Durga Saptashati Chapter 2 (Dwitiya Adhyay): Mahishasura Sainya Vadha, Sanskrit Path with Meaning

Durga Saptashati Chapter 2, the Dwitiya Adhyay, opens the Madhyama Charitra, the middle episode of the Devi Mahatmya, whose presiding form is Mahalakshmi. It is the chapter of the Goddess's appearance: the gods, thrown out of heaven by Mahishasura, pour out their anger as light, the light becomes a woman, and every god places his own weapon in her hands. The chapter has 69 verses in the standard numbering and is given here in full, each verse followed by its meaning.

The second half of the chapter is the first battle. Mahishasura's generals, Chikshura, Chamara, Udagra, Mahahanu, Asiloma, Bashkala, Parivarita and Bidala, march on the Goddess with armies counted in crores of chariots, and she cuts their weapons down "as if in play". The ganas born of her breath, the lion that walks through the asura ranks like fire, and the rivers of blood on the field make this one of the most vivid chapters of the Chandi Path.

संक्षेप में: दुर्गा सप्तशती का दूसरा अध्याय (महिषासुर सैन्य वध) यहाँ पूरा दिया गया है: विनियोग, ध्यान और सभी 69 श्लोक संस्कृत में, हर श्लोक के हिंदी अर्थ के साथ। इससे मध्यम चरित्र शुरू होता है, जिसकी अधिष्ठात्री महालक्ष्मी हैं। महिषासुर से हारे देवताओं के मिले हुए तेज से देवी प्रकट होती हैं, हर देवता उन्हें अपना आयुध देता है, और पहले युद्ध में असुर सेना नष्ट हो जाती है। परंपरा में यह अध्याय विवाद और मुकदमे में सफलता के लिए पढ़ा जाता है। लेख में पाठ-विधि और ज्योतिषीय संदर्भ भी हैं। पूरा लेख हिंदी में पढ़ें →

This chapter is part of the complete Durga Saptashati path, with all 13 chapters and the angas in reading order.

Chapter 2 at a glance

• Chapter: Second of 13, "Mahishasura Sainya Vadha" (महिषासुर सैन्य वध)
• Charitra: Madhyama Charitra (the middle episode)
• Presiding deity: Mahalakshmi
• Rishi: Vishnu
• Chhanda: Ushnik
• Shakti · Bija · Tattva · Veda: Shakambhari · Durga · Vayu (air) · Yajurveda
• Verses: 69 in the standard numbering (uvacha lines counted)
• Traditional fruit of reading: Tradition reads the second chapter for success in disputes, court cases and quarrels, and for strength against those who oppress.

The story of Chapter 2 in brief

A hundred-year war between the gods and the asuras ends with Mahishasura, the buffalo demon, seated on Indra's throne, holding the offices of Surya, Agni, Vayu, Chandra, Yama and Varuna, while the gods wander the earth like mortals. Led by Brahma they go to Vishnu and Shiva. Hearing them, the two gods burn with anger, and from their faces, and then from the bodies of all the gods, a radiance pours out and gathers into a single blazing mass that becomes a woman: her face from Shiva's light, her arms from Vishnu's, her waist from Indra's, her feet from Brahma's, her three eyes from Agni's. The gods then arm her: Shiva a trident, Vishnu a discus, Varuna a conch, Agni a spear, Vayu a bow and quivers, Indra a thunderbolt and the bell of Airavata, Yama a staff, Brahma a water pot, Kala a sword and shield, the ocean of milk ornaments and garments, Himavan a lion, Kubera a cup of wine, Shesha a serpent necklace. She roars, the worlds shake, and the gods cry "Victory!" Mahishasura hears the sound and comes with his whole host. His generals attack with armies of chariots counted in crores; the Goddess cuts their weapons as if in play, ganas born of her breath join the fight, her lion moves through the asura ranks like fire in a forest, and in a moment the vast army is destroyed while the gods rain flowers from heaven.

Durga Saptashati Chapter 2: Sanskrit text with meaning

The Sanskrit follows the standard text of the Devi Mahatmya; the numbering is the common 700-verse numbering, in which the uvacha lines are counted. Each verse is followed by its meaning in plain English.

Viniyoga

अस्य श्री मध्यमचरित्रस्य विष्णुरृषिः ।
श्रीमहालक्ष्मीर्देवता ।
उष्णिक् छन्दः । शाकम्भरी शक्तिः । दुर्गा बीजम् ।
वायुस्तत्त्वम् ।
यजुर्वेदः स्वरूपम् । श्रीमहालक्ष्मीप्रीत्यर्थे
मध्यमचरित्रजपे विनियोगः ।

Meaning: Of this middle episode (Madhyama Charitra), Vishnu is the seer, Shri Mahalakshmi the deity, Ushnik the metre, Shakambhari the power, Durga the seed, air the element and the Yajurveda the form. Its recitation is dedicated to pleasing Shri Mahalakshmi.

Dhyanam

ॐ अक्षस्रक्परशू गदेषुकुलिशं पद्मं धनुः कुण्डिकां
दण्डं शक्तिमसिं च चर्म जलजं घण्टां सुराभाजनम् ।
शूलं पाशसुदर्शने च दधतीं हस्तैः प्रवालप्रभां
सेवे सैरिभमर्दिनीमिह महालक्ष्मीं सरोजस्थिताम् ॥

Meaning: Om. I worship Mahalakshmi, the slayer of the buffalo demon, seated on a lotus, radiant like coral, who holds in her hands the rosary, the axe, the mace, the arrow, the thunderbolt, the lotus, the bow, the water pot, the staff, the shakti, the sword, the shield, the conch, the bell, the cup of wine, the trident, the noose and the discus Sudarshana.

Verses 1 to 69

ॐ ह्रीं ऋषिरुवाच ॥१॥

Meaning: Om Hreem. The sage said:

देवासुरमभूद्युद्धं पूर्णमब्दशतं पुरा ।
महिषेऽसुराणामधिपे देवानां च पुरन्दरे ॥२॥

Meaning: Long ago there was a war between the gods and the asuras that lasted a full hundred years, with Mahisha as the lord of the asuras and Indra as the lord of the gods.

तत्रासुरैर्महावीर्यैर्देवसैन्यं पराजितम् ।
जित्वा च सकलान् देवानिन्द्रोऽभून्महिषासुरः ॥३॥

Meaning: In it the army of the gods was defeated by the mighty asuras, and having conquered all the gods, Mahishasura became Indra.

ततः पराजिता देवाः पद्मयोनिं प्रजापतिम् ।
पुरस्कृत्य गतास्तत्र यत्रेशगरुडध्वजौ ॥४॥

Meaning: Then the defeated gods, placing the lotus-born Prajapati at their head, went to where Shiva and Vishnu, whose banner bears Garuda, were.

यथावृत्तं तयोस्तद्वन्महिषासुरचेष्टितम् ।
त्रिदशाः कथयामासुर्देवाभिभवविस्तरम् ॥५॥

Meaning: The gods told those two in detail what Mahishasura had done and how the gods had been overpowered, exactly as it had happened.

सूर्येन्द्राग्न्यनिलेन्दूनां यमस्य वरुणस्य च ।
अन्येषां चाधिकारान्स स्वयमेवाधितिष्ठति ॥६॥

Meaning: "He himself has taken over the offices of Surya, Indra, Agni, Vayu, Chandra, Yama, Varuna and the others."

स्वर्गान्निराकृताः सर्वे तेन देवगणा भुवि ।
विचरन्ति यथा मर्त्या महिषेण दुरात्मना ॥७॥

Meaning: "Driven from heaven by that evil-minded Mahisha, all the hosts of gods wander on the earth like mortals."

एतद्वः कथितं सर्वममरारिविचेष्टितम् ।
शरणं वः प्रपन्नाः स्मो वधस्तस्य विचिन्त्यताम् ॥८॥

Meaning: "We have told you all that the enemy of the immortals has done. We have come to you for refuge; please think of a way to slay him."

इत्थं निशम्य देवानां वचांसि मधुसूदनः ।
चकार कोपं शम्भुश्च भ्रुकुटीकुटिलाननौ ॥९॥

Meaning: Hearing these words of the gods, Madhusudana and Shambhu grew angry, their faces fierce with knitted brows.

ततोऽतिकोपपूर्णस्य चक्रिणो वदनात्ततः ।
निश्चक्राम महत्तेजो ब्रह्मणः शङ्करस्य च ॥१०॥

Meaning: Then from the face of Vishnu, who bears the discus and was filled with great anger, and from the faces of Brahma and Shankara, a great radiance came forth.

अन्येषां चैव देवानां शक्रादीनां शरीरतः ।
निर्गतं सुमहत्तेजस्तच्चैक्यं समगच्छत ॥११॥

Meaning: From the bodies of Indra and the other gods too a very great radiance issued, and all of it became one.

अतीव तेजसः कूटं ज्वलन्तमिव पर्वतम् ।
ददृशुस्ते सुरास्तत्र ज्वालाव्याप्तदिगन्तरम् ॥१२॥

Meaning: The gods saw there a mass of exceeding brilliance, blazing like a mountain, its flames filling every direction.

अतुलं तत्र तत्तेजः सर्वदेवशरीरजम् ।
एकस्थं तदभून्नारी व्याप्तलोकत्रयं त्विषा ॥१३॥

Meaning: That peerless radiance, born of the bodies of all the gods and gathered into one, became a woman, pervading the three worlds with her light.

यदभूच्छाम्भवं तेजस्तेनाजायत तन्मुखम् ।
याम्येन चाभवन् केशा बाहवो विष्णुतेजसा ॥१४॥

Meaning: From the radiance of Shiva her face was formed; from that of Yama her hair; from the radiance of Vishnu her arms.

सौम्येन स्तनयोर्युग्मं मध्यं चैन्द्रेण चाभवत् ।
वारुणेन च जङ्घोरू नितम्बस्तेजसा भुवः ॥१५॥

Meaning: From the radiance of the Moon her two breasts; from Indra's her waist; from Varuna's her shanks and thighs; from the radiance of the Earth her hips.

ब्रह्मणस्तेजसा पादौ तदङ्गुल्योऽर्कतेजसा ।
वसूनां च कराङ्गुल्यः कौबेरेण च नासिका ॥१६॥

Meaning: From Brahma's radiance her feet; from the Sun's, her toes; from the Vasus', her fingers; and from Kubera's, her nose.

तस्यास्तु दन्ताः सम्भूताः प्राजापत्येन तेजसा ।
नयनत्रितयं जज्ञे तथा पावकतेजसा ॥१७॥

Meaning: Her teeth were formed from the radiance of Prajapati, and her three eyes from the radiance of Agni.

भ्रुवौ च सन्ध्ययोस्तेजः श्रवणावनिलस्य च ।
अन्येषां चैव देवानां सम्भवस्तेजसां शिवा ॥१८॥

Meaning: Her eyebrows were the radiance of the two twilights, her ears that of Vayu; and from the radiance of the other gods too the auspicious Goddess came into being.

ततः समस्तदेवानां तेजोराशिसमुद्भवाम् ।
तां विलोक्य मुदं प्रापुरमरा महिषार्दिताः ।
ततो देवा ददुस्तस्यै स्वानि स्वान्यायुधानि च ॥१९॥

Meaning: Seeing her, born from the gathered radiance of all the gods, the immortals who had been tormented by Mahisha rejoiced. Then the gods gave her each his own weapon.

शूलं शूलाद्विनिष्कृष्य ददौ तस्यै पिनाकधृक् ।
चक्रं च दत्तवान् कृष्णः समुत्पाट्य स्वचक्रतः ॥२०॥

Meaning: The bearer of the Pinaka drew a trident from his own trident and gave it to her; Krishna gave a discus, drawn from his own discus.

शङ्खं च वरुणः शक्तिं ददौ तस्यै हुताशनः ।
मारुतो दत्तवांश्चापं बाणपूर्णे तथेषुधी ॥२१॥

Meaning: Varuna gave her a conch, Agni a spear, and Vayu gave a bow and two quivers full of arrows.

वज्रमिन्द्रः समुत्पाट्य कुलिशादमराधिपः ।
ददौ तस्यै सहस्राक्षो घण्टामैरावताद्गजात् ॥२२॥

Meaning: Indra, lord of the immortals, the thousand-eyed, drew a thunderbolt from his own thunderbolt and gave it, and a bell from his elephant Airavata.

कालदण्डाद्यमो दण्डं पाशं चाम्बुपतिर्ददौ ।
प्रजापतिश्चाक्षमालां ददौ ब्रह्मा कमण्डलुम् ॥२३॥

Meaning: Yama gave a staff from his staff of time, the lord of the waters a noose, Prajapati a rosary, and Brahma a water pot.

समस्तरोमकूपेषु निजरश्मीन् दिवाकरः ।
कालश्च दत्तवान् खड्गं तस्यै चर्म च निर्मलम् ॥२४॥

Meaning: The Sun placed his own rays in all the pores of her skin; Kala gave her a sword and a spotless shield.

क्षीरोदश्चामलं हारमजरे च तथाम्बरे ।
चूडामणिं तथा दिव्यं कुण्डले कटकानि च ॥२५॥

Meaning: The ocean of milk gave a spotless necklace and two garments that never age, a divine crest-jewel, earrings and bracelets...

अर्धचन्द्रं तथा शुभ्रं केयूरान् सर्वबाहुषु ।
नूपुरौ विमलौ तद्वद् ग्रैवेयकमनुत्तमम् ॥२६॥

Meaning: ...a bright crescent ornament, armlets for all her arms, two spotless anklets, a matchless neck ornament...

अङ्गुलीयकरत्नानि समस्तास्वङ्गुलीषु च ।
विश्वकर्मा ददौ तस्यै परशुं चातिनिर्मलम् ॥२७॥

Meaning: ...and jewelled rings for all her fingers. Vishvakarma gave her an axe of great brightness...

अस्त्राण्यनेकरूपाणि तथाभेद्यं च दंशनम् ।
अम्लानपङ्कजां मालां शिरस्युरसि चापराम् ॥२८॥

Meaning: ...weapons of many forms and an impenetrable armour. The ocean gave her a garland of unfading lotuses for her head and another for her breast...

अददज्जलधिस्तस्यै पङ्कजं चातिशोभनम् ।
हिमवान् वाहनं सिंहं रत्नानि विविधानि च ॥२९॥

Meaning: ...and a most beautiful lotus. Himavan gave her a lion for her mount and various jewels.

ददावशून्यं सुरया पानपात्रं धनाधिपः ।
शेषश्च सर्वनागेशो महामणिविभूषितम् ॥३०॥

Meaning: Kubera, lord of wealth, gave a drinking cup ever full of wine; and Shesha, lord of all serpents, who holds up this earth...

नागहारं ददौ तस्यै धत्ते यः पृथिवीमिमाम् ।
अन्यैरपि सुरैर्देवी भूषणैरायुधैस्तथा ॥३१॥

Meaning: ...gave her a serpent necklace adorned with great gems. Honoured likewise by the other gods with ornaments and weapons...

सम्मानिता ननादोच्चैः साट्टहासं मुहुर्मुहुः ।
तस्या नादेन घोरेण कृत्स्नमापूरितं नभः ॥३२॥

Meaning: ...the Goddess roared aloud with a terrible laugh, again and again. The whole sky was filled with her dreadful roar.

अमायतातिमहता प्रतिशब्दो महानभूत् ।
चुक्षुभुः सकला लोकाः समुद्राश्च चकम्पिरे ॥३३॥

Meaning: From that immeasurable, mighty sound a great echo arose; all the worlds shook and the oceans trembled.

चचाल वसुधा चेलुः सकलाश्च महीधराः ।
जयेति देवाश्च मुदा तामूचुः सिंहवाहिनीम् ॥३४॥

Meaning: The earth quaked and all the mountains rocked. "Victory!" the gods joyfully cried to her who rides the lion.

तुष्टुवुर्मुनयश्चैनां भक्तिनम्रात्ममूर्तयः ।
दृष्ट्वा समस्तं सङ्क्षुब्धं त्रैलोक्यममरारयः ॥३५॥

Meaning: The sages, their bodies bowed in devotion, praised her. Seeing the three worlds in uproar, the enemies of the immortals...

सन्नद्धाखिलसैन्यास्ते समुत्तस्थुरुदायुधाः ।
आः किमेतदिति क्रोधादाभाष्य महिषासुरः ॥३६॥

Meaning: ...armed and with all their forces ready, rose up with weapons raised. "Ah, what is this?" cried Mahishasura in anger...

अभ्यधावत तं शब्दमशेषैरसुरैर्वृतः ।
स ददर्श ततो देवीं व्याप्तलोकत्रयां त्विषा ॥३७॥

Meaning: ...and surrounded by all the asuras rushed towards that sound. Then he saw the Goddess, pervading the three worlds with her light...

पादाक्रान्त्या नतभुवं किरीटोल्लिखिताम्बराम् ।
क्षोभिताशेषपातालां धनुर्ज्यानिःस्वनेन ताम् ॥३८॥

Meaning: ...the earth bending under her tread, her diadem grazing the sky, all the netherworlds shaken by the twang of her bowstring...

दिशो भुजसहस्रेण समन्ताद्व्याप्य संस्थिताम् ।
ततः प्रववृते युद्धं तया देव्या सुरद्विषाम् ॥३९॥

Meaning: ...standing there with her thousand arms filling every direction. Then began the battle between the Goddess and the enemies of the gods...

शस्त्रास्त्रैर्बहुधा मुक्तैरादीपितदिगन्तरम् ।
महिषासुरसेनानीश्चिक्षुराख्यो महासुरः ॥४०॥

Meaning: ...in which the quarters blazed with the many weapons and missiles hurled. Mahishasura's general, the great asura called Chikshura...

युयुधे चामरश्चान्यैश्चतुरङ्गबलान्वितः ।
रथानामयुतैः षड्भिरुदग्राख्यो महासुरः ॥४१॥

Meaning: ...fought, and so did Chamara with others, backed by a fourfold army. The great asura named Udagra with sixty thousand chariots...

अयुध्यतायुतानां च सहस्रेण महाहनुः ।
पञ्चाशद्भिश्च नियुतैरसिलोमा महासुरः ॥४२॥

Meaning: ...and Mahahanu with ten million fought; the great asura Asiloma with fifteen million...

अयुतानां शतैः षड्भिर्बाष्कलो युयुधे रणे ।
गजवाजिसहस्रौघैरनेकैः परिवारितः ॥४३॥

Meaning: ...and Bashkala with six million fought in that battle. Parivarita, with many thousands of elephants and horses...

वृतो रथानां कोट्या च युद्धे तस्मिन्नयुध्यत ।
बिडालाख्योऽयुतानां च पञ्चाशद्भिरथायुतैः ॥४४॥

Meaning: ...and surrounded by ten million chariots, fought in that battle. The one called Bidala fought with five hundred million chariots...

युयुधे संयुगे तत्र रथानां परिवारितः ।
अन्ये च तत्रायुतशो रथनागहयैर्वृताः ॥४५॥

Meaning: ...surrounded, in that fight. And other great asuras too, by the tens of thousands, surrounded by chariots, elephants and horses...

युयुधुः संयुगे देव्या सह तत्र महासुराः ।
कोटिकोटिसहस्रैस्तु रथानां दन्तिनां तथा ॥४६॥

Meaning: ...fought there with the Goddess in the battle. Mahishasura himself was there, surrounded by thousands of crores of chariots, elephants...

हयानां च वृतो युद्धे तत्राभून्महिषासुरः ।
तोमरैर्भिन्दिपालैश्च शक्तिभिर्मुसलैस्तथा ॥४७॥

Meaning: ...and horses in that war. With lances, iron clubs, spears and maces...

युयुधुः संयुगे देव्या खड्गैः परशुपट्टिशैः ।
केचिच्च चिक्षिपुः शक्तीः केचित् पाशांस्तथापरे ॥४८॥

Meaning: ...with swords, axes and pattishas, they fought the Goddess in battle. Some hurled spears at her, others nooses.

देवीं खड्गप्रहारैस्तु ते तां हन्तुं प्रचक्रमुः ।
सापि देवी ततस्तानि शस्त्राण्यस्त्राणि चण्डिका ॥४९॥

Meaning: With sword strokes they tried to kill the Goddess. But she, Chandika, with her own showers of weapons and missiles...

लीलयैव प्रचिच्छेद निजशस्त्रास्त्रवर्षिणी ।
अनायस्तानना देवी स्तूयमाना सुरर्षिभिः ॥५०॥

Meaning: ...cut all those weapons and missiles to pieces as if in play. With her face untroubled, praised by gods and sages...

मुमोचासुरदेहेषु शस्त्राण्यस्त्राणि चेश्वरी ।
सोऽपि क्रुद्धो धुतसटो देव्या वाहनकेसरी ॥५१॥

Meaning: ...the sovereign Goddess loosed her weapons and missiles on the bodies of the asuras. And the lion that was her mount, enraged, shaking its mane...

चचारासुरसैन्येषु वनेष्विव हुताशनः ।
निःश्वासान् मुमुचे यांश्च युध्यमाना रणेऽम्बिका ॥५२॥

Meaning: ...stalked through the asura armies like fire through forests. And the breaths that Ambika let out as she fought in that battle...

त एव सद्यः सम्भूता गणाः शतसहस्रशः ।
युयुधुस्ते परशुभिर्भिन्दिपालासिपट्टिशैः ॥५३॥

Meaning: ...at once became hosts of ganas by the hundreds of thousands, who fought with axes, iron clubs, swords and pattishas...

नाशयन्तोऽसुरगणान् देवीशक्त्युपबृंहिताः ।
अवादयन्त पटहान् गणाः शङ्खांस्तथापरे ॥५४॥

Meaning: ...destroying the hosts of asuras, strengthened by the power of the Goddess. Some ganas beat drums, others blew conches...

मृदङ्गांश्च तथैवान्ये तस्मिन् युद्धमहोत्सवे ।
ततो देवी त्रिशूलेन गदया शक्तिवृष्टिभिः ॥५५॥

Meaning: ...and others played mridangas in that great festival of battle. Then the Goddess, with her trident, her mace, showers of spears...

खड्गादिभिश्च शतशो निजघान महासुरान् ।
पातयामास चैवान्यान् घण्टास्वनविमोहितान् ॥५६॥

Meaning: ...swords and the rest, slew the great asuras by the hundreds, and felled others who were stupefied by the sound of her bell.

असुरान् भुवि पाशेन बद्ध्वा चान्यानकर्षयत् ।
केचिद् द्विधाकृतास्तीक्ष्णैः खड्गपातैस्तथापरे ॥५७॥

Meaning: Binding asuras with her noose she dragged them along the ground. Some were cut in two by sharp sword strokes...

विपोथिता निपातेन गदया भुवि शेरते ।
वेमुश्च केचिद्रुधिरं मुसलेन भृशं हताः ॥५८॥

Meaning: ...others, crushed by blows of her mace, lay on the ground; and some, struck hard by the pestle, vomited blood.

केचिन्निपतिता भूमौ भिन्नाः शूलेन वक्षसि ।
निरन्तराः शरौघेण कृताः केचिद्रणाजिरे ॥५९॥

Meaning: Some fell to the earth, their chests pierced by the trident; some on that battlefield were riddled through by torrents of arrows...

श्येनानुकारिणः प्राणान् मुमुचुस्त्रिदशार्दनाः ।
केषाञ्चिद् बाहवश्छिन्नाश्छिन्नग्रीवास्तथापरे ॥६०॥

Meaning: ...and those tormentors of the gods gave up their lives like hawks. Some had their arms cut off, others their necks severed...

शिरांसि पेतुरन्येषामन्ये मध्ये विदारिताः ।
विच्छिन्नजङ्घास्त्वपरे पेतुरुर्व्यां महासुराः ॥६१॥

Meaning: ...the heads of others fell, others were split through the middle; some great asuras fell to the earth with their legs cut off.

एकबाह्वक्षिचरणाः केचिद्देव्या द्विधाकृताः ।
छिन्नेऽपि चान्ये शिरसि पतिताः पुनरुत्थिताः ॥६२॥

Meaning: Some were cut in two by the Goddess with one arm, one eye and one leg each; others, though their heads were cut off, fell and rose again.

कबन्धा युयुधुर्देव्या गृहीतपरमायुधाः ।
ननृतुश्चापरे तत्र युद्धे तूर्यलयाश्रिताः ॥६३॥

Meaning: Headless trunks, gripping their best weapons, fought the Goddess; others danced in that battle to the rhythm of the war drums.

कबन्धाश्छिन्नशिरसः खड्गशक्त्यृष्टिपाणयः ।
तिष्ठ तिष्ठेति भाषन्तो देवीमन्ये महासुराः ॥६४॥

Meaning: Headless trunks with swords, spears and lances in their hands, and other great asuras, shouted to the Goddess: "Stop! Stop!"

पातितै रथनागाश्वैरसुरैश्च वसुन्धरा ।
अगम्या साभवत्तत्र यत्राभूत् स महारणः ॥६५॥

Meaning: Where that great battle took place, the earth became impassable with the chariots, elephants, horses and asuras that had fallen.

शोणितौघा महानद्यः सद्यस्तत्र प्रसुस्रुवुः ।
मध्ये चासुरसैन्यस्य वारणासुरवाजिनाम् ॥६६॥

Meaning: Great rivers of blood began at once to flow there through the midst of the asura army, among its elephants, asuras and horses.

क्षणेन तन्महासैन्यमसुराणां तथाम्बिका ।
निन्ये क्षयं यथा वह्निस्तृणदारुमहाचयम् ॥६७॥

Meaning: In a moment Ambika brought that vast army of the asuras to destruction, as fire consumes a great heap of grass and wood.

स च सिंहो महानादमुत्सृजन् धुतकेसरः ।
शरीरेभ्योऽमरारीणामसूनिव विचिन्वति ॥६८॥

Meaning: And the lion, roaring mightily and shaking its mane, went about as if searching out the lives in the bodies of the enemies of the gods.

देव्या गणैश्च तैस्तत्र कृतं युद्धं तथासुरैः ।
यथैषां तुतुषुर्देवाः पुष्पवृष्टिमुचो दिवि ॥६९॥

Meaning: The battle that the ganas of the Goddess fought there with the asuras was such that the gods in heaven, showering flowers, were well pleased.

॥ स्वस्ति श्रीमार्कण्डेयपुराणे सावर्णिके मन्वन्तरे देवीमाहात्म्ये
महिषासुरसैन्यवधो नाम द्वितीयोऽध्यायः ॥ २॥
उवाच १, अर्धश्लोकाः ६८, श्लोकाः ६९, एवमादितः ॥ १७३॥

Meaning: Thus ends the second chapter, named Mahishasura Sainya Vadha, of the Devi Mahatmya in the Markandeya Purana, in the Savarnika manvantara. One uvacha line, sixty-eight half-verses and sixty-nine full verses: one hundred and seventy-three from the beginning.

Significance and benefits of reading Chapter 2

Tradition assigns a fruit to each chapter, and the second chapter is read for victory in disputes, lawsuits and quarrels, and for courage against those who have taken what is rightfully one's own. The chapter's story is exactly that: the gods, dispossessed by a usurper, recover their strength by pooling it, and the Goddess who arises from that union defeats an army many times larger than herself.

The description of the origin of the Goddess from the tejas of all the gods (verses 10 to 18) and the gifting of the weapons (verses 19 to 31) are the textual source for the familiar iconography of Durga: the trident of Shiva, the discus of Vishnu, the conch, the bow, the thunderbolt, the sword, the lotus, the lion of Himavan. Reading this chapter is therefore also a way of understanding the image one worships during Navratri and Durga Puja.

How to read Chapter 2 (vidhi)

In a complete Saptashati path the chapters are read in order after the three angas, Devi Kavach, Argala Stotram and Keelak Stotram, and the Ratri Suktam. Many traditions also do the Navarna mantra japa with nyasa before and after. If you are reading this chapter on its own, begin with its dhyana as given above, read the verses without hurry, and close with the Kshamapana or the Siddha Kunjika Stotram.

Sit facing east or north on a clean asana, light a ghee lamp, keep water in a kalash, and read from a printed or clearly displayed text rather than from memory. Do not break a chapter in the middle; if you must stop, finish the chapter first. A samput mantra can be added before and after each verse for a specific purpose, but a plain reading with attention is the foundation.

Astrological relevance

In the Jyotish tradition the Devi Mahatmya is read as a remedy of the widest kind: the Prathama Charitra is associated with Mahakali and with the pacification of Rahu, Ketu and Shani, the Madhyama Charitra with Mahalakshmi and the Sun and Jupiter, and the Uttara Charitra with Mahasaraswati and Mercury and Venus. Chapter 2 belongs to the Madhyama Charitra, so it is read with the rest of that episode when those grahas are difficult in a chart, and during their dashas. Nothing here replaces reading your own chart; it is the devotional side of the same picture. Start with a free kundli or talk to an astrologer to see which dasha is running.

Frequently Asked Questions

What happens in Durga Saptashati Chapter 2?
Mahishasura defeats the gods and takes Indra's place. The gods go to Vishnu and Shiva, and from the combined radiance of all the gods the Goddess arises. Each god gives her a weapon or ornament, she roars, and the first battle follows, in which Mahishasura's generals and their armies are destroyed. The chapter has 69 verses.

Which charitra does Chapter 2 begin, and who presides over it?
Chapter 2 begins the Madhyama Charitra, the middle episode, which runs through chapters 2, 3 and 4. Its presiding deity is Mahalakshmi; the viniyoga names Vishnu as the seer, Ushnik as the metre, Shakambhari as the shakti and Durga as the bija.

Why is Chapter 2 read for court cases and disputes?
Tradition assigns this fruit to the second chapter because its theme is the recovery of a rightful position taken by force: the gods, dispossessed by Mahishasura, unite their power and prevail. Devotees read it when they are in a dispute, a lawsuit or a conflict with someone stronger.

Does Chapter 2 describe how Durga got her weapons?
Yes. Verses 19 to 31 list the gifts: Shiva's trident, Vishnu's discus, Varuna's conch, Agni's spear, Vayu's bow and quivers, Indra's thunderbolt and bell, Yama's staff, Brahma's water pot, Kala's sword and shield, the ocean's ornaments, Himavan's lion, Kubera's cup and Shesha's serpent necklace.

Is Mahishasura killed in Chapter 2?
No. Chapter 2 is the destruction of his army and generals, which is why it is called Mahishasura Sainya Vadha. Mahishasura himself is killed in Chapter 3, and the gods praise the Goddess for it in Chapter 4.