मुनिभिश्च तथा शान्तैर्वेदपाठकृतादरैः । स्तुवद्भिः श्रुतिसूक्तैश्च मण्डितं सदनं हरेः
There were also peaceful sages, reverently reciting the Vedas, and praising with hymns from the scriptures, adorning the abode of Hari.
ते च विष्णुगृहं प्राप्य द्वारपालौ शुभाकृती । वीक्ष्योचुर्जयविजयौ हेमयष्टिधरौ स्थितौ
And when they reached Vishnu's abode, they saw the two doorkeepers, Jay and Vijay, of auspicious form, standing there holding golden staffs.
गत्वैकोऽप्युभयोर्मध्ये निवेदयतु सङ्गतान् । द्वारस्थान् ब्रह्मरुद्रादीन्विष्णुदर्शनलालसान्
Let one of you go between the two and announce to him those assembled at the gate—Brahma, Rudra, and the others—who long to see Vishnu.
व्यास उवाच विजयस्तद्वचः श्रुत्वा गत्वाथ विष्णुसन्निधौ । सर्वान्समागतान्देवान्प्रणम्योवाच सत्वरः
Vyasa said: Hearing these words, Vijay went to Vishnu's presence, and, after bowing, quickly announced that all the assembled gods had arrived.
विजय उवाच देवदेव महाराज रमाकान्त सुरारिहन् । समागताः सुराः सर्वे द्वारि तिष्ठन्ति वै विभो
Vijaya said: O Lord of gods, great king, beloved of Lakshmi, destroyer of the enemies of the gods, all the gods have assembled and are standing at your door, O mighty one.
ब्रह्मा रुद्रस्तथेन्द्रश्च वरुणः पावको यमः । स्तुवन्ति वेदवाक्यैस्त्वाममरा दर्शनार्थिनः
Brahma, Rudra, Indra, Varuna, Agni, and Yama—all the immortals, desiring your audience, praise you with words from the Vedas.
व्यास उवाच तच्छ्रुत्वा वचनं विष्णर्विजयस्य रमापतिः । निर्जगाम गृहात्तूर्णं सुरान्समधिकोत्सवः
Vyasa said: Hearing Vijaya's words, Vishnu, the husband of Lakshmi, quickly left his house, filled with even greater joy to see the gods.
गत्वा वीक्ष्य हरिर्देवान्द्वारस्थाञ्छ्रमकर्शितान् । प्रीतिप्रवणया दृष्ट्या प्रीणयामास दुःखितान्
Going forth, Hari saw the gods standing at the door, worn out by hardship, and with a gaze full of affection, he comforted those who were distressed.
प्रणेमुस्ते सुराः सर्वे देवदेवं जनार्दनम् । तुष्टुवुश्च सुरारिघ्नं वाग्भिर्वेदविनिश्चितम्
All the gods bowed to Janardana, Lord of gods, and praised the destroyer of the enemies of the gods with words established in the Vedas.
देवा ऊचुः देवदेव जगन्नाथ सृष्टिस्थित्यन्तकारक । दयासिन्धो महाराज त्राहि नः शरणागतान्
The gods said: O Lord of gods, Lord of the universe, cause of creation, preservation, and destruction, ocean of compassion, great king, protect us who have come to you for refuge.
विष्णुरुवाच विशन्तु निर्जराः सर्वे कुशलं कथयन्तु वः । आसनेषु किमर्थं वै मिलिताः समुपागताः
Vishnu said: Let all the immortals enter and tell me of your well-being. For what reason have you all gathered here and taken your seats?
चिन्तातुराः कथं जाता विषण्णा दीनमानसाः । ब्रह्मरुद्रेण सहिताः कार्यं प्रब्रूत सत्वरम्
How have you become so troubled, despondent, and downcast in spirit, even though you are with Brahma and Rudra? Quickly tell me what needs to be done.
देवा ऊचुः महिषेण महाराज पीडिताः पापकर्मणा । असाध्येनातिदुष्टेन वरदृप्तेन पापिना
The gods said: O great king, we are afflicted by Mahisha, who is wicked in deed, unconquerable, extremely evil, and arrogant from the boon he received.
यज्ञभागानसौ भुंक्ते ब्राह्मणैः प्रतिपादितान् । अमरा गिरिदुर्गेषु भ्रमन्ति च भयातुराः
He consumes the shares of sacrifice allotted by the Brahmins, and the immortals, terrified, wander among the mountain fortresses.
वरदानेन धातुः स दुर्जयो मधुसूदन । तस्मात्त्वां शरणं प्राप्ता ज्ञात्वा तत्कार्यगौरवम्
By the boon given by the Creator, O slayer of Madhu, he is invincible; therefore, knowing the gravity of this matter, we have come to you for refuge.
समर्थोऽसि समुद्धर्तुं दैत्यमायाविशारद । कुरु कृष्ण वधोपायं तस्य दानवमर्दन
You are capable of rescuing us from the demon skilled in sorcery; O Krishna, destroyer of the Danavas, devise a means to slay him.
धात्रा तस्मै वरो दत्तो ह्यवध्योऽसि नरैः किल । का स्त्री त्वेवंविधा बाला या हन्यात्तं शठं रणे
The Creator granted him the boon that he cannot be slain by men; what woman, even a young girl, could kill that deceitful one in battle?
उमा मा वा शची विद्या का समर्थास्य घातने । महिषस्यातिदुष्टस्य वरदानबलादपि
Could Uma, or Shachi, or Vidya, or any woman, even with great power, be capable of killing Mahisha, who is so wicked and strengthened by the boon?
विचिन्त्य बुद्ध्या यत्सर्वं मरणस्यास्य कारणम् । कुरु कार्यं च देवानां भक्तवत्सल भूधर
Consider with your wisdom all that could be the cause of his death, and, O beloved of the devotees, do what is necessary for the gods, O mountain-like one.
व्यास उवाच श्रुत्वा तद्वचनं विष्णुस्तानुवाच हसन्निव । युद्धं कृतं पुरास्माभिस्तथापि न मृतो ह्यसौ
Vyasa said: Hearing these words, Vishnu replied to them with a smile: 'We have fought him before, yet he has not been slain.'
अद्य सर्वसुराणां वै तेजोभी रूपसम्पदा । उत्पन्ना चेद्वरारोहा सा हन्यात्तं रणे बलात्
Today, if a woman of surpassing beauty and endowed with the combined radiance of all the gods arises, she will forcibly slay him in battle.
हयारिं वरदृप्तञ्च मायाशतविशारदम् । हन्तुं योग्या भवेन्नारी शक्त्यंशैर्निर्मिता हि नः
To slay the enemy of the gods, arrogant from his boon and skilled in a hundred kinds of sorcery, a woman created from our own energies would be fit for the task.
प्रार्थयन्तु च तेजोंऽशान्स्त्रियोऽस्माकं तथा पुनः । उत्पन्नैस्तैश्च तेजोंऽशैस्तेजोराशिर्भवेद्यथा
Let the goddesses also request portions of our radiance, so that, when these portions arise, there may be a mass of radiance as great as possible.
आयुधानि वयं दद्मः सर्वे रुद्रपुरोगमाः । तस्यै सर्वाणि दिव्यानि त्रिशूलादीनि यानि च
We, all the gods with Rudra at the forefront, shall give her all the divine weapons, such as the trident and others.
सर्वायुधधरा नारी सर्वतेजःसमन्विता । हनिष्यति दुरात्मानं तं पापं मदगर्वितम्
A woman, bearing all weapons and endowed with the combined radiance of all, will slay that wicked, sinful one, proud with arrogance.
व्यास उवाच इत्युक्तवति देवेशे ब्रह्मणो वदनात्ततः । स्वयमेवोद्बभौ तेजोराशिश्चातीव दुःसहः
Vyasa said: When the Lord of the gods had spoken thus, from the mouth of Brahma there arose by itself a mass of radiance, exceedingly unbearable.
रक्तवर्णं शुभाकारं पद्मरागमणिप्रभम् । किञ्चिच्छीतं तथा चोष्णं मरीचिजालमण्डितम्
It was red in color, beautiful in form, shining like a padmaraga gem, somewhat cool and also warm, adorned with a network of rays.
निःसृतं हरिणा दृष्टं हरेण च महात्मना । विस्मितौ तौ महाराज बभूवतुरुरुक्रमौ
It emerged and was seen by Hari, the great-souled one; both he and Hara, the mighty ones, were amazed.
शङ्करस्य शरीरात्तु निःसृतं महदद्भुतम् । रौप्यवर्णमभूत्तीव्रं दुर्दर्शं दारुणं महत्
From the body of Shankara there emerged a great and wondrous radiance, silver in color, intense, difficult to behold, vast and terrifying.
भयङ्करञ्च दैत्यानां देवानां विस्मयप्रदम् । घोररूपं गिरिप्रख्यं तमोगुणमिवापरम्
It was frightening to the demons and astonishing to the gods, terrible in form, mountain-like, as if it were another embodiment of the quality of darkness.