THE FIFTH BOOK Chapter XV On the slaying of Vidālākṣa and Asilomā 1-3. Vyāsa said: O King! Hearing the two Demons slain by the Devī, Mahiṣāsura became very much amazed and sent the powerful Asilomā and Vidālākṣa and the other Dānavas to the battle to kill the Devī. The Dānavas, all very skilled in the art of warfare, marched on

THE FIFTH BOOK Chapter XVI On the conversation between the Devī and Mahiṣāsura 1-7. Vyāsa said: O King! Hearing those words, the King Mahiṣa in anger addressed the charioteer Daruka: “Bring over my chariot quickly. That chariot is drawn by one thousand excellent horses, is bedecked with banners, flags, and ensigns, is furnished with various arms and weapons, and is

THE FIFTH BOOK Chapter XVII On Mandodarī’s accounts 1-2. Vyāsa said: O King! Hearing thus, the Devī asked the Dānava: “Who is that Mandodarī? Who is that king who was not first taken by her? And who is that king whom she married afterwards? And how did she repent afterwards? Describe all these in detail to me.” 3-26. Thus asked

THE FIFTH BOOK Chapter XVIII On the killing of the Dānava Mahiṣāsura 1-4. Mahiṣa said O Devī! Mandodarī had a sister Indumatī; unmarried and endowed with all auspicious signs. She grew up in time to a marriageable age. The Svayamvara assembly (a marriage in which the girl chooses her husband from among a number of visitors assembled together) was then

THE FIFTH BOOK Chapter XIX On the prayer and hymns to the Devī 1. Vyāsa said: O King! Then Indra and all the Devas became very glad to see the great Mahiṣāsura slain; they all began to praise and chant hymns to the World-Mother. 2-33. The Devas said: It is by thy Power that Brahmā becomes able to create this

THE FIFTH BOOK Chapter XX On the peace of the world 1-11. Janamejaya said: O best of Riṣis! I have now seen the wonderful excellent deeds of the Devī for the enhancement of peace in this world. Though I have heard from thy lotus face these nectar-like words, still I am not satisfied. O best of Munis! What did the

THE FIFTH BOOK Chapter XXI On the conquest of the Heavens by Śumbha and Niśumbha 1-6. Vyāsa said: O King! I am describing to you that excellent pure life and doings of the Devī that destroy all the sins of all the beings and make them happy. In days of yore, there were two very powerful demons Śumbha and Niśumbha;

THE FIFTH BOOK Chapter XXII On the eulogising of the Devī by the Devas 1-7. Vyāsa said: O King! When the Devas were all defeated, Śumbha began to govern all their kingdoms; thus one thousand years passed away. The Devas, on the other hand, deprived of their kingdoms, were all drowned in an ocean of cares and anxieties; at last

THE FIFTH BOOK Chapter XXIII On the prowess of Kauśikī 1-7. Vyāsa said: O King! When the tormented Devas praised thus, the Devī created from Her body another supremely beautiful form. This created form, the Ambikā Devī, became known in all the worlds as Kauśikī, as She came out of the physical sheath of the Devī Parvatī. When Kauśikī was