प्रसन्ना गिरिजा प्राह ब्रूत स्तवनकारणम् । एतस्मिन्नन्तरे यस्याः कोशरूपात्समुत्थिता
Pleased, Girijā said, 'Tell me the reason for your praise.' Meanwhile, from her sheath, she who was Kauśikī arose.
कौशिकी सा जगत्पूज्या देवान्प्रीत्येदमब्रवीत्। प्रसन्नाहं सुरश्रेष्ठाः स्तवेनोत्तमरूपिणी
Kauśikī, revered by the worlds, spoke with affection to the gods: 'I am pleased, O best of gods, by your excellent hymn.'
व्रियतां वर इत्युक्ते देवाः संवव्रिरे वरम् । शुम्भनामावरो भ्राता निशुम्भस्तस्य विश्रुतः
When she said, 'Choose a boon,' the gods requested this boon: 'There is one named Śumbha, and his renowned brother Niśumbha.'
त्रैलोक्यमोजसाक्रान्तं दैत्येन बलशालिना । तद्वधश्चिन्त्यतां देवि दुरात्मा दानवेश्वरः
The mighty demon has seized the three worlds by his strength; O Goddess, consider the slaying of that wicked lord of the Dānavas.
बाधते सततं देवि तिरस्कृत्य निजौजसा । देव्युवाच देवशत्रुं पातयिष्ये निशुम्भं शुम्भमेव च
He constantly harasses us, O Goddess, overpowering us with his own might.' The Goddess said: 'I will cast down the enemy of the gods, Niśumbha and also Śumbha.'
स्वस्थास्तिष्ठत भद्रं वः कण्टकं नाशयामि वः । इत्युक्त्वा देवदेवेशी देवान्सेन्द्रान्दयामयी
'Remain at ease, may it be well with you; I will destroy your thorn.' Having spoken thus, the Goddess of gods, full of compassion, addressed the gods and Indra.
जगामादर्शनं सद्यो मिषतां त्रिदिवौकसाम् । देवाः समागता हृष्टाः सुवर्णाद्रिगुहां शुभाम्
She immediately vanished from the sight of the gods who were watching; the delighted gods assembled and went to the auspicious cave of the golden mountain.
चण्डमुण्डौ पश्यतःस्म भृत्यौ शुम्भनिशुम्भयोः । दृष्ट्वा तां चारुसर्वाङ्गीं देवीं लोकविमोहिनीम्
As the gods watched, Caṇḍa and Muṇḍa, servants of Śumbha and Niśumbha, saw that Goddess, beautiful in every limb, who bewilders the worlds.
कथयामासतू राज्ञे भृत्यौ तौ चण्डमुण्डकौ । देव सर्वासुरश्रेष्ठ रत्नभोगार्ह मानद
Those two servants, Caṇḍa and Muṇḍa, reported to the king: 'O lord, best of all asuras, worthy of jewels and pleasures, giver of honor,'
अपूर्वा कामिनी दृष्टा चावाभ्यां रिपुमर्दन । तस्याः संभोगयोग्यत्वमस्त्येव तव साम्प्रतम्
'We have seen an extraordinary, desirable woman, O destroyer of enemies; she is now fit for your enjoyment.'
तां समानय चार्वङ्गीं भुङ्क्ष्व सौख्यसमन्वितः । तादृशी नासुरी नारी न गन्धर्वी न दानवी
'Bring that beautiful-limbed one and enjoy happiness with her; such a woman is not found among asuras, nor among gandharvas, nor among dānavas.'
न मानवी नापि देवी यादृशी सा मनोहरा । एवं भृत्यवचः श्रुत्वा शुम्भः परबलार्दनः
'Nor among humans, nor among goddesses, is there one as enchanting as she.' Hearing these words of his servants, Śumbha, the subduer of enemies,
दूतं सम्मेषयामास सुग्रीवं नाम दानवम् । स दूतस्त्वरितं गत्वा देव्याः सविधमादरात्
Sent a messenger named Sugrīva, a dānava; that messenger quickly went and, with respect, approached the Goddess.
वृत्तान्तं कथयामास देव्यै शुम्भस्य यद्वचः । देवि शुम्भासुरो नाम त्रैलोक्यविजयी प्रभुः
He related the matter to the Goddess, conveying Śumbha's words: 'O Goddess, there is an asura named Śumbha, lord and conqueror of the three worlds.'
सर्वेषां रत्नवस्तूनां भोक्ता मान्यो दिवौकसाम् । तदुक्तं शृणु मे देवि रत्नभोक्ताहमव्ययः
'He is the honored enjoyer of all jewels and treasures among the gods; hear what he says to you, O Goddess: I am the imperishable enjoyer of jewels.'
त्वं चापि रत्नभूतासि भज मां चारुलोचने । सर्वेषु यानि रत्नानि देवासुरनरेषु च
'You too are a jewel, O beautiful-eyed one; unite with me. All the jewels among gods, asuras, and men,'
तानि मय्येव सुभगे भज मां कामजै रसैः । देव्युवाच सत्यं वदसि हे दूत दैत्यराजप्रियङ्करम्
'O fortunate one, all those jewels are with me; enjoy with me the pleasures of desire.' The Goddess said: 'You speak the truth, O messenger, pleasing to the daitya king.'
प्रतिज्ञा या मया पूर्वं कृता साप्यनृता कथम् । भवेत्तां शृणु मे दूत या प्रतिज्ञा मया कृता
'How could the vow I made before become false? Hear from me, O messenger, the vow I have made.'
यो मे दर्पं विधुनुते यो मे बलमपोहति । यो मे प्रतिबलो भूयात्स एव मम भोगभाक्
Whoever dispels my pride, whoever removes my strength, whoever becomes equal in power to me—he alone shall enjoy my pleasures.
तत एनां प्रतिज्ञां मे सत्यां कृत्वासुरेश्वरः । गृह्णातु पाणिं तरसा तस्याशक्यं किमत्र हि
Therefore, let the lord of the demons fulfill this promise of mine in truth; let him seize my hand with force—what is impossible for him in this matter?
तस्माद् गच्छ महादूत स्वामिनं ब्रूहि चादृतः । प्रतिज्ञां चापि मे सत्यां विधास्यति बलाधिकः
Therefore, go, great messenger, and respectfully tell your master: if he is stronger, he will fulfill my promise in truth.
एवं वाक्यं महादेव्याः समाकर्ण्य स दानवः । कथयामास शुम्भाय देव्या वृत्तान्तमादितः
Hearing these words of the great goddess, the demon listened and related the entire account to Shumbha from the beginning.
तदाप्रियं दूतवाक्यं शुम्भः श्रुत्वा महाबलः । कोपमाहारयामास महान्तं दनुजाधिपः
Then, upon hearing the messenger's unpleasant words, Shumbha, the mighty lord of the demons, became greatly enraged.
ततो धूम्राक्षनामानं दैत्यं दैत्यपतिः प्रभुः । आदिदेश शृणु वचो धूम्राक्ष मम चादृतः
Then the lord and master of the demons commanded the demon named Dhumraksha: 'Listen to my words, Dhumraksha, and obey me.'
तां दुष्टां केशपाशेषु हत्वाप्यानीयतां मम । समीपमविलम्बेन शीघ्रं गच्छस्व मे पुरः
Bring that wicked woman to me quickly, even if you must kill her and drag her by her hair; go at once ahead for me.
इत्यादेशं समासाद्य दैत्येशो धूम्रलोचनः । षष्ट्यासुराणां सहितः सहस्राणां महाबलः
Receiving this command, Dhumralochana, the lord of the demons, set out, accompanied by sixty thousand powerful demons.
तुहिनाचलमासाद्य देव्याः सविधमेव सः । उच्चैर्देवीं जगादाशु भज दैत्यपतिं शुभे
Arriving at the snowy mountain, he approached the goddess and loudly said: 'O auspicious one, quickly submit to the lord of the demons.'
शुम्भं नाम महावीर्यं सर्वभोगानवाप्नुहि । नोचेत्केशान्गृहीत्वा त्वां नेष्ये दैत्यपतिं प्रति
'Accept Shumbha, the mighty one, and enjoy all pleasures; otherwise, I will seize you by your hair and take you to the lord of the demons.'
इत्युक्ता सा ततो देवी दैत्येन त्रिदशारिणा । उवाच दैत्य यद् ब्रूषे तत्सत्यं ते महाबल
Thus addressed by the demon, the goddess replied: 'What you say is true, O mighty one.'
राजा शुम्भासुरस्त्वं च किं करिष्यसि तद्वद । इत्युक्तो दैत्यपोऽधावत्तूर्णं शस्त्रसमन्वितः
'King Shumbha is an asura, and you too; tell me, what will you do?' Thus addressed, the demon lord rushed forward, armed with weapons.