विद्धो मर्मसु दैत्येन्द्रो हरिबाणैरकम्पत स मुहूर्तं समाश्वास्य जग्राह परिघं तदा
Pierced in his vital spots by Hari's arrows, the lord of the demons did not waver; after recovering for a moment, he then seized his iron club.
जघ्ने जनार्दनं चापि परिघेणाग्निवर्चसा विष्णुस्तेन प्रहारेण किंचिदाघूर्णितो ऽभवत्
He struck Janārdana with that blazing club, and by that blow, Viṣṇu was slightly shaken.
ततः क्रोधविवृत्ताक्षो गदां जग्राह माधवः मथनं सरथं रोषान् निष्पिपेषाथ रोषतः
Then Mādhava, his eyes wide with anger, seized his mace and, furious, crushed Mathana along with his chariot.
स पपाताथ दैत्येन्द्रः क्षयकाले ऽचलो यथा तस्मिन्निपतिते भूमौ दानवे वीर्यशालिनि
Then the lord of the demons fell, like a mountain at the end of its time; when that mighty demon fell to the earth,
अवसादं ययुर्दैत्याः कर्दमे करिणो यथा ततस्तेषु विपन्नेषु दानवेष्वतिमानिषु
the Daityas lost heart, like elephants sinking in the mud; and when those arrogant demons were thus defeated,
प्रकोपाद्रक्तनयनो महिषो दानवेश्वरः प्रत्युद्ययौ हरिं रौद्रः स्वबाहुबलमास्थितः
Enraged, his eyes bloodshot, the lord of the Daityas, Mahisha, fierce and relying on his own strength, advanced against Hari.
तीक्ष्णधारेण शूलेन महिषो हरिमर्दयन् शक्त्या च गरुडं वीरो महिषो ऽभ्यहनद्धृदि
With a sharp-pointed spear, Mahisha wounded Hari, and with a lance, the hero struck Garuḍa in the chest.
ततो व्यावृत्य वदनं महाचलगुहानिभम् ग्रस्तुमैच्छद्रणे दैत्यः स गरुत्मन्तमच्युतम्
Then, opening his mouth wide as a mountain cave, the demon sought to devour Garuḍa, the steadfast one, in battle.
अथाच्युतो ऽपि विज्ञाय दानवस्य चिकीर्षितम् वदनं पूरयामास दिव्यैरस्त्रैर्महाबलः
But Acyuta, perceiving the demon's intention, filled his mouth with divine weapons, being of great might.
महिषस्याथ ससृजे बाणौघं गरुडध्वजः पिधाय वदनं दिव्यैर् दिव्यास्त्रपरिमन्त्रितैः
Then Garuḍa-bannered Viṣṇu released a stream of arrows at Mahisha, sealing his mouth with divine missiles empowered by sacred mantras.
स तैर्बाणैरभिहतो महिषो ऽचलसंनिभः परिवर्तितकायो ऽधः पपात न ममार च
Struck by those arrows, the buffalo demon, massive as a mountain, rolled over and fell downwards, but did not die.
महिषं पतितं दृष्ट्वा भूमौ प्रोवाच केशवः महिषासुर मत्तस्त्वं वधं नास्त्रैरिहार्हसि
Seeing the buffalo fallen on the ground, Keśava spoke: 'O Mahishasura, you are intoxicated; you do not deserve death by weapons here.'
योषिद्वध्यः पुरोक्तो ऽसि साक्षात्कमलयोनिना उत्तिष्ठ जीवितं रक्ष गच्छास्मात्संगराद्द्रुतम्
You have already been declared by the lotus-born one as fit to be slain by a woman; rise, preserve your life, and quickly leave this battle.
तस्मिन्पराङ्मुखे दैत्ये महिषे शुम्भदानवः संदष्टौष्ठपुटः कोपाद् भ्रुकुटीकुटिलाननः
As the buffalo demon turned away, Shumbha the asura, lips bitten in anger, face furrowed with a crooked brow,
निर्मथ्य पाणिना पाणिं धनुरादाय भैरवम् सज्यं चकार स धनुः शरांश्चाशीविषोपमान्
Crushing his own hand with his palm, he took up his dreadful bow, strung it, and readied arrows like venomous serpents.
स चित्रयोधी दृढमुष्टिपातस् ततस्तु विष्णुं गरुडं च दैत्यः बाणैर्ज्वलद्वह्निशिखानिकाशैः क्षिप्तैरसंख्यैः परिघातहीनैः
That skilled warrior, with a firm grip, then assailed Vishnu and Garuda with countless arrows, blazing like tongues of fire, never missing their mark.
विष्णुश्च दैत्येन्द्रशराहतो ऽपि भुशुण्डिमादाय कृतान्ततुल्याम् तया भुशुण्ड्या च पिपेष मेषं शुम्भस्य पत्त्रं धरणीधराभम्
Though struck by the asura king's arrows, Vishnu took up a club, dreadful as death itself, and with it struck Shumbha's shield, massive as a mountain.
तस्मादवप्लुत्य हताच्च मेषाद् भूभौ पदातिः स तु दैत्यनाथः ततो महीस्थस्य हरिः शरौघान् मुमोच कालानलतुल्यभासः
Leaping away from the slain ram and shield, the asura lord stood on the ground; then Hari, from the earth, released volleys of arrows shining like the fire of destruction.
शरैस्त्रिभिस्तस्य भुजं बिभेद षड्भिश्च शीर्षं दशभिश्च केतुम् विष्णुर्विकृष्टैः श्रवणावसानं दैत्यस्य विव्याध विवृत्तनेत्रः
With three arrows, Vishnu pierced his arm; with six, his head; with ten, his banner; and with drawn bow, he struck the asura's ear, his eyes wide open.
स तेन विद्धो व्यथितो बभूव दैत्येश्वरो विस्रुतशोणितौघः ततो ऽस्य किंचिच् चलितस्य धैर्याद् उवाच शङ्खाम्बुजशार्ङ्गपाणिः
Wounded by that, the lord of asuras was tormented, streams of blood flowing; as he wavered a little, the conch, lotus, and bow-bearing one spoke to him.
कुमारिवध्यो ऽसि रणं विमुञ्च शुम्भासुर स्वल्पतरैरहोभिः वधं न मत्तो ऽर्हसि चेह मूढ वृथैव किं युद्धसमुत्सुको ऽसि
'You are destined to be slain by the maiden; abandon the battle, O Shumbha. In a few days, you do not deserve death from me here, fool. Why are you eager for battle in vain?'
जम्भो वचो विष्णुमुखान्निशम्य निमिश्च निष्पेष्टुमियेष विष्णुम् गदामथोद्यम्य निमिः प्रचण्डां जघान गाढां गरुडं शिरस्तः
Hearing these words from Vishnu, Nimi sought to crush Vishnu, and raising his fierce mace, Nimi struck Garuda hard on the head.
शुम्भो ऽपि विष्णुं परिघेण मूर्ध्नि प्रमृष्टरत्नौघविचित्रभासा तौ दानवाभ्यां विषमैः प्रहारैर् निपेतुरुर्व्यां घनपावकाभौ
Shumbha too struck Vishnu on the head with his mace, adorned with a mass of brilliant gems; by the fierce blows of those two asuras, both fell to the earth like blazing clouds.
तत्कर्म दृष्ट्वा दितिजास्तु सर्वे जगर्जुरुच्चैः कृतसिंहनादाः धनूंषि चास्फोट्य सुराभिघातैर् व्यदारयन्भूमिमपि प्रचण्डाः वासांसि चैवादुधुवुः परे तु दध्मुश्च शङ्खानकगोमुखौघान्
Seeing that deed, all the sons of Diti roared loudly, making lion-cries; striking their bows with force, they shattered the earth, and some shook their garments, while others blew conches, trumpets, and horns.
अथ संज्ञामवाप्याशु गरुडो ऽपि सकेशवः पराङ्मुखो रणात्तस्मात् पलायत महाजवः
Then, regaining his senses, Garuda, with Keśava, swiftly turned away from the battle and fled with great speed.
तमालोक्य पलायन्तं विभ्रष्टध्वजकार्मुकम् हरिं देवः सहस्राक्षो मेने भग्नं दुराहवे
Seeing Hari fleeing, his banner and bow lost, the thousand-eyed god thought him defeated in the terrible battle.
दैत्यांश्च मुदितान्दृष्ट्वा कर्तव्यं नाध्यगच्छत अथायान्निकटे विष्णोः सुरेशः पाकशासनः
Seeing the delighted asuras, he did not know what should be done; then the lord of the gods, wielder of the thunderbolt, approached near Vishnu.
उवाच चैनं मधुरं प्रोत्साहपरिबृंहकम् किमेभिः क्रीडसे देव दानवैर्दुष्टमानसैः
He spoke to him sweetly, with words that encouraged and strengthened: 'Why do you play with these asuras of wicked minds, O god?'
दुर्जनैर्लब्धरन्ध्रस्य पुरुषस्य कुतः क्रियाः शक्तेनोपेक्षितो नीचो मन्यते बलमात्मनः
How can a person, whose weaknesses have been discovered by wicked men, act? When the strong overlook the lowly, the inferior thinks himself powerful.
तस्मान्न नीचं मतिमान् दुर्गहीनं हि संत्यजेत् अथाग्रेसरसंपत्त्या रथिनो जयमाप्नुयुः
Therefore, the wise should not abandon the lowly who lack protection; for, with the advantage of being at the forefront, charioteers attain victory.