The Death of Nishumbha, and the Ministers' Counsel to Shumbha

Verse 1 (devibhagavatam.5.30.1)

व्यास उवाच । निशुम्भो निश्चयं कृत्वा मरणाय जयाय वा । सोद्यमः सबलः शूरो रणे देवीमुपाययौ

vyāsa uvāca | niśumbho niścayaṁ kṛtvā maraṇāya jayāya vā | sodyamaḥ sabalaḥ śūro raṇe devīmupāyayau

Vyasa said: Nishumbha, having resolved either to die or to conquer, advanced with full effort, along with his army, that hero, toward the Goddess in battle.

Verse 2 (devibhagavatam.5.30.2)

तमाजगाम शुम्भोऽपि स्वबलेन समावृतः । प्रेक्षकोऽभूद्रणे राजा सङ्ग्रामरसपण्डितः

tamājagāma śumbho'pi svabalena samāvṛtaḥ | prekṣako'bhūdraṇe rājā saṅgrāmarasapaṇḍitaḥ

Shumbha too came along with him, surrounded by his own forces; but the king, skilled in the art of war, remained merely a spectator of the battle.

Verse 3 (devibhagavatam.5.30.3)

गगने संस्थिता देवास्तदाभ्रपटलावृताः । दिदृक्षवस्तु सङ्ग्रामे सेन्द्रा यक्षगणास्तथा

gagane saṁsthitā devāstadābhrapaṭalāvṛtāḥ | didṛkṣavastu saṅgrāme sendrā yakṣagaṇāstathā

The gods, along with Indra and the hosts of yakshas, stood in the sky, hidden behind a bank of clouds, eager to witness the battle.

Verse 4 (devibhagavatam.5.30.4)

निशुम्भोऽथ रणे गत्वा धनुरादाय शार्ङ्गकम् । चकार शरवृष्टिं स भीषयञ्जगदम्बिकाम्

niśumbho'tha raṇe gatvā dhanurādāya śārṅgakam | cakāra śaravṛṣṭiṁ sa bhīṣayañjagadambikām

Then Nishumbha, having advanced into battle and taken up his excellent bow, let loose a shower of arrows, seeking to terrify the Mother of the Universe.

Verse 5 (devibhagavatam.5.30.5)

मुञ्चन्तं शरजालानि निशुम्भं चण्डिका रणे । वीक्ष्यादाय धनुः श्रेष्ठं जहास सुस्वरं मुहुः

muñcantaṁ śarajālāni niśumbhaṁ caṇḍikā raṇe | vīkṣyādāya dhanuḥ śreṣṭhaṁ jahāsa susvaraṁ muhuḥ

Seeing Nishumbha loosing that net of arrows in battle, Chandika took up her own splendid bow and laughed aloud, again and again, in a sweet voice.

Verse 6 (devibhagavatam.5.30.6)

उवाच कालिकां देवी पश्य मूर्खत्वमेतयोः । मरणायागतौ कालि मत्समीपमिहाधुना

uvāca kālikāṁ devī paśya mūrkhatvametayoḥ | maraṇāyāgatau kāli matsamīpamihādhunā

The Goddess said to Kalika: "Behold the folly of these two, O Kali — they have come here now into my presence only to meet their death."

Verse 7 (devibhagavatam.5.30.7)

दृष्ट्वा दैत्यवधं घोरं रक्तबीजात्ययं तथा । जयाशां कुरुतस्त्वेतौ मोहितौ मम मायया

dṛṣṭvā daityavadhaṁ ghoraṁ raktabījātyayaṁ tathā | jayāśāṁ kurutastvetau mohitau mama māyayā

"Even after seeing the terrible slaughter of their demons and the destruction of Raktabija, these two, deluded by my own Maya, still cherish hope of victory."

Verse 8 (devibhagavatam.5.30.8)

आशा बलवती ह्येषा न जहाति नरं क्वचित् । भग्नं हृतबलं नष्टं गतपक्षं विचेतनम्

āśā balavatī hyeṣā na jahāti naraṁ kvacit | bhagnaṁ hṛtabalaṁ naṣṭaṁ gatapakṣaṁ vicetanam

"Hope is truly a powerful thing — it never abandons a man, even when he is broken, stripped of strength, ruined, deserted by his allies, and out of his senses."

Verse 9 (devibhagavatam.5.30.9)

आशापाशनिबद्धौ द्वौ युद्धाय समुपागतौ । निहन्तव्यौ मया कालि रणे शुम्भनिशुम्भकौ

āśāpāśanibaddhau dvau yuddhāya samupāgatau | nihantavyau mayā kāli raṇe śumbhaniśumbhakau

"Bound by the very noose of that hope, these two, Shumbha and Nishumbha, have come here for battle — and by me, O Kali, they must now be slain in this field."

Verse 10 (devibhagavatam.5.30.10)

आसन्नमरणावेतौ सम्प्राप्तौ दैवमोहितौ । पश्यतां सर्वदेवानां हनिष्याम्यहमद्य तौ

āsannamaraṇāvetau samprāptau daivamohitau | paśyatāṁ sarvadevānāṁ haniṣyāmyahamadya tau

"These two have arrived here with their death now close at hand, deluded by fate itself. Before the very eyes of all the gods, I shall slay them both this day."

Verse 11 (devibhagavatam.5.30.11)

व्यास उवाच । इत्युक्त्वा कालिकां चण्डी कर्णाकृष्टशरोत्करैः । छादयामास तरसा निशुम्भं पुरतः स्थितम्

vyāsa uvāca | ityuktvā kālikāṁ caṇḍī karṇākṛṣṭaśarotkaraiḥ | chādayāmāsa tarasā niśumbhaṁ purataḥ sthitam

Vyasa said: Having said this to Kalika, Chandi at once covered Nishumbha, standing before her, with a mass of arrows drawn back to the ear.

Verse 12 (devibhagavatam.5.30.12)

दानवोऽपि शरांस्तस्याश्चिच्छेद निशितैः शरैः । तयोः परस्परं युद्धं बभूवातिभयानकम्

dānavo'pi śarāṁstasyāściccheda niśitaiḥ śaraiḥ | tayoḥ parasparaṁ yuddhaṁ babhūvātibhayānakam

The demon in turn cut down her arrows with his own sharp shafts, and a battle broke out between the two of them, exceedingly terrible.

Verse 13 (devibhagavatam.5.30.13)

केसरी केशजालानि धुन्वानः सैन्यसागरम् । गाहयामास बलवान्सरसीं वारणो यथा

kesarī keśajālāni dhunvānaḥ sainyasāgaram | gāhayāmāsa balavānsarasīṁ vāraṇo yathā

Her lion, tossing his mane, plunged into that ocean of an army with all his might, just as an elephant plunges into a lake.

Verse 14 (devibhagavatam.5.30.14)

नखैर्दन्तप्रहारैस्तु दानवान्पुरतः स्थितान् । चखाद च विशीर्णाङ्गान् गजानिव मदोत्कटान्

nakhairdantaprahāraistu dānavānpurataḥ sthitān | cakhāda ca viśīrṇāṅgān gajāniva madotkaṭān

With the blows of his claws and fangs he tore apart the demons standing before him, devouring them, their limbs shredded, as if they were mad elephants.

Verse 15 (devibhagavatam.5.30.15)

एवं विमथ्यमाने तु सैन्ये केसरिणा तदा । अभ्यधावन्निशुम्भोऽथ विकृष्टवरकार्मुकः

evaṁ vimathyamāne tu sainye kesariṇā tadā | abhyadhāvanniśumbho'tha vikṛṣṭavarakārmukaḥ

While the army was thus being churned up by the lion, Nishumbha then rushed forward, his fine bow drawn taut.

Verse 16 (devibhagavatam.5.30.16)

अन्येऽपि क्रुद्धा दैत्येन्द्रा देवीं हन्तुमुपाययुः । सन्दष्टदन्तरसना रक्तनेत्रा ह्यनेकशः

anye'pi kruddhā daityendrā devīṁ hantumupāyayuḥ | sandaṣṭadantarasanā raktanetrā hyanekaśaḥ

Other lords of the demons too, enraged, their teeth clenched upon their tongues, their eyes red with fury, advanced in great numbers to slay the Goddess.

Verse 17 (devibhagavatam.5.30.17)

तत्राजगाम तरसा शुम्भः सैन्यसमावृतः । निहत्य कालिकां कोपाद्ग्रहीतुं जगदम्बिकाम्

tatrājagāma tarasā śumbhaḥ sainyasamāvṛtaḥ | nihatya kālikāṁ kopādgrahītuṁ jagadambikām

Shumbha too swiftly arrived there, surrounded by his army, intending in his rage to kill Kalika and to seize the Mother of the Universe.

Verse 18 (devibhagavatam.5.30.18)

तत्रागत्य ददर्शाजावम्बिकाञ्च पुरःस्थिताम् । रौद्ररसयुतां कान्तां शृङ्गाररससंयुताम्

tatrāgatya dadarśājāvambikāñca puraḥsthitām | raudrarasayutāṁ kāntāṁ śṛṅgārarasasaṁyutām

Arriving there in the midst of battle, he beheld Ambika standing before him — lovely, at once suffused with the sentiment of fury and the sentiment of beauty.

Verse 19 (devibhagavatam.5.30.19)

तां वीक्ष्य विपुलापाङ्गीं त्रैलोक्यवरसुन्दरीम् । सुरक्तनयनां रम्यां क्रोधरक्तेक्षणां तथा

tāṁ vīkṣya vipulāpāṅgīṁ trailokyavarasundarīm | suraktanayanāṁ ramyāṁ krodharaktekṣaṇāṁ tathā

Seeing her, with her wide-set eyes, the very finest beauty of the three worlds, her lovely eyes reddened with the flush of anger —

Verse 20 (devibhagavatam.5.30.20)

विवाहेच्छां परित्यज्य जयाशां दूरतस्तथा । मरणे निश्चयं कृत्वा तस्थावाहितकार्मुकः

vivāhecchāṁ parityajya jayāśāṁ dūratastathā | maraṇe niścayaṁ kṛtvā tasthāvāhitakārmukaḥ

— he abandoned even the desire for marriage, and all hope of victory as well; having resolved instead upon death, he stood there, his bow made ready.

Verse 21 (devibhagavatam.5.30.21)

तं तथा दानवं देवी स्मितपूर्वमिदं वचः । बभाषे शृण्वतां तेषां दैत्यानां रणमस्तके

taṁ tathā dānavaṁ devī smitapūrvamidaṁ vacaḥ | babhāṣe śṛṇvatāṁ teṣāṁ daityānāṁ raṇamastake

To that demon standing thus, the Goddess spoke these words, smiling, in the hearing of all the demons at the very forefront of the battle.

Verse 22 (devibhagavatam.5.30.22)

गच्छध्वं पामरा यूयं पातालं वा जलार्णवम् । जीविताशां स्थिरां कृत्वा त्यक्त्वात्रैवायुधानि च

gacchadhvaṁ pāmarā yūyaṁ pātālaṁ vā jalārṇavam | jīvitāśāṁ sthirāṁ kṛtvā tyaktvātraivāyudhāni ca

"Go, you wretches, to the netherworld, or into the ocean's depths — if you truly wish to hold on to your lives, then abandon your weapons right here."

Verse 23 (devibhagavatam.5.30.23)

अथवा मच्छराघातहतप्राणा रणाजिरे । प्राप्य स्वर्गसुखं सर्वे क्रीडन्तु विगतज्वराः

athavā maccharāghātahataprāṇā raṇājire | prāpya svargasukhaṁ sarve krīḍantu vigatajvarāḥ

"Or else, struck down by my arrows and stripped of life on this field of battle, let you all attain the joys of heaven, and sport there free of every torment."

Verse 24 (devibhagavatam.5.30.24)

कातरत्वं च शूरत्वं न भवत्येव सर्वथा । ददाम्यभयदानं वै यान्तु सर्वे यथासुखम्

kātaratvaṁ ca śūratvaṁ na bhavatyeva sarvathā | dadāmyabhayadānaṁ vai yāntu sarve yathāsukham

"Cowardice and valor cannot both exist at once, in any way — I now grant you the gift of safety; let all of you go, then, as it pleases you."

Verse 25 (devibhagavatam.5.30.25)

व्यास उवाच । इत्याकर्ण्य वचस्तस्या निशुम्भो मदगर्वितः । निशितं खड्गमादाय चर्म चैवाष्टचन्द्रकम्

vyāsa uvāca | ityākarṇya vacastasyā niśumbho madagarvitaḥ | niśitaṁ khaḍgamādāya carma caivāṣṭacandrakam

Vyasa said: Hearing her words, Nishumbha, drunk with pride, seized a sharp sword and a shield marked with eight crescent moons.

Verse 26 (devibhagavatam.5.30.26)

धावमानस्तु तरसासिना सिंहं मदोत्कटम् । जघानातिबलान्मूर्ध्नि भ्रामयञ्जगदम्बिकाम्

dhāvamānastu tarasāsinā siṁhaṁ madotkaṭam | jaghānātibalānmūrdhni bhrāmayañjagadambikām

Rushing forward swiftly with his sword, he struck the mighty lion upon the head with great force, all while circling around the Mother of the Universe.

Verse 27 (devibhagavatam.5.30.27)

ततो देवी स्वगदया वञ्चयित्वासिपातनम् । ताडयामास तं बाहोर्मूले परशुना तदा

tato devī svagadayā vañcayitvāsipātanam | tāḍayāmāsa taṁ bāhormūle paraśunā tadā

— Then the Goddess, warding off the fall of his sword with her own mace, struck him with her axe at the very root of his arm.

Verse 28 (devibhagavatam.5.30.28)

खड्गेन निहतः सोऽपि बाहुमूले महामदः । संस्तभ्य वेदनां भूयो जघान चण्डिकां तदा

khaḍgena nihataḥ so'pi bāhumūle mahāmadaḥ | saṁstabhya vedanāṁ bhūyo jaghāna caṇḍikāṁ tadā

Struck though he was, even at the root of his arm, that greatly arrogant one, steeling himself against the pain, struck at Chandika once again.

Verse 29 (devibhagavatam.5.30.29)

सापि घण्टास्वनं घोरं चकार भयदं नृणाम् । पपौ पुनः पुनः पानं निशुम्भं हन्तुमिच्छती

sāpi ghaṇṭāsvanaṁ ghoraṁ cakāra bhayadaṁ nṛṇām | papau punaḥ punaḥ pānaṁ niśumbhaṁ hantumicchatī

She too then made the terrible clang of her bell, striking fear into men, while she drank again and again, in fierce exultation, eager to slay Nishumbha.

Verse 30 (devibhagavatam.5.30.30)

एवं परस्परं युद्धं बभूवातिभयप्रदम् । देवानां दानवानाञ्च परस्परजयैषिणाम्

evaṁ parasparaṁ yuddhaṁ babhūvātibhayapradam | devānāṁ dānavānāñca parasparajayaiṣiṇām

Thus a most terrifying battle raged on between the gods and the demons, both sides desiring victory over the other.

Verse 31 (devibhagavatam.5.30.31)

पलादाः पक्षिणः क्रूराः सारमेयाश्च जम्बुकाः । ननृतुश्चातिसन्तुष्टा गृध्राः कङ्काश्च वायसाः

palādāḥ pakṣiṇaḥ krūrāḥ sārameyāśca jambukāḥ | nanṛtuścātisantuṣṭā gṛdhrāḥ kaṅkāśca vāyasāḥ

Flesh-eating birds of prey, wild dogs, and jackals, and vultures, ospreys, and crows, danced about, exceedingly delighted.

Verse 32 (devibhagavatam.5.30.32)

रणभूर्भाति भूयिष्ठपतितासुरवर्ष्मकैः । रुधिरस्रावसंयुक्तैर्गजाश्वदेहसङ्कुला

raṇabhūrbhāti bhūyiṣṭhapatitāsuravarṣmakaiḥ | rudhirasrāvasaṁyuktairgajāśvadehasaṅkulā

The battlefield gleamed, crowded with the bodies of countless fallen demons, drenched in flowing blood, and choked with the corpses of elephants and horses.

Verse 33 (devibhagavatam.5.30.33)

पतितान्दानवान्दृष्ट्वा निशुम्भोऽतिरुषान्वितः । प्रययौ चण्डिकां तूर्णं गदामादाय दारुणाम्

patitāndānavāndṛṣṭvā niśumbho'tiruṣānvitaḥ | prayayau caṇḍikāṁ tūrṇaṁ gadāmādāya dāruṇām

Seeing his demons fallen, Nishumbha, filled with utmost fury, seized a terrible mace and rushed swiftly at Chandika.

Verse 34 (devibhagavatam.5.30.34)

सिंहं जघान गदया मस्तके मदगर्वितः । प्रहृत्य च स्मितं कृत्वा पुनर्देवीमताडयत्

siṁhaṁ jaghāna gadayā mastake madagarvitaḥ | prahṛtya ca smitaṁ kṛtvā punardevīmatāḍayat

Proud with rage, he struck the lion on the head with his mace; and having struck that blow, smiling, he struck at the Goddess once again.

Verse 35 (devibhagavatam.5.30.35)

सापि तं कुपितातीव निशुम्भं पुरतः स्थितम् । प्रहरन्तं समीक्ष्याथ देवी वचनमब्रवीत्

sāpi taṁ kupitātīva niśumbhaṁ purataḥ sthitam | praharantaṁ samīkṣyātha devī vacanamabravīt

She too, exceedingly angry, seeing Nishumbha standing before her and striking at her, spoke these words.

Verse 36 (devibhagavatam.5.30.36)

देव्युवाच । तिष्ठ मन्दमते तावद्यावत्खड्गमिदं तव । ग्रीवायां प्रेरयाम्यस्माद् गन्तासि यमसादनम्

devyuvāca | tiṣṭha mandamate tāvadyāvatkhaḍgamidaṁ tava | grīvāyāṁ prerayāmyasmād gantāsi yamasādanam

The Goddess said: "Stand still, O foolish one, only until I send this very sword of mine against your neck — after that, you shall go to the abode of Yama."

Verse 37 (devibhagavatam.5.30.37)

व्यास उवाच । इत्युक्त्वा तरसा देवी कृपाणेन समाहिता । चिच्छेद मस्तकं तस्य निशुम्भस्याथ चण्डिका

vyāsa uvāca | ityuktvā tarasā devī kṛpāṇena samāhitā | ciccheda mastakaṁ tasya niśumbhasyātha caṇḍikā

Vyasa said: Having spoken thus, the Goddess, taking careful aim with her sword, at once, Chandika, severed the head of Nishumbha.

Verse 38 (devibhagavatam.5.30.38)

सच्छिन्नमस्तको देव्या कबन्धोऽतीव दारुणः । बभ्राम च गदापाणिस्त्रासयन्देवतागणान्

sacchinnamastako devyā kabandho'tīva dāruṇaḥ | babhrāma ca gadāpāṇistrāsayandevatāgaṇān

His head thus severed by the Goddess, his headless trunk, most terrible, still wandered about, mace in hand, striking terror into the hosts of the gods.

Verse 39 (devibhagavatam.5.30.39)

देवी तस्य शितैर्बाणैश्चिच्छेद चरणौ करौ । पपातोर्व्यां ततः पापी गतासुः पर्वतोपमः

devī tasya śitairbāṇaiściccheda caraṇau karau | papātorvyāṁ tataḥ pāpī gatāsuḥ parvatopamaḥ

The Goddess then cut off his feet and hands with her sharp arrows, and that sinful one, his life gone, fell to the ground like a collapsing mountain.

Verse 40 (devibhagavatam.5.30.40)

तस्मिन्निपतिते दैत्ये निशुम्भे भीमविक्रमे । हाहाकारो महानासीत्तत्सैन्ये भयकम्पिते

tasminnipatite daitye niśumbhe bhīmavikrame | hāhākāro mahānāsīttatsainye bhayakampite

When that demon of terrible prowess, Nishumbha, thus fell, a great cry of lamentation arose among his army, trembling with fear.

Verse 41 (devibhagavatam.5.30.41)

त्यक्त्वाऽऽयुधानि सर्वाणि सैनिकाः क्षतजाप्लुताः । जग्मुर्बुम्बारवं सर्वे कुर्वाणा राजमन्दिरम्

tyaktvā''yudhāni sarvāṇi sainikāḥ kṣatajāplutāḥ | jagmurbumbāravaṁ sarve kurvāṇā rājamandiram

Abandoning all their weapons, the soldiers, drenched in blood, all fled, raising a great cry of confusion, back toward the royal palace.

Verse 42 (devibhagavatam.5.30.42)

तानागतान्सुसम्प्रेक्ष्य शुम्भः शत्रुनिषूदनः । पप्रच्छ क्व निशुम्भोऽसौ कथं भग्नाः पलायिताः

tānāgatānsusamprekṣya śumbhaḥ śatruniṣūdanaḥ | papraccha kva niśumbho'sau kathaṁ bhagnāḥ palāyitāḥ

Seeing them arrive thus, Shumbha, the destroyer of enemies, asked them: "Where is that Nishumbha? Why have you fled, routed?"

Verse 43 (devibhagavatam.5.30.43)

तच्छ्रुत्वा वचनं राज्ञस्ते प्रोचुः प्रणता भृशम् । राजंस्ते निहतो भ्राता शेते समरमूर्धनि

tacchrutvā vacanaṁ rājñaste procuḥ praṇatā bhṛśam | rājaṁste nihato bhrātā śete samaramūrdhani

Hearing the king's question, they bowed low and said: "O king, your brother has been slain, and lies at the very forefront of the battlefield."

Verse 44 (devibhagavatam.5.30.44)

तया निपातिताः शूरा ये च तेऽप्यनुजानुगाः । वयं त्वां कथितुं सर्वं वृत्तान्तं समुपागताः

tayā nipātitāḥ śūrā ye ca te'pyanujānugāḥ | vayaṁ tvāṁ kathituṁ sarvaṁ vṛttāntaṁ samupāgatāḥ

"By her, all the warriors were struck down, and your brother's followers too. We have come here to tell you the whole account of what happened."

Verse 45 (devibhagavatam.5.30.45)

निशुम्भो निहतस्तत्र तया चण्डिकयाधुना । न हि युद्धस्य कालोऽद्य तव राजन् रणाङ्गणे

niśumbho nihatastatra tayā caṇḍikayādhunā | na hi yuddhasya kālo'dya tava rājan raṇāṅgaṇe

"Nishumbha has now been slain there by that Chandika herself. This, O king, is truly not the time for you to enter that field of battle."

Verse 46 (devibhagavatam.5.30.46)

देवकार्यं समुद्दिश्य कापीयं परमाङ्गना । हन्तुं दैत्यकुलं नूनं प्राप्तेति परिचिन्तय

devakāryaṁ samuddiśya kāpīyaṁ paramāṅganā | hantuṁ daityakulaṁ nūnaṁ prāpteti paricintaya

"Consider well: this supreme woman has surely come for the very purpose of accomplishing the task of the gods — to destroy the entire race of demons."

Verse 47 (devibhagavatam.5.30.47)

नैषा प्राकृतयोषैव देवी शक्तिरनुत्तमा । अचिन्त्यचरिता क्वापि दुर्ज्ञेया दैवतैरपि

naiṣā prākṛtayoṣaiva devī śaktiranuttamā | acintyacaritā kvāpi durjñeyā daivatairapi

"She is no ordinary woman at all — she is the Goddess, the highest Shakti, whose deeds are beyond thought, hard to comprehend even for the gods themselves."

Verse 48 (devibhagavatam.5.30.48)

नानारूपधरातीव मायामूलविशारदा । विचित्रभूषणा देवी सर्वायुधधरा शुभा

nānārūpadharātīva māyāmūlaviśāradā | vicitrabhūṣaṇā devī sarvāyudhadharā śubhā

"She bears countless forms, deeply versed in the very root of Maya; auspicious, adorned with wondrous ornaments, she wields every kind of weapon."

Verse 49 (devibhagavatam.5.30.49)

गहना गूढचरिता कालरात्रिरिवापरा । अपारपारगा पूर्णा सर्वलक्षणसंयुता

gahanā gūḍhacaritā kālarātririvāparā | apārapāragā pūrṇā sarvalakṣaṇasaṁyutā

"— Unfathomable, her ways concealed, like a second Kalaratri, the night of doom, she has crossed to the far shore of the boundless, complete, endowed with every auspicious mark."

Verse 50 (devibhagavatam.5.30.50)

अन्तरिक्षस्थिता देवास्तां स्तुवन्त्यकुतोभयाः । देवकार्यञ्च कुर्वाणां श्रीदेवीं परमाद्भुताम्

antarikṣasthitā devāstāṁ stuvantyakutobhayāḥ | devakāryañca kurvāṇāṁ śrīdevīṁ paramādbhutām

"The gods, standing in the sky, now free from all fear, sing her praises — that most wondrous Shri Devi who accomplishes the very task of the gods."

Verse 51 (devibhagavatam.5.30.51)

पलायनं परो धर्मः सर्वथा देहरक्षणम् । रक्षिते किल देहेस्मिन्कालेऽस्मत्सुखताङ्गते

palāyanaṁ paro dharmaḥ sarvathā deharakṣaṇam | rakṣite kila dehesminkāle'smatsukhatāṅgate

"Flight, in every case, is the highest duty — the preservation of the body. For if the body is preserved, when the right time comes, happiness will surely follow."

Verse 52 (devibhagavatam.5.30.52)

सङ्ग्रामे विजयो राजन् भविता ते न संशयः । कालः करोति बलिनं समये निर्बलं क्वचित्

saṅgrāme vijayo rājan bhavitā te na saṁśayaḥ | kālaḥ karoti balinaṁ samaye nirbalaṁ kvacit

"Victory in battle will surely be yours in time, O king, without doubt. Time makes the strong man weak, on occasion, and then —"

Verse 53 (devibhagavatam.5.30.53)

तं पुनः सबलं कृत्वा जयायोपदधाति हि । दातारं याचकं कालः करोति समये क्वचित्

taṁ punaḥ sabalaṁ kṛtvā jayāyopadadhāti hi | dātāraṁ yācakaṁ kālaḥ karoti samaye kvacit

"— restores his strength again for the sake of victory. Time turns the giver into a beggar, on occasion, and —"

Verse 54 (devibhagavatam.5.30.54)

भिक्षुकं धनदातारं करोति समयान्तरे । विष्णुः कालवशे नूनं ब्रह्मा वा पार्वतीपतिः

bhikṣukaṁ dhanadātāraṁ karoti samayāntare | viṣṇuḥ kālavaśe nūnaṁ brahmā vā pārvatīpatiḥ

"— at another time, turns a beggar into a bestower of wealth. Even Vishnu is surely subject to time, and so is Brahma, and so is Parvati's own lord."

Verse 55 (devibhagavatam.5.30.55)

इन्द्राद्या निर्जराः सर्वे काल एव प्रभुः स्वयम् । तस्मात्कालं प्रतीक्षस्व विपरीतं तवाधुना

indrādyā nirjarāḥ sarve kāla eva prabhuḥ svayam | tasmātkālaṁ pratīkṣasva viparītaṁ tavādhunā

"— Indra and all the other immortals too — time alone is the true master over all. Therefore wait for time, which now stands turned against you —"

Verse 56 (devibhagavatam.5.30.56)

सम्मुखो देवतानाञ्च दैत्यानां नाशहेतुकः । एकैव च गतिर्नास्ति कालस्य किल भूपते

sammukho devatānāñca daityānāṁ nāśahetukaḥ | ekaiva ca gatirnāsti kālasya kila bhūpate

"— for time favors the gods now, and works toward the destruction of the demons. Time, O king, truly has no single, constant course."

Verse 57 (devibhagavatam.5.30.57)

नानारूपधराप्यस्ति ज्ञातव्यं तस्य चेष्टितम् । कदाचित्सम्भवो नॄणां कदाचित्प्रलयस्तथा

nānārūpadharāpyasti jñātavyaṁ tasya ceṣṭitam | kadācitsambhavo nṝṇāṁ kadācitpralayastathā

"It too takes on many forms — one must learn to read its workings: at one time it brings the birth of men, at another their utter destruction."

Verse 58 (devibhagavatam.5.30.58)

उत्पत्तिहेतुः कालोऽन्यः क्षयहेतुस्तथापरः । प्रत्यक्षं ते महाराज देवाः सर्वे सवासवाः

utpattihetuḥ kālo'nyaḥ kṣayahetustathāparaḥ | pratyakṣaṁ te mahārāja devāḥ sarve savāsavāḥ

"One phase of time is the cause of arising, another the cause of decline. You have seen this yourself, great king, before your very eyes, in the case of all the gods, Indra included."

Verse 59 (devibhagavatam.5.30.59)

करदास्ते कृताः पूर्वं कालेन सम्मुखेन च । तेनैव विमुखेनाद्य बलिनोऽबलयासुराः

karadāste kṛtāḥ pūrvaṁ kālena sammukhena ca | tenaiva vimukhenādya balino'balayāsurāḥ

"They were once made your tribute-payers, when time favored you; and now, by that very same time turned against you, the mighty demons have become powerless —"

Verse 60 (devibhagavatam.5.30.60)

निहता नितरां कालः करोति च शुभाशुभम् । नैवात्र कारणं काली नैव देवाः सनातनाः

nihatā nitarāṁ kālaḥ karoti ca śubhāśubham | naivātra kāraṇaṁ kālī naiva devāḥ sanātanāḥ

"— utterly struck down. It is time that brings about both good and ill fortune; Kali is not the true cause here, nor are the eternal gods."

Verse 61 (devibhagavatam.5.30.61)

यथा ते रोचते राजंस्तथा कुरु विमृश्य च । कालोऽयं नात्र हेतुस्ते दानवानां तथा पुनः

yathā te rocate rājaṁstathā kuru vimṛśya ca | kālo'yaṁ nātra hetuste dānavānāṁ tathā punaḥ

"Do, then, O king, whatever pleases you, but only after due reflection — it is this very time, and no other, that is the cause of your demons' downfall."

Verse 62 (devibhagavatam.5.30.62)

त्वदग्रतो गतः शक्रो भग्नः सङ्ख्ये निरायुधः । तथा विष्णुस्तथा रुद्रो वरुणो धनदो यमः

tvadagrato gataḥ śakro bhagnaḥ saṅkhye nirāyudhaḥ | tathā viṣṇustathā rudro varuṇo dhanado yamaḥ

"Even Indra, once, fled before you, defeated in battle and stripped of his weapons; so too Vishnu, so too Rudra, Varuna, Kubera, and Yama."

Verse 63 (devibhagavatam.5.30.63)

तथा त्वमपि राजेन्द्र वीक्ष्य कालवशं जगत् । पातालं गच्छ तरसा जीवन्भद्रमवाप्स्यसि

tathā tvamapi rājendra vīkṣya kālavaśaṁ jagat | pātālaṁ gaccha tarasā jīvanbhadramavāpsyasi

"In just the same way, O lord of kings, seeing this whole world now subject to time, go swiftly to the netherworld — living on, you shall yet attain good fortune."

Verse 64 (devibhagavatam.5.30.64)

मृते त्वयि महाराज शत्रवस्ते मुदान्विताः । मङ्गलानि प्रगायन्तो विचरिष्यन्ति सर्वतः

mṛte tvayi mahārāja śatravaste mudānvitāḥ | maṅgalāni pragāyanto vicariṣyanti sarvataḥ

"But should you die, great king, your enemies, filled with joy, will roam about everywhere, singing songs of celebration."