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?
राजोवाच स्वस्वमत्यनुसारेण ब्रुवन्त्वद्य पृथक्पृथक् । येषां हि यादृशो भावस्तच्छ्रुत्वा चिन्तयाम्यहम्
The king said: Today, each of you speak separately according to your own understanding; hearing the nature of each one's thought, I will reflect.
बहूनां मतमाज्ञाय विचार्य च पुनः पुनः । यच्छ्रेयस्तद्धि कर्तव्यं कार्यं कार्यविचक्षणैः
Having learned the opinions of many and considered them again and again, that which is truly best should be done by those skilled in action.
व्यास उवाच तस्यैवं वचनं श्रुत्वा विरूपाक्षो महाबलः । उवाच तरसा वाक्यं रञ्जयन्पृथिवीपतिम्
Vyāsa said: Hearing these words, Virūpākṣa, mighty in strength, quickly spoke words to please the king.
विरूपाक्ष उवाच राजन्नारी वराकीयं सा ब्रूते मदगर्विता । विभीषिकामात्रमिदं ज्ञातव्यं वचनं त्वया
Virūpākṣa said: O king, that woman, wretched and proud with arrogance, speaks only words of intimidation; you should know this.
को बिभेति स्त्रियो वाक्यैर्दुरुक्तै रणदुर्मदैः । अनृतं साहसं चेति जानन्नारीविचेष्टितम्
Who is afraid of a woman's words, harsh or wild in battle? Knowing the ways of women—falsehood and recklessness—who would fear?
जित्वा त्रिभुवनं राजन्नद्य कान्ताभयेन वै । दीनत्वेऽप्ययशो नूनं वीरस्य भुवने भवेत्
O king, having conquered the three worlds, if today you are cowed by a woman's threat, then even in distress, dishonor surely comes to a hero in this world.
तस्माद्याम्यहमेकाकी युद्धाय चण्डिकां प्रति । हनिष्ये तां महाराज निर्भयो भव साम्प्रतम्
Therefore, I will go alone to fight Caṇḍikā; I will slay her, O great king—be fearless now.
सेनावृतोऽहं गत्वा तां शस्त्रास्त्रैर्विविधैः किल । निषूदयामि दुर्मर्षां चण्डिकां चण्डविक्रमाम्
Surrounded by my army, I will go and strike down that fierce and unendurable Caṇḍikā with various weapons and missiles.
बद्ध्वा सर्पमयैः पाशैरानयिष्ये तवान्तिकम् । वशगा तु सदा ते स्यात्पश्य राजन् बलं मम
Binding her with serpent-formed bonds, I will bring her before you; she will always be under your control—see, O king, my power.
व्यास उवाच विरूपाक्षवचः श्रुत्वा दुर्धरो वाक्यमब्रवीत् । सत्यमुक्तं वचो राजन् विरूपाक्षेण धीमता
Vyāsa said: Hearing the words of Virūpākṣa, Durdhara spoke: Truly, O king, Virūpākṣa has spoken rightly.