नियोज्य लिखितं यन्त्रं मायावी सममन्त्रयत्
Having installed the inscribed device, the magician recited incantations over it.
तद्यन्त्रं चारिकटके प्राक्षिपत्समरे ऽसुरः
That demon cast the device into the midst of the army during battle.
क्षिप्तमुल्लङ्घ्य च रणे पपात कटकान्तरे
Leaping over what had been cast in battle, he fell within the camp.
विमुक्तशस्त्रसंन्यासमास्थिता दीनमानसाः
Those who had laid down their weapons stood there, their minds dejected.
जयसिद्धफलं किं वा प्राणिहिंसा च पापदा
What is the value of victory, success, or reward, when it comes at the cost of taking life and incurring sin?
वृथा कलकलं कृत्वा न फलं युद्धकर्मणा
Making pointless noise achieves nothing through the act of war.
का वा सा मन्त्रिणी श्यामा भृत्यत्वं नो ऽथ कीदृशम्
Who is that dark-complexioned counselor, and what kind of servitude is this?
वनिता स्वामिनीकृत्ये किं फलं मोक्ष्यते परम्
What benefit is gained by making a woman into a mistress—will she truly be set free?
युद्धं शाम्यतु चास्माकं देहशस्त्रक्षतिप्रदम्
Let this battle, which brings wounds to our bodies and weapons, come to an end for us.
युद्धे मृत्युर्भवेदेव इति तत्र प्रमैव का
If death is certain in battle, then what certainty is there in that?
आलस्यसदृशं नास्ति चित्तविश्रान्तिदायकम्
Nothing is as restful to the mind as idleness.
तस्या राज्ञीत्वमपि नः समवायेन कल्पितम्
Even her queenship was established for us by coincidence.
नष्ट सत्त्वा च सा राज्ञी कान्नः शिक्षां करिष्यति
That queen, her vitality lost, what instruction will she give us?
शक्तयो निद्रया द्वारे घूर्णमाना इवाभवन्
Their powers, at the gate, became as if swaying with sleep.
शिथिलं चाभवत्सर्वं शक्तीनां कटकं महत्
The entire great host of powers became slackened.
जयविघ्नं महायन्त्रमिति कृत्वा स दानवः
That demon, having created a great device to obstruct victory,
द्वितीययुद्धदिवसस्यार्धरात्रे गते सति
When half the night of the second day of battle had passed,
आजगाम पुनर्दैत्यो विशुक्रः कटकं द्विषाम्
The demon Viśukra again approached the enemy's camp.
तथापि ता निरुद्योगाः शक्तयः कटके ऽभवन्
Yet even then, those powers remained inactive in the camp.
अस्पृष्टे मन्त्रिणीदण्डनाथे चिन्तामवा पतुः
With neither counselor nor ruler touching them, they fell into anxiety.
कस्य वाथ विकारेण सैनिका निर्गतोद्यमाः
By whose disturbance did the soldiers lose their zeal for action?
औदासीन्यं वितन्वन्ति शक्तयो निस्पृहा इमाः
These powers, devoid of desire, spread indifference.
चक्रस्यन्दनमारूढे महाराज्ञीं समूचतुः
When the queen had mounted the chariot, the two addressed her.
न शृण्वन्ति महाराज्ञि तवाज्ञां विश्वपालिताम्
O great queen, they do not heed your command, which protects the world.
निद्रातन्द्रामुकुलिता दुर्वाक्यानि वितन्वते
Drowsy and languid, they utter harsh words.
युद्धं च कीदृशमिति क्षेपं भूरि वितन्वते
They cast many taunts, saying, 'What kind of battle is this?'
उद्दण्डभेरीनिस्वानैर्विभिन्दन्निव रोदसी
With the tumultuous sound of drums, as if splitting the heavens and earth,
इत्युक्त्वा सह दण्डिन्या मन्त्रिणी प्रणतिं व्यधात्
Having spoken thus, the counselor, together with Daṇḍinī, offered obeisance.
दत्तदृष्टडिः समहसदतिरक्तरदावलिः
With a fixed gaze, seated with a row of blood-red gifts,
कटक्रोडगलद्दानः कश्चिदेव व्यजृंभत
Someone appeared, bearing gifts that spilled from his lap and arms.