तमाजगाम शुम्भोऽपि स्वबलेन समावृतः । प्रेक्षकोऽभूद्रणे राजा संग्रामरसपण्डितः
Shumbha too came there, surrounded by his own forces; the king, skilled in the taste of battle, became an onlooker in the fight.
गगने संस्थिता देवास्तदाभ्रपटलावृताः । दिदृक्षवस्तु संग्रामे सेन्द्रा यक्षगणास्तथा
The gods, then, stationed in the sky and veiled by masses of clouds, along with Indra and the hosts of Yakshas, desired to witness that battle.
निशुम्भोऽथ रणे गत्वा धनुरादाय शार्ङ्गकम् । चकार शरवृष्टिं स भीषयञ्जगदम्बिकाम्
Then Nishumbha, having gone into battle, took up his excellent bow and showered arrows, terrifying the Mother of the Universe.
मुञ्चन्तं शरजालानि निशुम्भं चण्डिका रणे । वीक्ष्यादाय धनुः श्रेष्ठं जहास सुस्वरं मुहुः
Seeing Nishumbha releasing volleys of arrows in battle, Chandika took up her best bow and repeatedly laughed melodiously.
उवाच कालिकां देवी पश्य मूर्खत्वमेतयोः । मरणायागतौ कालि मत्समीपमिहाधुना
The Goddess said to Kali: Behold the folly of these two, Kali; they have now come near me for their death.
दृष्ट्वा दैत्यवधं घोरं रक्तबीजात्ययं तथा । जयाशां कुरुतस्त्वेतौ मोहितौ मम मायया
Having seen the dreadful slaughter of the demons and the destruction of Raktabija, these two, hoping for victory, are deluded by my maya.
आशा बलवती ह्येषा न जहाति नरं क्वचित् । भग्नं हृतबलं नष्टं गतपक्षं विचेतनम्
Hope is indeed powerful; it never abandons a man, even when he is broken, deprived of strength, lost, bereft of allies, and unconscious.
आशापाशनिबद्धौ द्वौ युद्धाय समुपागतौ । निहन्तव्यौ मया कालि रणे शुम्भनिशुम्भकौ
Bound by the noose of hope, these two have come to fight; O Kali, Shumbha and Nishumbha are to be slain by me in battle.
आसन्नमरणावेतौ सम्प्राप्तौ दैवमोहितौ । पश्यतां सर्वदेवानां हनिष्याम्यहमद्य तौ
Now, these two, their death near and deluded by fate, have arrived; today, in the sight of all the gods, I shall slay them.
व्यास उवाच इत्युक्त्वा कालिकां चण्डी कर्णाकृष्टशरोत्करैः । छादयामास तरसा निशुम्भं पुरतः स्थितम्
Vyasa said: Having spoken thus to Kali, Chandika, with arrows drawn to her ear, swiftly covered Nishumbha, who stood before her.
दानवोऽपि शरांस्तस्याश्चिच्छेद निशितैः शरैः । तयोः परस्परं युद्धं बभूवातिभयानकम्
The demon too cut down her arrows with his sharp shafts; between the two, a most terrifying battle took place.
केसरी केशजालानि धुन्वानः सैन्यसागरम् । गाहयामास बलवान्सरसीं वारणो यथा
The lion, shaking its mane, plunged into the ocean of armies, making them sink as a mighty elephant does a lake.
नखैर्दन्तप्रहारैस्तु दानवान्पुरतः स्थितान् । चखाद च विशीर्णाङ्गान् गजानिव मदोत्कटान्
With claws and blows of its teeth, it tore apart the demons standing before it, and devoured their shattered bodies like a maddened elephant.
एवं विमथ्यमाने तु सैन्ये केसरिणा तदा । अभ्यधावन्निशुम्भोऽथ विकृष्टवरकार्मुकः
Thus, as the army was being crushed by the lion, then Nishumbha, drawing his excellent bow, rushed forward.
अन्येऽपि क्रुद्धा दैत्येन्द्रा देवीं हन्तुमुपाययुः । सन्दष्टदन्तरसना रक्तनेत्रा ह्यनेकशः
Other enraged lords of the Daityas also approached the Goddess to slay her, their teeth clenched, their eyes bloodshot, coming again and again.
तत्राजगाम तरसा शुम्भः सैन्यसमावृतः । निहत्य कालिकां कोपाद्ग्रहीतुं जगदम्बिकाम्
Thereupon, Śumbha arrived swiftly, surrounded by his army, and, having slain Kālī in his fury, sought to seize the Mother of the Universe.
तत्रागत्य ददर्शाजावम्बिकाञ्च पुरःस्थिताम् । रौद्ररसयुतां कान्तां शृङ्गाररससंयुताम्
Arriving there, he saw Ambikā standing before him—fierce in mood yet beautiful, embodying both wrath and the essence of love.
तां वीक्ष्य विपुलापाङ्गीं त्रैलोक्यवरसुन्दरीम् । सुरक्तनयनां रम्यां क्रोधरक्तेक्षणां तथा
Beholding her, with wide, enchanting eyes, the most beautiful in the three worlds, her lovely eyes deeply red, blazing with the fire of anger—
विवाहेच्छां परित्यज्य जयाशां दूरतस्तथा । मरणे निश्चयं कृत्वा तस्थावाहितकार्मुकः
Abandoning all desire for marriage and hope of victory, he resolved upon death, and stood ready, his bow drawn.
तं तथा दानवं देवी स्मितपूर्वमिदं वचः । बभाषे शृण्वतां तेषां दैत्यानां रणमस्तके
Then the Goddess, smiling, spoke these words to that Dānava, as the Daityas listened atop the battlefield:
गच्छध्वं पामरा यूयं पातालं वा जलार्णवम् । जीविताशां स्थिरां कृत्वा त्यक्त्वात्रैवायुधानि च
"Go, you wretches, to Pātāla or into the ocean; fix your hope on life, and here and now lay down your weapons."
अथवा मच्छराघातहतप्राणा रणाजिरे । प्राप्य स्वर्गसुखं सर्वे क्रीडन्तु विगतज्वराः
"Or, if you are struck down by my arrows and lose your lives on the battlefield, then all of you, freed from suffering, may attain the happiness of heaven and play there."
कातरत्वं च शूरत्वं न भवत्येव सर्वथा । ददाम्यभयदानं वै यान्तु सर्वे यथासुखम्
"Cowardice and heroism do not always arise; I grant you the boon of fearlessness—let all depart as they wish."
व्यास उवाच इत्याकर्ण्य वचस्तस्या निशुम्भो मदगर्वितः । निशितं खड्गमादाय चर्म चैवाष्टचन्द्रकम्
Vyāsa said: Hearing her words, Niśumbha, swollen with pride, seized his sharp sword and his shield adorned with eight moons.
धावमानस्तु तरसासिना सिंहं मदोत्कटम् । जघानातिबलान्मूर्ध्नि भ्रामयञ्जगदम्बिकाम्
Rushing swiftly with his sword, he struck the fierce, intoxicated lion on the head, whirling as he confronted the Mother of the Universe.
ततो देवी स्वगदया वञ्चयित्वासिपातनम् । ताडयामास तं बाहोर्मूले परशुना तदा
Then the Goddess, evading the blow of his sword with her mace, struck him at the root of his arm with her axe.
खड्गेन निहतः सोऽपि बाहुमूले महामदः । संस्तभ्य वेदनां भूयो जघान चण्डिकां तदा
Though struck at the root of his arm by the sword, the greatly arrogant one suppressed his pain and again attacked Caṇḍikā.
सापि घण्टास्वनं घोरं चकार भयदं नृणाम् । पपौ पुनः पुनः पानं निशुम्भं हन्तुमिच्छती
She then made a terrible, fearsome sound with her bell, terrifying to men, and drank again and again, desiring to slay Niśumbha.
एवं परस्परं युद्धं बभूवातिभयप्रदम् । देवानां दानवानाञ्च परस्परजयैषिणाम्
Thus, a mutual battle arose, exceedingly dreadful, between the gods and the Dānavas, each seeking victory over the other.
पलादाः पक्षिणः क्रूराः सारमेयाश्च जम्बुकाः । ननृतुश्चातिसन्तुष्टा गृध्राः कङ्काश्च वायसाः
Flesh-eating birds, cruel jackals, wild dogs, and vultures, crows, and kites danced in great delight.