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?
पृच्छति त्वां महाभागे मन्मुखेन मम प्रभुः । स जेता सर्वदेवानामवध्यस्तु नरैः किल
My lord, through my mouth, questions you, O greatly fortunate one. He will conquer all the gods and is indeed invincible by men.
ब्रह्मणो वरदानेन गर्वितश्चारुलोचने । दैत्येश्वरोऽसौ बलवान्कामरूपधरः सदा
By the boon granted by Brahma, he has become proud, O beautiful-eyed one. That lord of the demons is powerful and always assumes any form he desires.
श्रुत्वा त्वां समुपायातां चारुवेषां मनोहराम् । द्रष्टुमिच्छति राजा मे महिषो नाम पार्थिवः
Hearing that you have arrived, charming in appearance and captivating, my king named Mahisha wishes to see you.
मानुषं रूपमादाय त्वत्समीपं समेष्यति । यथा रुच्येत चार्वङ्गि तथा मन्यामहे वयम्
Taking on a human form, he will come near you. O lovely-limbed one, we will act as you find pleasing.
तर्ह्येहि मृगशावाक्षि समीपं तस्य धीमतः । नो चेदिहानयाम्येनं राजानं भक्तितत्परम्
Therefore, come, O doe-eyed one, near that wise king. Otherwise, I will bring him here, for he is devoted to worship.
तथा करोमि देवेशि यथा ते मनसेप्सितम् । वशगोऽसौ तवात्यर्थं रूपसंश्रवणात्तव
I will do exactly as you desire, O queen of the gods. He is utterly under your control, drawn by hearing of your beauty.
करभोरु वदाशु त्वं संविधेयं मया तथा
O one with hands like lotus stalks, speak quickly; I will arrange everything accordingly.
मन्त्रीद्वारा महिषासुरेण देव्या सह विवाहप्रस्तावः व्यास उवाच इति तस्य वचः श्रुत्वा प्रहस्य प्रमदोत्तमा । तमुवाच महाराज मेघगम्भीरया गिरा
Through his minister, Mahishasura proposed marriage to the goddess. Vyasa said: Hearing his words, the foremost among women laughed and spoke to him, O king, with a voice deep as thunderclouds.
देव्युवाच मन्त्रिवर्य सुराणां वै जननीं विद्धि मां किल । महालक्ष्मीमिति ख्यातां सर्वदैत्यनिषूदिनीम्
The goddess said: O best of ministers, know me as the mother of the gods, renowned as Mahalakshmi, the destroyer of all demons.
प्रार्थिताहं सुरैः सर्वैर्महिषस्य वधाय च । पीडितैर्दानवेन्द्रेण यज्ञभागबहिष्कृतैः
I have been requested by all the gods to kill Mahisha, who has oppressed them and excluded them from their share of sacrifices.
तस्मादिहागतास्म्यद्य तद्वधार्थं कृतोद्यमा । एकाकिनी न सैन्येन संयुता मन्त्रिसत्तम
Therefore, I have come here today, determined to slay him. I am alone, not accompanied by an army, O best of ministers.
यत्त्वयाहं सामपूर्वं कृत्वा स्वागतमादरात् । उक्ता मधुरया वाचा तेन तुष्टास्मि तेऽनघ
Because you welcomed me kindly, with gentle words and respect, I am pleased with you, O blameless one.
नोचेद्धन्मि दृशा त्वां वै कालाग्निसमया किल । कस्य प्रीतिकरं न स्यान्माधुर्यवचनं खलु
If I had not seen you at this time of destruction, whose heart would not be gladdened by sweet words?
गच्छ तं महिषं पापं वद मद्वचनादिदम् । गच्छ पातालमधुना जीवितेच्छा यदस्ति ते
Go to that sinful Mahisha and speak these words of mine: Go now to the netherworld, if you desire to live.
नोचेत्कृतागसं दुष्टं हनिष्यामि रणाङ्गणे । मद्बाणक्षुण्णदेहस्त्वं गन्तासि यमसादनम्
Otherwise, having committed wrong, O wicked one, I will slay you on the battlefield. Your body will be shattered by my arrows, and you will go to the abode of Yama.
दयालुत्वं ममेदं त्वं विदित्वा गच्छ सत्वरम् । हते त्वयि सुरा मूढ स्वर्गं प्राप्स्यन्ति सत्वरम्
Knowing this compassion of mine, depart quickly. If you are slain, O fool, the gods will swiftly attain heaven.
तस्माद् गच्छस्व त्यक्त्वैको मेदिनीञ्च ससागराम् । पातालं तरसा मन्द यावद् बाणा न मेऽपतन्
Therefore, depart, abandoning the earth and its oceans. Go quickly to the netherworld before my arrows fall.
युद्धेच्छा चेन्मनसि ते तर्ह्येहि त्वरितोऽसुर । वीरैर्महाबलैः सर्वैर्नयामि यमसादनम्
If you desire battle in your mind, then come swiftly, O demon. With all the mighty heroes, I will send you to the abode of Yama.
युगे युगे महामूढ हतास्त्वत्सदृशाः किल । असंख्यातास्तथा त्वां वै हनिष्यामि रणाङ्गणे
In every age, countless fools like you have been slain; in the same way, I will destroy you on the battlefield.
साफल्यं कुरु शस्त्राणां धारणे तु श्रमोऽन्यथा । तद्युध्यस्व मया सार्धं समरे स्मरपीडितः
Let the effort you spent bearing weapons bear fruit; otherwise, it is wasted. Therefore, fight with me in battle, tormented by desire.