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.
ववर्ष शैलं धारौघैर्द्यैरिवाम्बुदवृष्टिभिः
He rained down upon the mountain with torrents, as the clouds in the sky pour forth showers.
क्रुद्धा भगवती वेगादाचकर्ष धनुर्वरम्
The enraged Goddess, with great force, seized her excellent bow.
सुवर्णपृष्ठं विबभौ विद्युदम्बुधरेष्विव
Its golden back shone like lightning among rainclouds.
गदया मुसलेनान्यांश्चर्मणान्यानपातयत्
With her mace and club she struck down some, and with her shield she felled others.
विधुन्वन् केसरसटां निषूदयति दानवान्
Shaking her lion’s mane, she struck down the demons.
लाङ्गलैर्दारितग्रीवा विनिकृत्ताः परश्वधैः
Some had their necks torn by ploughs, others were cut down by axes.
चेलुः पेतुश्च मम्लुश् च तत्यजुश्चापरे रणम्
Some fled, some fell, some withered, and others abandoned the battle.
कालरात्रिं मन्यमाना दुद्रुवुर्भयपीडिताः
Thinking her to be the Night of Destruction, they ran, afflicted by fear.
दृष्ट्वाजगाम नमरो मत्तकुञ्जरसंस्थितः
Seeing this, Namara approached, mounted upon a maddened elephant.
त्रिशुलमपि सिंहाय प्राहिणोद् दानवो रणे
In battle, the demon hurled a trident at the lion.