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.
निशुम्भ उवाच न वा पलायनं युक्तं न दुर्गग्रहणं तथा । युद्धमेव परं श्रेयः सर्वथैवानयानघ
Nishumbha said: Neither flight nor seizing a fortress is appropriate; in every way, battle alone is the highest course, O sinless one.
ससैन्योऽहं गमिष्यामि रणे तु प्रवराश्रितः । हत्वा तामागमिष्यामि तरसा त्वबलामिमाम्
I will go to battle with my army, relying on the foremost warriors; having slain her, I will return swiftly, for she is weak.
अथवा बलवद्दैवादन्यथा चेद्भविष्यति । मृते मयि त्वया कार्यं विमृश्य च पुनः पुनः
Or, if by fate it turns out otherwise and I am killed, you must act after careful consideration.
इति तस्य वचः श्रुत्वा शुम्भः प्रोवाच चानुजम् । तिष्ठ त्वं चण्डमुण्डौ द्वौ गच्छेतां बलसंयुतौ
Hearing his words, Shumbha then said to his younger brother: You stay here, and let Chanda and Munda go forth with their forces.
शशकग्रहणायात्र न युक्तं गजमोचनम् । चण्डमुण्डौ महावीरौ तां हन्तुं सर्वथा क्षमौ
It is not fitting to release an elephant to catch a rabbit; Caṇḍa and Muṇḍa, mighty warriors, are fully capable of killing her.
इत्युक्त्वा भ्रातरं शुम्भः सम्भाष्य च महाबलौ । उवाच वचनं राजा चण्डमुण्डौ पुरःस्थितौ
Having said this, Śumbha addressed his brother and then spoke these words to the two great warriors, Caṇḍa and Muṇḍa, who stood before him.
गच्छतं चण्डमुण्डौ द्वौ स्वसैन्यपरिवारितौ । हन्तुं तामबलां शीघ्रं निर्लज्जां मदगर्विताम्
Go forth, Caṇḍa and Muṇḍa, both of you surrounded by your own armies, and swiftly slay that shameless, arrogant woman.
गृहीत्वाथ निहत्याजौ कालिकां पिङ्गलोचनाम् । आगम्यतां महाभागौ कृत्वा कार्यं महत्तरम्
Capture and kill in battle Kālī, she of tawny eyes, and return, O most illustrious ones, having accomplished this great task.
सा नायाति गृहीतापि गर्विता चाम्बिका यदि । तदा बाणैर्महातीक्ष्णैर्हन्तव्याहवमण्डिता
If, even when captured, that proud Ambikā does not come, then she must be slain with sharp, deadly arrows.
चण्डमुण्डवधेन देव्याश्चामुण्डेतिनामवर्णनम् व्यास उवाच इत्याज्ञप्तौ तदा वीरौ चण्डमुण्डौ महाबलौ । जग्मतुस्तरसैवाजौ सैन्येन महतान्वितौ
Vyāsa said: Thus commanded, the mighty warriors Caṇḍa and Muṇḍa quickly set out for battle, accompanied by a great army.