तद्वै विचारतो ज्ञेयं रसग्रन्थविचक्षणैः । इति ज्ञात्वा महाराज कर्तव्यं रससंयुतम्
This should be understood through careful analysis by those skilled in the treatises of sentiment; knowing this, O great king, one should act with proper sentiment.
सामदानद्वयं तस्या नान्योपायोऽस्ति भूपते । रुष्टा वा गर्विता वापि वशगा मानिनी भवेत्
For her, only conciliation and gifts are effective, O king; whether angry or proud, the proud woman becomes submissive.
तादृशैर्मधुरैर्वाक्यैरानयिष्ये तवान्तिकम् । किं बहूक्तेन मे राजन् कर्तव्या वशवर्तिनी
With such sweet words, I will bring her to you; what need is there for many words, O king? She must be made obedient.
गत्वा मयाधुनैवेयं किङ्करीव सदैव ते । व्यास उवाव इत्थं निशम्य तद्वाक्यं ताम्रस्तत्त्वविचक्षणः
Having gone, I will now make her always your servant; Vyasa said: Thus, hearing those words, Tamra, skilled in truth,
उवाच वचनं राजन्निशामय मयोदितम् । हेतुमद्धर्मसहितं रसयुक्तं नयान्वितम्
Spoke these words, O king, listen to what I say; it is full of reasoning, accompanied by dharma, infused with sentiment, and guided by policy.
नैषा कामातुरा बाला नानुरक्ता विचक्षणा । व्यंग्यानि नैव वाक्यानि तयोक्तानि तु मानद
She is not a passionate girl, nor is she attached, O wise one; the suggestive words she spoke are not those of a proud woman.
चित्रमत्र महाबाहो यदेका वरवर्णिनी । निरालम्बा समायाति चित्ररूपा मनोहरा
It is remarkable here, O mighty-armed one, that a single woman of excellent complexion, unsupported, comes in a wondrous and enchanting form.
अष्टादशभुजा नारी न श्रुता न च वीक्षिता । केनापि त्रिषु लोकेषु पराक्रमवती शुभा
A woman with eighteen arms has neither been heard of nor seen by anyone in the three worlds, O auspicious one, possessing great prowess.
आयुधान्यपि तावन्ति धृतानि बलवन्ति च । विपरीतमिदं मन्ये सर्वं कालकृतं नृप
Even though so many weapons have been wielded, and they are powerful, O King, I think all this is reversed; everything is caused by Time.
स्वप्नानि दुर्निमित्तानि मया दृष्टानि वै निशि । तेन जानाम्यहं नूनं वैशसं समुपागतम्
I have seen dreams and evil omens at night; by this I surely know that calamity has come.
कृष्णाम्बरधरा नारी रुदती च गृहाङ्गणे । दृष्टा स्वप्नेऽप्युषःकाले चिन्तितव्यस्तदत्ययः
In a dream at dawn, I saw a woman dressed in black, weeping in the courtyard; this misfortune must be considered.
विकृताः पक्षिणो रात्रौ रोरुवन्ति गृहे गृहे । उत्पाता विविधा राजन् प्रभवन्ति गृहे गृहे
At night, strange birds cry out in every house, and various portents, O King, arise in every home.
तेन जानाम्यहं नूनं कारणं किञ्चिदेव हि । यत्त्वां प्रार्थयते बाला युद्धाय कृतनिश्चया
Therefore I surely know there is some cause, namely that the young woman, resolved on battle, seeks you.
नैषास्ति मानुषी नो वा गान्धर्वी न तथासुरी । देवैः कृतेयं ज्ञातव्या माया मोहकरी विभो
She is not human, nor Gandharvi, nor Asuri; know that this is a delusion created by the gods, O Lord, causing bewilderment.
कातरत्वं न कर्तव्यं ममैतन्मतमित्यलम् । कर्तव्यं सर्वथा युद्धं यद्भाव्यं तद्भविष्यति
There should be no fearfulness; this is my opinion. In every way, battle must be undertaken; whatever is destined will happen.
को वेद दैवकर्तव्यं शुभं वाप्यशुभं तथा । अवलम्ब्य धिया धैर्यं स्थातव्यं वै विचक्षणैः
Who knows what the gods have ordained, whether auspicious or inauspicious? The wise must stand firm, relying on intelligence and courage.
जीवितं मरणं पुंसां दैवाधीनं नराधिप । कोऽपि नैवान्यथा कर्तुं समर्थो भुवनत्रये
Life and death for men, O King, are subject to fate; in the three worlds, no one is able to change this.
महिष उवाच गच्छ ताम्र महाभाग युद्धाय कृतनिश्चयः । तामानय वरारोहां जित्वा धर्मेण मानिनीम्
Mahiṣa said: Go, Tāmra, most fortunate one, resolved on battle; bring that noble lady here, having conquered her honorably.
न भवेद्वशगा नारी संग्रामे यदि सा तव । हन्तव्या नान्यथा कामं माननीया प्रयत्नतः
If that woman does not come under your control in battle, she must be slain; otherwise, honor her with all effort.
वीरस्त्वमसि सर्वज्ञ कामशास्त्रविशारदः । येन केनाप्युपायेन जेतव्या वरवर्णिनी
You are a hero, all-knowing, skilled in the science of desire; by any means, the beautiful one must be conquered.
त्वरन्वीर महाबाहो सैन्येन महता वृतः । तत्र गत्वा त्वया ज्ञेया विचार्य च पुनः पुनः
Hasten, O mighty-armed hero, accompanied by a great army; having gone there, you must carefully consider again and again.
किमर्थमागता चेयं ज्ञातव्यं तद्धि कारणम् । कामाद्वा वैरभावाच्च माया कस्येयमित्युत
You must ascertain why she has come, and what is the reason; whether it is out of desire, enmity, or whose magic this is.
आदौ तन्निश्चयं कृत्वा ज्ञातव्यं तच्चिकीर्षितम् । पश्चाद्युद्धं प्रकर्तव्यं यथायोग्यं यथाबलम्
First, determine that intention and learn what she seeks to do; afterwards, wage battle as appropriate and according to your strength.
कातरत्वं न कर्तव्यं निर्दयत्वं तथा न च । यादृशं हि मनस्तस्याः कर्तव्यं तादृशं त्वया
There should be no fearfulness, nor any cruelty; you must act toward her according to her disposition.
व्यास उवाच इति तद्भाषितं श्रुत्वा ताम्रः कालवशं गतः । निर्गतः सैन्यसंयुक्तः प्रणम्य महिषं नृपम्
Vyāsa said: Hearing these words, Tāmra, subject to fate, departed with his army, having bowed to King Mahiṣa.
गच्छन्मार्गे दुरात्मासौ शकुनान्वीक्ष्य दारुणान् । विस्मयञ्च भयं प्राप यममार्गप्रदर्शकान्
On the way, that wicked one saw terrible birds, and experienced wonder and fear, for they showed the path to death.
सगत्वा तां समालोक्य देवीं सिंहोपरिस्थिताम् । स्तूयमानां सुरैः सर्वैः सर्वायुधविभूषिताम्
Approaching her, he beheld the Goddess seated upon a lion, praised by all the gods, adorned with every weapon.
तामुवाच विनीतः सन् वाक्यं मधुरया गिरा । सामभावं समाश्रित्य विनयावनतः स्थितः
With humility, he addressed her with gentle words, standing respectfully, adopting a conciliatory tone.
देवि दैत्येश्वरः शृङ्गी त्वद्रूपगुणमोहितः । स्पृहां करोति महिषस्त्वत्पाणिग्रहणाय च
O Goddess, the lord of the Daityas, Śṛṅgī, is enchanted by your form and virtues; Mahisha desires to take your hand in marriage.
भावं कुरु विशालाक्षि तस्मिन्नमरदुर्जये । पतिं तं प्राप्य मृद्वङ्गि नन्दने विहराद्भुते
O wide-eyed one, show favor to him, unconquerable even by the gods; having him as your husband, enjoy wondrous pleasures in Nandana.