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.
कार्यभेदकरा नित्यं कोशगुप्तासिवत्सदा । संग्रामेऽथ समुत्पन्ने भीषयन्ति प्रभुं सदा
Constantly causing division in affairs, always hiding the treasury like a sword, when battle arises, they always frighten the master.
विश्वासस्तु न कर्तव्यस्तेषां राजन् कदाचन । विश्वासे कार्यहानिः स्यान्मन्त्रहानिः सदैव हि
O King, trust should never be placed in them; for trust in them always leads to loss of work and the leaking of secrets.
खलाः किं किं न कुर्वन्ति विश्वस्ता लोभतत्पराः । तामसाः पापनिरता बुद्धिहीनाः शठास्तथा
What will not the wicked do when trusted, being intent on greed? Tamasic, devoted to evil, devoid of intelligence, and deceitful as well.
तस्मात्कार्यं करिष्यामि गत्वाहं रणमस्तके । चिन्ता त्वया न कर्तव्या सर्वथा नृपसत्तम
Therefore, I will accomplish the task myself, going to the forefront of battle; you, best of kings, should not worry in any way.
गृहीत्वा तां दुराचारामागमिष्यामि सत्वरः । पश्य मेऽद्य बलं धैर्यं प्रभुकार्यं स्वशक्तितः
I will quickly return, having seized that wicked one; today, witness my strength, courage, and devotion to the master's cause.
महिषसेनाधिपबाष्कलदुर्मुखनिपातनवर्णनम् व्यास उवाच इत्युक्त्वा तौ महाबाहू दैत्यौ बाष्कलदुर्मुखौ । जग्मतुर्मददिग्धाङ्गौ सर्वशस्त्रास्त्रकोविदौ
Vyasa said: Having spoken thus, those two mighty-armed Daityas, Bashkala and Durmukha, intoxicated with pride and skilled in all weapons and missiles, set out.
तौ गत्वा समरे देवीमूचतुर्वचनं तदा । दानवौ च मदोन्मत्तौ मेघगम्भीरया गिरा
They went to the battlefield and addressed the Goddess with deep, thunderous voices, those two Danavas, maddened with arrogance.
देवि देवा जिता येन महिषेण महात्मना । वरय त्वं वरारोहे सर्वदैत्याधिपं नृपम्
O Goddess, Mahisha, the great-souled one, has conquered the gods; choose him, O beautiful one, as your husband, the lord of all Daityas.
स कृत्वा मानुषं रूपं सर्वलक्षणसंयुतम् । भूषितं भूषणैर्दिव्यैस्त्वामेष्यति रहः किल
He will assume a human form, endowed with all auspicious marks, adorned with divine ornaments, and will approach you in private.
त्रैलोक्यविभवं कामं त्वमेष्यसि शुचिस्मिते । महिषे परमं भावं कुरु कान्ते मनोगतम्
With Mahisha, you will attain all the wealth of the three worlds, O bright-smiling one; bestow your highest affection upon him, O lovely one, as your heart desires.