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.
दृष्ट्वा तत्र स्थितां देवीं देवानां हितकारिणीम् । ऊचतुस्तौ महावीर्यौ तदा सामान्वितं वचः
Seeing the Goddess standing there, the benefactor of the gods, those two mighty warriors then spoke to her words laced with diplomacy.
बाले त्वं किं न जानासि शुम्भं सुरबलार्दनम् । निशुम्भञ्च महावीर्यं तुराषाड्विजयोद्धतम्
Girl, do you not know Śumbha, the destroyer of the gods’ strength, and Niśumbha, of great might, proud from conquering the Turaṣkas?
त्वमेकासि वरारोहे कालिकासिंहसंयुता । जेतुमिच्छसि दुर्बुद्धे शुम्भं सर्वबलान्वितम्
You are alone, O beautiful one, accompanied only by Kālī on her lion; foolish one, do you wish to defeat Śumbha, who possesses all power?
मतिदः कोऽपि ते नास्ति नारी वापि नरोऽपि वा । देवास्त्वां प्रेरयन्त्येव विनाशाय तवैव ते
You have no one to advise you—neither woman nor man; the gods are sending you only to your own destruction.
विमृश्य कुरु तन्वङ्गि कार्यं स्वपरयोर्बलम् । अष्टादशभुजत्वात्त्वं गर्वञ्च कुरुषे मृषा
Consider, slender-waisted one, the strength of both sides and act accordingly; because you have eighteen arms, your pride is misplaced.
किं भुजैर्बहुभिर्व्यर्थैरायुधैः किं श्रमप्रदैः । शुम्भस्याग्रे सुराणां वै जेतुः समरशालिनः
What use are many arms or weapons that only bring toil, when facing Śumbha, the conqueror of the gods, skilled in battle?
ऐरावतकरच्छेत्तुर्दन्तिदारणकारिणः । जयिनः सुरसङ्घानां कार्यं कुरु मनोगतम्
He who cut off Airāvata’s trunk and tore apart elephants, who has defeated the hosts of gods—do what is wise in your heart.
वृथा गर्वायसे कान्ते कुरु मे वचनं प्रियम् । हितं तव विशालाक्षि सुखदं दुःखनाशनम्
Why do you indulge in vain pride, O lovely one? Accept my good advice, wide-eyed lady, which is for your benefit, brings happiness, and removes suffering.
दुःखदानि च कार्याणि त्याज्यानि दूरतो बुधैः । सुखदानि च सेव्यानि शास्त्रतत्त्वविशारदैः
Actions that bring suffering should be avoided from afar by the wise; those that bring happiness are to be pursued by those well-versed in the true meaning of scripture.
चतुरासि पिकालापे पश्य शुम्भबलं महत् । प्रत्यक्षं सुरसङ्घानां मर्दनेन महोदयम्
You are clever in speech, but see the great power of Śumbha, who has gained glory by crushing the hosts of gods before your very eyes.