Durdhara's Words of Counsel for the Goddess's Defeat

Verse 1 (devibhagavatam.5.12.1)

व्यास उवाच । तन्निशम्य वचस्तस्य ताम्रस्य जगदम्बिका । मेघगम्भीरया वाचा हसन्ती तमुवाच ह

vyāsa uvāca | tanniśamya vacastasya tāmrasya jagadambikā | meghagambhīrayā vācā hasantī tamuvāca ha

Vyasa said: Hearing those words of Tamra, the Mother of the world, laughing, spoke to him in a voice deep as thunderclouds.

Verse 2 (devibhagavatam.5.12.2)

देव्युवाच । गच्छ ताम्र पतिं ब्रूहि मुमूर्षुं मन्दचेतसम् । महिषं चातिकामार्तं मूढं ज्ञानविवर्जितम्

devyuvāca | gaccha tāmra patiṁ brūhi mumūrṣuṁ mandacetasam | mahiṣaṁ cātikāmārtaṁ mūḍhaṁ jñānavivarjitam

The Goddess said: Go, Tamra, and tell your lord — that dull-witted one nearing death, that Mahisha, tormented by excessive desire, foolish and devoid of knowledge —

Verse 3 (devibhagavatam.5.12.3)

यथा ते महिषी माता प्रौढा यवसभक्षिणी । नाहं तथा शृङ्गवती लम्बपुच्छा महोदरी

yathā te mahiṣī mātā prauḍhā yavasabhakṣiṇī | nāhaṁ tathā śṛṅgavatī lambapucchā mahodarī

'— that just as your mother was a mature, grass-grazing she-buffalo, I am not, like her, horned, long-tailed, and large-bellied.'

Verse 4 (devibhagavatam.5.12.4)

न कामयेऽहं देवेशं नैव विष्णुं न शङ्करम् । धनदं वरुणं नैव ब्रह्माणं न च पावकम्

na kāmaye'haṁ deveśaṁ naiva viṣṇuṁ na śaṅkaram | dhanadaṁ varuṇaṁ naiva brahmāṇaṁ na ca pāvakam

'I desire not the lord of gods, nor Vishnu, nor Shankara; not the lord of wealth, nor Varuna, nor Brahma, nor Agni.'

Verse 5 (devibhagavatam.5.12.5)

एतान्देवगणान्हित्वा पशुं केन गुणेन वै । वृणोम्यहं वृथा लोके गर्हणा मे भवेदिति

etāndevagaṇānhitvā paśuṁ kena guṇena vai | vṛṇomyahaṁ vṛthā loke garhaṇā me bhavediti

'— forsaking all these hosts of gods, for what quality should I ever choose a beast? It would only bring me needless reproach in the world.'

Verse 6 (devibhagavatam.5.12.6)

नाहं पतिंवरा नारी वर्तते मे पतिः प्रभुः । सर्वकर्ता सर्वसाक्षी ह्यकर्ता निःस्पृहः स्थिरः

nāhaṁ patiṁvarā nārī vartate me patiḥ prabhuḥ | sarvakartā sarvasākṣī hyakartā niḥspṛhaḥ sthiraḥ

'— I am no woman seeking a husband at all; my Lord already exists — he who is the doer of all, yet no doer himself, the witness of all, without desire, ever steadfast —'

Verse 7 (devibhagavatam.5.12.7)

निर्गुणो निर्ममोऽनन्तो निरालम्बो निराश्रयः । सर्वज्ञः सर्वगः साक्षी पूर्णः पूर्णाशयः शिवः

nirguṇo nirmamo'nanto nirālambo nirāśrayaḥ | sarvajñaḥ sarvagaḥ sākṣī pūrṇaḥ pūrṇāśayaḥ śivaḥ

'— without qualities, without possession, infinite, without support, without refuge, all-knowing, all-pervading, the witness, whole, of whole intent, and auspicious —'

Verse 8 (devibhagavatam.5.12.8)

सर्वावासक्षमः शान्तः सर्वदृक्सर्वभावनः । तं त्यक्त्वा महिषं मन्दं कथं सेवितुमुत्सहे

sarvāvāsakṣamaḥ śāntaḥ sarvadṛksarvabhāvanaḥ | taṁ tyaktvā mahiṣaṁ mandaṁ kathaṁ sevitumutsahe

'— able to dwell within all things, tranquil, the seer of all, the very source of every being. Abandoning him, how could I ever bring myself to serve a dull-witted Mahisha?'

Verse 9 (devibhagavatam.5.12.9)

प्रबुध्य युध्यतां कामं करोमि यमवाहनम् । अथवा मनुजानां वै करिष्ये जलवाहकम्

prabudhya yudhyatāṁ kāmaṁ karomi yamavāhanam | athavā manujānāṁ vai kariṣye jalavāhakam

'Let him wake up and fight, if he desires — I shall turn him into the mount of Yama; or else make him a water-carrier for men.'

Verse 10 (devibhagavatam.5.12.10)

जीवितेच्छास्ति चेत्पाप गच्छ पातालमाशु वै । समस्तैर्दानवैर्युक्तस्त्वन्यथा हन्मि सङ्गरे

jīvitecchāsti cetpāpa gaccha pātālamāśu vai | samastairdānavairyuktastvanyathā hanmi saṅgare

'If you desire to live, O sinner, go swiftly to Patala. Otherwise, together with all your danavas, I shall slay you in battle.'

Verse 11 (devibhagavatam.5.12.11)

कामं सदृशयोर्योगः संसारे सुखदो भवेत् । अन्यथा दुःखदो भूयादज्ञानाद्यदि कल्पितः

kāmaṁ sadṛśayoryogaḥ saṁsāre sukhado bhavet | anyathā duḥkhado bhūyādajñānādyadi kalpitaḥ

'A union of equals may bring happiness in this world; but if, out of ignorance, a union is contrived between unequals, it can only bring sorrow.'

Verse 12 (devibhagavatam.5.12.12)

मूर्खस्त्वमसि यद् ब्रूषे पतिं मे भज भामिनि । क्वाहं क्व महिषः शृङ्गी सम्बन्धः कीदृशो द्वयोः

mūrkhastvamasi yad brūṣe patiṁ me bhaja bhāmini | kvāhaṁ kva mahiṣaḥ śṛṅgī sambandhaḥ kīdṛśo dvayoḥ

'You are a fool to say, "O lady, accept my lord." Where am I, and where is horned Mahisha — what possible relation could exist between the two of us?'

Verse 13 (devibhagavatam.5.12.13)

गच्छ युध्यस्व वा कामं हनिष्येऽहं सबान्धवम् । यज्ञभागं देवलोकं नोचेत्त्यक्त्वा सुखी भव

gaccha yudhyasva vā kāmaṁ haniṣye'haṁ sabāndhavam | yajñabhāgaṁ devalokaṁ nocettyaktvā sukhī bhava

'Go, or fight if you wish — I shall slay him along with every one of his kinsmen. Otherwise, give up the sacrificial offerings and the world of the gods, and be content.'

Verse 14 (devibhagavatam.5.12.14)

व्यास उवाच । इत्युक्त्वा सा तदा देवी जगर्ज भृशमद्भुतम् । कल्पान्तसदृशं नादं चक्रे दैत्यभयावहम्

vyāsa uvāca | ityuktvā sā tadā devī jagarja bhṛśamadbhutam | kalpāntasadṛśaṁ nādaṁ cakre daityabhayāvaham

Vyasa said: Having said this, the Goddess then let out a most wondrous, tremendous roar — a sound like the end of the cosmic age, terrifying to the daityas.

Verse 15 (devibhagavatam.5.12.15)

चकम्पे वसुधा चेलुस्तेन शब्देन भूधराः । गर्भाश्च दैत्यपत्नीनां सस्रंसुर्गर्जितस्वनात्

cakampe vasudhā celustena śabdena bhūdharāḥ | garbhāśca daityapatnīnāṁ sasraṁsurgarjitasvanāt

The earth trembled, and the mountains shook at that sound; and, from the peal of that roar, the wombs of the daityas' wives miscarried.

Verse 16 (devibhagavatam.5.12.16)

ताम्रः श्रुत्वा च तं शब्दं भयत्रस्तमनास्तदा । पलायनं ततः कृत्वा जगाम महिषान्तिकम्

tāmraḥ śrutvā ca taṁ śabdaṁ bhayatrastamanāstadā | palāyanaṁ tataḥ kṛtvā jagāma mahiṣāntikam

Tamra, hearing that sound, his mind stricken with terror, fled from there and went into the presence of Mahisha.

Verse 17 (devibhagavatam.5.12.17)

नगरे तस्य ये दैत्यास्तेऽपि चिन्तामवाप्नुवन् । बधिरीकृतकर्णाश्च पलायनपरा नृप

nagare tasya ye daityāste'pi cintāmavāpnuvan | badhirīkṛtakarṇāśca palāyanaparā nṛpa

O king, the daityas in his very city, too, fell into anxiety, their ears deafened, and became bent on flight.

Verse 18 (devibhagavatam.5.12.18)

तदा क्रोधेन सिंहोऽपि ननाद भृशमुत्सटः । तेन नादेन दैतेया भयं जग्मुरपि स्फुटम्

tadā krodhena siṁho'pi nanāda bhṛśamutsaṭaḥ | tena nādena daiteyā bhayaṁ jagmurapi sphuṭam

Then the lion too, wild with anger, let out a tremendous roar; and by that roar the daityas were plainly struck with terror.

Verse 19 (devibhagavatam.5.12.19)

ताम्रं समागतं दृष्ट्वा हयारिरपि मोहितः । चिन्तयामास सचिवैः किं कर्तव्यमतः परम्

tāmraṁ samāgataṁ dṛṣṭvā hayārirapi mohitaḥ | cintayāmāsa sacivaiḥ kiṁ kartavyamataḥ param

Seeing Tamra return, Mahisha too became bewildered, and deliberated with his ministers: 'What is to be done now?'

Verse 20 (devibhagavatam.5.12.20)

दुर्गग्रहो वा कर्तव्यो युद्धं निर्गत्य वा पुनः । पलायने कृते श्रेयो भवेद्वा दानवोत्तमाः

durgagraho vā kartavyo yuddhaṁ nirgatya vā punaḥ | palāyane kṛte śreyo bhavedvā dānavottamāḥ

'O foremost of danavas, should we take refuge in the fort, or march out to battle once more — or would flight be the better course?'

Verse 21 (devibhagavatam.5.12.21)

बुद्धिमन्तो दुराधर्षाः सर्वशास्त्रविशारदाः । मन्त्रः खलु प्रकर्तव्यः सुगुप्तः कार्यसिद्धये

buddhimanto durādharṣāḥ sarvaśāstraviśāradāḥ | mantraḥ khalu prakartavyaḥ suguptaḥ kāryasiddhaye

'You are all wise, unassailable, and versed in every branch of learning; secure counsel must indeed be taken, for the success of this undertaking.'

Verse 22 (devibhagavatam.5.12.22)

मन्त्रमूलं स्मृतं राज्यं यदि स स्यात्सुरक्षितः । मन्त्रिभिश्च सदाचारैर्विधेयः सर्वथा बुधैः

mantramūlaṁ smṛtaṁ rājyaṁ yadi sa syātsurakṣitaḥ | mantribhiśca sadācārairvidheyaḥ sarvathā budhaiḥ

'A kingdom's root is held to be its counsel, provided that counsel is kept secure; it must always be devised by wise, virtuous ministers.'

Verse 23 (devibhagavatam.5.12.23)

मन्त्रभेदे विनाशः स्याद्राज्यस्य भूपतेस्तथा । तस्माद्भेदभयाद् गुप्तः कर्तव्यो भूतिमिच्छता

mantrabhede vināśaḥ syādrājyasya bhūpatestathā | tasmādbhedabhayād guptaḥ kartavyo bhūtimicchatā

'When counsel is leaked, it brings ruin upon both kingdom and king; therefore one who desires prosperity must keep it secret, for fear of that very leakage.'

Verse 24 (devibhagavatam.5.12.24)

तदत्र मन्त्रिभिर्वाच्यं वचनं हेतुमद्धितम् । कालदेशानुसारेण विचिन्त्य नीतिनिर्णयम्

tadatra mantribhirvācyaṁ vacanaṁ hetumaddhitam | kāladeśānusāreṇa vicintya nītinirṇayam

'So let the ministers here speak reasoned, beneficial words, having weighed the decision of policy according to time and place.'

Verse 25 (devibhagavatam.5.12.25)

या योषात्र समायाता प्रबला देवनिर्मिता । एकाकिनी निरालम्बा कारणं तद्विचिन्त्यताम्

yā yoṣātra samāyātā prabalā devanirmitā | ekākinī nirālambā kāraṇaṁ tadvicintyatām

'This woman who has come here — so powerful, fashioned by the gods, alone and unsupported — the reason for it must be considered.'

Verse 26 (devibhagavatam.5.12.26)

युद्धं प्रार्थयते बाला किमाश्चर्यमतः परम् । श्रेयोऽत्र विपरीतं वा को वेत्ति भुवनत्रये

yuddhaṁ prārthayate bālā kimāścaryamataḥ param | śreyo'tra viparītaṁ vā ko vetti bhuvanatraye

'This young woman herself demands battle — what greater wonder could there be? Whether it bodes well or ill, who indeed knows, in all three worlds?'

Verse 27 (devibhagavatam.5.12.27)

न बहूनां जयोऽप्यस्ति नैकस्य च पराजयः । दैवाधीनौ सदा ज्ञेयौ युद्धे जयपराजयौ

na bahūnāṁ jayo'pyasti naikasya ca parājayaḥ | daivādhīnau sadā jñeyau yuddhe jayaparājayau

'Victory belongs not merely to the many, nor defeat only to the one; in war, victory and defeat must always be understood as subject to fate.'

Verse 28 (devibhagavatam.5.12.28)

उपायवादिनः प्राहुर्दैवं किं केन वीक्षितम् । अदृष्टमिति यन्नाम प्रवदन्ति मनीषिणः

upāyavādinaḥ prāhurdaivaṁ kiṁ kena vīkṣitam | adṛṣṭamiti yannāma pravadanti manīṣiṇaḥ

'Proponents of practical effort say: what indeed is fate, and who has ever seen it? — the very thing the wise call by the name of the "unseen".'

Verse 29 (devibhagavatam.5.12.29)

तत्सत्त्वेऽपि प्रमाणं किं कातराशावलम्बनम् । न समर्थजनानां हि दैवं कुत्रापि लक्ष्यते

tatsattve'pi pramāṇaṁ kiṁ kātarāśāvalambanam | na samarthajanānāṁ hi daivaṁ kutrāpi lakṣyate

'Even granting that it exists, what proof of it is there, save as a prop for the hope of the fainthearted? Among capable men, fate is never seen at work anywhere.'

Verse 30 (devibhagavatam.5.12.30)

उद्यमो दैवमेतौ हि शूरकातरयोर्मतम् । विचिन्त्याद्य धिया सर्वं कर्तव्यं कार्यमादरात्

udyamo daivametau hi śūrakātarayormatam | vicintyādya dhiyā sarvaṁ kartavyaṁ kāryamādarāt

'Effort is the creed of the brave, and fate that of the cowardly. Having considered everything wisely today, the task should be carried out with due care.'

Verse 31 (devibhagavatam.5.12.31)

व्यास उवाच । इति राज्ञो वचः श्रुत्वा हेतुगर्भं महायशाः । बिडालाख्यो महाराजमित्युवाच कृताञ्जलिः

vyāsa uvāca | iti rājño vacaḥ śrutvā hetugarbhaṁ mahāyaśāḥ | biḍālākhyo mahārājamityuvāca kṛtāñjaliḥ

Vyasa said: Hearing these reasoned words of the king, the greatly renowned minister named Bidala, with joined palms, spoke thus to the great king.

Verse 32 (devibhagavatam.5.12.32)

राजन्नेषा विशालाक्षी ज्ञातव्या यत्नतः पुनः । किमर्थमिह सम्प्राप्ता कुतः कस्य परिग्रहः

rājanneṣā viśālākṣī jñātavyā yatnataḥ punaḥ | kimarthamiha samprāptā kutaḥ kasya parigrahaḥ

'O king, this wide-eyed one must once more be carefully investigated — for what purpose has she come here, from where, and to whom does she belong?'

Verse 33 (devibhagavatam.5.12.33)

मरणं ते परिज्ञाय स्त्रिया सर्वात्मना सुरैः । प्रेषिता पद्मपत्राक्षी समुत्पाद्य स्वतेजसा

maraṇaṁ te parijñāya striyā sarvātmanā suraiḥ | preṣitā padmapatrākṣī samutpādya svatejasā

'Knowing your death to be fixed, in every way, at the hand of a woman, the gods have generated this lotus-eyed one from their own combined radiance and sent her here.'

Verse 34 (devibhagavatam.5.12.34)

तेऽपि छन्नाः स्थिताः खेऽत्र सर्वे युद्धदिदृक्षवः । समयेऽस्याः सहायास्ते भविष्यन्ति युयुत्सवः

te'pi channāḥ sthitāḥ khe'tra sarve yuddhadidṛkṣavaḥ | samaye'syāḥ sahāyāste bhaviṣyanti yuyutsavaḥ

'And those gods too stand hidden here in the sky, all eager to watch the battle; at the right moment, eager for the fight, they will become her helpers.'

Verse 35 (devibhagavatam.5.12.35)

पुरतः कामिनीं कृत्वा ते वै विष्णुपुरोगमाः । वधिष्यन्ति च नः सर्वान्सा त्वां युद्धे हनिष्यति

purataḥ kāminīṁ kṛtvā te vai viṣṇupurogamāḥ | vadhiṣyanti ca naḥ sarvānsā tvāṁ yuddhe haniṣyati

'Placing that woman in front of themselves, those gods, with Vishnu at their head, will slay every one of us; and she will slay you in battle.'

Verse 36 (devibhagavatam.5.12.36)

एतच्चिकीर्षितं तेषां मया ज्ञातं नराधिप । भवितव्यस्य न ज्ञानं वर्तते मम सर्वथा

etaccikīrṣitaṁ teṣāṁ mayā jñātaṁ narādhipa | bhavitavyasya na jñānaṁ vartate mama sarvathā

'This intention of theirs, O lord of men, I have discerned; yet of what is destined, I have absolutely no knowledge at all.'

Verse 37 (devibhagavatam.5.12.37)

योद्धव्यं न त्वयाद्येति नाहं वक्तुं क्षमः प्रभो । प्रमाणं त्वं महाराज कार्येऽत्र देवनिर्मिते

yoddhavyaṁ na tvayādyeti nāhaṁ vaktuṁ kṣamaḥ prabho | pramāṇaṁ tvaṁ mahārāja kārye'tra devanirmite

'I am not capable, O lord, of saying "you should not fight today"; you alone, O great king, are the authority in this matter, contrived as it is by the gods.'

Verse 38 (devibhagavatam.5.12.38)

तदर्थेऽस्माभिरनिशं मर्तव्यं कार्यगौरवात् । विहर्तव्यं त्वया सार्धमेष धर्मोऽनुजीविनाम्

tadarthe'smābhiraniśaṁ martavyaṁ kāryagauravāt | vihartavyaṁ tvayā sārdhameṣa dharmo'nujīvinām

'For your sake, given the gravity of this matter, we must ever be ready to die; to share your fate is the very dharma of loyal followers.'

Verse 39 (devibhagavatam.5.12.39)

विचारोऽत्र महानस्ति यदेका कामिनी नृप । युद्धं प्रार्थयतेऽस्माभिः ससैन्यैर्बलदर्पितैः

vicāro'tra mahānasti yadekā kāminī nṛpa | yuddhaṁ prārthayate'smābhiḥ sasainyairbaladarpitaiḥ

'There is great matter for reflection here, O king, that a single woman, proud of her strength, should demand battle from all of us, armed with our forces.'

Verse 40 (devibhagavatam.5.12.40)

दुर्मुख उवाच । राजन् युद्धे जयो नोऽद्य भविता वेद्म्यहं किल । पलायनं न कर्तव्यं यशोहानिकरं नृणाम्

durmukha uvāca | rājan yuddhe jayo no'dya bhavitā vedmyahaṁ kila | palāyanaṁ na kartavyaṁ yaśohānikaraṁ nṛṇām

Durmukha said: O king, I know for certain that victory in battle shall be ours today. Flight should never be undertaken — it is a destroyer of men's honor.

Verse 41 (devibhagavatam.5.12.41)

इन्द्रादीनां संयुगेऽपि न कृतं यज्जुगुप्सितम् । एकाकिनीं स्त्रियं प्राप्य को हि कुर्यात्पलायनम्

indrādīnāṁ saṁyuge'pi na kṛtaṁ yajjugupsitam | ekākinīṁ striyaṁ prāpya ko hi kuryātpalāyanam

'That shameful act which was never committed even in battle against Indra and the others — who indeed would commit it upon meeting a single woman?'

Verse 42 (devibhagavatam.5.12.42)

तस्माद्युद्धं प्रकर्तव्यं मरणं वा रणे जयः । यद्भावि तद्भवत्येव कात्र चिन्ता विपश्यतः

tasmādyuddhaṁ prakartavyaṁ maraṇaṁ vā raṇe jayaḥ | yadbhāvi tadbhavatyeva kātra cintā vipaśyataḥ

'Therefore battle alone must be waged — whether death or victory awaits on the field. Whatever is destined will surely come to pass — what concern, then, for one who sees clearly?'

Verse 43 (devibhagavatam.5.12.43)

मरणेऽत्र यशःप्राप्तिर्जीवने च तथा सुखम् । उभयं मनसा कृत्वा कर्तव्यं युद्धमद्य वै

maraṇe'tra yaśaḥprāptirjīvane ca tathā sukham | ubhayaṁ manasā kṛtvā kartavyaṁ yuddhamadya vai

'In death here lies the attainment of fame, and in life, happiness. Holding both possibilities in mind, battle must indeed be waged today.'

Verse 44 (devibhagavatam.5.12.44)

पलायने यशोहानिर्मरणं चायुषः क्षये । तस्माच्छोको न कर्तव्यो जीविते मरणे वृथा

palāyane yaśohānirmaraṇaṁ cāyuṣaḥ kṣaye | tasmācchoko na kartavyo jīvite maraṇe vṛthā

'In flight lies the loss of honor, and when one's lifespan is spent, death comes regardless. Therefore no grief should be felt, uselessly, over either life or death.'

Verse 45 (devibhagavatam.5.12.45)

व्यास उवाच । दुर्मुखस्य वचः श्रुत्वा बाष्कलो वाक्यमब्रवीत् । प्रणतः प्राञ्जलिर्भूत्वा राजानं वाक्यकोविदः

vyāsa uvāca | durmukhasya vacaḥ śrutvā bāṣkalo vākyamabravīt | praṇataḥ prāñjalirbhūtvā rājānaṁ vākyakovidaḥ

Vyasa said: Hearing Durmukha's words, Bashkala, skilled in speech, bowing with joined palms, spoke thus to the king.

Verse 46 (devibhagavatam.5.12.46)

बाष्कल उवाच । राजंश्चिन्ता न कर्तव्या कार्येऽस्मिन्कातरप्रिये । अहमेको हनिष्यामि चण्डीं चञ्चललोचनाम्

bāṣkala uvāca | rājaṁścintā na kartavyā kārye'sminkātarapriye | ahameko haniṣyāmi caṇḍīṁ cañcalalocanām

Bashkala said: O king, no anxiety need be felt over this matter, dear only to the cowardly. I alone shall slay that restless-eyed Chandi.

Verse 47 (devibhagavatam.5.12.47)

उत्साहस्तु प्रकर्तव्यः स्थायीभावो रसस्य च । भयानको भवेद्वैरी वीरस्य नृपसत्तम

utsāhastu prakartavyaḥ sthāyībhāvo rasasya ca | bhayānako bhavedvairī vīrasya nṛpasattama

'Enthusiasm alone should be held onto — it is the sustaining sentiment of valor. O best of kings, however dreadful the enemy, for a hero it becomes only the matter of that sentiment.'

Verse 48 (devibhagavatam.5.12.48)

तस्मात्त्यक्त्वा भयं भूप करिष्ये युद्धमद्भुतम् । नयिष्यामि नरेन्द्राहं चण्डिकां यमसादनम्

tasmāttyaktvā bhayaṁ bhūpa kariṣye yuddhamadbhutam | nayiṣyāmi narendrāhaṁ caṇḍikāṁ yamasādanam

'Therefore, O king, casting off fear, I shall wage a wondrous battle. O lord of men, I myself shall send Chandika to the abode of Yama.'

Verse 49 (devibhagavatam.5.12.49)

न बिभेमि यमादिन्द्रात्कुबेराद्वरुणादपि । वायोर्वह्नेस्तथा विष्णोः शङ्कराच्छशिनो रवेः

na bibhemi yamādindrātkuberādvaruṇādapi | vāyorvahnestathā viṣṇoḥ śaṅkarācchaśino raveḥ

'I fear neither Yama, nor Indra, nor Kubera, nor even Varuna; nor Vayu, nor Agni, nor Vishnu, nor Shankara, nor the Moon, nor the Sun.'

Verse 50 (devibhagavatam.5.12.50)

एकाकिनी तथा नारी किं पुनर्मदगर्विता । अहं तां निहनिष्यामि विशिखैश्च शिलाशितैः

ekākinī tathā nārī kiṁ punarmadagarvitā | ahaṁ tāṁ nihaniṣyāmi viśikhaiśca śilāśitaiḥ

'What then, of a mere solitary woman, however proud with pride? I shall slay her with arrows sharpened upon stone.'

Verse 51 (devibhagavatam.5.12.51)

पश्य बाहुबलं मेऽद्य विहरस्व यथासुखम् । भवतात्र न गन्तव्यं सङ्ग्रामेऽप्यनया समम्

paśya bāhubalaṁ me'dya viharasva yathāsukham | bhavatātra na gantavyaṁ saṅgrāme'pyanayā samam

'Behold my strength of arm today — take your ease. You need not even go into battle against her yourself.'

Verse 52 (devibhagavatam.5.12.52)

व्यास उवाच । एवं ब्रुवति राजेन्द्रं बाष्कले मदगर्विते । प्रणम्य नृपतिं तत्र दुर्धरो वाक्यमब्रवीत्

vyāsa uvāca | evaṁ bruvati rājendraṁ bāṣkale madagarvite | praṇamya nṛpatiṁ tatra durdharo vākyamabravīt

Vyasa said: While the pride-swollen Bashkala was speaking thus to the king, Durdhara, bowing to the king, spoke there.

Verse 53 (devibhagavatam.5.12.53)

दुर्धर उवाच । महिषाहं विजेष्यामि देवीं देवविनिर्मिताम् । अष्टादशभुजां रम्यां कारणाच्च समागताम्

durdhara uvāca | mahiṣāhaṁ vijeṣyāmi devīṁ devavinirmitām | aṣṭādaśabhujāṁ ramyāṁ kāraṇācca samāgatām

Durdhara said: O Mahisha, I shall conquer that Goddess, fashioned by the gods, of eighteen lovely arms, who has come here for some reason.

Verse 54 (devibhagavatam.5.12.54)

राजन् भीषयितुं त्वां वै मायैषा निर्मिता सुरैः । विभीषिकेयं विज्ञाय त्यज मोहं मनोगतम्

rājan bhīṣayituṁ tvāṁ vai māyaiṣā nirmitā suraiḥ | vibhīṣikeyaṁ vijñāya tyaja mohaṁ manogatam

'O king, this is merely an illusion, contrived by the gods only to frighten you. Knowing it to be nothing but a scare tactic, cast off this delusion from your mind.'

Verse 55 (devibhagavatam.5.12.55)

राजनीतिरियं राजन् मन्त्रिकृत्यं तथा शृणु । सात्त्विका राजसाः केचित्तामसाश्च तथापरे

rājanītiriyaṁ rājan mantrikṛtyaṁ tathā śṛṇu | sāttvikā rājasāḥ kecittāmasāśca tathāpare

'This, O king, is statecraft; now hear also the duties of ministers. Some are sattvic, some rajasic, and others tamasic.'

Verse 56 (devibhagavatam.5.12.56)

मन्त्रिणस्त्रिविधा लोके भवन्ति दानवाधिप । सात्त्विकाः प्रभुकार्याणि साधयन्ति स्वशक्तिभिः

mantriṇastrividhā loke bhavanti dānavādhipa | sāttvikāḥ prabhukāryāṇi sādhayanti svaśaktibhiḥ

'O lord of danavas, ministers in this world are of three kinds. The sattvic ones accomplish their master's affairs with their own full strength.'

Verse 57 (devibhagavatam.5.12.57)

आत्मकृत्यं प्रकुर्वन्ति स्वामिकार्याविरोधतः । एकचित्ता धर्मपरा मन्त्रशास्त्रविशारदाः

ātmakṛtyaṁ prakurvanti svāmikāryāvirodhataḥ | ekacittā dharmaparā mantraśāstraviśāradāḥ

'They attend to their own business without conflicting with their master's affairs — single-minded, devoted to dharma, and skilled in the science of counsel.'

Verse 58 (devibhagavatam.5.12.58)

राजसा भिन्नचित्ताश्च स्वकार्यनिरताः सदा । कदाचित्स्वामिकार्यं ते प्रकुर्वन्ति यदृच्छया

rājasā bhinnacittāśca svakāryaniratāḥ sadā | kadācitsvāmikāryaṁ te prakurvanti yadṛcchayā

'The rajasic ones are divided in mind, ever absorbed in their own business; only now and then, and by mere chance at that, do they attend to their master's affairs.'

Verse 59 (devibhagavatam.5.12.59)

तामसा लोभनिरताः स्वकार्यनिरताः सदा । प्रभुकार्यं विनाश्यैव स्वकार्यं साधयन्ति ते

tāmasā lobhaniratāḥ svakāryaniratāḥ sadā | prabhukāryaṁ vināśyaiva svakāryaṁ sādhayanti te

'The tamasic ones are given to greed, ever absorbed in their own business; they accomplish their own ends only by destroying their master's affairs.'

Verse 60 (devibhagavatam.5.12.60)

समये ते विभिद्यन्ते परैस्तु परिवञ्चिताः । स्वच्छिद्रं शत्रुपक्षीयान्निर्दिशन्ति गृहस्थिताः

samaye te vibhidyante paraistu parivañcitāḥ | svacchidraṁ śatrupakṣīyānnirdiśanti gṛhasthitāḥ

'At the crucial moment, deceived by the enemy, they defect; and while still within the house, they point out its very weaknesses to those on the enemy's side.'

Verse 61 (devibhagavatam.5.12.61)

कार्यभेदकरा नित्यं कोशगुप्तासिवत्सदा । सङ्ग्रामेऽथ समुत्पन्ने भीषयन्ति प्रभुं सदा

kāryabhedakarā nityaṁ kośaguptāsivatsadā | saṅgrāme'tha samutpanne bhīṣayanti prabhuṁ sadā

'They forever sabotage the task, like a sword still hidden in its sheath; and whenever battle arises, they never fail to frighten their own lord.'

Verse 62 (devibhagavatam.5.12.62)

विश्वासस्तु न कर्तव्यस्तेषां राजन् कदाचन । विश्वासे कार्यहानिः स्यान्मन्त्रहानिः सदैव हि

viśvāsastu na kartavyasteṣāṁ rājan kadācana | viśvāse kāryahāniḥ syānmantrahāniḥ sadaiva hi

'Trust, O king, should never be placed in such ministers; trusting them always leads to the ruin of the task and the leaking of counsel.'

Verse 63 (devibhagavatam.5.12.63)

खलाः किं किं न कुर्वन्ति विश्वस्ता लोभतत्पराः । तामसाः पापनिरता बुद्धिहीनाः शठास्तथा

khalāḥ kiṁ kiṁ na kurvanti viśvastā lobhatatparāḥ | tāmasāḥ pāpaniratā buddhihīnāḥ śaṭhāstathā

'What indeed will wicked men, once trusted, and given over to greed, not do? The tamasic are devoted to sin, devoid of intelligence, and deceitful besides.'

Verse 64 (devibhagavatam.5.12.64)

तस्मात्कार्यं करिष्यामि गत्वाहं रणमस्तके । चिन्ता त्वया न कर्तव्या सर्वथा नृपसत्तम

tasmātkāryaṁ kariṣyāmi gatvāhaṁ raṇamastake | cintā tvayā na kartavyā sarvathā nṛpasattama

'Therefore I myself shall accomplish this task, going to the very forefront of battle. O best of kings, you need feel no anxiety over it at all.'

Verse 65 (devibhagavatam.5.12.65)

गृहीत्वा तां दुराचारामागमिष्यामि सत्वरः । पश्य मेऽद्य बलं धैर्यं प्रभुकार्यं स्वशक्तितः

gṛhītvā tāṁ durācārāmāgamiṣyāmi satvaraḥ | paśya me'dya balaṁ dhairyaṁ prabhukāryaṁ svaśaktitaḥ

'Seizing that ill-behaved woman, I shall return swiftly. Behold today, O king, my strength, my resolve, and the accomplishment of my lord's task by my own power.'