The Death of Raktabija, and Nishumbha's March to Battle

Verse 1 (devibhagavatam.5.29.1)

व्यास उवाच । वरदानमिदं तस्य दानवस्य शिवार्पितम् । अत्यद्भुततरं राजञ्छ्रुणु तत्प्रब्रवीम्यहम्

vyāsa uvāca | varadānamidaṁ tasya dānavasya śivārpitam | atyadbhutataraṁ rājañchruṇu tatprabravīmyaham

Vyasa said: This boon, O king, granted to that demon by Shiva, is truly the most wondrous of all — listen, and I shall tell it to you.

Verse 2 (devibhagavatam.5.29.2)

तस्य देहाद्रक्तबिन्दुर्यदा पतति भूतले । समुत्पतन्ति दैतेयास्तद्रूपास्तत्पराक्रमाः

tasya dehādraktabinduryadā patati bhūtale | samutpatanti daiteyāstadrūpāstatparākramāḥ

Whenever a drop of blood fell from his body onto the earth, a demon of exactly his own form and prowess would spring up at once.

Verse 3 (devibhagavatam.5.29.3)

असङ्ख्याता महावीर्या दानवा रक्तसम्भवाः । प्रभवन्त्विति रुद्रेण दत्तोऽस्त्यत्यद्भुतो वरः

asaṅkhyātā mahāvīryā dānavā raktasambhavāḥ | prabhavantviti rudreṇa datto'styatyadbhuto varaḥ

"Let countless demons of great valor arise from his blood" — this was the truly astonishing boon that Rudra had granted him.

Verse 4 (devibhagavatam.5.29.4)

स तेन वरदानेन दर्पितः क्रोधसंयुतः । अभ्यगात्तरसा सङ्ख्ये हन्तुं देवीं सकालिकाम्

sa tena varadānena darpitaḥ krodhasaṁyutaḥ | abhyagāttarasā saṅkhye hantuṁ devīṁ sakālikām

Made arrogant by that boon and filled with fury, he rushed swiftly into battle to slay the Goddess, together with Kalika.

Verse 5 (devibhagavatam.5.29.5)

स दृष्ट्वा वैष्णवीं शक्तिं गरुडोपरिसंस्थिताम् । शक्त्या जघान दैत्येन्द्रस्तां वै कमललोचनाम्

sa dṛṣṭvā vaiṣṇavīṁ śaktiṁ garuḍoparisaṁsthitām | śaktyā jaghāna daityendrastāṁ vai kamalalocanām

Seeing the Shakti Vaishnavi mounted upon Garuda, that lord of demons struck at her, the lotus-eyed one, with his spear.

Verse 6 (devibhagavatam.5.29.6)

गदया वारयामास शक्तिः सा शक्तिसंयुता । अताडयच्च चक्रेण रक्तबीजं महासुरम्

gadayā vārayāmāsa śaktiḥ sā śaktisaṁyutā | atāḍayacca cakreṇa raktabījaṁ mahāsuram

That Shakti, herself possessed of power, warded off the spear with her mace, and struck the great demon Raktabija with her discus.

Verse 7 (devibhagavatam.5.29.7)

रथाङ्गहतदेहात्तु बहु सुस्राव शोणितम् । वज्राहतगिरेः शृङ्गान्निर्झरा इव गैरिका

rathāṅgahatadehāttu bahu susrāva śoṇitam | vajrāhatagireḥ śṛṅgānnirjharā iva gairikā

From his body, struck by the discus, blood flowed out in torrents — like a red ochre stream cascading from a mountain peak struck by a thunderbolt.

Verse 8 (devibhagavatam.5.29.8)

यत्र यत्र यदा भूमौ पतन्ति रक्तबिन्दवः । समुत्तस्थुस्तदाकाराः पुरुषाश्च सहस्रशः

yatra yatra yadā bhūmau patanti raktabindavaḥ | samuttasthustadākārāḥ puruṣāśca sahasraśaḥ

And wherever, whenever those drops of blood fell upon the ground, there sprang up, in his very likeness, warriors by the thousand.

Verse 9 (devibhagavatam.5.29.9)

ऐन्द्री तमसुरं घोरं वज्रेणाभिजघान च । रक्तबीजं क्रुधाऽऽविष्टा निःससार च शोणितम्

aindrī tamasuraṁ ghoraṁ vajreṇābhijaghāna ca | raktabījaṁ krudhā''viṣṭā niḥsasāra ca śoṇitam

Aindri, seized with fury, struck that terrible demon Raktabija with her thunderbolt, and blood gushed forth from him.

Verse 10 (devibhagavatam.5.29.10)

ततस्तत्क्षतजाज्जाता रक्तबीजा ह्यनेकशः । तद्वीर्याश्च तदाकारा सायुधा युद्धदुर्मदाः

tatastatkṣatajājjātā raktabījā hyanekaśaḥ | tadvīryāśca tadākārā sāyudhā yuddhadurmadāḥ

From that flowing blood there arose countless Raktabijas, equal to him in valor and form, armed and frenzied for battle.

Verse 11 (devibhagavatam.5.29.11)

ब्रह्माणी ब्रह्मदण्डेन कुपिता ह्यहनद् भृशम् । माहेश्वरी त्रिशूलेन दारयामास दानवम्

brahmāṇī brahmadaṇḍena kupitā hyahanad bhṛśam | māheśvarī triśūlena dārayāmāsa dānavam

Brahmani, enraged, struck him fiercely with her Brahma-staff, and Maheshvari tore into the demon with her trident.

Verse 12 (devibhagavatam.5.29.12)

नारसिंही नखाघातैस्तं विव्याध महासुरम् । अहनत्तुण्डघातेन क्रुद्धा तं राक्षसाधमम्

nārasiṁhī nakhāghātaistaṁ vivyādha mahāsuram | ahanattuṇḍaghātena kruddhā taṁ rākṣasādhamam

Narasimhi pierced that great demon with the blows of her claws, and, enraged, struck that lowest of demons with the blow of her snout as well.

Verse 13 (devibhagavatam.5.29.13)

कौमारी च तथा शक्त्या वक्षस्येनमताडयत् । सोऽपि क्रुद्धः शरासारैर्बिभेद निशितैश्च ताः

kaumārī ca tathā śaktyā vakṣasyenamatāḍayat | so'pi kruddhaḥ śarāsārairbibheda niśitaiśca tāḥ

Kaumari too struck him upon the chest with her spear; but he, enraged in turn, pierced all these goddesses with showers of his own sharp arrows.

Verse 14 (devibhagavatam.5.29.14)

गदाशक्तिप्रहारैस्तु मातॄः सर्वाः पृथक्पृथक् । शक्तयस्तं शराघातैर्विव्यधुस्तत्प्रकोपिताः

gadāśaktiprahāraistu mātṝḥ sarvāḥ pṛthakpṛthak | śaktayastaṁ śarāghātairvivyadhustatprakopitāḥ

With blows of mace and spear he struck each of the Mother-goddesses separately, and they, enraged in turn, pierced him with volleys of arrows.

Verse 15 (devibhagavatam.5.29.15)

तस्य शस्त्राणि चिच्छेद चण्डिका स्वशरैः शितैः । जघानान्यैश्च विशिखैस्तं देवी कुपिता भृशम्

tasya śastrāṇi ciccheda caṇḍikā svaśaraiḥ śitaiḥ | jaghānānyaiśca viśikhaistaṁ devī kupitā bhṛśam

Chandika cut his weapons to pieces with her own sharp arrows, and the Goddess, greatly enraged, struck him with yet other shafts.

Verse 16 (devibhagavatam.5.29.16)

तस्य देहाच्च सुस्राव रुधिरं बहुधा तु यत् । तस्मात्तत्सदृशाः शूराः प्रादुरासन्सहस्रशः

tasya dehācca susrāva rudhiraṁ bahudhā tu yat | tasmāttatsadṛśāḥ śūrāḥ prādurāsansahasraśaḥ

And from his body, blood flowed out in many streams, and from it warriors just like him arose again, by the thousand.

Verse 17 (devibhagavatam.5.29.17)

रक्तबीजैर्जगद्व्याप्तं रुधिरौघसमुद्भवैः । सन्नद्धैः सायुधैः कामं कुर्वद्भिर्युद्धमद्भुतम्

raktabījairjagadvyāptaṁ rudhiraughasamudbhavaiḥ | sannaddhaiḥ sāyudhaiḥ kāmaṁ kurvadbhiryuddhamadbhutam

The whole world became filled with Raktabijas, born from that flood of blood, all fully armed, waging a truly astonishing battle at will.

Verse 18 (devibhagavatam.5.29.18)

प्रहरन्तश्च तान्दृष्ट्वा रक्तबीजाननेकशः । भयभीताः सुरास्त्रेसुर्विषण्णाः शोककर्षिताः

praharantaśca tāndṛṣṭvā raktabījānanekaśaḥ | bhayabhītāḥ surāstresurviṣaṇṇāḥ śokakarṣitāḥ

Seeing these countless Raktabijas striking out on every side, the gods grew terrified, trembling, dejected, and consumed with grief.

Verse 19 (devibhagavatam.5.29.19)

कथमद्य क्षयं दैत्या गमिष्यन्ति सहस्रशः । महाकाया महावीर्या दानवा रक्तसम्भवाः

kathamadya kṣayaṁ daityā gamiṣyanti sahasraśaḥ | mahākāyā mahāvīryā dānavā raktasambhavāḥ

"How now shall these demons ever be destroyed — huge-bodied, mighty in valor, thousands of them born from his very blood?"

Verse 20 (devibhagavatam.5.29.20)

एकैव चण्डिकात्रास्ति तथा काली च मातरः । एताभिर्दानवाः सर्वे जेतव्याः कष्टमेव तत्

ekaiva caṇḍikātrāsti tathā kālī ca mātaraḥ | etābhirdānavāḥ sarve jetavyāḥ kaṣṭameva tat

"Here we have only Chandika, and Kali, and the Mother-goddesses — for these alone to conquer all these demons is a hard task indeed."

Verse 21 (devibhagavatam.5.29.21)

निशुम्भो वाथ शुम्भो वा सहसा बलसंवृतः । आगमिष्यति सङ्ग्रामे ततोऽनर्थो महान्भवेत्

niśumbho vātha śumbho vā sahasā balasaṁvṛtaḥ | āgamiṣyati saṅgrāme tato'nartho mahānbhavet

"And if Nishumbha, or Shumbha, should suddenly arrive in battle with his own army besides, then a truly great calamity would follow."

Verse 22 (devibhagavatam.5.29.22)

व्यास उवाच । एवं देवा भयोद्विग्नाश्चिन्तामापुर्महत्तराम् । यदा तदाम्बिका प्राह कालीं कमललोचनाम्

vyāsa uvāca | evaṁ devā bhayodvignāścintāmāpurmahattarām | yadā tadāmbikā prāha kālīṁ kamalalocanām

Vyasa said: While the gods, thus stricken with fear, were sunk in this great anxiety, Ambika then spoke to lotus-eyed Kali.

Verse 23 (devibhagavatam.5.29.23)

चामुण्डे कुरु विस्तीर्णं वदनं त्वरिता भृशम् । मच्छस्त्रपातसम्भूतं रुधिरं पिब सत्वरा

cāmuṇḍe kuru vistīrṇaṁ vadanaṁ tvaritā bhṛśam | macchastrapātasambhūtaṁ rudhiraṁ piba satvarā

"O Chamunda, open your mouth wide, and swiftly — drink at once the blood that flows forth wherever my weapons strike him."

Verse 24 (devibhagavatam.5.29.24)

भक्षयन्ती चर रणे दानवानद्य कामतः । हनिष्यामि शरैस्तीक्ष्णैर्गदासिमुसलैस्तथा

bhakṣayantī cara raṇe dānavānadya kāmataḥ | haniṣyāmi śaraistīkṣṇairgadāsimusalaistathā

"Range over the battlefield today, devouring the demons at will, while I strike him down with sharp arrows, and with mace, sword, and club."

Verse 25 (devibhagavatam.5.29.25)

तथा कुरु विशालाक्षि पानं तद्रुधिरस्य च । बिन्दुमात्रं यथा भूम्यां न पतेदपि साम्प्रतम्

tathā kuru viśālākṣi pānaṁ tadrudhirasya ca | bindumātraṁ yathā bhūmyāṁ na patedapi sāmpratam

"Do this, O large-eyed one — drink up his blood in such a way that not even a single drop falls upon the ground from now on."

Verse 26 (devibhagavatam.5.29.26)

भक्ष्यमाणास्तदा दैत्या न चोत्पत्स्यन्ति चापरे । एवमेषां क्षयो नूनं भविष्यति न चान्यथा

bhakṣyamāṇāstadā daityā na cotpatsyanti cāpare | evameṣāṁ kṣayo nūnaṁ bhaviṣyati na cānyathā

"Once the demons that spring up are devoured, no further ones will arise. In this way alone will their destruction surely come about, and in no other way."

Verse 27 (devibhagavatam.5.29.27)

घातयिष्याम्यहं दैत्यं त्वं भक्षय च सत्वरा । पिबन्ती क्षतजं सर्वं यतमानारिसङ्क्षये

ghātayiṣyāmyahaṁ daityaṁ tvaṁ bhakṣaya ca satvarā | pibantī kṣatajaṁ sarvaṁ yatamānārisaṅkṣaye

"I myself shall strike down the demon; you, swiftly, devour him, drinking up all his blood, exerting yourself for the destruction of the enemy."

Verse 28 (devibhagavatam.5.29.28)

इत्थं दैत्यक्षयं कृत्वा दत्त्वा राज्यं सुरालयम् । इन्द्राय सुस्थिरं सर्वं गमिष्यामो यथासुखम्

itthaṁ daityakṣayaṁ kṛtvā dattvā rājyaṁ surālayam | indrāya susthiraṁ sarvaṁ gamiṣyāmo yathāsukham

"Having thus destroyed the demon, and having restored the kingdom of heaven, fully secure, to Indra, we shall then go our way, at ease."

Verse 29 (devibhagavatam.5.29.29)

व्यास उवाच । इत्युक्ताम्बिकया देवी चामुण्डा चण्डविक्रमा । पपौ च क्षतजं सर्वं रक्तबीजशरीरजम्

vyāsa uvāca | ityuktāmbikayā devī cāmuṇḍā caṇḍavikramā | papau ca kṣatajaṁ sarvaṁ raktabījaśarīrajam

Vyasa said: Thus addressed by Ambika, the Goddess Chamunda, of fierce valor, drank up all the blood flowing from Raktabija's body.

Verse 30 (devibhagavatam.5.29.30)

अम्बिका तं जघानाशु खड्गेन मुसलेन च । चखाद देहशकलांश्चामुण्डा तान्कृशोदरी

ambikā taṁ jaghānāśu khaḍgena musalena ca | cakhāda dehaśakalāṁścāmuṇḍā tānkṛśodarī

Ambika at once struck him with sword and with club, and thin-waisted Chamunda devoured the very fragments of his body.

Verse 31 (devibhagavatam.5.29.31)

सोऽपि क्रुद्धो गदाघातैश्चामुण्डां समघातयत् । तथापि सा पपावाशु क्षतजं तमभक्षयत्

so'pi kruddho gadāghātaiścāmuṇḍāṁ samaghātayat | tathāpi sā papāvāśu kṣatajaṁ tamabhakṣayat

He too, in his fury, struck at Chamunda with blows of his mace; yet still she swiftly drank up his blood and devoured him.

Verse 32 (devibhagavatam.5.29.32)

येऽन्ये रुधिरजाः क्रूरा रक्तबीजा महाबलाः । तेऽपि निष्पातिताः सर्वे भक्षिता गतशोणिताः

ye'nye rudhirajāḥ krūrā raktabījā mahābalāḥ | te'pi niṣpātitāḥ sarve bhakṣitā gataśoṇitāḥ

All the other cruel, mighty Raktabijas that had been born from his blood were likewise struck down, and, drained of blood, were devoured.

Verse 33 (devibhagavatam.5.29.33)

कृत्रिमा भक्षिताः सर्वे यस्तु स्वाभाविकोऽसुरः । सोऽपि प्रपातितो हत्वा खड्गेनातिविखण्डितः

kṛtrimā bhakṣitāḥ sarve yastu svābhāviko'suraḥ | so'pi prapātito hatvā khaḍgenātivikhaṇḍitaḥ

All those artificially-born ones were thus devoured; and as for the original demon himself, he too was finally struck down, hacked utterly to pieces by the sword.

Verse 34 (devibhagavatam.5.29.34)

रक्तबीजे हते रौद्रे ये चान्ये दानवा रणे । पलायनं ततः कृत्वा गतास्ते भयकम्पिताः

raktabīje hate raudre ye cānye dānavā raṇe | palāyanaṁ tataḥ kṛtvā gatāste bhayakampitāḥ

When that terrible Raktabija was slain, the other demons remaining on the battlefield turned and fled, trembling with fear.

Verse 35 (devibhagavatam.5.29.35)

हाहेति विब्रुवन्तस्ते शुम्भं प्रोचुः सविह्वलाः । रुथिरारक्तदेहाश्च विगतास्त्रा विचेतसः

hāheti vibruvantaste śumbhaṁ procuḥ savihvalāḥ | ruthirāraktadehāśca vigatāstrā vicetasaḥ

Crying out in lamentation, distraught, their bodies drenched red with blood, their weapons lost, their minds bewildered, they came before Shumbha and said:

Verse 36 (devibhagavatam.5.29.36)

राजन्नम्बिकया रक्तबीजोऽसौ विनिपातितः । चामुण्डा तस्य देहात्तु पपौ सर्वं च शोणितम्

rājannambikayā raktabījo'sau vinipātitaḥ | cāmuṇḍā tasya dehāttu papau sarvaṁ ca śoṇitam

"O king, Raktabija has been struck down by Ambika, and Chamunda has drunk up every drop of blood from his body."

Verse 37 (devibhagavatam.5.29.37)

ये चान्ये दानवाः शूरा वाहनेनातिरंहसा । सिंहेन निहताः सर्वे काल्या च भक्षिताः परे

ye cānye dānavāḥ śūrā vāhanenātiraṁhasā | siṁhena nihatāḥ sarve kālyā ca bhakṣitāḥ pare

"And whatever other brave demons remained, all of them were slain by her mount, that swift lion, and others still were devoured by Kali."

Verse 38 (devibhagavatam.5.29.38)

वयं त्वां कथितुं राजन्नागता युद्धचेष्टितम् । चरितञ्च तथा देव्याः सङ्ग्रामे परमाद्भुतम्

vayaṁ tvāṁ kathituṁ rājannāgatā yuddhaceṣṭitam | caritañca tathā devyāḥ saṅgrāme paramādbhutam

"We have come, O king, to tell you of the course of the battle, and of the Goddess's own conduct in it — most wondrous indeed."

Verse 39 (devibhagavatam.5.29.39)

अजेयेयं महाराज सर्वथा दैत्यदानवैः । गन्धर्वासुरयक्षैश्च पन्नगोरगराक्षसैः

ajeyeyaṁ mahārāja sarvathā daityadānavaiḥ | gandharvāsurayakṣaiśca pannagoragarākṣasaiḥ

"She is, great king, utterly unconquerable by demons or danavas, by gandharvas, asuras, yakshas, serpents, nagas, or rakshasas."

Verse 40 (devibhagavatam.5.29.40)

अन्यास्तत्रागता देव्य इन्द्राणीप्रमुखा भृशम् । युध्यमाना महाराज वाहनैरायुधैर्युताः

anyāstatrāgatā devya indrāṇīpramukhā bhṛśam | yudhyamānā mahārāja vāhanairāyudhairyutāḥ

"O great king, other goddesses too came there, headed by Indrani, fighting fiercely, each equipped with her own mount and weapons."

Verse 41 (devibhagavatam.5.29.41)

ताभिः सर्वं हतं सैन्यं दानवानां वरायुधैः । रक्तबीजोऽपि राजेन्द्र तरसा विनिपातितः

tābhiḥ sarvaṁ hataṁ sainyaṁ dānavānāṁ varāyudhaiḥ | raktabījo'pi rājendra tarasā vinipātitaḥ

"By them, with their excellent weapons, the entire army of demons was destroyed, and Raktabija himself, O lord of kings, was swiftly struck down."

Verse 42 (devibhagavatam.5.29.42)

एकापि दुःसहा देवी किं पुनस्ताभिरन्विता । सिंहोऽपि हन्ति सङ्ग्रामे राक्षसानमितप्रभः

ekāpi duḥsahā devī kiṁ punastābhiranvitā | siṁho'pi hanti saṅgrāme rākṣasānamitaprabhaḥ

"The Goddess alone is already unbearable — how much more so when accompanied by these others! Even her lion, of boundless power, slays the demons in battle."

Verse 43 (devibhagavatam.5.29.43)

अतो विचार्य सचिवैर्यद्युक्तं तद्विधीयताम् । न वैरमनया युक्तं सन्धिरेव सुखप्रदः

ato vicārya sacivairyadyuktaṁ tadvidhīyatām | na vairamanayā yuktaṁ sandhireva sukhapradaḥ

"Therefore, having deliberated with your ministers, let whatever is proper now be done. Enmity with her is not fitting — peace alone will bring happiness."

Verse 44 (devibhagavatam.5.29.44)

आश्चर्यमेतदखिलं यन्नारी हन्ति राक्षसान् । रक्तबीजोऽपि निहतः पीतं तस्यापि शोणितम्

āścaryametadakhilaṁ yannārī hanti rākṣasān | raktabījo'pi nihataḥ pītaṁ tasyāpi śoṇitam

"This whole affair is a wonder — that a woman slays rakshasas! Even Raktabija has been struck down, and his very blood drunk up."

Verse 45 (devibhagavatam.5.29.45)

अन्ये निपातिता दैत्याः सङ्ग्रामेऽम्बिकया नृप । चामुण्डया च मांसं वै भक्षितं सकलं रणे

anye nipātitā daityāḥ saṅgrāme'mbikayā nṛpa | cāmuṇḍayā ca māṁsaṁ vai bhakṣitaṁ sakalaṁ raṇe

"Other demons too were struck down in battle by Ambika, O king, and their flesh, entirely, was devoured by Chamunda on that field."

Verse 46 (devibhagavatam.5.29.46)

वरं पातालगमनं तस्याः सेवाथवा वरा । न तु युद्धं महाराज कार्यमम्बिकया सह

varaṁ pātālagamanaṁ tasyāḥ sevāthavā varā | na tu yuddhaṁ mahārāja kāryamambikayā saha

"Better to go to the netherworld, or better still to enter her service — but battle, great king, should not be undertaken against Ambika."

Verse 47 (devibhagavatam.5.29.47)

न नारी प्राकृता ह्येषा देवकार्यार्थसाधिनी । मायेयं प्रबला देवी क्षपयन्तीयमुत्थिता

na nārī prākṛtā hyeṣā devakāryārthasādhinī | māyeyaṁ prabalā devī kṣapayantīyamutthitā

"For she is no ordinary woman — she has arisen to accomplish the very purpose of the gods. She is the mighty Goddess Maya herself, risen up now to bring about destruction."

Verse 48 (devibhagavatam.5.29.48)

व्यास उवाच । इति तेषां वचस्तथ्यं श्रुत्वा कालविमोहितः । मुमूर्षुः प्रत्युवाचेदं शुम्भः प्रस्फुरिताधरः

vyāsa uvāca | iti teṣāṁ vacastathyaṁ śrutvā kālavimohitaḥ | mumūrṣuḥ pratyuvācedaṁ śumbhaḥ prasphuritādharaḥ

Vyasa said: Hearing their true report, yet deluded by his approaching death, Shumbha, his lips quivering, replied to them thus.

Verse 49 (devibhagavatam.5.29.49)

शुम्भ उवाच । यूयं गच्छत पातालं शरणं वा भयातुराः । हनिष्याम्यहमद्यैव ताञ्च ताश्च समुद्यतः

śumbha uvāca | yūyaṁ gacchata pātālaṁ śaraṇaṁ vā bhayāturāḥ | haniṣyāmyahamadyaiva tāñca tāśca samudyataḥ

Shumbha said: "You may go to the netherworld, or take refuge wherever you please, terrified as you are. I myself shall this very day strike down that woman and all these others too, resolved as I am."

Verse 50 (devibhagavatam.5.29.50)

जित्वा सर्वान्सुरानाजौ कृत्वा राज्यं सुपुष्कलम् । कथं नारीभयोद्विग्नः पातालं प्रविशाम्यहम्

jitvā sarvānsurānājau kṛtvā rājyaṁ supuṣkalam | kathaṁ nārībhayodvignaḥ pātālaṁ praviśāmyaham

"Having conquered all the gods in battle, and having established a most flourishing kingdom, how could I, stricken with fear of a mere woman, now enter the netherworld?"

Verse 51 (devibhagavatam.5.29.51)

निहत्य पार्षदान्सर्वान् रक्तबीजमुखान् रणे । प्राणत्राणाय गच्छामि हित्वा किं विपुलं यशः

nihatya pārṣadānsarvān raktabījamukhān raṇe | prāṇatrāṇāya gacchāmi hitvā kiṁ vipulaṁ yaśaḥ

"Now that all my companions, Raktabija foremost among them, have been slain in battle, should I go merely to save my own life, abandoning my vast renown?"

Verse 52 (devibhagavatam.5.29.52)

मरणं त्वनिवार्यं वै प्राणिनां कालकल्पितम् । तद्भयं जन्मनोपात्तं त्यजेत्को दुर्लभं यशः

maraṇaṁ tvanivāryaṁ vai prāṇināṁ kālakalpitam | tadbhayaṁ janmanopāttaṁ tyajetko durlabhaṁ yaśaḥ

"Death is truly inescapable for all beings, ordained by time itself, and its fear is acquired the moment one is born — who then would abandon such hard-won renown out of that fear?"

Verse 53 (devibhagavatam.5.29.53)

निशुम्भाहं गमिष्यामि रथारूढो रणाजिरे । हत्वा तामागमिष्यामि नागमिष्यामि चान्यथा

niśumbhāhaṁ gamiṣyāmi rathārūḍho raṇājire | hatvā tāmāgamiṣyāmi nāgamiṣyāmi cānyathā

"Nishumbha, I myself shall go, mounted on my chariot, to the field of battle. Having slain her, I shall return — otherwise, I shall not return at all."

Verse 54 (devibhagavatam.5.29.54)

त्वं तु सेनायुतो वीर पार्ष्णिग्राहो भवस्व मे । तरसा तां शरैस्तीक्ष्णैर्नारीं नय यमालये

tvaṁ tu senāyuto vīra pārṣṇigrāho bhavasva me | tarasā tāṁ śaraistīkṣṇairnārīṁ naya yamālaye

"But you, O hero, together with the army, remain here as my rear-guard. Swiftly, with sharp arrows, I shall send that woman to the abode of Yama."

Verse 55 (devibhagavatam.5.29.55)

निशुम्भ उवाच । अहमद्य हनिष्यामि गत्वा दुष्टाञ्च कालिकाम् । आगमिष्याम्यहं शीघ्रं गृहीत्वा तामथाम्बिकाम्

niśumbha uvāca | ahamadya haniṣyāmi gatvā duṣṭāñca kālikām | āgamiṣyāmyahaṁ śīghraṁ gṛhītvā tāmathāmbikām

Nishumbha said: "No — I myself shall go this very day and slay that wicked Kalika, and I shall swiftly return, having seized Ambika herself."

Verse 56 (devibhagavatam.5.29.56)

मा चिन्तां कुरु राजेन्द्र वराकायास्तु कारणे । क्वैषा बाला क्व मे बाहुवीर्यं विश्ववशङ्करम्

mā cintāṁ kuru rājendra varākāyāstu kāraṇe | kvaiṣā bālā kva me bāhuvīryaṁ viśvavaśaṅkaram

"Do not trouble yourself, O lord of kings, over the matter of this poor wretch. What is this mere girl, compared to the might of my arms, which subdues the entire universe?"

Verse 57 (devibhagavatam.5.29.57)

त्यक्त्वाऽऽर्तिं विपुलां भ्रातर्भुङ्क्ष भोगाननुत्तमान् । आनयिष्याम्यहं कामं मानिनीं मानसंयुताम्

tyaktvā''rtiṁ vipulāṁ bhrātarbhuṅkṣa bhogānanuttamān | ānayiṣyāmyahaṁ kāmaṁ māninīṁ mānasaṁyutām

"Abandon your great anguish, brother, and enjoy the finest pleasures. I myself shall bring back that proud, self-willed woman just as you desire."

Verse 58 (devibhagavatam.5.29.58)

मयि तिष्ठति ते राजन्न युक्तं गमनं रणे । गत्वाहमानयिष्यामि तवार्थे वै जयश्रियम्

mayi tiṣṭhati te rājanna yuktaṁ gamanaṁ raṇe | gatvāhamānayiṣyāmi tavārthe vai jayaśriyam

"While I still live, O king, it is not fitting that you go yourself into battle. I shall go, and I myself shall bring back the very glory of victory for your sake."

Verse 59 (devibhagavatam.5.29.59)

व्यास उवाच । इत्युक्त्वा भ्रातरं ज्येष्ठं कनीयान्बलगर्वितः । रथमास्थाय विपुलं सन्नद्धः स्वबलावृतः

vyāsa uvāca | ityuktvā bhrātaraṁ jyeṣṭhaṁ kanīyānbalagarvitaḥ | rathamāsthāya vipulaṁ sannaddhaḥ svabalāvṛtaḥ

Vyasa said: Having spoken thus to his elder brother, the younger one, proud of his strength, mounted his great chariot, fully armored and surrounded by his own army —

Verse 60 (devibhagavatam.5.29.60)

जगाम तरसा तूर्णं सङ्गरे कृतमङ्गलः । संस्तुतो बन्दिसूतैश्च सायुधः सपरिष्करः

jagāma tarasā tūrṇaṁ saṅgare kṛtamaṅgalaḥ | saṁstuto bandisūtaiśca sāyudhaḥ sapariṣkaraḥ

— and, having performed the auspicious rites, set out swiftly and at once for battle, praised by bards and minstrels, armed and fully equipped.