreṣu bālāni gṛhītvā tatra vai balim | labdhvā tiṣṭhantu suprītā api varṣaśatānyapi anyāḥ sūtigṛhe chidraṃ gṛhṇīyustatra pūjitāḥ | nivasiṣyanti deveśi tathānyā jātahārikāḥ gṛhe kṣetre taḍāgeṣu vāpyudyāneṣu caiva hi | anyacittā rudantyo yāḥ striyastiṣṭhanti nityaśaḥ | tāsāṃ śarīrāṇyāviśya kāścittṛptimavāpsyatha evamuktvā tadā devīṃ svayaṃ rudraḥ pratāpavān | dṛṣṭvā ruruṃ ca sabalamasurendraṃ nipātitam | stutiṃ cakāra bhagavān svayaṃ devastrilocanaḥ rudra uvāca | jayasva devi cāmuṇḍe jaya bhūtāpahāriṇi | jaya sarvagate devi kālarātri namo'stu te viśvamūrtte śubhe śuddhe virūpākṣi trilocane | bhīmarūpe śive vidye mahāmāye mahodaye manojave jaye jṛmbhe bhīmākṣi kṣubhitakṣaye | mahāmāri vicitrāṅge geyanṛtyapriye śubhe vikarāle mahākāli kālike pāpahāriṇi | pāśahaste daṇḍahaste bhīmarūpe bhayānake cāmuṇḍe jvalamānāsye tīkṣṇadaṃṣṭre mahābale | śavayānasthite devi pretāsanagate śive bhīmākṣi bhīṣaṇe devi sarvabhūtabhayaṃkari | karāle vikarāle ca mahākāle karālini | kālī karālī vikrāntā kālarātri namo'stu te vikarālamukhī devi jvālāmukhi namo'stu te | sarvasattvahite devi sarvadevi namo'stu te iti stutā tadā devī rudreṇa parameṣṭhinā | tutoṣa paramā devī vākyaṃ cedamuvāca ha | varaṃ vṛṇīṣva deveśa yat te manasi varttate rudra uvāca | stotreṇānena ye devi tvāṃ stuvanti varānane | teṣāṃ tvaṃ varadā devi bhava sarvagatā satī yaścemaṃ triprakāraṃ tu devi bhaktyā samanvitaḥ | sa putrapautrapaśumān samṛddhimupagacchati yaścemaṃ śrṛṇuyād bhaktyā triśaktayāstu samudbhavam | sarvapāpavinirmuktaḥ padaṃ gacchatyanāmayam evaṃ stutvā bhavo devīṃ cāmuṇḍāṃ parameśvarīm | kṣaṇādantarhito devaste ca devā divaṃ yayuḥ ya etāṃ veda vai devyā utpattiṃ trividhāṃ dhare | sarvapāpavinirmuktaḥ paraṃ nirvāṇamṛcchati bhraṣṭarājyo yadā rājā navamyāṃ niyataḥ śuciḥ | aṣṭamyāṃ ca caturdaśyāmupavāsī narottamaḥ | saṃvatsareṇa labhate rājyaṃ niṣkaṇṭakaṃ nṛpaḥ eṣā triśaktiruddiṣṭā nayasiddhāntagāminī | eṣā śvetā parā sṛṣṭiḥ sāttvikī brahmasaṃsthitā eṣaiva raktā rajasi vaiṣṇavī parikīrttitā | eṣaiva kṛṣṇā tamasi raudrī devī prakīrttitā paramātmā yathā deva eka eva tridhā sthitaḥ | prayojanavaśācchaktirekaiva trividhā'bhavat ya etaṃ śrṛṇuyāt sargaṃ triśaktyāḥ paramaṃ śivam | sarvapāpavinirmuktaḥ paraṃ nirvāṇamāpnuyāt yaścedaṃ śrṛṇuyād bhaktyā navamyāṃ niyataḥ sthitaḥ | sa rājyamatulaṃ lebhe bhayebhyaśca pramucyate yasyedaṃ likhitaṃ gehe sadā tiṣṭhati dhāriṇi | na tasyāgnibhayaṃ ghoraṃ sarpacaurādikaṃ bhavet yaścaitat pūjayed bhaktayā pustake'pi sthitaṃ budhaḥ | tena yaṣṭaṃ bhavet sarvaṃ trailokyaṃ sacarācaram jāyante paśavaḥ putrā dhanaṃ dhānyaṃ varastriyaḥ | ratnānyaśvā gajā bhṛtyā yānāścāśu bhavantyuta | yasyedaṃ tiṣṭhate gehe tasyedaṃ jāyate dhruvam śrīvarāha uvāca | etadeva rahasyaṃ te kīrttitaṃ bhūtadhāriṇi | rudrasya khalu māhātmyaṃ sakalaṃ kīrttitaṃ mayā navakoṭyastu cāmuṇḍā bhedabhinnā vyavasthitā | yā raudrī tāmasī śaktiḥ sā cāmuṇḍā prakīrttitā aṣṭādaśa tathā koṭyo vaiṣṇavyā bheda ucyate | yā sā ca rājasī śaktiḥ pālanī caiva vaiṣṇavī | yā brahmaśaktiḥ sattvasthā anantāstāḥ prakīrttitā etāsāṃ sarvabhedeṣu pṛthagekaikaśo dhare | sarvāsāṃ bhagavān rudraḥ sarvagaśca patirbhavet yāvantyasyā mahāśaktyāstāvad rūpāṇi śaṃkaraḥ | kṛtavāṃstāśca bhajate patirūpeṇa sarvadā yaścārādhayate tāstu rudrastuṣṭo bhaviṣyati | siddhyante tāstadā devyo mantriṇo nātra saṃśayaḥ

The Blessed Boar said: She who went to the Blue Mountain with mind fixed on austerity, the Raudrī power arisen from darkness — hear her observance, O Earth. "Having performed austerity for a long time, I shall protect the whole world": with this intent the passionate one accomplished the five-fire (penance). While that goddess was performing supreme austerity, in the course of time there was an asura named Ruru, of great splendour, who had a boon granted by Brahmā. In the midst of the ocean there is a city rich in jewels, with a great forest; there that lord of Daityas was king, a terror to all the gods. Accompanied by asuras numbering many hundreds of thousands, crores and hundreds of crores, the illustrious one was like a second Namuci. And after a great length of time, desiring to conquer the cities of the world-guardians, surrounded by his army, he chose war with the gods. As that great asura rose up, the water of the ocean swelled beyond measure; frequented by many crocodiles, sea-monsters and fish, it flooded the slopes of the mountains. From the sea-water there came forth that vast force which held within it many a host of the gods' foes, splendid with varied shields and weapons, dreadful, mighty, with handsome warriors. There elephants, mounted by the best of Daityas, fitted with clusters of matched bells, came forth, showing on every side their loud and terrible shapes; and horses, bound with golden saddle-cloths, matching the rohita fish within the water, drawn up together, came forth swiftly, by lakhs and by crores; and chariots swift as the sun's car, fitted with good wheels, poles, axles and triple bamboo-shafts, with good weapons and engines, their frames closely bound, with fluttering pennons, swift and fearless; and likewise the warriors, screening one another, eager to cross over, the foremost with quick hands, victorious in battle after battle, strikers, shone forth exceedingly, loudly, as followers of the asuras. And when the gods were broken, coming forth from the water he then advanced against Indra's city with the four-fold force. And Ruru, the lord of Daityas, fought with the gods with mallets, pestles, tridents, arrows and staff-weapons; the Daityas slew the gods in battle, and the gods likewise the asuras. Thus the battle lasted a moment; then the gods with Indra, being at once conquered by the asuras, fled with faces averted. And when the gods were broken and especially scattered, the valiant asura pursued all the gods. Then all the hosts of gods, fleeing, overcome with fear, went to the Blue Mountain, best of mountains, where the goddess was stationed — the Raudrī goddess intent on austerity, the supreme power of darkness, the goddess who effects destruction, whom they know as Kālarātri. Seeing those gods trembling with fear and out of their senses, the goddess said aloud to those best of gods, "Do not fear!" The goddess said: "Why is this agitated condition of yours seen, O gods? Tell me quickly, gods, the whole cause of your fear." The gods said: "There comes this lord of Daityas, Ruru of terrible prowess. Protect the gods, frightened of him, O supreme mistress." Thus addressed by the gods, the goddess of terrible prowess, the auspicious one, laughed with great pleasure before the gods. From the mouth of her as she laughed there came forth many goddesses, by whom this universe was filled, misshapen, in many forms — all bearing noose and goad, all full-breasted, all bearing tridents, terrible, all bearing bows, auspicious. All those goddesses by crores stood surrounding that goddess, and, greatly mighty, with quivers bound on, fought with the enemies; in a moment all that Dānava force was slain by them. And all the gods, girded, fought the Dānava force: Ādityas, Vasus, Rudras, the Viśvedevas and the two Aśvins — all taking up weapons fought the Dānava force. The force of Kālarātri and the great force of the gods — all that led the Dānava army to Yama's abode. Only the one great Daitya Ruru stood in the great battle, and he sent forth a great, dreadful illusion of Ruru's own. That illusion grew, terrible, bewildering all the gods; bewildered by it the gods at once fell into sleep. And the goddess struck that Daitya in battle with her trident. Of that Daitya struck by her, O fair-eyed one, the skin and the skull both became fully separated. Since the goddess in an instant carried off and took away the skin and skull (carma-muṇḍa) of Ruru the Dānava lord, she thereby became Cāmuṇḍā. The supreme goddess who is greatly terrible to all beings, and who is the destroyer, is proclaimed Kālarātri. Her attendant goddesses, who are countless crores, stood surrounding that greatly blessed goddess. Those who [were there], unagitated, hungry, [said] to that goddess: "We are hungry, O goddess; give us food, O auspicious one." Thus addressed, the goddess then pondered on food for them; and when she did not find food for them at hand, she then meditated on the great god Rudra, Paśupati, the lord. He too, the supreme Self, the three-eyed, arose from her meditation and quickly said to the goddess: "What business do you wish to state? Speak, O goddess, fair-hipped one, what is in your mind." The goddess said: "You should give something here as food for these, O lord of gods. These mighty ones, seeking food, are pressing me by force; otherwise they will devour even me by force, O lord." Rudra said: "Hear, O mistress of gods, of one food for these which is offered by me, as it is declared, O fair-hipped Kālarātri of great splendour. The woman who, being pregnant, O mistress of gods, puts on the garment of another woman, or touches it — especially a man's — let that portion be theirs, O greatly blessed one, of some (women) on the face of the earth. Let others take children through openings (in the house) and, having got their offering there, remain well pleased even for hundreds of years. Others may take an opening in the birth-chamber and, worshipped there, will dwell there, O mistress of gods; and others as snatchers of the newborn. In house, field, tanks, wells and gardens, those women who constantly stay with their minds elsewhere, weeping — entering their bodies, some of you shall obtain satisfaction." Having thus spoken to the goddess, the majestic Rudra himself, seeing Ruru the lord of asuras struck down with his army, the blessed three-eyed god himself made praise. Rudra said: "Be victorious, O goddess Cāmuṇḍā; victory, O carrier-off of beings; victory, O all-pervading goddess; O Kālarātri, homage to you! O universal-formed, auspicious, pure, of odd eyes, three-eyed; of terrible form, benign, knowledge, great illusion, of great arising; swift as thought, victory, O Jṛmbhā, of terrible eyes, whose destruction is stirred up; O great pestilence, of varied limbs, lover of song and dance, auspicious; O exceedingly gaping-mouthed, Mahākālī, Kālikā, remover of sin; noose in hand, staff in hand, of terrible form, frightful; O Cāmuṇḍā, of blazing face, of sharp fangs, of great strength; O goddess seated on a corpse-vehicle, seated on a seat of corpses, benign; of terrible eyes, frightful, O goddess, terrifying to all beings; O gaping one and wide-gaping one, and Mahākāla's gaping one; Kālī, Karālī, valiant Kālarātri, homage to you! O goddess of hideously gaping face, flame-faced, homage to you! O goddess, benefactress of all beings, goddess of all, homage to you!" Thus praised by Rudra the supreme, the supreme goddess was pleased and spoke these words: "Choose a boon, O lord of gods, whatever is in your mind." Rudra said: "Those who praise you with this hymn, O goddess, fair-faced one — to them be you a boon-giver, O goddess, all-pervading and true. And he who (recites) this threefold (account), O goddess, endowed with devotion, he attains prosperity with sons, grandsons and cattle. And he who with devotion hears this arising of the Triple Power is freed from all sins and goes to the state free of ill." Having thus praised the goddess Cāmuṇḍā, the supreme mistress, Bhava the god vanished in a moment, and those gods went to heaven. He who knows this threefold origin of the goddess, O Earth, freed from all sins attains supreme extinction. When a king who has lost his kingdom, restrained and pure on the ninth, and on the eighth and the fourteenth fasting, that best of men — within a year the king obtains a kingdom free of thorns. This is the Triple Power declared, moving in the settled conclusions of policy. This is the white supreme creation, sāttvic, established in Brahmā; this same is the red, in rajas, called Vaiṣṇavī; this same is the black, in tamas, proclaimed the goddess Raudrī. Just as the supreme Self, the god, being one alone, abides in three ways, so the Power, being one alone, became threefold according to purpose. He who hears this creation of the Triple Power, supreme and benign, freed from all sins would attain supreme extinction. And he who hears this with devotion, restrained, abiding on the ninth, gains an incomparable kingdom and is released from fears. In whose house this stands written always, O upholder, for him there is no dread fear of fire, nor snakes, thieves and the like. And the wise man who worships this with devotion, even standing in a book — by him the whole three worlds with all that moves and does not move has been sacrificed to. Cattle, sons, wealth, grain, excellent women are born; jewels, horses, elephants, servants and vehicles quickly come to be. In whose house this stands, for him this surely comes to be. The Blessed Boar said: This very secret has been proclaimed to you, O upholder of beings; indeed the whole greatness of Rudra has been proclaimed by me. Nine crores of Cāmuṇḍās stand divided by distinctions; she who is the Raudrī power of darkness is proclaimed Cāmuṇḍā. And eighteen crores are said to be the divisions of the Vaiṣṇavī, who is the rājasic power, the protectress, the Vaiṣṇavī. And she who is the power of Brahmā, established in sattva — those are proclaimed endless. Among all the divisions of these, each one separately, O Earth, the blessed Rudra, the all-pervading, is the lord of them all. As many forms as this great Power has, so many Śaṃkara has made, and he ever enjoys them in the form of husband. And whoever worships them, Rudra will be pleased; then those goddesses are made effective for the reciters of mantras — no doubt of this.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition