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.
उद्यमः किल कर्तव्यो यथाबुद्धि यथाबलम् । दैवाधीनो भवेन्नूनं जयो वाथ पराजयः
Indeed, effort must be made according to one’s understanding and strength; victory or defeat will surely depend on fate.
सन्धियोगो न चात्रास्ति खले सन्धिर्निरर्थकः । सर्वथा साधुभिः कार्यं विचार्य च पुनः पुनः
There can be no alliance here; a treaty with the wicked is useless. In every way, actions should be carefully considered again and again by the wise.
यानमप्यधुना नैव कर्तव्यं सहसा पुनः । प्रेक्षकाः प्रेषणीयाश्च शीघ्रगाः सुप्रवेशकाः
At present, no hasty march should be undertaken; rather, swift and skillful spies should be sent as observers.
इङ्गितज्ञाश्च निःसङ्गा निःस्पृहाः सत्यवादिनः । सेनाभियोगं प्रस्थानं बलसंख्यां यथार्थतः
They should be perceptive, impartial, unattached, and truthful, to ascertain the enemy’s military preparations, movements, and the true strength of his forces.
वीराणां च परिज्ञानं कृत्वायान्तु त्वरान्विताः । ज्ञात्वा दैत्यपतेस्तस्य सैन्यस्य च बलाबलम्
Having accurately assessed the valor of the warriors and the strengths and weaknesses of the demon lord and his army, let them return quickly.
करिष्यामि ततस्तूर्णं यानं वा दुर्गसंग्रहम् । विचार्य खलु कर्तव्यं कार्यं बुद्धिमता सदा । सहसा विहितं कार्यं दुःखदं सर्वथा भवेत्
Then, having learned this, I will promptly undertake either a campaign or the securing of fortresses. Indeed, the wise should always act after careful deliberation; actions done in haste invariably bring sorrow.
तस्माद्विमृश्य कर्तव्यं सुखदं सर्वथा बुधैः । नात्र भेदविधिर्न्याय्यो दानवेषु च सर्वथा
Therefore, the wise should always act after reflection, so that the result is happiness. Here, sowing discord among the Dānavas is by no means appropriate.
एकचित्तेषु कार्येऽस्मिंस्तस्माच्चारा व्रजन्तु वै । ज्ञात्वा बलाबलं तेषां पश्चान्नीतिर्विचार्य च
Since they are united in purpose regarding this matter, let spies be sent; after learning their strengths and weaknesses, strategy should then be considered.
विधेया विधिवत्तज्ज्ञैस्तेषु कार्यपरेषु च । अन्यथा विहितं कार्यं विपरीतफलप्रदम्
Actions must be performed properly by those who know the prescribed rules and are devoted to their duties; otherwise, if performed incorrectly, the action yields the opposite result.
सर्वथा तद्भवेन्नूनमज्ञातमौषधं यथा । व्यास उवाच इति सञ्चिन्त्य तैः सर्वैः प्रणिधिं कार्यवेदिनम्
In every way, it is certain to be so, just as an unknown medicine; Vyāsa said: Thus reflecting, all of them sent an expert in the matter to investigate.