Continuing with the most beautiful parts of the Devi Mahatmyam (Glorification of the Goddess), we go to Chapter Four, Verses 3-27, which is another hymn of praise to the Goddess.

Devi Mahatmyam (Glorification of the Goddess) IV.3:

देव्या यया ततमिदं जगदात्मशक्त्या
  निःशेषदेवगणशक्तिसमूहमूर्त्या
तां अम्बिकामखिलदेवमहर्षिपूज्यां
  भक्त्या नताः स्म विदधातु शुभानि सा नः ||3||

dEvyA yayA tatamidaM jagadAtmashaktyA
  niHshEShadEvagaNashaktisamUhamUrtyA
tAM ambikAmakhiladEvamaharShipUjyAM
  bhaktyA natAH sma vidadhAtu shubhAni sA naH ||3||

To that Ambikaa 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!


Devi Mahatmyam (Glorification of the Goddess) IV.4:

यस्याः प्रभावमतुलं भगवाननन्तॊ
ब्रह्मा हरश्च न हि वक्तुमलं बलं च
सा चण्डिकाखिलजगत्परिपालनाय
नाशाय चाशुभभयस्य मतिं करॊतु ||4||

yasyAH prabhAvamatulaM bhagavAnananto
brahmA harashcha na hi vaktumalaM balaM cha
sA chaNDikAkhilajagatparipAlanAya
nAshAya chAshubhabhayasya matiM karotu ||4||

May Chandikaa, whose incomparable greatness and power Bhagavan Vishnu,
Brahmaa, and Hara are unable to describe, lend her mind to protecting the
whole world and to destroying the fear of evil.


Devi Mahatmyam (Glorification of the Goddess) IV.5:

या श्रीः स्वयं सुकृतिनां भवनेष्वलक्ष्मीः
पापात्मनां कृतधियां हृदयेषु बुद्धिः
श्रद्धा सतां कुलजनप्रभवस्य लज्जा
तां त्वां नताः स्म परिपालय देवि विश्वम् ||5||

yA shrIH svayaM sukRRitinAM bhavanEShvalakShmIH
pApAtmanAM kRRitadhiyAM hRRidayEShu buddhiH
shraddhA satAM kulajanaprabhavasya lajjA
tAM tvAM natAH sma paripAlaya dEvi vishvam ||5||

Oh 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!


Devi Mahatmyam (Glorification of the Goddess) IV.6:

किं वर्णयाम तव रूपमचिन्त्यमेतत्
किञ्चातिवीर्यमसुरक्षयकारि भूरि
किं चाहवेषु चरितानि तवाति यानि
सर्वेषु देव्यसुरदेवगणादिकेषु ||6||

kiM varNayAma tava rUpamachintyamEtat
kiJNchAtivIryamasurakShayakAri bhUri
kiM chAhavEShu charitAni tavAti yAni
sarvEShu dEvyasuradEvagaNAdikEShu ||6||

Oh Devi, how can we describe your inconceivable form, or your abundant,
surpassing valour that destroys the asuras, or your wonderful feats displayed
in battles among all the hosts of gods, asuras, and others?

Devi Mahatmyam (Glorification of the Goddess) IV.7:

हेतुः समस्तजगतां त्रिगुणापि दॊषै-
र्न ज्ञायसे हरिहरादिभिरप्यपारा
सर्वाश्रयाखिलमिदं जगदंशभूत-
मव्याकृता हि परमा प्रकृतिस्त्वमाद्या ||7||

hEtuH samastajagatAM triguNApi doShai-
rna j~nAyasE hariharAdibhirapyapArA
sarvAshrayAkhilamidaM jagadaMshabhUta-
mavyAkRRitA hi paramA prakRRitistvamAdyA ||7||

You are the origin of all the worlds! Though you are possessed of the three gunas, you are not known to have any of their attendant defects! You are incomprehensible even to Vishnu, Shiva, and others! You are the resort of all! This entire world is composed of an infinitesimal portion of yourself! You are verily the supreme primordial Prakriti untransformed.

Devi Mahatmyam (Glorification of the Goddess) IV.8:

यस्याः समस्तसुरता समुदीरणेन
तृप्तिं प्रायति सकलेषु मखेषु देवि
स्वाहासि वै पितृगणस्य च तृप्तिहेतु-
रुच्चार्यसे त्वमत एव जनैः स्वधा च ||8||

yasyAH samastasuratA samudIraNEna
tRRiptiM prAyati sakalEShu makhEShu dEvi
svAhAsi vai pitRRigaNasya cha tRRiptihEtu-
ruchchAryasE tvamata Eva janaiH svadhA cha ||8||

Oh Devi, you are Svaha (mantra for sacrifices to the gods) at whose utterance the whole assemblage of gods attains satisfaction in all the sacrifices. You are Svadha (mantra for sacrifices to the ancestors) which gives satisfaction to the manes. Therefore you are chanted (as these mantras) by people.

Devi Mahatmyam (Glorification of the Goddess) IV.9:

या मुक्तिहेतुरविचिन्त्यमहाव्रता त्वं
अभ्यस्यसे सुनियतेन्द्रियतत्त्वसारैः
मॊक्षार्थिभिर्मुनिभिरस्तसमस्तदॊषै-
र्विद्यासि सा भगवती परमा हि देवि ||9||

yA muktihEturavichintyamahAvratA tvaM
abhyasyasE suniyatEndriyatattvasAraiH
mokShArthibhirmunibhirastasamastadoShai-
rvidyAsi sA bhagavatI paramA hi dEvi ||9||

Oh Devi, you are Bhagavati, the supreme Vidya (knowledge) which is the cause of liberation, and great, inconceivable penances (are the means for your realization). You are cultivated by sages desiring liberation, whose senses are well restrained, who are devoted to Reality, and have shed all the blemishes.

Devi Mahatmyam (Glorification of the Goddess) IV.10:

शब्दात्मिका सुविमलर्ग्यजुषां निधान-
मुद्गीथरम्यपदपाठवतां च साम्नाम्
देवी त्रयी भगवती भवभावनाय
वार्ता च सर्वजगतां परमार्तिहन्त्री ||10||

shabdAtmikA suvimalargyajuShAM nidhAna-
mudgItharamyapadapAThavatAM cha sAmnAm
dEvI trayI bhagavatI bhavabhAvanAya
vArtA cha sarvajagatAM paramArtihantrI ||10||

You are the soul of Shabda-brahman. You are the repository of the very pure Rik and Yajus hymns, and of Samans, the recital of whose words is beautiful with the Udgitha (Om, or the Sama Veda music)! You are Bhagavati embodying the three Vedas. And you are the sustenance whereby life is maintained. You are the supreme destroyer of the pain of all the worlds.

Devi Mahatmyam (Glorification of the Goddess) IV.11:

मेधासि देवि विदिताखिलशास्त्रसारा
दुर्गासि दुर्गभवसागरनौरसङ्गा
श्रीः कैटभारिहृदयैककृताधिवासा
गौरी त्वमेव शशिमौलिकृतप्रतिष्ठा ||11||

mEdhAsi dEvi viditAkhilashAstrasArA
durgAsi durgabhavasAgaranaurasaN^gA
shrIH kaiTabhArihRRidayaikakRRitAdhivAsA
gaurI tvamEva shashimaulikRRitapratiShThA ||11||

Oh Devi, you are the intellect by which the essence of all scriptures ia comprehended. You are Durga, the boat that takes men across the difficult ocean of worldly existence, devoid of attachments. You are Shri (Lakshmi) who has invariably taken her abode in the heart of Vishnu. You are indeed Gauri (Parvati) who has established herself with Shiva.

Devi Mahatmyam (Glorification of the Goddess) IV.12:

ईषत्सहासममलं परिपूर्णचन्द्र-
बिम्बानुकारि कनकॊत्तमकान्तिकान्तम्
अत्यद्भुतं प्रहृतमात्तरुषा तथापि
वक्त्रं विलॊक्य सहसा महिषासुरेण ||12||

IShatsahAsamamalaM paripUrNachandra-
bimbAnukAri kanakottamakAntikAntam
atyadbhutaM prahRRitamAttaruShA tathApi
vaktraM vilokya sahasA mahiShAsurENa ||12||

Gently smiling, pure, resembling the full moon's orb, beautiful as the splendour of excellent gold was your face! Yet it was very strange that, being swayed by anger, Mahishasura suddenly struck your face when he saw it.

Devi Mahatmyam (Glorification of the Goddess) IV.13:

दृष्ट्वा तु देवि कुपितं भ्रुकुटीकराल-
मुद्यच्छशाङ्कसदृशच्छवि यन्न सद्यः
प्राणान् मुमॊच महिषस्तदतीव चित्रं
कैर्जीव्यते हि कुपितान्तकदर्शनेन ||13||

dRRiShTvA tu dEvi kupitaM bhrukuTIkarAla-
mudyachChashAN^kasadRRishachChavi yanna sadyaH
prANAn mumocha mahiShastadatIva chitraM
kairjIvyatE hi kupitAntakadarshanEna ||13||

Far strange it is that after seeing your wrathful face, oh Devi, terrible with its frowns and red in hue like the rising moon, that Mahishasura did not forthwith give up his life! For, who can live after beholding the enraged Destroyer!

Devi Mahatmyam (Glorification of the Goddess) IV.14:

देवि प्रसीद परमा भवती भवाय
सद्यॊ विनाशयसि कॊपवती कुलानि
विज्ञातमेतदधुनैव यदस्तमेतन्
नीतं बलं सुविपुलं महिषासुरस्य ||14||

dEvi prasIda paramA bhavatI bhavAya
sadyo vinAshayasi kopavatI kulAni
vij~nAtamEtadadhunaiva yadastamEtan
nItaM balaM suvipulaM mahiShAsurasya ||14||

Oh Devi, be propitious. You are supreme. If enraged, you forthwith destroy the (asura) families for the welfare (of the world). This was known the very moment when the extensive forces of Mahishasura were brought to an end.

Devi Mahatmyam (Glorification of the Goddess) IV.15:

ते सम्मता जनपदेषु धनानि तेषां
तेषां यशांसि न च सीदति धर्मवर्गः
धन्यास्त एव निभृतात्मजभृत्यदारा
येषां सदाभ्युदयदा भवती प्रसन्ना ||15||

tE sammatA janapadEShu dhanAni tEShAM
tEShAM yashAMsi na cha sIdati dharmavargaH
dhanyAsta Eva nibhRRitAtmajabhRRityadArA
yEShAM sadAbhyudayadA bhavatI prasannA ||15||

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.

Devi Mahatmyam (Glorification of the Goddess) IV.16:

धर्म्याणि देवि सकलानि सदैव कर्मा-
ण्यत्यादृतः प्रतिदिनं सुकृती करॊति
स्वर्गं प्रयाति च ततॊ भवती प्रसादा-
ल्लॊकत्रयेऽपि फलदा ननु देवि तेन ||16||

dharmyANi dEvi sakalAni sadaiva karmA-
NyatyAdRRitaH pratidinaM sukRRitI karoti
svargaM prayAti cha tato bhavatI prasAdA-
llokatrayE.api phaladA nanu dEvi tEna ||16||

By your grace, oh Devi, the blessed individual does daily all righteous deeds with utmost care, and thereby attains heaven. Are you not therefore, oh Devi, the bestower of reward in all the three worlds?

Devi Mahatmyam (Glorification of the Goddess) IV.17:

दुर्गे स्मृता हरसि भीतिमशेषजन्तॊः
स्वस्थैः स्मृता मतिमतीव शुभां ददासि
दारिद्र्यदुःखभयहारिणि का त्वद् अन्या
सर्वॊपकारकरणाय सदार्द्रचित्ता ||17||

durgE smRRitA harasi bhItimashEShajantoH
svasthaiH smRRitA matimatIva shubhAM dadAsi
dAridryaduHkhabhayahAriNi kA tvad anyA
sarvopakArakaraNAya sadArdrachittA ||17||

When called to mind in a difficult situation, you remove fear for every person. When called to mind by those in happiness, you bestow a mind still more pious. Which goddess but you, oh dispeller of poverty, pain, and fear, has an ever-sympathetic heart for helping everyone?

Devi Mahatmyam (Glorification of the Goddess) IV.18:

एभिर्हतैर्जगदुपैति सुखं तथैते
कुर्वन्तु नाम नरकाय चिराय पापम्
संग्राममृत्युमधिगम्य दिवं प्रयान्तु
मत्वेति नूनमहितान्विनिहंसि देवि ||18||

Ebhirhatairjagadupaiti sukhaM tathaitE
kurvantu nAma narakAya chirAya pApam
saMgrAmamRRityumadhigamya divaM prayAntu
matvEti nUnamahitAnvinihaMsi dEvi ||18||

The world attains happiness by the killing of these (foes); and though these (asuras) have committed sins to keep them long in hell, let them reach heaven by meeting death eventually at the battle (with me)--thinking thus, that you, oh Devi, certainly destroy our enemies.

Devi Mahatmyam (Glorification of the Goddess) IV.19:

दृष्त्वैव किं न भवती प्रकरॊति भस्म
सर्वासुरानरिषु यत्प्रहिणॊषि शस्त्रम्
लॊकान्प्रयान्तु रिपवॊऽपि हि शस्त्रपूता
इत्थं मतिर्भवति तेष्वपि तेऽतिसाध्वी ||19||

dRRiShtvaiva kiM na bhavatI prakaroti bhasma
sarvAsurAnariShu yatprahiNoShi shastram
lokAnprayAntu ripavo.api hi shastrapUtA
itthaM matirbhavati tEShvapi tE.atisAdhvI ||19||

Don't you reduce all asuras to ashes by mere sight? But you direct your weapons against them so that even the inimical ones, purified by the missiles, may attain the higher worlds. Such is your most kindly intention towards them.

Devi Mahatmyam (Glorification of the Goddess) IV.20:

खड्गप्रभानिकरविस्फुरणैस्तथॊग्रैः
शूलाग्रकान्तिनिवहेन दृशॊऽसुराणाम्
यन्नागता विलयमंशुमदिन्दुखण्ड-
यॊग्याननं तव विलॊकयतां तदेतत् ||20||

khaDgaprabhAnikaravisphuraNaistathograiH
shUlAgrakAntinivahEna dRRisho.asurANAm
yannAgatA vilayamaMshumadindukhaNDa-
yogyAnanaM tava vilokayatAM tadEtat ||20||

If the eyes of the asuras had not been put out by the terrible flashes of the mass of light issuing from your sword or by the copious lustre of your spear point, it is because they saw also your face resembling the moon, giving out (cool) rays.

Devi Mahatmyam (Glorification of the Goddess) IV.21:

दुर्वृत्तवृत्तशमनं तव देवि शीलं
रूपं तथैतदविचिचिन्त्यमतुल्यमन्यैः
वीर्यं च हन्तृ हृतदेवपराक्रमाणां
वैरिष्वपि प्रकटितैव दया त्वयेत्थम् ||21||

durvRRittavRRittashamanaM tava dEvi shIlaM
rUpaM tathaitadavichichintyamatulyamanyaiH
vIryaM cha hantRRi hRRitadEvaparAkramANAM
vairiShvapi prakaTitaiva dayA tvayEttham ||21||

Oh Devi, your nature is to subdue the conduct of the wicked; this your peerless beauty is inconceivable for others; your power destroys those who have robbed the devas of their prowess, and you have thus manifested your compassion even towards the enemies.

Devi Mahatmyam (Glorification of the Goddess) IV.22:

केनॊपमा भवतु तेऽस्य पराक्रमस्य
रूपं च शत्रुभयकार्यतिहारि कुत्र
चित्ते कृपा समरनिष्ठुरता च दृष्टा
त्वय्येव देवि वरदे भुवनत्रयेऽपि ||22||

kEnopamA bhavatu tE.asya parAkramasya
rUpaM cha shatrubhayakAryatihAri kutra
chittE kRRipA samaraniShThuratA cha dRRiShTA
tvayyEva dEvi varadE bhuvanatrayE.api ||22||

What is your prowess to be compared to? Where can one find this beauty (of yours), most charming, yet striking fear into enemies? Compassion in heart and relentlessness in battle are seen, oh Devi, oh granter of boons, only in you in all the three worlds!

Devi Mahatmyam (Glorification of the Goddess) IV.23:

त्रैलॊक्यमेतदखिलं रिपुनाशनेन
त्रातं त्वया समरमूर्धनि तेऽपि हत्वा
नीता दिवं रिपुगणा भयमप्यपास्त-
मस्माकमुन्मदसुरारिभवं नमस्ते ||23||

trailokyamEtadakhilaM ripunAshanEna
trAtaM tvayA samaramUrdhani tE.api hatvA
nItA divaM ripugaNA bhayamapyapAsta-
masmAkamunmadasurAribhavaM namastE ||23||

Through the destruction of the enemies all these three worlds have been saved by you. Having killed them in the battle-front, you have led even those hosts of enemies to heaven, and you have dispelled our fear of the frenzied enemies of the devas. Salutation to you!

Devi Mahatmyam (Glorification of the Goddess) IV.24:

शूलेन पाहि नॊ देवि पाहि खड्गेन चाम्बिके
घण्टास्वनेन नः पाहि चापज्यानिस्स्वनेन च ||24||

shUlEna pAhi no dEvi pAhi khaDgEna chAmbikE
ghaNTAsvanEna naH pAhi chApajyAnissvanEna cha ||24||

Oh Devi, protect us with your spear. Oh Ambikaa, protect us with your sword, protect us by the sound of your bell, and by the twang of your bowstring.

Devi Mahatmyam (Glorification of the Goddess) IV.25:

प्राच्यां रक्ष प्रतीच्यां च चण्डिके रक्ष दक्षिणे
भ्रामणेनात्मशूलस्य उत्तरस्यां तथेश्वरि ||25||

prAchyAM rakSha pratIchyAM cha chaNDikE rakSha dakShiNE
bhrAmaNEnAtmashUlasya uttarasyAM tathEshvari ||25||

Oh Chandika, guard us in the east, in the west, in the north, and in the south by the brandishing of your spear, oh Ishwari (Lady Ruler)!

Devi Mahatmyam (Glorification of the Goddess) IV.26:

सौम्यानि यानि रूपाणि त्रैलॊक्ये विचरन्ति ते
यानि चात्यन्तघॊराणि तै रक्षास्मांस्तथा भुवम् ||26||

saumyAni yAni rUpANi trailokyE vicharanti tE
yAni chAtyantaghorANi tai rakShAsmAMstathA bhuvam ||26||

Protect us and the earth with these lovely forms of yours, moving about in the three worlds, as also with your exceedingly terrible forms.

Devi Mahatmyam (Glorification of the Goddess) IV.27:

खड्गशूलगदादीनि यानि चास्त्राणि तेऽम्बिके
करपल्लवसङ्गीनि तैरस्मान्रक्ष सर्वतः ||27||

khaDgashUlagadAdIni yAni chAstrANi tE.ambikE
karapallavasaN^gIni tairasmAnrakSha sarvataH ||27||

Oh Ambikaa,, protect us on every side with your sword, spear, and club, and whatever other weapons your soft hand has touched.