Devi Mahatmya — Chandi Saptashati

King Suratha (lost his kingdom) + Vaishya Samadhi (rejected by his family) meet sage Medhas. Medhas explains: "Maha-Maya is the cause of all attachment + suffering." He tells the Madhu-Kaitabha story: At the end of a pralaya, Vishnu lies on Adishesha on the cosmic waters. Two demons (Madhu + Kaitabha) emerge from his ear-wax + threaten Brahma. Brahma prays to Yoga-Nidra (the sleep of Vishnu = Devi herself) to leave Vishnu so he can wake + fight. Devi exits Vishnu; Vishnu wakes + battles the demons for 5000 years. He confuses them with a clever offer (which Devi engineered) — they fall + are killed by Vishnu's chakra.

Mahishasura (the buffalo-demon) has conquered the devas and seized Indra's throne. Devas approach Brahma → Vishnu → Shiva. Each deva's tejas (radiance) flows out + combines into a luminous mass. From this mass — the Devi forms herself — 18-armed, riding a lion. Each deva contributes a weapon: Vishnu his chakra, Shiva his trishul, Vayu his bow, Surya his arrows. The Devi laughs a thunderous laugh that shakes the cosmos.

The Devi battles Mahishasura's army for days, slaying countless generals (Chikshura, Chamara, Udagra, Mahahanu, etc). Finally she faces Mahishasura himself. He shifts forms — buffalo to lion to elephant to human + back to buffalo. The Devi finally severs his head while he is half-buffalo, half-human — the iconic Mahishasura-Mardini image.

After Mahishasura's defeat, Indra + the other devas praise the Devi with the Shakradi-stuti — a hymn calling her by her many names: Narayani, Maheshwari, Brahmani, Kumari, Vaishnavi, Varahi, Indrani, Chamunda. The 7 Matrikas. The Devi grants the devas the boon they ask: "Whenever you are in trouble, remember me — I shall appear."

Shumbha + Nishumbha (asuras) conquer Indra. Devas remember Devi. She manifests as Parvati on the slopes of Himavat. From her body emerges Kaushiki (the dark goddess); the remaining Parvati becomes Ambika (the fair). Shumbha's messenger Sugriva approaches Ambika + demands her hand in marriage. She refuses with the famous "I will marry whoever defeats me in battle" — knowing none can.

Shumbha sends Dhumralochana with a great army to capture Ambika. The Devi roasts him with a single "Hum" sound. His army is destroyed.

Shumbha sends Chanda + Munda. In anger, from Ambika's forehead emerges Kali — black, terrifying, tongue lolling, garlanded with skulls. She devours the army + slays Chanda + Munda. Hence "Chamunda" — slayer of Chanda + Munda.

Raktabija — every drop of his blood that touches the earth becomes another Raktabija. The devas (Brahmani, Maheshwari, Kaumari, Vaishnavi, Varahi, Narasimhi, Indrani) emerge from the Devi as the Sapta-Matrikas to fight beside her. Chamunda spreads her tongue + drinks every drop of blood before it can touch earth. Raktabija slain.

Nishumbha enters the field. Long battle. The Devi reabsorbs all the Matrikas into herself ("I am alone in this world; from me are all these forms") + slays Nishumbha. The supreme Advaita-statement of the Devi: "Ekaivaham jagatyatra dvitiya ka mamapara" — "I alone exist in the world; who is the second besides me?"

Shumbha's final battle. He accuses her of fighting unfairly (using Matrikas). The Devi reabsorbs them, fights alone, slays Shumbha. The cosmic order restored.

Devas praise the Devi with the Narayani-stuti — perhaps the most-recited Devi hymn ever. "Sarva-mangala-mangalye Shive sarvartha-sadhike, Sharanye Tryambake Gauri Narayani namo'stu te" — "O auspicious-amid-the-auspicious, O Shiva's consort, fulfiller of all goals, O refuge, three-eyed Gauri, Narayani — salutations to you."

The Devi promises: in future ages, she will manifest as Vindhyavasini, Raktadantika, Shatakshi, Shakambhari, Durga, Bhima, Bhramari — whenever asuras threaten the world. The phala-shruti (fruit-stating) section: rewards of reciting this text.

King Suratha + Vaishya Samadhi (the original listeners) now invoke the Devi themselves. They worship for 3 years. The Devi appears + grants them boons: Suratha asks for his kingdom back + future emperorship (will be born as the 8th Manu — Savarni); the Vaishya asks for jnana + moksha. Both granted.