राजन्नहं हनिष्यामि का चिन्ता स्त्रीविहिंसने । इत्युक्त्वा स्वबलैर्युक्तः प्रययौ रथसंयुतः
'O King, I will slay her myself; what is there to fear in fighting a woman?' So saying, he set out, equipped with his own forces and mounted on a chariot.
द्वितीयं पार्ष्णिरक्षं तु कृत्वा ताम्रं महाबलम् । महता सैन्यघोषेण पूरयन्गगनं दिशः
Appointing Tamra, of great might, as his second-in-command, he filled the sky and quarters with the thunderous sound of his vast army.
तमागच्छन्तमालोक्य देवी भगवती शिवा । चकार शङ्खज्याघोषं घण्टानादं महाद्भुतम्
Seeing him approach, the blessed Goddess Shiva sounded her conch and bowstring, and made a wondrous ringing of bells.
तत्रसुस्तेन शब्देन ते च सर्वे सुरारयः । किमेतदिति भाषन्तो दुद्रुवुर्भयकम्पिताः
Struck by that tremendous sound, all those enemies of the gods, trembling with fear, fled while exclaiming, 'What is this?'
चिक्षुराख्यस्तु तान्दृष्ट्वा पलायनपरायणान् । उवाचातीव संकुद्धः किं भयं वः समागतम्
Seeing them intent on fleeing, Cikshura, greatly enraged, said, 'What fear has come over you?'
अद्यैवाहं हनिष्यामि बाणैर्बालां मदोन्नताम् । तिष्ठन्त्वत्र भयं त्यक्त्वा दैत्याः समरमूर्धनि
'Today itself I will slay the proud maiden with arrows; let the demons stand here on the battlefield, casting aside fear.'
इत्युक्त्वा दानवश्रेष्ठश्चापपाणिर्बलान्वितः । आगत्य सङ्गरे देवीमित्युवाच गतव्यथः
So saying, the foremost of demons, armed with a bow and full of strength, approached the Goddess in battle, his anxiety gone, and spoke thus.
किं गर्जसि विशालाक्षि भीषयन्तीतरान्नरान् । नाहं बिभेमि तन्वङ्गि श्रुत्वा तेऽद्य विचेष्टितम्
'Why do you roar, O wide-eyed one, frightening other men? I do not fear you, slender-limbed lady, even after hearing your display today.'
स्त्रीवधे दूषणं ज्ञात्वा तथैवाकीर्तिसम्भवम् । उपेक्षां कुरुते चित्तं मदीयं वामलोचने
'Knowing that killing a woman brings disgrace and infamy, my mind, O lovely-eyed one, inclines toward forbearance.'
स्त्रीणां युद्धं कटाक्षैश्च तथा हावैश्च सुन्दरि । न शस्त्रैर्विहितं क्वापि त्वादृशीनां कदाचन
'O beautiful one, the battle of women is with glances and gestures, never with weapons for those like you, at any time.'
पुष्पैरपि न योद्धव्यं किं पुनर्निशितैः शरैः । भवादृशीनां देहेषु दुनोति मालतीदलम्
One should not fight even with flowers, much less with sharp arrows; for bodies like yours are wounded even by a jasmine petal.
धिग्जन्म मानुषे लोके क्षात्रधर्मानुजीविनाम् । लालितोऽयं प्रियो देहः कृन्तनीयः शितैः शरैः
Fie upon the human birth in this world for those who follow the warrior's code; this cherished, beloved body is to be cut by sharp arrows.
तैलाभ्यङ्गैः पुष्पवातैस्तथा मिष्टान्नभोजनैः । पोषितोऽयं प्रियो देहो घातनीयः परेषुभिः
This dear body, nourished with oil massages, gentle breezes of flowers, and delicious foods, is to be destroyed by the weapons of others.
देहं छित्त्वासिधाराभिर्धनभृज्जायते नरः । धिग्धनं दुःखदं पूर्वं पश्चात्किं सुखदं भवेत्
By cutting the body with sword-edges, a man gains wealth; but wealth brings sorrow at first—what happiness can come from it later?
त्वमप्यज्ञैव वामोरु युद्धमाकाङ्क्षसे यतः । सुखं सम्भोगजं त्यक्त्वा कं गुणं वेत्सि सङ्गरे
You too, O slender-waisted one, are indeed ignorant, since you desire battle; having abandoned the pleasures of enjoyment, what merit do you know in combat?
खड्गपातं गदाघातं भेदनञ्ज शिलीमुखैः । मरणान्ते तु संस्कारो गोमायुमुखकर्षणम्
There are sword blows, mace strikes, and piercing by arrows; and at death, only the funeral rites, or being dragged by the mouths of cows and jackals.
तस्यैव कविभिर्धूर्तैः कृतं चातीव शंसनम् । रणे मृतानां स्वःप्राप्तिरर्थवादोऽस्ति केवलः
It is only by cunning poets that great praise has been composed for this; the attainment of heaven for those slain in battle is merely a figure of speech.
तस्माद् गच्छ वरारोहे यत्र ते रमते मनः । भज वा भूपतिं नाथं हयारिं सुरमर्दनम्
Therefore, O beautiful one, go where your heart delights; seek the king as your lord, the enemy of horses, the subduer of the gods.
व्यास उवाच एवं ब्रुवाणं तं दैत्यं प्रोवाच जगदम्बिका । किं मृषा भाषसे मूढ बुद्धिमानिव पण्डितः
Vyāsa said: When the demon spoke thus, the Mother of the Universe replied: Why do you speak falsely, fool, as if you were wise and learned?
नीतिशास्त्रं न जानासि विद्यां चान्वीक्षिकीं तथा । न सेवितास्त्वया वृद्धा न धर्मे मतिरस्ति ते
You do not know the science of ethics, nor the discipline of inquiry; you have not served the elders, nor do you have any understanding of righteousness.
मूर्खसेवापरो यस्मात्तस्मात्त्वं मूर्ख एव हि । राजधर्मं न जानासि किं ब्रवीषि ममाग्रतः
Since you are devoted to the company of fools, you are indeed a fool yourself; you do not know the duties of kings—why do you speak before me?
संग्रामे महिषं हत्वा कृत्वा रुधिरकर्दमम् । यशःस्तम्भं स्थिरं कृत्वा गमिष्यामि यथासुखम्
Having slain Mahiṣa in battle and made the ground muddy with blood, I will establish a firm pillar of fame and then depart as I please.
देवानां दुःखदातारं दानवं मदगर्वितम् । हनिष्येऽहं दुराचारं युद्धं कुरु स्थिरो भव
I will slay the demon, the giver of suffering to the gods, proud with arrogance, wicked in conduct; fight, stand firm.
जीवितेच्छास्ति चेन्मूढ महिषस्य तथा तव । तदा गच्छन्तु पातालं दानवाः सर्व एव ते
If you and Mahiṣa desire life, then let all your demons go to the netherworld.
मुमूर्षा यदि वश्चित्ते युद्धं कुर्वन्तु सत्वराः । सर्वानेव वधिष्यामि निश्चयोऽयं ममाधुना
But if you wish for death in your heart, then fight quickly; I will slay you all—this is now my resolve.
व्यास उवाच तच्छ्रुत्वा वचनं तस्या दानवो बलदर्पितः । मुमोच बाणवृष्टिं तां घनवृष्टिमिवापराम्
Vyāsa said: Hearing her words, the demon, filled with pride in his strength, released a shower of arrows, like a great downpour of rain.
चिच्छेद तस्य सा बाणान्स्वबाणैर्निशितैस्तदा । जघान तं तथा घोरैराशीविषसमैः शरैः
She then cut his arrows with her own sharp arrows, and struck him with terrible shafts, like deadly serpents.
युद्धं परस्परं तत्र बभूव विस्मयप्रदम् । गदया घातयामास तं रथाज्जगदम्बिका
There a wondrous battle took place between them; with her mace, the Mother of the Universe struck him down from his chariot.
मूर्च्छां प्राप स दुष्टात्मा गदयाभिहतो भृशम् । मुहूर्तद्वयमात्रं तु रथोपस्थ इवाचलः
Struck violently by the mace, that wicked-souled one fell unconscious, remaining motionless for two moments, like one lying in a chariot.
तं तथा मूर्च्छितं दृष्ट्वा ताम्रः परबलार्दनः । आजगाम रणे योद्धुं चण्डिकां प्रति चापलात्
Seeing him thus unconscious, Tāmra, the subduer of enemies, advanced in battle to fight against Caṇḍikā, without hesitation.