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.
दूत उवाच सत्यं प्रियं च वक्तव्यं तेन चिन्तापरो ह्यहम् । सत्यं प्रियं च राजेन्द्र वचनं दुर्लभं किल
The messenger spoke: One must speak what is true and pleasing; therefore, I am full of concern. True and pleasing words, O king, are indeed rare.
अप्रियं वदतां कामं राजा कुप्यति सर्वथा । साक्षात्कुतः समायाता कस्य वा किंबलाबला
If one speaks unpleasant words, the king becomes angry in every way. From whom, and for what reason, has she come, and what is her strength or weakness?
न ज्ञानगोचरं किञ्चित्किं ब्रवीमि विचेष्टितम् । युद्धकामा मया दृष्टा गर्विता कटुभाषिणी
Nothing is within the scope of my knowledge—what can I say about her actions? I saw her eager for battle, proud, and harsh in speech.
तया यत्कथितं सम्यक् तच्छृणुष्व महामते । मया बाल्यात्प्रतिज्ञेयं कृता पूर्वं विनोदतः
Hear attentively, O wise one, what she said to me. I made a vow in childhood, previously, out of delight.
सखीनां पुरतः कामं विवाहं प्रति सर्वथा । यो मां युद्धे जयेदद्धा दर्पञ्च विधुनोति वै
In the presence of my companions, I have declared regarding marriage: whoever defeats me in battle and truly humbles my pride—
तं वरिष्याम्यहं कामं पतिं समबलं किल । न मे प्रतिज्ञा मिथ्या सा कर्तव्या नृपसत्तम
—him, if I desire, I shall accept as my husband, provided he is my equal in strength. My vow must not be made in vain, O best of kings.
तस्माद्युध्यस्व धर्मज्ञ जित्वा मां स्ववशं कुरु । तयेति व्याहृतं वाक्यं श्रुत्वाहं समुपागतः
Therefore, O knower of righteousness, fight with me; having conquered me, make me yours. Hearing these words, I approached her.
यथेच्छसि महाराज तथा कुरु तव प्रियम् । सा युद्धार्थं कृतमतिः सायुधा सिंहगामिनी
As you wish, O great king, so do what pleases you. She, resolute and lion-gaited, was intent on battle and armed.
निश्चला वर्तते भूप यद्योग्यं तद्विधीयताम् । व्यास उवाच इत्याकर्ण्य वचस्तस्य सुग्रीवस्य नराधिपः
She remained unmoved, O king; let whatever is appropriate be done. Vyāsa said: Hearing these words of Sugrīva—
पप्रच्छ भ्रातरंशूरं समीपस्थं महाबलम् । शुम्भ उवाच भ्रातः किमत्र कर्तव्यं ब्रूहि सत्यं महामते
—the king questioned his valiant brother, who stood nearby, endowed with great strength. Śumbha said:
नार्येका योद्धुकामास्ति समाह्वयति साम्प्रतम् । अहं गच्छामि संग्रामे त्वं वा गच्छ बलान्वितः
"Brother, what should be done here? Speak truly, O wise one. A single woman wishes to fight and now challenges us. Either I will go to battle, or you may go, strong as you are."
यद्रोचते निशुम्भात्र तत्कर्तव्यं मया किल । निशुम्भ उवाच न मया न त्वया वीर गन्तव्यं रणमूर्धनि
"Whatever Niśumbha desires here, that indeed I shall do." Niśumbha said: "Neither I nor you, O hero, should go to the forefront of battle."
प्रेषयस्व महाराज त्वरितं धूम्रलोचनम् । स गत्वा तां रणे जित्वा गृहीत्वा चारुलोचनाम्
"Send quickly, O king, Dhūmralocana. Let him go, defeat her in battle, and seize the lovely-eyed one."
आगमिष्यति शुम्भात्र विवाहः संविधीयताम् । व्यास उवाच तन्निशम्य वचस्तस्य शुम्भो भ्रातुः कनीयसः ॥ ३५ कोपात्सम्प्रेषयामास पार्श्वस्थं धूम्रलोचनम् । शुम्भ उवाच धूम्रलोचन गच्छाशु सैन्येन महताऽऽवृतः
"He will return here, O Śumbha, and the marriage shall be arranged." Vyāsa said: Hearing the words of his younger brother, Śumbha, in anger, sent for Dhūmralocana, who stood nearby. Śumbha said:
गृहीत्वाऽऽनय तां मुग्धां स्ववीर्यमदमोहिताम् । देवो वा दानवो वापि मनुष्यो वा महाबलः
"Dhūmralocana, go swiftly, surrounded by a great army. Seize and bring that innocent one, intoxicated by her own strength, whether god, demon, or mighty human—
तत्पार्ष्णिग्राहतां प्राप्तो हन्तव्यस्तरसा त्वया । तत्पार्श्ववर्तिनीं कालीं हत्वा संगृह्य तां पुनः
"—whoever comes to her aid, you must quickly slay. Kill Kālī, who stands by her side, and after capturing her, return at once having accomplished this excellent task."
शीघ्रमत्र समागच्छ कृत्वा कार्यमनुत्तमम् । रक्षणीया त्वया साध्वी मुञ्चन्ती मृदुमार्गणान्
"Protect that virtuous woman, even if she releases gentle arrows; with great care, O hero, for she is tender-bodied and slender-waisted."
यत्नेन महता वीर मृदुदेहा कृशोदरी । तत्सहायाश्च हन्तव्या ये रणे शस्त्रपाणयः
"Her allies who bear weapons in battle must be slain. In any case, she herself must not be killed; she must be protected with utmost effort."
सर्वथा सा न हन्तव्या रक्षणीया प्रयत्नतः । व्यास उवाच इत्यादिष्टस्तदा राज्ञा तरसा धूम्रलोचनः
Vyāsa said: Thus commanded by the king, Dhūmralocana swiftly—
प्रणम्य शुम्भं सैन्येन भूतः शीघ्रं ययौ रणे । असाधूनां सहस्राणां षष्ट्या तेषां वृतस्तथा
—having bowed to Śumbha, departed quickly to battle with his army, accompanied by sixty thousand wicked ones.