Mahisha's Marriage Proposal to the Goddess, through his Minister

Verse 1 (devibhagavatam.5.10.1)

व्यास उवाच । इति तस्य वचः श्रुत्वा प्रहस्य प्रमदोत्तमा । तमुवाच महाराज मेघगम्भीरया गिरा

vyāsa uvāca | iti tasya vacaḥ śrutvā prahasya pramadottamā | tamuvāca mahārāja meghagambhīrayā girā

Vyasa said: Hearing his words, that most excellent of women laughed, and, O great king, spoke to him in a voice deep as thunderclouds.

Verse 2 (devibhagavatam.5.10.2)

देव्युवाच । मन्त्रिवर्य सुराणां वै जननीं विद्धि मां किल । महालक्ष्मीमिति ख्यातां सर्वदैत्यनिषूदिनीम्

devyuvāca | mantrivarya surāṇāṁ vai jananīṁ viddhi māṁ kila | mahālakṣmīmiti khyātāṁ sarvadaityaniṣūdinīm

The Goddess said: O foremost of ministers, know me to be the mother of the gods, renowned as Mahalakshmi, the slayer of every daitya.

Verse 3 (devibhagavatam.5.10.3)

प्रार्थिताहं सुरैः सर्वैर्महिषस्य वधाय च । पीडितैर्दानवेन्द्रेण यज्ञभागबहिष्कृतैः

prārthitāhaṁ suraiḥ sarvairmahiṣasya vadhāya ca | pīḍitairdānavendreṇa yajñabhāgabahiṣkṛtaiḥ

I was entreated by all the gods for the destruction of Mahisha — by those oppressed by that lord of danavas and stripped of their share of the sacrifice.

Verse 4 (devibhagavatam.5.10.4)

तस्मादिहागतास्म्यद्य तद्वधार्थं कृतोद्यमा । एकाकिनी न सैन्येन संयुता मन्त्रिसत्तम

tasmādihāgatāsmyadya tadvadhārthaṁ kṛtodyamā | ekākinī na sainyena saṁyutā mantrisattama

For this reason I have come here today, resolved on his destruction — O foremost of ministers, alone, unaccompanied by any army.

Verse 5 (devibhagavatam.5.10.5)

यत्त्वयाहं सामपूर्वं कृत्वा स्वागतमादरात् । उक्ता मधुरया वाचा तेन तुष्टास्मि तेऽनघ

yattvayāhaṁ sāmapūrvaṁ kṛtvā svāgatamādarāt | uktā madhurayā vācā tena tuṣṭāsmi te'nagha

O sinless one, since you first welcomed me with respect and with the policy of conciliation, and spoke to me in sweet words, I am pleased with you.

Verse 6 (devibhagavatam.5.10.6)

नोचेद्धन्मि दृशा त्वां वै कालाग्निसमया किल । कस्य प्रीतिकरं न स्यान्माधुर्यवचनं खलु

noceddhanmi dṛśā tvāṁ vai kālāgnisamayā kila | kasya prītikaraṁ na syānmādhuryavacanaṁ khalu

Otherwise I would burn you to ash with a single glance, equal to the very fire of doom. Whose heart, after all, is not won over by sweet words?

Verse 7 (devibhagavatam.5.10.7)

गच्छ तं महिषं पापं वद मद्वचनादिदम् । गच्छ पातालमधुना जीवितेच्छा यदस्ति ते

gaccha taṁ mahiṣaṁ pāpaṁ vada madvacanādidam | gaccha pātālamadhunā jīvitecchā yadasti te

Go to that sinful Mahisha and speak these words of mine to him: 'Go now to Patala, if you wish to live.'

Verse 8 (devibhagavatam.5.10.8)

नोचेत्कृतागसं दुष्टं हनिष्यामि रणाङ्गणे । मद्बाणक्षुण्णदेहस्त्वं गन्तासि यमसादनम्

nocetkṛtāgasaṁ duṣṭaṁ haniṣyāmi raṇāṅgaṇe | madbāṇakṣuṇṇadehastvaṁ gantāsi yamasādanam

'Otherwise, wicked and guilty as you are, I shall slay you on the field of battle; your body shattered by my arrows, you shall go to Yama's abode.'

Verse 9 (devibhagavatam.5.10.9)

दयालुत्वं ममेदं त्वं विदित्वा गच्छ सत्वरम् । हते त्वयि सुरा मूढ स्वर्गं प्राप्स्यन्ति सत्वरम्

dayālutvaṁ mamedaṁ tvaṁ viditvā gaccha satvaram | hate tvayi surā mūḍha svargaṁ prāpsyanti satvaram

'Understand this mercy of mine, and go at once. O fool, once you are slain, the gods will swiftly regain heaven.'

Verse 10 (devibhagavatam.5.10.10)

तस्माद् गच्छस्व त्यक्त्वैको मेदिनीञ्च ससागराम् । पातालं तरसा मन्द यावद् बाणा न मेऽपतन्

tasmād gacchasva tyaktvaiko medinīñca sasāgarām | pātālaṁ tarasā manda yāvad bāṇā na me'patan

'Therefore, O fool, abandon this earth with its oceans, alone, and go swiftly to Patala — while my arrows have not yet fallen upon you.'

Verse 11 (devibhagavatam.5.10.11)

युद्धेच्छा चेन्मनसि ते तर्ह्येहि त्वरितोऽसुर । वीरैर्महाबलैः सर्वैर्नयामि यमसादनम्

yuddhecchā cenmanasi te tarhyehi tvarito'sura | vīrairmahābalaiḥ sarvairnayāmi yamasādanam

'If the desire for battle is in your heart, O asura, then come at once. I shall send you, together with all your mighty warriors, to the abode of Yama.'

Verse 12 (devibhagavatam.5.10.12)

युगे युगे महामूढ हतास्त्वत्सदृशाः किल । असङ्ख्यातास्तथा त्वां वै हनिष्यामि रणाङ्गणे

yuge yuge mahāmūḍha hatāstvatsadṛśāḥ kila | asaṅkhyātāstathā tvāṁ vai haniṣyāmi raṇāṅgaṇe

'O great fool, age after age, countless ones like you have been slain — and just so shall I slay you too, on the field of battle.'

Verse 13 (devibhagavatam.5.10.13)

साफल्यं कुरु शस्त्राणां धारणे तु श्रमोऽन्यथा । तद्युध्यस्व मया सार्धं समरे स्मरपीडितः

sāphalyaṁ kuru śastrāṇāṁ dhāraṇe tu śramo'nyathā | tadyudhyasva mayā sārdhaṁ samare smarapīḍitaḥ

'Make your weapons prove their worth — otherwise merely carrying them is idle labor. So fight with me, you who are tormented by desire.'

Verse 14 (devibhagavatam.5.10.14)

मा गर्वं कुरु दुष्टात्मन् यन्मेऽस्ति ब्रह्मणो वरः । स्त्रीवध्यत्वे त्वया मूढ पीडिताः सुरसत्तमाः

mā garvaṁ kuru duṣṭātman yanme'sti brahmaṇo varaḥ | strīvadhyatve tvayā mūḍha pīḍitāḥ surasattamāḥ

'Do not swell with pride, O evil-souled one, thinking, "I have the boon of Brahma." O fool, though slayable only by a woman, you have oppressed the foremost of the gods.'

Verse 15 (devibhagavatam.5.10.15)

कर्तव्यं वचनं धातुस्तेनाहं त्वामुपागता । स्त्रीरूपमतुलं कृत्वा सत्यं हन्तुं कृतागसम्

kartavyaṁ vacanaṁ dhātustenāhaṁ tvāmupāgatā | strīrūpamatulaṁ kṛtvā satyaṁ hantuṁ kṛtāgasam

'The Creator's word had to be fulfilled — that is why I have come to you, having taken on this incomparable female form, truly to slay one so guilty as you.'

Verse 16 (devibhagavatam.5.10.16)

यथेच्छं गच्छ वा मूढ पातालं पन्नगावृतम् । हित्वा भूसुरसद्माद्य जीवितेच्छा यदस्ति ते

yathecchaṁ gaccha vā mūḍha pātālaṁ pannagāvṛtam | hitvā bhūsurasadmādya jīvitecchā yadasti te

'Or, O fool, go as you please to Patala, encircled by serpents, abandoning this abode of the gods this very day, if you still wish to live.'

Verse 17 (devibhagavatam.5.10.17)

व्यास उवाच । इत्युक्तः स ततो देव्या मन्त्रिश्रेष्ठो बलान्वितः । प्रत्युवाच निशम्यासौ वचनं हेतुगर्भितम्

vyāsa uvāca | ityuktaḥ sa tato devyā mantriśreṣṭho balānvitaḥ | pratyuvāca niśamyāsau vacanaṁ hetugarbhitam

Vyasa said: Thus addressed by the Goddess, that foremost of ministers, gathering his strength, hearing her words, replied with a reasoned rejoinder.

Verse 18 (devibhagavatam.5.10.18)

देवि स्त्रीसदृशं वाक्यं ब्रूषे त्वं मदगर्विता । क्वासौ क्व त्वं कथं युद्धमसम्भाव्यमिदं किल

devi strīsadṛśaṁ vākyaṁ brūṣe tvaṁ madagarvitā | kvāsau kva tvaṁ kathaṁ yuddhamasambhāvyamidaṁ kila

'O Goddess, you speak with a pride that befits a woman. Where is he, and where are you? Such a battle seems altogether impossible.'

Verse 19 (devibhagavatam.5.10.19)

एकाकिनी पुनर्बाला प्रारब्धयौवना मृदुः । महिषोऽसौ महाकायो दुर्विभाव्यं हि सङ्गतम्

ekākinī punarbālā prārabdhayauvanā mṛduḥ | mahiṣo'sau mahākāyo durvibhāvyaṁ hi saṅgatam

'You are, besides, alone, young, only just come into your youth, and delicate; while Mahisha is huge of body — such a meeting is scarcely imaginable.'

Verse 20 (devibhagavatam.5.10.20)

सैन्यं बहुविधं तस्य हस्त्यश्वरथसङ्कुलम् । पदातिगणसंविद्धं नानायुधविराजितम्

sainyaṁ bahuvidhaṁ tasya hastyaśvarathasaṅkulam | padātigaṇasaṁviddhaṁ nānāyudhavirājitam

'His army is manifold, thronged with elephants, horses, and chariots, filled with hosts of foot-soldiers, resplendent with weapons of every kind.'

Verse 21 (devibhagavatam.5.10.21)

कः श्रमः करिराजस्य मालतीपुष्पमर्दने । मारणे तव वामोरु महिषस्य तथा रणे

kaḥ śramaḥ karirājasya mālatīpuṣpamardane | māraṇe tava vāmoru mahiṣasya tathā raṇe

'What effort is it for a great elephant to crush a jasmine flower? Just so, O lovely-thighed one, would it be easy for Mahisha to kill you in battle.'

Verse 22 (devibhagavatam.5.10.22)

यदि त्वां परुषं वाक्यं ब्रवीमि स्वल्पमप्यहम् । शृङ्गारे तद्विरुद्धं हि रसभङ्गाद्बिभेम्यहम्

yadi tvāṁ paruṣaṁ vākyaṁ bravīmi svalpamapyaham | śṛṅgāre tadviruddhaṁ hi rasabhaṅgādbibhemyaham

'If I speak even the smallest harsh word to you, it would run contrary to the sentiment of love — I fear the spoiling of that mood.'

Verse 23 (devibhagavatam.5.10.23)

राजास्माकं सुररिपुर्वर्तते त्वयि भक्तिमान् । साममेव मया वाच्यं दानयुक्तं तथा वचः

rājāsmākaṁ suraripurvartate tvayi bhaktimān | sāmameva mayā vācyaṁ dānayuktaṁ tathā vacaḥ

'Our king, the enemy of the gods, is devoted to you; I ought to speak to you only words of conciliation, and words offering gifts.'

Verse 24 (devibhagavatam.5.10.24)

नोचेद्धन्म्यहमद्यैव बाणेन त्वां मृषावदाम् । मिथ्याभिमानचतुरां रूपयौवनगर्विताम्

noceddhanmyahamadyaiva bāṇena tvāṁ mṛṣāvadām | mithyābhimānacaturāṁ rūpayauvanagarvitām

'Otherwise I would strike you down this very day with an arrow — O speaker of falsehood, clever in false pride, arrogant with your beauty and youth!'

Verse 25 (devibhagavatam.5.10.25)

स्वामी मे मोहितः श्रुत्वा रूपं ते भुवनातिगम् । तत्प्रियार्थं प्रियं कामं वक्तव्यं त्वयि यन्मया

svāmī me mohitaḥ śrutvā rūpaṁ te bhuvanātigam | tatpriyārthaṁ priyaṁ kāmaṁ vaktavyaṁ tvayi yanmayā

'My master, hearing of your form, unsurpassed in all three worlds, has become enchanted; for his sake I must speak to you only words of love and desire.'

Verse 26 (devibhagavatam.5.10.26)

राज्यं तव धनं सर्वं दासस्ते महिषः किल । कुरु भावं विशालाक्षि त्यक्त्वा रोषं मृतिप्रदम्

rājyaṁ tava dhanaṁ sarvaṁ dāsaste mahiṣaḥ kila | kuru bhāvaṁ viśālākṣi tyaktvā roṣaṁ mṛtipradam

'The kingdom is yours, all the wealth is yours — Mahisha is indeed your servant. O wide-eyed one, put away this death-bringing anger and incline your heart favorably.'

Verse 27 (devibhagavatam.5.10.27)

पतामि पादयोस्तेऽहं भक्तिभावेन भामिनि । पट्टराज्ञी महाराज्ञो भव शीघ्रं शुचिस्मिते

patāmi pādayoste'haṁ bhaktibhāvena bhāmini | paṭṭarājñī mahārājño bhava śīghraṁ śucismite

'I fall at your feet, O lady, with devotion; O one of the pure smile, become the great king's chief queen at once.'

Verse 28 (devibhagavatam.5.10.28)

त्रैलोक्यविभवं सर्वं प्राप्स्यसि त्वमनाविलम् । सुखं संसारजं सर्वं महिषस्य परिग्रहात्

trailokyavibhavaṁ sarvaṁ prāpsyasi tvamanāvilam | sukhaṁ saṁsārajaṁ sarvaṁ mahiṣasya parigrahāt

'Becoming Mahisha's wife, you shall obtain the whole, untroubled splendor of the three worlds, and every worldly happiness besides.'

Verse 29 (devibhagavatam.5.10.29)

देव्युवाच । शृणु साचिव वक्ष्यामि वाक्यानां सारमुत्तमम् । शास्त्रदृष्टेन मार्गेण चातुर्यमनुचिन्त्य च

devyuvāca | śṛṇu sāciva vakṣyāmi vākyānāṁ sāramuttamam | śāstradṛṣṭena mārgeṇa cāturyamanucintya ca

The Goddess said: Listen, O minister — I shall tell you the finest essence of these words, by the path shown in the scriptures, having weighed what is truly fitting.

Verse 30 (devibhagavatam.5.10.30)

महिषस्य प्रधानस्त्वं मया ज्ञातं धिया किल । पशुबुद्धिस्वभावोऽसि वचनात्तव साम्प्रतम्

mahiṣasya pradhānastvaṁ mayā jñātaṁ dhiyā kila | paśubuddhisvabhāvo'si vacanāttava sāmpratam

'You are Mahisha's chief minister — this I have understood well enough. Your own words make plain that your nature, too, is that of a beast's intelligence.'

Verse 31 (devibhagavatam.5.10.31)

मन्त्रिणस्त्वादृशा यस्य स कथं बुद्धिमान्भवेत् । उभयोः सदृशो योगः कृतोऽयं विधिना किल

mantriṇastvādṛśā yasya sa kathaṁ buddhimānbhavet | ubhayoḥ sadṛśo yogaḥ kṛto'yaṁ vidhinā kila

'How could he, whose minister is such as you, ever be counted wise? Fate itself has fashioned this fitting match between the two of you.'

Verse 32 (devibhagavatam.5.10.32)

यदुक्तं स्त्रीस्वभावासि तद्विचारस्य मूढ किम् । पुमान्नाहं तत्स्वभावाभवंस्त्रीवेषधारिणी

yaduktaṁ strīsvabhāvāsi tadvicārasya mūḍha kim | pumānnāhaṁ tatsvabhāvābhavaṁstrīveṣadhāriṇī

'As for what you said, that I am of a woman's nature — what is there in that worth pondering, O fool? I am no man; by my own nature I have taken this womanly form.'

Verse 33 (devibhagavatam.5.10.33)

याचितं मरणं पूर्वं स्त्रिया त्वत्प्रभुणा यथा । तस्मान्मन्येऽतिमूर्खोऽसौ न वीररसवित्तमः

yācitaṁ maraṇaṁ pūrvaṁ striyā tvatprabhuṇā yathā | tasmānmanye'timūrkho'sau na vīrarasavittamaḥ

'Since your master himself once begged that his death come at a woman's hand, I count him therefore an utter fool, no true connoisseur of the heroic sentiment.'

Verse 34 (devibhagavatam.5.10.34)

कामिन्या मरणं क्लीबरतिदं शूरदुःखदम् । प्रार्थितं प्रभुणा तेन महिषेणात्मबुद्धिना

kāminyā maraṇaṁ klībaratidaṁ śūraduḥkhadam | prārthitaṁ prabhuṇā tena mahiṣeṇātmabuddhinā

'Death at a lustful woman's hand is welcomed by a eunuch and dreaded by a true hero — yet that was precisely what your lord Mahisha, of his own judgment, begged for.'

Verse 35 (devibhagavatam.5.10.35)

तस्मात्स्त्रीरूपमाधाय कार्यं कर्तुमुपागता । कथं बिभेमि त्वद्वाक्यैर्धर्मशास्त्रविरोधकैः

tasmātstrīrūpamādhāya kāryaṁ kartumupāgatā | kathaṁ bibhemi tvadvākyairdharmaśāstravirodhakaiḥ

'For that very reason, having taken this woman's form, I have come to accomplish this task — how could I ever fear your words, which run contrary to the scriptures of Dharma?'

Verse 36 (devibhagavatam.5.10.36)

विपरीतं यदा दैवं तृणं वज्रसमं भवेत् । विधिश्चेत्सुमुखः कामं कुलिशं तूलवत्तदा

viparītaṁ yadā daivaṁ tṛṇaṁ vajrasamaṁ bhavet | vidhiścetsumukhaḥ kāmaṁ kuliśaṁ tūlavattadā

'When fate turns adverse, even a blade of grass becomes as a thunderbolt; and when destiny is favorable, even the thunderbolt turns as light as cotton.'

Verse 37 (devibhagavatam.5.10.37)

किं सैन्यैरायुधैः किं वा प्रपञ्चैर्दुर्गसेवनैः । मरणं साम्प्रतं यस्य तस्य सैन्यैस्तु किं फलम्

kiṁ sainyairāyudhaiḥ kiṁ vā prapañcairdurgasevanaiḥ | maraṇaṁ sāmprataṁ yasya tasya sainyaistu kiṁ phalam

'What use are armies or weapons, or the elaborate defenses of a fort? For one whose death is now at hand, what benefit could an army possibly bring?'

Verse 38 (devibhagavatam.5.10.38)

यदायं देहसम्बन्धो जीवस्य कालयोगतः । तदैव लिखितं सर्वं सुखं दुःखं तथा मृतिः

yadāyaṁ dehasambandho jīvasya kālayogataḥ | tadaiva likhitaṁ sarvaṁ sukhaṁ duḥkhaṁ tathā mṛtiḥ

'The very moment a soul is joined to a body through the working of time, at that moment everything is already written — joy, sorrow, and death alike.'

Verse 39 (devibhagavatam.5.10.39)

यस्य येन प्रकारेण मरणं दैवनिर्मितम् । तस्य तेनैव जायेत नान्यथेति विनिश्चयः

yasya yena prakāreṇa maraṇaṁ daivanirmitam | tasya tenaiva jāyeta nānyatheti viniścayaḥ

'In whatever manner a being's death has been ordained by fate, it will come to pass in precisely that manner, and no other — this is a certain truth.'

Verse 40 (devibhagavatam.5.10.40)

ब्रह्मादीनां यथा काले नाशोत्पत्ती विनिर्मिते । तथैव भवतः कामं किमन्येषां विचार्यते

brahmādīnāṁ yathā kāle nāśotpattī vinirmite | tathaiva bhavataḥ kāmaṁ kimanyeṣāṁ vicāryate

'Just as the destruction and arising even of Brahma and the other gods are fixed in time, so too, certainly, is yours — what then is left to consider for lesser beings?'

Verse 41 (devibhagavatam.5.10.41)

ये मृत्युधर्मिणस्तेषां वरदानेन दर्पिताः । मरिष्यामो न मन्यन्ते ते मूढा मन्दचेतसः

ye mṛtyudharmiṇasteṣāṁ varadānena darpitāḥ | mariṣyāmo na manyante te mūḍhā mandacetasaḥ

'Beings who are by nature subject to death, yet who, arrogant with a boon, refuse to accept, "we shall die" — these are fools, of dull understanding.'

Verse 42 (devibhagavatam.5.10.42)

तस्माद् गच्छ नृपं ब्रूहि वचनं मम सत्वरम् । यदाज्ञापयते भूपस्तत्कर्तव्यं त्वया किल

tasmād gaccha nṛpaṁ brūhi vacanaṁ mama satvaram | yadājñāpayate bhūpastatkartavyaṁ tvayā kila

'Therefore go, and quickly speak these words of mine to the king. Whatever the king then commands, that indeed you must do.'

Verse 43 (devibhagavatam.5.10.43)

मघवा स्वर्गमाप्नोतु देवाः सन्तु हविर्भुजः । यूयं प्रयात पातालं यदि जीवितुमिच्छथ

maghavā svargamāpnotu devāḥ santu havirbhujaḥ | yūyaṁ prayāta pātālaṁ yadi jīvitumicchatha

'Let Maghavan regain heaven; let the gods once more become the enjoyers of the sacrificial offerings. Go, all of you, to Patala, if you wish to live.'

Verse 44 (devibhagavatam.5.10.44)

अन्यथा चेन्मतिर्मन्द महिषस्य दुरात्मनः । तद्युध्यस्व मया सार्धं मरणाय कृतादरः

anyathā cenmatirmanda mahiṣasya durātmanaḥ | tadyudhyasva mayā sārdhaṁ maraṇāya kṛtādaraḥ

'But if the mind of that dull, evil-souled Mahisha is set otherwise, then let him, resolved for death, come and fight with me.'

Verse 45 (devibhagavatam.5.10.45)

मन्यसे सङ्गरे भग्ना देवा विष्णुपुरोगमाः । दैवं हि कारणं तत्र वरदानं प्रजापतेः

manyase saṅgare bhagnā devā viṣṇupurogamāḥ | daivaṁ hi kāraṇaṁ tatra varadānaṁ prajāpateḥ

'You think that in that earlier battle the gods, with Vishnu at their head, were defeated — but the true cause there was fate itself, namely the boon of Prajapati.'

Verse 46 (devibhagavatam.5.10.46)

व्यास उवाच । इति देव्या वचः श्रुत्वा चिन्तयामास दानवः । किं कर्तव्यं मया युद्धं गन्तव्यं वा नृपं प्रति

vyāsa uvāca | iti devyā vacaḥ śrutvā cintayāmāsa dānavaḥ | kiṁ kartavyaṁ mayā yuddhaṁ gantavyaṁ vā nṛpaṁ prati

Vyasa said: Hearing these words of the Goddess, the danava fell to thinking: 'What should I do — fight her myself, or go back to the king?'

Verse 47 (devibhagavatam.5.10.47)

विवाहार्थमिहाज्ञप्तो राज्ञा कामातुरेण वै । तत्कथं विरसं कृत्वा गच्छेयं नृपसन्निधौ

vivāhārthamihājñapto rājñā kāmātureṇa vai | tatkathaṁ virasaṁ kṛtvā gaccheyaṁ nṛpasannidhau

'I was sent here by the king, tormented by desire, for the sake of a marriage — how then could I go before him having spoiled the whole affair?'

Verse 48 (devibhagavatam.5.10.48)

इयं बुद्धिः समीचीना यद् व्रजामि कलिं विना । यथागतं तथा शीघ्रं राज्ञे संवेदयाम्यहम्

iyaṁ buddhiḥ samīcīnā yad vrajāmi kaliṁ vinā | yathāgataṁ tathā śīghraṁ rājñe saṁvedayāmyaham

'This seems the wisest course: that I return without conflict, and quickly report to the king exactly as it happened.'

Verse 49 (devibhagavatam.5.10.49)

स प्रमाणं पुनः कार्ये राजा मतिमतां वरः । करिष्यति विचार्यैव सचिवैर्निपुणैः सह

sa pramāṇaṁ punaḥ kārye rājā matimatāṁ varaḥ | kariṣyati vicāryaiva sacivairnipuṇaiḥ saha

'The king, foremost among the wise, shall then be the authority in this matter — he will decide only after due deliberation, together with his skilled counselors.'

Verse 50 (devibhagavatam.5.10.50)

सहसा न मया युद्धं कर्तव्यमनया सह । जये पराजये वापि भूपतेरप्रियं भवेत्

sahasā na mayā yuddhaṁ kartavyamanayā saha | jaye parājaye vāpi bhūpaterapriyaṁ bhavet

'I should not rashly engage in battle with her myself — for whether in victory or in defeat, it would displease the king either way.'

Verse 51 (devibhagavatam.5.10.51)

यदि मां सुन्दरी हन्यादहं वा हन्मि तां पुनः । येन केनाप्युपायेन स कुप्येत्पार्थिवः किल

yadi māṁ sundarī hanyādahaṁ vā hanmi tāṁ punaḥ | yena kenāpyupāyena sa kupyetpārthivaḥ kila

'If that beautiful one were to slay me, or if I were to slay her instead — by either outcome, the king would surely grow angry.'

Verse 52 (devibhagavatam.5.10.52)

तस्मात्तत्रैव गत्वाहं बोधयिष्यामि तं नृपम् । यथाद्याभिहितं देव्या यथारुचि करोतु सः

tasmāttatraiva gatvāhaṁ bodhayiṣyāmi taṁ nṛpam | yathādyābhihitaṁ devyā yathāruci karotu saḥ

'Therefore I shall go there myself and inform the king exactly what the Goddess has said today; let him then do as he sees fit.'

Verse 53 (devibhagavatam.5.10.53)

व्यास उवाच । इति सञ्चिन्त्य मेधावी जगाम नृपसन्निधौ । प्रणम्य तमुवाचेदं कृताञ्जलिरमात्यकः

vyāsa uvāca | iti sañcintya medhāvī jagāma nṛpasannidhau | praṇamya tamuvācedaṁ kṛtāñjaliramātyakaḥ

Vyasa said: Having thus reflected, that wise minister went into the king's presence, and, bowing with joined palms, spoke to him thus.

Verse 54 (devibhagavatam.5.10.54)

मन्त्र्युवाच । राजन् देवी वरारोहा सिंहस्योपरि संस्थिता । अष्टादशभुजा रम्या वरायुधधरा परा

mantryuvāca | rājan devī varārohā siṁhasyopari saṁsthitā | aṣṭādaśabhujā ramyā varāyudhadharā parā

The minister said: 'O king, that excellent Goddess, seated upon a lion, of eighteen arms, lovely, bearing excellent weapons, most extraordinary —'

Verse 55 (devibhagavatam.5.10.55)

सा मयोक्ता महाराज महिषं भज भामिनि । महिषी भव राज्ञस्त्वं त्रैलोक्याधिपतेः प्रिया

sā mayoktā mahārāja mahiṣaṁ bhaja bhāmini | mahiṣī bhava rājñastvaṁ trailokyādhipateḥ priyā

'— to her, O great king, I said: "O lady, accept Mahisha; become the beloved queen of the king, lord of the three worlds."'

Verse 56 (devibhagavatam.5.10.56)

पट्टराज्ञी त्वमेवास्य भविता नात्र संशयः । स तवाज्ञाकरो जातो वशवर्ती भविष्यति

paṭṭarājñī tvamevāsya bhavitā nātra saṁśayaḥ | sa tavājñākaro jāto vaśavartī bhaviṣyati

'"You alone shall become his chief queen, beyond any doubt; he has already become your servant, and will remain forever subject to you."'

Verse 57 (devibhagavatam.5.10.57)

त्रैलोक्यविभवं भुक्त्वा चिरकालं वरानने । महिषं पतिमासाद्य योषितां सुभगा भव

trailokyavibhavaṁ bhuktvā cirakālaṁ varānane | mahiṣaṁ patimāsādya yoṣitāṁ subhagā bhava

'"O lovely-faced one, obtaining Mahisha as your husband, enjoy the splendor of the three worlds for a long age, and become the most fortunate of all women."'

Verse 58 (devibhagavatam.5.10.58)

इति मद्वचनं श्रुत्वा सा स्मयावेशमोहिता । मामुवाच विशालाक्षी स्मितपूर्वमिदं वचः

iti madvacanaṁ śrutvā sā smayāveśamohitā | māmuvāca viśālākṣī smitapūrvamidaṁ vacaḥ

'— hearing these words of mine, that wide-eyed one broke into a fit of scornful laughter, and, smiling first, spoke this reply to me —'

Verse 59 (devibhagavatam.5.10.59)

महिषीगर्भसम्भूतं पशूनामधमं किल । बलिं दास्याम्यहं देव्यै सुराणां हितकाम्यया

mahiṣīgarbhasambhūtaṁ paśūnāmadhamaṁ kila | baliṁ dāsyāmyahaṁ devyai surāṇāṁ hitakāmyayā

'"Him who was born of a she-buffalo's womb, the vilest of beasts — I shall offer him up to the Goddess as a sacrificial offering, for the welfare of the gods."'

Verse 60 (devibhagavatam.5.10.60)

का मूढा कामिनी लोके महिषं वै पतिं भजेत् । मादृशी मन्दबुद्धे किं पशुभावं भजेदिह

kā mūḍhā kāminī loke mahiṣaṁ vai patiṁ bhajet | mādṛśī mandabuddhe kiṁ paśubhāvaṁ bhajediha

'"What foolish woman in this world would ever take a buffalo for her husband? O dull-witted one, could someone like me ever adopt the nature of a beast?"'

Verse 61 (devibhagavatam.5.10.61)

महिषी महिषं नाथं सशृङ्गा शृङ्गसंयुतम् । कुरुते क्रन्दमाना वै नाहं तत्सदृशी शठा

mahiṣī mahiṣaṁ nāthaṁ saśṛṅgā śṛṅgasaṁyutam | kurute krandamānā vai nāhaṁ tatsadṛśī śaṭhā

'"Only a she-buffalo, herself horned, takes a horned buffalo for her lord, wailing all the while — I am no fool such as she."'

Verse 62 (devibhagavatam.5.10.62)

करिष्येऽहं मृधे युद्धं हनिष्ये त्वां सुराप्रियम् । गच्छ वा दुष्ट पातालं जीवितेच्छा यदस्ति ते

kariṣye'haṁ mṛdhe yuddhaṁ haniṣye tvāṁ surāpriyam | gaccha vā duṣṭa pātālaṁ jīvitecchā yadasti te

'"I shall fight, and I shall slay you, lover of wine that you are. Or go, wicked one, to Patala, if you still wish to live."'

Verse 63 (devibhagavatam.5.10.63)

परुषं तु तया वाक्यमित्युक्तं नृप मत्तया । तच्छ्रुत्वाहं समायातः प्रविचिन्त्य पुनः पुनः

paruṣaṁ tu tayā vākyamityuktaṁ nṛpa mattayā | tacchrutvāhaṁ samāyātaḥ pravicintya punaḥ punaḥ

'Such harsh words, O king, were spoken by that intoxicated woman. Hearing them, and reflecting again and again, I have returned.'

Verse 64 (devibhagavatam.5.10.64)

रसभङ्गं विचिन्त्यैव न युद्धं तु मया कृतम् । आज्ञां विना तवात्यन्तं कथं कुर्यां वृथोद्यमम्

rasabhaṅgaṁ vicintyaiva na yuddhaṁ tu mayā kṛtam | ājñāṁ vinā tavātyantaṁ kathaṁ kuryāṁ vṛthodyamam

'Fearing only that the mood would be spoiled, I did not engage in battle myself. Without your command, how could I ever undertake so futile an effort?'

Verse 65 (devibhagavatam.5.10.65)

सातीव च बलोन्मत्ता वर्तते भूप भामिनी । भवितव्यं न जानामि किं वा भावि भविष्यति

sātīva ca balonmattā vartate bhūpa bhāminī | bhavitavyaṁ na jānāmi kiṁ vā bhāvi bhaviṣyati

'That lady, O king, is exceedingly intoxicated with her own strength. I do not know what is destined, nor what the future may bring.'

Verse 66 (devibhagavatam.5.10.66)

कार्येऽस्मिंस्त्वं प्रमाणं नो मन्त्रोऽतीव दुरासदः । युद्धं पलायनं श्रेयो न जानेऽहं विनिश्चयम्

kārye'smiṁstvaṁ pramāṇaṁ no mantro'tīva durāsadaḥ | yuddhaṁ palāyanaṁ śreyo na jāne'haṁ viniścayam

'In this matter you alone are our authority — this counsel is exceedingly hard to give. Whether battle or flight is the better course, I cannot say for certain.'