२३ त्रयोव िंशदशकः - महालक्ष्म्य तारः 23 trayovimshadashakah' - mahaalakshmyavataarah' -Incarnation of mahalakshmi

 २३ त्रयोव िंशदशकः - महालक्ष्म्य तारः

23 trayovimshadashakah' - mahaalakshmyavataarah'

                                     -Incarnation of mahalakshmi

(Mahishasura got a boon that no male should be able to kill him. All

devas were driven away from him. They went to Vishnu. Who told

that a feminine power should be born out of them. The powers from

the trinity, devas, and Indra joined together. She was called

Mahalakshmi, who was only yourselves. After fighting she killed

Mahisha’s commander in chief Chikshura. These are told in chapters

2-15 of book 5 of the Devi Bhagawatham. In the devi mahathmyam,

the story is told differently. There is no mention of mahisha getting a

boon that only a female should kill him.)

रम्भस्य पुत्रो महिषासुरः प्राक्

तीव्रैस्तपोहिर्द्ु हिणात्प्रसन्नात् ।

अवध्यताां पुम्भम्भरवाप्य धृष्टो

न मे मृहतः स्याहिहत च व्यहचन्तीत् ॥ २३-१॥

Rambhasya putro mahishaasurah' praak

teevraistapobhirdruhinaatprasannaat .

avadhyataam pumbhiravaapya dhri'sht'o

na me mri'tih' syaaditi cha vyachinteet .. 23-1..

1.Long time ago, Mahishasura, who was son of Rambha, by doing

strong penance, pleased Lord Brahma and from him took the boon

that no male should be able to kill him. He became very proud to

that extent that he thought-‘I am invincible.’

Mahishasura was the son of Rambha, an asura, born from a mahishi-

buffalo. He performed severe penance for many years and satisfied

brahma. He asked brahma for a boon that he should never die.

Brahma informed him that such a boon was impossible to give.

Immediately mahishasura asked a boon like this,’ may I not be killed

by any man. I understand that no lady can kill me.’ Brahma gave him

that boon. Because of which, Mahishasura became proud of the fact

that death can do him no harm.

Rambha and Karambha were the two sons of Danu; these two Dānavas were

far famed in this world for their reputation. They had no issues; hence, desirous

of issues, they went to the sacred banks of the Indus (Pañca Nada) and there

performed severe asceticism for long years. Karambha got himself submerged

in water and thus began his severe tapasyā; while the other, Rambha, had

recourse to a juicy peepul tree (haunted by Yakshinīs) and there began to

worship Fire. Rambha remained, engaged in worshipping the Five Fires;

knowing this, Indra, the Lord of Śacī, was pained and hurried thither, being

very anxious. Going to Pañca Nada, Indra assumed the form of a crocodile and

caught hold of the legs of the wicked Karambha and killed him.

Hearing of the death of his brother, Rambha got very much enraged and

wishing to offer his own head as an oblation to the Fire, he wanted to cut off

his own head; he, being infuriated, held the hairs of his head by his left hand,

and, catching hold of a good axe, by his right hand, was on the point of

cutting it, when the Fire gave him knowledge, desisted him from this act and

spoke thus :-- You are stupid; why have you desired to cut off your own head;

killing one’s ownself is a great sin; and there is no means of deliverance from

this sin. Why are you then ready to execute it? Do not seek your death now;

what end will that serve you? Rather ask boons from me; thus you will get your

welfare. Hearing thus the sweet words of Fire, Rambha left the hold of his hairs

and said :-- O Lord of the Devas! If you are pleased, grant my desired boon

that a son be born unto me, who will destroy the forces of my enemy and who

will conquer the three worlds. And that son be invincible in every way by the

Devas, Dānavas and men, very powerful, assuming forms at will, and respected

by all.

The Fire said :-- O highly Fortunate! You will get your son, as you desire;

therefore desist now from your attempting suicide. O highly fortunate

Rambha! With any female of whichever species, you will co-habit, you will get

a son, more powerful than you; there is no doubt in this.

Hearing thus the sweet words of the Fire as desired, Rambha, the chief of the

Dānavas, went, surrounded by Yaksas, to a beautiful place, adorned with

picturesque sceneries; when one lovely she-buffalo, who was very maddened

with passion, fell to the sight of Rambha. And he desired to have sexual

intercourse with her, in preference to other women. The she-buffallo, too,

gladly yielded to his purpose and Rambha had sexual intercourse with her,

driven as it were by the destiny. The she-buffalo became pregnant with his

semen virile. The Dānava, too, carried the she-buffalo, his dear wife, to Pātāla

(the lower regions) for her protection. On one occasion, another buffalo got

excited and wanted to fall upon the she-buffalo. The Dānava was also ready to

kill him. The Dānava came hurriedly and struck the buffalo for the safety of his

wife; whereon the excited buffalo attacked him with his horns. The buffalo

struck him so violently with his sharp horns that Rambha fell down senseless

all of a sudden and finally died. Seeing her husband dead, the she-buffalo

quickly fled away in distress and, with terror, she quickly went to the peepul

tree and took refuge under the Yaksas. But that buffalo, excited very much and

maddened with vigour, ran in pursuit of her, desiring intercourse with her. On

seeing the miserable plight of the weeping she-buffalo, distressed with fear,

and seeing the buffalo in pursuit of her, the Yaksas assembled to protect her. A

terrible fight ensued between the buffalo and the Yaksas, when the buffalo,

shot with arrows by them, fell down and died. Rambha was very much liked by

the Yaksas; so they cremated his dead body for its purification. The she-

buffalo, seeing her husband laid in the funeral pyre, expressed her desire to

enter also into that fire. The Yaksas resisted; but that chaste wife quickly

entered into the burning fire along with her husband. When the she-buffalo

died, the powerful Mahiṣa rose from his mother’s womb from the midst of the

funeral pyre; Rambha, too, emerged from the fire in another form out of his

affection towards his son. Rambha was known as Raktabīja after he had

changed his form. His son was thus born as a very powerful Dānava and

became famous by the name of Mahiṣa. The chief Dānavas installed Mahiṣa on

the throne. The very powerful Raktavīja and the Dānava Mahiṣa, thus took their

births and became invincible of the Devas, Dānavas and human beings.

स हचक्षुराद्यैरसुरैः समेतः

शक्राहििे वान्युहध पद्मजां च ।

रुर्द्ां च हवष्ुां च हवहजत्य नाके

वसन् बलाद्यज्ञिहवजुिार ॥ २३-२॥

sa chikshuraadyairasuraih' sametah'

shakraadidevaanyudhi padmajam cha .

rudram cha vishnum cha vijitya naake

vasan balaadyajnyahavirjahaara .. 23-2..

2. He along with Asuras, like Chikshura, defeated Indra and the other

devas, in war, brahma vishnu shiva too were defeated. Thus staying

in heaven,he plundered the share of the offerings given to the devas

in Yajnas.

Chikshura was mahishasura’s army’s commander-in-chief. The asura

attacked heaven. A terrible war took place. The trimurtis came to

help the devas. In the war, Indra and the other devas were defeated.

All of them left heaven and ran away to save themselves.

Mahishasura became the lord of heavens. All that took place in

heaven was not known to man on earth. They kept performing

yagnas as before. All the yagna offerings(yagya havis) that were

made to indra, varuna and other devas was snatched by

mahishasura.

Then Mahiṣa, the Lord of the Daityas, desirous to send an envoy to Indra, the

Lord of Śacī, instantly called for the messenger and spoke to him thus :-- Go, O

hero! O valiant one! to Heaven. Act as my messenger and tell Indra fearlessly

thus :-- “O thousand-eyed one! Quit the Heavens; go anywhere you like, or

offer your service to the high-souled Mahiṣa! He is the lord; and if you take

refuge unto him, he will certainly protect you. Therefore, O Lord of Śacī, better

seek the protection of Mahiṣa. If, O Balasūdana! Not willing, wield your Vajra at

once; we know your powers; you were, in days of yore, conquered by our

ancestors. O chief of the Sūras! You are the paramour of Ahalyā; your strength

is well known, give battle or go anywhere you like.”

Hearing the messenger’s words, Indra became very outraged and laughed and

said :-- I did not know, O you stupid, that you were maddened with vanity; I

will shortly give medicines for your master’s disease. Now I will uproot him by

the roots; wise persons do not slay messengers; I therefore let you go.

Better go and tell him what I say :-- “Son of a buffalo! If you are willing to fight,

better come and do not delay. O Enemy of horse! (Buffaloes and horses are

always at war with each other) Your strength is well known to me; you are a

grass eater and your appearance is stupid, idiotic; out of your horns I will make

a good bow. You depend on your horns for your strength; that I well know.

You are clever in striking with your horns; you don’t know anything about

warfare; therefore I will cut off both the weapons and render you powerless.

You are very much puffed up with vanity due to that.”

हचरां िृशां िै त्यहनपीहितास्ते

िे वाः समां पद्मजशङ्कराभ्याम् ।

िररां समेत्यासुरिौष्ट्यमूचूस्त्ाां

सांस्मरन् िे हव मुराररराि ॥ २३-३॥

chiram bhri'sham daityanipeed'itaaste

devaah' samam padmajashankaraabhyaam .

harim sametyaasuradausht'yamoochoostvaam

samsmaran devi muraariraaha .. 23-3..

3.Those Devas who were troubled for a long time, by those

Rakshasas, along with Brahma and Shiva, approached Hari and

informed about the evil acts of those Asuras, O! Goddess, meditating

on you he told them.

The devas for many years stayed in caves in the mountains. They

were not able to bear the torture metted out to them by the asuras.

They went to brahma. Under the guidance of brahma all of them

went to Shiva. Brahma, shiva and all the devas went to Vishnu and

told him about their problem. Vishnu understood that the entire

universe was at the mercy of the asuras, and meditating on Devi said:

सुरा वयां तेन रणेऽहतघोरे

पराहजता िै त्यवरो बहलष्ठः ।

मत्तो िृशां पुम्भम्भरवध्यिावान्न

नः म्भियो युद्धहवचक्षणाश्च ॥ २३-४॥

suraa vayam tena rane'tighore

paraajitaa daityavaro balisht'hah' .

matto bhri'sham pumbhiravadhyabhaavaanna

nah' striyo yuddhavichakshanaashcha .. 23-4..

4.Oh Devas! we were defeated by mahishasura in a fierce war.

As that Asura seems to be having very great strength. His pride has

increased with the fact that he knows he cannot be killed by males,

and our ladies are not experts in war fare.

Vishnu remembered the old events. Long time ago the trimurtis

along with other devas had fought against mahishasura. They lost

the war. Because, no male could kill mahishasura. Any male becomes

helpless in front of that asura. That is why the asura was filled with

pride. The apsaras or the wives of the trimurti’s were not used to

fighting a war. So it was necessary to find a solution as to how to kill

the asura.

तेजोहिरे का िवतीि नश्चे त्

सैवासुरान् िीमबलाहन्निन्ता ।

यथा िवत्येतिरां तथैव

सांप्राथुयामोऽवतु नो मिे शी ॥ २३-५॥

tejobhirekaa bhavateeha nashchet

saivaasuraan bheemabalaannihantaa .

yathaa bhavatyetadaram tathaiva

sampraarthayaamo'vatu no maheshee .. 23-5..

5.If a lady is born now, here, from our inner luster, only she can kill

these extremely powerful asuras. And let us all pray so that this will

happen in the way we want it to happen. Let the great Goddess

protect us.

Vishnu only thought of a solution as to how to overpower and kill

the asuras. If all the divine powers of all the devas are combined to

form a lady, that lady will be able to defeat the asuras for us. For this

to happen all of us should pray together. With the blessings of devi

everything will be solemnised.

Viṣṇu on hearing their words, spoke smiling “We fought before; but this Asura

could not at that time be killed. Hence if some beautiful female Deity be now

created out of the collective energy and form of the Śaktis of each of the

Devas, then that Lady would be able easily to destroy that Demon by sheer

force. The Lady Deity then sprung from the collective energy of ours, would at

once be able to destroy that Mahiṣa, who is over the moon on his getting the

power, though he is skilled in hundreds of Māyās (magics). Therefore ask ye

now all, with your wives respectively, boons from that portion which resides in

you all in the form of Fiery Energy, that the collected energy thus exhibited

may assume the form of a Lady. We will then offer unto Her, all the Divine

weapons, the trident, etc., that belong to us. That Deity, then, full of energy

and with all the weapons in Her hands would kill that wicked Demon, vicious

and swelled with vanity.”

एवां िरौ वक्तरर पद्मजातात्

तेजोऽिवर्द्ाजसरक्तवणुम् ।

हशवाििूत् तामसरौप्यवणं

नीलप्रिां साम्भिकमच्युताच्च ॥ २३-६॥

evam harau vaktari padmajaataat

tejo'bhavadraajasaraktavarnam .

shivaadabhoottaamasaraupyavarnam

neelaprabham saattvikamachyutaachcha .. 23-6..

6.When Lord Vishnu was telling like this, a red regal rajo guna luster

arose out of Lord Brahma, and a bright white tamo guna luster came

out of Lord Shiva, and a soft blue sattva guna luster came out of

Lord Vishnu.

As Vishnu was speaking, from the body of brahma, suddenly, a

bright light emanated-like a fire spark. The brightness was bright

red. It was a splendour in which rajo guna was dominant. Same time,

from shiva’s body, a white light, which had tamo guna as dominant

arose. Afterwards from the body of Vishnu a bright light originated-

a blue colour dominated by sattva guna.

On Viṣṇu, the Lord of the Devas, saying thus, came out spontaneously, at once,

of the face of Brahmā, the brilliant fiery energy, very difficult to conceive. That

energy looked red like gems and pearls, hot, at the same time, a little cool,

having a beautiful form, and encircled by a halo of light. O King! The high-

souled Hari and Hara, of mighty valor, were astonished to see this Fire, emitted

from Brahmā. Next came out of the body of Śaṅkara, His fiery spirit, quite in

abundance and very wonderful to behold; it was silvery white, terrible,

unbearable, and incapable of being seen even with difficulty. It extended like a

mountain and looked horrible as if the incarnation of the Tamo Guṇa like

another Tamo Guṇa (Śiva is the incarnation of Tamo Guṇa that destroys

everything). It was very surprising to the Devas and very fearful to the Daityas.

Next a dazzling light of blue colour emanated from the body of Viṣṇu. The

light that came out of the body of Indra was hardly bearable, of a beautiful,

multi-coloured , and comprised in itself the three qualities.

तेजाां स्यिूवन् हवहवधाहन शक्र-

मुखामरे भ्यो हमषतोऽम्भखलस्य ।

सम्योगतस्तान्यहचरे ण मातः

िीरूपमष्टािशिस्तमापुः ॥ २३-७॥

tejaamsyabhoovan vividhaani shakra-

mukhaamarebhyo mishato'khilasya .

samyogatastaanyachirena maatah'

streeroopamasht'aadashahastamaapuh' .. 23-7..

7.Similar lusters came out of Indra and other devas. O! Goddess,

without any delay, as everybody was seeing, they all joined together

and took the form of a lady with eighteen hands.

Then from the body of indra and other devas, similar lusters

emanated back to back. What a wonder! As everyone was watching

the lusters came closer to each other and merged. With that a lady

with 18 hands was formed. Don’t ask who merged the lusters. Devi is

the agent for all this.

Vishnu had said,’ the lady formed from the merging of all the powers

of all thye devas, will be able to defeat mahishasura.’ As soon as he

said this without any delay a lady form was generated. Vishnu’s

words came true. The prayers of the devas were answered.

The light that came out of the body of Indra was hardly bearable, of a beautiful

variegated colour, and comprised in itself the three qualities. Thus masses of

lights came out respectively from Kuvera, Yama, Fire and Varuṇa. The other

Devas, too, gave their shares of fiery lights, very lustrous and splendid. Then

these all united into a great Mass of Fire and Light. Like another Himalayan

mountain shone full their lustrous Divine light; Viṣṇu and the other Devas were

all extremely surprised to see this. While the Devas were thus looking

steadfastly on that Fire, an exquisitely handsome Lady was born out of it,

causing excitement and wonder to all. This Lady was Mahā Lakṣmī; composed

of the three qualities of the three colours, beautiful, and fascinating to the

universe. Her face was white, eyes were black, her lips were red and the palms

of her hands were copper-red. She was adorned with divine ornaments. The

Goddess was now manifest with eighteen hands, though She had a thousand

hands (in Her unmanifested state). Now She became manifest out of the mass

of fire, for the destruction of the Asuras.

Her grand beautiful white lotus-like face was created out of the fiery energy of

Śaṅkara. Her glossy black beautiful hairs of the head, overhanging to the knees,

were formed out of the light of Yama; these all came to a fine pointed end. Her

three eyes came out of the energy of Fire; the pupils of those eyes were of a

black colour; the middle parts were of a white colour and the ends were red.

The two eyebrows of the Devī were black and came out of the spirit of Sandhyā

(twilights); they were nicely curved and were looking spirited, like the bow of the

Cupid and they were shedding, as it were, cooling rays.From the light of Vāyu

(air), Her two ears were created; they were not very long, nor very short, beautiful

like the swinging seat (rocking chair) of the God of Love.Her nose was fashioned

out of the fire of Kuvera, the Lord of wealth; it looked like the til flower, glassy

and exquisitely charming. Her pointed rows of glossy and brilliant teeth, looking

like gems, came out of the energy of Dakṣa; they looked like the Kunda flowers.

Her lower lip was deep red and it came out of the fire of Aruṇa (the charioteer

of the Sun); Her beautiful upper lip came out of the energy of Kārtika. Her

eighteen hands came out of the Tejas of Viṣṇu and Her red fingers came out of

the Tejas of the Vasus. Her breasts came out of the energy of Soma and Her

middle (navel) with three folds was created out of the spirit of Indra.Her thighs

and legs were from Varuṇa and Her spacious loins came out from Earth.

तत्तु त्वमासीः शुििे मिालक्ष्म्म्याख्या

जगन्मोिनमोिनाङ्गी ।

त्वां ह्येव िक्ताियिानिक्षा

िक्तर्द्ुिाां िीहतकरी च िे हव ॥ २३-८॥

tattu tvamaaseeh' shubhade mahaalakshmyaakhyaa

jaganmohanamohanaangee .

tvam hyeva bhaktaabhayadaanadakshaa

bhaktadruhaam bheetikaree cha devi .. 23-8..

8. Oh Goddess who does good, that was Mahalakshmi, who was very

beautiful and who could attract everything in the world and was

from you only. And definitely you who grants protection, to the

devotees and scare those who want to cause trouble to the

devotees.

The devi with 18 hands who became visible to all was bhagavathi

only. This is devi’s Mahalakshmi form. To give courage to the Devas

who were her devotees and to create fear in the asuras who were her

non-devotees, devi took this form. Devi was extremely beautiful.

Devi can take any form she wishes.

Thus from the various Tejas, contributed by the Devas, that Heavenly Lady

came out. Her body and the several parts thereof were beautiful; Her form was

incomparably graceful and the voice was exquisitely sonorous and lovely. The

Devas, oppressed by Mahiṣāsura, became overpowered with joy seeing this

well decorated Devī, having beautiful eyes and teeth, and charming in all

respects.”

सद्यस्त्मुच्चैश्चकृषेऽट्टिासां

सुराः प्रहृष्टा वसु धा चकम्पे ।

चुक्षोि हसन्धुहगुरयो हवचेलुर्

िै त्यश्च मत्तो महिषश्चुकोप ॥ २३-९॥

sadyastvamuchchaishchakri'she't't'ahaasam

suraah' prahri'sht'aa vasudhaa chakampe .

chukshobha sindhurgirayo vichelur

daityashcha matto mahishashchukopa .. 23-9..

9.Suddenly that Goddess shouted out loud and Devas became very

happy, the earth trembled, the ocean became angry, the mountains

began to shake and hearing that, the intoxicated Mahishasura got

angry.

Devi made it very clear that she is ready to begin the destruction of

the asuras. Devi screamed very loudly. The minds of the devas

calmed down. Mahishasura hearing this got very angry.

“O Devas! Today in the battle ground I will overpower that wicked Mahiṣa, of

cruel disposition and take away his life.” Speaking thus in a melodious voice,

the Supreme One smiled and again said :-- “This world is all full of error and

delusion. Really, it is very wonderful that Brahmā, Viṣṇu, Indra and other gods

are all shuddering out of fear from Mahiṣa Dānava. The power of Destiny is

exceedingly great and terrible; its influence cannot be overcome even by the

best of the Devas. O king! The Time is the Lord of happiness and pain; Time is,

therefore, the God. The wonder is this that even those who can create,

preserve and destroy this world, they are being overpowered and tormented

by Mahiṣa. The Devī, thinking thus, smiled; then laughed and laughed very

hoarsely; it seemed that a roar of laughter then arose. And the Dānavas were

struck with terror at that very dreadful sound. The earth trembled at that

extraordinary sound; the mountains began to move and the vast oceans that

remained calm began to be agitated with billows. The uproar filled all the

quarters and the mountain Meru trembled. Then the Dānavas, hearing the

tumultuous uproar, were all filled with tremendous fear. The Devas became

very glad and said thus :-- “O Devī! Let victory be Yours; save us.” The

intoxicated Mahiṣa, too, hearing those words, became very angry. Mahiṣa,

struck with terror at those words, asked the Daityas “O Messengers! Go and

ascertain how has originated this sound.

त्वाां सुन्दरीां चारमु खात् स िै त्यो

हवज्ञाय कामी हवससजु िू तम् ।

स चेश्वरीां िै त्यगुणान् प्रवक्ता

त्वाां नेतुकामो हवफलोद्यमोऽिूत् ॥ २३-१०॥

tvaam sundareem chaaramukhaat sa daityo

vijnyaaya kaamee visasarja dootam .

sa cheshvareem daityagunaan pravaktaa

tvaam netukaamo viphalodyamo'bhoot .. 23-10..

10.That Rakshasa, getting to know from his spies that you were

pretty, send you a message of love. Who told you about the qualities

of a rakshasa. In front of you O! great goddess, he wished to carry

you off, but he was not able to.

Mahishasura sent his messengers to find who was shouting so

loudly. They went and collected all the information. He understood

that the person who roared was a beautiful lady. He was immediately

enamoured by her. He sent a messenger to convince that beautiful

lady. The messenger went to devi and understood all the matters. To

impress the devi he extolled the asuras qualities to devi. He tried to

convince the devi. All that efforts were of no use. That messenger

came and related all the events to mahishasura. But his feelings for

her did not reduce.

No sooner the messengers heard these words of Mahiṣa, than they

at once went to the Devī and saw that Her body and the several

parts thereof were all very beautiful; She had eighteen hands, She

was decorated completely with various ornaments all over Her body,

all the auspicious signs were being seen in Her body and that She

was holding excellent divine weapons. That auspicious Goddess

beautiful, was holding in Her hands, the cup and drinking wine again

and again. Beholding Her this form, they were afraid and fled at once

to the Mahiṣa and informed him the cause of that sound.The Daityas

said :-- “O Lord! We have seen one grown up woman; whose

whereabouts we are quite ignorant. The Devī is decorated with

jewels and ornaments all over Her body; She is not human nor Asurī

but Her form is extraordinary and beautiful. That noble Lady is

mounted on a lion, holding weapons on all Her eighteen hands and

is roaring loudly; She is drinking wine; so it seems that She is puffed

up with liquor. It is quite certain that She has no husband. The Devas

are gladly chanting praises from the celestial space that Let Victory

be to Her side and that She save the Devas, O Lord! We don’t know

at all who is that handsome woman? or whose wife is she; why has

she come there? and what is Her motive? Sentiments of love,

heroism, laughter, terror and wonder are all fully shining in Her;

therefore we are very much overpowered by the halo emitted from

Her; and we could not even see Her well.

Note :-- Rasas means sentiments. The rasas are usually eight.

Sriṅgāra, Hāsya, Karuṇā, Raudra, Vīra, Bhayānakāh, Bibhatsādbhū

tasangau, Cetyaṣṭau, Natyan, Rasāh smritāh but sometimes

Sāntarasah, is added thus making the total number nine; sometimes

a tenth, Vātsalyarasa is also added.

O King! In compliance with your order, we have come back to you no

sooner we had seen the Lady, without even addressing Her in any

way. Now order us what we are to do.”

प्रलोिनैस्त्ामथ िे वशम्भक्तां

ज्ञात्वाऽहप वाक्यैरनुनेतुकामः ।

एकैकशः प्रेषयहतस्म िू तान्

त्वाां काहमनीां कतुुहममे न शेकुः ॥ २३-११॥

pralobhanaistvaamatha devashaktim

jnyaatvaa'pi vaakyairanunetukaamah' .

ekaikashah' preshayatisma dootaan

tvaam kaamineem kartumime na shekuh' .. 23-11..

11. Although he knew that you are a divine power, he tried to bait

her with tempting words and sent many messengers one after

another. And they could not make you his lover.

Return the heavens to the devas and the asuras should return to the

nether world. This was the 1st message given by the devi to the

messenger. The asura heard the message from the messenger.

Inspite of knowing the fact that the lady is a divine form he did not

back out of his desires. One by one he sent many messengers. All of

them extolled the good qualities of mahishasura. But they were

unable to awaken in devi the desire for mahisha. First entice her with

words. If she does not listen fight a war-this was the chosen path by

most. The asuras started to be felled in the battlefield.

अवेहि माां पुच्छहवषाणिीनां

िारां विन्तां महिषां हिपािम् ।

हिां सम्भन्त माां स्वहथुजनास्त्मेव

रक्षाकरी मे शुििे नमस्ते ॥ २३-१२॥

avehi maam puchchhavishaanaheenam

bhaaram vahantam mahisham dvipaadam .

himsanti maam svarthijanaastvameva

rakshaakaree me shubhade namaste .. 23-12..

12. I am one who does not have a tail or horns, the one who carries

the burden and I know that I am a buffalo with two legs and

people with avarice are killing me and you are the only one who can

protect me,

O! Goddess who does good, I am saluting you.

Mahisha means buffalo. A dumb animal that cannot take the load of

others. Because it cannot take the load its flesh is cut and eaten. The

poet tells the devi that there is no difference between that buffalo

and him. Actually a buffalo has 4 legs, a tail and horns. The poet

does not have any of these. With respect to intelligence he has got 2

gifts. The poet describes in 2 to 3 lines, whatever problems he faces

from selfish people. He has only devi to protect him. The poet

salutes the devi.

Thus ends the 23rd chapter