दत्त्वा त्रिशूलं हरिणा तुभ्यं प्रस्थापितः शिवः
'Having given you the trident, Hari has sent Shiva to you.'
विषयं देहि तेषां च युद्धं वा कुरु निश्चितम्
'Give them their domain, or else, certainly, engage in battle.'
दूतस्य वचनं श्रुत्वा शङ्खचूडः प्रहस्य च 2.17.
Hearing the messenger's words, Shankhachuda laughed.
स गत्वोवाच तूर्णं तं वटमूलस्थमीश्वरम्
He quickly went and spoke to the Lord who was seated at the root of the banyan tree.
एतस्मिन्नन्तरे स्कन्द आजगाम शिवान्तिकम्
At that moment, Skanda arrived before Shiva.
विशालाक्षश्च बाणश्च पिङ्गलाक्षो विकम्पनः
Vishalaksha, Bana, Pingalaksha, and Vikampana were there.
कपिलाक्षो दीर्घदंष्ट्रो विकटस्ताम्रलोचनः
Kapilaksha, Dirghadamshtra, Vikata, and Tamralochana were also present.
बलोन्मत्तो रणश्लाघी दुर्जयो दुर्गमस्तथा
Balonmatta, proud of his strength, Rana-shlaghi, Durjaya, and Durgama were there as well.
वसवो वासवाद्याश्च आदित्या द्वादश स्मृताः
The Vasus, beginning with Vāsava, and the twelve Ādityas are remembered.
कुबेरश्च यमश्चैव जयन्तो नलकूबरः
Kubera and Yama as well, Jayanta and Nalakūbara.
धर्मश्च शनिरीशानः कामदेवश्च वीर्य्यवान्
Dharma, Śani, Īśāna, and the mighty Kāmadeva.
रक्तवस्त्रपरीधाना रक्तमाल्यानुलेपना 2.17.
Clad in red garments, adorned with red garlands and unguents.
अभयं ददती भक्तमभया सा भयं रिपुम्
She grants fearlessness to her devotee; to her enemy, she gives fear.
खर्परं वर्तुलाकारं गम्भीरं योजनायतम्
She holds a skull, round in shape, deep and measuring a yojana.
शंखं चक्रं गदां पद्मं शरांश्चापं भयंकरम्
A conch, discus, mace, lotus, arrows, and a terrifying bow.
वैष्णवास्त्रं वारुणास्त्रमाग्नेयं नागपाशकम्
The Vaiṣṇava weapon, the Vāruṇa weapon, the Āgneya, and the serpent noose.
पार्जन्यं वै पाशुपतं जृम्भणास्त्रं च पार्वतम् नानाविधान्यायुधानि दिव्यास्त्रशतकं परम्
The Pārjanya, the Pāśupata, the Jṛmbhaṇa, and the Pārvata weapons, and many kinds of divine weapons, a hundred supreme missiles.
आगत्य तत्र तस्थौ सा योगिनीनां त्रिकोटिभिः
Having arrived there, she stood with thirty million Yoginīs.
भूतप्रेतपिशाचाश्च कूष्माण्डब्रह्मराक्षसाः
Spirits, ghosts, piśācas, kūṣmāṇḍas, and brahmarākṣasas.
ताभिश्चैव सह स्कन्दो नत्वा वै चन्द्रशेखरम्
Along with them, Skanda bowed to Candraśekhara.
अथ दूते गते तत्र शंखचूडः प्रतापवान्
Then, when the messenger had departed, the valiant Śaṃkhacūḍa—
रणवार्त्तां च सा श्रुत्वा शुष्ककण्ठोष्ठतालुका 2.17.
Hearing the news of battle, his throat, lips, and palate became parched.
तुलस्युवाच हे प्राणाधिष्ठातृदेव रक्ष मे जीवनं क्षणम्
Tulasī said: O god who presides over life, protect my life for a moment.
भुंक्ष्व जन्मसु भोग्यं तद्यद्वै मनसि वांछितम्
Enjoy in each birth whatever pleasure is desired in your mind.
आन्दोलयन्ति प्राणा मे मनो दग्धं च सन्ततम्
My life is swaying, and my mind is constantly scorched.
तुलसीवचनं श्रुत्वा भुक्त्वा पीत्वा नृपेश्वरः
Hearing Tulasī’s words, the king, having eaten and drunk—
शङ्खचूड उवाच शुभं हर्षं सुखं दुःखं भयं शोकममंगलम्
Shankhachuda said: Auspiciousness, joy, pleasure, pain, fear, sorrow, and inauspiciousness—
काले भवन्ति वृक्षाश्च शाखावन्तश्च कालतः
All arise in time; and trees, too, grow branches according to time.
तेषां फलानि पक्वानि प्रभवन्त्येव कालतः
Their fruits ripen and mature only in due time.
भवन्ति काले भूतानि काले कालं प्रयान्ति च
Beings come into existence in time, and in time they depart.