स्नात्वा सर्वाणि तीर्थानि संतर्प्य द्विजदेवताः
having bathed at all the sacred places, satisfied the twice-born and the deities.
इति ते कथितं विप्र यथादिग्विजयोभवत्
Thus, O learned one, I have told you how the conquest of the directions took place.
मार्गकृष्णस्य सप्तम्यां भूमिराजो महाबलः
On the seventh day of the dark fortnight, the mighty king of the earth—
मया श्रुतस्ते तनयः शारदावरदर्पितः
I have heard that his son was offered to Śāradāvara.
इत्युक्तस्स तु सामन्तस्तेन राज्ञेव सत्कृतः । चामुंडं नाम तनयं समाहूयाब्रवीदिदम्
Thus addressed, the vassal was honored by that king, and calling his son named Cāmuṇḍa, he spoke these words:
पुत्र त्वं नृपतेः कार्यं सदा कुरु रणप्रिय
Son, always perform the king’s duty, for you delight in battle.
देह्याज्ञां भूपते मह्यं शीघ्रं जयमवाप्स्यसि
O king, give me your command; you will quickly attain victory.
मच्छिरीषवनं छित्वा गृहीत्त्वा राष्ट्रमुत्तमम्
Having cut down my śirīṣa forest, take possession of the excellent kingdom.
यदि त्वं बलखानिं च जित्वा मे ह्यर्पयिष्यसि 3.3.2४.
If you conquer Balakhāni and offer it to me,
इत्युक्त्वा रक्तबीजं तं समाहूय स्वकं बलम्
Having said this, he summoned Raktabīja and his own army.
उषित्वा त्रिदिनं मार्गे शिरीषाख्यमुपागतः
After staying three days on the road, he reached the place called Śirīṣa.
चामुंडागमनं श्रुत्वा बलखानिर्महाबलः लक्षसैन्येन सहितः प्रययौ नगराद्बहिः
Hearing of Cāmuṇḍa’s coming, the mighty Balakhāni, with an army of a hundred thousand, went out from the city.
तस्यानुजो महावीरस्सुखखानिर्बलैः सह
His younger brother, the mighty hero Sukhakhani, was with his forces.
बलखानिः कपोतस्थो नाशयित्वा रिपोर्बलम्
Balakhani, stationed upon a pigeon, destroyed the enemy's army.
तयोश्चासीन्महद्युद्धं स्वस्वसैन्यक्षयंकरम्
A great battle took place between the two, bringing ruin to both their armies.
प्रातःकाले तु संप्राप्ते कृत्वा स्नानादिकाः क्रियाः
When morning arrived, after performing the rituals of bathing and so forth,
रथस्थो बलखानिश्च चामुण्डो गजपृष्ठगः
Balakhani mounted his chariot, and Camunda rode upon the back of an elephant.
बाणैर्बाणांश्च संछिद्य देवीभक्तौ च तौ मुदा खड्गचर्मधरौ वीरौ युयुधाते परस्परम्
Severing arrows with arrows, and devoted joyfully to the goddess, the two valiant warriors, bearing sword and shield, fought each other.
यावन्तो रक्तबीजांगात्संजाता रक्तबिंदवः 3.3.2४.
As many drops of blood as fell from Raktabija's body—
तैश्च वीरैर्मदोन्मत्तैर्बलखानिस्समंततः
From those drops, fierce warriors, maddened by intoxication, arose, and Balakhani engaged them all.
एतस्मिन्नंतरे वीरः सुखखानिस्ततोऽनुजः
Meanwhile, the hero Sukhakhani, his younger brother, then—
पुरा तु सुखखा निश्च हव्यैर्देवं च पावकम्
Previously, Sukhakhani had offered oblations to the god of fire.
पावकीयं शरं रम्यं शत्रुसंहारकारकम्
He obtained a splendid fiery arrow, capable of destroying enemies.
बलखानिस्तु बलवान्दृष्ट्वा शत्रुविनाशनम्
But Balakhani, powerful, seeing the destruction of the enemy,
कृत्वा नारीमयं वेषं स भीतो ब्रह्महत्यया
Out of fear of the sin of killing a Brahmin, he disguised himself in the form of a woman.
हतशेषं पंचलक्षं सैन्यं गत्वा च देहलीम्
With the remaining five hundred thousand soldiers slain, he went to Dehali.
नारीवेषं च चामुंडं स दृष्ट्वा पृथिवीपतिः
Seeing Camunda in the guise of a woman, the lord of the earth—
कथं जयो मे भविता सुखखानौ च जीविते
Wondered, 'How will victory be mine, and how will Sukhakhani survive?'
ब्राह्मी माता तयोर्ज्ञेया शुद्धा सैव पतिव्रता 3.3.2४.
Their mother is known as Brahmi, pure and devoted to her husband.
ब्राह्मण्यस्तास्तदा भूत्वा बलखानिगृहं ययुः
Then, assuming the form of Brahmin women, they went to Balakhani's house.