धावमानो ययावाशु कालिकां भीषयन्निव । तमागच्छंतमालोक्य कालिका कमलोपमम्
Running, he quickly advanced on Kali, as if to terrify her; seeing him approach, Kali, beautiful as a lotus—
चकर्त मस्तकं कंठाद्रुधिरौघवहं भृशम् । छिन्नेऽसौ मस्तके भूमौ पपात गिरिसन्निभः
—severed his head from his neck, causing a great torrent of blood; when his head was cut off, he fell to the ground like a mountain.
प्राणा विनिर्ययुस्तस्य देहादुत्क्रम्य सत्वरम् । गतासुं पतितं दैत्यं दृष्ट्वा देवाः सवासवाः
His life-breath swiftly departed from his body; seeing the demon fallen lifeless, the gods along with Indra looked on.
तुष्टुवुस्तां तदा देवीं चामुंडां कालिकां तथा । ववुर्वाता: शिवास्तत्र दिशश्च विमला भृशम्
Then the gods praised that Goddess, Chamunda and also Kalika; gentle winds blew there, and the directions became exceedingly pure.
बभूवुश्चाग्नयो होमे प्रदक्षिणशिखाः शुभाः । हतशेषाश्च ये दैत्याः प्रणम्य जगदंबिकाम्
The sacrificial fires became auspicious, with their flames circling to the right; and those demons who survived, bowing to the Mother of the Universe,
त्यक्त्वाऽऽयुधानि ते सर्वे पातालं प्रययुर्नृप । एतत्ते सर्वमाख्यातं देव्याश्चरितमुत्तमम्
All of them abandoned their weapons and went to the netherworld, O King; thus, all the supreme deeds of the Goddess have been recounted to you.
शुम्भादीनां वधं चैव सुराणां रक्षणं तथा । एतदाख्यानकं सर्वं पठन्ति भुवि मानवाः
The slaying of Shumbha and others, and the protection of the gods as well—this entire narrative, when recited on earth by people,
शृण्वन्ति च सदा भक्त्या ते कृतार्था भवंति हि । अपुत्रो लभते पुत्रान्निर्धनश्च धनं बहु
And when always heard with devotion, they indeed become fulfilled; the childless obtain sons, and the poor much wealth.
रोगी च मुच्यते रोगात्सर्वान्कामानवाप्नुयात् । शत्रुतो न भयं तस्य य इदं चरितं शुभम्
The sick are freed from illness, all desires are attained; there is no fear from enemies for one who recites this auspicious story.
अथ द्वात्रिंशोऽध्यायः जनमेजय उवाच। महिमा वर्ण्यते सम्यक्चंडिकायास्त्वया मुने । केन चाराधिता पूर्वं चरित्रत्रययोगतः
Chapter Thirty-Two. Janamejaya said: You have properly described the greatness of Chandika, O Sage; by whom was she formerly worshipped through the three stories?
प्रसन्ना कस्य वरदा केन प्राप्तं फलं महत् । आराध्य कामदां देवीं कथयस्व कृपानिधे
To whom did the gracious, wish-granting Goddess bestow a great boon, and who, having worshipped her, obtained the supreme fruit? Tell me, O ocean of compassion.
उपासनाविधिं ब्रह्मस्तथा पूजाविधिं वद । विस्तरेण महाभाग होमस्य च विधिं पुनः
Describe in detail the method of worship, O blessed one, as well as the procedure of her adoration, and again the rite of sacrifice.
सूत उवाच। इति भूपवचः श्रुत्वा प्रीतः सत्यवतीसुतः । प्रत्युवाच नृपं कृष्णो महामायाप्रपूजनम्
Suta said: Hearing the king’s words, Satyavati’s son was pleased; Krishna replied to the king about the worship of the Great Maya.
व्यास उवाच। स्वारोचिषेऽन्तरे पूर्वं सुरथो नाम पार्थिवः । बभूव परमोदारः प्रजापालनतत्परः
Vyasa said: In the previous Svārociṣa Manvantara, there was a king named Suratha, exceedingly noble and devoted to the protection of his subjects.
सत्यवादी कर्मपरो ब्राह्मणानां च पूजकः । गुरुभक्तिरतो नित्यं स्वदारगमने रतः
He was truthful, devoted to action, a worshipper of Brahmins, always devoted to his teachers, and attached to his own wife.
दानशीलोsविरोधी च धनुर्वेदैकपारगः । एवं पालयतो राज्यं म्लेच्छाः पर्वतवासिनः
He was generous, free from hostility, and thoroughly skilled in the science of archery; while he ruled the kingdom thus, barbarians dwelling in the mountains—
बलाच्छत्रुत्वमापन्नाः सैन्यं कृत्वा चतुर्विधम् । हस्त्यश्वरथपादातिसहितास्ते मदोत्कटाः
By force became his enemies, assembling a fourfold army; with elephants, horses, chariots, and infantry, they, intoxicated with pride,
कोलाविध्वंसिनः प्राप्ताः पृथ्वीग्रहणतत्पराः । सुरथः सैन्यमादाय संमुखः समपद्यत
Arrived, intent on seizing the land, destroying villages; Suratha, taking his army, confronted them directly.
युद्धं समभवद्घोरं तस्य तैरतिदारुणैः । म्लेच्छानां तु बलं स्वल्पं राज्ञस्तद्बलमद्भुतम्
A fierce and terrible battle took place between him and those barbarians; though their force was small and the king’s army was astonishing,
तथापि तैर्जितो युद्धे दैवाद्राजा पराजितः । भग्नश्च स्वपुरं प्राप्तः सुरक्षं दुर्गमंडितम्
Still, by fate, the king was defeated in battle by them; broken, he returned to his city, which was well-protected and fortified.
चिंतयामास मेधावी राजा नीतिविचक्षणः । प्रधानान्विमना दृष्ट्वा शत्रुपक्षसमाश्रितान्
The wise king, skilled in statecraft, began to ponder, seeing his chief ministers unsettled, having taken refuge with the enemy's faction.
स्थानं गृहीत्वा विपुलं परिखादुर्गमंडितम् । कालप्रतीक्षा कर्तव्या किं वा युद्धं वरं मतम्
Having secured a spacious place fortified with moats, should I wait for the right time, or is battle the best course?
मंत्रिणः शत्रुवशगा मंत्रयोग्या न ते किल । किं करोमीति मनसा भूपतिः समचिंतयत्
The ministers, now under the enemy's control, are no longer fit for counsel; the king thought to himself, 'What should I do?'
कदाचित्ते गृहीत्वा मां पापाचाराः पराश्रिताः । शत्रुभ्योऽथ प्रदास्यंति तदा किं वा भविष्यति
If, at any time, those corrupted by evil conduct seize me and hand me over to the enemies, what will happen then?
पापबुद्धिषु विश्वासो न कर्तव्यः कदाचन । किं ते वै प्रकुर्वन्ति ये लोभवशगा नराः
One should never place trust in those of wicked intent; what do those men, driven by greed, truly accomplish?
भ्रातरं पितरं मित्रं सुहृदं बांधवं तथा । गुरुं पूज्यं द्विजं द्वेष्टि लोभाविष्टः सदा नरः
A man possessed by greed always hates his brother, father, friend, companion, relative, revered teacher, and even a twice-born.
तस्मान्मया न कर्तव्यो विश्वासः सर्वथाऽधुना । मंत्रिवर्गेऽतिपापिष्ठे शत्रुपक्षसमाश्रिते
Therefore, I must not place any trust now in the council of ministers, who are extremely wicked and aligned with the enemy's faction.
इति संचिंत्य मनसा राजा परमदुर्मनाः । एकाकी हयमारुह्य निर्जगाम पुरात्तत्तः
Thinking thus in his mind, the king, deeply distressed, mounted his horse alone and departed from the city.
असहायोऽथ निर्गत्य गहनं वनमाश्रितः । चिन्तयामास मेधावी क्व गंतव्यं मया पुनः
Without companions, he went forth and took refuge in a dense forest; the wise king pondered, 'Where should I go now?'
योजनत्रयमात्रे तु मुनेराश्रममुत्तमम् । ज्ञात्वा जगाम भूपालस्तापसस्य सुमेधसः
Knowing that the excellent hermitage of the sage Sumedhas was just three yojanas away, the king proceeded there.