Shatakshi Avatara

The sages said

All of us wish to hear Durga's account every day. Wise Suta, please tell us another wonderful account. The words that come from your lotus mouth are like nectar, and our minds are still not satisfied, you who know every kind of meaning.

Suta replied

Ruru had a very strong son named Durgama, who, by a boon from Brahma, gained the four shruti texts. This strength could not be beaten even by the gods. So he caused many hardships on earth's surface and made the gods tremble in heaven. When the Vedas were lost, all rites were lost too. Brahmanas and gods became wicked in conduct. There were no gifts or fierce austerities, no sacrifices or oblations. A drought lasting a hundred years came on the earth. People were wretched and there was great lamentation in the three worlds. Everyone suffered badly from hunger and thirst. Rivers, oceans, tanks, wells and ponds ran dry, and all trees and plants withered. Seeing this great misery and dejection among the people, the gods went and took refuge with Yogamaya Maheshvari. They said: save us, Mahamaya; all the people are your own; withdraw your rage, or the worlds will be destroyed. Ocean of compassion, friend of the distressed, there are accounts of how you killed the very strong daityas Shumbha and Nishumbha, Dhumraksha, Chanda, Munda, strong Raktabija, Madhu and Kaitabha and Mahishasura; so kill this one too. Children offend at every step, and in this world who but a mother puts up with that? Whenever hardship has come to the gods and brahmanas you have swiftly taken avataras to bring happiness to people. Full of compassion she heard their dejected words and at once showed them her form with countless eyes. Her pleasant face was like a lotus and her four hands held a bow, an arrow, a lotus and many kinds of roots and fruits.

Seeing the people tormented, her eyes filled with tears of compassion and she wept for nine days and nine nights. The tears became thousands of streams of water, which satisfied the worlds and all the herbs. Rivers and oceans filled with fathomless water. Vegetables, roots and fruits began to grow again on the earth. She gave out the lovely fruits in her hands and gave fine grass to the cattle, to each as was due. All the gods, brahmanas and humans were satisfied.

Devi asked what else she should do. The assembled gods said all the people had been satisfied by her, and asked her to be kind and give back the Vedas, which Durgama had taken. She agreed and told them to go home; in a short time she would return the Vedas. The delighted gods bowed to the origin of the universe, whose eyes were like blooming lotuses, and went to their own homes. A tumult arose in heaven and the sky. Hearing it, Ruru's son at once besieged the city from every side. Shivaa made a protective circle of energy in every direction for the gods' protection, and stayed outside it herself. A battle followed between Devi and the daitya. Many sharp arrows were loosed in that clash, piercing the armour on both sides. Meanwhile ten Mahavidyas, bearing weapons, came out of her beautiful body: Kali, Tara, Chhinnamasta, Shrividya, Bhuvaneshvari, Bhairavi, Bagala, Dhumra, Shrimati Tripurasundari and Matangi. Countless Matrikas of divine form arose, each wearing the crescent moon on her forehead and with a lightning-like complexion. A terrible battle followed between the host of Matrikas and the followers of Ruru's son. The hundred akshouhinis on his side were killed. With her sharp trident she killed the daitya Durgama, who fell on the earth like a tree torn up by the root. So, having killed the daitya Durgama, Ishvari got back the four Vedas and gave them to the gods. The gods said: Ambika, for our sake you took a form with countless eyes, and so sages will praise you as Shatakshi. When vegetables died in the world you revived them from your own body, so you will be famous as Shakambhari. Shivaa, Bhagavati, Bhadra, since you killed the great daitya Durgama, people will call you Durga. Yoganidra, we bow to you; strong one, giver of knowledge, mother of the universe, we bow to you. Parameshvari, you can be understood through the words "tat tvam asi," and lead countless crores of universes; we bow to you. You cannot be reached by thought, word or deed. The sun and moon are your eyes. Mother, we do not know your powers and cannot praise you. Apart from the mother, Sureshani Shatakshi, who else would show pity on those like us? Act so that we suffer no obstacles in the three worlds, and make efforts to destroy our enemies. Devi replied: cows run about quickly when they see their calves anxious, and so I, Sati, run about when I see you anxious. I look on you as my children. If I do not see you an instant seems a yuga. I would give up my life for you. Since you have devotion to me, do not worry about anything. Stay steady; I will destroy your calamities as if they were my own. As I killed daityas in the past, I will kill asuras; have no doubt, I speak truly. Shumbha and Nishumbha will be born again as daityas. I will be born as Yashomayi, daughter of Nanda's wife Yashoda, born of the womb in a family of cowherds. I will kill those two daityas and be known as Nandaja. Taking the form of a bee I will kill Aruna, and so people on earth will chant of me as Bhramari. I will take a terrible form and destroy rakshasas, and so be famous as Bhima Devi. Whenever asuras create obstacles on earth, I will certainly take an avatara and bring welfare. The Devis called Shatakshi, Shakambhari and Durga are held to be the same; all three are identical. No divinity equals Shatakshi in compassion, who, when she saw the people tormented, wept nine days.