THE FIFTH BOOK Chapter V On the defeat of the Dānava forces of Mahiṣa 1-6. Vyāsa said: The thousand eyed Indra, hearing this, again asked to Brihaspati that he would make preparations for war against Mahiṣāsura. Without effort kingdoms are not attained; no - nor happiness, nor fame, nor anything; those who are weak, they extol effortlessness; but the powerful

THE FIFTH BOOK Chapter VI On the Deva Dānava fight 1-8. Vyāsa said: O King! On the Daitya Tāmra becoming unconscious Mahiṣa became very angry and, raising his Gadā (club), came up before the Devas and said: “Devas! O Ye powerless like crows; wait; with one stroke of Gadā, I will kill you.” Thus saying, the powerful Mahiṣa swelled with

THE FIFTH BOOK Chapter VII On the going of the Devas to Kailāśa 1-3. Vyāsa said: O King! Mahiṣa seeing the Dānavas afflicted with grief, quitted his buffalo appearance, assumed a lion form and spreading this long manes began to roar aloud and fell amidst the Deva forces; then the Devas were terrified on seeing his sharp nails. That lion-form

THE FIFTH BOOK Chapter VIII On the description of the origin and the form of the Devī 1-4. Vyāsa said: Soon the Devas reached Vaikuṇṭha, protected by Viṣṇu; they at once began to look at the exquisite indescribable beauty of the place. At intervals they saw nice lovely divine houses, shining and appearing very splendid; pools and lakes were seen

THE FIFTH BOOK Chapter IX On the worship by the gods to the Devī 1-22. Vyāsa said: On hearing Viṣṇu's words, the Devas became very glad and presented immediately their own weapons, ornaments and clothings. The Kṣiroda (Milk) Ocean presented to Her gladly, the well fitted necklace, clear as crystal, and a pair of divine cloths, of a red colour,

THE FIFTH BOOK Chapter X On the messenger’s news to Mahiṣa 1-16. Vyāsa said: The Mahā Māyā, that Excellent Lady, hearing thus the words of the prime minister of Mahiṣa, laughed and spoke with a voice, deep like that of a cloud, thus: O Minister-in-chief! Know Me as the Mother of the gods; my name is Mahā Lakṣmī. It is

THE FIFTH BOOK Chapter XI On the appearing of the Dānava Tāmra before the Devī 1-3. Vyāsa said: The King Mahiṣāsura, maddened with pride, heard the messenger’s words and called the aged and experienced ministers and said thus: O Ministers! What am I to do now? Better judge you all well, and speak out definitely to me. Is it that

THE FIFTH BOOK Chapter XII On the holding of counsel by Mahiṣāsura 1. Vyāsa said: The World-Mother, hearing Tāmra’s words, spoke laughing a little and with a deep voice like that of a rumbling thunder cloud. 2-13. The Devī spoke: “O Tāmra! Go and say to your Lord Mahiṣa who, it seems, is stupid, whose end is nigh, who has

THE FIFTH BOOK Chapter XIII On the killing of Vāskala and Durmukha 1-6. Vyāsa said: O King! The two powerful Dānavas Vāskala and Durmukha, well- versed in arts of warfare, went out for battle, maddened with their prowess. The two Dānavas, elated with vanity, went to the battle-field and began to address the Devī in voice deep as the rumbling