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.
कस्ते सखाभवच्चाग्रे हिरण्याक्षवधे विभो हिरण्यकशिपुर्दैत्यो वीर्यशाली मदोद्धतः
Who was your companion at the forefront during the slaying of Hiraṇyākṣa, O Lord? Hiraṇyakaśipu, the mighty and arrogant demon.
त्वां प्राप्यापश्यदसुरो विषमं स्मृतिविभ्रमम् पूर्वे ऽप्यतिबला ये च दैत्येन्द्राः सुरविद्विषः
Upon encountering you, the demon saw adversity and confusion of memory; even those previous powerful demon kings, haters of the gods.
विनाशमागताः प्राप्य शलभा इव पावकम् युगे युगे च दैत्यानां त्वमेवान्तकरो हरे
Having met destruction, they perished like moths in fire; and in every age, O Hari, you alone are the destroyer of the demons.
तथैवाद्येह मग्नानां भव विष्णो सुराश्रयः एवमुक्तस्ततो विष्णुर् व्यवर्धत महाभुजः
In the same way, O Viṣṇu, become the refuge of the gods for those now submerged; thus addressed, Viṣṇu, the mighty-armed, grew in strength.
ऋद्ध्या परमया युक्तः सर्वभूताश्रयो ऽरिहा अथोवाच सहस्राक्षं कालक्षमम् अधोक्षजः
Endowed with supreme prosperity, the destroyer of enemies, the refuge of all beings, then Adhokṣaja spoke to Sahasrākṣa, patient with time.
दैत्येन्द्राः स्वैर्वधोपायैः शक्या हन्तुं हि नान्यतः दुर्जयस्तारको दैत्यो मुक्त्वा सप्तदिनं शिशुम्
Demon kings can be slain only by their own means of destruction, not otherwise; the demon Tāra is unconquerable except for seven days as an infant.
कश्चित्स्त्रीवध्यतां प्राप्तो वधे ऽन्यस्य कुमारिका जम्भस्तु वध्यतां प्राप्तो दानवः क्रूरविक्रमः
Someone has become subject to death at the hands of a woman; for another, a maiden is the means of death; Jambha, the fierce demon, has become subject to death.
तस्माद्वीर्येण दिव्येन जहि जम्भं जगद्वरम् अवध्यः सर्वभूतानां त्वां विना स तु दानवः
Therefore, with divine strength, slay Jambha, the scourge of the world; he is invulnerable to all beings except you, O Dānava.
मया गुप्तो रणे जम्भं जगत्कण्टकमुद्धर तद्वैकुण्ठवचः श्रुत्वा सहस्राक्षो ऽमरारिहा
Protected by me in battle, uproot Jambha, the thorn of the world; hearing these words of Vaikuṇṭha, Sahasrākṣa, the enemy of immortals,
समादिशत्सुरान्सर्वान् सैन्यस्य रचनां प्रति यत्सारं सर्वलोकेषु वीर्यस्य तपसो ऽपि च
Commanded all the gods regarding the arrangement of the army; whatever is the essence of valor and austerity in all the worlds.