येऽन्ये रुधिरजाः क्रूरा रक्तबीजा महाबलाः । तेऽपि निष्पातिताः सर्वे भक्षिता गतशोणिताः
All the other fierce and mighty beings born from Raktabija's blood were likewise destroyed and devoured, drained of their blood.
कृत्रिमा भक्षिताः सर्वे यस्तु स्वाभाविकोऽसुरः । सोऽपि प्रपातितो हत्वा खड्गेनातिविखण्डितः
All the artificial ones were devoured, and the original demon himself was struck down, cut to pieces with the sword.
रक्तबीजे हते रौद्रे ये चान्ये दानवा रणे । पलायनं ततः कृत्वा गतास्ते भयकम्पिताः
When the terrible Raktabija was slain, the other demons on the battlefield fled, trembling with fear.
हाहेति विब्रुवन्तस्ते शुम्भं प्रोचुः सविह्वलाः । रुथिरारक्तदेहाश्च विगतास्त्रा विचेतसः
Crying out 'Alas!' they approached Shumbha, distraught, their bodies stained with blood, weapons lost, and minds bewildered.
राजन्नम्बिकया रक्तबीजोऽसौ विनिपातितः । चामुण्डा तस्य देहात्तु पपौ सर्वं च शोणितम्
O King, by Ambika, Raktabija was struck down, and Camunda drank all the blood from his body.
ये चान्ये दानवाः शूरा वाहनेनातिरंहसा । सिंहेन निहताः सर्वे काल्या च भक्षिताः परे
And all the other heroic demons, swiftly struck down by the lion mount, were likewise devoured by Kali.
वयं त्वां कथितुं राजन्नागता युद्धचेष्टितम् । चरितञ्च तथा देव्याः संग्रामे परमाद्भुतम्
O King, we have come to tell you of the deeds in battle, and of the wondrous exploits of the Goddess in the war.
अजेयेयं महाराज सर्वथा दैत्यदानवैः । गन्धर्वासुरयक्षैश्च पन्नगोरगराक्षसैः
O great king, she is truly unconquerable by all the demon clans, as well as by Gandharvas, Asuras, Yakshas, Nagas, Uragas, and Rakshasas.
अन्यास्तत्रागता देव्य इन्द्राणीप्रमुखा भृशम् । युध्यमाना महाराज वाहनैरायुधैर्युताः
Other goddesses also arrived there, with Indrani at their head, O great king, all fiercely engaged in battle, equipped with their vehicles and weapons.
ताभिः सर्वं हतं सैन्यं दानवानां वरायुधैः । रक्तबीजोऽपि राजेन्द्र तरसा विनिपातितः
By those goddesses, all the army of the demons was destroyed with mighty weapons; even Raktabija, O king of kings, was forcefully struck down.
एकापि दुःसहा देवी किं पुनस्ताभिरन्विता । सिंहोऽपि हन्ति संग्रामे राक्षसानमितप्रभः
Even a single goddess is unbearable; what then when she is joined by these others? The lion of immeasurable splendor also slays the demons in battle.
अतो विचार्य सचिवैर्यद्युक्तं तद्विधीयताम् । न वैरमनया युक्तं सन्धिरेव सुखप्रदः
Therefore, after due consideration with your counselors, do what is appropriate; enmity with her is not fitting—only a treaty brings happiness.
आश्चर्यमेतदखिलं यन्नारी हन्ति राक्षसान् । रक्तबीजोऽपि निहतः पीतं तस्यापि शोणितम्
It is truly astonishing that a woman slays the demons; even Raktabija has been killed, and his blood has been drunk by her.
अन्ये निपातिता दैत्याः संग्रामेऽम्बिकया नृप । चामुण्डया च मांसं वै भक्षितं सकलं रणे
Other demons were also struck down in battle by Ambika, O king, and all their flesh was devoured on the battlefield by Chamunda.
वरं पातालगमनं तस्याः सेवाथवा वरा । न तु युद्धं महाराज कार्यमम्बिकया सह
It is better to go to the netherworld or to serve her, O best of kings, but not to wage war with Ambika.
न नारी प्राकृता ह्येषा देवकार्यार्थसाधिनी । मायेयं प्रबला देवी क्षपयन्तीयमुत्थिता
She is not an ordinary woman; she accomplishes the purpose of the gods. This powerful goddess, arisen here, is Maya itself, destroying all.
व्यास उवाच इति तेषां वचस्तथ्यं श्रुत्वा कालविमोहितः । मुमूर्षुः प्रत्युवाचेदं शुम्भः प्रस्फुरिताधरः
Vyasa said: Hearing these truthful words, Shumbha, deluded by time and desiring death, replied with quivering lips:
शुम्भ उवाच यूयं गच्छत पातालं शरणं वा भयातुराः । हनिष्याम्यहमद्यैव ताञ्च ताश्च समुद्यतः
Shumbha said: You may go to the netherworld or seek refuge elsewhere, terrified by fear; but I, prepared, will slay both them and those goddesses today itself.
जित्वा सर्वान्सुरानाजौ कृत्वा राज्यं सुपुष्कलम् । कथं नारीभयोद्विग्नः पातालं प्रविशाम्यहम्
Having conquered all the gods in battle and established a flourishing kingdom, how can I, disturbed by fear of a woman, enter the netherworld?
निहत्य पार्षदान्सर्वान् रक्तबीजमुखान् रणे । प्राणत्राणाय गच्छामि हित्वा किं विपुलं यशः
Having slain all the attendants, with Raktabija at their head, in battle, should I abandon great fame merely to save my life?
मरणं त्वनिवार्यं वै प्राणिनां कालकल्पितम् । तद्भयं जन्मनोपात्तं त्यजेत्को दुर्लभं यशः
Death is inevitable for all living beings, ordained by time; who would abandon rare fame out of fear that is born with birth?
निशुम्भाहं गमिष्यामि रथारूढो रणाजिरे । हत्वा तामागमिष्यामि नागमिष्यामि चान्यथा
I, Nishumbha, will go to the battlefield mounted on my chariot; having slain her, I will return—otherwise, I will not come back.
त्वं तु सेनायुतो वीर पार्ष्णिग्राहो भवस्व मे । तरसा तां शरैस्तीक्ष्णैर्नारीं नय यमालये
But you, O hero, with your army, be my rear guard; swiftly lead that woman to the abode of Yama with sharp arrows.
निशुम्भ उवाच अहमद्य हनिष्यामि गत्वा दुष्टाञ्च कालिकाम् । आगमिष्याम्यहं शीघ्रं गृहीत्वा तामथाम्बिकाम्
Nishumbha said: Today I will go and slay the wicked Kali, and I will quickly return, having seized that Ambika.
मा चिन्तां कुरु राजेन्द्र वराकायास्तु कारणे । क्वैषा बाला क्व मे बाहुवीर्यं विश्ववशङ्करम्
Do not worry, O king, on account of that wretched woman; what is she, a mere girl, compared to my world-subduing strength of arms?
त्यक्त्वाऽऽर्तिं विपुलां भ्रातर्भुंक्ष भोगाननुत्तमान् । आनयिष्याम्यहं कामं मानिनीं मानसंयुताम्
Abandon your great distress, brother, and enjoy supreme pleasures; I will bring you, as you desire, that proud, high-minded woman.
मयि तिष्ठति ते राजन्न युक्तं गमनं रणे । गत्वाहमानयिष्यामि तवार्थे वै जयश्रियम्
O King, while I am present, it is not fitting for you to go into battle; I will go and bring the glory of victory for your sake.
व्यास उवाच इत्युक्त्वा भ्रातरं ज्येष्ठं कनीयान्बलगर्वितः । रथमास्थाय विपुलं सन्नद्धः स्वबलावृतः
Vyasa said: Having spoken thus to his elder brother, the younger, proud of his strength, mounted his great chariot, fully armored and surrounded by his own forces.
जगाम तरसा तूर्णं सङ्गरे कृतमङ्गलः । संस्तुतो बन्दिसूतैश्च सायुधः सपरिष्करः
He swiftly proceeded to the battlefield, having performed auspicious rites, praised by bards and charioteers, armed and fully equipped.
युद्धात्प्रत्यागतानां रक्षसां शुम्भाय वार्तावर्णनम् व्यास उवाच निशुम्भो निश्चयं कृत्वा मरणाय जयाय वा । सोद्यमः सबलः शूरो रणे देवीमुपाययौ
Vyasa said: Nishumbha, having resolved upon either death or victory, set out with effort and his army, courageous, and approached the Goddess in battle.