Raktabija's Words to the Goddess, and Shumbha and Nishumbha's Counsel

Verse 1 (devibhagavatam.5.27.1)

व्यास उवाच । हतौ तौ दानवौ दृष्ट्वा हतशेषाश्च सैनिकाः । पलायनं ततः कृत्वा जग्मुः सर्वे नृपं प्रति

vyāsa uvāca | hatau tau dānavau dṛṣṭvā hataśeṣāśca sainikāḥ | palāyanaṁ tataḥ kṛtvā jagmuḥ sarve nṛpaṁ prati

Vyasa said: Seeing those two demons slain, the surviving soldiers all fled and went before the king.

Verse 2 (devibhagavatam.5.27.2)

भिन्नाङ्गा विशिखैः केचित्केचिच्छिन्नकरास्तथा । रुधिरस्रावदेहाश्च रुदन्तोऽभिययुः पुरे

bhinnāṅgā viśikhaiḥ kecitkecicchinnakarāstathā | rudhirasrāvadehāśca rudanto'bhiyayuḥ pure

Some with their limbs torn by arrows, others with their hands severed, their bodies streaming with blood, they went weeping into the city.

Verse 3 (devibhagavatam.5.27.3)

गत्वा दैत्यपतिं सर्वे चक्रुर्बुम्बारवं मुहुः । रक्ष रक्ष महाराज भक्षयत्यद्य कालिका

gatvā daityapatiṁ sarve cakrurbumbāravaṁ muhuḥ | rakṣa rakṣa mahārāja bhakṣayatyadya kālikā

Going before the lord of the demons, they all cried out again and again in confused clamor: "Protect us, protect us, great king! Kalika devours everyone today!"

Verse 4 (devibhagavatam.5.27.4)

तया हतौ महावीरौ चण्डमुण्डौ सुरार्दनौ । भक्षिताः सैनिकाः सर्वे वयं भग्ना भयातुराः

tayā hatau mahāvīrau caṇḍamuṇḍau surārdanau | bhakṣitāḥ sainikāḥ sarve vayaṁ bhagnā bhayāturāḥ

"By her, those two great heroes, Chanda and Munda, the tormentors of the gods, have been slain. All our soldiers have been devoured; we alone survive, routed and stricken with fear."

Verse 5 (devibhagavatam.5.27.5)

भीतिदञ्च रणस्थानं कृतं कालिकया प्रभो । पातितैर्गजवीराश्वैर्दासेरकपदातिभिः

bhītidañca raṇasthānaṁ kṛtaṁ kālikayā prabho | pātitairgajavīrāśvairdāserakapadātibhiḥ

"O lord, Kalika has made the battlefield a place of terror, strewn with fallen elephants, warriors, horses, camels, and foot-soldiers."

Verse 6 (devibhagavatam.5.27.6)

शोणितौघवहा कुल्या कृता मांसातिकर्दमा । केशशैवलिनी भग्नरथचक्रविराजिता

śoṇitaughavahā kulyā kṛtā māṁsātikardamā | keśaśaivalinī bhagnarathacakravirājitā

"A river of flowing blood has formed there, its mud thick with flesh, its moss made of hair, adorned with the broken wheels of shattered chariots —"

Verse 7 (devibhagavatam.5.27.7)

छिन्नबाह्वादिमत्स्याढ्या शीर्षतुम्बीफलान्विता । भयदा कातराणां वै सुराणां मोदवर्धिनी

chinnabāhvādimatsyāḍhyā śīrṣatumbīphalānvitā | bhayadā kātarāṇāṁ vai surāṇāṁ modavardhinī

"— rich with severed arms as its fish, strewn with heads like gourds floating upon it: a sight that terrifies the faint of heart, yet gladdens the gods."

Verse 8 (devibhagavatam.5.27.8)

कुलं रक्ष महाराज पातालं गच्छ सत्वरम् । क्रुद्धा देवी क्षयं सद्यः करिष्यति न संशयः

kulaṁ rakṣa mahārāja pātālaṁ gaccha satvaram | kruddhā devī kṣayaṁ sadyaḥ kariṣyati na saṁśayaḥ

"Protect our race, great king — flee at once to the netherworld! The Goddess, once enraged, will surely bring about our utter destruction without delay."

Verse 9 (devibhagavatam.5.27.9)

सिंहोऽपि भक्षयत्याजौ दानवान्दनुजेश्वर । तथैव कालिका देवी हन्ति बाणैरनेकधा

siṁho'pi bhakṣayatyājau dānavāndanujeśvara | tathaiva kālikā devī hanti bāṇairanekadhā

"O lord of the demons, even her lion devours the demons in battle, while the Goddess Kalika herself slays them in countless ways with her arrows."

Verse 10 (devibhagavatam.5.27.10)

तस्मात्त्वमपि राजेन्द्र मरणाय मृषा मतिम् । करोषि सहितो भ्रात्रा शुम्भेन कुपिताशयः

tasmāttvamapi rājendra maraṇāya mṛṣā matim | karoṣi sahito bhrātrā śumbhena kupitāśayaḥ

"Therefore you too, O lord of kings, together with your brother Shumbha, your minds enraged, are forming a resolve that leads only, and vainly, toward death."

Verse 11 (devibhagavatam.5.27.11)

किं करिष्यति नार्येषा क्रूरा कुलविनाशिनी । यस्या हेतोर्महाराज हन्तुमिच्छसि बान्धवान्

kiṁ kariṣyati nāryeṣā krūrā kulavināśinī | yasyā hetormahārāja hantumicchasi bāndhavān

"What can this cruel, clan-destroying woman even do to you, that for her sake, O great king, you wish to have your own kinsmen killed?"

Verse 12 (devibhagavatam.5.27.12)

दैवाधीनौ महाराज लोके जयपराजयौ । अल्पार्थाय महद्दुःखं बुद्धिमान्न प्रकल्पयेत्

daivādhīnau mahārāja loke jayaparājayau | alpārthāya mahadduḥkhaṁ buddhimānna prakalpayet

"Victory and defeat in this world, O great king, are both governed by fate. A wise man should never bring great sorrow upon himself for the sake of some trivial gain."

Verse 13 (devibhagavatam.5.27.13)

चित्रं पश्य विधेः कर्म यदधीनं जगत् प्रभो । निहता राक्षसाः सर्वे स्त्रिया पश्यैकयानया

citraṁ paśya vidheḥ karma yadadhīnaṁ jagat prabho | nihatā rākṣasāḥ sarve striyā paśyaikayānayā

"Behold the wondrous working of destiny, O lord, on which this whole world depends — see how all our demons have been slain by this one single woman!"

Verse 14 (devibhagavatam.5.27.14)

जेता त्वं लोकपालानां सैन्ययुक्तो हि साम्प्रतम् । एका प्रार्थयते बाला युद्धायेति सुसम्भ्रमः

jetā tvaṁ lokapālānāṁ sainyayukto hi sāmpratam | ekā prārthayate bālā yuddhāyeti susambhramaḥ

"You are the conqueror of the very guardians of the world, and now, with your whole army, you find yourself thrown into confusion because one lone girl wishes for battle!"

Verse 15 (devibhagavatam.5.27.15)

पुरा त्वया तपस्तप्तं पुष्करे देवतायने । वरदानाय सम्प्राप्तो ब्रह्मा लोकपितामहः

purā tvayā tapastaptaṁ puṣkare devatāyane | varadānāya samprāpto brahmā lokapitāmahaḥ

"Long ago, you performed austerities at Pushkara, that abode of the gods, and Brahma, the grandfather of all worlds, came to grant you a boon."

Verse 16 (devibhagavatam.5.27.16)

धात्रोक्तस्त्वं महाराज वरं वरय सुव्रत । तदा त्वयामरत्वं च प्रार्थितं ब्रह्मणः किल

dhātroktastvaṁ mahārāja varaṁ varaya suvrata | tadā tvayāmaratvaṁ ca prārthitaṁ brahmaṇaḥ kila

"The Creator himself told you, O great king of firm vows, 'Choose your boon' — and you then asked Brahma for immortality."

Verse 17 (devibhagavatam.5.27.17)

देवदैत्यमनुष्येभ्यो न भवेन्मरणं मम । सर्पकिन्नरयक्षेभ्यः पुंल्लिङ्गवाचकादपि

devadaityamanuṣyebhyo na bhavenmaraṇaṁ mama | sarpakinnarayakṣebhyaḥ puṁlliṅgavācakādapi

"'Let death never come to me from gods, demons, or men, nor from serpents, kinnaras, or yakshas, nor from any being denoted by a masculine word' — so you asked."

Verse 18 (devibhagavatam.5.27.18)

तस्मात्त्वां हन्तुकामैषा प्राप्ता योषिद्वरा प्रभो । युद्धं मा कुरु राजेन्द्र विचार्यैवं धियाधुना

tasmāttvāṁ hantukāmaiṣā prāptā yoṣidvarā prabho | yuddhaṁ mā kuru rājendra vicāryaivaṁ dhiyādhunā

"That is precisely why this supreme woman has come here wishing to slay you, O lord! Therefore, O king, having considered this well, do not engage her in battle."

Verse 19 (devibhagavatam.5.27.19)

देवी ह्येषा महामाया प्रकृतिः परमा मता । कल्पान्तकाले राजेन्द्र सर्वसंहारकारिणी

devī hyeṣā mahāmāyā prakṛtiḥ paramā matā | kalpāntakāle rājendra sarvasaṁhārakāriṇī

"For this Goddess is the great Maya herself, held to be the supreme Prakriti, who at the dissolution of the cosmic age, O king, brings about the destruction of all things."

Verse 20 (devibhagavatam.5.27.20)

उत्पादयित्री लोकानां देवानामीश्वरी शुभा । त्रिगुणा तामसी देवी सर्वशक्तिसमन्विता

utpādayitrī lokānāṁ devānāmīśvarī śubhā | triguṇā tāmasī devī sarvaśaktisamanvitā

"She is the creatrix of all the worlds, the auspicious sovereign of the gods, the Goddess of the three gunas, the very embodiment of the tamas-quality, possessed of every power."

Verse 21 (devibhagavatam.5.27.21)

अजय्या चाक्षया नित्या सर्वज्ञा च सदोदिता । वेदमाता च गायत्री सन्ध्या सर्वसुरालया

ajayyā cākṣayā nityā sarvajñā ca sadoditā | vedamātā ca gāyatrī sandhyā sarvasurālayā

"Unconquerable, imperishable, eternal, all-knowing, ever risen, she is the Mother of the Vedas, Gayatri, and Sandhya, the very abode of all the gods."

Verse 22 (devibhagavatam.5.27.22)

निर्गुणा सगुणा सिद्धा सर्वसिद्धिप्रदाव्यया । आनन्दानन्ददा गौरी देवानामभयप्रदा

nirguṇā saguṇā siddhā sarvasiddhipradāvyayā | ānandānandadā gaurī devānāmabhayapradā

"Beyond qualities and possessed of qualities, ever accomplished, imperishable, granting all attainments, herself bliss and the giver of bliss, she is Gauri, who grants fearlessness to the gods."

Verse 23 (devibhagavatam.5.27.23)

एवं ज्ञात्वा महाराज वैरभावं त्यजानया । शरणं व्रज राजेन्द्र देवी त्वां पालयिष्यति

evaṁ jñātvā mahārāja vairabhāvaṁ tyajānayā | śaraṇaṁ vraja rājendra devī tvāṁ pālayiṣyati

"Knowing this, great king, abandon all hostility toward her. Take refuge in her, O lord of kings — the Goddess will then protect you."

Verse 24 (devibhagavatam.5.27.24)

आज्ञाकरो भवैतस्याः सञ्जीवय निजं कुलम् । हतशेषाश्च ये दैत्यास्ते भवन्तु चिरायुषः

ājñākaro bhavaitasyāḥ sañjīvaya nijaṁ kulam | hataśeṣāśca ye daityāste bhavantu cirāyuṣaḥ

"Become her servant, and thereby restore your own clan to life; and let whatever demons yet remain after this slaughter live on for long years."

Verse 25 (devibhagavatam.5.27.25)

व्यास उवाच । इति तेषां वचः श्रुत्वा शुम्भः सुरबलार्दनः । उवाच वचनं तथ्यं वीरवर्यगुणान्वितम्

vyāsa uvāca | iti teṣāṁ vacaḥ śrutvā śumbhaḥ surabalārdanaḥ | uvāca vacanaṁ tathyaṁ vīravaryaguṇānvitam

Vyasa said: Hearing their words, Shumbha, the crusher of the strength of the gods, spoke in reply words that were true and endowed with the qualities of the finest of heroes.

Verse 26 (devibhagavatam.5.27.26)

शुम्भ उवाच । मौनं कुर्वन्तु भो मन्दा यूयं भग्ना रणाजिरात् । शीघ्रं गच्छत पातालं जीविताशा बलीयसी

śumbha uvāca | maunaṁ kurvantu bho mandā yūyaṁ bhagnā raṇājirāt | śīghraṁ gacchata pātālaṁ jīvitāśā balīyasī

Shumbha said: "Be silent, you fools who have fled from the field of battle! Go swiftly to the netherworld if you wish — your longing to live has clearly grown too strong."

Verse 27 (devibhagavatam.5.27.27)

दैवाधीनं जगत्सर्वं का चिन्तात्र जये मम । देवास्तथैव ब्रह्माद्या दैवाधीना वयं यथा

daivādhīnaṁ jagatsarvaṁ kā cintātra jaye mama | devāstathaiva brahmādyā daivādhīnā vayaṁ yathā

"This whole world is governed by fate — what concern is there over my victory? The gods too, Brahma and the rest, are governed by fate, just as we are."

Verse 28 (devibhagavatam.5.27.28)

ब्रह्मा विष्णुश्च रुद्रोऽयं यमोऽग्निर्वरुणस्तथा । सूर्यश्चन्द्रस्तथा शक्रः सर्वे दैववशाः किल

brahmā viṣṇuśca rudro'yaṁ yamo'gnirvaruṇastathā | sūryaścandrastathā śakraḥ sarve daivavaśāḥ kila

"Brahma, Vishnu, and this Rudra, Yama, Agni, Varuna, the Sun, the Moon, and Indra — all of them, indeed, are subject to fate."

Verse 29 (devibhagavatam.5.27.29)

का चिन्ता तर्हि मे मन्दा यद्भावि तद्भविष्यति । उद्यमस्तादृशो भूयाद्यादृशी भवितव्यता

kā cintā tarhi me mandā yadbhāvi tadbhaviṣyati | udyamastādṛśo bhūyādyādṛśī bhavitavyatā

"What concern, then, do I have, you fools? Whatever is destined to happen will happen. Let my effort simply match whatever that destiny is to be."

Verse 30 (devibhagavatam.5.27.30)

सर्वथैव विचार्यैव न शोचन्ति बुधाः क्वचित् । स्वधर्मं न त्यजन्तीह ज्ञानिनो मरणाद्भयात्

sarvathaiva vicāryaiva na śocanti budhāḥ kvacit | svadharmaṁ na tyajantīha jñānino maraṇādbhayāt

"Having considered every side of the matter, the wise never grieve at all; those who possess true knowledge never abandon their own duty out of fear of death."

Verse 31 (devibhagavatam.5.27.31)

सुखं दुःखं तथैवायुर्जीवितं मरणं नृणाम् । काले भवति सम्प्राप्ते सर्वथा दैवनिर्मितम्

sukhaṁ duḥkhaṁ tathaivāyurjīvitaṁ maraṇaṁ nṛṇām | kāle bhavati samprāpte sarvathā daivanirmitam

"Happiness and sorrow, lifespan, life itself, and death for human beings — all of these come about, when their time arrives, entirely as ordained by fate."

Verse 32 (devibhagavatam.5.27.32)

ब्रह्मा पतति काले स्वे विष्णुश्च पार्वतीपतिः । नाशं गच्छन्त्यायुषोऽन्ते सर्वे देवाः सवासवाः

brahmā patati kāle sve viṣṇuśca pārvatīpatiḥ | nāśaṁ gacchantyāyuṣo'nte sarve devāḥ savāsavāḥ

"Even Brahma falls when his own time comes, and so too Vishnu, and Parvati's own lord — at the end of their lifespan, all the gods, Indra included, come to their end."

Verse 33 (devibhagavatam.5.27.33)

तथाहमपि कालस्य वशगः सर्वथाधुना । नाशं जयं वा गन्तास्मि स्वधर्मपरिपालनात्

tathāhamapi kālasya vaśagaḥ sarvathādhunā | nāśaṁ jayaṁ vā gantāsmi svadharmaparipālanāt

"So I too am now, in every way, subject to time. Whether I meet destruction or victory, I shall meet it through the upholding of my own proper duty."

Verse 34 (devibhagavatam.5.27.34)

आहूतोऽप्यनया कामं युद्धायाबलया किल । कथं पलायनपरो जीवेयं शरदां शतम्

āhūto'pyanayā kāmaṁ yuddhāyābalayā kila | kathaṁ palāyanaparo jīveyaṁ śaradāṁ śatam

"Having been challenged to battle by this woman, however powerless she may seem, how could I possibly live out a hundred years as one who fled from her?"

Verse 35 (devibhagavatam.5.27.35)

करिष्याम्यद्य सङ्ग्रामं यद्भावि तद्भवत्विह । जयो वा मरणं वापि स्वीकरोमि यथा तथा

kariṣyāmyadya saṅgrāmaṁ yadbhāvi tadbhavatviha | jayo vā maraṇaṁ vāpi svīkaromi yathā tathā

"This very day I shall wage war; let whatever is destined here come to pass. Whether it be victory or death, I shall accept it as it comes."

Verse 36 (devibhagavatam.5.27.36)

दैवं मिथ्येति विद्वांसो वदन्त्युद्यमवादिनः । युक्तियुक्तं वचस्तेषां ये जानन्त्यभिभाषितम्

daivaṁ mithyeti vidvāṁso vadantyudyamavādinaḥ | yuktiyuktaṁ vacasteṣāṁ ye jānantyabhibhāṣitam

"Those learned men who champion effort say that fate is a mere fiction — and their reasoning is sound, as anyone who truly understands their argument will see."

Verse 37 (devibhagavatam.5.27.37)

उद्यमेन विना कामं न सिध्यन्ति मनोरथाः । कातरा एव जल्पन्ति यद्भाव्यं तद्भविष्यति

udyamena vinā kāmaṁ na sidhyanti manorathāḥ | kātarā eva jalpanti yadbhāvyaṁ tadbhaviṣyati

"Without effort, one's desires are never truly fulfilled. It is only cowards who prattle, 'Whatever is destined will happen.'"

Verse 38 (devibhagavatam.5.27.38)

अदृष्टं बलवन्मूढाः प्रवदन्ति न पण्डिताः । प्रमाणं तस्य सत्त्वे किमदृश्यं दृश्यते कथम्

adṛṣṭaṁ balavanmūḍhāḥ pravadanti na paṇḍitāḥ | pramāṇaṁ tasya sattve kimadṛśyaṁ dṛśyate katham

"It is only fools, not the truly wise, who claim that the unseen is all-powerful. What proof is there even of its existence? How can something invisible ever be seen?"

Verse 39 (devibhagavatam.5.27.39)

अदृष्टं क्त्वापि दृष्टं स्यादेषा मूर्खविभीषिका । अवलम्बं विनैवैषा दुःखे चित्तस्य धारणा

adṛṣṭaṁ ktvāpi dṛṣṭaṁ syādeṣā mūrkhavibhīṣikā | avalambaṁ vinaivaiṣā duḥkhe cittasya dhāraṇā

"That the unseen might somehow become seen — this is a mere bogeyman invented for fools; it is nothing but the mind clinging, without any real support, to its own sorrow."

Verse 40 (devibhagavatam.5.27.40)

चक्रीसमीपे संविष्टा संस्थिता पिष्टकारिणी । उद्यमेन विना पिष्टं न भवत्येव सर्वथा

cakrīsamīpe saṁviṣṭā saṁsthitā piṣṭakāriṇī | udyamena vinā piṣṭaṁ na bhavatyeva sarvathā

"A woman may sit down at her grinding-wheel, ready to grind grain — but without her own effort, the flour is simply never made, in any circumstance."

Verse 41 (devibhagavatam.5.27.41)

उद्यमे च कृते कार्यं सिद्धिं यात्येव सर्वथा । कदाचित्तस्य न्यूनत्वे कार्यं नैव भवेदपि

udyame ca kṛte kāryaṁ siddhiṁ yātyeva sarvathā | kadācittasya nyūnatve kāryaṁ naiva bhavedapi

"When effort is truly made, the task is invariably accomplished; only when that effort falls short does the task, on occasion, fail to come about."

Verse 42 (devibhagavatam.5.27.42)

देशं कालञ्च विज्ञाय स्वबलं शत्रुजं बलम् । कृतं कार्यं भवत्येव बृहस्पतिवचो यथा

deśaṁ kālañca vijñāya svabalaṁ śatrujaṁ balam | kṛtaṁ kāryaṁ bhavatyeva bṛhaspativaco yathā

"Having assessed the place and the time, and one's own strength as against the enemy's, an undertaking succeeds — so says the very teaching of Brihaspati."

Verse 43 (devibhagavatam.5.27.43)

व्यास उवाच । इति निश्चित्य दैत्येन्द्रो रक्तबीजं महासुरम् । प्रेषयामास सङ्ग्रामे सैन्येन महताऽऽवृतम्

vyāsa uvāca | iti niścitya daityendro raktabījaṁ mahāsuram | preṣayāmāsa saṅgrāme sainyena mahatā''vṛtam

Vyasa said: Having resolved thus, the lord of the demons sent forth the great demon Raktabija into battle, surrounded by a vast army.

Verse 44 (devibhagavatam.5.27.44)

शुम्भ उवाच । रक्तबीज महाबाहो गच्छ त्वं समराङ्गणे । कुरु युद्धं महाभाग यथा ते बलमाहितम्

śumbha uvāca | raktabīja mahābāho gaccha tvaṁ samarāṅgaṇe | kuru yuddhaṁ mahābhāga yathā te balamāhitam

Shumbha said: "O mighty-armed Raktabija, go forth now to the field of battle. Fight, O most fortunate one, with all the strength that is stored within you."

Verse 45 (devibhagavatam.5.27.45)

रक्तबीज उवाच । महाराज न ते कार्या चिन्ता स्वल्पतरापि वा । अहमेनां हनिष्यामि करिष्यामि वशे तव

raktabīja uvāca | mahārāja na te kāryā cintā svalpatarāpi vā | ahamenāṁ haniṣyāmi kariṣyāmi vaśe tava

Raktabija said: "Great king, you need not entertain even the slightest worry. I myself shall slay her and bring her under your command."

Verse 46 (devibhagavatam.5.27.46)

पश्य मे युद्धचातुर्यं क्वेयं बाला सुरप्रिया । दासीं तेऽहं करिष्यामि जित्वेमां समरे बलात्

paśya me yuddhacāturyaṁ kveyaṁ bālā surapriyā | dāsīṁ te'haṁ kariṣyāmi jitvemāṁ samare balāt

"Behold my skill in battle! What is this mere girl, the darling of the gods, to me? Having conquered her by force in war, I shall make her your slave."

Verse 47 (devibhagavatam.5.27.47)

व्यास उवाच । इत्याभाष्य कुरुश्रेष्ठ रक्तबीजो महासुरः । जगाम रथमारुह्य स्वसैन्यपरिवारितः

vyāsa uvāca | ityābhāṣya kuruśreṣṭha raktabījo mahāsuraḥ | jagāma rathamāruhya svasainyaparivāritaḥ

Vyasa said: O best of the Kurus, having spoken thus, the great demon Raktabija mounted his chariot and set out, surrounded by his own army.

Verse 48 (devibhagavatam.5.27.48)

हस्त्यश्वरथपादातवृन्दैश्च परिवेष्टितः । निर्जगाम रथारूढो देवीं शैलोपरिस्थिताम्

hastyaśvarathapādātavṛndaiśca pariveṣṭitaḥ | nirjagāma rathārūḍho devīṁ śailoparisthitām

Surrounded by troops of elephants, horses, chariots, and foot-soldiers, mounted on his chariot, he advanced toward the Goddess, who stood upon the mountain.

Verse 49 (devibhagavatam.5.27.49)

तमागतं समालोक्य देवी शङ्खमवादयत् । भयदं सर्वदैत्यानां देवानां मोदवर्धनम्

tamāgataṁ samālokya devī śaṅkhamavādayat | bhayadaṁ sarvadaityānāṁ devānāṁ modavardhanam

Seeing him approach, the Goddess blew her conch, a sound that struck terror into all the demons and increased the joy of the gods.

Verse 50 (devibhagavatam.5.27.50)

श्रुत्वा शङ्खस्वनं चोग्रं रक्तबीजोऽतिवेगवान् । गत्वा समीपे चामुण्डां बभाषे वचनं मृदु

śrutvā śaṅkhasvanaṁ cograṁ raktabījo'tivegavān | gatvā samīpe cāmuṇḍāṁ babhāṣe vacanaṁ mṛdu

Hearing that terrible blast of the conch, the swift Raktabija drew near to Chamunda and addressed her with soft, gentle words.

Verse 51 (devibhagavatam.5.27.51)

रक्तबीज उवाच । बाले किं मां भीषयसि मत्वा त्वं कातरं किल । शङ्खनादेन तन्वङ्गि वेत्सि किं धूम्रलोचनम्

raktabīja uvāca | bāle kiṁ māṁ bhīṣayasi matvā tvaṁ kātaraṁ kila | śaṅkhanādena tanvaṅgi vetsi kiṁ dhūmralocanam

Raktabija said: "O maiden, why do you try to frighten me, thinking me a coward? O slender-waisted one, do you take me for Dhumralochana, with this blast of your conch?"

Verse 52 (devibhagavatam.5.27.52)

रक्तबीजोऽस्मि नाम्नाहं त्वत्सकाशमिहागतः । युद्धेच्छा चेत्पिकालापे सज्जा भव भयं न मे

raktabījo'smi nāmnāhaṁ tvatsakāśamihāgataḥ | yuddhecchā cetpikālāpe sajjā bhava bhayaṁ na me

"My name is Raktabija; I have come here into your very presence. If you wish for battle, O sweet-voiced one, then make yourself ready — I feel no fear."

Verse 53 (devibhagavatam.5.27.53)

पश्याद्य मे बलं कान्ते दृष्टा ये कातरास्त्वया । नाहं पङ्क्तिगतस्तेषां कुरु युद्धं यथेच्छसि

paśyādya me balaṁ kānte dṛṣṭā ye kātarāstvayā | nāhaṁ paṅktigatasteṣāṁ kuru yuddhaṁ yathecchasi

"Behold my strength today, O fair one — I am not to be counted among those cowards you have already faced. Fight, then, as you please."

Verse 54 (devibhagavatam.5.27.54)

वृद्धाश्च सेविताः पूर्वं नीतिशास्त्रं श्रुतं त्वया । पतितं चार्थविज्ञानं विद्वद्गोष्ठी कृताथ वा

vṛddhāśca sevitāḥ pūrvaṁ nītiśāstraṁ śrutaṁ tvayā | patitaṁ cārthavijñānaṁ vidvadgoṣṭhī kṛtātha vā

"Have you served the elders in your time, and studied the treatises on statecraft? Have you grasped their deeper meaning, or spent time in the company of the learned?"

Verse 55 (devibhagavatam.5.27.55)

साहित्यतन्त्रविज्ञानं चेदस्ति तव सुन्दरि । शृणु मे वचनं पथ्यं तथ्यं प्रमितिबृंहितम्

sāhityatantravijñānaṁ cedasti tava sundari | śṛṇu me vacanaṁ pathyaṁ tathyaṁ pramitibṛṁhitam

"If you, O lovely one, have any knowledge of literary art, then hear these words of mine — wholesome, true, and grounded in sound reasoning."

Verse 56 (devibhagavatam.5.27.56)

रसानाञ्च नवानां वै द्वावेव मुख्यतां गतौ । शृङ्गारकः शान्तिरसो विद्वज्जनसभासु च

rasānāñca navānāṁ vai dvāveva mukhyatāṁ gatau | śṛṅgārakaḥ śāntiraso vidvajjanasabhāsu ca

"Of the nine aesthetic sentiments, only two truly hold the place of highest importance in the gatherings of the learned: the erotic sentiment, and the sentiment of peace."

Verse 57 (devibhagavatam.5.27.57)

तयोः शृङ्गार एवादौ नृपभावे प्रतिष्ठितः । विष्णुर्लक्ष्म्या सहास्ते वै सावित्र्या चतुराननः

tayoḥ śṛṅgāra evādau nṛpabhāve pratiṣṭhitaḥ | viṣṇurlakṣmyā sahāste vai sāvitryā caturānanaḥ

"Of these two, it is the erotic sentiment that stands first, established even in the very nature of sovereignty: Vishnu dwells together with Lakshmi, and the four-faced Brahma with Savitri."

Verse 58 (devibhagavatam.5.27.58)

शच्येन्द्रः शैलसुतया शङ्करः सह शेरते । वल्ल्या वृक्षो मृगो मृग्या कपोत्या च कपोतकः

śacyendraḥ śailasutayā śaṅkaraḥ saha śerate | vallyā vṛkṣo mṛgo mṛgyā kapotyā ca kapotakaḥ

"Indra rests with Shachi, and Shankara together with the daughter of the mountain; the creeper clings to the tree, the stag to the doe, and the dove to his mate."

Verse 59 (devibhagavatam.5.27.59)

एवं सर्वे प्राणभृतः संयोगरसिका भृशम् । अप्राप्तभोगविभवा ये चान्ये कातरा नराः

evaṁ sarve prāṇabhṛtaḥ saṁyogarasikā bhṛśam | aprāptabhogavibhavā ye cānye kātarā narāḥ

"Thus every living being delights intensely in union with another; and those other men who fail to attain such pleasure and abundance remain mere cowards —"

Verse 60 (devibhagavatam.5.27.60)

भवन्ति यतयस्ते वै मूढा दैवेन वञ्चिताः । असंसाररसज्ञास्ते वञ्चिता वञ्चनापरैः

bhavanti yatayaste vai mūḍhā daivena vañcitāḥ | asaṁsārarasajñāste vañcitā vañcanāparaiḥ

"— they become mere ascetics, fools cheated by fate, ignorant of the true relish of worldly life, deceived by others skilled in deception."

Verse 61 (devibhagavatam.5.27.61)

मधुरालापनिपुणै रताः शान्तिरसे हि ते । क्व ज्ञानं क्व च वैराग्यं वर्तमाने मनोभवे

madhurālāpanipuṇai ratāḥ śāntirase hi te | kva jñānaṁ kva ca vairāgyaṁ vartamāne manobhave

"Skilled only in sweet talk, they take delight in the sentiment of renunciation — but what is true knowledge, and what is true dispassion, while the god of love still stirs within?"

Verse 62 (devibhagavatam.5.27.62)

लोभे क्रोधे च दुर्धर्षे मोहे मतिविनाशके । तस्मात्त्वमपि कल्याणि कुरु कान्तं मनोहरम्

lobhe krodhe ca durdharṣe mohe mativināśake | tasmāttvamapi kalyāṇi kuru kāntaṁ manoharam

"[Their renunciation is nothing but] greed, unconquerable anger, and delusion that destroys the intellect. Therefore, O auspicious one, you too should take for yourself a charming, heart-stealing lord —"

Verse 63 (devibhagavatam.5.27.63)

शुम्भं सुराणां जेतारं निशुम्भं वा महाबलम् । व्यास उवाच । इत्युक्त्वा रक्तबीजोऽसौ विरराम पुरःस्थितः । श्रुत्वा जहास चामुण्डा कालिका चाम्बिका तथा

śumbhaṁ surāṇāṁ jetāraṁ niśumbhaṁ vā mahābalam | vyāsa uvāca | ityuktvā raktabījo'sau virarāma puraḥsthitaḥ | śrutvā jahāsa cāmuṇḍā kālikā cāmbikā tathā

"— Shumbha, the conqueror of the gods, or else mighty Nishumbha." Vyasa said: Having spoken thus, Raktabija, standing before her, fell silent; and hearing him, Chamunda, Kalika, and Ambika all burst out laughing.