तस्यैव लावण्यगृहस्य मुद्रा कन्दर्पराज्ञा स्वयमेव दत्ता
The seal of that house of beauty was given by the king of love himself.
मन्याम तं कामनराधिपस्य प्राकारगुप्तं नगरं सुदुर्गम्
I consider it to be a city, well-fortified, guarded by the ramparts of the lord of desire.
आवासनार्थं मकरध्वजेन जनस्य देशाविव सन्निविष्टौ
For the sake of dwelling, by the god of love, the people have been settled there as in a land.
सृष्ट्वा विधाता हि निरूपणाय श्रान्तस्तथा हस्ततले ददौ हि
Having created, the creator, exhausted, gave it into the palm for examination.
आक्रम्य लोकानिव मिर्मिताया रूपार्जितस्यैव कृताधरौ हि
Having seized the worlds, like one newly created, he stands with his virtue gained only by beauty.
आज्ञापि ताभ्यां नखरत्नमाला नक्षत्रमाला गगने यथैव
By their command, a garland of jewel-like nails appeared, just as a garland of stars in the sky.
दृष्ट्वा यथेष्टं न च विद्म का सा सुताथवा कस्यचिदेव बाला
We saw her as we wished, but we do not know who she is, whose daughter, or merely some young girl.
गत्वात्थ विन्ध्यं स्वयमेव पश्य कुरुष्व यत् ते ऽभिमतं क्षमं च
Go yourself to the Vindhya and see; do what you desire and what is fitting for you.
चक्रे मतिं नात्र विचारमस्ति इत्येवमुक्त्वा महिषो ऽपि नास्ति
He resolved in his mind, without any doubt, and thus spoke: 'There is no buffalo here.'
यस्मिन् यथायानि यतो ऽथविप्र स नीयते वा व्रजति स्वयं वा
Wherever one comes from, O Brahmin, in whatever manner, he is led or goes on his own.
उग्रायुधं चिक्षुररक्तबीजौ समादिदेशाथ महासुरेन्द्रः
Then the great lord of the asuras commanded Ugrāyudha, Cikṣura, and Raktabīja.
आगम्य मूले शिविरं निवेश्य तस्थुश्च सञ्जा दनुनन्दनास्ते
Arriving, they set up camp at the base and stood there, those sons of Danu.
मयस्य पुत्रो रिपुसैन्यमर्दी स दुन्दुभिर्दुन्दुभिनिःखनस्तु
Dundubhi, son of Maya, crusher of enemy armies, the one who strikes the drum.
कुमारि दूतो ऽस्मि महासुरस्य रम्भात्मजस्याप्रतिमस्य युद्धे
O maiden, I am the messenger of the great asura, the matchless son of Rambha, in battle.
वाक्यं च यद्रम्भसुतो बभाषे वदस्व तत्सत्यमपेतमोहः
Speak truly, without delusion, the message that the son of Rambha has spoken.
सुखोपविष्टः परमासने च रम्भात्मजेनोक्तमुवाच वाक्यम्
Seated comfortably on the highest seat, the son of Rambha spoke these words.
यथामरा हीनबलाः पृथिव्यां भ्रमान्ति युद्धे विजिता मया ते
Just as the gods, defeated by me in battle, wander the earth, bereft of strength.
इन्द्रो ऽस्मि रुद्रो ऽस्मि दिवाकरो ऽस्मि सर्वेषु लोक्ष्वधिपो ऽस्मि बाले
I am Indra, I am Rudra, I am the sun; in all the worlds, O girl, I am the lord.
यो मां हि संग्राममुपेयिवांस्तु भूतो न यक्षो न जिजीविषुर्यः
Whoever has faced me in battle, whether spirit or yaksha, none has wished to live.
स्रावणि मामद्य समागतानि वीर्यार्जितानीह विशालनेत्रे
O wide-eyed one, today in the month of Śrāvaṇa, my hard-won achievements have gathered here.
तस्माद् भजस्वेह जगत्पतिं मां पतिस्तवार्हे ऽस्मि विभुः प्रभुश्च
Therefore, accept me here as lord of the world; I am a worthy husband for you, mighty and powerful.
सत्यं प्रभुर्दानवराट् पृथिव्यां सत्यं च युद्धे विजितामराश्च
It is true, the lord of the dānavas is supreme on earth; it is true, the gods have been defeated in battle.
तं चेत् प्रदद्यान्महिषो ममाद्य भजामि सत्येन पतिं हयारिम्
If today the buffalo demon is given to me, I will truly accept him as my husband, by the force of truth.
दद्यात्स्वमूर्धानमपि त्वदर्थे किं नाम शुल्कं यदिहैव तभ्यम्
He would even give his own head for your sake—what bride-price could there possibly be, if it is to be given here and now to you both?
विहस्य चैतद्वचनं बभाषे हिताय सर्वस्य चराचरस्य
Smiling at these words, she spoke for the welfare of all beings, both moving and unmoving.
यो जेष्यते ऽस्मत्कुलजां रणाग्रे तस्याः स भर्त्तापि भविष्यतीति
He who conquers me, born of this lineage, in the forefront of battle—he alone shall become her husband.
गत्वा निवेदयामास महिषाय यथातथम्
He went and reported everything accurately to the buffalo demon.
आगत्य विन्ध्यशिखरं योद्धधुकामः सरस्वतीम्
Desiring to fight, he came to the peak of Mount Vindhya, to Sarasvatī.
सेनाग्रगामिनं चक्रे नमरं नाम दानवम्
He appointed the demon named Namara as the leader of the army.
बलेकदेशमादाय दुर्गा दुद्राव वेगितः
Taking a portion of the army, Durgā rushed forth swiftly.