महिष उवाच गच्छ राजन्यथा कामं नेयमिच्छति सत्पतिम् ।। 5.17.
Mahisha said: Go, princess, as you wish; she desires a true husband.
नृपस्तु तद्वचः श्रुत्वा निर्गतः सह सेनया
The king, hearing those words, departed with his army.
महिषासुरवधः महिष उवाच विवाह योग्या संजाता सुरू पाऽवरजा यदा
Mahisha said: When the younger sister became fit for marriage and beautiful,
तस्या विवाहः संवृत्तः सूजाताश्च स्वयंवरः
Her marriage was arranged, and a self-choice ceremony was held.
तया वृतो नृपः कश्चिद्बलवान्रूपसंयुतः
She chose a certain king, strong and endowed with beauty.
तदा कामातुरा जाता विटं वीक्ष्य नृपं तु सा
Then, overcome by desire, she gazed at the king, the gallant.
पितरं प्राह तन्वंगी विवाहं कुरु मे पितः
The slender-bodied girl said to her father: Arrange my marriage, father.
चंद्रसेनोऽपि तच्छुत्वा पुत्र्या यद्भाषितं रहः
And Chandrasena, hearing what his daughter spoke in secret,
तमाहूय नृप गेहे विवाहविधिना ददौ
Summoning the king to his house, he gave her in marriage according to the rites.
चारुदेष्णोऽपि तां प्राप्य सुन्दरीं मुदितोऽभवत्
Charudeshna, having obtained the beautiful one, became joyful.
रेमे नृपतिशार्दूलः कामिन्या बहुवासरान्
The tiger among kings enjoyed many days with the passionate woman.
सैरंध्र्या कथितं तस्यै तया दृष्टः पतिस्तथा 5.18.
Sairandhri told her, and thus she saw her husband.
कदाचिदपि सामान्यां रहो रूपवतीं नृपः
Once, in private, the king saw the beautiful woman.
न ज्ञातोऽयं शठः पूर्वं यदा दृष्टः स्वयंवरे
This deceitful one was not known before, when seen at the self-choice ceremony.
किं करोम्यद्य संताप निर्लज्जे निर्घृणे शठे
What shall I do today, O shameless, pitiless, deceitful one?
अद्यप्रभृति संसारे सुखं त्यक्तं मया खलु
From this day onward, I have truly abandoned happiness in this world.
अकर्तव्यं कृतं कार्यं तज्जातं दुःखदं मम
I have done what should not be done; that deed has brought me sorrow.
पितृगेहं व्रजाम्याशु तत्राऽपि न सुखं भवेत्
I will quickly go to my father's house, yet even there happiness will not be found.
तस्मादत्रैव संवासो वैराग्ययुतया मया
Therefore, I shall remain here itself, living with detachment.
महिष उवाच स्थिता पतिगृहं त्यक्त्वा सुखं संसारजं ततः
Mahiṣa said: Having left my husband's house, I have forsaken the happiness that comes from worldly life.
तस्मात्त्वमपि कल्याणि मामनादृत्य भूपतिम्
Therefore, O auspicious one, you too should not disregard me, your husband.
वचनं कुरु मे तथ्यं नारीणां परमं हितम् 5.18.
Do as I truly say; this is the highest good for women.
देव्युवाच हत्वा त्वामसुरान्सर्वान्यमिष्यामि यथासुखम्
The Goddess said: Having slain you and all the other demons, I shall enjoy as I please.
यदा यदा हि साधूनां दुःखं भवति दानव
Whenever sorrow befalls the righteous, O Dānava, at such times—
अरूपायाश्च मे रूपमजन्मायाश्च जन्म च
My form arises from the formless, my birth from the unborn.
सत्यं ब्रवीमि जानीहि प्रार्थिताहं सुरै किल
I speak the truth—know this: I have indeed been invoked by the gods.
तस्माद्युध्यस्व वा गच्छ पातालमसुरालयम्
Therefore, either fight or go to Pātāla, the abode of the demons.
व्यास उवाच युद्धकामः स्थितस्तत्र संग्रामांगणभूमिषु
Vyāsa said: Desiring battle, he stood there on the field of war.
मुमोच तरसा बाणान्कर्णाऽऽकृष्टाञ्छिलाशितान्
He swiftly released arrows, drawn to his ear, sharp as stones.
तयोः परस्परं युद्धं संबभूव भयप्रदम्
A fearful battle arose between the two of them.