व्यास उवाच इत्युक्त्वा सा सुरान्देवी जहासातीव सुस्वरम् । चित्रमेतच्च संसारे भ्रममोहयुतं जगत्
Vyāsa said: Having spoken thus to the gods, the Goddess laughed sweetly. Indeed, it is wondrous how this world, filled with delusion and confusion, wanders.
ब्रह्मविष्णुमहेशाद्याः सेन्द्राश्चान्ये सुरास्तथा । कम्पयुक्ता भयत्रस्ता वर्तन्ते महिषात्किल
Brahmā, Viṣṇu, Maheśa, Indra, and the other gods, trembling and terrified with fear, remained distressed because of Mahiṣa.
अहो दैवबलं घोरं दुर्जयं सुरसत्तमाः । कालः कर्तास्ति दुःखानां सुखानां प्रभुरीश्वरः
Ah! Such is the dreadful power of fate, O best of gods—unconquerable. Time is the maker of sorrows and the lord of happiness.
सृष्टिपालनसंहारे समर्था अपि ते यदा । मुह्यन्ति क्लेशसन्तप्ता महिषेण प्रपीडिताः
Even those capable of creation, preservation, and destruction, when afflicted by Mahiṣa, become bewildered and tormented by suffering.
इति कृत्वा स्मितं देवी साट्टहासं चकार ह । उच्चैः शब्दं महाघोरं दानवानां भयप्रदम्
Having smiled thus, the Goddess let out a loud, roaring laugh, terrifying to the demons.
चकम्पे वसुधा तत्र श्रुत्वा तच्छब्दमद्भुतम् । चेलुश्च पर्वताः सर्वे चुक्षोभाब्धिश्च वीर्यवान्
There, upon hearing that wondrous sound, the earth trembled, all the mountains shook, and the mighty ocean was agitated.
मेरुश्चचाल शब्देन दिशः सर्वाः प्रपूरिताः । भयं जग्मुस्तदा श्रुत्वा दानवास्तत्स्वनं महत्
Mount Meru quaked from the sound, all directions were filled, and upon hearing that great roar, the demons were seized with fear.
जय पाहीति देवास्तामूचुः परमहर्षिताः । महिषोऽपि स्वनं श्रुत्वा चुकोप मदगर्वितः
The gods, overjoyed, cried out to her, 'Victory! Protect us!' Mahiṣa too, upon hearing the roar, became enraged, intoxicated with pride.
किमेतदिति तान्दैत्यान्पप्रच्छ स्वनशङ्कितः । गच्छन्तु त्वरिता दूता ज्ञातुं शब्दसमुद्भवम्
Suspicious of the sound, he asked the demons, 'What is this?' Let messengers go swiftly to discover the source of the noise.
कृतः केनायमत्युग्रः शब्दः कर्णव्यथाकरः । देवो वा दानवो वापि यो भवेत्स्वनकारकः
Who has made this exceedingly fierce sound, painful to the ears? Whether god or demon, whoever is the cause of this roar—
गृहीत्वा तं दुरात्मानं मत्समीपं नयन्त्विह । हनिष्यामि दुराचारं गर्जन्तं स्मयदुर्मदम्
Seize that wicked one and bring him here to me. I will slay the evil-doer, who roars in arrogant pride.
क्षीणायुष्यं मन्दमतिं नयामि यमसादनम् । पराजिताः सुराः कामं न गर्जन्ति भयातुराः
I shall send to Yama's abode the one whose life is waning and whose mind is dull. The defeated gods, out of fear, do not roar as they wish.
नासुरा मम वश्यास्ते कस्येदं मूढचेष्टितम् । त्वरिता मामुपायान्तु ज्ञात्वा शब्दस्य कारणम्
These Asuras are not under my control; whose foolish action is this? Let them quickly come to me, having understood the cause of this sound.
अहं गत्वा हनिष्यामि तं पापं वितथश्रमम् । व्यास उवाच इत्युक्तास्तेन ते दूता देवीं सर्वाङ्गसुन्दरीम्
I myself will go and kill that sinful one, whose efforts are in vain. Vyasa said: Thus addressed by him, those messengers approached the Goddess, beautiful in every limb.
अष्टादशभुजां दिव्यां सर्वाभरणभूषिताम् । सर्वलक्षणसम्पन्नां वरायुधधरां शुभाम्
They saw the divine Goddess with eighteen arms, adorned with all ornaments, endowed with every auspicious mark, holding excellent weapons, and auspicious in form.
दधतीं चषकं हस्ते पिबन्तीं च मुहुर्मधु । संवीक्ष्य भयभीतास्ते जग्मुस्त्रस्ताः सुशङ्किताः
Holding a cup in her hand and repeatedly drinking honey, seeing her, those messengers, terrified and anxious, departed in fear.
सकाशे महिषस्याशु तमूचुः स्वनकारणम् । दूता ऊचुः देवी दैत्येश्वर प्रौढा दृश्यते काचिदङ्गना
They quickly went to Mahisha and told him the cause of the sound. The messengers said: O Lord of the Daityas, a certain proud woman is seen there.
सर्वाङ्गभूषणा नारी सर्वरत्नोपशोभिता । न मानुषी नासुरी सा दिव्यरूपा मनोहरा
A woman adorned with ornaments on every limb, shining with all jewels; she is neither human nor Asura—she is of divine and captivating form.
सिंहारूढायुधधरा चाष्टादशकरा वरा । सा नादं कुरुते नारी लक्ष्यते मदगर्विता
Mounted on a lion, bearing weapons, with eighteen arms, that woman is making a loud sound, appearing intoxicated with pride.
सुरापानरता कामं जानीमो न सभर्तृका । अन्तरिक्षस्थिता देवास्तां स्तुवन्ति मुदान्विताः
She openly delights in drinking wine; we do not know if she has a husband. The gods, standing in the sky, praise her with joy.
जयेति पाहि नश्चेति जहि शत्रुमिति प्रभो । न जाने का वरारोहा कस्य वा सा परिग्रहः
They say, 'Victory!' 'Protect us!' 'Slay the enemy, O Lord!' I do not know who this beautiful woman is, nor whose possession she may be.
किमर्थमागता चात्र किं चिकीर्षति सुन्दरी । द्रष्टुं नैव समर्थाः स्मस्तत्तेजःपरिधर्षिताः
For what purpose has this beautiful woman come here, and what does she intend to do? We are not able to approach her, overpowered by her brilliance.
शृङ्गारवीरहासाढ्या रौद्राद्भुतरसान्विता । दृष्ट्वैवैवंविधां नारीमसम्भाष्य समागताः
Endowed with the moods of love, heroism, laughter, and fierce terror, seeing such a woman, we have come back without speaking to her.
वयं त्वदाज्ञया राजन् किं कर्तव्यमतःपरम् । महिष उवाच गच्छ वीर मयादिष्टो मन्त्रिश्रेष्ठ बलान्वितः
O King, by your command, what should we do next? Mahisha said: Go, O hero, accompanied by my order, O best of ministers, with your forces.
सामादिभिरुपायैस्त्वं समानय शुभाननाम् । नायाति यदि सा नारी त्रिभिः सामादिभिस्त्विह
By means of conciliation and other strategies, bring that auspicious-faced woman here. If that woman does not come by those three means, here—
अहत्वा तां वरारोहां त्वमानय ममान्तिकम् । करोमि पट्टमहिषीं तां मरालभ्रुवं मुदा
Without harming that beautiful woman, bring her to me. I will make her my chief queen, that one with brows like a swan's.
प्रीतियुक्ता समायाति यदि सा मृगलोचना । रसभङ्गो यथा न स्यात्तथा कुरु ममेप्सितम्
If that doe-eyed woman comes willingly, do as I wish so that there is no loss of pleasure.
श्रवणान्मोहितोऽस्म्यद्य तस्या रूपस्य सम्पदा । व्यास उवाच महिषस्य वचः श्रुत्वा पेशलं मन्त्रिसत्तमः
Today I am enchanted by hearing of her beauty and qualities. Vyasa said: Hearing Mahisha's pleasing words, the best of ministers—
जगाम तरसा कामं गजाश्वरथसंयुतः । गत्वा दूरतरं स्थित्वा तामुवाच मनस्विनीम्
Set out at once, accompanied by elephants, horses, and chariots. Going a little distance, he addressed that noble-minded woman.
विनयावनतः श्लक्ष्णं मन्त्री मधुरया गिरा । प्रधान उवाच कासि त्वं मधुरालापे किमत्रागमनं कृतम्
With humility and gentle words, the minister spoke sweetly: The chief minister said: Who are you, O sweet-voiced one? For what purpose have you come here?