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.
ऊचुर्वाक्यं महादेवीं वर्म ह्याबन्ध चाम्बिके
They spoke to the great goddess: 'O Ambikā, fasten your armor!'
कवचं को ऽत्र संतिष्ठेत् ममाग्रे दानवाधमः
Which lowly demon here would dare to stand before me with armor?
तदा रक्षार्थमस्यास्तु विष्णुपञ्जरमुक्तवान्
Then, for her protection, the Viṣṇu-cage was invoked.
अवध्यं दैवतैः सर्वेर्महिषं प्रत्यपीयत्
The buffalo demon was declared invulnerable to all the gods.
प्रोक्तं तया चापि हि पादघातैर्निषूदितो ऽसौ महिषासुरेन्द्रः
But by her, with blows of her feet, that king of the buffalo demons was struck down, as has been told.
कस्तस्य कुर्याद् युधि दर्फहानिं यस्य स्थितश्चेतसि चक्रपाणिः
Who could diminish his pride in battle, in whose mind the wielder of the discus abides?
सवाहनं हतवती तथा विस्तरतो वाद
She slew him along with his mount, and thus, in detail, the dispute was resolved.
विद्यामानेषु शस्त्रेषु यत्पद्भ्यां तममर्दयत्
Though weapons were present, she crushed him with her feet.
वृत्तां देवयुगस्यादौ पुण्यां पापभयापहाम्
This event, at the beginning of the age of the gods, is holy and removes the fear of sin.
सगजाश्वरथो ब्रह्मन् दृष्टो देव्या यथेच्छया
O Brahman, with elephants, horses, and chariots, the goddess was seen as she wished.