बलेन महताऽऽविष्टो ययावनु नृपोत्तमः । सुदर्शनो वृतस्तत्र चचाल पथि निर्भयः
The illustrious king, surrounded by a great force, set out; Sudarshana, accompanied there, proceeded fearlessly along the path.
रथैः परिवृतः शूरः सदारो रथसंस्थितः । गच्छन्ददर्श सैन्यानि नृपाणां रघुनन्दनः
The heroic Sudarshana, surrounded by chariots, with his wife seated in the chariot, saw the armies of the kings as he traveled.
सुबाहुरपि तान्वीक्ष्य चिन्ताविष्टो बभूव ह । विधिवत्स शिवां चित्ते जगाम शरणं मुदा
Subahu, upon seeing them, became filled with anxiety; following the prescribed way, he joyfully sought refuge in Shiva.
जजापैकाक्षरं मन्त्रं कामराजमनुत्तमम् । निर्भयो वीतशोकश्च पत्न्या सह नवोढया
He recited the supreme one-syllable mantra of Kamadeva, fearless and free from sorrow, together with his newly-wedded wife.
ततः सर्वे महीपालाः कृत्वा कोलाहलं तदा । उत्थिताः सैन्यसंयुक्ता हन्तुकामास्तु कन्यकाम्
Then all the kings, raising a tumult, rose with their armies, intent on killing the maiden.
काशिराजस्तु तान्दृष्ट्वा हन्तुकामो बभूव ह । निवारितस्तदाऽत्यर्थं राघवेण जिगीषता
The king of Kashi, seeing them, became eager to kill; but he was strongly restrained by Raghava, who sought victory.
तत्रापि नेदुः शंखाश्च भेर्यश्चानकदुन्दुभिः । सुबाहोश्च नृपाणाञ्च परस्परजिघांसताम्
There, conches, drums, and anaka-dundubhi sounded, as Subahu and the kings sought to destroy one another.
शत्रुजित्तु सुसंवृत्तः स्थितस्तत्र जिघांसया । युधाजित्तत्सहायार्थं सन्नद्धः प्रबभूव ह
Shatrujit, well-prepared, stood there with murderous intent; Yudhajit, for his aid, became fully armed.
केचिच्च प्रेक्षकास्तस्य सहानीकैः स्थितास्तदा । युधाजिदग्रतो गत्वा सुदर्शनमुपस्थितः
Some spectators, together with their troops, stood at that time; Yudhajit advanced ahead and approached Sudarshana.
शत्रुजित्तेन सहितो हन्तुं भ्रातरमानुजः । परस्परं ते बाणौघैस्ततक्षुः क्रोधमूर्छिताः
The younger brother, together with Shatrujit, sought to kill his sibling; in mutual rage, they struck each other with showers of arrows.
सम्मर्दः सुमहांस्तत्र सम्प्रवृत्तः सुमार्गणैः । काशीपतिस्तदा तूर्णं सैन्येन बहुना वृतः
A fierce clash began there with many sharp arrows; the king of Kashi, quickly surrounded by a large army,
साहाय्यार्थं जगामाशु जामातरमनिन्दितम् । एवं प्रवृत्ते सङ्ग्रामे दारुणे लोमहर्षणे
Went swiftly to aid his blameless son-in-law; thus the dreadful, hair-raising battle unfolded.
प्रादुर्बभूव सहसा देवी सिंहोपरि स्थिता । नानायुधधरा रम्या वराभूषणभूषिता
Suddenly the Goddess appeared, standing upon a lion, beautiful, bearing various weapons, adorned with splendid ornaments.
दिव्याम्बरपरीधाना मन्दारस्रक्सुसंयुता । तां दृष्ट्वा तेऽथ भूपाला विस्मयं परमं गताः
Clad in divine garments, adorned with a garland of mandara flowers; seeing her, the kings were struck with utmost wonder.
केयं सिंहसमारूढा कुतो वेति समुत्थिता । सुदर्शनस्तु तां वीक्ष्य सुबाहुमिति चाब्रवीत्
Who is this, mounted upon a lion, and from where has she arisen? Sudarshana, seeing her, said to Subahu:
पश्य राजन्महादेवीमागतां दिव्यदर्शनाम् । अनुग्रहाय मे नूनं प्रादुर्भूता दयान्विता
Behold, O King, the great Goddess has come, appearing in divine form. Surely, she has manifested out of compassion to grant me her favor.
निर्भयोऽहं महाराज जातोऽस्मि निर्भयादपि । सुदर्शनः सुबाहुश्च तामालोक्य वराननाम्
O great King, I have become fearless, even beyond the fearless. Sudarshana and Subahu, beholding her radiant face,
प्रणामं चक्रतुस्तस्या मुदितौ दर्शनेन च । ननाद च तदा सिंहो गजास्त्रस्ताश्चकम्पिरे
Both offered their salutations to her, delighted by her vision. At that moment, the lion roared, and the elephants, terrified, trembled.
ववुर्वाता महाघोरा दिशश्चासन्सुदारुणाः । सुदर्शनस्तदा प्राह निजं सेनापतिं प्रति
Fierce winds began to blow, and the directions became exceedingly dreadful. Then Sudarshana spoke to his own general:
मार्गे व्रज त्वं तरसा भूपाला यत्र संस्थिताः । किं करिष्यन्ति राजानः कुपिता दुष्टचेतसः
Go swiftly along the path where the kings are assembled. What can those angry, evil-minded kings do?
शरणार्थञ्च सम्प्राप्ता देवी भगवती हि नः । निरातङ्कैश्च गन्तव्यं मार्गेऽस्मिन्भूपसङ्कुले
For the Goddess Bhagavati herself has come to us for the sake of protection. We must proceed fearlessly along this path crowded with kings.
स्मृता मया महादेवी रक्षणार्थमुपागता । तच्छ्रुत्वा वचनं सेनापतिस्तेन पथाऽव्रजत्
I have remembered the great Goddess, who has come for our protection. Hearing these words, the general proceeded along that path.
युधाजित्तु सुसङ्क्रुद्धस्तानुवाच महीपतीन् । किं स्थिता भयसन्त्रस्ता निघ्नन्तु कन्यकान्वितम्
Yudhajit, greatly enraged, addressed the assembled kings: Why do you stand here, paralyzed by fear? Strike him, though he is accompanied by a maiden!
अवमन्य च नः सर्वान्बलहीनो बलाधिकान् । कन्यां गृहीत्वा संयाति निर्भयस्तरसा शिशुः
He has scorned us all—he, weak, against the strong. Taking the maiden, the boy departs swiftly and without fear.
किं भीताः कामिनीं वीक्ष्य सिंहोपरि सुसंस्थिताम् । नोपेक्ष्यो हि महाभागा हन्तव्योऽत्र समाहितैः
Why are you afraid, seeing the woman so well seated upon the lion? He must not be ignored, O noble ones; he must be slain here by those who are resolute.
हत्वैनं सङ्ग्रहीष्यामः कन्यां चारुविभूषणाम् । नायं केसरिणादत्तां छेत्तुमर्हति जम्बुकः
Having slain him, we shall seize the maiden adorned with beautiful ornaments. This jackal does not deserve to take what has been given by the lion.
इत्युक्त्वा सैन्यसंयुक्तः शत्रुजित्सहितस्तदा । योद्धुकामः सुसम्प्राप्तो युधाजित्क्रोधसंवृतः
Having spoken thus, Yudhajit, joined by his army and accompanied by Shatrujit, approached, filled with wrath and eager for battle.
मुमोच विशिखांस्तूर्णं समपुंखाञ्छिलाशितान् । धनुराकृष्य कर्णान्तं कर्मारपरिमार्जितान्
He swiftly released arrows, sharp as stone, with even feathers, drawing his bow to his ear, the arrows well-forged by craftsmen.
हन्तुकामः सुदुर्मेधाः सुदर्शनमथोपरि । सुदर्शनस्तु तान्बाणैश्चिच्छेदापततः क्षणात्
Desiring to kill, the wicked-minded one aimed at Sudarshana. But Sudarshana, in an instant, cut down those falling arrows with his own.
एवं युद्धे प्रवृत्तेऽथ चुकोप चण्डिका भृशम् । दुर्गादेवी मुमोचाथ बाणान् युधाजितं प्रति
As the battle raged thus, Chandika became exceedingly enraged. Then Goddess Durga released arrows at Yudhajit.