5.1 OṀ klīm. The seer said:
5.2 “Long ago, grown arrogant with power, the asuras Śumbha and Niśumbha seized Indra’s sovereignty over the three worlds and his share of the sacrifices.
5.3 In like manner they usurped the authority of the sun and the moon, and that of Kubera, Yama, and Varuṇa—the lords of wealth, death, and the ocean.
5.4 They seized the wind god’s power and Agni’s functions. The gods were defeated, deposed, and driven out.
5.5 Stripped of their powers and cast out by those two great asuras, all the gods remembered The Invincible Devī.
5.6 ‘She granted us a boon, saying, “Whenever you remember Me in times of distress, from that very moment I Will put an End to all your worst calamities.’”
5.7 With that in mind, the gods went to Himālaya, the lord of mountains, and there praised The Devī, Who is Viṣṇumāyā.
5.8 The gods said:
5.9 ‘Salutation to The Devī, to The Great Devī. Salutation always to Her Who Is Auspicious. Salutation to Her Who Is The Primordial Cause, to Her Who Is Gracious. With minds intent, we bow down to Her.
5.10 Salutation to Her Who Is Terrible. To Gaurī, The Eternal, Shining One; to Her Who Sustains the universe, salutations again and again. Salutation always to Her Who Is Moonlight, Who Has The Form of the Moon and Is Blissful.
5.11 We bow to Her Who Is Auspicious Beauty. We make salutations again and again to Her Who Is Prosperity and Attainment. Salutations again and again to Her Who Is The Fortune and Misfortune of kings, to Śarvāṇī, The Consort of Śiva.
5.12 Salutation always to Durgā, Who Takes us through difficulties, Who Is The Creator and Indwelling Essence of all, Who Is Right Knowledge, and Who also Appears Dark As Smoke.
5.13 We bow down to Her Who is at once Most Gentle and Most Fierce. Salutations to Her again and again. Salutation to The Support of the world. To The Devī, Who Is Creative Action, salutations again and again.
5.14-16 To the Devī, Who in all beings is called Viṣṇumāyā, salutation to Her, salutation to Her, salutation to Her again and again.
5.17-19 To The Devī, Who in all beings is seen as Consciousness, salutation to Her, salutation to Her, salutation to Her again and again.
5.20-22 To the Devī, Who Abides in all beings in the form of Intelligence, salutation to Her, salutation to Her, salutation to Her again and again.
5.23-25 To The Devī, Who Abides in all beings in the form of sleep, salutation to Her, salutation to Her, salutation to Her again and again.
5.26-28 To The Devī, Who Abides in all beings in the form of Hunger, salutation to Her, salutation to Her, salutation to Her again and again.
5.29-31 To The Devī, Who Abides in all beings in the form of Shadow, salutation to Her, salutation to Her, salutation to Her again and again.
5.32-34 To The Devī, Who Abides in all beings in the form of Power, salutation to Her, salutation to Her, salutation to Her again and again.
5.35.37 To The Devī, Who Abides in all beings in the form of Thirst, salutation to Her, salutation to Her, salutation to Her again and again.
5.38–40 To The Devī, Who Abides in all beings in the form of Forgiveness, salutation to Her, salutation to Her, salutation to Her again and again.
5.41–43 To The Devī, Who Abides in all beings in the form of Order, salutation to Her, salutation to Her, salutation to Her again and again.
5.44–46 To The Devī, Who Abides in all beings in the form of Modesty, salutation to Her, salutation to Her, salutation to Her again and again.
5.47–49 To The Devī, Who Abides in all beings in the form of Peace, salutation to Her, salutation to Her, salutation to Her again and again.
5.50–52 To The Devī, Who abides in all beings in the form of Faith, salutation to Her, salutation to Her, salutation to Her again and again.
5.53–55 To The Devī, Who Abides in all beings in the form of Loveliness, salutation to Her, salutation to Her, salutation to Her again and again.
5.56–58 To The Devī, Who Abides in all beings in the form of Good Fortune, salutation to Her, salutation to Her, salutation to Her again and again.
5.59–61 To The Devī, Who Abides in all beings in the form of Activity, salutation to Her, salutation to Her, salutation to Her again and again.
5.62–64 To The Devī, Who abides in all beings in the form of Memory, salutation to Her, salutation to Her, salutation to Her again and again.
5.65–67 To The Devī, Who Abides in all beings in the form of Compassion, salutation to Her, salutation to Her, salutation to Her again and again.
5.68–70 To The Devī, Who Abides in all beings in the form of Contentment, salutation to Her, salutation to Her, salutation to Her again and again.
5.71–73 To The Devī, Who Abides in all beings in the form of Mother, salutation to Her, salutation to Her, salutation to Her again and again.
5.74–76 To The Devī, Who Abides in all beings in the form of Error, salutation to Her, salutation to Her, salutation to Her again and again.
5.77 To Her Who Presides over the elements and the senses, and Is Ever Present in all beings, to The All-Pervading Devī, salutations again and again.
5.78–80 To Her Who Pervades this entire world and Abides in the form of Consciousness, salutation to Her, salutation to Her, salutation to Her again and again.
5.81 Praised long ago by the gods for Fulfilling their desires and likewise honored daily by the lord of the gods, may Īśvarī, The Source of all good, Create happiness and prosperity for us, and may She Destroy our misfortunes.
5.82 Tormented by arrogant daityas, we gods now honor Her, The Supreme Power. With bodies bowed down in devotion, at this moment we remember Her Who Destroys all afflictions.’”
5.83 The seer said:
5.84 “O king, while the gods were thus engaged in praise and adoration, Pārvatī Came to Bathe in the waters of the Gaṇgā.
5.85 She Who is Fair of Countenance asked the gods, ‘Whom are you praising?’ From Her Own Body An Auspicious Form Emerged and Replied:
5.86 ‘This hymn is an appeal to Me by those whom the daitya aumbha cast out, by the assembled gods whom niśumbha defeated in battle.’
5.87 And since Ambikā Came Forth from Pārvatī’s Bodily Form, She Is Glorified in all the worlds as Kauśikī.
5.88 Thereupon, Pārvatī Became Black. Thus known as Kālīkā, She Makes Her abode in the Himālayas.
5.89 Then caṇḍa and muṇḍa, two servants of sumbha and niśumbha, beheld Ambikā’s Captivating Beauty.
5.90 And they told sumbha, ‘O great king, an Unknown Woman, Surpassingly Beautiful, Dwells Illuminating the Himālayas.
5.91 Nowhere has anyone ever seen Such Supreme Beauty. May you learn Who that Goddess is and take possession of Her, O lord of asuras!
5.92 She Abides there, a Jewel among Women, Fairest of limb, Casting Her Radiance in all directions. O chief of daityas, surely you must behold Her!
5.93 Master, whatever gems and jewels, elephants, horses, and other riches exist in the three worlds, all those now enhance your dwelling.
5.94 From Indra you have taken Airāvata, the jewel among elephants, and also The Celestial Coral Tree and the horse Uccaiḥśravas.
5.95 Taken from Brahmā, this wondrous jewel among chariots, yoked with swans, stands here in your courtyard.
5.96 Seized from Kubera, the lord of wealth, is his treasure. And the lord of the ocean has relinquished his garland of unfading lotuses.
5.97 Varuṇa’s umbrella, which showers down gold, now stands in your house along with this best of chariots, which once was Prajāpati’s.
5.98 Master, you have taken Yama’s spear, which grants departure from this life. Varuṇa’s noose is among your brother’s possessions.
5.99 To niśumbha belong all manner of gems born of the sea. And to the two of you, Agni has given garments purified by his own fire.
5.100 Thus, O chief of daityas, you have appropriated all things of value. Why then do you not seize this Jewel among Women for yourself?’”
5.101 The seer said:
5.102 “On hearing these words of caṇḍa and muṇḍa, sumbha sent the great asura sugrīva as a messenger to The Devī.
5.103 Instructing him, he said: ‘Go to Her and speak such words on my behalf that She will be Delighted and will quickly come to me.’
5.104 sugrīva went there to the resplendent, craggy place where The Devī Dwelt and spoke honeyed words to Her in unctuous tones.
5.105 The messenger said:
5.106 ‘O Devī, in the three worlds sumbha, the lord of daityas, is the supreme sovereign. I am his messenger. I have come here to your presence, sent by him
5.107 who has conquered all the enemies of the daityas and whose command is never resisted in the dwellings of the gods. Hear what he says:
5.108 “all the three worlds are mine, and the gods submit to my will. I enjoy each one’s share of the sacrifices, every one of them.
5.109 Indeed I possess all the finest gems in the three worlds, and I have taken Airāvata, the jewel among elephants and Indra’s mount.
5.110 The immortal gods, bowed down in reverence, offered me uccaihśravas, the jewel among horses, born from the churning of the milk ocean.
5.111 And whatever else is precious among the gods and celestial beings, all that is mine, O fair one.
5.112 We think of you, O Goddess, as The Jewel among Women in the world, which indeed You Are. Come to us, for we take pleasure in all the finest things.
5.113 Choose either me or my valiant younger brother, niśumbha, for with Your Flashing Eyes You Are truly a Jewel.
5.114 By taking me you will obtain dominion beyond compare. With reasoning mind, consider this well and become my wife.’””
5.115 The seer said:
5.116 “Thus addressed, The Devī Smiled inscrutably. The Blessed, Auspicious Durgā, Who Supports the universe, Spoke.
5.117 The Devī Said:
5.118 ‘You have spoken the truth; there is nothing false in what you have said. sumbha is the ruler of the three worlds, and so also is niśumbha.
5.119 But how can I `Go back on My Word? Hear of the vow I once Made out of foolishness:
5.120 He alone Who conquers Me in battle, Who removes My pride, Who equals My strength in the world, will become My husband.
5.121 Therefore let sumbha or the great asura niśumbha come here. Why delay? having conquered Me, let him take My Hand in marriage.’
5.122 The messenger said:
5.123 ‘You are arrogant, O Devī. Speak not so in my presence. What man in the three worlds surpasses sumbha and niśumbha?
5.124 Even against the other daityas, all the gods cannot stand face to face in battle, O Devī. How then Can You, Who Are one Woman alone?
5.125 Indra and all the other gods could not resist sumbha and the other demons in battle. How Will You, A Woman, Go Forth and Confront them?
5.126 As I have said, go to sumbha and niśumbha’s side. Suffer not the indignity of being dragged there by Your Hair.’
5.127 The Devī Said:
5.128 ‘So must it be. sumbha is mighty and niśumbha is exceedingly heroic, but what Can I do? My rash vow was made long ago.
5.129 Go back and tell the chief of asuras exactly what I Have Said. And let him do what is fitting.’”