कल्पाभ्रांशनिकाशेन घृष्टाम् अद्रितटीम् इव । स्वनेत्रविद्युद्वलयावलनाज्वलिताम्बराम्
With the appearance of a cloud fragment from an age, she seemed to have scraped the mountain's edge; her garment was ablaze with flashes from the circles of lightning in her own eyes.
तिमिरैकार्णवौर्वाग्निज्वालाविवलनाम् इव । गर्जद्घनघटाटोपपीवरासितकन्धराम्
With a neck thick and dark as a mass of thunderclouds, she seemed like the swirling flames of a fire rising from an ocean of darkness.
रणद्वदनसंरम्भहाहाहतनिशाचराम् । रोदसीकज्जलस्तम्भलीलयोल्लासितां पुरः
Her face, fierce in battle, resounded with the cries of slain night-dwellers, and before her, the sky appeared enlivened as if with pillars of black collyrium.
ऊर्ध्वकेशीं सिरालाङ्गीं कपिलाक्षीं तमोमयीम् । यक्षरक्षःपिशाचानाम् अप्य् अनल्पभयप्रदाम्
Her hair stood upright, her limbs veined, her eyes tawny, her form composed of darkness—she inspired great fear even among yakṣas, rākṣasas, and piśācas.
दरीरन्ध्रलसत्स्वास्यां वातझाङ्कारभीषणाम् । मुसुलोलूखलालातां हलशूर्पकशेखराम्
Her mouth gaped like a mountain cave, terrifying with the roar of wind; her forehead bore a pestle and mortar, and she wore a plough and winnowing basket as her crown.
स्फुरन्तीम् इव कल्पान्ते वैडूर्यशिखरिस्थलीम् । हासघट्टितविश्वेशां कालरात्रीम् इवोदिताम्
She seemed to shimmer like a peak of beryl at the end of an age, her laughter shaking the lords of the universe, appearing as if the Night of Time had arisen.
घनव्योमाटवीं साभ्रां कृतदेहाम् इवागताम् । शरीरिणीं महाभ्राढ्यां यामिनीम् इव मांसलाम्
She appeared as if the dense, cloud-filled forest of the sky had taken on a body and arrived, a night so massive and fleshy, endowed with a corporeal form.
शरीरसन्निवेशेन पङ्कपीठीम् इवोत्थिताम् । तनुं चन्द्रार्कयुद्धाय तमसेव समाश्रिताम्
With her bodily form, she seemed to have risen from a seat of mud; as if darkness itself, taking shelter, had assumed a body to wage war against the moon and sun.
इन्द्रनीलतटश्वभ्रलम्बाभ्रयुगलोपमौ । उलूखलादिहालाढ्यौ दधानाम् असितौ स्तनौ
Her two breasts, dark as sapphire mountain slopes and resembling a pair of hanging rainclouds, were adorned with pestle and plough.
नग्नाम् अङ्गारकाशेन समालब्धमहातनुम् । द्रुमाभास्पदसमिरललद्भुजलतातनुम्
Her great body, naked, was touched by the glow of embers; her limbs swayed like the branches of a tree stirred by the wind.
ताम् अवेक्ष्य महावीरौ तथैवाक्षुभितौ स्थितौ । न तद् अस्ति विमोहाय यद् विविक्तस्य चेतसः
Seeing her, the two mighty heroes remained unmoved; nothing can cause delusion in one whose mind is detached.
महाराक्षसि संरम्भो हासात्मा किम् अयं तव । लघवो ह्य् अथ वा नार्यो लाघवे ऽप्य् अतिसम्भ्रमाः
O great rakshasi, is this anger of yours merely laughter? Women are either light-hearted or, even in their lightness, excessively agitated.
त्यज संरम्भम् आरम्भो नायं तव विराजते । विषये हि प्रवर्तन्ते धीमन्तस् स्वार्थसाधकाः
Abandon anger; this agitation does not suit you. Wise people act in the world only to accomplish their own purpose.
त्वादृशीनां सहस्राणि मषिकानाम् इवाबले । अस्माकं वासनावात्याव्यूढानि तृणपर्णवत्
Thousands like you, O powerless one, are as insignificant to us as flies; our strong tendencies sweep them away like grass and leaves.
संरम्भज्वरम् उत्सृज्य समया स्वस्थया धिया । युक्त्या च व्यवहारिण्या सो ऽर्थः प्राज्ञेन साध्यते
Casting off the fever of anger, with a calm mind and practical reasoning, the wise person accomplishes his aim.
स्वेनैव व्यवहारेण कार्यं सिध्यतु माथवा । महानियतिनीत्यैव भ्रमस्यावसरो हि कः
Let the task be accomplished by your own action, O Mathava; for under the rule of great destiny, when is there room for confusion?
कथयाभिमतं किं ते किम् अर्थयसि वार्थिनी । अर्थी स्वप्ने ऽपि नास्माकम् अप्राप्तार्थः पुरोगतः
Speak what you desire; what do you seek, O petitioner? Even in dreams, we never pursue what is unattainable.
इत्य् उक्ता सा तदा तेन चिन्तयाम् आस राक्षसी । अहो नु विमलाचारं सत्त्वं पुरुषसिंहयोः
Thus addressed by him at that time, the demoness thought, 'Ah! Truly, how pure is the conduct and character of these lion-like men.'
न सामान्याव् इमौ मन्ये चित्रैवेयं चमत्कृतिः । वचोवक्त्रेक्षणान्य् एव वदन्त्य् अन्तर्विनिश्चयम्
I do not consider these two to be ordinary; this wonder is truly remarkable. Their words, voices, and glances alone reveal their inner resolve.
वचोवक्त्रेक्षितद्वारैर् धीमताम् आशया मिथः । एकीभवन्ति सरितां पयांसि वलनैर् इव
Through the gateways of words, speech, and glances, the intentions of the wise become united with each other, just as the waters of rivers merge through their channels.
आभ्यां प्रायः परिज्ञातो मम भावो ऽनयोर् मया । न विनाश्यौ मयेमौ वा स्वयम् एवाविनाशिनौ
By these two, my own disposition has been mostly discerned; and by me, theirs. These two are not to be destroyed by me, nor am I by them, for we are all inherently indestructible.
मन्ये भवत आत्मज्ञौ नात्मज्ञानाद् ऋते मतिः । प्रमृष्टसदसद्भावा भवत्य् अस्तभया मृतेः
I think these two possess self-knowledge; without self-knowledge, there is no true understanding. When the sense of existence and non-existence is cleansed, fear of death ceases.
तद् एतौ परिपृच्छामि कञ्चित् सन्देहम् उत्थितम् । प्राप्यं प्राप्य न पृच्छन्ति ये किञ्चित् ते नराधमाः
Therefore, I shall ask these two about a certain doubt that has arisen. Those who, having attained the opportunity, do not inquire about anything are the lowest of men.
इति सञ्चिन्त्य पृच्छायै तन् नानावसरं ततम् । अकालकल्पाभ्ररवं हासं संयम्य साब्रवीत्
Having thus reflected, she prepared to ask her question at an appropriate moment, restraining her untimely, cloud-like laughter, and spoke:
कौ भवन्तौ नरौ वीरौ कथ्यताम् इति मे ऽनघौ । जायते दर्शनाद् एव मैत्री विषदचेतसाम्
Who are you two, O sinless and heroic men? Please tell me. For, upon seeing those with pure hearts, friendship arises at once.
अयं राजा किरातानाम् अस्याहं मन्त्रितां गतः । उद्यतौ रात्रिचारेण त्वादृग्जनविनिग्रहे
This king is the ruler of the Kiratas, and I have attained the position of his minister; we are engaged in night patrols to restrain people like you.
राज्ञो रात्रिन्दिनं धर्मो दुष्टभूतविनिग्रहः । स्वधर्मत्यागिनो ये तु ते विनाशानलेन्धनम्
The king's duty, day and night, is to subdue wicked beings; but those who abandon their own duty become fuel for the fire of destruction.
राज्ञस् त्वम् असि दुर्मन्त्री दुर्मन्त्रित्वाद् अराड् अयम् । सद्भूपस्य भवेन् मन्त्री राजा सन्मन्त्रिणा भवेत्
You are a misguided minister to the king, and because of your poor counsel, this Arada has come; a good minister belongs to a virtuous king, and a king becomes noble through wise ministers.
राजैवादौ विवेकेन योजनीयस् सुमन्त्रिणा । तेनार्यताम् उपायाति यथा राजा तथा प्रजाः
At first, the king should be guided with discernment by a wise minister; through this, he attains nobility—just as is the king, so are his subjects.
समग्रगुणजालानाम् अध्यात्मज्ञानम् उत्तमम् । तद्वद् राजा भवेद् राजा तद्वन् मन्त्री च मन्त्रवित्
The highest knowledge of the Self is the collection of all virtues; likewise, a king should be a true king, and a minister should be one who knows counsel.