बाहुयुद्धं तयोरासीन्मल्लयोरिव मत्तयोः । श्रान्ते मधौ कैटभस्तु संग्राममकरोत्तदा
A wrestling match took place between the two, intoxicated like wrestlers; when Madhu grew weary, Kaiṭabha then engaged in battle.
पुनर्मधुः कैटभश्च युयुधाते पुनः पुनः । बाहुयुद्धेन रागान्धौ विष्णुना प्रभविष्णुना
Madhu and Kaiṭabha fought again and again, blinded by passion, with hand-to-hand combat against the mighty Viṣṇu.
प्रेक्षकस्तु तदा ब्रह्मा देवी चैवान्तरिक्षगा । न मम्लतुस्तदा तौ तु विष्णुस्तु ग्लानिमाप्तवान्
Brahmā, the observer, and the goddess dwelling in the sky, did not grow weary; but those two did not falter, while Viṣṇu became fatigued.
पञ्चवर्षसहस्राणि यदा जातानि युद्ध्यता । हरिणा चिन्तितं तत्र कारणं मरणे तयोः
When five thousand years had passed in battle, Hari pondered the cause of their death.
पञ्चवर्षसहस्राणि मया युद्धं कृतं किल । न श्रान्तौ दानवौ घोरौ श्रान्तोऽहं चैतदद्भुतम्
For five thousand years, I have fought; yet these fierce demons are not weary, while I am exhausted—this is astonishing.
क्व गतं मे बलं शौर्यं कस्माच्चेमावनामयौ । किमत्र कारणं चिन्त्यं विचार्य मनसा त्विह
Where has my strength and valor gone? Why are these two not weakened? What is the cause here? I must consider this in my mind.
इति चिन्तापरं दृष्ट्वा हरिं हर्षपरावुभौ । ऊचतुस्तौ मदोन्मत्तौ मेघमम्भीरनिःस्वनौ
Seeing Hari absorbed in such thoughts, both, intoxicated with pride, spoke, like thunderclouds with deep sounds.
तव नोचेद्बलं विष्णो यदि श्रान्तोऽसि युद्धतः । ब्रूहि दासोऽस्मि वां नूनं कृत्वा शिरसि चाञ्जलिम्
If your strength is not sufficient, Viṣṇu, and you are weary from battle, then say, 'I am your servant,' and join your hands upon your head.
न चेद्युद्धं कुरुष्वाद्य समर्थोऽसि महामते । हत्वा त्वां निहनिष्यावः पुरुषं च चतुर्मुखम्
If today you are not able, O wise one, to engage in battle, then having slain you, we shall also kill the Four-faced One.
सूत उवाच श्रुत्वा तद्भाषितं विष्णुस्तयोस्तस्मिन्महोदधौ । उवाच वचनं श्लक्ष्णं सामपूर्वं महामनाः
The Sūta said: Hearing those words of theirs in that great ocean, Viṣṇu, high-minded, spoke gentle words, first conciliatory.
हरिरुवाच श्रान्ते भीते त्यक्तशस्त्रे पतिते बालके तथा । प्रहरन्ति न वीरास्ते धर्म एष सनातनः
Hari said: True heroes do not strike those who are weary, afraid, disarmed, fallen, or mere children; this is the eternal law.
पञ्चवर्षसहस्राणि कृतं युद्धं मया त्विह । एकोऽहं भ्रातरौ वां च बलिनौ सदृशौ तथा
For five thousand years I have fought here; I am alone, while you two brothers are strong and equal to me.
कृतं विश्रमणं मध्ये युवाभ्यां च पुनः पुनः । तथा विश्रमणं कृत्वा युध्येऽहं नात्र संशयः
You two have repeatedly taken rest in the midst of battle; likewise, after resting, I too will fight—of this there is no doubt.
तिष्ठतं हि युवां तावद्बलवन्तौ मदोत्कटौ । विश्रम्याहं करिष्यामि युद्धं वा न्यायमार्गतः
While you two, powerful and intoxicated with strength, stand ready, let me rest; then I will fight according to the path of justice.
सूत उवाच इति श्रुत्वा वचस्तस्य विश्रब्धौ दानवोत्तमौ । संस्थितौ दूरतस्तत्र संग्रामे कृतनिश्चयौ
The Sūta said: Hearing his words, those two foremost Dānavas, confident, stood at a distance on the battlefield, resolved.
अतिदूरे च तौ दृष्ट्वा वासुदेवश्चतुर्भुजः । दध्यौ च मनसा तत्र कारणं मरणे तयोः
And seeing them standing very far off, Vāsudeva, four-armed, pondered in his mind the cause of their death.
चिन्तनाज्ज्ञानमुत्पन्नं देवीदत्तवरावुभौ । कामं वाञ्छितमरणौ न मम्लतुरतस्त्विमौ
Through contemplation, knowledge arose: both had received boons from the Goddess; they desired death at will, and so they did not weaken.
वृथा मया कृतं युद्धं श्रमोऽयं मे वृथा गतः । करोमि च कथं युद्धमेवं ज्ञात्वा विनिश्चयम्
In vain have I fought; this effort of mine has been wasted. Knowing this certainty, how can I continue the battle?
अकृते च तथा युद्धे कथमेतौ गमिष्यतः । विनाशं दुःखदौ नित्यं दानवौ वरदर्पितौ
If the battle is not fought, how will these two Dānavas, ever proud of their boon, meet destruction, which brings sorrow?
भगवत्या वरो दत्तस्तया सोऽपि च दुर्घटः । मरणं चेच्छया कामं दुःखितोऽपि न वाञ्छति
The boon granted by the Goddess is indeed difficult to accomplish; even if one desires death, unless afflicted with suffering, he does not wish for it.
रोगग्रस्तोऽपि दीनोऽपि न मुमूर्षति कश्चन । कथं चेमौ मदोन्मत्तौ मर्तुकामौ भविष्यतः
Even one afflicted by disease or misery does not wish to die; so how will these two, mad with pride, come to desire death?
नन्वद्य शरणं यामि विद्यां शक्तिं सुकामदाम् । विना तया न सिध्यन्ति कामाः सम्यक्प्रसन्नया
Indeed, today I seek refuge in that knowledge and power which grants all desires; without her, wishes are not fulfilled, unless she is truly pleased.
एवं सञ्चिन्त्यमानस्तु गगने संस्थितां शिवाम् । अपश्यद्भगवान्विष्णुर्योगनिद्रां मनोहराम्
Thus reflecting, the Blessed Viṣṇu saw in the sky the enchanting Goddess of Yogic Sleep, standing there.
कृताज्जलिरमेयात्मा तां च तुष्टाव योगवित् । विनाशार्थं तयोस्तत्र वरदां भुवनेश्वरीम्
With hands joined, the immeasurable one, knower of yoga, praised her—the bestower of boons, the Lady of the worlds—for the destruction of those two.
विष्णुरुवाच नमो देवि महामाये सृष्टिसंहारकारिणि । अनादिनिधने चण्डि भुक्तिमुक्तिप्रदे शिवे
Viṣṇu said: Salutations to you, O Goddess, Great Enchantress, doer of creation and destruction; O beginningless and endless Caṇḍī, giver of enjoyment and liberation, O auspicious one.
न ते रूपं विजानामि सगुणं निर्गुणं तथा । चरित्राणि कुतो देवि संख्यातीतानि यानि ते
I do not know your form, whether with attributes or without; O Goddess, how can I know your deeds, which are beyond counting?
अनुभूतो मया तेऽद्य प्रभावश्चातिदुर्घटः । यदहं निद्रया लीनः सञ्जातोऽस्मि विचेतनः
Today I have experienced your power, which is exceedingly difficult to comprehend, for though I was overcome by sleep, I have now regained consciousness.
ब्रह्मणा चातियत्नेन बोधितोऽपि पुनः पुनः । न प्रबुद्धः सर्वथाहं सङ्कोचितषडिन्द्रियः
Even though Brahmā earnestly tried again and again to awaken me, I was not at all awakened, my six senses having been withdrawn.
अचेतनत्वं सम्प्राप्तः प्रभावात्तव चाम्बिके । त्वया मुक्तः प्रबुद्धोऽहं युद्धं च बहुधा कृतम्
O Ambikā, by your power I became insensible; released by you, I am now awakened and have fought many battles.
श्रान्तोऽहं न च तौ श्रान्तौ त्वया दत्तवरौ वरौ । ब्रह्माणं हन्तुमायातौ दानवौ मदगर्वितौ
I am weary, yet those two are not fatigued, for you have granted them boons; the two arrogant Dānavas have come to slay Brahmā.