The Killing of the Buffalo-demon or Mahisasura----1 (canto 2 of
Durgasaptasati)
Risiruvaca
The sage said
Devaasuram abhud yuddham
Purnam abdasatam puraa .
Mahisesuraanamadhipe
Devanaaancha purandare..
Once upon a time there was a terrible fight between the gods and the
demons which continued for hundred years.The Buffalo was the lord of
the demons and Purandara Indra was the king of the gods at that time.
Tatraasuraih mahaaviryaih
Devasainyam paraajitam
Jitva tu sakalaan devaan
Indrobhut Mahisaasurah
In that hundred years’ war the mighty demons defeated the army of
gods. Having vanquished each and every god the Buffalo demon became
the Indra or the ruler of heaven
Tatah paraajitaa devah
Padmayonim prajaapatim.
Puraskritya gataastatra
Yatresagarudadhvajau..
Thereafter the Creator who was born in the lotus navel of Visnu led
the defeated gods ; they reached where Lord Siva and the god whose
emblem is Garuda were sitting together
Yathaavrittam tayostadvan
Mahisaasurachestitam
Tridashah kathayaamaasur
Devaabhibhavavistaram
The gods reported them the activities of the Buffalo demon as they
took place.They also reported the plight of the gods in detail
Suryendraagnyanilendunaam
Yamasya Varunasya cha
Anyesaanchaadhikaaraan sa
Swayamevadhitisthati
The Buffalo demon himself has assumed himself the powers of Surya-
Sun ,of Indra –the Lord of heaven , of Anila-the Wind god , of Varuna
– the god of the waters as well as of others
Svargaanniraakritaah sarve
Tena devaganaa bhuvi
Vicharanti yathaa martyaa
Mahisena duraatmanaa
Driven away from the heaven by the wicked Buffalo, the gods are
wandering in the earth like earthlings
Etadvah kathitam sarvam
Amaraarivichestitam
Saranam cha prapannah sma
Vadhastasya vichintyataam
So this is all that we have to tell you. We take refuge with you.
Think how the demon could be killed.
Ittham nisamya devaanaam
Vachaamsi madhusudanah
Chakaara kopam sambhuscha
Bhrukutikutilaananou
Having heard the speech of the gods the face of Madhusudana- the god
who killed the demon Madhu and the face of Lord Sambhu showed
curves in the eyebrow.Both of them were angry.
Tatoti kopapurnasya
Chakrino vadanattatah
Nischakraama mahattejo
Brahmanah sankarasya cha
Presently a great energy emitted from the fiercely angry face of the
god who wields the wheel. Also energy emitted from the faces of
Brahmaa and Sankara
Anyesaanchaiva devaanam
Sakraadinaam sariratah
Nirgatam sumahattejas
Tachchaikyam samagachhata
Great energy emitted from the bodies of Sakra and other gods. The
energy thus emitted from the different gods united.
Ateeva tejasah kutam
Jvalantam iva parvatam
Dadrisuste surastatra
Jvaalaavyapta digantaram
It was a mountain peak made of untold energy. It was a mountain
aburning as it were. The gods there were marveled at the sight of the
horizon aflame.
Atulam tatra tattejah
Sarvadeva sarirajam
Ekastham tadabhunnaari
Vyaptalokatrayam tvisa
That mass of energy gathered there had no peer anywhere. It was the
collective energy of all the gods.And lo! Yonder stood a woman.The
three worlds were plunged in her light.
Yadabhuchchamvavatejas
Tenaajaayata tanmukham.
Yaamyena chaabhavan kesaa
Vaahavo visnutejasaa..
Her face was made of the energy that emanated from Lord Sambhu. Her
hair was made of the energy of the Lord of Death or Control. Her hands
were forged by Visnu.
Saumyena stanayoryugmam
Madhyanchaindrena chaabhavat.
Baarunena cha janghoru
Nitambastejasaa bhuvah..
The Moon made her breasts. The middle portion of her body was
engineered by Indra the god who wields thunder. Her thighs were made
by Varuna the water god . Her heaps were created by the light come
from the Earth.
Brahmanastejasaa paadau
Tadangulyorka tejasaa
Basunaancha karaangulyah
Kauverena cha naasikaa
The legs were made of the energy of Brahmaa the Creator. Its fingers
were moulded by the energy from the Sun. The fingers of the hand were
made by the Basus. Her nose was made by Kuvera
Tasyaastu dantaah sambhutaah
Praajaapatyena tejasaa
Nayanatritayam yajne
Tathaa paavakatejasaa
Her teeth were created by the energies of god prajaapati. The energy
of the Fire god created the three eyes
Bhruvau sandhyayosteja
Sravanaavanilasya cha
Anyesaanchaiva devaanaam
Sambhavastejasaam sivaa
The Twilight Hours or Sandhya created her eyebrows. The energies of
the Windgod created the ears. The lady goddess who could be called the
goddess of wellbeing or Sivaa was thus created by all the other gods
and goddesses as well.
Tatah samasta devaanaam
Tejoraasim samudbhavaam
Taam vilokyamudam praapur
Amaraamahisaarditaa
Seeing her as the creation of the collective energy of all the gods
and goddesses , the joys of the gods and goddesses who were earlier
humiliated and dispossessed by their perennial enemies, knew no bound
now.
Shulam shulaat viniskrishya
Dadau tasmai pinaakadhrik
Chakrancha dattavaan Krisnah
Samutpaadya sva chakratah..
Lord Siva who wields the pinaak conjured a trident from his trident
and gave it to her, Krisna forged another whel from his own and
bestowed the same upon her.
Sankhancha varunah
Saktimdadau hutaasanah
Maarutah dattavaanschaapam
Vaanapurne tathesudhih
Varun gave the conch. Hutasanah or Fire god gave the weapon Sakti
Maaruta gave the bow and a basket full of arrow.
Vajramindra samutpaadya
Kulisaadamaraadhipah.
Dadau tasyai sahasraakso
Ghantaamairaavataad gajaat..
The lord of the gods Indra forged a thunder from his thunder and
gave it to her. Indra ,the thousand eyed god, also gave her a bell
forging it from the bell of his mount Airaavata, the elephant
Kaladandaad yamo dandam
Pasanchambupatirdadau
Prajaapatischaaksamaalaa
Dadau Brahmaa kamandalum
Yama the god of death made a stick from his own stick that is Time and
gave it to her.The lord of the waters gave her a chain that might bind
others. The creator of myriads of lives in the world, Prajaapati, gave
her a garland.Brahmaa the creator of the world gave her a water jug or
kamandalu.
Samastaromakupesu
Nija rashmin divaakarah
Kaalascha dattavaan khadgah
Tasyaascharma cha nirmalam
Sungod , the architect of day, put his own rays into every hair
follicle of the effulgent dame. Time gave her the scimitar as well as
the shield that was bright and dazzling.
Ksirodaschaamalam haaram
Ajare cha tathaamaambare
Chudamanim tathaa divyam
Kundale katakaani cha..
The sea of condensed milk gave her a dazzling necklace and clothes
that will remain ever new. The sea also gave an elysian gem to wear on
the head ,earrings and bangles.
Ardhachandram tathaa shubhram
Keyuraan sarvavaahusu.
Nupurau vimalau tadvad
Graiveyakamanuttamam..
The god of the seas bestowed the white crescent moon upon her. He
gave armlets to deck every hand.He gave stainless nupurs for the legs.
Besides he gave a bright ornament to adorn her chin.
Anguriyaka ratnaani
Samastaasvangalisu
He also gave gems to adorn every finger of hers.
Viswakarmaa dadau tasyai
Parasunchaatinirmalam
Astaanyanekarupaani
Tathaabhedyadamsanam..
Viswakarma the engineer god . gave a bright axe to her. He also
bestowed upon her various kinds of weapons as well as an armour that
baffles all attacks.
Amlaana pankajaam maalaam
Sirasyurasi chaaparaam
Adadaad jaladhistasyai
Pankajanachaati shobhanam..
The seas gave two garlands of lotus that will never pale or wither
away---one for the head and another for the breast. The seas also gave
her a lotus exceedingly beautiful.
Himavaan vaahanam simham
Ratnaani vividhaani cha.
Dadaavasunyam surayaa
Paanapaatram dhanaadhipah..
The snowcapped Himalayas gave her a lion that she should mount. The
Himalayas also blessed her with varied and variegated gems.Kuvera the
god of money gave her a drinking bowl brimming with the finest wine.
Seshascha sarvanaagesho
Mahaamani vibhushitam
Nagahaaram dadau tasyai
Dhatte yah prithivimimaam..
Seshnaag the king of the snakes who holds the world on his hoods and
who is decked in brightest diadems gave a necklace that the serpents
are wont to wear and that has the emblem of the snake on it
Anyairapi surairdevi
Bhusanairaayudhaistathaa.
Sammaanitaa nanaadochchaih
Saattahaasam muhurmuhuh..
Honoured with ornaments and weapons by other gods as well, she burst
into a thundering
shout accompanied with peals of ceaseless laughter.
Tasyaa naadena ghorena
Kritsnamaapuritam nabhah
Amaayataatimahataa
Pratishabdo mahanabhut..
The terrible shout that she gave filled up all the skies. The terrible
shout measureless to man had equally terrible echo.
Chuksubhuh sakalah lokah
Samudrascha chakampire
Chachaala vasudhaa cheluh
Sakalaaschamahidharah
It sent a tremor through all the worlds The countless oceans in the
countless worlds trembled . The earth rocked. The mountains quaked.
Jayeti devaascha mudaa
Taamuchaih simhavaahinim
Tustuvurmunayaschainaam
Bhaktinamraatmamurtayah..
Overjoyed the gods shouted at her mounted on the lion—Victory to thee.
The sages, animated busts of the bent down with devotion, propitiated
her.
Dristvaa samastam samksudhvam
Trailokyamamaraarayah
Sannadhaakhila sainyaaste
Samuttasthurudaayudhah..
The enemies of the gods saw all the three worlds astir. They
gathered all their army. They were up with arms.
Ahh! Kimetaditi krodhaad
Aabhasya mahisaasurah.
Abhyadhaavata tam sabdam
Aseshairasurairvritah..
Ahh! What is it! Exclaimed the Buffalo demon in a huff and followed
the sound . He was accompanied and surrounded by countless demons.
Sa dadarsa tato devim
Vyaaptalokatrayam tvisa
Paadaakraantya natabhuvam
Kiritollikhitaambaraam..
He saw the goddess enveloping all the worlds with her luster. The
earth was bent under the press of her feet. Her crest tore through the
skies.
Ksobhithaasesha pataalaam
Dhanurjyanisvanena taam
Dishobhujasahasrena
Samantaad vyapya samsthitaam.
She shook all the netherworlds with the twang of her bowstring. Yonder
she stood occupying the space in every direction with her thousand
hands.
Tatah pravavrite yuddham
Tayaa devyaa suradvisaam
Sastraastrairvahudhaa muktair
Aadipita digantaram..
Then the fight between the goddess and the demons took off. The
weapons released numerous explosives in numerous methods and lit up
the horizons.
Mahisaasurasenaanis
Chiksuraakhyo mahaasurah
Yuyudhe chaamaraschaanyais
Chaturangavalaanvitah..
The commanders of the army of Mahisaasura , Chiksuro and Chaamara
by name, along with other great army leaders fought the goddess.Each
one of the commanders was accompanied with countless
footarmy ,cavalry, soldiers riding elephants, and chariots.
Rathaanamayutaih sadbhih
Udagraakhyo mahaasurah
Ayudhyataayutaanancha
Sahasrena mahaahanuh..
The fierce demon Udagra by name was fighting with 60000 chariots on
his side. The demon Mahaahanu fought with 1 crore chariots on his side
Panchaasadbhischa niyutair
Asilomaa mahaasurah
Ayutaanaam sataih sadbhir
Vaaskalo yuyudhe rane..
The great demon Asilomaa fought accompanied with 5 crore chariots.
Another Vaaskala was fighting backed up by 60 lakhs of chariots.
Gajavaaji sahasraughair
Anekaih parivaaritah
Vrito rathaanam kotya cha
Yuddhe tasminnayudhyata
Encircled by thousands of horses and elephants, equipped with a crore
chariots an other demon was fighting in the fray.
Vidaalaaksoyutaanaancha
Panchaasadbhirathaayutaih
Yuyudhe samyuge tatra
Rathaanaam parivaaritah.
The demon Viddalaakshah entered into the battle circled by 500 crore
chariots
Anye cha tatraayutasho
Rathanaagahayairvritah
Yuddhe samyuge devyaa
Khadgam parasupattisaih
There were other commanders too. They were decked with millions of
chariots , elephants,and horses in the same way. And they took on the
goddess with scimitars axes and other deadly weapons.
Koti koti sahasraistu
Rathaanam dantinaam tathaa
Hayaanaancha vrito yuddhe
Tatraabhunmahisaasurah..
There was the Buffalo demon himself decked with thousand crores of
chariots, tuskers of elephants,and horses
Tomarairbhindipaalaischa
Saktibhirmusalaistathaa
Yuyudhuh samyuge devya
Khadgam parasu pattisaih
With weapons like tomara , bhindipaala, sakti,musala, khadga ,
parasu , pattisa and the like they fought the goddess in the battle.
Kechichcha chiksipuh saktih
Kechit pashanstathaapare
Devim khadgaprahaaraischa
Te tam hantum prachakramuh
Some of them flung missiles at the goddess. Others threw ropes at
her.They were about to kill her with scimitars.
Saapi devi tatastaani
Sastraanyastraani chandikaa
Lilayaiva prachichcheda
Nijasastraastravarsini.
The goddess also shattered all those weapons and missiles with
playful ease by flinging weapons and missiles at them.
Anaayastaananaa devi
stuyamaanaa surarshibhih
Mumochaasuradehesu
Sastraanyastraani cheswari
The face of the goddess was cool and fresh. There was no trace of
tiredness in it. The gods and sages were profusely praising her. She
let loose her weapons and missiles on the bodies of the demons.
Sopi kruddho dhuto sato
Devyaa vaahana kesari
Chachaaraa surasainyesu
Vaneshwiva hutaasanah
The mount of the goddess , the lion, his manes trembling in anger,
moved about among the enemies like wildfire in the forests.
Nihswaasaanmumuche yaanscha
Yudhyamaanaa ranembika
Ta eva sadyah sambhutaa
Ganah satasahasrashah
Plunged in war, the divine mother Ambikaa released her breath and at
once hundred thousands of ganaah were born
Yuyudhuste parasubhir
Bhindipaalaasipattisaih
Naasayantosuraganaan
Devisaktyupavrimhitaah
Charged with the energy of the goddess they fought with parasu,
bhindipala,asi, pattisa and other weapons and killed the demons.
Avaadayanta patahaan ganah
Sankhaanstathaapare Avaadayanta
Mridangaanscha tathaivaanye
Tasmin yuddhamahotsave
In that great festivity of war some of the ganah sounded pataha.
Others blew the conch.There were still others among the ganaah who
played on the mridanga.
Tato devi trisulena
Gadayaa saktivristibhih
Khadgaadibhischa satasho
Nijaghaana mahaasuraan..
The goddess rained sakti upon the enemies and killed the fiercest
demons with tridents , clubs and scimitars.
Paatayamaasa chaivaanyan
Ghantaasvana vimohitaan.
Asuraan bhuvi paasena
Vaddhvaachaanyaanakarshata..
Others fell in front of her being dazed with the mortal sound of the
bell. She hooked others with ropes and pulled them to death here on
earth.
Kechiddvidhaakritaastiksnaih
Khadgapaataistathaapare
Vipotthitaa nipaatena
Gadayaa bhuvi serate
Some were cut into pieces with sharp swords.Some others werehit hard
with the club and lay on the earth
Vemuscha kechidrudhiram
Musalena bhrisam hataah
Kechinnipaatitaa bhumau
Bhinnah shulena vaksasi
Some vomited blood being terribly hurt by musala. Some were flung
on the ground their chests being torn with the trident.
Nirantarah saraughena
Kritaah kechidranaajire.
Senaanukaarinah praanaan
Mumuchustridsaardanah
Some of the enemies of gods accompanied with their soldiers kicked
the bucket being hurt with ceaseless shower of arrows.
Kesaanchid baahavaschhinnaa
Chhinnagreevaa tathaapare
Siraamsi peturanyesaam
Anye madhye vidaaritaah
The arms of some of them were torn off from their bodies. The cheeks
of some of them were chopped off from the body. The heads of some of
them fell onto the ground. Others were broken in the middle of their
body.
Vichchinna janghaastvapare
Petururvyaam mahaasuraah
Ekabaahvaksicharanaah
Kechiddevyaa dvidhaa kritaah..
Some demons had their thighs separated from the body. The goddess
cut some other demons vertically from head to foot. They fell on
the earth with one arm one eye and one foot.
Chinnepi chaanye sirasi
Patitah punarutthitah
Kabandhaa yuyudhur devyaa
Grihitaparamaayudhah
Many of them fell beheaded. Still a few of them –the torsos- leaped
forth and fought with the goddess wielding sharp weapons
Nanrituschaapare tatra
Yuddhe turyalayaashritah
Others danced there to dizzily fast beats of the war.
Kavandhaa chhinnasirasah
Khadgasaktryistipaanayah
Tistha tistheti bhaasanto
Devimanye mahasuraah
The torsos sans heads wielded scimitar and sakti in their palms.
Other great demons told the goddess—Tarry a while
Paatitai rathanaagaasvair
Asuraischa vasundhara
Agamyaa saabhavat tatra
Yatraabhut sa maharanah
The earth is known as the reservoir of immense wealth. She however
became inaccessible where the great war took place due to the corpses
of the demons and carcasses of the horses and elephants flung on the
ground. Also there were the ruins of the chariots upturned.
Sonitaughaa mahaanadyah
Sadyastatravisusruvuh
Madhye chaasurasainyasya
Vaaranaasuravaajinaam
Great rivers instantly were born laden with the flow of blood that
sprang from the demons and elephants and horses.
Ksanena tanmahaasainyam
Asuraanaam tathambica
Ninye swayam yatha vahnis
Trinadaarumahaachayam
In a moment Ambica –the great mother-herself destroyed the vast army
of the demons just as fire burns the vast accumulation of grass and
wood
Sa cha Sinho mahaanaadah
Utsrijan dhutakesarah
Sarirebhyo amaraarinam
Asuniva vichinvati
The lion also burst into loud roars . His manes were trembling. He
drank in the bodies of the enemies of gods
Devyaa ganaischa taistatra
Kritam yuddham tathasuraih
Tathaisaam tutusurdevah
Puspavristimucho divi
The ganah that were created by the goddess continued their fight
with the demons. The gods were so pleased that they showered flowers
on them from the skies.
Thus ends the second canto of Durgasaptasati. It dwells on the
massmassacre of the army of the Buffalo
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