महिषो दुन्दुभिर्नाम कैलासशिखरप्रभः। बलं नागसहस्रस्य धारयामास वीर्यवान्
There was a mighty buffalo named Dundubhi, shining like the peak of Kailāsa, who possessed the strength of a thousand elephants.
स वीर्योत्सेकदुष्टात्मा वरदानेन मोहितः। जगाम स महाकायः समुद्रं सरितां पतिम्
That great-bodied one, intoxicated by his own strength and deluded by a boon, went to the ocean, lord of rivers.
ऊर्मिमन्तमतिक्रम्य सागरं रत्नसंचयम्। मम युद्धं प्रयच्छेति तमुवाच महार्णवम्
Crossing the wavy, jewel-filled ocean, he said to the great sea, 'Grant me battle.'
ततः समुद्रो धर्मात्मा समुत्थाय महाबलः। अब्रवीद् वचनं राजन्नसुरं कालचोदितम्
Then the ocean, righteous and mighty, rose up and spoke these words to the asura, prompted by fate.
शैलराजो महारण्ये तपस्विशरणं परम्। शंकरश्वशुरो नाम्ना हिमवानिति विश्रुतः
The king of mountains, a great refuge for ascetics in the vast forest, renowned as Himavat, the father-in-law of Śaṃkara by name.
महाप्रस्रवणोपेतो बहुकन्दरनिर्झरः। स समर्थस्तव प्रीतिमतुलां कर्तुमर्हति
Endowed with great cascades, many caves and waterfalls, he is able to grant you incomparable satisfaction.
तं भीतमिति विज्ञाय समुद्रमसुरोत्तमः। हिमवद्वनमागम्य शरश्चापादिव च्युतः
Knowing him to be afraid, the best of asuras, like an arrow released from a bow, went to the Himavat forest.
ततस्तस्य गिरेः श्वेता गजेन्द्रप्रतिमाः शिलाः। चिक्षेप बहुधा भूमौ दुन्दुभिर्विननाद च
Then Dundubhi hurled the white, elephant-like stones from that mountain in many directions upon the ground, and roared loudly.
ततः श्वेताम्बुदाकारः सौम्यः प्रीतिकराकृतिः। हिमवानब्रवीद् वाक्यं स्व एव शिखरे स्थितः
At that moment, the gentle and pleasing Himavat, resembling a white cloud, spoke these words while standing on his own peak.
क्लेष्टुमर्हसि मां न त्वं दुन्दुभे धर्मवत्सल। रणकर्मस्वकुशलस्तपस्विशरणो ह्यहम्
O Dundubhi, devoted to righteousness, you should not trouble me; I am skilled in the duties of ascetics and a refuge for the austere, not in the acts of battle.
तस्य तद् वचनं श्रुत्वा गिरिराजस्य धीमतः। उवाच दुन्दुभिर्वाक्यं क्रोधात् संरक्तलोचनः
Hearing these words of the wise king of mountains, Dundubhi, his eyes red with anger, replied.
यदि युद्धेऽसमर्थस्त्वं मद्भयाद् वा निरुद्यमः। तमाचक्ष्व प्रदद्यान्मे यो हि युद्धं युयुत्सतः
If you are unable to fight, or refrain out of fear of me, then tell me who might grant me battle, for I seek an opponent.
हिमवानब्रवीद् वाक्यं श्रुत्वा वाक्यविशारदः। अनुक्तपूर्वं धर्मात्मा क्रोधात् तमसुरोत्तमम्
Himavat, skilled in speech and righteous, though never before addressed thus, spoke in anger to that foremost of asuras.
वाली नाम महाप्राज्ञ शक्रपुत्रः प्रतापवान्। अध्यास्ते वानरः श्रीमान् किष्किन्धामतुलप्रभाम्
There is a mighty and wise one named Vali, son of Indra, a glorious vanara who dwells in the incomparable city of Kishkindha.
स समर्थो महाप्राज्ञस्तव युद्धविशारदः। द्वन्द्वयुद्धं स दातुं ते नमुचेरिव वासवः
He is powerful, highly intelligent, and skilled in battle; he is able to grant you single combat, like Indra to Namuci.
तं शीघ्रमभिगच्छ त्वं यदि युद्धमिहेच्छसि। स हि दुर्मर्षणो नित्यं शूरः समरकर्मणि
Go swiftly to him if you desire battle, for he is ever indomitable and valiant in combat.
श्रुत्वा हिमवतो वाक्यं कोपाविष्टः स दुन्दुभिः। जगाम तां पुरीं तस्य किष्किन्धां वालिनस्तदा
Hearing Himavat's words, Dundubhi, filled with rage, went at once to Vali's city of Kishkindha.
धारयन् माहिषं रूपं तीक्ष्णशृङ्गो भयावहः। प्रावृषीव महामेघस्तोयपूर्णो नभस्तले
Assuming the form of a buffalo, with sharp horns and a terrifying appearance, he resembled a great raincloud filled with water in the sky.
ततस्तु द्वारमागम्य किष्किन्धाया महाबलः। ननर्द कम्पयन् भूमिं दुन्दुभिर्दुन्दुभिर्यथा
Then, arriving at the gate of Kishkindha, the mighty Dundubhi bellowed, shaking the earth, like a war drum.
समीपजान् द्रुमान् भञ्जन् वसुधां दारयन् खुरैः। विषाणेनोल्लिखन् दर्पात् तद्द्वारं द्विरदो यथा
Breaking nearby trees, tearing up the ground with his hooves, and gouging the gate with his horn in arrogance, he resembled a mad elephant.
अन्तःपुरगतो वाली श्रुत्वा शब्दममर्षणः। निष्पपात सह स्त्रीभिस्ताराभिरिव चन्द्रमा
Vali, who was inside the inner chambers, heard the sound and, unable to bear it, came out with his wives, like the moon with the stars.
मितं व्यक्ताक्षरपदं तमुवाच स दुन्दुभिम्। हरीणामीश्वरो वाली सर्वेषां वनचारिणाम्
Vali, lord of the monkeys and all forest-dwellers, spoke to Dundubhi in measured words, clear in meaning.
किमर्थं नगरद्वारमिदं रुद्ध्वा विनर्दसे। दुन्दुभे विदितो मेऽसि रक्ष प्राणान् महाबल
Why do you block the city gate and roar like this, Dundubhi? I know who you are—protect your life, O mighty one.
तस्य तद् वचनं श्रुत्वा वानरेन्द्रस्य धीमतः। उवाच दुन्दुभिर्वाक्यं क्रोधात् संरक्तलोचनः
Hearing these words of the wise king of the monkeys, Dundubhi, his eyes red with anger, replied.
न त्वं स्त्रीसंनिधौ वीर वचनं वक्तुमर्हसि। मम युद्धं प्रयच्छाद्य ततो ज्ञास्यामि ते बलम्
O hero, it is not fitting for you to speak in the presence of women; grant me battle today, and then I will know your strength.
अथवा धारयिष्यामि क्रोधमद्य निशामिमाम्। गृह्यतामुदयः स्वैरं कामभोगेषु वानर
Or else, I shall restrain my anger tonight; let the celebration proceed freely, O monkey, indulge in pleasures as you wish.
दीयतां सम्प्रदानं च परिष्वज्य च वानरान्। सर्वशाखामृगेन्द्रस्त्वं संसादय सुहृज्जनम्
Let gifts be given and distributed, and embrace the monkeys; as lord of all the forest-dwellers, bring joy to your friends.
सुदृष्टां कुरु किष्किन्धां कुरुष्वात्मसमं पुरे। क्रीडस्व च समं स्त्रीभिरहं ते दर्पशासनः
Make Kishkindha well-protected, make the city as dear to you as your own self; play together with the women, for I am the one to restrain your pride.
यो हि मत्तं प्रमत्तं वा भग्नं वा रहितं कृशम्। हन्यात् स भ्रूणहा लोके त्वद्विधं मदमोहितम्
Whoever kills one who is intoxicated, careless, broken, alone, or weak, is known in the world as a destroyer of embryos—such as you, deluded by arrogance.
स प्रहस्याब्रवीन्मन्दं क्रोधात् तमसुरेश्वरम्। विसृज्य ताः स्त्रियः सर्वास्ताराप्रभृतिकास्तदा
Then, laughing softly in anger, he spoke to that lord of the asuras, having let go of all those women, beginning with Tara.