The Glory of the Goddess-Devi Mahatmyam

Chapter 4
When the most valiant and wicked Asura and his armies were slain by the Goddess, the hosts
of gods headed by Indra lauded her, their necks and shoulders reverently bent, and bodies
rendered beautiful with horripilation and exultation.
This is the longest and most eloquent of the Devi Mahatmyam’s four hymns. Known as the
Shakradistuti (praise by Indra and the host of gods), it illumines the themes of good and evil,
fate and free will, karma and divine grace. This hymn constitutes the fourth chapter of the
Devi Mahatmyam. The hymn praises Durga as “good fortune in the dwellings of the virtuous
and misfortune in the abodes of the wicked.” While this verse explicitly entails reward and
punishment by a personal deity, implicitly it points to an impersonal balancing principle at
work in the universe- the law of karma. Either ways the message is the same: our deeds have
consequences. The hymn further proclaims that the Mother’s intentions are most gracious
even toward evildoers. Her nature is to subdue the misconduct of the wicked. Through her
inconceivable grace, even wrongdoers who have committed great evils that may well ensure
them of long torments for their evil deeds are purified in battle by the touch of her weapons
and are brought to beatitude. In destroying the demons the Goddess destroys the evil
samskaras within us.
Thus the supporter of the worlds was praised and worshipped with celestial flowers,
perfumes, unguents and heavenly incense by the devas. Benignly serene in countenance she
spoke to the obeisant gods. The Devi said, “O devas, choose whatever you desire of me”. The
gods responded, “Since our enemy, this Mahishasura, has been slain by you, O Bhagavati
everything has been accomplished, and nothing remains to be done. And if a boon is to be
granted to us by you, O Maheshvari, whenever we think of you again, please destroy our
direct calamities. And, O Mother of spotless countenance, whatever mortal shall praise you
with these hymns, may you, who have become gracious towards us, also be gracious to him
and bless him to be fortunate, O Ambika!” Goddess Bhadrakali who was thus propitiated by
the gods for their own sake and that of the world, said “Be it so” and vanished from their
sight.
Thus ends the fourth chapter -‘The Devi Stuti’- of the Devi-Mahatmya in Markandeya-
Purana.
Final episode (Uttama Caritra) - Chapters 5 to 13
In the final episode referred to as the uttama caritra, sage Medhas narrates the story of the
demons Shumbha and Nishumbha. This time the cast of characters is much larger and the
metaphorical significance is subtle but not difficult to comprehend. This story too has a
familiar beginning.
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