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.
आगच्छन्तं तु तं वीक्ष्य हसन्ती प्राह चण्डिका । एह्येहि दानवश्रेष्ठ यमलोकं नयाम्यहम्
Observing him approaching, Caṇḍikā laughed and spoke: 'Come, come, O best of Dānavas, I will take you to the realm of Yama.'
किं भवद्भिः समायातैरबलैश्च गतायुषैः । महिषः किं गृहे मूढः करोति जीवनोद्यमम्
'Why have you and these powerless, life-spent ones come here? Is the foolish Mahiṣa still striving to live, hiding at home?'
किं भवद्भिर्हतैर्मन्दैर्ममापि विफलः श्रमः । अहते महिषे पापे सुरशत्रौ दुरात्मनि
'What use are you, weak and slain, to me? Even my effort is wasted if the wicked, evil-minded Mahiṣa, enemy of the gods, is not struck down.'
तस्माद्यूयं गृहं गत्वा महिषं प्रेषयन्त्विह । पश्येन्मां सोऽपि मन्दात्मा यादृशीं तादृशीं स्थिताम्
'Therefore, you should go home and send Mahiṣa here. Let that dull-witted one also see me standing as I am.'
ताम्रस्तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा बाणवृष्टिं चकार ह । चण्डिकां प्रति कोपेन कर्णाकृष्टशरासनः
Hearing these words, Tāmra, his bow drawn to his ear in anger, showered a rain of arrows upon Caṇḍikā.
भगवत्यपि ताम्राक्षी समाकृष्य शरासनम् । बाणान्मुमोच तरसा हन्तुकामा सुराहितम्
The goddess, her eyes coppery, also drew her bow and swiftly released arrows, desiring to slay the enemy of the gods.
चिक्षुराख्योऽपिबलवान्मूर्च्छां त्यक्त्वोत्थितः पुनः । गृहीत्वा सशरं चापं तस्थौ तत्सम्मुखः क्षणात्
Cikṣura, regaining consciousness after his faint, rose again, took up his bow and arrows, and immediately stood facing her.
चिक्षुराख्यश्च ताम्रश्च द्वावप्यतिबलोत्कटौ । युयुधाते महावीरौ सह देव्या रणाङ्गणे
Cikṣura and Tāmra, both exceedingly powerful and heroic, fought together with the goddess on the field of battle.
कुपिता च महामाया ववर्ष शरसन्ततिम् । चकार दानवान् सर्वान् बाणक्षततनुच्छदान्
The enraged Mahāmāyā rained down a continuous stream of arrows, covering all the Dānavas with wounds from her shafts.
असुराः क्रोधसम्मूढा बभूवुः शरताडिताः । चिक्षिपुः शरजालानि देवीं प्रति रुषान्विताः
Struck by arrows and bewildered by anger, the Asuras hurled volleys of arrows at the goddess, filled with fury.