शच्येन्द्रः शैलसुतया शङ्करः सह शेरते । वल्ल्या वृक्षो मृगो मृग्या कपोत्या च कपोतकः
Indra lies with Shachi, Shiva with the daughter of the mountain; the creeper with the tree, the deer with the doe, and the pigeon with the female pigeon.
एवं सर्वे प्राणभृतः संयोगरसिका भृशम् । अप्राप्तभोगविभवा ये चान्ये कातरा नराः
In this way, all living beings are greatly fond of union; and those other men, anxious and deprived of enjoyment and prosperity—
भवन्ति यतयस्ते वै मूढा दैवेन वञ्चिताः । असंसाररसज्ञास्ते वञ्चिता वञ्चनापरैः
They become ascetics, but are truly deluded, deceived by fate; ignorant of the taste of worldly life, they are cheated by those skilled in deception.
मधुरालापनिपुणै रताः शान्तिरसे हि ते । क्व ज्ञानं क्व च वैराग्यं वर्तमाने मनोभवे
Those who delight in sweet and skillful speech find their pleasure in tranquility; but where is knowledge, and where is renunciation, when the mind is absorbed in desire?
लोभे क्रोधे च दुर्धर्षे मोहे मतिविनाशके । तस्मात्त्वमपि कल्याणि कुरु कान्तं मनोहरम्
In greed and in uncontrollable anger, in delusion that destroys understanding—therefore, O auspicious one, you too should make your beloved happy.
शुम्भं सुराणां जेतारं निशुम्भं वा महाबलम् । व्यास उवाच इत्युक्त्वा रक्तबीजोऽसौ विरराम पुरःस्थितः । श्रुत्वा जहास चामुण्डा कालिका चाम्बिका तथा
Shumbha, the conqueror of the gods, or the mighty Nishumbha—choose one of them. Vyasa said: Having spoken thus, that Raktabija fell silent before them; hearing this, Chamunda, Kali, and Ambika all laughed.
रक्तबीजद्वारा देवीसमीपे शुम्भनिशुम्भसंवादवर्णनम् व्यास उवाच कृत्वा हास्यं ततो देवी तमुवाच विशांपते । मेघगम्भीरया वाचा युक्तियुक्तमिदं वचः
Vyasa said: Then, after laughing, the Goddess spoke to him, O king of men, with a voice deep as a cloud, uttering these words full of reason:
पूर्वमेव मया प्रोक्तं मन्दात्मन् किं विकत्थसे । दूतस्याग्रे यथायोग्यं वचनं हितसंयुतम्
"I have already told you before, O dull-witted one, why do you boast? In the presence of your messenger, I spoke fitting and beneficial words."
सदृशो मम रूपेण बलेन विभवेन च । त्रिलोक्यां यदि कोऽपि स्यात्तं पतिं प्रवृणोम्यहम्
"If there is anyone in the three worlds equal to me in form, strength, and wealth, I will choose him as my husband."
ब्रूहि शुम्भं निशुम्भञ्च प्रतिज्ञा मे पुरा कृता । तस्माद्युध्यस्व जित्वा मां विवाहं विधिवत्कुरु
"Tell Shumbha and Nishumbha this: I have made this vow before. Therefore, fight with me, and having conquered me, marry me according to proper rites."
त्वं वै तदाज्ञया प्राप्तस्तस्य कार्यार्थसिद्धये । संग्रामं कुरु पातालं गच्छ वा पतिना सह
"You have come here by their command to accomplish their purpose; so wage battle, or go to the netherworld with your master."
व्यास उवाच तच्छ्रुत्वा वचनं देव्याः स दैत्योऽमर्षपूरितः । मुमोच तरसा बाणान्सिंहस्योपरि दारुणान्
Vyasa said: Hearing the Goddess's words, that demon, filled with rage, swiftly released fierce arrows upon the lion.
अम्बिका ताच्छरान्वीक्ष्य गगने पन्नगोपमान् । चिच्छेद सायकैस्तीक्ष्णैर्लघुहस्ततया क्षणात्
Ambika, seeing those arrows in the sky, resembling serpents, cut them down in an instant with her sharp arrows, her hands moving lightly.
अन्यैर्जघान विशिखै रक्तबीजं महासुरम् । अम्बिकाचापनिर्मुक्तैः कर्णाकृष्टैः शिलाशितैः
With other arrows, she struck Raktabija, the great demon, with stones sharpened and drawn to the ear, released from Ambika's bow.
देवीबाणहतः पापो मूर्च्छामाप रथोपरि । पतिते रक्तबीजे तु हाहाकारो महानभूत्
Struck by the Goddess's arrows, the wicked one fell unconscious upon his chariot; and when Raktabija fell, a great outcry arose.
सैनिकाश्चुक्रुशुः सर्वे हताः स्म इति चाब्रुवन् । ततो बुम्बारवं श्रुत्वा शुम्भः परमदारुणम्
All the soldiers cried out, saying, 'We are slain!' Then, hearing that terrible tumult, Shumbha—
उद्योगं सर्वसैन्यानां दैत्यानामादिदेश ह । शुम्भ उवाच निर्यान्तु दानवाः सर्वे काम्बोजाः स्वबलैर्वृताः
Ordered the mobilization of all the demon armies. Shumbha said: 'Let all the Danavas go forth, the Kambojas with their own forces.'
अन्येऽप्यतिबलाः शूराः कालकेया विशेषतः । व्यास उवाच इत्याज्ञप्तं बलं सर्वं शुम्भेन च चतुर्विधम्
'Let others also, exceedingly strong and heroic, especially the Kalakeyas, go forth.' Vyasa said: Thus, Shumbha ordered all four divisions of his army.
निर्जगाम मदाऽऽविष्टं देवीसमरमण्डले । तमागतं समालोक्य चण्डिका दानवं बलम्
In the midst of the assembly of goddesses, the demon, overcome with arrogance, emerged; seeing him approach, Caṇḍikā gazed at the demon's force.
घण्टानादं चकाराशु भीषणं भयदं मुहुः । ज्यास्वनं शङ्खनादञ्च चकार जगदम्बिका
She swiftly sounded a terrifying, fearsome ringing of her bell again and again; and the Mother of the Universe made the twang of her bowstring and the blast of her conch resound.
तेन नादेन सा जाता काली विस्तारितानना । श्रुत्वा तन्निनदं घोरं सिंहो देव्याश्च वाहनम्
At that sound, Kālī became wide-mouthed; hearing that dreadful roar, the lion, the goddess's mount,
जगर्ज सोऽपि बलवाञ्जनयन्भयमद्भुतम् । तन्निनादमुपश्रुत्य दानवाः क्रोधमूर्च्छिताः
also roared mightily, producing a wondrous and fearsome noise; hearing that tumult, the demons, seized by wrath,
सर्वे चिक्षिपुरस्त्राणि देवीं प्रति महाबलाः । तस्मिन्नेवायते युद्धे दारुणे लोमहर्षणे
all those mighty ones hurled their weapons at the goddess; in that very moment, in that fierce and hair-raising battle,
ब्रह्मादीनाञ्च देवानां शक्तयश्चण्डिकां ययुः । यस्य देवस्य यद्रूपं यथा भूषणवाहनम्
the powers of Brahmā and the other gods entered Caṇḍikā; each goddess took on the form, ornaments, and mount of her respective deity.
तादृग्रूपास्तदा देव्यः प्रययुः समराङ्गणे । ब्रह्माणी वरटारूढा साक्षसूत्रकमण्डलुः
In such forms, those goddesses entered the battlefield; Brahmāṇī arrived riding a swan, holding a rosary and water-pot.
आगता ब्रह्मणः शक्तिर्ब्रह्माणीति प्रतिश्रुता । वैष्णवी गरुडारूढा शङ्खचक्रगदाधरा
The power of Brahmā, known as Brahmāṇī, came forth; Vaiṣṇavī arrived mounted on Garuḍa, bearing conch, discus, and mace.
पद्महस्ता समायाता पीताम्बरविभूषिता । शाङ्करी तु वृषारूढा त्रिशूलवरधारिणी
She came holding a lotus, adorned with yellow garments; Śāṅkarī, mounted on a bull, bearing a trident,
अर्धचन्द्रधरा देवी तथाहिवलया शिवा । कौमारी शिखिसंरूढा शक्तिहस्ता वरानना
the goddess adorned with a crescent moon and snake bracelets, auspicious; Kaumārī, riding a peacock, holding a spear, with a beautiful face,
युद्धकामा समायाता कार्तिकेयस्वरूपिणी । इन्द्राणी सुष्ठुवदना सुश्वेतगजवाहना
desiring battle, arrived in the form of Kārttikeya; Indrāṇī, with a lovely face, riding a pure white elephant,
वज्रहस्तातिरोषाढ्या संग्रामाभिमुखी ययौ । वाराही शूकराकारा प्रौढप्रेतासना मता
holding a thunderbolt, filled with intense wrath, advanced toward the battle; Vārāhī, boar-formed, seated on a powerful corpse,