व्यास उवाच इति राज्ञो वचः श्रुत्वा हेतुगर्भं महायशाः । बिडालाख्यो महाराजमित्युवाच कृताञ्जलिः
Vyasa said: Having heard the king's words, filled with reasoning, the renowned Bidala, with joined palms, spoke to the great king as follows:
राजन्नेषा विशालाक्षी ज्ञातव्या यत्नतः पुनः । किमर्थमिह सम्प्राप्ता कुतः कस्य परिग्रहः
O King, this wide-eyed woman should be carefully examined again—why has she come here, from where, and for whom is she acting?
मरणं ते परिज्ञाय स्त्रिया सर्वात्मना सुरैः । प्रेषिता पद्मपत्राक्षी समुत्पाद्य स्वतेजसा
Knowing your death was certain at the hands of a woman, the gods have sent this lotus-eyed one, manifesting her by their own power.
तेऽपि छन्नाः स्थिताः खेऽत्र सर्वे युद्धदिदृक्षवः । समयेऽस्याः सहायास्ते भविष्यन्ति युयुत्सवः
They too are concealed here in the sky, all eager to witness the battle; at the appointed time, they will become her allies, desiring to fight.
पुरतः कामिनीं कृत्वा ते वै विष्णुपुरोगमाः । वधिष्यन्ति च नः सर्वान्सा त्वां युद्धे हनिष्यति
Placing the woman at the front, they, with Vishnu at their head, will slay us all; and she will kill you in battle.
एतच्चिकीर्षितं तेषां मया ज्ञातं नराधिप । भवितव्यस्य न ज्ञानं वर्तते मम सर्वथा
O King, I have learned of their intention; but as for what must come to pass, I have no knowledge at all.
योद्धव्यं न त्वयाद्येति नाहं वक्तुं क्षमः प्रभो । प्रमाणं त्वं महाराज कार्येऽत्र देवनिर्मिते
I am not able to say, 'You must fight today,' O Lord; you are the authority here, O great king, in this matter established by the gods.
तदर्थेऽस्माभिरनिशं मर्तव्यं कार्यगौरवात् । विहर्तव्यं त्वया सार्धमेष धर्मोऽनुजीविनाम्
For this reason, we must always be ready to die, out of respect for the importance of the task; but you should act together with us—this is the duty of those who serve.
विचारोऽत्र महानस्ति यदेका कामिनी नृप । युद्धं प्रार्थयतेऽस्माभिः ससैन्यैर्बलदर्पितैः
There is great cause for reflection here, O King, that a single woman seeks battle against us, who are proud of our strength and armies.
दुर्मुख उवाच राजन् युद्धे जयो नोऽद्य भविता वेद्म्यहं किल । पलायनं न कर्तव्यं यशोहानिकरं नृणाम्
Durmukha said: O King, I know that today victory in battle will not be ours; but flight must not be undertaken, for it brings disgrace to men.
इन्द्रादीनां संयुगेऽपि न कृतं यज्जुगुप्सितम् । एकाकिनीं स्त्रियं प्राप्य को हि कुर्यात्पलायनम्
Even in battle with Indra and others, nothing disgraceful was done; who, upon encountering a solitary woman, would flee?
तस्माद्युद्धं प्रकर्तव्यं मरणं वा रणे जयः । यद्भावि तद्भवत्येव कात्र चिन्ता विपश्यतः
Therefore, battle must be undertaken—either death or victory in combat; whatever is destined will surely occur, so what is the use of worry for one who understands?
मरणेऽत्र यशःप्राप्तिर्जीवने च तथा सुखम् । उभयं मनसा कृत्वा कर्तव्यं युद्धमद्य वै
In death, there is attainment of fame; in life, likewise, there is happiness. Considering both in mind, battle must indeed be fought today.
पलायने यशोहानिर्मरणं चायुषः क्षये । तस्माच्छोको न कर्तव्यो जीविते मरणे वृथा
In fleeing, there is loss of reputation; in death, the end of life. Therefore, sorrow should not be made in vain, whether living or dying.
व्यास उवाच दुर्मुखस्य वचः श्रुत्वा बाष्कलो वाक्यमब्रवीत् । प्रणतः प्राञ्जलिर्भूत्वा राजानं वाक्यकोविदः
Vyasa said: Hearing Durmukha's words, Baskala spoke, bowing with joined palms, skilled in speech, to the king.
बाष्कल उवाच राजंश्चिन्ता न कर्तव्या कार्येऽस्मिन्कातरप्रिये । अहमेको हनिष्यामि चण्डीं चञ्चललोचनाम्
Baskala said: O king, do not be anxious or fearful about this task; I alone will slay Candika, whose eyes are restless.
उत्साहस्तु प्रकर्तव्यः स्थायीभावो रसस्य च । भयानको भवेद्वैरी वीरस्य नृपसत्तम
Enthusiasm must be cultivated, as well as steadfastness in spirit; the enemy is terrifying only to the coward, O best of kings, but not to the hero.
तस्मात्त्यक्त्वा भयं भूप करिष्ये युद्धमद्भुतम् । नयिष्यामि नरेन्द्राहं चण्डिकां यमसादनम्
Therefore, casting aside fear, O king, I will perform a wondrous battle; I will lead Candika to the abode of Yama.
न बिभेमि यमादिन्द्रात्कुबेराद्वरुणादपि । वायोर्वह्नेस्तथा विष्णोः शङ्कराच्छशिनो रवेः
I do not fear Yama, Indra, Kubera, or Varuna; nor Vayu, Agni, Vishnu, Shankara, the moon, or the sun.
एकाकिनी तथा नारी किं पुनर्मदगर्विता । अहं तां निहनिष्यामि विशिखैश्च शिलाशितैः
She is alone and a woman—what then, especially when she is proud because of me? I will slay her with arrows and sharp stones.
पश्य बाहुबलं मेऽद्य विहरस्व यथासुखम् । भवतात्र न गन्तव्यं संग्रामेऽप्यनया समम्
Behold my strength of arms today; enjoy yourself as you please. You should not go there, even in battle, together with her.
व्यास उवाच एवं ब्रुवति राजेन्द्रं बाष्कले मदगर्विते । प्रणम्य नृपतिं तत्र दुर्धरो वाक्यमब्रवीत्
Vyasa said: While Baskala, proud of himself, was speaking thus to the king, bowing to the ruler, Durdhara spoke there.
दुर्धर उवाच महिषाहं विजेष्यामि देवीं देवविनिर्मिताम् । अष्टादशभुजां रम्यां कारणाच्च समागताम्
Durdhara said: O Mahisha, I will conquer the goddess, created by the gods, beautiful with eighteen arms, who has come for a reason.
राजन् भीषयितुं त्वां वै मायैषा निर्मिता सुरैः । विभीषिकेयं विज्ञाय त्यज मोहं मनोगतम्
O king, this is a magical creation by the gods to frighten you; recognizing this terror, abandon the delusion in your mind.
राजनीतिरियं राजन् मन्त्रिकृत्यं तथा शृणु । सात्त्विका राजसाः केचित्तामसाश्च तथापरे
This is the royal policy, O king; listen also to the duties of ministers. Some are sattvic, some rajasic, and others tamasic.
मन्त्रिणस्त्रिविधा लोके भवन्ति दानवाधिप । सात्त्विकाः प्रभुकार्याणि साधयन्ति स्वशक्तिभिः
Ministers are of three kinds in the world, O lord of the demons: the sattvic accomplish the tasks of their master by their own strength.
आत्मकृत्यं प्रकुर्वन्ति स्वामिकार्याविरोधतः । एकचित्ता धर्मपरा मन्त्रशास्त्रविशारदाः
They perform their own duties without opposing their master's tasks; single-minded, devoted to righteousness, and skilled in the science of counsel.
राजसा भिन्नचित्ताश्च स्वकार्यनिरताः सदा । कदाचित्स्वामिकार्यं ते प्रकुर्वन्ति यदृच्छया
The rajasic are divided in mind and always intent on their own tasks; sometimes they perform their master's work, as it happens.
तामसा लोभनिरताः स्वकार्यनिरताः सदा । प्रभुकार्यं विनाश्यैव स्वकार्यं साधयन्ति ते
Those of tamasic nature, always intent on greed and their own interests, destroy the master's work and accomplish only their own.
समये ते विभिद्यन्ते परैस्तु परिवञ्चिताः । स्वच्छिद्रं शत्रुपक्षीयान्निर्दिशन्ति गृहस्थिताः
At the right moment, they are divided and deceived by others; remaining at home, they reveal their own weaknesses to the enemy's side.