पृष्ठतस्तु गतस्तत्र महिषः कामपीडितः । कामयानस्तु तां कामी बलवीर्यमदोद्धतः
But the buffalo, maddened by desire, followed her there, intent on possessing her, his strength and passion inflamed.
रुदती सा भृशं दीना दृष्टा यक्षैर्भयातुरा । धावमानं च तं वीक्ष्य यक्षास्त्रातुं समाययुः
She, weeping and utterly distressed, was seen by the Yakshas, terrified; seeing him charging, the Yakshas came to protect her.
युद्धं समभवद् घोरं यक्षाणां च हयारिणा । शरेण ताडितस्तूर्णं पपात धरणीतले
A fierce battle arose between the Yakshas and the buffalo; swiftly struck by an arrow, he fell to the earth.
मृतं रम्भं समानीय यक्षास्ते परमं प्रियम् । चितायां रोपयामासुस्तस्य देहस्य शुद्धये
Bringing the dead Rambha, the Yakshas, who held him most dear, placed his body on the funeral pyre for purification.
महिषी सा पतिं दृष्ट्वा चितायां रोपितं तदा । प्रवेष्टुं सा मतिं चक्रे पतिना सह पावकम्
Seeing her husband laid upon the pyre, the she-buffalo resolved to enter the fire with her beloved.
वार्यमाणापि यक्षैः सा प्रविवेश हुताशनम् । ज्वालामालाकुलं साध्वी पतिमादाय वल्लभम्
Though restrained by the Yakshas, that faithful wife entered the blazing fire, encircled by flames, embracing her dear husband.
महिषस्तु चितामध्यात्समुत्तस्थौ महाबलः । रम्भोऽप्यन्यद्वपुः कृत्वा निःसृतः पुत्रवत्सलः
The mighty Mahiṣa rose up from the midst of the funeral pyre, and Rambha, devoted to his son, emerged in another form.
रक्तबीजोऽप्यसौ जातो महिषोऽपि महाबलः । अभिषिक्तस्तु राज्येऽसौ हयारिरसुरोत्तमैः
That same Raktabīja was born, and so too the powerful Mahiṣa; he was anointed as king by the foremost of the horse-faced asuras.
एवं स महिषो जातो रक्तबीजश्च वीर्यवान् । अवध्यस्तु सुरैर्दैत्यैर्मानवैश्च नृपोत्तम
Thus, Mahiṣa was born, and Raktabīja, full of vigor; O best of kings, he was invulnerable to gods, demons, and men.
इत्येतत्कथितं राजन् जन्म तस्य महात्मनः । वरप्रदानञ्च तथा प्रोक्तं सर्वं सविस्तरम्
O King, thus has the birth of that great soul been told, as well as the granting of his boon, all described in detail.
भगवतीमाहात्म्ये दैत्यसैन्योद्योगः व्यास उवाच एवं स महिषो नाम दानवो वरदर्पितः । प्राप्य राज्यं जगत्सर्वं वशे चक्रे महाबलः
Vyāsa said: Thus, Mahiṣa, the asura endowed with boons, having obtained the kingdom, brought the whole world under his control with his great might.
पृथिवीं पालयामास सागरान्तां भुजार्जिताम् । एकच्छत्रां निरातङ्कां वैरिवर्गविवर्जिताम्
He ruled the earth, bounded by the oceans, won by his own arms, unified under one umbrella, free from danger and devoid of enemies.
सेनानीश्चिक्षुरस्तस्य महावीर्यो मदोत्कटः । धनाध्यक्षस्तथा ताम्रः सेनायुतसमावृतः
His army commander was Cikṣura, of great valor and excessive pride; likewise, Tāmra was the treasurer, surrounded by countless troops.
असिलोमा तथोदर्को बिडालाख्यश्च बाष्कलः । त्रिनेत्रोऽथ तथा कालबन्धको बलदर्पितः
Asilomā, Udarka, and Bāṣkala called Biḍāla, as well as Trinetra and Kālabandhaka, proud in their strength, were also present.
एते सैन्ययुताः सर्वे दानवा मेदिनीं तदा । आवृत्य संस्थिताः काममृद्धां सागरमेखलाम्
All these daityas, each with their own divisions of troops, then occupied the earth, rich and encircled by the ocean, as they pleased.
करदाश्च कृताः सर्वे भूमिपालाः पुरातनाः । निहता ये बलोदग्राः क्षात्रधर्मव्यवस्थिताः
All the ancient rulers of the earth were made tributaries; those who were powerful and steadfast in the kṣatriya code were slain.
ब्राह्मणा वशगा जाता यज्ञभागसमर्पकाः । महिषस्य महाराज निखिले क्षितिमण्डले
The brāhmaṇas became subservient, offering the shares of sacrifice, throughout the entire realm of Mahiṣa, O great king.
एकातपत्रं तद्राज्यं कृत्वा स महिषासुरः । स्वर्गं जेतुं मनश्चक्रे वरदानेन गर्वितः
Having made his kingdom unified under one umbrella, Mahiṣāsura, proud of his boon, set his mind on conquering heaven.
प्रणिधिं प्रेषयामास हयारिस्तु शचीपतिम् । स सन्देशहरं शीघ्रमाहूयोवाच दैत्यराट्
Then Hayāri sent a spy to the lord of Śacī; the king of the daityas summoned the messenger swiftly and spoke.
गच्छ वीर महाबाहो दूतत्वं कुरु मेऽनघ । ब्रूहि शक्रं दिवं गत्वा निःशङ्कः सुरसन्निधौ
Go, O mighty-armed hero, act as my envoy without fail; go to heaven and, without fear, speak to Śakra in the assembly of the gods.
मुञ्च स्वर्गं सहस्राक्ष यथेष्टं गच्छ मा चिरम् । सेवां वा कुरु देवेश महिषस्य महात्मनः
O thousand-eyed one, relinquish heaven and go wherever you wish without delay, or serve the great-souled Mahiṣa, lord of the gods.
स त्वां संरक्षयेन्नूनं राजा शरणमागतम् । तस्मात्त्वं शरणं याहि महिषस्य शचीपते
He will surely protect you, O king, if you come to him for refuge; therefore, O lord of Śacī, seek shelter with Mahiṣa.
नोचेद्वज्रं गहाणाशु युद्धाय बलसूदन । पूर्वैर्जितोऽसि चास्माकं जानामि तव पौरुषम्
Otherwise, quickly take up your thunderbolt for battle, O destroyer of hosts; you have been defeated by us before, I know your strength.
अहल्याजार विज्ञातं बलं ते सुरसङ्घप । युध्यस्व व्रज वा कामं यत्र ते रमते मनः
O leader of the gods, your strength is known from the affair with Ahalyā; fight, or go wherever your mind delights.
व्यास उवाच तच्छुत्वा वचनं तस्य शक्रः क्रोधसमन्वितः । उवाच तं नृपश्रेष्ठ स्मितपूर्वं वचस्तदा
Vyāsa said: Hearing those words, Indra, filled with anger, spoke to him, O best of kings, first with a smile.
न जानेऽहं सुमन्दात्मन् यतस्त्वं मददर्पितः । चिकित्सां संकरिष्यामि रोगस्यास्य प्रभोस्तव
I do not know, O you of very dull mind, why you are so proud because of me; I will arrange treatment for this disease of your master.
अतः परं करिष्यामि मूलस्यास्य निमूलनम् । गच्छ दूत तथा ब्रूहि तस्याग्रे मम भाषितम्
After this, I will uproot the very root of this matter; go, messenger, and say these words of mine before him.
शिष्टैर्दूता न हन्तव्यास्तस्मात्त्वां विसृजाम्यहम् । युद्धेच्छा चेत्समागच्छ त्वरितो महिषीसुत
Messengers sent by the virtuous are not to be killed; therefore, I release you. If your master's desire is for battle, let him come quickly, O son of Mahiṣa.
हयारे त्वद्बलं ज्ञातं तृणादस्त्वं जडाकृतिः । शृङ्गयोस्ते करिष्यामि सुदृढं च शरासनम्
I have seen your strength, O one with the form of a dullard, as insignificant as grass; with your horns I will make a strong bow.
दर्पः शृङ्गबलात्तेऽस्ति विदितं कारणं मया । विषाणे ते परिच्छिद्य संहरिष्यामि तद् बलम्
Your pride comes from the strength of your horns, and I know the reason; by cutting off your horns, I will take away that strength.