जिगीषुः सैन्यसंवीतो देवैर्वैरमरोचयत्। उत्तिष्ठतस्तस्य महासुरस्य समुद्रतोयं ववृधेति वेगात्
Desiring victory, surrounded by his army, he provoked enmity with the gods; as that great asura rose up, the ocean's water surged swiftly.
अनेक नाग ग्रह मीनजुष्टमाप्लावयत्पर्वतसानुदेशान्। अंतःस्थितानेकसुरारिसंघं विचित्रवर्मायुधचित्रशोभम्
Flooding the slopes of the mountains, teeming with many serpents, crocodiles, and fish, within it were many hosts of enemies of the gods, adorned with wondrous armor and weapons.
भीमं बलं चलितं चारुयोधं विनिर्ययौ सिंधुजलाद्विशालम्। तत्र द्विपा दैत्यभठाभ्युपेताः सयानघंटाश्च समृद्धियुक्ताः
A terrible and mighty force, skilled in battle, emerged vast from the ocean's waters; there, elephants with daitya warriors mounted, and chariots with bells, all endowed with great prosperity.
विनिर्ययुः स्वाकृतिभिर्झषाणां समत्वमुच्चैः खलु दर्शयंतः। अश्वास्तथा कांचनसूत्रनद्धा रोहीतमत्स्या इव ते जलांते
They came forth, displaying forms like those of great fish, showing their might; horses, bound with golden cords, appeared at the edge of the waters like red Rohita fish.
व्यवस्थितास्तैः सममेव तूर्णं विनिर्ययुर्लक्षशः कोटिशश्च। तथा रविस्यंदनतुल्यवेगाः सचक्रदंडाक्षतवेणुयुक्ताः
Arranged together with them, swiftly they emerged in hundreds of thousands and crores; their speed was like the chariot of the sun, equipped with Indra's staff and unbroken bamboo poles.
रथाश्च यंत्रोपरिपीडितांगाश्चलत्पताकाः स्वनितं विचक्रुः। तथैव योधाः स्थगितास्तरीभिस्तितीर्षवस्ते प्रवरास्त्रपाणयः
Chariots, their bodies pressed by machines, with fluttering banners, made a resounding noise; likewise, the warriors, stationed on boats, eager to cross, held excellent weapons in their hands.
रणेरणे लब्धजयाः प्रहारिणो विरेजुरुच्चैरसुरानुगा भृशं। देवेषु वै रणे तेषु विद्रुतेषु विशेषतः
Victorious in battle after battle, the fierce followers of the asuras shone greatly, especially as the gods were routed in that fight.
असुरास्सर्वदेवानामन्वधावंस्ततस्ततः। ततो देवगणाः सर्वे द्रवंतो भयविह्वलाः
The asuras pursued all the gods here and there; then all the hosts of gods, overcome by fear, fled.
नीलं गिरिवरं जग्मुर्यत्र देवी स्वयं स्थिता। रौद्री तपोन्विता धन्या शांभवी शक्तिरुत्तमा
They went to the great blue mountain, where the goddess herself stood—terrible, endowed with ascetic power, blessed, the supreme energy of Shiva.
संहारकारिणी देवी कालरात्रीति यां विदुः। सा तु दृष्ट्वा तदा देवान्भयत्रस्तान्विचेतसः
The goddess, known as Kālarātrī, the bringer of destruction, saw the gods then, terrified and bewildered.
पप्रच्छ विस्मयाद्देवी प्रोत्फुल्लांबुजलोचना। पृष्ठतो वो न पश्यामि भयं किंचिदुपागतम्
The goddess, her eyes wide as blossoming lotuses, asked in astonishment, 'I do not see any danger approaching from behind you.'
कथं तु विद्रुता देवाः सर्वे शक्रपुरःसराः। देवा ऊचुः। अयमायाति दैत्येंद्रो रुरुर्भीमपराक्रमः
‘Then why are all the gods, with Indra at their head, fleeing?’ The gods said: ‘Here comes the lord of the daityas, Ruru, of terrible might.’
चतुरंगेण सैन्येन महता परिवारितः। तस्माद्दीना वयं देवीं भवतीं शरणं गताः
‘Surrounded by a great fourfold army, he advances; therefore, O goddess, we, distressed, have come to seek your refuge.’
देवानामिति वै श्रुत्वा वाक्यमुच्चैर्जहास सा। तस्यां हसंत्यां निश्चेरुर्वरांग्यो वदनात्ततः
Hearing the words of the gods, she laughed aloud; as she laughed, splendid women emerged from her mouth.
पाशांकुशधराः सर्वाः पीनोन्नतपयोधराः। सर्वाश्शूलधरा भीमाः सर्वा दंष्ट्राङ्कुशाननाः
All of them bore nooses and goads, with full, high breasts; all held tridents, were fearsome, and had faces with fangs and goads.
आबद्धमकुटाः सर्वाः संदष्टदशनच्छदाः। फूत्काररावैरशिवैस्त्रासयंत्यश्चराचरम्
All wore crested crowns, their teeth clenched and bared; with unholy roars and shouts, they terrified all beings, moving and unmoving.
काश्चिच्छुक्लाम्बरधराः काश्चिच्चित्राम्बरास्तथा। सुनीलवसनाः काश्चिद्रक्तपानातिलालसाः
Some wore white garments, some wore varied clothes; some were dressed in deep blue, others were eager for the taste of blood.
नानारूपैर्मुखैस्तास्तु नानावेषवपुर्धराः। ताभिरेवं वृता देवी देवानामभयंकरी
They had faces of many forms, bodies of many appearances; surrounded by them, the goddess became the giver of safety to the gods.
मा भैष्ट देवा भद्रं वो यावद्वदति दानवः। चतुरंगबलोपेतो रुरुस्तावत्समागतः
‘Do not fear, gods—may good befall you!’ she said, but even as she spoke, Ruru, equipped with a fourfold force, arrived.
तं नीलपर्वतवरं देवानां मार्गमार्गणः। देवानामग्रतः सैन्यं दृष्ट्वा देवी समाकुलम्
That best of blue mountains, the path and refuge of the gods, was approached by the goddess; seeing the gods’ army in confusion before her,
तिष्ठतिष्ठेति जल्पंतो दैत्यास्ते समुपागताः। ततः प्रववृते युद्धं तासां तेषां महाभयम्
The daityas came up, shouting ‘Stop! Stop!’ Then a terrible battle began between those women and them.
नाराचैर्भिन्नदेहानां दैत्यानां भुवि सर्पतां। रोषाद्दंडप्रभग्नानां सर्पाणामिव सर्पताम्
On the earth lay daityas with bodies pierced by arrows, writhing like snakes whose backs had been broken in anger.
शक्तिनिर्भिन्नहृदया गदासंचूर्णितोरसः। कुठारैर्भिन्नशिरसो मुसलैर्भिन्नमस्तकाः
Some had hearts split by spears, chests crushed by maces, heads cleaved by axes, and skulls shattered by clubs.
विद्धोदरास्त्रिशूलाग्रैश्छिन्नग्रीवा वरासिभिः। क्षताश्वरथमातंगपादाताः पेतुराहवे
Some had bellies pierced by tridents, necks severed by excellent swords; wounded horses, chariots, elephants, and foot soldiers fell in the battle.
रणभूमिं समासाद्य दैत्याः सर्वे रुरुं विना। ततो बलं हतं दृष्ट्वा रुरुर्मायां तदाददे
When all the Daityas, except Ruru, entered the battlefield, Ruru, seeing his army slain, resorted to his magic.
तया संमोहिता देव्यो देवाश्चापि रणाजिरे। तामस्या मायया देव्या सर्वमन्धंतमोभवत्
By that illusion, both the goddesses and the gods on the field of battle were bewildered; by the dark magic of the goddess, everything became enveloped in deep darkness.
ततो देवी महाशक्या तं दैत्यं समताडयत्। तया तु ताडितस्याजौ दैत्यस्य प्रगतं तमः
Then the great and powerful goddess struck that Daitya; when he was struck in battle by her, the darkness departed from the Daitya.
मायायामथ नष्टायां तामस्यां दानवो रुरुः। पातालमाविशत्तूर्णं तत्रापि परमेश्वरी
When that dark illusion was destroyed, the Dānava Ruru swiftly entered Pātāla, and even there, the Supreme Goddess was present.
देवीभिः सहिता क्रुद्धा पुरतोभिमुखी स्थिता। रुरोस्तु दानवेंद्रस्य भीतस्याग्रे गतस्य च
Together with the goddesses, angry, she stood before him, facing him directly—before Ruru, the lord of the Dānavas, who was frightened and had gone ahead.
नखाग्रेण शिरश्छित्वा चर्म चादाय वेगिता। निष्पपाताथ पातालात्पुष्करं च पुनर्गिरिम्
With the tip of her nail she severed his head, seized his skin with speed, and then emerged from Pātāla, going again to Puṣkara mountain.