भगवत्यपि बाणौघान्मुमोच दानवौ प्रति । कृत्वातिमधुरं नादं देवकार्यार्थसिद्धये
The Goddess too released torrents of arrows at the demons, making a supremely sweet sound for the accomplishment of the gods' purpose.
तयोस्तु बाष्कलस्तूर्णं सम्मुखोऽभूद् रणाङ्गणे । दुर्मुखः प्रेक्षकस्तत्र देवीमभिमुखः स्थितः
Of the two, Bashkala swiftly confronted the Goddess on the battlefield, while Durmukha stood facing her as an onlooker.
तयोर्युद्धमभूद् घोरं देवीबाष्कलयोस्तदा । बाणासिपरिघाघातैर्भयदं मन्दचेतसाम्
A terrible battle then took place between the Goddess and Bashkala, frightening to the faint-hearted, with blows of arrows, swords, and clubs.
ततः क्रुद्धा जगन्माता दृष्ट्वा तं युद्धदुर्मदम् । जघान पञ्चभिर्बाणैः कर्णाकृष्टैः शिलाशितैः
Then, seeing that demon intoxicated by battle, the enraged Mother of the Universe struck him with five arrows, drawn to her ear and sharp as stones.
दानवोऽपि शरान्देव्याश्चिच्छेद निशितैः शरैः । सप्तभिस्ताडयामास देवीं सिंहोपरिस्थिताम्
The demon too cut down the Goddess's arrows with his own sharp shafts and struck the Goddess, who was mounted on the lion, with seven arrows.
सापि तं दशभिस्तीक्ष्णैः सुपीतैः सायकैः खलम् । जघान तच्छरांश्छित्त्वा जहास च मुहुर्मुहुः
She, in turn, struck that wicked one with ten sharp, golden-feathered arrows, cutting down his shafts and laughing again and again.
अर्धचन्द्रेण बाणेन चिच्छेद च शरासनम् । बाष्कलोऽपि गदां गृह्य देवीं हन्तुमुपाययौ
With a crescent-shaped arrow she cut his bow, and Bashkala, seizing a mace, advanced to slay the Goddess.
आगच्छन्तं गदापाणिं दानवं मदगर्वितम् । चण्डिका स्वगदापातैः पातयामास भूतले
As the demon, proud and intoxicated, approached with mace in hand, Chandika felled him to the ground with blows from her own mace.
बाष्कलः पतितो भूमौ मुहूर्तादुत्थितः पुनः । चिक्षेप च गदां सोऽपि चण्डिकां चण्डविक्रमः
Bashkala, having fallen to the ground, rose again after a moment and, fierce in valor, hurled his mace at Chandika.
तमागच्छन्तमालोक्य देवी शूलेन वक्षसि । जघान बाष्कलं क्रुद्धा पपात च ममार सः
Seeing him advancing, the enraged Goddess struck Bashkala in the chest with her spear; he fell and died.
पतिते बाष्कले सैन्यं भग्नं तस्य दुरात्मनः । जयेति च मुदा देवाश्चुक्रुशुर्गगने स्थिताः
When Bashkala fell, his evil army was broken, and the gods, standing in the sky, joyfully cried out, 'Victory!'
तस्मिंश्च निहते दैत्ये दुर्मुखोऽतिबलान्वितः । आजगाम रणे देवीं क्रोधसंरक्तलोचनः
With that demon slain, Durmukha, endowed with great strength, came to battle the Goddess, his eyes reddened with rage.
तिष्ठ तिष्ठाबले सोऽपि भाषमाणः पुनः पुनः । धनुर्बाणधरः श्रीमान्रथस्थः कवचावृतः
He too, armed with bow and arrows, resplendent, standing on his chariot and clad in armor, repeatedly shouted, 'Stand, stand, O powerful one!'
तमागच्छन्तमालोक्य देवी शङ्खमवादयत् । कोपयन्ती दानवं तं ज्याघोषञ्च चकार ह
Seeing him approach, the Goddess sounded her conch, provoking that demon, and made the twang of her bowstring resound.
सोऽपि बाणान्मुमोचाशु तीक्ष्णानाशीविषोपमान् । स्वबाणैस्तान्महामाया चिच्छेद च ननाद च
He too swiftly released arrows, sharp and venomous as deadly serpents; with his own arrows, Mahāmāyā cut them down and roared.
तयोः परस्परं युद्धं बभूव तुमुलं नृप । बाणशक्तिगदाघातैर्मुसलैस्तोमरैस्तथा
Between the two, a fierce battle arose, O King, with blows from arrows, spears, maces, clubs, and javelins.
रणभूमौ तदा जाता रुधिरौघवहा नदी । पतितानि तदा तीरे शिरांसि प्रबभुस्तदा
On the battlefield then, a river carrying streams of blood was formed; severed heads appeared along its banks.
यथा सन्तरणार्थाय यमकिङ्करनायकैः । तुम्बीफलानि नीतानि नवशिक्षापरैर्मुदा
Just as, for crossing over, the leaders of Yama’s attendants joyfully bring bottle-gourds for new trainees—
रणभूमिस्तदा घोरा बभूवातीव दुर्गमा । शरीरैः पतितैर्भूमौ खाद्यमानैर्वृकादिभिः
The battlefield then became dreadful and extremely impassable, with bodies fallen upon the ground, being devoured by wolves and others.
गोमायुसारमेयाश्च काकाः कङ्का अयोमुखाः । गृध्रा श्येनाश्च खादन्ति शरीराणि दुरात्मनाम्
Jackals, dogs, crows, vultures, iron-beaked birds, vultures, and hawks devoured the bodies of the wicked.
ववौ वायुश्च दुर्गन्धो मृतानां देहसङ्गतः । अभूत्किलकिलाशब्दः खगानां पलभक्षिणाम्
A foul wind blew, carrying the stench of the corpses; there arose a rattling sound from the birds feeding on flesh.
तदा चुकोप दुष्टात्मा दुर्मुखः कालमोहितः । देवीमुवाच गर्वेण कृत्वा चोर्ध्वकरं शुभम्
Then the evil-minded Durmukha, deluded by Time, became enraged; with pride, he raised his auspicious hand and spoke to the Goddess.
गच्छ चण्डि हनिष्यामि त्वामद्यैव सुबालिशे । दैत्यं वा भज वामोरु महिषं मदगर्वितम्
Go, Caṇḍī! I will slay you today, foolish woman; or else, seek refuge with the demon or with Mahisha, proud of his strength.
देव्युवाच आसन्नमरणः कामं प्रलपस्यद्य मोहितः । अद्यैव त्वां हनिष्यामि यथायं बाष्कलो हतः
The Goddess said: You, whose death is near, speak deliriously today, deluded; I will slay you this very day, just as Bāṣkala was slain.
गच्छ वा तिष्ठ वा मन्द मरणं यदि रोचते । हत्वा त्वां वै वधिष्यामि बालिशं महिषीसुतम्
Go or stay, fool, if you desire death; having slain you, I will destroy the childish son of Mahisha.
तच्छ्रुत्वा वचनं तस्या दुर्मुखो मर्तुमुद्यतः । मुमोच बाणवृष्टिं तु चण्डिकां प्रति दारुणाम्
Hearing her words, Durmukha, intent on dying, released a fierce shower of arrows at Caṇḍikā.
सापि तां तरसा छित्त्वा बाणवृष्टिं शितैः शरैः । जघान दानवं कृद्धा वृत्रं वज्रधरो यथा
She, swiftly cutting through that shower of arrows with her sharp shafts, slew the demon in anger, as Indra slew Vṛtra.
तयोः परस्परं युद्धं सञ्जातं चातिकर्कशम् । भयदं कातराणाञ्च शूराणां बलवर्धनम्
Between the two, a harsh battle arose, terrifying to the fearful and strengthening the brave.
देवी चिच्छेद तरसा धनुस्तस्य करे स्थितम् । तथैव पञ्चभिर्बाणैर्बभञ्ज रथमुत्तमम्
The Goddess, with force, cut the bow held in his hand; then, with five arrows, she broke his excellent chariot.
रथे भग्ने महाबाहुः पदातिर्दुर्मुखस्तदा । गदां गहीत्वा दुर्धर्षां जगाम चण्डिकां प्रति
With his chariot broken, the mighty-armed Durmukha became a foot-soldier; taking up his formidable mace, he advanced toward Caṇḍikā.