निर्जने श्लक्ष्णया वाचा वचनं वचनान्मम । त्वां ज्ञात्वा बलिनां श्रेष्ठं सुन्दराणां च सुन्दरम्
In private, with gentle words, convey my message: Knowing you to be the foremost among the strong, and the most handsome among the beautiful—
दातारं गुणिनं शूरं सर्वविद्याविशारदम् । जेतारं सर्वदेवानां दक्षं चोग्रं कुलोत्तरम्
A generous giver, virtuous, heroic, expert in all knowledge, conqueror of all the gods, skillful, fierce, and the best of your lineage—
भोक्तारं सर्वरत्नानां स्वाधीनं स्वबलोन्नतम् । पतिकामास्म्यहं सत्यं तव योग्या नराधिप
The enjoyer of all jewels, independent, exalted by your own strength—I truly desire you as my husband, O lord of men, and am worthy of you.
स्वेच्छया नगरे तेऽत्र समायाता महामते । ममास्ति कारणं किञ्चिद्विवाहे राक्षसोत्तम
Of my own will I have come to your city, O wise one; yet, O best of Rākṣasas, there is a certain reason for my marriage.
बालभावाद्व्रतं किञ्चित्कृतं राजन्मया पुरा । क्रीडन्त्या च वयस्याभिः सहैकान्ते यदृच्छया
In my childhood, O king, I once took a vow, while playing with my companions in seclusion, by mere chance.
स्वदेहबलदर्पेण सखीनां पुरतो रहः । मत्समानबलः शूरो रणे मां जेष्यति स्फुटम्
Out of pride in my own strength, before my friends, in private, I declared: ‘A hero equal to me in strength shall openly defeat me in battle—’
तं वरिष्याम्यहं कामं ज्ञात्वा तस्य बलाबलम् । जहसुर्वचनं श्रुत्वा सख्यो विस्मितमानसाः
‘Him alone will I choose as I desire, knowing his strength and weakness.’ Hearing this, my friends laughed, their minds astonished.
किमेतया कृतं क्रूरं व्रतमद्भुतमाशु वै । तस्मात्त्वमपि राजेन्द्र ज्ञात्वा मे हीदृशं बलम्
‘What a harsh and wondrous vow she has made so quickly!’ Therefore, O king, you too, knowing my strength to be such—
जित्वा मां स्वबलेनात्र वाञ्छितं कुरु चात्मनः । त्वं वा तवानुजो भ्राता समेत्य समराङ्गणे । जित्वा मां समरेणात्र विवाहं कुरु सुन्दर
Conquer me here by your own strength and fulfill your wish; either you or your younger brother, together on the battlefield—having defeated me in combat here, O handsome one, celebrate the marriage.
देवीमाहात्म्ये देवीपार्श्वे धूम्रलोचनदूतप्रेषणम् व्यास उवाच देव्यास्तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा स दूतः प्राह विस्मितः । किं ब्रूषे रुचिरापाङ्गि स्त्रीस्वभावाद्धि साहसात्
In the narrative of the greatness of the Goddess: The sending of Dhūmralocana as a messenger to the Goddess. Vyāsa said: Hearing those words of the Goddess, the messenger spoke, astonished: ‘What are you saying, O beautiful-eyed one? Such boldness is natural to women.’
इन्द्राद्या निर्जिता येन देवा दैत्यास्तथापरे । तं कथं समरे देवि जेतुमिच्छसि भामिनि
He by whom Indra and the other gods, as well as the Daityas and others, have been conquered—how do you, O Goddess, wish to defeat him in battle, O lovely one?
त्रैलोक्ये तादृशो नास्ति यः शुम्भं समरे जयेत् । का त्वं कमलपत्राक्षि तस्याग्रे युधि साम्प्रतम्
There is no one in the three worlds who can defeat Śumbha in battle. Who are you, O lotus-eyed one, to stand before him in combat now?
अविचार्य न वक्तव्यं वचनं चापि सुन्दरि । बलं स्वपरयोर्ज्ञात्वा वक्तव्यं समयोचितम्
Without due consideration, such words should not be spoken, O beautiful one; knowing the strength of oneself and the other, one should speak appropriately to the situation.
त्रैलोक्याधिपतिः शुम्भस्तव रूपेण मोहितः । त्वाञ्च प्रार्थयते राजा कुरु तस्येप्सितं प्रिये
Śumbha, lord of the three worlds, is enchanted by your beauty; the king desires you—grant his wish, O beloved.
त्यक्त्वा मूर्खस्वभावं त्वं सम्मान्य वचनं मम । भज शुम्भं निशुम्भं वा हितमेतद् ब्रवीमि ते
Abandon your foolishness and heed my words with respect; accept Śumbha or Niśumbha—I speak this for your welfare.
शृङ्गारः सर्वथा सर्वैः प्राणिभिः परया मुदा । सेवनीयो बुद्धिमद्भिर्नवानामुत्तमो यतः
Love is to be enjoyed by all beings with utmost delight; for the wise, it is ever new and supreme.
नागमिष्यसि चेद् बाले संक्रुद्धः पृथिवीपतिः । अन्यानाज्ञाकरान्प्रेष्य बलान्नेष्यति साम्प्रतम्
If you do not come, child, the enraged lord of the earth will send others who obey his command, and they will bring you by force.
केशेष्वाकृष्य ते नूनं दानवा बलदर्पिताः । त्वां नयिष्यन्ति वामोरु तरसा शुम्भसन्तिधौ
The arrogant demons, intoxicated by their strength, will surely drag you by your hair, O slender-thighed one, and take you swiftly to Shumbha's presence.
स्वलज्जां रक्ष तन्वङ्गि साहसं सर्वथा त्यज । मानिता गच्छ तत्पार्श्वे मानपात्रं यतोऽसि वै
Protect your modesty, delicate-bodied one, and abandon all recklessness; go to his side with dignity, for you are indeed worthy of honor.
क्व युद्धं निशितैर्बाणैः क्व सुखं रतिसङ्गजम् । सारासारं परिच्छेद्य कुरु मे वचनं पटु
What is the value of battle with sharp arrows compared to the pleasure born of union? Discern what is essential and what is not, and heed my wise counsel.
भज शुम्भं निशुम्भं वा लब्धासि परमं सुखम् । देव्युवाच सत्यं दूत महाभाग प्रवक्तुं निपुणो ह्यसि
Choose Shumbha or Nishumbha, and you will attain supreme happiness. The Goddess spoke: Truly, O messenger, you are skilled in speaking.
निशुम्भशुम्भौ जानामि बलवन्ताविति ध्रुवम् । प्रतिज्ञा मे कृता बाल्यादन्यथा सा कथं भवेत्
I know that Nishumbha and Shumbha are certainly powerful; but I made a vow in childhood—how could it be otherwise?
तस्माद् ब्रूहि निशुम्भञ्च शुम्भं वा बलवत्तरम् । विना युद्धं न मे भर्ता भविता कोऽपि सौष्ठवात्
Therefore, tell me which is stronger, Nishumbha or Shumbha; without battle, no one will become my husband, due to my resolve.
जित्वा मां तरसा कामं करं गृह्णातु साम्प्रतम् । युद्धेच्छया समायातां विद्धि मामबलां नृप
Let him conquer me by force and then take my hand; know, O king, that I have come here desiring battle and am not weak.
युद्धं देहि समर्थोऽसि वीरधर्मं समाचर । बिभेषि मम शूलाच्चेत्पातालं गच्छ मा चिरम्
If you are capable, grant me battle and fulfill the duty of a warrior; if you fear my spear, then go quickly to the netherworld.
त्रिदिवं च धरां त्यक्त्वा जीवितेच्छा यदस्ति ते । इति दूत वदाशु त्वं गत्वा स्वपतिमादरात्
If you desire life, then abandon heaven and earth; thus, O messenger, go swiftly and speak to your master with respect.
स विचार्य यथायुक्तं करिष्यति महाबलः । संसारे दूतधर्मोऽयं यत्सत्यं भाषणं किल
He, possessing great strength, will act as is proper after considering; in this world, the duty of a messenger is to speak the truth.
शत्रौ पत्यौ च धर्मज्ञ तथा त्वं कुरु मा चिरम् । व्यास उवाच अथ तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा नीतिमद्बलसंयुतम्
Knowing the righteousness regarding enemy and husband, you should act without delay. Vyasa said: Then, hearing those words, full of policy and strength,
हेतुयुक्तं प्रगल्पञ्च विस्मितः प्रययौ तदा । गत्वा दैत्यपतिं दूतो विचार्य च पुनः पुनः
Reasoned and bold, the messenger departed, astonished; having gone to the lord of the demons, he considered again and again.
प्रणम्य पादयोः प्रह्वः प्रत्युवाच नृपञ्ज तम् । राजनीतिकरं वाक्यं मृदुपूर्वं प्रियं वचः
Bowing humbly at his feet, he addressed the king of demons with words of royal policy, gentle and pleasing.