Chapter 4: The Devi Stuti
The Rishi said: When that most valiant but evil-natured
Mahishasura and the army of that foe of the devas were destroyed by the Devi,
Indra and the hosts of devas uttered their words of praise, their necks and
shoulders reverently bent, and bodies rendered beautiful with horripilation and
exultation.
‘To that Ambika who is worthy of worship by all devas and
sages and pervades this world by her power and who is the embodiment of the
entire powers of all the hosts of devas, we bow in devotion. May she grant us
auspicious things!
'May Chandika, whose incomparable greatness and power
Bhagavan Vishnu, Brahma and Hara are unable to describe, bestow her mind on
protecting the entire world and on destroying the fear of evil.
'O Devi, we bow before you, who are yourself good fortune in
the dwellings of the virtuous, and ill-fortune in those of the vicious,
intelligence in the hearts of the learned, faith in the hearts of the good, and
modesty in the hearts of the high-born. May you protect the universe!
'You who are always bounteous, with whom you are well
pleased, those (fortunate ones) are indeed the object of esteem in the country,
theirs are riches, theirs are glories, and their acts of righteousness perish
not; they are indeed blessed and possessed of devoted children, servants and
wives.
'By your grace, O Devi, the blessed individual does daily
all righteous deeds with utmost care and thereby attains to heaven. Are you
not, therefore O Devi, the bestower of reward in all the three worlds?
'When called to mind in a difficult pass, you remove fear
from every person. When called to mind by those in happiness, you bestow a mind
still further pious. Which goddess but you, O dispeller of poverty, pain and
fear, has an ever sympathetic heart for helping everyone?’
Thus the supporter of the worlds was praised by the devas,
worshipped with celestial flowers that blossomed in Nandana and with perfumes
and unguents; and with devotion all of them offered her - heavenly incense.
Benignly serene in countenance she spoke to all obeisant devas.
The Devi said: 'Choose all of you, O devas, whatever you
desire of me. (Gratified immensely with these hymns, I grant it with great
pleasure)' The devas said: 'Since our enemy, this Mahishasura, has been slain
by Bhagavati (i.e you) everything has been accomplished, and nothing remains to
be done. And if a boon is to be granted to us by you, O Maheshvari, whenever we
think of you again, destroy our direct calamities. O Mother of spotless
countenance, and whatever mortal (human) shall praise you with these hymns, may
you, who have become gracious towards us, also be gracious for him and increase
his wealth, and other fortunes together with riches, prosperity and life, and
good wife, O Ambika!'
The Rishi said: O King, being thus propitiated by the devas
for the sake of the world and for their own sake, Bhadrakali said, 'Be it so'
and vanished from their sight. Thus have I narrated, O King, how the Devi who
desires the good of all the three worlds made her appearance of yore out of the
bodies of the devas.
And again how, as a benefactress of the devas, she appeared
in the form of Gauri for the slaying of wicked asuras as well as Shumbha and
Nishumbha, 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 Manu.
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