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.
प्रत्यक्षञ्च परित्यज्य वृथैवानुमितिः किल । सन्देहसहिते कार्ये न विपश्चित्प्रवर्तते
Direct perception should not be abandoned for mere inference; in matters fraught with doubt, the wise do not act.
शत्रुः सुराणां परमः शुम्भः समरदुर्जयः । तस्मात्त्वां प्रेरयन्त्यत्र देवा दैत्येशपीडिताः
Śumbha is the supreme enemy of the gods, unconquerable in battle; therefore, the gods, oppressed by the lord of the demons, have sent you here.
तस्मात्तद्वचनैः स्निग्धैर्वञ्चितासि शुचिस्मिते । दुःखाय तव देवानां शिक्षा स्वार्थस्य साधिका
Therefore, O fair-smiling one, you have been deceived by their gentle words; their instruction, aimed at their own gain, brings you sorrow and the gods as well.
कार्यमित्रं परिक्षिप्य धर्ममित्रं समाश्रयेत् । देवाः स्वार्थपराः कामं त्वामहं सत्यमब्रुवम्
One should abandon a friend who is useful only for a task and seek a friend who is righteous; the gods are indeed self-interested, as I have truly told you.
भज शुम्भं सुरेशानं जेतारं भुवनेश्वरम् । चतुरं सुन्दरं शूरं कामशास्त्रविशारदम् ॥ १६ ऐश्वर्यं सर्वलोकानां प्राप्स्यसे शुम्भशासनात् । निश्चयं परमं कृत्वा भर्तारं भज शोभनम्
Worship Śumbha, the lord of the gods, the conqueror, the ruler of the world—clever, handsome, heroic, and skilled in the arts of love.
व्यास उवाच इति तस्य वचः श्रुत्वा चण्डस्य जगदम्बिका । मेघगम्भीरनिनदं जगर्ज पुनरब्रवीत्
By the command of Śumbha, you will obtain the sovereignty of all the worlds; make a firm resolve and accept this excellent husband.
गच्छ जाल्म मृषा किं त्वं भाषसे वञ्चकं वचः । त्यक्त्वा हरिहरादींश्च शुम्भं कस्माद्भजे पतिम्
Vyāsa said: Hearing these words of Caṇḍa, the Mother of the Universe roared with a deep, thunderous sound and spoke again.
न मे कश्चित्पतिः कार्यो न कार्यं पतिना सह । स्वामिनी सर्वभूतानामहमेव निशामय
Go, wretch! Why do you speak these deceitful lies? Why should I abandon Hari, Hara, and the others to accept Śumbha as my husband?
शुम्भा मे बहवो दृष्टा निशुम्भाश्च सहस्रशः । घातिताश्च मया पूर्वं शतशो दैत्यदानवाः
I have no need for any husband, nor is there any purpose for me with a husband; know that I alone am the sovereign of all beings.
ममाग्रे देववृन्दानि विनष्टानि युगे युगे । नाशं यास्यन्ति दैत्यानां यूथानि पुनरद्य वै
Many Śumbhas and countless Niśumbhas have I seen; hundreds of Daityas and Dānavas have I slain before.