First Skandha · Chapter 9
Sourceसूत उवाच यदा विनिर्गता निद्रा देहात्तस्य जगद्गुरोः । नेत्रास्यनासिकाबाहुहृदयेभ्यस्तथोरसः ॥ १ ॥ निःसृत्य गगने तस्थौ तामसी शक्तिरुत्तमा । उदतिष्ठज्जगन्नाथो जृम्भमाणः पुनः पुनः ॥ २ ॥ तदापश्यत् स्थितं तत्र भयत्रस्तं प्रजापतिम् । उवाच च महातेजा मेघगम्भीरया गिरा ॥ ३ ॥ विष्णुरुवाच किमागतोऽसि भगवंस्तपस्त्यक्त्वात्र पद्मज । कस्माच्चिन्तातुरोऽसि त्वं भयाकुलितमानसः ॥ ४ ॥ ब्रह्मोवाच त्वत्कर्णमलजौ देव दैत्यौ च मधुकैटभौ । हन्तुं मां समुपायातौ घोररूपौ महाबलौ ॥ ५ ॥ भयात्तयोः समायातस्त्वत्समीपं जगत्पते । त्राहि मां वासुदेवाद्य भयत्रस्तं विचेतनम् ॥ ६ ॥ विष्णुरुवाच तिष्ठाद्य निर्भयो जातस्तौ हनिष्याम्यहं किल । युद्धायाजग्मतुर्मूढौ मत्समीपं गतायुषौ ॥ ७ ॥ सूत उवाच एवं वदति देवेशे दानवौ तौ महाबलौ । विचिन्वानावजं चोभौ संप्राप्तौ मदगर्वितौ ॥ ८ ॥ निराधारौ जले तत्र संस्थितौ विगतज्वरौ । तावूचतुर्मदोन्मत्तौ ब्रह्माणं मुनिसत्तमाः ॥ ९ ॥ पलायित्वा समायातः सन्निधावस्य किं ततः । युद्धं कुरु हनिष्यावः पश्यतोऽस्यैव सन्निधौ ॥ १० ॥ पश्चादेनं हनिष्यावः सर्पभोगोपरिस्थितम् । त्वमद्य कुरु संग्रामं दासोऽस्मीति च वा वद ॥ ११ ॥ सूत उवाच तच्छ्रुत्वा वचनं विष्णुस्तावुवाच जनार्दनः । कुरुतं समरं कामं मया दानवपुङ्गवौ ॥ १२ ॥ हरिष्यामि मदं चाहं युवयोर्मत्तयोः किल । आगच्छतं महाभागौ श्रद्धा चेद्वां महाबलौ ॥ १३ ॥ सूत उवाच श्रुत्वा तद्वचनं चोभौ क्रोधव्याकुललोचनौ । निराधारौ जलस्थौ च युद्धोद्युक्तौ बभूवतुः ॥ १४ ॥ मधुश्च कुपितस्तत्र हरिणा सह संयुगम् । कर्तुं प्रचलितस्तूर्णं कैटभस्तु तथा स्थितः ॥ १५ ॥ बाहुयुद्धं तयोरासीन्मल्लयोरिव मत्तयोः । श्रान्ते मधौ कैटभस्तु संग्राममकरोत्तदा ॥ १६ ॥ पुनर्मधुः कैटभश्च युयुधाते पुनः पुनः । बाहुयुद्धेन रागान्धौ विष्णुना प्रभविष्णुना ॥ १७ ॥ प्रेक्षकस्तु तदा ब्रह्मा देवी चैवान्तरिक्षगा । न मम्लतुस्तदा तौ तु विष्णुस्तु ग्लानिमाप्तवान् ॥ १८ ॥ पञ्चवर्षसहस्राणि यदा जातानि युद्ध्यता । हरिणा चिन्तितं तत्र कारणं मरणे तयोः ॥ १९ ॥ पञ्चवर्षसहस्राणि मया युद्धं कृतं किल । न श्रान्तौ दानवौ घोरौ श्रान्तोऽहं चैतदद्भुतम् ॥ २० ॥ क्व गतं मे बलं शौर्यं कस्माच्चेमावनामयौ । किमत्र कारणं चिन्त्यं विचार्य मनसा त्विह ॥ २१ ॥ इति चिन्तापरं दृष्ट्वा हरिं हर्षपरावुभौ । ऊचतुस्तौ मदोन्मत्तौ मेघमम्भीरनिःस्वनौ ॥ २२ ॥ तव नोचेद्बलं विष्णो यदि श्रान्तोऽसि युद्धतः । ब्रूहि दासोऽस्मि वां नूनं कृत्वा शिरसि चाञ्जलिम् ॥ २३ ॥ न चेद्युद्धं कुरुष्वाद्य समर्थोऽसि महामते । हत्वा त्वां निहनिष्यावः पुरुषं च चतुर्मुखम् ॥ २४ ॥ सूत उवाच श्रुत्वा तद्भाषितं विष्णुस्तयोस्तस्मिन्महोदधौ । उवाच वचनं श्लक्ष्णं सामपूर्वं महामनाः ॥ २५ ॥ हरिरुवाच श्रान्ते भीते त्यक्तशस्त्रे पतिते बालके तथा । प्रहरन्ति न वीरास्ते धर्म एष सनातनः ॥ २६ ॥ पञ्चवर्षसहस्राणि कृतं युद्धं मया त्विह । एकोऽहं भ्रातरौ वां च बलिनौ सदृशौ तथा ॥ २७ ॥ कृतं विश्रमणं मध्ये युवाभ्यां च पुनः पुनः । तथा विश्रमणं कृत्वा युध्येऽहं नात्र संशयः ॥ २८ ॥ तिष्ठतं हि युवां तावद्बलवन्तौ मदोत्कटौ । विश्रम्याहं करिष्यामि युद्धं वा न्यायमार्गतः ॥ २९ ॥ सूत उवाच इति श्रुत्वा वचस्तस्य विश्रब्धौ दानवोत्तमौ । संस्थितौ दूरतस्तत्र संग्रामे कृतनिश्चयौ ॥ ३० ॥ अतिदूरे च तौ दृष्ट्वा वासुदेवश्चतुर्भुजः । दध्यौ च मनसा तत्र कारणं मरणे तयोः ॥ ३१ ॥ चिन्तनाज्ज्ञानमुत्पन्नं देवीदत्तवरावुभौ । कामं वाञ्छितमरणौ न मम्लतुरतस्त्विमौ ॥ ३२ ॥ वृथा मया कृतं युद्धं श्रमोऽयं मे वृथा गतः । करोमि च कथं युद्धमेवं ज्ञात्वा विनिश्चयम् ॥ ३३ ॥ अकृते च तथा युद्धे कथमेतौ गमिष्यतः । विनाशं दुःखदौ नित्यं दानवौ वरदर्पितौ ॥ ३४ ॥ भगवत्या वरो दत्तस्तया सोऽपि च दुर्घटः । मरणं चेच्छया कामं दुःखितोऽपि न वाञ्छति ॥ ३५ ॥ रोगग्रस्तोऽपि दीनोऽपि न मुमूर्षति कश्चन । कथं चेमौ मदोन्मत्तौ मर्तुकामौ भविष्यतः ॥ ३६ ॥ नन्वद्य शरणं यामि विद्यां शक्तिं सुकामदाम् । विना तया न सिध्यन्ति कामाः सम्यक्प्रसन्नया ॥ ३७ ॥ एवं सञ्चिन्त्यमानस्तु गगने संस्थितां शिवाम् । अपश्यद्भगवान्विष्णुर्योगनिद्रां मनोहराम् ॥ ३८ ॥ कृताज्जलिरमेयात्मा तां च तुष्टाव योगवित् । विनाशार्थं तयोस्तत्र वरदां भुवनेश्वरीम् ॥ ३९ ॥ विष्णुरुवाच नमो देवि महामाये सृष्टिसंहारकारिणि । अनादिनिधने चण्डि भुक्तिमुक्तिप्रदे शिवे ॥ ४० ॥ न ते रूपं विजानामि सगुणं निर्गुणं तथा । चरित्राणि कुतो देवि संख्यातीतानि यानि ते ॥ ४१ ॥ अनुभूतो मया तेऽद्य प्रभावश्चातिदुर्घटः । यदहं निद्रया लीनः सञ्जातोऽस्मि विचेतनः ॥ ४२ ॥ ब्रह्मणा चातियत्नेन बोधितोऽपि पुनः पुनः । न प्रबुद्धः सर्वथाहं सङ्कोचितषडिन्द्रियः ॥ ४३ ॥ अचेतनत्वं सम्प्राप्तः प्रभावात्तव चाम्बिके । त्वया मुक्तः प्रबुद्धोऽहं युद्धं च बहुधा कृतम् ॥ ४४ ॥ श्रान्तोऽहं न च तौ श्रान्तौ त्वया दत्तवरौ वरौ । ब्रह्माणं हन्तुमायातौ दानवौ मदगर्वितौ ॥ ४५ ॥ आहूतौ च मया कामं द्वन्द्वयुद्धाय मानदे । कृतं युद्धं महाघोरं मया ताभ्यां महार्णवे ॥ ४६ ॥ मरणे वरदानं ते ततो ज्ञातं महाद्भुतम् । ज्ञात्वाहं शरणं प्राप्तस्त्वामद्य शरणप्रदाम् ॥ ४७ ॥ साहाय्यं कुरु मे मातः खिन्नोऽहं युद्धकर्मणा । दृप्तौ तौ वरदानेन तव देवार्तिनाशने ॥ ४८ ॥ हन्तुं मामुद्यतौ पापौ किं करोमि क्व यामि च । इत्युक्ता सा तदा देवी स्मितपूर्वमुवाच ह ॥ ४९ ॥ प्रणमन्तं जगन्नाथं वासुदेवं सनातनम् । देवदेव हरे विष्णो कुरु युद्धं पुनः स्वयम् ॥ ५० ॥ वञ्चयित्वा त्विमौ शूरौ हन्तव्यौ च विमोहितौ । मोहयिष्याम्यहं नूनं दानवौ वक्रया दृशा ॥ ५१ ॥ जहि नारायणाशु त्वं मम मायाविमोहितौ । सूत उवाच तच्छ्रुत्वा वचनं विष्णुस्तस्याः प्रीतिरसान्वितम् ॥ ५२ ॥ संग्रामस्थलमासाद्य तस्थौ तत्र महार्णवे । तदायातौ च तौ वीरौ युद्धकामौ महाबलौ ॥ ५३ ॥ वीक्ष्य विष्णुं स्थितं तत्र हर्षयुक्तौ बभूवतुः । तिष्ठ तिष्ठ महाकाम कुरु युद्धं चतुर्भुज ॥ ५४ ॥ दैवाधीनौ विदित्वाद्य नूनं जयपराजयौ । सबलो जयमाप्नोति दैवाज्जयति दुर्बलः ॥ ५५ ॥ सर्वथैव न कर्तव्यौ हर्षशोकौ महात्मना । पुरा वै बहवो दैत्या जिता दानववैरिणा ॥ ५६ ॥ अधुना चावयोः सार्धं युध्यमानः पराजितः । सूत उवाच इत्युक्त्वा तौ महाबाहू युद्धाय समुपस्थितौ ॥ ५७ ॥ वीक्ष्य विष्णुर्जघानाशु मुष्टिनाद्भुतकर्मणा । तावप्यतिबलोन्मत्तौ जध्नतुर्मुष्टिना हरिम् ॥ ५८ ॥ एवं परस्परं जातं युद्धं परमदारुणम् । युध्यमानौ महावीर्यौ दृष्ट्वा नारायणस्तदा ॥ ५९ ॥ अपश्यत्सम्मुखं देव्याः कृत्वा दीनां दृशं हरिः । सूत उवाच तं वीक्ष्य तादृशं विष्णुं करुणारससंयुतम् ॥ ६० ॥ जहासातीव ताम्राक्षी वीक्षमाणा तदासुरौ । तौ जघान कटाक्षैश्च कामबाणैरिवापरैः ॥ ६१ ॥ मन्दस्मितयुतैः कामं प्रेमभावयुतैरनु । दृष्ट्वा मुमुहतुः पापौ देव्या वक्रविलोकनम् ॥ ६२ ॥ विशेषमिति मन्वानौ कामबाणातिपीडितौ । वीक्षमाणौ स्थितौ तत्र तां देवीं विशदप्रभाम् ॥ ६३ ॥ हरिणापि च तद्दृष्टं देव्यास्तत्र चिकीर्षितम् । मोहितौ तौ परिज्ञाय भगवान्कार्यवित्तमः ॥ ६४ ॥ उवाच तौ हसन् श्लक्ष्णं मेघगम्भीरया गिरा । वरं वरयतां वीरौ युवयोर्योऽभिवाच्छितः ॥ ६५ ॥ ददामि परमप्रीतो युद्धेन युवयोः किल । दानवा बहवो दृष्टा युध्यमाना मया पुरा ॥ ६६ ॥ युवयोः सदृशः कोऽपि न दृष्टो न च वै श्रुतः । तस्मात्तुष्टोऽस्मि कामं वै निस्तुलेन बलेन च ॥ ६७ ॥ भ्रात्रोश्च वाञ्छितं कामं प्रयच्छामि महाबलौ । सूत उवाच तच्छ्रुत्वा वचनं विष्णोः साभिमानौ स्मरातुरौ ॥ ६८ ॥ वीक्षमाणौ महामायां जगदानन्दकारिणीम् । तमूचतुश्च कामार्तौ विष्णुं कमललोचनौ ॥ ६९ ॥ हरे न याचकावावां त्वं किं दातुमिहेच्छसि । ददाव तुल्यं देवेश दातारौ नौ न याचकौ ॥ ७० ॥ प्रार्थय त्वं हृषीकेश मनोऽभिलषितं वरम् । तुष्टौ स्वस्तव युद्धेन वासुदेवाद्भुतेन च ॥ ७१ ॥ तयोस्तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा प्रत्युवाच जनार्दनः । भवेतामद्य मे तुष्टौ मम वध्यावुभावपि ॥ ७२ ॥ सूत उवाच तच्छ्रुत्वा वचनं विष्णोर्दानवौ चातिविस्मितौ । वञ्चिताविति मन्वानौ तस्थतुः शोकसंयुतौ ॥ ७३ ॥ विचार्य मनसा तौ तु दानवौ विष्णुमूचतुः । प्रेक्ष्य सर्वं जलमयं भूमिं स्थलविवर्जिताम् ॥ ७४ ॥ हरे योऽयं वरो दत्तस्त्वया पूर्वं जनार्दन । सत्यवागसि देवेश देहि तं वाञ्छितं वरम् ॥ ७५ ॥ निर्जले विपुले देशे हनस्व मधुसूदन । वध्यावावां तु भवतः सत्यवाग्भव माधव ॥ ७६ ॥ स्मृत्वा चक्रं तदा विष्णुस्तावुवाच हसन्हरिः । हन्म्यद्य वां महाभागौ निर्जले विपुले स्थले ॥ ७७ ॥ इत्युक्त्या देवदेवेश ऊरू कृत्वातिविस्तरौ । दर्शयामास तौ तत्र निर्जलं च जलोपरि ॥ ७८ ॥ नास्त्यत्र दानवौ वारि शिरसी मुञ्चतामिह । सत्यवागहमद्यैव भविष्यामि च वां तथा ॥ ७९ ॥ तदाकर्ण्य वचस्तथ्यं विचिन्त्य मनसा च तौ । वर्धयामासतुर्देहं योजनानां सहस्रकम् ॥ ८० ॥ भगवान्द्विगुणं चक्रे जघनं विस्मितौ तदा । शीर्षे सन्दधतां तत्र जघने परमाद्भुते ॥ ८१ ॥ रथांगेन तदा छिन्ने विष्णुना प्रभविष्णुना । जघनोपरि वेगेन प्रकृष्टे शिरसी तयोः ॥ ८२ ॥ गतप्राणौ तदा जातौ दानवौ मधुकैटभौ । सागरः सकलो व्याप्तस्तदा वै मेदसा तयोः ॥ ८३ ॥ मेदिनीति ततो जातं नाम पृथ्व्याः समन्ततः । अभक्ष्या मृत्तिका तेन कारणेन मुनीश्वराः ॥ ८४ ॥ इति वः कथितं सर्वं यत्पृष्टोऽस्मि सुनिश्चितम् । महाविद्या महामाया सेवनीया सदा बुधैः ॥ ८५ ॥ आराध्या परमा शक्तिः सर्वैरपि सुरासुरैः । नातः परतरं किञ्चिदधिकं भुवनत्रये ॥ ८६ ॥ सत्यं सत्यं पुनः सत्यं वेदशास्त्रार्थनिर्णयः । पूजनीया परा शक्तिर्निर्गुणा सगुणाथवा ॥ ८७ ॥
sūta uvāca yadā vinirgatā nidrā dehāttasya jagadguroḥ | netrāsyanāsikābāhuhṛdayebhyastathorasaḥ || 1 || niḥsṛtya gagane tasthau tāmasī śaktiruttamā | udatiṣṭhajjagannātho jṛmbhamāṇaḥ punaḥ punaḥ || 2 || tadāpaśyat sthitaṃ tatra bhayatrastaṃ prajāpatim | uvāca ca mahātejā meghagambhīrayā girā || 3 || viṣṇuruvāca kimāgato'si bhagavaṃstapastyaktvātra padmaja | kasmāccintāturo'si tvaṃ bhayākulitamānasaḥ || 4 || brahmovāca tvatkarṇamalajau deva daityau ca madhukaiṭabhau | hantuṃ māṃ samupāyātau ghorarūpau mahābalau || 5 || bhayāttayoḥ samāyātastvatsamīpaṃ jagatpate | trāhi māṃ vāsudevādya bhayatrastaṃ vicetanam || 6 || viṣṇuruvāca tiṣṭhādya nirbhayo jātastau haniṣyāmyahaṃ kila | yuddhāyājagmaturmūḍhau matsamīpaṃ gatāyuṣau || 7 || sūta uvāca evaṃ vadati deveśe dānavau tau mahābalau | vicinvānāvajaṃ cobhau saṃprāptau madagarvitau || 8 || nirādhārau jale tatra saṃsthitau vigatajvarau | tāvūcaturmadonmattau brahmāṇaṃ munisattamāḥ || 9 || palāyitvā samāyātaḥ sannidhāvasya kiṃ tataḥ | yuddhaṃ kuru haniṣyāvaḥ paśyato'syaiva sannidhau || 10 || paścādenaṃ haniṣyāvaḥ sarpabhogoparisthitam | tvamadya kuru saṃgrāmaṃ dāso'smīti ca vā vada || 11 || sūta uvāca tacchrutvā vacanaṃ viṣṇustāvuvāca janārdanaḥ | kurutaṃ samaraṃ kāmaṃ mayā dānavapuṅgavau || 12 || hariṣyāmi madaṃ cāhaṃ yuvayormattayoḥ kila | āgacchataṃ mahābhāgau śraddhā cedvāṃ mahābalau || 13 || sūta uvāca śrutvā tadvacanaṃ cobhau krodhavyākulalocanau | nirādhārau jalasthau ca yuddhodyuktau babhūvatuḥ || 14 || madhuśca kupitastatra hariṇā saha saṃyugam | kartuṃ pracalitastūrṇaṃ kaiṭabhastu tathā sthitaḥ || 15 || bāhuyuddhaṃ tayorāsīnmallayoriva mattayoḥ | śrānte madhau kaiṭabhastu saṃgrāmamakarottadā || 16 || punarmadhuḥ kaiṭabhaśca yuyudhāte punaḥ punaḥ | bāhuyuddhena rāgāndhau viṣṇunā prabhaviṣṇunā || 17 || prekṣakastu tadā brahmā devī caivāntarikṣagā | na mamlatustadā tau tu viṣṇustu glānimāptavān || 18 || pañcavarṣasahasrāṇi yadā jātāni yuddhyatā | hariṇā cintitaṃ tatra kāraṇaṃ maraṇe tayoḥ || 19 || pañcavarṣasahasrāṇi mayā yuddhaṃ kṛtaṃ kila | na śrāntau dānavau ghorau śrānto'haṃ caitadadbhutam || 20 || kva gataṃ me balaṃ śauryaṃ kasmāccemāvanāmayau | kimatra kāraṇaṃ cintyaṃ vicārya manasā tviha || 21 || iti cintāparaṃ dṛṣṭvā hariṃ harṣaparāvubhau | ūcatustau madonmattau meghamambhīraniḥsvanau || 22 || tava nocedbalaṃ viṣṇo yadi śrānto'si yuddhataḥ | brūhi dāso'smi vāṃ nūnaṃ kṛtvā śirasi cāñjalim || 23 || na cedyuddhaṃ kuruṣvādya samartho'si mahāmate | hatvā tvāṃ nihaniṣyāvaḥ puruṣaṃ ca caturmukham || 24 || sūta uvāca śrutvā tadbhāṣitaṃ viṣṇustayostasminmahodadhau | uvāca vacanaṃ ślakṣṇaṃ sāmapūrvaṃ mahāmanāḥ || 25 || hariruvāca śrānte bhīte tyaktaśastre patite bālake tathā | praharanti na vīrāste dharma eṣa sanātanaḥ || 26 || pañcavarṣasahasrāṇi kṛtaṃ yuddhaṃ mayā tviha | eko'haṃ bhrātarau vāṃ ca balinau sadṛśau tathā || 27 || kṛtaṃ viśramaṇaṃ madhye yuvābhyāṃ ca punaḥ punaḥ | tathā viśramaṇaṃ kṛtvā yudhye'haṃ nātra saṃśayaḥ || 28 || tiṣṭhataṃ hi yuvāṃ tāvadbalavantau madotkaṭau | viśramyāhaṃ kariṣyāmi yuddhaṃ vā nyāyamārgataḥ || 29 || sūta uvāca iti śrutvā vacastasya viśrabdhau dānavottamau | saṃsthitau dūratastatra saṃgrāme kṛtaniścayau || 30 || atidūre ca tau dṛṣṭvā vāsudevaścaturbhujaḥ | dadhyau ca manasā tatra kāraṇaṃ maraṇe tayoḥ || 31 || cintanājjñānamutpannaṃ devīdattavarāvubhau | kāmaṃ vāñchitamaraṇau na mamlaturatastvimau || 32 || vṛthā mayā kṛtaṃ yuddhaṃ śramo'yaṃ me vṛthā gataḥ | karomi ca kathaṃ yuddhamevaṃ jñātvā viniścayam || 33 || akṛte ca tathā yuddhe kathametau gamiṣyataḥ | vināśaṃ duḥkhadau nityaṃ dānavau varadarpitau || 34 || bhagavatyā varo dattastayā so'pi ca durghaṭaḥ | maraṇaṃ cecchayā kāmaṃ duḥkhito'pi na vāñchati || 35 || rogagrasto'pi dīno'pi na mumūrṣati kaścana | kathaṃ cemau madonmattau martukāmau bhaviṣyataḥ || 36 || nanvadya śaraṇaṃ yāmi vidyāṃ śaktiṃ sukāmadām | vinā tayā na sidhyanti kāmāḥ samyakprasannayā || 37 || evaṃ sañcintyamānastu gagane saṃsthitāṃ śivām | apaśyadbhagavānviṣṇuryoganidrāṃ manoharām || 38 || kṛtājjalirameyātmā tāṃ ca tuṣṭāva yogavit | vināśārthaṃ tayostatra varadāṃ bhuvaneśvarīm || 39 || viṣṇuruvāca namo devi mahāmāye sṛṣṭisaṃhārakāriṇi | anādinidhane caṇḍi bhuktimuktiprade śive || 40 || na te rūpaṃ vijānāmi saguṇaṃ nirguṇaṃ tathā | caritrāṇi kuto devi saṃkhyātītāni yāni te || 41 || anubhūto mayā te'dya prabhāvaścātidurghaṭaḥ | yadahaṃ nidrayā līnaḥ sañjāto'smi vicetanaḥ || 42 || brahmaṇā cātiyatnena bodhito'pi punaḥ punaḥ | na prabuddhaḥ sarvathāhaṃ saṅkocitaṣaḍindriyaḥ || 43 || acetanatvaṃ samprāptaḥ prabhāvāttava cāmbike | tvayā muktaḥ prabuddho'haṃ yuddhaṃ ca bahudhā kṛtam || 44 || śrānto'haṃ na ca tau śrāntau tvayā dattavarau varau | brahmāṇaṃ hantumāyātau dānavau madagarvitau || 45 || āhūtau ca mayā kāmaṃ dvandvayuddhāya mānade | kṛtaṃ yuddhaṃ mahāghoraṃ mayā tābhyāṃ mahārṇave || 46 || maraṇe varadānaṃ te tato jñātaṃ mahādbhutam | jñātvāhaṃ śaraṇaṃ prāptastvāmadya śaraṇapradām || 47 || sāhāyyaṃ kuru me mātaḥ khinno'haṃ yuddhakarmaṇā | dṛptau tau varadānena tava devārtināśane || 48 || hantuṃ māmudyatau pāpau kiṃ karomi kva yāmi ca | ityuktā sā tadā devī smitapūrvamuvāca ha || 49 || praṇamantaṃ jagannāthaṃ vāsudevaṃ sanātanam | devadeva hare viṣṇo kuru yuddhaṃ punaḥ svayam || 50 || vañcayitvā tvimau śūrau hantavyau ca vimohitau | mohayiṣyāmyahaṃ nūnaṃ dānavau vakrayā dṛśā || 51 || jahi nārāyaṇāśu tvaṃ mama māyāvimohitau | sūta uvāca tacchrutvā vacanaṃ viṣṇustasyāḥ prītirasānvitam || 52 || saṃgrāmasthalamāsādya tasthau tatra mahārṇave | tadāyātau ca tau vīrau yuddhakāmau mahābalau || 53 || vīkṣya viṣṇuṃ sthitaṃ tatra harṣayuktau babhūvatuḥ | tiṣṭha tiṣṭha mahākāma kuru yuddhaṃ caturbhuja || 54 || daivādhīnau viditvādya nūnaṃ jayaparājayau | sabalo jayamāpnoti daivājjayati durbalaḥ || 55 || sarvathaiva na kartavyau harṣaśokau mahātmanā | purā vai bahavo daityā jitā dānavavairiṇā || 56 || adhunā cāvayoḥ sārdhaṃ yudhyamānaḥ parājitaḥ | sūta uvāca ityuktvā tau mahābāhū yuddhāya samupasthitau || 57 || vīkṣya viṣṇurjaghānāśu muṣṭinādbhutakarmaṇā | tāvapyatibalonmattau jadhnaturmuṣṭinā harim || 58 || evaṃ parasparaṃ jātaṃ yuddhaṃ paramadāruṇam | yudhyamānau mahāvīryau dṛṣṭvā nārāyaṇastadā || 59 || apaśyatsammukhaṃ devyāḥ kṛtvā dīnāṃ dṛśaṃ hariḥ | sūta uvāca taṃ vīkṣya tādṛśaṃ viṣṇuṃ karuṇārasasaṃyutam || 60 || jahāsātīva tāmrākṣī vīkṣamāṇā tadāsurau | tau jaghāna kaṭākṣaiśca kāmabāṇairivāparaiḥ || 61 || mandasmitayutaiḥ kāmaṃ premabhāvayutairanu | dṛṣṭvā mumuhatuḥ pāpau devyā vakravilokanam || 62 || viśeṣamiti manvānau kāmabāṇātipīḍitau | vīkṣamāṇau sthitau tatra tāṃ devīṃ viśadaprabhām || 63 || hariṇāpi ca taddṛṣṭaṃ devyāstatra cikīrṣitam | mohitau tau parijñāya bhagavānkāryavittamaḥ || 64 || uvāca tau hasan ślakṣṇaṃ meghagambhīrayā girā | varaṃ varayatāṃ vīrau yuvayoryo'bhivācchitaḥ || 65 || dadāmi paramaprīto yuddhena yuvayoḥ kila | dānavā bahavo dṛṣṭā yudhyamānā mayā purā || 66 || yuvayoḥ sadṛśaḥ ko'pi na dṛṣṭo na ca vai śrutaḥ | tasmāttuṣṭo'smi kāmaṃ vai nistulena balena ca || 67 || bhrātrośca vāñchitaṃ kāmaṃ prayacchāmi mahābalau | sūta uvāca tacchrutvā vacanaṃ viṣṇoḥ sābhimānau smarāturau || 68 || vīkṣamāṇau mahāmāyāṃ jagadānandakāriṇīm | tamūcatuśca kāmārtau viṣṇuṃ kamalalocanau || 69 || hare na yācakāvāvāṃ tvaṃ kiṃ dātumihecchasi | dadāva tulyaṃ deveśa dātārau nau na yācakau || 70 || prārthaya tvaṃ hṛṣīkeśa mano'bhilaṣitaṃ varam | tuṣṭau svastava yuddhena vāsudevādbhutena ca || 71 || tayostadvacanaṃ śrutvā pratyuvāca janārdanaḥ | bhavetāmadya me tuṣṭau mama vadhyāvubhāvapi || 72 || sūta uvāca tacchrutvā vacanaṃ viṣṇordānavau cātivismitau | vañcitāviti manvānau tasthatuḥ śokasaṃyutau || 73 || vicārya manasā tau tu dānavau viṣṇumūcatuḥ | prekṣya sarvaṃ jalamayaṃ bhūmiṃ sthalavivarjitām || 74 || hare yo'yaṃ varo dattastvayā pūrvaṃ janārdana | satyavāgasi deveśa dehi taṃ vāñchitaṃ varam || 75 || nirjale vipule deśe hanasva madhusūdana | vadhyāvāvāṃ tu bhavataḥ satyavāgbhava mādhava || 76 || smṛtvā cakraṃ tadā viṣṇustāvuvāca hasanhariḥ | hanmyadya vāṃ mahābhāgau nirjale vipule sthale || 77 || ityuktyā devadeveśa ūrū kṛtvātivistarau | darśayāmāsa tau tatra nirjalaṃ ca jalopari || 78 || nāstyatra dānavau vāri śirasī muñcatāmiha | satyavāgahamadyaiva bhaviṣyāmi ca vāṃ tathā || 79 || tadākarṇya vacastathyaṃ vicintya manasā ca tau | vardhayāmāsaturdehaṃ yojanānāṃ sahasrakam || 80 || bhagavāndviguṇaṃ cakre jaghanaṃ vismitau tadā | śīrṣe sandadhatāṃ tatra jaghane paramādbhute || 81 || rathāṃgena tadā chinne viṣṇunā prabhaviṣṇunā | jaghanopari vegena prakṛṣṭe śirasī tayoḥ || 82 || gataprāṇau tadā jātau dānavau madhukaiṭabhau | sāgaraḥ sakalo vyāptastadā vai medasā tayoḥ || 83 || medinīti tato jātaṃ nāma pṛthvyāḥ samantataḥ | abhakṣyā mṛttikā tena kāraṇena munīśvarāḥ || 84 || iti vaḥ kathitaṃ sarvaṃ yatpṛṣṭo'smi suniścitam | mahāvidyā mahāmāyā sevanīyā sadā budhaiḥ || 85 || ārādhyā paramā śaktiḥ sarvairapi surāsuraiḥ | nātaḥ parataraṃ kiñcidadhikaṃ bhuvanatraye || 86 || satyaṃ satyaṃ punaḥ satyaṃ vedaśāstrārthanirṇayaḥ | pūjanīyā parā śaktirnirguṇā saguṇāthavā || 87 ||
English translation
1-49. Suta said:-0 Munis! When the excellent Tannasi S’akti, the Goddess presiding over sleep came out from the eyes, mouth, nose, heart, etc., of the body of the World-Guru Visnu and rested in the celestial space, then the powerful Lord Visnu began to yawn and got up. He saw the Prajapati Brahma, terrified and spoke to him in words, deep like rumbling in the clouds “O Bhagavan Padmayone! What makes you come here, and leave your tapasya? Why do you look so terrified and anxious?” Hearing this, Brahma said: “O Deva! The two very powerful and very terrible Daityas, Madhu Kaitabha sprung from the wax of Thy ears approached to kill me; terrified thus, I have come to Thee. So, O Lord of the Universe! O Vasudeva! now I am quite out of senses and terrified; save me.” Visnu, then, said “Now go and rest in peace, without any fear; let those two stupids, whose life has been well nigh exhausted, come to me for battle; I will certainly kill them.”
Suta said While Bhagavan Visnu, the Lord of all the Devas, was thus saying, those two very powerful Danavas, elated with pride, came up there, in their search for Brahma. O Munis! The two proud Daityas stood there in the midst of the Pralaya water without anything to stand on and with calm attitude. They then spoke to Brahma as follows O You have fled and come here? You cannot escape. Go on and fight. I will kill You before this one.
Then I will kill him also who sleeps on this bed of serpent. Either give us battle or acknowledge yourself as our servant. Hearing their words, Janardan Visnu addressed them as follows:- “O two Danavas, mad for war! Come and fight with me as you like; I will surely curb your pride. O two powerful ones! If you trust me, come and fight”. Hearing this, the two Danavas in the midst of that mass of water resting without any support, came up there to fight, with their eyes rolling with anger. The Daitya, named Madhu, became very angry, came up quickly to fight while Kaitabha remained where he
stood. Then the hand-to-hand fight ensued between the two mad athletes; Bhagavan Hah and Madhu became tired; Kaitabha came up and began to fight. After that Madhu and Kaitabha joined and, blind with rage, began to fight again and again hand to hand with the very powerful Visnu. And Bhagavan Brahma and the Prime Force Adya S’akti witnessed this from the celestial Heavens. So the fight lasted for a long, long, time; yet the two Danavas did not feel a bit tired: rather Bhagavan Visnu became tired. Thus five thousand years passed away; Hari then began to ponder over their mode of death. He thought:-- “I fought for five thousands of years but the two formidable Danavas have not been tired anything, rather I am tired; it is a matter of great surprise. Where has gone my prowess? and what for the two Danavas were not tired; What is the cause? This is a matter, now, seriously to be thought over”. Seeing Bhagavan Hari thus sunk in cares, the two haughty Danavas spoke to him with great glee and with a voice like that of the rumbling of cloud “O Visnu! If you feel tired, if you have no sufficient strength to fight with us, then raise your folded palms on your head and acknowledge that you are our servant; or if you can, go on fighting. O intelligent one!
We will take away your life first; and then slay this four-faced Brahma”. Hearing the words of the two Danavas, resting there without any support in the vast ocean, the high-minded Visnu spoke to them in sweet consoling words “See, O heroes! no one ever fights with one who is tired, afraid, who is weaponless, who is fallen and who is a child; this is the Dharma of the heroes. Both of you fought with me for five thousands of years. But I am single handed; you are two, and both equally powerful and both of you took rest at intervals. I will therefore take rest for a while, and then fight with certainty. Both of you are very powerful and very much elated in vanity. Therefore rest a while. After taking rest for a while I will fight with you according to the just rules of warfare.” Hearing these words of Hari, the two chief Danavas trusted and remained far aloof, ready to fight again.
Now the four-armed Vasudeva, seeing them at a sufficient distance, began to ponder in his mind thus “How their death can be effected? Thinking for a time, he came to know that they have been granted, by the Supreme S’akti Devi, death at their will (Ichchamrityu); and therefore they are not getting tired. I fought so long with them uselessly; my labour went in vain. How then can I now fight, with this certain knowledge. Again if I do not fight, how these two Danavas, elated with their boon and giving troubles to all, be destroyed? When the boon is granted by the Devi their death is also well nigh impracticable. Who wants his own death, even placed in very great distressed circumstances. Attacked by terrible diseases, reduced to indigent poverty no one wants to die; so how can it be expected that these two haughty Danavas would want their death themselves? Therefore it is advisable me to take refuge of that Adya S’akti, the giver of the fruits of all desires. No desires can ever be fructified unless She is thoroughly pleased. Thus thinking, Bhagavan Visnu saw the beautiful Devi Yoga Nidra S’iva, shining in the air. Then the supreme Yogi, Bhagavan Visnu, of immeasurable spirit began to praise with folded palms that great BhuvanesVari Maha Kali, the giver of boons for the destruction of the Danavas. “O Devi! I bow down to Thee O Mahamaya, the Creatrix and Destructrix! Thou beginningless and deathless! O auspicious Chandike! The Bestower of enjoyment and liberation I do not know Thy Saguna or Nirguna forms; how then can I know Thy glorious deeds, innumerable as they are. To-day Thy undescribable prowess has been experienced by me, I being made senseless and unconscious by Thy power of sleep. Being tried again and again by Brahma with great care to bring me back to my consciousness, I could not become conscious, so much my senses were contracted down. O Mother! By Thy power. Thou didst keep me unconscious and Thou again hast freed me from sleep, and I also fought so many times. O giver of one's honour! Now I am tired; but Thou hast granted boon to the two Danavas and therefore they are not getting tired. These two Danavas, puffed up with pride, were ready to kill Brahma; and therefore I challenged them to fight with me and they too are fighting fiercely with me in this vast ocean. But Thou hast
granted them the wonderful boon that they will die whenever they will; and therefore I have now come to Thy refuge, as Thou protectest those that come under Thy shelter. Therefore, O Mother, the remover of the Devas' troubles! These two Danavas are become exceedingly elated by Thy boon and I, too, am tired. Therefore dost Thou help me now. Seel those two sinners are ready to kill me; without Thy grace, what can I do now? and where to go?”
50-59. Thus praised by the eternal Vasudeva Jagannatha Hah, with humility and pranams, the Devi Maha Kali, resting in the air, said smiling “O Deva deva Hah! Fight again; O Visnu! These two heroes, when deluded by My Maya, would be slain by you; I will delude them certainly, by My side long glance; O Narayana! then slay quickly the two Danavas, when conjured by My maya”.
Suta said Hearing these loving words of Bhagavati, Bhagavan Visnu went to the scene of battle in the middle of that ocean, when the two powerful Danavas of serene tempers and eager to light, became very glad on seeing Visnu in the battle and said “O four¬ armed one! we see your desire is very lofty indeed; well stand! Stand! now be ready for battle, knowing that victory or defeat is surely dependent on Destiny. You should think now thus Though it is generally true that the more powerful one wins victory; but it also happens sometimes that the weak gets the victory by queer turn of Fate; so the high souled persons should not be glad at their victories, nor should express their sorrows at their defeat; so don’t be glad, thinking, that you on many former occasions fought with many Danavas who were your enemies, and got the victory; nor be sorry that now you are defeated by the two Danavas”. Thus saying, the powerful Madhu Kaitabha came up to fight. Seeing this, Bhagavan Visnu struck them immediately by fist with great violence; the two Danavas, elated with their strength, struck Hah in return with their fists. Thus fighting went on vigorously.
60-87. Now seeing the two Danavas of great powers, fighting on incessantly, Narayana Hari cast a glance expressive of great distress, towards the face of the Devi Mahakali. Seeing Visnu thus distressed, the Devi laughed loudly and began to look constantly with eyes somewhat reddish and shot towards the two Asuras side¬ long glances, of love and amorous feelings which were like arrows from the Cupid. The two vicious Daityas became fascinated by the side-long glances of the Devi and took great pleasures in them; being extremely agitated by these amorous darts, looked with one steady gaze towards the Devi, of spotless lustre. Bhagavan Hari, too, saw the wonderful enchanting pastime of the Devi. Then Hari, perfectly expert in adopting means to secure ends, began to speak smiling and in voice like that of the rambling cloud, knowing the two Danavas enchanted by Mahamaya, thus
O two heroes! I am very glad at the mode of your fighting. So ask from me boons. I will grant that to you. I saw many Danavas before, fighting; but never I saw them expert like you, nor I heard like this. I am therefore, very much satisfied by your such unrivalled powers. Therefore, O greatly powerful pair of Danavas! I wish to grant both of you any boon that you want. Seeing the Devi Mahamaya, the gladdener, of the Universe, the two Danavas felt themselves amorous; and therefore they became proud on hearing Visnu's those words and told Visnu, with their lotus-like eyes wide open, thus:--
O Hari! what do you like to give us? We are not beggars; we do not want anything from you. O Lord of the Devas! Rather we will give you whatever you desire; we are donors; not receivers. So O Vasudeva! Hrisi Kesa! We are glad to see your- wonderful fight; so ask from us any boon that you desire. Hearing their words,
Bhagavan Janardan said “ If you both are so much pleased with me, then I want this that both of you be killed by me.” Hearing these words of Visnu, Madhu Kaitabha became very much wondered and thinking “we are now cheated” remained for some time merged in
sorrow. Then reflecting that there is water everywhere and solid earth nowhere, they said
“O Janardana Hari! We know that you are truthful; therefore now we want this desired boon from you that you wanted to grant us before now grant us this desired boon of ours. O Madhusudana! We will be slain by you; but kill us, O Madhava! on a solid earth, free from any water; and thus keep your word.
S’ri Bhagavan Hari laughed and remembering His Sudarsan disc said “O two highly fortunate ones! Verily, I will kill both of you on the vast solid spot without any trace of water. Thus saying, the Devadeva Hari expanded His own thighs and showed to those Danavas the vast solid earth on the surface of water and said
“O two Danavas! See, here is no water. Place your two heads here; thus I will keep my word and you would keep your word.” Hearing this, Madhu Kaitabha thought over in their minds and expanded their bodies to ten thousand Yojanas. Bhagavan Visnu Hari also extended his thighs to twice that amount. Seeing this, they were greatly, suprised and laid their heads on the thighs of Visnu. Visnu of wonderful prowess, then cut off quickly with His Sudarsan disc the two very big heads over His thighs. Thus the two Danavas Madhu Kaitabha passed away; and the marrow (meda) of them filled the ocean. O Munis! For this reason, this earth is named Medini and the earth is unfit for eatable purpose.
Thus I have described to you all that you asked. The sum and substance is this that the wise persons should serve Mahamaya with all thei hearts. The Supreme S’akti is worshipped by all the Devas. Verily verily, I say unto you that this is decided, in all the Vedas and other S’astras that there is nothing higher than this Adya S’akti. Therefore this Supreme S’akti should be worshipped anyhow; either in Her Saguna form or in Her Nirguna state.
Thus ends the ninth Chapter of the first Skandha on the killing of Madhu Kaitabha in the Mahapurana S’rimad Devi Bhagavatann of 18,000 verses by Maharsi Veda Vyas.
Complete chapter-aligned witnesses. Sanskrit Wikisource page 24706, revision 75551 (2016-08-03T05:59:17Z). English is Swami Vijñanananda’s complete 1921–23 public-domain translation, controlled against the archival OCR and its chapter page at https://sacred-texts.com/hin/db/bk01ch09.htm. Historic spelling and transliteration are lightly normalized; no verse-by-verse alignment is asserted.