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.
भज शुम्भं त्रिलोकेशं देवदर्पनिबर्हणम् । पट्टराज्ञी प्रिया भूत्वा भुंक्ष्व भोगाननुत्तमान्
Accept Shumbha, lord of the three worlds, destroyer of the pride of the gods; become his beloved queen and enjoy unsurpassed pleasures.
जेष्यति त्वां महाबाहुः शुम्भः कामबलार्थवित् । विचित्रान्कुरु हावांस्त्वं सोऽपि भावान्करिष्यति
Mighty-armed Shumbha, master of the power of desire, will conquer you; display varied gestures, and he too will respond with feelings.
भविष्यति कालिकेयं तत्र वै नर्मसाक्षिणी । एवं सङ्गरयोगेन पतिर्मे परमार्थवित्
This Kali will be present there as witness to your playfulness; thus, through the union of battle, my husband, knowing the highest truth—
जित्वा त्वां सुखशय्यायां परिश्रान्तां करिष्यति । रक्तदेहां नखाघातैर्दन्तैश्च खण्डिताधराम्
Having defeated you, he will place you, exhausted, upon a bed of pleasure; your body reddened, lips wounded by nails and teeth.
स्वेदक्लिन्नां प्रभग्नां त्वां संविधास्यति भूपतिः । भविता मानसः कामो रतिसंग्रामजस्तव
Sweat-soaked and broken, he will arrange you, O queen; desire will arise in your mind from the battle of passion.
दर्शनाद्वश एवास्ते शुम्भः सर्वात्मना प्रिये । वचनं कुरु मे पथ्यं हितकृच्चापि पेशलम्
From the very sight, Shumbha is entirely under your sway, O beloved; speak to me words that are proper, beneficial, and pleasing.
भज शुम्भं गणाध्यक्षं माननीयातिमानिनी । मन्दभाग्याश्च ते नूनं ह्यस्त्रयुद्धप्रियाश्च ये
Accept Shumbha, chief of the hosts, O proud one among the proud; surely, those of little fortune are fond of weapon-battle.
न तदर्हासि कान्ते त्वं सदा सुरतवल्लभे । अशोकं कुरु राजानं पादाघातविकासितम्
You are not suited for that, O beloved, always dear to pleasure; make the king joyful, whose face blooms from the touch of your feet.
बकुलं सीधुसेकेन तथा कुरबकं कुरु
Make the bakula blossom with wine, and likewise make the kurabaka bloom.
देव्यासह युद्धाय चण्डमुण्डप्रेषणम् व्यास उवाच इत्युक्त्वा विररामासौ वचनं धूम्रलोचनः । प्रत्युवाच तदा काली प्रहस्य ललितं वचः
The sending of Chanda and Munda for battle with the goddess.
विदूषकोऽसि जाल्म त्वं शैलूष इव भाषसे । वृथा मनोरथांश्चित्ते करोषि मधुरं वदन्
You are a fool, a jester, speaking like an actor; you fill your mind with vain fantasies and utter sweet words in vain.
बलवान्बलसंयुक्तः प्रेषितोऽसि दुरात्मना । कुरु युद्धं वृथा वादं मुञ्च मूढमतेऽधुना
You are strong and accompanied by strength, sent by an evil one; fight, or else abandon your foolish arguments now.
हत्वा शुम्भं निशुम्भञ्च त्वदन्यान्वा बलाधिकान् । देवी क्रुद्धा शराघातैर्व्रजिष्यति निजालयम्
Once the enraged Goddess has slain Śumbha, Niśumbha, and others stronger than you with her arrows, she will return to her own abode.
क्वासौ मन्दमतिः शुम्भः क्व वा विश्वविमोहिनी । अयुक्तः खलु संसारे विवाहविधिरेतयोः
Where is that dull-witted Śumbha, and where is the Enchantress of the universe? Truly, marriage between these two is not proper in this world.
सिंही किं त्वतिकामार्ता जम्बुकं कुरुते पतिम् । करिणी गर्दभं वापि गवयं सुरभिः किमु
Does a lioness, even if overwhelmed by desire, take a jackal as her mate? Does an elephant cow choose a donkey, or the divine cow Surabhi a wild ox?
गच्छ शुम्भं निशुम्भं च वद सत्यं वचो मम । कुरु युद्धं न चेद्याहि पातालं तरसाधुना
Go and tell Śumbha and Niśumbha my true words: fight, or if not, then swiftly descend to the netherworld now.
व्यास उवाच कालिकायावचः श्रुत्वा स दैत्यो धूम्रलोचनः । तामुवाच महाभाग क्रोधसंरक्तलोचनः
Vyāsa said: Hearing Kālī's words, that demon Dhumralocana, his eyes red with anger, spoke to her, O noble one.
दुर्दर्शे त्वां निहत्याजौ सिंहञ्च मदगर्वितम् । गृहीत्वैनां गमिष्यामि राजानं प्रत्यहं किल
O fierce one, after killing you in battle and your prideful lion, I will seize you and bring you to the king each day.
रसभङ्गभयात्कालि बिभेमि त्विह साम्प्रतम् । नोचेत्त्वां निशितैर्बाणैर्हन्म्यद्य कलहप्रिये
Kālī, I fear now only the loss of taste; otherwise, O lover of conflict, I would slay you today with sharp arrows.
कालिकोवाच किं विकत्थसि मन्दात्मन्नायं धर्मो धनुष्मताम् । स्वशक्त्या मुञ्च विशिखान्गन्तासि यमसंसदि
Kālī said: Why do you boast, O dull-witted one? This is not the conduct of warriors. Discharge your arrows with your own strength—you will go to Yama's assembly.