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.
बभुस्ते राक्षसास्तत्र किंशुका इव पुष्पिणः । शिलीमुखक्षताः सर्वे वसन्ते च वने रणे
There, those Rākṣasas, all wounded by arrows, looked like blossoming kiṃśuka trees in the forest during spring, amidst the battle.
बभूव तुमुलं युद्धं ताम्रेण सह संयुगे । विस्मयं परमं जग्मुर्देवा ये प्रेक्षकाः स्थिताः
A tumultuous battle arose with Tāmra in that conflict, and the gods who stood watching were filled with utmost amazement.
ताम्रो मुसलमादाय लोहजं दारुणं दृढम् । जघान मस्तके सिंहं जहास च ननर्द च
Tāmra, seizing a massive, iron club, fierce and strong, struck the lion on the head, laughing and roaring as he did so.
नर्दमानं तदा तं तु दृष्ट्वा देवी रुषान्विता । खड्गेन शितधारेण शिरश्चिच्छेद सत्वरा
Seeing him roaring at that moment, the goddess, filled with anger, swiftly cut off his head with her sharp-edged sword.
छिन्ने शिरसि ताम्रस्तु विशीर्षो मुसली बली । बभ्राम क्षणमात्रं तु पपात रणमस्तके
When his head was severed, Tāmra, though headless and mighty, wandered for a moment and then fell to the ground in the midst of battle.
पतितं ताम्रमालोक्य चिक्षुराख्यो महाबलः । खड्गमादाय तरसा दुद्राव चण्डिकां प्रति
Seeing Tāmra fallen, Cikṣura, of great strength, seized his sword and rushed swiftly towards Caṇḍikā.
भगवत्यपि तं दृष्ट्वा खड्गपाणिमुपागतम् । दानवं पञ्चभिर्बाणैर्जघान तरसा रणे
Even the Blessed Goddess, seeing him approach with sword in hand, struck the demon in battle with five arrows, swiftly.
एकेन पातितं खड्गं द्वितीयेन तु तत्करः । कण्ठाच्च मस्तकं तस्य कृन्तितं चापरैः शरैः
With one arrow she knocked down his sword, with a second his hand; and with other arrows she severed his head from his neck.
एवं तौ निहतौ कूरौ राक्षसौ रणदुर्मदौ । भग्नं सैन्यं तयोस्तूर्णं दिक्षु सन्त्रस्तमानसम्
Thus those two fierce, battle-mad rakshasas were slain; their army was swiftly broken, fleeing in all directions, hearts terrified.
देवाश्च मुदिताः सर्वे दृष्ट्वा तौ निहतौ रणे । पुष्पवृष्टिं मुदा चक्रुर्जयशब्दं नभःस्थिताः
All the gods rejoiced, seeing those two slain in battle; they showered flowers in delight and proclaimed victory from the sky.
ऋषयो देवगन्धर्वा वेतालाः सिद्धचारणाः । ऊचुस्ते जय देवीति चाम्बिकेति पुनः पुनः
The sages, divine gandharvas, vetalas, siddhas, and charanas repeatedly cried out, 'Victory to the Goddess!' and 'O Ambika!'
असिलोमबिडालाख्यवधवर्णनम् व्यास उवाच तौ तया निहतौ श्रुत्वा महिषो विस्मयान्वितः । प्रेषयामास दैतेयांस्तद्वधार्थं महाबलान्
Vyasa said: Hearing that those two had been slain by her, Mahisha was astonished and sent mighty daityas for her destruction.
असिलोमबिडालाख्यप्रमुखान् युद्धदुर्मदान् । सैन्येन महता युक्तान्सायुधान्सपरिच्छदान्
He dispatched Asiloma and Bidala, foremost among warriors, mad for battle, equipped with a great army, weapons, and armor.
ते तत्र ददृशुर्देवीं सिंहस्योपरि संस्थिताम् । अष्टादशभुजां दिव्यां खड्गखेटकधारिणीम्
There they saw the Goddess seated upon a lion, radiant with eighteen arms, holding sword and shield.
असिलोमाग्रतो गत्वा तामुवाच हसन्निव । विनयावनतः शान्तो देवीं दैत्यवधोद्यताम्
Asiloma advanced before them and addressed her, as if smiling, humble and peaceful, though she was intent on destroying the demons.
असिलोमोवाच देवि ब्रूहि वचः सत्यं किमर्थमिह सुन्दरि । आगतासि किमर्थं वा हंसि दैत्यान्निरागसः
Asiloma said: Goddess, speak truthfully—why have you come here, O beautiful one? For what reason do you slay the innocent daityas?
कारणं कथयाद्य त्वं त्वया सन्धिं करोम्यहम् । काञ्चनं मणिरत्नानि भाजनानि वराणि च
Tell me your purpose today; I will make peace with you. Gold, jewels, gems, vessels, and boons—
यानीच्छसि वरारोहे गहीत्वा गच्छ मा चिरम् । किमर्थं युद्धकामासि दुःखसन्तापवर्धनम्
Whatever you desire, O lovely one, take and depart without delay. Why do you seek battle, which only increases suffering and pain?
कथयन्ति महात्मानो युद्धं सर्वसुखापहम् । कोमलेऽतीव ते देहे पुष्पघातासहे भृशम्
The wise say that battle destroys all happiness. Your body is exceedingly delicate, unable to bear even the touch of flowers.
किमर्थं शस्त्रसम्पातान्सहसीति विसिस्मिये । चातुर्यस्य फलं शान्तिः सततं सुखसेवनम्
Why do you endure the blows of weapons? I am amazed. The fruit of cleverness is peace and constant enjoyment of happiness.