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.
सर्वाङ्गसुन्दरं देहं प्राप्य सर्वसुखास्पदम् । सुखं सर्वात्मना ग्राह्यं दुःखं हेयमिति स्थितिः
Having obtained a body beautiful in every limb, the source of all delight, one should wholly embrace happiness and reject suffering—such is the way.
करभोरु किमर्थं ते गृहीतान्यायुधान्यलम् । पुष्पकन्दुकयोग्यास्ते कराः कमलकोमलाः
O slender-thighed one, why do you hold these weapons? Your lotus-soft hands are fit for playing with flowers and balls, not for arms.
भ्रूचापे विद्यमानेऽपि धनुषा किं प्रयोजनम् । कटाक्षा विशिखाः सन्ति किं बाणैर्निष्प्रयोजनैः
When you possess the bow of your eyebrows, what need is there for an actual bow? Your sidelong glances are arrows—what use are real arrows, which serve no purpose?
संसारे दुःखदं युद्धं न कर्तव्यं विजानता । लोभासक्ताः प्रकुर्वन्ति संग्रामञ्च परस्परम्
One who knows should not engage in battle, which brings suffering in this world; only those attached to greed wage war with one another.
पुष्पैरपि न योद्धव्यं किं पुनर्निशितैः शरैः । भेदनं निजगात्राणां कस्य तज्जायते मुदे
One should not fight even with flowers, let alone with sharp arrows; who finds joy in wounding their own body?
तस्मात्त्वमपि तन्वङ्गि प्रसादं कर्तुमर्हसि । भर्तारं भज मे नाथं देवदानवपूजितम्
Therefore, O slender-limbed one, you too should show favor; accept as your husband my lord, who is worshipped by gods and demons alike.
स तेऽत्र वाञ्छितं सर्वं करिष्यति मनोरथम् । त्वं पट्टमहिषी राज्ञः सर्वथा नात्र संशयः
He will fulfill here all your desires and wishes; you will become the chief queen of the king—of this there is no doubt.
वचनं कुरु मे देवि प्राप्स्यसे सुखमुत्तमम् । संग्रामे जयसन्देहः कष्टं प्राप्य न संशयः
O Goddess, do as I say and you will attain the highest happiness; after enduring the hardship of battle, there is no doubt of victory.
जानासि राजनीतिं त्वं यथावद्वरवर्णिनि । भुंक्ष्व राज्यसुखं पूर्णं वर्षाणामयुतायुतम्
You know the science of kingship well, O best of women; enjoy the full pleasures of royalty for tens of thousands of years.
पुत्रस्ते भविता कान्तः सोऽपि राजा भविष्यति । यौवने क्रीडयित्वान्ते वार्धक्ये सुखमाप्स्यसि
Your son will be beloved and will also become king; after enjoying youth, in old age you will attain happiness.