कामिन्या मरणं क्लीबरतिदं शूरदुःखदम् । प्रार्थितं प्रभुणा तेन महिषेणात्मबुद्धिना
To desire death at the hands of a woman is an act fit for the weak, bringing sorrow to the brave; this was sought by the buffalo, thinking himself wise.
तस्मात्स्त्रीरूपमाधाय कार्यं कर्तुमुपागता । कथं बिभेमि त्वद्वाक्यैर्धर्मशास्त्रविरोधकैः
Therefore, assuming a woman's form, I have come to accomplish my task; why should I fear your words, which oppose the scriptures of righteousness?
विपरीतं यदा दैवं तृणं वज्रसमं भवेत् । विधिश्चेत्सुमुखः कामं कुलिशं तूलवत्तदा
When fate turns contrary, even a blade of grass becomes like a thunderbolt; but if destiny is favorable, then even a thunderbolt is as light as cotton.
किं सैन्यैरायुधैः किं वा प्रपञ्चैर्दुर्गसेवनैः । मरणं साम्प्रतं यस्य तस्य सैन्यैस्तु किं फलम्
What use are armies and weapons, or the defense of fortresses? For one whose death is now ordained, what benefit is there in armies?
यदायं देहसम्बन्धो जीवस्य कालयोगतः । तदैव लिखितं सर्वं सुखं दुःखं तथा मृतिः
When, by the conjunction of time, the soul is joined to the body, then all happiness, sorrow, and death are already written.
यस्य येन प्रकारेण मरणं दैवनिर्मितम् । तस्य तेनैव जायेत नान्यथेति विनिश्चयः
For anyone, the manner of death is determined by fate; it will occur in that very way, and not otherwise—this is certain.
ब्रह्मादीनां यथा काले नाशोत्पत्ती विनिर्मिते । तथैव भवतः कामं किमन्येषां विचार्यते
Just as the creation and destruction of Brahma and others are fixed in time, so too is yours; why consider the fate of others?
ये मृत्युधर्मिणस्तेषां वरदानेन दर्पिताः । मरिष्यामो न मन्यन्ते ते मूढा मन्दचेतसः
Those who are mortal, yet made arrogant by boons, foolishly think, 'We will not die'; their minds are dull.
तस्माद् गच्छ नृपं ब्रूहि वचनं मम सत्वरम् । यदाज्ञापयते भूपस्तत्कर्तव्यं त्वया किल
Therefore, go quickly and tell the king my words: whatever the king commands, you must do.
मघवा स्वर्गमाप्नोतु देवाः सन्तु हविर्भुजः । यूयं प्रयात पातालं यदि जीवितुमिच्छथ
Let Indra attain heaven, let the gods partake of offerings; but you, if you wish to live, depart to the underworld.
अन्यथा चेन्मतिर्मन्द महिषस्य दुरात्मनः । तद्युध्यस्व मया सार्धं मरणाय कृतादरः
Otherwise, if the wicked buffalo's mind is set differently, then fight with me, prepared for death.
मन्यसे सङ्गरे भग्ना देवा विष्णुपुरोगमाः । दैवं हि कारणं तत्र वरदानं प्रजापतेः
You think the gods, led by Vishnu, were defeated in battle; but the cause there was fate—the boon given by the Lord of Creatures.
व्यास उवाच इति देव्या वचः श्रुत्वा चिन्तयामास दानवः । किं कर्तव्यं मया युद्धं गन्तव्यं वा नृपं प्रति
Vyasa said: Hearing these words of the Goddess, the demon pondered: What should I do—fight, or go to the king?
विवाहार्थमिहाज्ञप्तो राज्ञा कामातुरेण वै । तत्कथं विरसं कृत्वा गच्छेयं नृपसन्निधौ
I was commanded to come here for marriage by the king, who is overcome by desire; so how can I, having made it tasteless, go before the king?
इयं बुद्धिः समीचीना यद् व्रजामि कलिं विना । यथागतं तथा शीघ्रं राज्ञे संवेदयाम्यहम्
This decision is proper, that I go without delay; as soon as I arrive, I will promptly inform the king.
स प्रमाणं पुनः कार्ये राजा मतिमतां वरः । करिष्यति विचार्यैव सचिवैर्निपुणैः सह
He, the foremost among the wise, will again consider the matter, and, after deliberation with skilled ministers, will act accordingly.
सहसा न मया युद्धं कर्तव्यमनया सह । जये पराजये वापि भूपतेरप्रियं भवेत्
I must not hastily engage in battle with her; whether victory or defeat, it would displease the king.
यदि मां सुन्दरी हन्यादहं वा हन्मि तां पुनः । येन केनाप्युपायेन स कुप्येत्पार्थिवः किल
If the beautiful woman kills me, or I kill her by some means, the king would surely become angry.
तस्मात्तत्रैव गत्वाहं बोधयिष्यामि तं नृपम् । यथाद्याभिहितं देव्या यथारुचि करोतु सः
Therefore, I will go there and inform the king; as the goddess has instructed, let him act as he wishes.
व्यास उवाच इति सञ्चिन्त्य मेधावी जगाम नृपसन्निधौ । प्रणम्य तमुवाचेदं कृताञ्जलिरमात्यकः
Vyasa said: Having thus considered, the wise one went to the king's presence, bowed, and spoke these words with joined palms.
मन्त्र्युवाच राजन् देवी वरारोहा सिंहस्योपरि संस्थिता । अष्टादशभुजा रम्या वरायुधधरा परा
The minister said: O king, the goddess of exquisite form stands upon a lion; she is beautiful with eighteen arms, holding divine weapons, supreme.
सा मयोक्ता महाराज महिषं भज भामिनि । महिषी भव राज्ञस्त्वं त्रैलोक्याधिपतेः प्रिया
I said to her, 'O great king, O beautiful one, accept Mahisha; become the queen of the king, beloved of the lord of the three worlds.'
पट्टराज्ञी त्वमेवास्य भविता नात्र संशयः । स तवाज्ञाकरो जातो वशवर्ती भविष्यति
You alone will become his chief queen, there is no doubt; he will become obedient to you, acting under your command.
त्रैलोक्यविभवं भुक्त्वा चिरकालं वरानने । महिषं पतिमासाद्य योषितां सुभगा भव
Enjoying the wealth of the three worlds for a long time, O lovely-faced one, having Mahisha as your husband, be fortunate among women.
इति मद्वचनं श्रुत्वा सा स्मयावेशमोहिता । मामुवाच विशालाक्षी स्मितपूर्वमिदं वचः
Hearing my words, she, with wide eyes, overcome by smiling and enchantment, spoke to me these words preceded by a smile.
महिषीगर्भसम्भूतं पशूनामधमं किल । बलिं दास्याम्यहं देव्यै सुराणां हितकाम्यया
Born from the womb of a queen, the lowest among beasts, I will offer him as a sacrifice to the goddess, desiring the welfare of the gods.
का मूढा कामिनी लोके महिषं वै पतिं भजेत् । मादृशी मन्दबुद्धे किं पशुभावं भजेदिह
What foolish woman in the world would take Mahisha as her husband? Why should one as dull-minded as I embrace a beastly nature here?
महिषी महिषं नाथं सशृङ्गा शृङ्गसंयुतम् । कुरुते क्रन्दमाना वै नाहं तत्सदृशी शठा
The queen makes Mahisha, her lord, adorned with horns, cry out; I am not like that deceitful one.
करिष्येऽहं मृधे युद्धं हनिष्ये त्वां सुराप्रियम् । गच्छ वा दुष्ट पातालं जीवितेच्छा यदस्ति ते
I will fight in battle and slay you, enemy of the gods; or go, wicked one, to the netherworld, if you wish to live.
परुषं तु तया वाक्यमित्युक्तं नृप मत्तया । तच्छ्रुत्वाहं समायातः प्रविचिन्त्य पुनः पुनः
Harsh words were spoken by her, intoxicated, to the king; hearing this, I returned, reflecting again and again.