तस्याः पुत्रत्रयं चासीत् सहस्राक्षाद् बलाधिकम्
She had three sons, each surpassing even the thousand-eyed one in strength.
तृतीयो नमुचिर्नाम महाबलसमन्वितः
The third was named Namuci, endowed with immense power.
तं हन्तुमिच्छति हरिः प्रगृह्य कुलिशं करे
Hari, seizing the thunderbolt in his hand, wished to slay him.
प्रविवेश रथं भानोस्ततो नाशकदच्युतः
He entered the chariot of the sun, but Achyuta was unable to destroy him there.
अवध्यत्वं वरं प्रादाच्छस्त्रैरस्त्रैश्च नारद
O Nārada, he had received a boon of invulnerability to weapons and missiles.
संत्यज्य भास्कररथं पातालमुपयादथ
Abandoning the sun’s chariot, he then went down to the netherworld.
ददृशे दानवपतिस्तं प्रगृह्येदमब्रवीत्
The lord of the Dānavas saw him, seized him, and spoke these words:
अयं स्पृशतु मां फेनः पराभ्यां गृह्य दानवः
Let this foam touch me, said the Dānava, grasping it with both hands.
तस्मिञ्छक्रो ऽजद् वज्रमन्तर्हितमपीश्वरः
Then Śakra struck with the vajra, though the lord was concealed within.
समये च तथा नष्टे ब्रह्महत्यास्पृशद्धरिम्
And when he was thus destroyed, Brahmahatyā touched Hari.
ततो ऽस्य भ्रातरौ वीरौ क्रुद्धौ सुम्भनिशुम्भकौ
Then his two heroic brothers, Sumbha and Niśumbha, became enraged.
सुरास्ते ऽपि सहस्राक्षं पुरस्कृत्य विनिर्ययुः
The gods too, led by the thousand-eyed one, went forth to battle.
शक्रस्याहृत्य च गजं याम्यं च महिषं बलात्
They seized Śakra’s elephant and Yama’s buffalo by force.
निधनः पद्मशङ्खाद्या हृतास्त्वाक्रम्य दानवैः
The Dānavas seized and carried off treasures such as the lotus and conch.
तदाजग्मुर्महीपृष्ठं ददृशुस्ते महासुरम्
Then they came to the earth’s surface and saw the great Asura.
स चाह दैत्यो ऽस्मि विभो सचिवो महिषस्य तु
He said, 'I am a Daitya, O lord, a minister of Mahiṣa.'
अमात्यौ रुचिरौ वीरौ चण्डमुण्डाविति श्रुतौ
Two ministers, famed as Canda and Muṇḍa, were valiant and splendid.
यस्त्वासीत् प्रभूरस्माकं महिषो नाम दानवः
Our lord was the Dānava named Mahiṣa.
किंवीर्यौ किंप्रभावौ च एतच्छंसितुमर्हथः
What is your valor, what is your power? You should declare this.
निशुम्भो ऽयं मम भ्राता कनीयान् शत्रुपूगहा
This is Niśumbha, my younger brother, destroyer of hosts of enemies.
समेत्य निर्जिता वीरा ये ऽन्ये च बलवत्तराः
Having come together, all the other mighty heroes have been conquered.
यावत्तां घातयिष्यावः स्वसैन्यपरिवारितौ
Until then, we two, surrounded by our armies, will slay them.
जलवासाद् विनिष्क्रान्तौ चण्डमुण्डौ च दानवौ
Canda and Munda, the two Dānavas, emerged from the waters.
ऊचतुर्वचनं श्लक्ष्णं को ऽयं तव पुरस्सरः
They spoke gentle words: 'Who is this leader of yours?''
कनीयानस्य च भ्राता द्वितीयो हि निशुम्भकः
The second is Niśumbhaka, the younger brother.
अहं विवाहयिष्यामि रत्नभूतां जगत्त्रये
I will marry her who is the jewel among the three worlds.
यः प्रभुः स्यात्स रत्नार्हस्तस्माच्छुम्भाय योज्यताम्
He who is the lord, he alone is worthy of the jewel; therefore, let her be given to Śumbha.
भूयो ऽपि तद्विधां जातां कौशिकीं रूपशालिनीम्
Again, Kauśikī, endowed with beauty, was born in that very way.
दैत्यं च प्रेषयामास सकाशं विन्ध्यवासिनीम्
He sent a demon to the Vindhya-dwelling goddess.
निशुम्भशुम्बावाहेदं मन्युनाबिपरिप्लुतः
Niśumbha and Śumbha, filled with anger, spoke this.