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.
तत्किमर्थं दुःखहेतुं संग्रामं कर्तुमिच्छसि । संसारेऽत्र सुखं ग्राह्यं दुःखं हेयमिति स्थितिः
So why do you wish to wage war, which brings only suffering? In this world, happiness should be sought and suffering avoided—such is the way.
तत्सुखं द्विविधं प्रोक्तं नित्यानित्यप्रभेदतः । आत्मज्ञानं सुखं नित्यमनित्यं भोगजं स्मृतम्
That happiness is said to be of two kinds, distinguished as eternal and non-eternal; self-knowledge is eternal happiness, while pleasure from enjoyment is called non-eternal.
नाशात्मकं तु तत्त्याज्यं वेदशास्त्रार्थचिन्तकैः । सौगतानां मतं चेत्त्वं स्वीकरोषि वरानने
That which is perishable should be renounced, as taught by the meaning of the Vedas and scriptures. If you accept the doctrine of the Buddhists, O beautiful one—
तथापि यौवनं प्राप्य भुंक्ष्व भोगाननुत्तमान् । परलोकस्य सन्देहो यदि तेऽस्ति कृशोदरि
Still, having attained youth, enjoy supreme pleasures. If you have doubts about the afterlife, O slender-waisted one—
स्वर्गभोगपरा नित्यं भव भामिनि भूतले । अनित्यं यौवनं देहे ज्ञात्वेति सुकृतं चरेत्
O beautiful one, always be devoted to the enjoyments of heaven while on earth; knowing that youth in the body is impermanent, act righteously.
परोपतापनं कार्यं वर्जनीयं सदा बुधैः । अविरोधेन कर्तव्यं धर्मार्थकामसेवनम्
The wise should always avoid actions that cause harm to others; one should pursue righteousness, wealth, and desire in ways that do not cause conflict.
तस्मात्त्वमपि कल्याणि मतिं धर्मे सदा कुरु । अपराधं विना दैत्यान्कस्मान्मारयसेऽम्बिके
Therefore, O auspicious one, you too should always set your mind on righteousness; O Mother, why do you slay the Daityas without any offense?
दयाधर्मोऽस्य देहोऽस्ति सत्ये प्राणाः प्रकीर्तिताः । तस्माद्दया तथा सत्यं रक्षणीयं सदा बुधैः
Compassion is the virtue of this body, and life-breaths are said to be rooted in truth; therefore, compassion and truth should always be protected by the wise.
कारणं वद सुश्रोणि दानवानां वधे तव । देव्युवाच त्वया पृष्टं महाबाहो किमर्थमिह चागता
Tell me, O lovely-hipped one, the reason for your slaying of the Dānavas. The Goddess said: O mighty-armed one, you have asked why I have come here.
तदहं सम्प्रवक्ष्यामि हनने च प्रयोजनम् । विचरामि सदा दैत्य सर्वलोकेषु सर्वदा
Therefore I shall explain to you the purpose of the slaying; O Daitya, I always move about in all worlds.
न्यायान्यायौ च भूतानां पश्यन्ती साक्षिरूपिणी । न मे कदापि भोगेच्छा न लोभो न च वैरिता
I witness both justice and injustice among beings; I never have desire for enjoyment, nor greed, nor enmity.
धर्मार्थं विचराम्यत्र संसारे साधुरक्षणम् । व्रतमेतत्तु नियतं पालयामि निजं सदा
For the sake of righteousness I move here in this world, to protect the virtuous; this is my constant and established vow, which I always uphold.
साधूनां रक्षणं कार्यं हन्तव्या येऽप्यसाधवः । वेदसंरक्षणं कार्यमवतारैरनेकशः
The protection of the virtuous must be done, and those who are wicked must be slain; the preservation of the Vedas must be accomplished through many incarnations.
युगे युगे तानेवाहमवतारान्बिभर्मि च । महिषस्तु दुराचारो देवान्वै हन्तुमुद्यतः
Age after age, I take on those very incarnations; and Mahiṣa, being of evil conduct, has set out to destroy the gods.
ज्ञात्वाहं तद्वधार्थं भोः प्राप्तास्मि राक्षसाधुना । तं हनिष्ये दुराचारं सुरशत्रुं महाबलम्
Knowing this, I have come here for his destruction, O righteous Rākṣasa; I shall slay that evil-doer, the mighty enemy of the gods.
गच्छ वा तिष्ठ कामं त्वं सत्यमेतदुदाहृतम् । ब्रूहि वा तं दुरात्मानं राजानं महिषीसुतम्
Go as you wish, or stay; this is truly spoken. Or tell that wicked king, the son of Mahiṣa.
किमन्यान् प्रेषयस्यत्र स्वयं युद्धं कुरुष्व ह । सन्धिञ्चेत्कर्तुमिच्छास्ति राज्ञस्तव मया सह
Why do you send others here? Fight yourself! If your king desires peace with me, let him make an alliance.
सर्वे गच्छन्तु पातालं वैरं त्यक्त्वा यथासुखम् । देवद्रव्यं तु यत्किञ्चिद्धृतं जित्वा रणे सुरान् । तद्दत्त्वा यान्तु पातालं प्रह्लादो यत्र तिष्ठति
Let all go to Pātāla, abandoning enmity, as they please; whatever divine wealth was seized in battle from the gods, let them return it and go to Pātāla, where Prahlāda resides.
व्यास उवाच तच्छुत्वा वचनं देव्या असिलोमा पुरःस्थितः । बिडालाख्यं महावीरं पप्रच्छ प्रीतिपूर्वकम्
Vyāsa said: Hearing those words of the Goddess, Asilomā, standing before her, affectionately questioned the great hero named Biḍāla.
असिलोमोवाच श्रुतं तेऽद्य बिडालाख्य भवान्या कथितं च यत् । एवं गते किं कर्तव्यो विग्रहः सन्धिरेव वा
Asilomā said: O Biḍāla, you have heard today what Bhavānī has said; in this situation, what should be done—war or peace?