नारीनाम तपोविघ्नं पूर्वं सृष्टं स्वयंभुवा
Women have previously been created by the Self-born as an obstacle to austerity.
तावद्धैर्यं तपः सत्यं तावत्स्थैर्यं कुलत्रपा 7.3.36.
So long as there is resolve, austerity, truthfulness, and so long as there is steadfastness in family honor—
एतत्संचिंत्य बहुधा निमील्य नयने ततः
Thinking thus in many ways, I then closed my eyes.
श्रवणादपि राजेंद्र पुनः पप्रच्छ तं मुनिम्
Even after hearing this, O king, he again questioned that sage.
यस्याः संदर्शनादेव भवानेव स्मरान्वितः
By whose mere sight, O lord, have you yourself become possessed by desire?
देवी वा मानुषी वापि यक्षिणी पन्नगी मुने
Is she a goddess, a human woman, a Yakṣī, or a serpent-woman, O sage?
एतन्मे वर्त्तते वित्ते सा कुमारी यशस्विनी
This is my situation, O wealthy one: she is a maiden, illustrious.
सोऽहं यास्यामि दैत्येश ब्रह्मलोकं सनातनम्
Therefore, O lord of the Daityas, I shall go to the eternal world of Brahmā.
एवमुक्त्वा ततो राजन्ब्रह्मलोकं गतो मुनिः
Having spoken thus, O king, the sage then went to Brahmā's world.
गत्वा भवान्द्रुतं तत्र दृष्ट्वा तां च वरांगनाम्
Having gone there swiftly, you saw that excellent woman.
अथाऽसौ महिषादेशाद्दूतो गत्वार्बुदाचलम् 7.3.36.
Then, on the order of the king of the buffaloes, a messenger went to Mount Arbuda.
तस्मै निवेदयामास महिषाय सविस्मयः
He reported this to the buffalo king with amazement.
देवतेजोभवा कन्या साऽद्यापि वरवर्णिनी
That maiden, born from divine radiance, is still today of surpassing beauty.
एवं तत्र भवंती स्म पृष्टाः सर्वे तपस्विनः
In this way, all the ascetics present there were questioned.
तस्या रूपं वयः कांतिर्वर्णितुं नैव शक्यते
Her form, youth, and splendor cannot be described.
दूतं संप्रेषयामास दानवं च विचक्षणम्
He sent a wise demon as a messenger.
विचक्षण द्रुतं गत्वा मदर्थे तां तपस्विनीम्
O wise one, go quickly and, for my sake, approach that ascetic woman.
अथाऽसौ प्रययौ शीघ्रं प्रणिपत्य विचक्षणः प्रणम्य विनयोपेतो वाक्यमेतदुवाच ताम्
Then that wise one went swiftly, bowed down, and with humility spoke these words to her.
महिषो नाम विख्यातस्त्रैलोक्याधिपतिर्बली
There is one named Mahiṣa, renowned and powerful, lord of the three worlds.
स त्वां वांछति कल्याणि धर्मपत्नीं स्वधर्मतः
He desires you, O auspicious one, as his lawful wife, according to righteousness.
यदि स्यात्तव कांतोऽसौ त्वं च तस्य तथा प्रिया 7.3.36.
If he should be pleasing to you, and you likewise dear to him—
एवमुक्ता ततस्तेन देवी वचनमब्रवीत्
Thus addressed by him, the goddess spoke these words.
अवध्यः सर्वथा दूतः सर्वत्र परिकीर्तितः
A messenger is always declared inviolable everywhere.
गत्वा ब्रूहि दुराचारं महिषं दानवाधमम्
Go and tell that wicked, lowly demon Mahiṣa—
वधार्थं ते समुद्योग एष सर्वो मया कृतः
All this effort has been made by me for your destruction.
भयेन महताविष्टस्तस्या रूपेण विस्मितः तस्याश्चैव तथाऽऽलापानस्पृहत्वं च कृत्स्नशः
Overwhelmed by great fear, astonished by her beauty, and entirely struck by her words,
तच्छुत्वा महिषो राजन्कामबाणप्रपीडितः
Hearing this, O King, Mahiṣa was tormented by the arrows of desire.
अर्बुदे पर्वते सेनां कल्पयस्व सुदुर्धराम्
Assemble an invincible army on Mount Arbuda.
ततोऽसौ कल्पयामास चतुरंगां वरूथिनीम्
Then he arranged a fourfold army, well-equipped.
ततो द्विपाश्च संनद्धा दृश्यंतेऽधिष्ठिता भटैः
Then elephants, fully armored and mounted by warriors, were seen.