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.
तव पुत्रौ महावीरौ दिष्ट्या शत्रुक्षयंकरौ
By fortune, your two sons are great heroes, destroyers of enemies.
तदा ब्राह्मी वचः प्राह पावकीयः शरः शुभः
Then the Brāhmī spoke these words: 'The auspicious arrow belongs to Pāvaka.'
इति ज्ञात्वा तु ता दूत्यः प्रययुर्देहलीं प्रति
Knowing this, those messengers set out toward Dehalī.
महीराजस्तु तच्छ्रुत्वा महादेवमुमापतिम्
Hearing this, the king approached Mahādeva, the consort of Umā.
सूत उवाच मुने बिंदुसरो नाम दक्षिणस्यां दिशि स्थितम्
Sūta said: O sage, there is a lake named Bindu, situated in the southern direction.
तस्य तीरेऽवसद्ग्रामो योजनायामसंयुतः
On its shore was a village, extending for a yojana in measure.
तस्मिन्ग्रामेऽवसद्भूपो विष्वक्सेनान्वयोद्भवः
In that village lived a king, born in the lineage of Viṣvaksena.
ब्रह्मचर्यप्रभावेण तद्वीर्यं शिरसि स्थितम्
By the power of celibacy, his energy was established in his head.
यज्ञैः संपूजयामास सुरज्येष्ठं प्रजापतिम्
With sacrifices, he worshipped Prajāpati, the foremost of the gods.
दशमासान्तरे जाता कन्या सर्वगुणालया
After ten months, a daughter was born, an abode of all virtues.