इत्युक्त्वा सहसाऽऽगत्य परिघं क्षिपते यदा । हुङ्कारेणैव तं भस्म चकार तरसाम्बिका
Having spoken thus, he rushed forward and hurled the club; but with a single roar, Ambika swiftly reduced him to ashes.
दृष्ट्वा भस्मीकृतं दैत्यं सैनिका भयविह्वलाः । चक्रुः पलायनं सद्यो हा तातेत्यब्रुवन्पथि
Seeing the demon turned to ashes, the soldiers, overwhelmed by fear, immediately fled, crying 'Alas, father!' as they ran.
देवास्तं निहतं दृष्ट्वा दानवं धूम्रलोचनम् । मुमुचुः पुष्पवृष्टिं ते मुदिता गगने स्थिताः
The gods, witnessing the death of the demon Dhumralocana, released a shower of flowers, rejoicing as they stood in the sky.
रणभूमिस्तदा राजन् दारुणा समपद्यत । निहतैर्दानवैरश्वैः खरैश्च वारणैस्तथा
O King, the battlefield then became dreadful, strewn with slain demons, horses, mules, and elephants.
गृध्राः काका वटाः श्येना वरफा जम्बुकास्तथा । ननृतुश्चुक्रुशुः प्रेतान्पतितान् रणभूमिषु
Vultures, crows, bats, hawks, jackals, and wild dogs danced and howled over the corpses fallen on the battlefield.
अम्बिका तद्रणस्थानं त्यक्त्वा दूरं स्थलान्तरे । गत्वा चकार चाप्युग्रं शङ्खनादं भयप्रदम्
Ambika, leaving that place of battle, went far away to another spot and sounded a fierce, terrifying conch.
तं श्रुत्वा दरशब्दं तु शुम्भः सद्मनि संस्थितः । दृष्ट्वाथ दानवान्भग्नानागतान् रुधिरोक्षितान्
Hearing that fearful sound, Shumbha, seated in his palace, saw the demons broken, returning covered in blood.
छिन्नपादकराक्षांश्च मञ्चकारोपितानपि । भग्नपृष्ठकटिग्रीवान्क्रन्दमानाननेकशः
He saw those with severed limbs, placed on stretchers, their backs, hips, and necks broken, many crying out in pain.
वीक्ष्य शुम्भो निशुम्भश्च क्व गतो धूम्रलोचनः । कथं भग्नाः समायाता नानीता किं वरानना
Shumbha and Nishumbha asked, 'Where has Dhumralocana gone? How have you returned defeated? Why was the beautiful one not brought?'
सैन्यं कुत्र गतं मन्दाः कथयन्तु यथोचितम् । कस्यायं शङ्खनादोऽद्य श्रूयते भयवर्धनः
'Where has the army gone, fools? Speak as is fitting. Whose conch sound is heard today, increasing fear?'
गणा ऊचुः बलञ्च पातितं सर्वं निहतो धूम्रलोचनः । कृतं कालिकया कर्म रणभूमावमानुषम्
The attendants said: 'All the force has been destroyed, Dhumralocana slain; Kali has performed a superhuman deed on the battlefield.'
शङ्खनादोऽम्बिकायास्तु गगनं व्याप्य राजते । हर्षदः सुरसङ्घानां दानवानाञ्च शोककृत्
The conch blast of Ambika shines, filling the sky; it brings joy to the hosts of gods and grief to the demons.
यदा निपातिताः सर्वे तेन केसरिणा विभो । रथा भग्ना हयाश्चैव बाणपातैर्विनाशिताः
When all were struck down by the lion, O Lord, chariots were broken and horses destroyed by volleys of arrows.
गगनस्थाः सुराश्चक्रुः पुष्पवृष्टिं मुदान्विताः । दृष्ट्वा भग्नं बलं सर्वं पातितं धूम्रलोचनम्
The gods standing in the sky showered flowers with delight, seeing the whole force broken and Dhumralocana slain.
निश्चयस्तु कृतोऽस्माभिर्जयो नैव भवेदिति । विचारं कुरु राजेन्द्र मन्त्रिभिर्मन्त्रवित्तमैः
We have decided: victory will not be ours. Consider, O king, with ministers skilled in counsel.
विस्मयोऽयं महाराज यदेका जगदम्बिका । भवद्भिः सह युद्धाय संस्थिता सैन्यवर्जिता
O great king, it is astonishing that the single World-Mother stands ready for battle against you, without an army.
निर्भयैकाकिनी बाला सिंहारूढा मदोत्कटा । चित्रमेतन्महाराज भासतेऽद्भुतमञ्जसा
A fearless, solitary girl, mounted on a lion and overflowing with pride—O great king, this is a marvelous and truly astonishing sight.
सन्धिर्वा विग्रहो वाद्य स्थानं निर्याणमेव च । मन्त्रयित्वा महाराज कुरु कार्यं यथारुचि
Whether it is alliance, conflict, negotiation, remaining, or departing—O great king, after due deliberation, act as you see fit.
तत्सन्निधौ बलं नास्ति तथापि शत्रुतापन । पार्ष्णिग्राहा सुराः सर्वे भविष्यन्ति किलापदि
In her presence, there is no strength; yet, O tormentor of foes, in adversity, all the gods will become mere followers.
समये तत्समीपस्थौ ज्ञातौ च हरिशङ्करौ । लोकपालाः समीपेऽद्य वर्तन्ते गगने स्थिताः
At this time, Hari and Shankara are known to be near her; today, the guardians of the worlds are stationed close by in the sky.
रक्षोगणाश्च गन्धर्वाः किन्नरा मानुषास्तथा । तत्सहायाश्च मन्तव्याः समये सुरतापन
The hosts of Rakshasas, Gandharvas, Kinnaras, and humans, as well as her allies, must be considered at this time, O tormentor of gods.
अस्माकं मतिमानेन ज्ञायते सर्वथेदृशम् । अम्बिकायाः सहायाशा तत्कार्याशा न काचन
By our judgment, it is clear in every way: Ambika has no need of helpers for her task.
एका नाशयितुं शक्ता जगत्सर्वं चराचरम् । का कथा दानवानां तु सर्वेषामिति निश्चयः
Alone, she is able to destroy the entire world, both moving and unmoving; what need is there to speak of all the Daityas? This is certain.
इति ज्ञात्वा महाभाग यथारुचि तथा कुरु । हितं सत्यं मितं वाक्यं वक्तव्यमनुयायिभिः
Knowing this, O most fortunate one, act as you desire; those who follow you should speak words that are beneficial, truthful, and measured.
व्यास उवाच तच्छ्रुत्वा वचनं तेषां शुम्भः परबलार्दनः । कनीयांसं समानीय पप्रच्छ रहसि स्थितः
Vyasa said: Hearing their words, Shumbha, the destroyer of enemy hosts, summoned his younger brother and questioned him in private.
भ्रातः कालिकयाद्यैव निहतो धूम्रलोचनः । बलञ्च शातितं सर्वं गणा भग्नाः समागताः
Brother, today Dhumralochana has been slain by Kali, and all our forces have been shattered and our troops have returned defeated.
अम्बिका शङ्खनादं वै करोति मदगर्विता । ज्ञानिनां चैव दुर्ज्ञेया गतिः कालस्य सर्वथा
Ambika, intoxicated with pride, is sounding her conch; the course of time is always difficult to comprehend, even for the wise.
तृणं वज्रायते नूनं वज्रं चैव तृणायते । बलवान्बलहीनः स्याद्दैवस्य गतिरीदृशी
Surely, straw becomes like a thunderbolt, and a thunderbolt becomes like straw; the strong may become weak—such is the course of fate.
पृच्छामि त्वां महाभाग किं कर्तव्यमितः परम् । अभोग्या चाम्बिका नूनं कारणादत्र चागता
I ask you, O most fortunate one, what should be done next? Ambika is certainly not to be enjoyed; she has come here for a reason.
युक्तं पलायनं वीर युद्धं वा वद सत्वरम् । लघुं ज्येष्ठं विजानामि त्वामहं कार्यसङ्कटे
Tell me quickly, hero, whether it is proper to flee or to fight; in a crisis, I know you to be the wisest among us.