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.
रसभङ्गं विचिन्त्यैव न युद्धं तु मया कृतम् । आज्ञां विना तवात्यन्तं कथं कुर्यां वृथोद्यमम्
Considering the disruption, I did not fight; without your command, how could I undertake such a futile effort?
सातीव च बलोन्मत्ता वर्तते भूप भामिनी । भवितव्यं न जानामि किं वा भावि भविष्यति
She is exceedingly intoxicated with power, O king, O beautiful one; I do not know what must happen, or what will come to pass.
कार्येऽस्मिंस्त्वं प्रमाणं नो मन्त्रोऽतीव दुरासदः । युद्धं पलायनं श्रेयो न जानेऽहं विनिश्चयम्
In this matter, you are the authority, not the counsel; the mantra is exceedingly difficult to approach. Battle or retreat—of these, I do not know the right decision.
ताम्रकृतं देवीं प्रति विस्रंसनवचनवर्णनम् व्यास उवाच इति तस्य वचः श्रुत्वा महिषो मदविह्वलः । मन्त्रिवृद्धान् समाहूय राजा वचनमब्रवीत्
Description of the words spoken by Tāmrakṛta to the goddess, conveying the message of release.
राजोवाच मन्त्रिणः किं च कर्तव्यं विश्रब्धं ब्रूत मा चिरम् । आगता देवविहिता मायेयं शाम्बरीव किम्
The king said: O ministers, what should be done? Speak confidently and without delay. This illusory power, ordained by the gods, has come—what is she, like Māyā of Śambara?
कार्येऽस्मिन्निपुणा यूयमुपायेषु विचक्षणाः । सामादिषु च कर्तव्यः कोऽत्र मह्यं ब्रुवन्तु च
In this matter, you are skilled and discerning in strategies. Among conciliation and other means, what should be done here? Tell me.
मन्त्रिण ऊचुः सत्यं सदैव वक्तव्यं प्रियञ्च नृपसत्तम । कार्यं हितकरं नूनं विचार्य विबुधैः किल
The ministers said: Truth must always be spoken, O best of kings, and what is pleasing as well. The action that is truly beneficial should be carefully considered by the wise.
सत्यं च हितकृद्राजन्प्रियं चाहितकृद्भवेत् । यथौषधं नृणां लोके ह्यप्रियं रोगनाशनम्
Truth brings benefit, O king, but what is merely pleasing may bring harm; just as in the world, medicine that is unpleasant destroys disease.
सत्यस्य श्रोता मन्ता च दुर्लभः पृथिवीपते । वक्तापि दुर्लभः कामं बहवश्चाटुभाषकाः
A listener to truth, or a counselor who speaks it, is rare, O lord of the earth; and one who speaks it is rare indeed, though many speak flattering words.
कथं ब्रूमोऽत्र नृपते विचारे गहने त्विह । शुभं वाप्यशुभं वापि को वेत्ति भुवनत्रये
How can we speak here, O king, when the matter is so deep? Who knows, in all three worlds, what is auspicious or inauspicious?