नारी बलवती कास्ति या नौ नाशं करिष्यति । न बिभीवः स्त्रियः कामं त्रैलोक्ये सचराचरे
'What woman is there, strong enough to destroy us? We do not fear women at all in the three worlds, among moving and unmoving beings.'
अवध्यौ भ्रातरौ स्यातां नरेभ्यः पङ्कजोद्भव । भयं न स्त्रीजनेभ्यश्च स्वभावादबला हि सा
'O lotus-born, let we two brothers be invulnerable to men; there is no fear from women, for by nature she is weak.'
व्यास उवाच इति श्रुत्वा तयोर्वाक्यं प्रददौ वाञ्छितं वरम् । ब्रह्मा प्रसन्नमनसा जगामाथ स्वमालयम्
Vyāsa said: Hearing their words, Brahmā, with a pleased mind, granted the boon they desired and then returned to his own abode.
गतेऽथ भवने तस्मिन्दानवौ स्वगृहं गतौ । भृगुं पुरोहितं कृत्वा चक्रतुः पूजनं तदा
When he had gone to his palace, the two Dānavas returned to their own house, appointed Bhṛgu as their priest, and performed worship at that time.
शुभे दिने सुनक्षत्रे जातरूपमयं शुभम् । कृत्वा सिंहासनं दिव्यं राज्यार्थं प्रददौ मुनिः
On an auspicious day under a favorable constellation, the sage fashioned a splendid throne of pure gold and presented it for the purpose of kingship.
शुम्भाय ज्येष्ठभूताय ददौ राज्यासनं शुभम् । सेवनार्थं तदैवाशु सम्प्राप्ता दानवोत्तमाः
He gave the auspicious royal seat to Śumbha, the eldest, and at once the foremost of the Dānavas arrived to serve him.
चण्डमुण्डौ महावीरौ भ्रातरौ बलदर्पितौ । सम्प्राप्तौ सैन्यसंयुक्तौ रथवाजिगजान्वितौ
Caṇḍa and Muṇḍa, two mighty and arrogant brothers, came together, accompanied by armies, chariots, horses, and elephants.
धूम्रलोचननामा च तद्रूपश्चण्डविक्रमः । शुम्भञ्च भूपतिं श्रुत्वा तदागाद्बलसंयुतः
Dhūmralocana by name, fierce in form and valor, also came, having heard of Śumbha becoming king, arriving with his forces.
रक्तबीजस्तथा शूरो वरदानबलाधिकः । अक्षौहिणीभ्यां संयुक्तस्तत्रैवागत्य सङ्गतः
Raktabīja, heroic and empowered by boons, joined them as well, arriving there with two divisions of troops.
तस्यैकं कारणं राजन् संग्रामे युध्यतः सदा । देहाद्रुधिरसम्पातस्तस्य शस्त्राहतस्य च
O King, there was a unique reason for him, who always fought in battle: whenever his body was wounded by weapons, blood would flow from him.
जायते च यदा भूमावुत्पद्यन्ते ह्यनेकशः । तादृशाः पुरुषाः क्रूरा बहवः शस्त्रपाणयः
And whenever that blood fell upon the earth, many fierce men, armed with weapons, would arise from it.
सम्भवन्ति तदाकारास्तद्रूपास्तत्पराक्रमाः । युद्धं पुनस्ते कुर्वन्ति पुरुषा रक्तसम्भवाः
Those men, taking on his very form, appearance, and valor, would again engage in battle, born from his blood.
अतः सोऽपि महावीर्यः संग्रामेऽतीव दुर्जयः । अवध्यः सर्वभूतानां रक्तबीजो महासुरः
Therefore, that mighty Raktabīja was extremely difficult to conquer in battle; the great asura was invulnerable to all beings.
अन्ये च बहवः शूराश्चतुरङ्गसमन्विताः । शुम्भञ्च नृपतिं मत्वा बभूवुस्तस्य सेवकाः
Many other heroic warriors, equipped with fourfold armies, became attendants of Śumbha, considering him their king.
असंख्याता तदा जाता सेना शुम्भनिशुम्भयोः । पृथिव्याः सकलं राज्यं गृहीतं बलवत्तया
At that time, innumerable armies were formed for Śumbha and Niśumbha, and by their strength, they seized the entire kingdom of the earth.
सेनायोगं तदा कृत्वा निशुम्भः परवीरहा । जगाम तरसा स्वर्गे शचीपतिजयाय च
Then Niśumbha, destroyer of enemy heroes, assembled his army and swiftly went to heaven to conquer the lord of Śacī.
चकारासौ महायुद्धं लोकपालैः समन्ततः । वृत्रहा वज्रपातेन ताडयामास वक्षसि
He waged a great battle on all sides with the guardians of the worlds, and Vṛtrahā (Indra), wielder of the thunderbolt, struck him on the chest.
स वज्राभिहतो भूमौ पपात दानवानुजः । भग्नं बलं तदा तस्य निशुम्भस्य महात्मनः
Struck by the thunderbolt, the younger Dānava fell to the ground, and at that moment, the great-souled Niśumbha's army was broken.
भ्रातरं मूर्च्छितं श्रुत्वा शुम्भः परबलार्दनः । तत्रागत्य सुरान्मर्वांस्ताडयामास सायकैः
Hearing that his brother was unconscious, Śumbha, destroyer of enemy hosts, came there and struck the gods and Maruts with arrows.
कृतं युद्धं महत्तेन शुम्भेनाक्लिष्टकर्मणा । निर्जितास्तु सुराः सर्वे सेन्द्राः पालाश्च सर्वशः
Śumbha, whose deeds were effortless, fought a great battle, and all the gods, including Indra and the guardians, were defeated by him.
ऐन्द्रं पदं तदा तेन गृहीतं बलवत्तया । कल्पपादपसंयुक्तं कामधेनुसमन्वितम्
At that time, he seized Indra's throne with great force, along with the wish-fulfilling tree and the cow of plenty.
त्रैलोक्यं यज्ञभागाश्च हृतास्तेन महात्मना । नन्दनं च वनं प्राप्य मुदितोऽभून्महासुरः
The great-souled asura took away the three worlds and their sacrificial shares, and, having obtained the Nandana grove, became delighted.
सुधायाश्चैव पानेन सुखमाप महासुरः । कुबेरं स च निर्जित्य तस्य राज्यं चकार ह
By drinking nectar, the great asura attained happiness; he conquered Kubera and ruled his kingdom.
अधिकारं तथा भानोः शशिनश्च चकार ह । यमञ्चैव विनिर्जित्य जग्राह तत्पदं तथा
He assumed authority over the sun and the moon; having defeated Yama, he took his position as well.
वरुणस्य तथा राज्यं चकार वह्निकर्म च । वायोः कार्यं निशुम्भश्च चकार स्वबलान्वितः
He ruled the kingdom of Varuna and performed the duties of Agni; Niśumbha, empowered by his own strength, carried out the tasks of Vayu.
ततो देवा विनिर्धूता हृतराज्या हृतश्रियः । सन्त्यज्य नन्दनं सर्वे निर्ययुर्गिरिगह्वरे
Then the gods, deprived of their kingdoms and glory, abandoned Nandana and all departed into the mountain caves.
हृताधिकारास्ते सर्वे बभ्रमुर्विजने वने । निरालम्बा निराधारा निस्तेजस्का निरायुधाः
All of them, stripped of authority, wandered in the desolate forest, without support, without refuge, powerless and weaponless.
विचेरुरमराः सर्वे पर्वतानां गुहासु च । उद्यानेषु च शून्येषु नदीनां गह्वरेषु च
All the immortals roamed among the caves of the mountains, in deserted gardens, and in the depths of rivers.
न प्रापुस्ते सुखं वापि स्थानभ्रष्टा विचेतसः । लोकपाला महाराज दैवाधीनं सुखं किल
They did not attain happiness, having lost their positions and confused in mind; O great king, the happiness of the guardians of the worlds is truly dependent on fate.
बलवन्तो महाभागा बहुज्ञा धनसंयुताः । काले दुःखं तथा दैन्यमाप्नुवन्ति नराधिप
Even those who are strong, greatly fortunate, wise, and wealthy, O ruler of men, at times experience suffering and misery.