तानागतान्भण्डसुतान्संहरिष्यामि सत्वरम्
I will swiftly destroy those sons of Bhaṇḍa who have come here.
मातर्भण्डमहादैत्यसूनवो योद्धुमागताः
Mother, the sons of the great demon Bhaṇḍa have come to fight.
सफुरन्ताविव मे बाहू युद्धकण्डूययानया
My arms, stirred by the itch for battle, seem to tremble.
अहं हि वालिका नित्यं क्रीडनेष्वनुरागिणी
For I am always a girl, fond of play.
इति विज्ञापिता देवी प्रत्युवाच कुमारिकाम्
Thus addressed, the goddess replied to the maiden.
नवीनयुद्धशिक्षा च कुमारी त्वं ममैकिका
O maiden, you alone are my new disciple in the art of battle.
ममोच्छ्वसितमेवासि न त्वं याहि महाहवम्
You are but my own breath; do not go to the great battle.
संत्येव समरे कर्तुं वत्से त्वं किं प्रमाद्यसि
Indeed, you are able to act in battle, my child; why do you hesitate?
कौमारकौतुकाविष्टा पुनर्युद्धमयाचत
Again, seized by the wonder of youth, she requested battle.
अनुज्ञां कृतवत्येव गाढमाश्लिष्य बाहुभिः
Having received permission, she embraced her tightly with her arms.
स्वायुधेभ्यश्चायुधानि वितीर्यविससर्ज ताम्
Distributing weapons from her own, she dispatched her.
हंसयुग्यशतैर्युक्तमारुरोह कुमारिका
The maiden mounted a chariot yoked with hundreds of swans.
बद्धाञ्जलिपुटा नेमुः प्रधृतासिपरंपराः
With hands joined in reverence, bearing drawn swords in succession, they bowed.
अवरुह्य तले सैन्यं वर्तमानमगाहत
Descending to the ground, they entered the army that was present.
मन्त्रिणीदण्डनाथे च सभये वाचमूचतुः
The minister and the chief of justice, filled with fear, spoke these words.
अकाण्डे किं महाराज्ञ्या प्रेषितासि रणं प्रति
Why have you been sent by the great queen, unseasonably, to the battlefield?
त्वं मूर्तं जीवितमसि श्रीदेव्या बालिके यतः
O girl, you are the very embodiment of life for Lady Śrīdevī.
इति ताभ्यां प्रार्थितापि प्राचलद्दृढनिश्चया
Though entreated thus by them, she proceeded, firm in her resolve.
सहैव तस्या रक्षार्थं चेलतुः पार्श्वयोर्द्वयोः
Both of them went along at her sides, for the sake of her protection.
प्रभूतसेनायुक्ताभ्यां निर्जगाम कुमारिका
Accompanied by those two, each with a great army, the maiden set out.
प्रणामाञ्जलिजालानि कर्णीरथकृतासना
Seated on the ear of an elephant, she offered salutations with folded hands.
तस्याः प्रादेशिकं सैन्यं कुमार्या न हि विद्यते
The maiden had no local army of her own.
ततः प्रववृते युद्धमत्युद्धतापराक्रमम्
Then a battle commenced, with exceedingly fierce valor.
यद्युद्धमतनोत्तत्तु स्पृहणीयं सुरासुरैः
That battle which then arose was coveted even by gods and demons.
कर्मीरथस्थामालोक्य किरन्तींशरमण्डलम्
Seeing her standing on the elephant, scattering a circle of arrows—
व्यजिज्ञपन्महाराज्ञ्यै भ्रमन्त्यः परिचारिकाः
The attendants, moving about, informed the great queen.
प्रेक्षकत्व मनुप्राप्ते तृष्णीमेव बभूवतुः
When they became spectators, they were seized by thirst alone.
प्रत्येकभिन्ना ददृशे बिंबमालेव भास्वतः
She appeared as if a separate, shining orb to each one.
रक्तोत्पलमिव क्रोधसंरक्तं बिभ्रती मुखम्
Her face, flushed with anger, resembled a red lotus.
साधुवादैर्बहुविधैर्मत्रिणीदण्डनाथयोः
With many kinds of words of praise from the minister and the chief of justice—