The Narayani Stuti and the Devi's Boons

In the eleventh adhyay, after Shumbh's end, Indra and all the gods, led by Agni, praised the Devi with faces glowing with joy. This hymn is called the Narayani Stuti, because many of its verses end with 'Narayani namostu te', 'O Narayani, salutations to you'.

The gods said, 'O Devi, you take away the sorrow of those who come to you for shelter. You are the power that creates, sustains and dissolves. You are the most auspicious of all that is auspicious.' They also bowed to each form of the Matrikas, from Brahmani on her swan to Vaishnavi bearing her discus.

Pleased, the Devi said, 'Ask for a boon.' The gods asked, 'O Queen of all, keep calming every trouble of the three worlds like this, and keep destroying our enemies.' The Devi promised that she would take birth again from age to age.

The Devi said, 'In the twenty-eighth yuga of the Vaivasvata Manvantara, Shumbh and Nishumbh will be born again. Then I will be born to Yashoda in the home of Nand the cowherd, live on the Vindhya mountains and end them.' She named her later forms too: Raktadantika; Shatakshi, with a hundred eyes; Shakambhari, who feeds the world with grain and greens; Durga, who ends the asura Durgam; Bhima; and Bhramari.

Finally the Devi gave her greatest promise: 'Whenever the world is troubled by demons, I will take avatar and destroy the enemies.' Hearing this, the gods' hearts were filled with peace. Devotees still remember this promise today as the Devi's assurance.