सर्वाभरणभूषाढ्यां सर्वलक्षणसंयुताम् । स्तूयमानां सुरैः खस्थैर्गन्धर्वयक्षकिन्नरैः
Adorned with all ornaments, endowed with every auspicious mark, she was being praised by gods in the sky, as well as by gandharvas, yakṣas, and kinnaras.
पुष्पैश्च पूज्यमानां च मंदारपादपोद्भवैः । कुर्वाणां शंखनिनदं घंटानादं मनोहरम्
She was being worshipped with flowers from the mandāra tree, making the sound of conches and bells, enchanting to hear.
दृष्ट्वा तां मोहमगमच्छुंभः कामविमोहितः । पंचबाणाहतः कामं मनसा समचिंतयत्
Seeing her, Śumbha was overcome with delusion, bewildered by desire, as if struck by the five arrows of Kāma, and he contemplated her in his mind.
अहो रूपमिदं सम्यगहो चातुर्यमद्भुतम् । सुकुमाराऽतितन्वंगी सद्यः प्रकटयौवना । चित्रमेतदसौ बाला कामभावविवर्जिता
Ah, this form is truly perfect; ah, this cleverness is wondrous. Delicate and slender of body, with youth manifest at once—yet, though she is a maiden, she is free from desire.
कामकांतासमा रूपे सर्वलक्षणलक्षिता । अम्बिकेयं किमेतत्तु हंति सर्वान्महाबलान्
In beauty she is equal to the most beloved, marked by every auspicious sign. Is this Ambikā, who slays all the mighty ones?
उपायः कोऽत्र कर्तव्यो येन मे वशगा भवेत् । न मंत्रा वा मरालाक्षीसाधने सन्निधौ मम
What means should I employ here, by which she might come under my control? No spells or charms are effective in her presence for me.
सर्वमंत्रमयी ह्येषा मोहिनी मदगर्विता। सुन्दरीयं कथं मे स्याद्वशगा वरवर्णिनी
She is indeed composed of all mantras, an enchantress, proud of her own beauty; how can this supremely radiant woman ever come under my control?
पातालगमनं मेऽत्र न युक्तं समरांगणात् । सामदानविभेदैश्च नेयं साध्या महाबला
It is not proper for me to descend to the netherworld from the battlefield; nor can she, mighty as she is, be subdued by conciliation, gifts, or sowing dissension.
किं कर्तव्यं क्व गंतव्यं विषमे समुपस्थिते । मरणं नोत्तमं चात्र स्त्रीकृतं तु यशोऽपहृत्
What should be done, where should I go, now that such adversity has come? Death is not best here, for my fame has already been taken away by a woman.
मरणं ऋषिभिः प्रोक्तं संगरे मंगलास्पदम् । यत्तत्समानबलयोर्योधयोर्युध्यतोः किल
The sages have declared that death in battle is auspicious, but only when it occurs between two warriors of equal strength, both fighting valiantly.
प्राप्तेयं दैवरचिता नारी नरशतोत्तमा । नाशायास्मत्कुलस्येह सर्वथाऽतिबलाऽबला
This woman, fashioned by fate, has appeared, surpassing hundreds of men; she is supremely powerful or powerless, but in every way she brings destruction to our lineage.
वृथा किं सामवाक्यानि मया योज्यानि सांप्रतम् । हननायागता ह्येषा किं नु साम्ना प्रसीदति
Why should I now employ words of conciliation in vain? She has come for battle—will she truly be appeased by gentle speech?
न दानैश्चालितुं योग्या नानाशस्त्रविभूषिता । भेदस्तु विफलः कामं सर्वदेववशानुगा
She cannot be swayed by gifts, adorned as she is with many weapons; division is certainly fruitless, for she follows the will of all the gods.
तस्मात्तु मरणं श्रेयो न संग्रामे पलायनम् । जयो वा मरणं वाऽद्य भवत्वेव यथाविधि
Therefore, death is preferable to fleeing the battle; let victory or death come today, as destiny ordains.
व्यास उवाच। इति संचिंत्यमानः स शुम्भः सत्त्वाश्रितोऽभवत् । युद्धाय सुस्थिरो भूत्वा तामुवाच पुरः स्थिताम्
Vyasa said: Thus reflecting, Shumbha, relying on his courage, became resolute for battle and, standing before her, spoke to her.
देवि युध्यस्व कान्तेऽद्य वृथाऽयं ते परिश्रमः । मूर्खाऽसि किल नारीणां नायं धर्मः कदाचन
O goddess, fight now, beautiful one; your effort is in vain. Truly, you are foolish among women—this is never the proper path for women.
नारीणां लोचने बाणा भ्रुवावेव शरासनम् । हावभावास्तु शस्त्राणि पुमाँल्लक्ष्यं विचक्षणः
For women, their eyes are arrows, their eyebrows the bow; their gestures are weapons, and the discerning man is their target.
सन्नाहश्चांगरागोऽत्र रथश्चापि मनोरथः । मन्दप्रजल्पितं भेरीशब्दो नान्यः कदाचन
Their armor is the application of cosmetics, their chariot is the chariot of imagination; soft words are their war-drum, and nothing else.
अन्यास्त्रधारणं स्त्रीणां स्त्रीणां विडंबनमसंशयम् । लज्जैव भूषणं कांते न च धार्ष्ट्यं कदाचन
For women to bear other weapons is surely a mockery; modesty is their ornament, never boldness, O lovely one.
युध्यमाना वरा नारी कर्कशेवाभिदृश्यते । स्तनौ संगोपनीयौ वा धनुषः कर्षणे कथम्
A woman who fights appears harsh, not admirable; and how can she draw a bow while keeping her breasts concealed?
क्व मन्दगमनं कुत्र गदामादाय धावनम् । बुद्धिदा कालिका तेऽत्र चामुंडा परनायिका
Where is the slow, graceful walk, and where is the running with a mace in hand? Here, Kālikā is your giver of wisdom, and Cāmuṇḍā your chief.
चंडिकामन्त्रमध्यस्था लालनेऽसुस्वरा शिवा । वाहनं मृगराडास्ते सर्वसत्त्वभयंकरः
You dwell amidst the mantras of Caṇḍikā, O gentle-voiced, auspicious one; your mount is the king of beasts, terrifying to all creatures.
वीणानादं परित्यज्य घंटानादं करोषि यत् । रूपयौवनयोः सर्वं विरोधि वरवर्णिनि
Abandoning the sound of the lute, you now make the sound of bells; all this opposes your beauty and youth, O radiant one.
यदि ते संगरेच्छाऽस्ति कुरूपा भव भामिनि । लम्बोष्ठी कुनखी क्रूरा ध्वांक्षवर्णा विलोचना
If you truly desire battle, O beautiful one, then become ugly—let your lips hang, your nails be deformed, your eyes cruel, your complexion that of a vulture.
लम्बपादा कुदन्ती च मार्जारनयनाकृतिः । ईदृशं रूपमास्थाय तिष्ठ युद्धे स्थिरा भव
Take on a form with hanging feet, crooked teeth, and eyes like a cat; assume such an appearance and stand firm in battle.
कर्कशं वचनं ब्रूहि ततो युद्धं करोम्यहम् । ईदृशीं सुदतीं दृष्ट्वा न मे पाणिः प्रसीदति
Speak harsh words, then I will fight; seeing you with such lovely teeth, my hand does not find resolve.
हन्तुं त्वां मृगशावाक्षि कामकांतोपमे मृधे । व्यास उवाच। इति ब्रुवाणं कामार्तं वीक्ष्य तं जगदम्बिका
How can I slay you, doe-eyed one, whose beauty rivals the god of love, in battle? Vyasa said: Seeing him, overcome by desire, speak thus, the Mother of the Universe—
स्मितपूर्वमिदं वाक्यमुवाच भरतोत्तम । देव्युवाच। किं विषीदसि मन्दात्मन्कामबाणविमोहितः
—smiling first, spoke these words, O best of the Bharatas: The Goddess said: Why do you despair, dull-minded one, bewildered by the arrows of desire?
प्रेक्षिकाऽहं स्थिता मूढ कुरु कालिकया मृधम् । चामुण्डया वा कुर्वेते तव योग्ये रणांगणे
I am here as a witness, fool; fight with Kali or with Camunda, whichever is fit for you on the battlefield.
प्रहरस्व यथाकामं नाहं त्वां योद्धुमुत्सहे । इत्युक्त्वा कालिकां प्राह देवी मधुरया गिरा
Strike as you wish; I am not inclined to fight you. Having said this, the Goddess addressed Kali with sweet words: