मदग्रे को भवेच्छूरः कोटिशश्चेत्तथाविधाः । न बिभेम्येकतः कामं हनिष्याम्यद्य सर्वथा
"Who among you could be a hero before me, even if there were crores of such? I do not fear, even if alone; today, by all means, I will kill him."
शरः शान्तेष्वसौ नूनं तपस्विषु बलाधिकः । बलकर्ता हि कुहको लम्पटः परदारहृत्
"He is certainly stronger than the peaceful ascetics only in their absence; he is a deceiver, a rogue, and a stealer of others' wives."
अप्सरोबलसम्मत्तस्तपोविघ्नकरः खलः । छिद्रप्रहरणः पापो नित्यं विश्वासघातकः
He is a wicked one, infatuated with the beauty of celestial nymphs, an obstacle to ascetic practice, sinful, one who strikes at vulnerabilities, and ever a betrayer of trust.
नमुचिर्निहतो येन कृत्वा सन्धिं दुरात्मना । शपथान्विविधानादौ कृत्वा भीतेन छद्मना
By whom Namuci was slain, after deceitfully making a pact with many oaths at the beginning, out of fear and with trickery—
विष्णुस्तु कपटाचार्यः कुहकः शपथाकरः । नानारूपधरः कामं बलकृद्दम्भपण्डितः
Vishnu is a teacher of deceit, a conjurer, maker of oaths, assuming many forms at will, strong, and an expert in hypocrisy.
कृत्वा कोलाकृतिं येन हिरण्याक्षो निपातितः । हिरण्यकशिपुर्येन नृसिंहेन च घातितः
By whom, taking the form of a boar, Hiranyaksha was struck down, and by whom Hiranyakashipu was killed as Narasimha—
नाहं तद्वशगो नूनं भवेयं दनुनन्दनाः । विश्वासं नैव गच्छामि देवानां कुत्र कर्हिचित्
O children of Danu, I would certainly never come under his power; I never place trust in the gods, not at any time or place.
किं करिष्यति मे विष्णुरिन्द्रो वा बलवत्तरः । रुद्रो वापि न मे शक्तः प्रतिकर्तुं रणाङ्गणे
What could Vishnu, or even Indra, do to me, no matter how powerful? Not even Rudra is able to oppose me on the battlefield.
त्रिविष्टपं ग्रहीष्यामि जित्वेन्द्रं वरुणं यमम् । धनदं पावकं चैव चन्द्रसूर्यौ विजित्य च
I will seize the realm of heaven, conquering Indra, Varuna, Yama, Kubera, Agni, and also the Moon and Sun.
यज्ञभागभुजः सर्वे भविष्यामोऽद्य सोमपाः । जित्वा देवसमूहञ्च विहरिष्यामि दानवैः
Today, we will become the recipients of the sacrificial share, drinkers of Soma; having conquered the hosts of gods, I will revel with the Danavas.
न मे भयं सुरेभ्यश्च वरदानेन दानवाः । मरणं न नरेभ्यश्च नारी किं मे करिष्यति
O Danavas, by the boon granted to me, I have no fear of the gods, nor of death from men; what could a woman possibly do to me?
पातालपर्वतेभ्यश्च समाहूय वरान्वरान् । दानवान्मम सैन्येशान्कुर्वन्तु त्वरिताश्चराः
Summon the best of boons from the netherworld and the mountains, and let the swift-moving Danavas become commanders in my army.
एकोऽहं सर्वदेवेशान्विजेतुं दानवाः क्षमः । शोभार्थं वः समाहूय नयामि सुरसङ्गमे
Alone, I am capable of conquering all the lords of the gods, O Danavas; I call you together for the sake of glory, and lead you to the battle with the gods.
शृङ्गाभ्यां च खुराभ्यां च हनिष्येऽहं सुरान्किल । न मे भयं सुरेभ्यश्च वरदानप्रभावतः
With my horns and hooves I will surely slay the gods; I have no fear of the gods, due to the power of the boon granted to me.
अवध्योऽहं सुरगणैरसुरैर्मानवैस्तथा । तस्मात्सज्जा भवन्त्वद्य देवलोकजयाय वै
I am invulnerable to the hosts of gods, asuras, and men; therefore, be ready today for the conquest of the heavenly realms.
जित्वा सुरालयं दैत्या विहरिष्यामि नन्दने । मन्दारकुसुमापीडा देवयोषित्समन्विताः
Having conquered the abode of the gods, O Daityas, I will delight in Nandana, adorned with garlands of mandara flowers, accompanied by divine maidens.
कामधेनुपयोत्सिक्ताः सुधापानप्रमोदिताः । देवगन्धर्वगीतादिनृत्यलास्यसमन्विताः
Bathed in the milk of the wish-fulfilling cow, gladdened by drinking nectar, accompanied by the songs and dances of gods and gandharvas.
उर्वशी मेनका रम्भा घृताची च तिलोत्तमा । प्रमद्वरा महासेना मिश्रकेशी मदोत्कटा
Urvaśī, Menakā, Rambhā, Ghṛtācī, Tilottamā, Pramadvarā, Mahāsenā, Miśrakeśī, and Madotkaṭā—
विप्रचित्तिप्रभृतयो नृत्यगीतविशारदाः । रञ्जयिष्यन्ति वः सर्वान्नानासवनिषेवणैः
And those like Vipracitti, skilled in dance and song, will delight you all with the enjoyment of various wines.
सर्वे सज्जा भवन्त्वद्य रोचतां गमनं दिवि । संग्रामार्थं सुरैः सार्धं कृत्वा मङ्गलमुत्तमम्
Let all be ready today; may the journey to heaven be pleasing to you. Having performed the most auspicious rites, let us go to battle with the gods.
रक्षणार्थं च सर्वेषां भार्गवं मुनिसत्तमम् । समाहूय च संपूज्य स्थाप्य यज्ञे गुरुं परम्
For the protection of all, they summoned the illustrious sage Bhargava, honored him, and installed him as the supreme priest in the sacrifice.
व्यास उवाच इति सन्दिश्य दैत्येन्द्रान्महिषः पापधीस्तदा । जगाम त्वरितो राजन्भवनं स्वं मुदान्वितः
Vyāsa said: Having thus instructed the lords of the demons, Mahisha, whose mind was wicked, departed swiftly and joyfully to his own palace, O King.
भयातुरेन्द्रादिदेवैः सुरगुरुणा सह परामर्शवर्णनम् व्यास उवाच गते दूते सुरेन्द्रोऽपि समाहूय सुरानथ । यमवायुधनाध्यक्षवरुणानिदमूचिवान्
Vyāsa said: When the messenger had gone, the lord of the gods also summoned the gods, O lord, and addressed Yama, Vāyu, Dhanada, and Varuṇa as follows.
महिषो नाम दैत्येन्द्रो रम्भपुत्रो महाबलः । वरदर्पमदोन्मत्तो मायाशतविचक्षणः
Mahisha, the lord of the demons, son of Rambha, is of great strength, intoxicated by the pride of boons, maddened by arrogance, and skilled in a hundred kinds of magic.
तस्य दूतोऽद्य सम्प्राप्तः प्रेषितस्तेन भोः सुराः । स्वर्गकामेन लुब्धेन मामुवाचेदृशं वचः
Today, a messenger sent by him has arrived, O gods; desiring heaven and driven by greed, he spoke these words to me.
त्यज देवालयं शक्र यथेच्छं व्रज वासव । सेवां वा कुरु दैत्यस्य महिषस्य महात्मनः
Abandon the temple of the gods, O Śakra, and go wherever you wish, O Vāsava; or serve the great-souled demon Mahisha.
दयावान्दानवेन्द्रोऽसौ स ते वृत्तिं विधास्यति । नतेषु भृत्यभूतेषु न कुप्यति कदाचन
That lord of the Dānavas is compassionate; he will provide for your livelihood. He never becomes angry with those who submit and become his servants.
नोचेद्युद्धाय देवेश सेनोद्योगं कुरु स्वयम् । गते मयि स दैत्येन्द्रस्त्वरितः समुपेष्यति
But if not, O lord of the gods, prepare your army yourself for battle; for when I have gone, that lord of the demons will quickly approach.
इत्युक्त्वा स गतो दूतो दानवस्य दुरात्मनः । किं कर्तव्यमतः कार्यं चिन्तयध्वं सुरोत्तमाः
Having spoken thus, the messenger of that wicked demon departed. Now, O best of gods, consider what should be done.
दुर्बलोऽपि न चोपेक्ष्यः शत्रुर्बलवता सुराः । विशेषेण सदोद्योगी बलवान्बलदर्पितः
Even a weak enemy should not be disregarded by the gods, especially one who is ever diligent, strong, and proud of his strength.