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:
जह्येनं कालिके क्रूरे कुरूपप्रियमाहवे । व्यास उवाच। इत्युक्ता कालिका कालप्रेरिता कालरूपिणी
Slay him, O fierce Kali, do what is pleasing to me in battle. Vyasa said: Thus addressed, Kali, impelled by Time and embodying Time—
गदां प्रगृह्य तरसा तस्थावाजौ कृतोद्यमा । तयोः परस्परं युद्धं बभूवातिभयानकम्
—seized her mace and stood swiftly prepared for battle; between the two, a most terrifying fight ensued.
पश्यतां सर्वदेवानां मुनीनां च महात्मनाम् । गदामुद्यम्य शुंभोऽथ जघान कालिकां रणे
As all the gods and great sages looked on, Shumbha raised his mace and struck Kali in battle.
कालिका दैत्यराजानं गदया न्यहनद्भृशम्। बभंजास्य रथं चंडी गदया कनकोज्ज्वलम्
Kali struck the king of the demons fiercely with her mace; Candika shattered his golden, shining chariot with her mace.
खरान्हत्वा जघानाशु दारुकं दारुणस्वना। स पदातिर्गदां गुर्वी समादाय क्रुधान्वितः
Having slain the harsh horses, she quickly killed the charioteer with a dreadful cry; then, on foot, he seized his heavy mace, filled with wrath.
कालिकाभुजयोर्मध्ये प्रहसन्नहनत्तदा । वंचयित्वा गदाघातं खड्गमादाय सत्वरा
Then, laughing, he struck between Kali's arms; evading the blow of his mace, she swiftly took up her sword.
चिच्छेदास्य भुजं सव्यं सायुधं चंदनार्चितम् । स छिन्नबाहुविरथो गदापाणि: परिप्लुतः
She cut off his left arm, weapon in hand and adorned with sandalwood; with his arm severed, chariotless, yet still grasping his mace, he was drenched in blood.
अचिरेण समागत्य कालिकामहनत्तदा । काली च करवालेन भुजं तस्याथ दक्षिणम्
Soon he approached and struck at Kali; then Kali, with her sword, cut off his right arm.
चिच्छेद प्रहसंती सा सगदं किल सांगदम् । कर्तुं पादप्रहारं स कुपितः प्रययौ जवात्
She, laughing, cut it off—mace and bracelet together; enraged, he rushed swiftly to strike with his foot.
काली चिच्छेद चरणौ खड्गेनास्य त्वरान्विता । सच्छिन्नकरपादोऽपि तिष्ठ तिष्ठेति च ब्रुवन्
Kali, quick with her sword, cut off his legs; though deprived of hands and feet, he still cried, 'Stand, stand!'