Medhas tells a series of stories about Durga's battles with an assortment of evil demons. Blood and gore are described with relish as Durga finishes them off- the poor devils don't stand a chance! These demons unhelpful qualities in ourselves, such as hatred, anger, depression, conceit, and misuse of our natural abilities.
The Devi Mahatmyam promises that anyone who hears these stories will be cleansed of their sins. This is not just a fast and loose sales pitch. Many devotees experience a profound sense of catharsis from hearing how the Divine Power purifies the psychic atmosphere of these malignant forces. Even if you don't grasp intellectually that Durga's battle is an inner one, the story is told so vividly that you feel it going on inside you. This has been called "therapeutic myth", the process of addressing your inner conflicts through vivid mental imagery. When the Goddess triumphs in the end, you feel like you yourself have won an important battle.
Medha's two students now enthusiastically propitiate the Goddess. Eventually she appears to them both and asks what boon they prefer. The king wants his kingdom back and is granted a vast empire. The merchant, however, has developed a taste for the higher things in life after months of worship and austerity in the woods. So he asks for the highest thing he can think of : spiritual liberation. With great delight, Durga grants his request.
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