ऊर्ध्वं सव्यं करं कृत्वा तामुवाच मितं वचः । देवि जानामि मरणं दानवानां दुरात्मनाम्
Raising his left hand, he spoke measured words to her: 'O Goddess, I know the death of these wicked Dānavas is certain.'
तथापि युद्धं कर्तव्यं पराधीनेन वै मया । महिषो मन्दबुद्धिश्च न जानाति प्रियाप्रिये
Still, I must fight, being under another's command; Mahiṣa, dull-witted, does not know what is pleasing or unpleasing.
तदग्रे नैव वक्तव्यं हितं चैवाप्रियं मया । मर्तव्यं वीरधर्मेण शुभं वाप्यशुभं भवेत्
Therefore, in his presence, I must not speak what is beneficial or unpleasant; I must die upholding the warrior's duty, whether the outcome is good or bad.
दैवमेव परं मन्ये धिपौरुषमनर्थकम् । पतन्ति दानवास्तूर्णं तव बाणहता भुवि
I consider fate to be supreme; human effort is fruitless. The Dānavas fall swiftly to the earth, struck by your arrows.
इत्युक्त्वा शरवृष्टिं स चकार दानवोत्तमः । देवी चिच्छेद तान्बाणैरप्राप्तांस्तु निजान्तिके
Having spoken thus, that foremost of Dānavas unleashed a rain of arrows; the Goddess cut them down with her own arrows before they reached her.
अन्यैर्विव्याध तं तूर्णमसिलोमानमाशुगैः । वीक्षितामरसङ्घैश्च कोपपूर्णानना तदा
With other swift arrows, she quickly pierced Asilomā; her face, filled with wrath, was watched by the assembly of immortals.
शुशुभे दानवः कामं बाणैर्विद्धतनुः किल । स्रवद्रुधिरधारः स प्रफुल्लः किंशुको यथा
The demon, though his body was pierced with arrows and streams of blood flowed, shone forth like a blossoming kimśuka tree.
असिलोमा गदां गुर्वीं लौहीमुद्यम्य वेगतः । दुद्राव चण्डिकां कोपात्सिंहं मूर्ध्नि जघान ह
Asilomā, seizing a heavy iron mace with force, rushed at Caṇḍikā in anger and struck the lion on the head.
सिंहोऽपि नखराघातैस्तं ददार भुजान्तरे । अगणय्य गदाघातं कृतं तेन बलीयसा
The lion, with a blow of its claws, tore him between the arms, disregarding the powerful strike of the mace.
उत्पत्य तरसा दैत्यो गदापाणिः सुदारुणः । सिंहमूर्ध्नि समारुह्य जघान गदयाम्बिकाम्
Leaping up with force, the fierce demon, mace in hand, mounted the lion's head and struck Ambikā with the mace.
कृतं तेन प्रहारं तु वञ्चयित्वा विशांपते । खड्गेन शितधारेण शिरश्चिच्छेद कण्ठतः
Evading that blow, O lord of men, he struck with a sharp sword and severed the head from the neck.
छिन्ने शिरसि दैत्येन्द्रः पपात तरसा क्षितौ । हाहाकारो महानासीत्सैन्ये तस्य दुरात्मनः
When the head was cut off, the lord of the Daityas fell swiftly to the ground; a great cry of distress arose in the army of that wicked one.
जय देवीति देवास्ता तुष्टुवुर्जगदम्बिकाम् । देवदुन्दुभयो नेदुर्जगुश्च नृप किन्नराः
The gods praised the Mother of the Universe, exclaiming, 'Victory to the Goddess!'; divine drums resounded and the Kinnaras sang, O king.
निहतौ दानवौ वीक्ष्य पतितौ च रणाङ्गणे । निहताः सैनिकाः सर्वे तत्र केसरिणा बलात्
Seeing the two Dānavas slain and fallen on the battlefield, all their soldiers were forcefully killed there by the lion.
भक्षिताश्च तथा केचिन्निःशेषं तद्रणं कृतम् । भग्नाः केचिद् गता मन्दा महिषं प्रति दुःखिताः
Some were also devoured, and thus that battle was completely finished; some, broken and dejected, went sadly towards Mahiṣa.
चुक्रुशू रुरुदुश्चैव त्राहि त्राहीति भाषणैः । असिलोमबिडालाख्यौ निहतौ नृपसत्तम
They cried out and wailed, shouting 'Save us! Save us!' in their speech; O best of kings, Asiloma and Biḍāla too were slain.
अन्ये ये सैनिका राजन् सिंहेन भक्षिताश्च ते । एवं ब्रुवन्तो राजानं तदा चक्रुश्च वैशसम्
And those other soldiers, O king, who were devoured by the lion, spoke thus and caused great lamentation for the king.
तच्छ्रुत्वा वचनं तेषां महिषो दुर्मनास्तदा । बभूव चिन्ताकुलितो विमना दुःखसंयुतः
Hearing their words, Mahiṣa then became deeply troubled, filled with anxiety and sorrowful at heart.
महिषद्वारा देवीप्रबोधनम् व्यास उवाच तेषां तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा क्रोधयुक्तो नराधिपः । दारुकं प्राह तरसा रथमानय मेऽद्भुतम्
Hearing those words, the king, filled with anger, quickly said to Dāruka, 'Bring me my wondrous chariot!'
सहस्रखरसंयुक्तं पताकाध्वजभूषितम् । आयुधैः संयुतं शुभ्रं सुचक्रं चारुकूबरम्
It was yoked with a thousand mules, adorned with banners and flags, equipped with weapons, shining, with fine wheels and a beautiful pole.
सूतोऽपि रथमानीय तमुवाच त्वरान्वितः । राजन् रथोऽयमानीतो द्वारि तिष्ठति भूषितः
The charioteer, bringing the chariot, spoke swiftly: 'O king, the chariot has been brought and stands at the door, adorned.'
सर्वायुधसमायुक्तो वरास्तरणसंयुतः । आनीतं तं रथं ज्ञात्वा दानवेन्द्रो महाबलः
It was equipped with all weapons and excellent armor; knowing that the chariot had been brought, the mighty lord of the Dānavas—
मानुषं देहमास्थाय संग्रामे गन्तुमुद्यतः । विचार्य मनसा चेति देवी मां प्रेक्ष्य दुर्मुखम्
Assuming a human form, he prepared to go to battle, thinking in his mind, 'Seeing me, the Goddess will be disheartened.'
शृङ्गिणं महिषं नूनं विमना सा भविष्यति । नारीणां च प्रियं रूपं तथा चातुर्यमित्यपि
'Surely, seeing me as a horned buffalo, she will be dispirited; and women delight in pleasing forms and cleverness.'
तस्माद्रूपं च चातुर्यं कृत्वा यास्यामि तां प्रति । यथा मां वीक्ष्य सा बाला प्रेमयुक्ता भविष्यति
'Therefore, adopting a pleasing form and cleverness, I will go to her, so that, seeing me, that young woman will become enamored.'
ममापि च तदैव स्यात्सुखं नान्यस्वरूपतः । इति सञ्चिन्त्य मनसा दानवेन्द्रो महाबलः
'And for me too, happiness will arise only in that form, not in any other.' Thus, reflecting in his mind, the mighty lord of the Dānavas—
त्यक्त्वा तन्माहिषं रूपं बभूव पुरुषः शुभः । सर्वायुधधरः श्रीमांश्चारुभूषणभूषितः
Abandoning that buffalo form, became a handsome man, bearing all weapons, splendid, adorned with beautiful ornaments.
दिव्याम्बरधरः कान्तः पुष्पबाण इवापरः । रथोपविष्टः केयूरस्रग्वी बाणधनुर्धरः
Wearing divine garments, charming, like another god of love with flower-arrows, seated on the chariot, adorned with armlets and garlands, bearing bow and arrows.
सेनापरिवृतो देवीं जगाम मदगर्वितः । मनोज्ञं रूपमास्थाय मानिनीनां मनोहरम्
Surrounded by his army, intoxicated with pride, he approached the Goddess, having assumed a form enchanting to the proud and captivating to the minds of the haughty.
तमागतं समालोक्य दैत्यानामधिपं तदा । बहुभिः संवृतं वीरैर्देवी शङ्खमवादयत्
Seeing him arrive—the lord of the Daityas, accompanied by many heroic warriors—the Goddess sounded her conch.