Ch 2 Verse 1-2 Verse

Sanskrit Text

५.२ द्वितीयोऽध्यायः । महिषासुरोत्पत्तिः । राजोवाच । योगेश्वर्याः प्रभावोऽयं कथितश्चातिविस्तरात् । ब्रूहि तच्चरितं स्वामिञ्छ्रोतुं कौतूहलं मम ॥ १ ॥ महादेवीप्रभावं वै श्रोतुं को नाभिवाञ्छति । यो जानाति जगत्सर्वं तदुत्पन्नं चराचरम् ॥ २ ॥

English Translation

The king said :-- “Lord! You have described fully the glory of the Mahā Mayā Yogeśvarī; now describe Her Life and Character; I am very eager to hear them. This whole universe, moving and nonmoving, has been created by Maheśvarī; who is there that desires not to hear Her Glory!”

Ch 2 Verse 3 Verse

Sanskrit Text

व्यास उवाच । शृणु राजन् प्रवक्ष्यामि विस्तरेण महामते । श्रद्दधानाय शान्ताय न ब्रूयात्स तु मन्दधीः ॥ ३ ॥

English Translation

Vyāsa spoke :-- O king! You are very intelligent; I will describe in detail all this to you; whoever does not describe Her Glory to the peaceful and faithful, is certainly low-minded?

Ch 2 Verse 4 Verse

Sanskrit Text

पुरा युद्धमभूद् घोरं देवदानवसेनयोः । पृथिव्यां पृथिवीपाल महिषाख्ये महीपतौ ॥ ४ ॥

English Translation

In days of yore, a terrible battle ensued between the Devas and Dānava forces on this earth when Mahiṣāsura was the Ruler of this world.

Ch 2 Verse 5 Verse

Sanskrit Text

महिषो नाम राजेन्द्र चकार तप उत्तमम् । गत्वा हेमगिरौ चोग्रं देवविस्मयकारकम् ॥ ५ ॥

English Translation

O king! Mahiṣāsura went to the mountain of Sumeru and performed a very severe and excellent tapasyā, wonderful even to the gods.

Ch 2 Verse 6 Verse

Sanskrit Text

वर्षाणामयुतं पूर्णं चिन्तयन्हृदि देवताम् । तस्य तुष्टो महाराज ब्रह्मा लोकपितामहः ॥ ६ ॥

English Translation

O king! Meditating on his Ista Devatā (the deity for his worship) in his heart, elapsed full ten thousand years, when Brahmā the Grandfather of all the Lokas, was pleased with him.

Ch 2 Verse 7 Verse

Sanskrit Text

तत्रागत्याब्रवीद्वाक्यं हंसारूढश्चतुर्मुखः । वरं वरय धर्मात्मन्ददामि तव वाच्छितम् ॥ ७ ॥

English Translation

The fourfaced Brahmā, arrived there on his vehicle the swan, asked Mahiṣāsura “O One of virtuous soul! Ask from me what is your desired object; I will grant thee boon.”

Ch 2 Verse 8 Verse

Sanskrit Text

महिष उवाच । अमरत्वं देवदेव वाञ्छामि द्रुहिण प्रभो । यथा मृत्यु भयं न स्यात्तथा कुरु पितामह ॥ ८ ॥

English Translation

Mahiṣa said :-- “O Lord, Lotus-eyed! I want to become immortal! therefore O Thou, the Grandfather of the Devas! Dost thou do for me so that I have no fear of death.”

Ch 2 Verse 9-10 Verse

Sanskrit Text

ब्रह्मोवाच । उत्पन्नस्य ध्रुवं मृत्युर्ध्रुवं जन्म मृतस्य च । सर्वथा मरणोत्पत्ती सर्वेषां प्राणिनां किल ॥ ९ ॥ नाशः कालेन सर्वेषां प्राणिनां दैत्यपुङ्गव । महामहीधराणां च समुद्राणां च सर्वथा ॥ १० ॥

English Translation

Brahmā said :-- “O Mahiṣa! Birth must be followed by death, and death must be followed by birth; this is the eternal law of nature. Then know this as certain that when one is born, one must die; and when one dies, one will be born. O Lord of the Dānavas! What more to say than this, that high mountains, vast oceans, and all the beings will die when time will come.

Ch 2 Verse 11 Verse

Sanskrit Text

एकं स्थानं परित्यज्य मरणस्य महीपते । प्रब्रूहि तं वरं साधो यस्ते मनसि वर्तते ॥ ११ ॥

English Translation

O Ruler of the earth! You are virtuous; therefore ask any other boon than this immortality; I will grant that to you.”

Ch 2 Verse 12-13 Verse

Sanskrit Text

महिष उवाच । न देवान्मानुषाद्दैत्यान्मरणं मे पितामह । पुरुषान्न च मे मृत्युर्योषा मां का हनिष्यति ॥ १२ ॥ तस्मान्मे मरणं नूनं कामिन्याः कुरु पद्मज । अबला हन्त मां हन्तुं कथं शक्ता भविष्यति ॥ १३ ॥

English Translation

Mahiṣa said :-- “O Grand Sire! Grant, then, that no Deva, Dānava, nor human being of the male sex can cause my death. There is none among women who can cause my death. Therefore, O Lotus-eyed! Let woman be the cause of my death; how can women slay me! The are too weak to kill me!”

Ch 2 Verse 14 Verse

Sanskrit Text

ब्रह्मोवाच । यदा कदापि दैत्येन्द्र नार्यास्ते मरणं ध्रुवम् । न नरेभ्यो महाभाग मृतिस्ते महिषासुर ॥ १४ ॥

English Translation

Brahmā said :-- “O Lord of the Dānavas! Your death will certainly occur, at any time, through a woman; O Highly Fortunate One! No man will be able to cause your death.”

Ch 2 Verse 15 Verse

Sanskrit Text

व्यास उवाच । एवं दत्त्वा वरं तस्मै ययौ ब्रह्मा निजालयम् । सोऽपि दैत्यवरः प्राप निजं स्थानं मुदान्वितः ॥ १५ ॥

English Translation

Vyāsa said :-- Thus granting him the boon, Brahmā went to his own abode; the lord of the Dānavas, too, returned to his place, very glad.

Ch 2 Verse 16 Verse

Sanskrit Text

राजोवाच । महिषः कस्य पुत्रोऽसौ कथं जातो महाबली । कथं च माहिषं रूपं प्राप्तं तेन महात्मना ॥ १६ ॥

English Translation

The king said :-- “O Bhagavān! Whose son was this powerful Mahiṣāsura; how his birth took place? and why, too, did he get a body of a buffalo?”

Ch 2 Verse 17 Verse

Sanskrit Text

व्यास उवाच । दनोः पुत्रौ महाराज विख्यातौ क्षितिमण्डले । रम्भश्चैव करम्भश्च द्वावास्तां दानवोत्तमौ ॥ १७ ॥

English Translation

Vyāsa said :-- O king! Rambha and Karambha were the two sons of Danu; these two Dānavas were far famed in this world for their pre-eminence.

Ch 2 Verse 18 Verse

Sanskrit Text

तावपुत्रौ महाराज पुत्रार्थं तेपतुस्तपः । बहून्वर्षगणान्कामं पुण्ये पञ्चनदे जले ॥ १८ ॥

English Translation

O king! 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.

Ch 2 Verse 19-20 Verse

Sanskrit Text

करम्भस्तु जले मग्नश्चकार परमं तपः । वृक्षं रसालवटं प्राप्य रम्भोऽग्निमसेवत ॥ १९ ॥ पञ्चाग्निसाधनासक्तः स रम्भस्तु यदाभवत् । ज्ञात्वा शचीपतिर्दुःखमुद्ययौ दानवौ प्रति ॥ २० ॥

English Translation

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.

Ch 2 Verse 21 Verse

Sanskrit Text

गत्वा पञ्चनदे तत्र ग्राहरूपं चकार ह । वासवस्तु करम्भं तं तदा जग्राह पादयोः ॥ २१ ॥

English Translation

Going to Pañca Nada, Indra assumed the form of a crocodile and caught hold of the legs of the wicked Karambha and killed him.

Ch 2 Verse 22-24 Verse

Sanskrit Text

निजघान च तं दुष्टं करम्भं वृत्रसूदनः । भ्रातरं निहतं श्रुत्वा रम्भः कोपं परं गतः ॥ २२ ॥ स्वशीर्षं पावके होतुमैच्छच्छित्त्वा करेण ह । केशपाशे गहीत्वाशु वामेन क्रोधसंयुतः ॥ २३ ॥ दक्षिणेन करेणोग्रं गृहीत्वा खड्गमुत्तमम् । छिनत्ति शीर्षं तत्तावद्वह्निना प्रतिबोधितः ॥ २४ ॥

English Translation

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 :--

Ch 2 Verse 25-26 Verse

Sanskrit Text

उक्तश्च दैत्य मूर्खोऽसि स्वशीर्षं छेत्तुमिच्छसि । आत्महत्यातिदुःसाध्या कथं त्वं कर्तुमुद्यतः ॥ २५ ॥ वरं वरय भद्रं ते यस्ते मनसि वर्तते । मा म्रियस्व मृतेनाद्य किं ते कार्यं भविष्यति ॥ २६ ॥

English Translation

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.

Ch 2 Verse 27-28 Verse

Sanskrit Text

व्यास उवाच । तच्छुत्वा वचनं रम्भः पावकस्य सुभाषितम् । ततोऽब्रवीद्वचो रम्भस्त्यक्त्वा केशकलापकम् ॥ २७ ॥ यदि तुष्टोऽसि देवेश देहि मे वाञ्छितं वरम् । त्रैलोक्यविजयी पुत्रः स्यान्नः परबलार्दनः ॥ २८ ॥

English Translation

Vyāsa said :-- O king! Hearing thus the sweet words of Fire, Rambha quitted the hold of his hairs and said :-- O Lord of the Devas! If thou art 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.

Ch 2 Verse 29 Verse

Sanskrit Text

अजेयः सर्वथा स स्याद्देवदानवमानवैः । कामरूपी महावीर्यः सर्वलोकाभिवन्दितः ॥ २९ ॥

English Translation

And that son be invincible in every way by the Devas, Dānavas and men, very powerful, assuming forms at will, and respected by all.

Ch 2 Verse 30 Verse

Sanskrit Text

पावकस्तं तथेत्याह भविष्यति तवेप्सितम् । पुत्रस्तव महाभाग मरणाद्विरमाधुना ॥ ३० ॥

English Translation

Fire said :-- O highly Fortunate! You will get your son, as you desire; therefore desist now from your attempting suicide.

Ch 2 Verse 31 Verse

Sanskrit Text

यस्यां चित्तं तु रम्भ त्वं प्रमदायां करिष्यसि । तस्यां पुत्रो महाभाग भविष्यति बलाधिकः ॥ ३१ ॥

English Translation

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.

Ch 2 Verse 32-33 Verse

Sanskrit Text

व्यास उवाच । इत्युक्तो वह्निना रम्भो वचनं चित्तरञ्जनम् । श्रुत्वा प्रणम्य प्रययौ वह्निं तं दानवोत्तमः ॥ ३२ ॥ यक्षैः परिवृतं स्थानं रमणीयं श्रियान्वितम् । दृष्ट्वा चक्रे तदा भावं महिष्यां दानवोत्तमः ॥ ३३ ॥

English Translation

Vyāsa said :-- O king! 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.

Ch 2 Verse 34-35 Verse

Sanskrit Text

मत्तायां रूपपूर्णायां विहायान्याञ्च योषितम् । सा समागाच्च तरसा कामयन्ती मुदान्विता ॥ ३४ ॥ रम्भोऽपि गमनं चक्रे भवितव्यप्रणोदितः । सा तु गर्भवती जाता महिषी तस्य वीर्यतः ॥ ३५ ॥

English Translation

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, impelled as it were by the destiny. The she-buffalo became pregnant with his semen virile.

Ch 2 Verse 36 Verse

Sanskrit Text

तां गृहीत्वाथ पातालं प्रविवेश मनोहरम् । महिषेभ्यश्च तां रक्षन्प्रियामनुमतां किल ॥ ३६ ॥

English Translation

The Dānava, too, carried the she-buffalo, his dear wife, to Pātāla (the lower regions) for her protection.

Ch 2 Verse 37 Verse

Sanskrit Text

कदाचिन्महिषश्चान्यः कामार्तस्तामुपाद्रवत् । स्वयमागत्य तं हन्तुं दानवः समुपाद्रवत् ॥ ३७ ॥

English Translation

On one occasion, another buffalo got excited and wanted to fall upon the she-buffalo. The Dānava was also ready to kill him.

Ch 2 Verse 38 Verse

Sanskrit Text

स्वरक्षार्थं समागत्य महिषं समताडयत् । सोऽपि तं निजघानाशु शृङ्गाभ्यां काममोहितः ॥ ३८ ॥

English Translation

The Dānava came hurriedly and struck the buffalo for the safety of his wife; whereon the excited buffalo attacked him with his horns.

Ch 2 Verse 39 Verse

Sanskrit Text

ताडितस्तेन तीक्ष्णाभ्यां शृङ्गाभ्यां हृदये भृशम् । भूमौ पपात तरसा ममार च विमूर्च्छितः ॥ ३९ ॥

English Translation

The buffalo struck him so violently with his sharp horns that Rambha fell down senseless all on a sudden and finally died.

Ch 2 Verse 40 Verse

Sanskrit Text

मृते भर्तरि सा दीना भयार्ता विद्रुता भृशम् । सा वेगात्तं वटं प्राप्य यक्षाणां शरणं गता ॥ ४० ॥

English Translation

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.

Ch 2 Verse 41 Verse

Sanskrit Text

पृष्ठतस्तु गतस्तत्र महिषः कामपीडितः । कामयानस्तु तां कामी बलवीर्यमदोद्धतः ॥ ४१ ॥

English Translation

But that buffalo, excited very much and maddened with vigour, ran in pursuit of her, desiring intercourse with her.

Ch 2 Verse 42 Verse

Sanskrit Text

रुदती सा भृशं दीना दृष्टा यक्षैर्भयातुरा । धावमानं च तं वीक्ष्य यक्षास्त्रातुं समाययुः ॥ ४२ ॥

English Translation

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.

Ch 2 Verse 43-44 Verse

Sanskrit Text

युद्धं समभवद् घोरं यक्षाणां च हयारिणा । शरेण ताडितस्तूर्णं पपात धरणीतले ॥ ४३ ॥ मृतं रम्भं समानीय यक्षास्ते परमं प्रियम् । चितायां रोपयामासुस्तस्य देहस्य शुद्धये ॥ ४४ ॥

English Translation

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.

Ch 2 Verse 45 Verse

Sanskrit Text

महिषी सा पतिं दृष्ट्वा चितायां रोपितं तदा । प्रवेष्टुं सा मतिं चक्रे पतिना सह पावकम् ॥ ४५ ॥

English Translation

The she-buffalo, seeing her husband laid in the funeral pyre, expressed her desire to enter also into that fire.

Ch 2 Verse 46 Verse

Sanskrit Text

वार्यमाणापि यक्षैः सा प्रविवेश हुताशनम् । ज्वालामालाकुलं साध्वी पतिमादाय वल्लभम् ॥ ४६ ॥

English Translation

The Yaksas resisted; but that chaste wife quickly entered into the burning fire along with her husband.

Ch 2 Verse 47 Verse

Sanskrit Text

महिषस्तु चितामध्यात्समुत्तस्थौ महाबलः । रम्भोऽप्यन्यद्वपुः कृत्वा निःसृतः पुत्रवत्सलः ॥ ४७ ॥

English Translation

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.

Ch 2 Verse 48 Verse

Sanskrit Text

रक्तबीजोऽप्यसौ जातो महिषोऽपि महाबलः । अभिषिक्तस्तु राज्येऽसौ हयारिरसुरोत्तमैः ॥ ४८ ॥

English Translation

Rambha was known as Raktavīja after he had changed his form. His son was thus born as a very powerful Dānava and became famous by the name of Mahiṣa.

Ch 2 Verse 49 Verse

Sanskrit Text

एवं स महिषो जातो रक्तबीजश्च वीर्यवान् । अवध्यस्तु सुरैर्दैत्यैर्मानवैश्च नृपोत्तम ॥ ४९ ॥

English Translation

The chief Dānavas installed Mahiṣa on the throne. O king! The very powerful Raktavīja and the Dānava Mahiṣa, thus took their births and became invincible of the Devas, Dānavas and human beings.

Ch 2 Verse 50-51 Verse

Sanskrit Text

इत्येतत्कथितं राजन् जन्म तस्य महात्मनः । वरप्रदानञ्च तथा प्रोक्तं सर्वं सविस्तरम् ॥ ५० ॥

Sanskrit Colophon

इति श्रीमद्देवीभागवते महापुराणेऽष्टादशसाहस्र्यां संहितायां पञ्चमस्कन्धे महिषासुरोत्पत्तिर्नाम द्वितीयोऽध्यायः ॥ ५.२॥

English Translation

O king! I have now described to you the birth of the highsouled Dānava Mahiṣa and his getting the boon, all in detail. Here ends the Second Chapter of the Fifth Book on the birth of Mahiṣa Dānava in the Devī Bhāgavatam, the Mahāpurāṇam composed of 18,000 verses by Maharṣi Veda Vyāsa.