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.
स ददर्श ततो देवीं रम्योपवनसंस्थिताम् । दृष्ट्वा तां मृगशावाक्षीं विनयेन समन्वितः
There he saw the Goddess standing in a beautiful grove; seeing her, doe-eyed, he spoke with humility—
उवाच वचनं श्लक्ष्णं हेतुमद्रसभूषितम् । शृणु देवि महाभागे शुम्भस्त्वद्विरहातुरः
—and addressed her with gentle, reasoned, and dignified words: "Listen, O illustrious Goddess, Śumbha is tormented by separation from you."
दूतं प्रेषितवान्पार्श्वे तव नीतिविशारदः । रसभङ्गभयोद्विग्नः सामपूर्वं त्वयि स्वयम्
A messenger, skilled in diplomacy, was sent to your side, anxious about the risk of losing pleasure, and first approached you with gentle words.
तेनागत्य वचः प्रोक्तं विपरीतं वरानने । वचसा तेन मे भर्ता चिन्ताविष्टमना नृपः
He came and spoke words, O beautiful-faced one, that were contrary; by those words, my husband, the king, became troubled in mind.
बभूव रसमार्गज्ञे शुम्भः कामविमोहितः । दूतेन तेन न ज्ञातं हेतुगर्भं वचस्तव
Shumbha, expert in the ways of pleasure, was bewildered by desire; through that messenger, he did not perceive the underlying intent of your words.
यो मां जयति संग्रामे यदुक्तं कठिनं वचः । न ज्ञातस्तेन संग्रामो द्विविधः खलु मानिनि
The harsh words spoken, 'Whoever conquers me in battle,' were not understood by him; O proud one, he did not know that battle is of two kinds.
रतिजोऽथोत्साहजश्च पात्रभेदे विवक्षितः । रतिजस्त्वयि वामोरु शत्रोरुत्साहजः स्मृतः
One arises from passion, the other from zeal, distinguished by the nature of the opponent; passion is toward you, O slender-thighed one, zeal is remembered for the enemy.
सुखदः प्रथमः कान्ते दुःखदश्चारिजः स्मृतः । जानाम्यहं वरारोहे भवत्या मानसं किल
The first brings pleasure, O beloved, while the one born of enmity brings pain; I know, O radiant one, your mind indeed.
रतिसंग्रामभावस्ते हृदये परिवर्तते । इति तज्ज्ञं विदित्वा मां त्वत्सकाशं नराधिपः
The disposition for battle born of passion turns in your heart; knowing this, the king sent me to your presence.
प्रेषयामास शुम्भोऽद्य बलेन महताऽऽवृतम् । चतुरासि महाभागे शृणु मे वचनं मृदु
Today Shumbha has sent a great force, surrounding you; O illustrious one, you are clever, listen to my gentle words.