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.
मध्ये दुर्धर आगत्य मुमोच शिलीमुखान्
In the midst, Durdhara approached and released his stone-tipped arrows.
ततो भगवती क्रुद्धा तं जघान शितैः शरैः 5.18.
Then the Blessed Goddess, enraged, struck him down with sharp arrows.
तं तया निहतं दृष्ट्वा त्रिनेत्रः परमास्त्रवित्
Seeing him struck down by her, the three-eyed master of supreme weapons—
अनागतांस्तु चिच्छेद देवी तान्विशिखैः शरान्
The Goddess cut down with arrows those yet to arrive.
अन्धकस्त्वाज गामाशु हतं दृष्ट्वा त्रिलोचनम्
But Andhaka, seeing the three-eyed one swiftly slain, fled to the earth.
सिंहस्तु नखघातेन तं हत्वा बलवत्तरम्
The lion, with a blow of its claws, killed an even mightier foe.
तान्रणे निहतान्वीक्ष्य दानवो विस्मयं गतः
Observing his companions slain on the battlefield, the demon was struck with amazement.
द्विधा चक्रे शरान्देवी तानप्राप्ताञ्छिलीमुखैः
The Goddess split the arrows that reached her into two with her sharp-feathered shafts.
स गदाभिहतो मूर्छामवापामरबाधकः
Struck by the mace, he who tormented the gods fell into a swoon.
जघान गदया सिंहं मूर्ध्नि क्रोधसमन्वितः
In a fury, he struck the lion on the head with his mace.
विहाय पौरुषं रूपं सोऽपि सिंहो बभूव ह
Abandoning his human form, he too became a lion.
तं च केसरिणं वीक्ष्य देवी क्रुद्धा ह्ययोमुखैः 5.18.
Seeing that lion, the Goddess, enraged, attacked with iron-tipped weapons.
त्यक्त्वा स हरिरूपं तु गजो भूत्वा मदस्रवः
Then, abandoning the lion form, he became an elephant, streaming with rut.
आगच्छंतं गिरेः शृंगं देवी बाणैः शिलाशितैः
As he approached the mountain peak, the Goddess struck with stone-tipped arrows.
उत्पत्य च तदा सिंहस्तस्य मूर्ध्नि व्यवस्थितः
Then the lion leapt up and stood upon his head.
विहाय गजरूपं च बभूवाष्टापदी तथा
Abandoning the elephant form, he then became an eight-legged beast.
तं वीक्ष्य शरभं देवी खड्गेन सा रुषाऽन्विता
Seeing that Sharabha, the Goddess, filled with wrath, struck with her sword.
तयोः परस्परं युद्धं बभूवाति भयप्रदम्
A battle arose between the two, terrifying in the extreme.
पुच्छप्रभ्रमणेनाशु शृंगघातैर्महासुरः
The great demon, with swift tail-whirling and blows of his horns—
पुच्छेन पर्वताञ्छृंगे गृहीत्वा भ्रामयन्बलात्
With his tail he seized mountains by the peaks and whirled them about with force.