The Death of Shumbha

Verse 1 (devibhagavatam.5.31.1)

व्यास उवाच । इति तेषां वचः श्रुत्वा शुम्भो दैत्यपतिस्तथा । उवाच सैनिकानाशु कोपाकुलितलोचनः

vyāsa uvāca | iti teṣāṁ vacaḥ śrutvā śumbho daityapatistathā | uvāca sainikānāśu kopākulitalocanaḥ

Vyasa said: Hearing their words, Shumbha, the lord of the demons, his eyes wild with fury, at once spoke to his soldiers.

Verse 2 (devibhagavatam.5.31.2)

शुम्भ उवाच । जाल्माः किं श्रूत दुर्वाच्यं कृत्वा जीवितुमुत्सहे । निहत्य सचिवान्भ्रातॄन्निर्लज्जो विचरामि किम्

śumbha uvāca | jālmāḥ kiṁ śrūta durvācyaṁ kṛtvā jīvitumutsahe | nihatya sacivānbhrātṝnnirlajjo vicarāmi kim

Shumbha said: "You wretches, what is this shameful thing you dare to say — that I should endure to live on, and, shameless, wander about after my ministers and my brother have been slain?"

Verse 3 (devibhagavatam.5.31.3)

कालः कर्ता शुभानां वाशुभानां बलवत्तरः । का चिन्ता मम दुर्वारे तस्मिन्नीशेऽप्यरूपके

kālaḥ kartā śubhānāṁ vāśubhānāṁ balavattaraḥ | kā cintā mama durvāre tasminnīśe'pyarūpake

"Time is the maker of both good and ill, and time is stronger than all. What concern have I, when even that irresistible, formless lord governs everything?"

Verse 4 (devibhagavatam.5.31.4)

यद्भवति तद्भवतु यत्करोति करोतु तत् । न मे चिन्तास्ति कुत्रापि मरणाज्जीवनात्तथा

yadbhavati tadbhavatu yatkaroti karotu tat | na me cintāsti kutrāpi maraṇājjīvanāttathā

"Let whatever happens, happen; let whatever it does, be done. I have no anxiety at all, whether it means my death or my continued life."

Verse 5 (devibhagavatam.5.31.5)

स कालोऽप्यन्यथाकर्तुं भावितो नेशते क्वचित् । न वर्षति च पर्जन्यः श्रावणे मासि सर्वथा

sa kālo'pyanyathākartuṁ bhāvito neśate kvacit | na varṣati ca parjanyaḥ śrāvaṇe māsi sarvathā

"That very time, once a thing is destined, is never able to make it otherwise — just as the rain-god never fails to pour in the month of Shravana."

Verse 6 (devibhagavatam.5.31.6)

कदाचिन्मार्गशीर्षे वा पौषे माघेऽथ फाल्गुने । अकाले वर्षतीवाशु तस्मान्मुख्यो न चास्त्वयम्

kadācinmārgaśīrṣe vā pauṣe māghe'tha phālgune | akāle varṣatīvāśu tasmānmukhyo na cāstvayam

"Yet sometimes, in Margashirsha, or Pausha, Magha, or Phalguna, it rains suddenly out of season — and so this cannot be the primary cause."

Verse 7 (devibhagavatam.5.31.7)

कालो निमित्तमात्रं तु दैवं हि बलवत्तरम् । दैवेन निर्मितं सर्वं नान्यथा भवतीत्यदः

kālo nimittamātraṁ tu daivaṁ hi balavattaram | daivena nirmitaṁ sarvaṁ nānyathā bhavatītyadaḥ

"Time is merely the occasion, but fate is the truly powerful force. Everything is ordained by fate — it can never happen otherwise. This is certain."

Verse 8 (devibhagavatam.5.31.8)

दैवमेव परं मन्ये धिक्पौरुषमनर्थकम् । जेता यः सर्वदेवानां निशुम्भोऽप्यनया हतः

daivameva paraṁ manye dhikpauruṣamanarthakam | jetā yaḥ sarvadevānāṁ niśumbho'pyanayā hataḥ

"I hold fate alone to be supreme — shame on human effort, which achieves nothing! Even Nishumbha, the conqueror of all the gods, has been slain by her."

Verse 9 (devibhagavatam.5.31.9)

रक्तबीजो महाशूरः सोऽपि नाशं गतो यदा । तदाहं कीर्तिमुत्सृज्य जीविताशां करोमि किम्

raktabījo mahāśūraḥ so'pi nāśaṁ gato yadā | tadāhaṁ kīrtimutsṛjya jīvitāśāṁ karomi kim

"When even Raktabija, that great hero, has met his end, why then should I abandon my honor and cling to the hope of mere living?"

Verse 10 (devibhagavatam.5.31.10)

प्राप्ते काले स्वयं ब्रह्मा परार्धद्वयसम्मिते । निधनं याति तरसा जगत्कर्ता स्वयं प्रभुः

prāpte kāle svayaṁ brahmā parārdhadvayasammite | nidhanaṁ yāti tarasā jagatkartā svayaṁ prabhuḥ

"When his time comes, at the end of his own two-parardha lifespan, even Brahma himself, the creator of the world, the lord himself, swiftly meets his end."

Verse 11 (devibhagavatam.5.31.11)

चतुर्युगसहस्रं तु ब्रह्मणो दिवसे किल । पतन्ति भवनात्पञ्च नव चेन्द्रास्तथा पुनः

caturyugasahasraṁ tu brahmaṇo divase kila | patanti bhavanātpañca nava cendrāstathā punaḥ

"In a single day of Brahma, which is a thousand cycles of the four ages, fourteen Indras indeed fall from their heavenly abode, one after another."

Verse 12 (devibhagavatam.5.31.12)

तथैव द्विगुणे विष्णुर्मरणायोपकल्पते । तथैव द्विगुणे काले शङ्करः शान्तिमेति च

tathaiva dviguṇe viṣṇurmaraṇāyopakalpate | tathaiva dviguṇe kāle śaṅkaraḥ śāntimeti ca

"In twice that span, Vishnu too becomes subject to death; and in twice that span again, even Shankara attains his final dissolution."

Verse 13 (devibhagavatam.5.31.13)

का चिन्ता मरणे मूढा निश्चले दैवनिर्मिते । मही महीधराणाञ्च नाशः सूर्यशशाङ्कयोः

kā cintā maraṇe mūḍhā niścale daivanirmite | mahī mahīdharāṇāñca nāśaḥ sūryaśaśāṅkayoḥ

"What use is there, then, in worrying over death, fixed and ordained by fate? Even the earth and the mountains, the sun and the moon, come to their destruction."

Verse 14 (devibhagavatam.5.31.14)

जातस्य हि ध्रुवं मृत्युर्धुवं जन्म मृतस्य च । अध्रुवेऽस्मिञ्छरीरे तु रक्षणीयं यशः स्थिरम्

jātasya hi dhruvaṁ mṛtyurdhuvaṁ janma mṛtasya ca | adhruve'smiñcharīre tu rakṣaṇīyaṁ yaśaḥ sthiram

"For one who is born, death is certain, and for one who has died, rebirth is certain. In this transient body, it is one's lasting honor alone that must be preserved."

Verse 15 (devibhagavatam.5.31.15)

रथो मे कल्प्यतां शीघ्रं गमिष्यामि रणाजिरे । जयो वा मरणं वापि भवत्वद्यैव दैवतः

ratho me kalpyatāṁ śīghraṁ gamiṣyāmi raṇājire | jayo vā maraṇaṁ vāpi bhavatvadyaiva daivataḥ

"Let my chariot be readied at once — I shall go to the field of battle. Whether victory or death, let it come this very day, as fate wills."

Verse 16 (devibhagavatam.5.31.16)

इत्युक्त्वा सैनिकाञ्छुम्भो रथमास्थाय सत्वरः । प्रययावम्बिका यत्र संस्थिता तु हिमाचले

ityuktvā sainikāñchumbho rathamāsthāya satvaraḥ | prayayāvambikā yatra saṁsthitā tu himācale

Having said this to his soldiers, Shumbha at once mounted his chariot and set out to where Ambika stood, on the Himalayan mountain.

Verse 17 (devibhagavatam.5.31.17)

सैन्यं प्रचलितं तस्य सङ्गे तत्र चतुर्विधम् । हस्त्यश्वरथपादातिसंयुतं सायुधं बहु

sainyaṁ pracalitaṁ tasya saṅge tatra caturvidham | hastyaśvarathapādātisaṁyutaṁ sāyudhaṁ bahu

His army marched forth together with him, of the fourfold kind — elephants, horses, chariots, and infantry — vast and fully armed.

Verse 18 (devibhagavatam.5.31.18)

तत्र गत्वाचले शुम्भः संस्थितां जगदम्बिकाम् । त्रैलोक्यमोहिनीं कान्तामपश्यत्सिंहवाहिनीम्

tatra gatvācale śumbhaḥ saṁsthitāṁ jagadambikām | trailokyamohinīṁ kāntāmapaśyatsiṁhavāhinīm

Arriving there on the mountain, Shumbha beheld the Mother of the Universe standing before him — lovely, bewitching to all three worlds, mounted on her lion.

Verse 19 (devibhagavatam.5.31.19)

सर्वाभरणभूषाढ्यां सर्वलक्षणसंवृताम् । स्तूयमानां सुरैः खस्थैर्गन्धर्वयक्षकिन्नरैः

sarvābharaṇabhūṣāḍhyāṁ sarvalakṣaṇasaṁvṛtām | stūyamānāṁ suraiḥ khasthairgandharvayakṣakinnaraiḥ

— richly adorned with every ornament, marked with every auspicious sign, praised by the gods standing in the sky, and by gandharvas, yakshas, and kinnaras.

Verse 20 (devibhagavatam.5.31.20)

पुष्पैश्च पूज्यमानाञ्च मन्दारपादपोद्भवैः । कुर्वाणां शङ्खनिनदं घण्टानादं मनोहरम्

puṣpaiśca pūjyamānāñca mandārapādapodbhavaiḥ | kurvāṇāṁ śaṅkhaninadaṁ ghaṇṭānādaṁ manoharam

— worshipped with flowers grown upon the coral tree of heaven, sounding her conch and her enchanting bell.

Verse 21 (devibhagavatam.5.31.21)

दृष्ट्वा तां मोहमगमच्छुम्भः कामविमोहितः । पञ्चबाणाहतः कामं मनसा समचिन्तयत्

dṛṣṭvā tāṁ mohamagamacchumbhaḥ kāmavimohitaḥ | pañcabāṇāhataḥ kāmaṁ manasā samacintayat

Seeing her, Shumbha fell into utter infatuation, overcome with desire, and, struck by the five arrows of Kama, he pondered within his mind, filled with longing —

Verse 22 (devibhagavatam.5.31.22)

अहो रूपमिदं सम्यगहो चातुर्यमद्भुतम् । सौकुमार्यञ्ज धैर्यञ्च परस्परविरोधि यत्

aho rūpamidaṁ samyagaho cāturyamadbhutam | saukumāryañja dhairyañca parasparavirodhi yat

"Ah, what perfect beauty this is! Ah, what wondrous cleverness! Both a delicate tenderness and a firmness of courage — qualities that seem to contradict each other, yet both are here."

Verse 23 (devibhagavatam.5.31.23)

सुकुमारातितन्वङ्गी सद्यः प्रकटयौवना । चित्रमेतदसौ बाला कामभावविवर्जिता

sukumārātitanvaṅgī sadyaḥ prakaṭayauvanā | citrametadasau bālā kāmabhāvavivarjitā

"So delicate, so slender-limbed, her youth in full and radiant bloom — how strange that this young woman is yet utterly devoid of any feeling of desire!"

Verse 24 (devibhagavatam.5.31.24)

कामकान्तासमा रूपे सर्वलक्षणलक्षिता । अम्बिकेयं किमेतत्तु हन्ति सर्वान्महाबलान्

kāmakāntāsamā rūpe sarvalakṣaṇalakṣitā | ambikeyaṁ kimetattu hanti sarvānmahābalān

"In beauty she equals the very consort of Kama, marked with every auspicious sign — how can this Ambika be the one who slays all these mighty warriors?"

Verse 25 (devibhagavatam.5.31.25)

उपायः कोऽत्र कर्तव्यो येन मे वशगा भवेत् । न मन्त्रा वा मरालाक्षीसाधने सन्निधौ मम

upāyaḥ ko'tra kartavyo yena me vaśagā bhavet | na mantrā vā marālākṣīsādhane sannidhau mama

"What device should I now employ, that she might come under my sway? Neither mantras nor any other means seem to work in my presence to win this swan-eyed one."

Verse 26 (devibhagavatam.5.31.26)

सर्वमन्त्रमयी ह्येषा मोहिनी मदगर्विता । सुन्दरीयं कथं मे स्याद्वशगा वरवर्णिनी

sarvamantramayī hyeṣā mohinī madagarvitā | sundarīyaṁ kathaṁ me syādvaśagā varavarṇinī

"For she herself is the very embodiment of all mantras, bewitching, filled with pride — how then could this beautiful, fair-complexioned one ever come under my control?"

Verse 27 (devibhagavatam.5.31.27)

पातालगमनं मेऽद्य न युक्तं समराङ्गणात् । सामदानविभेदैश्च नेयं साध्या महाबला

pātālagamanaṁ me'dya na yuktaṁ samarāṅgaṇāt | sāmadānavibhedaiśca neyaṁ sādhyā mahābalā

"It is not fitting for me now to flee this battlefield to the netherworld; yet this mighty woman cannot be won over by conciliation, gifts, or division either."

Verse 28 (devibhagavatam.5.31.28)

किं कर्तव्यं च गन्तव्यं विषमे समुपस्थिते । मरणं नोत्तमं चात्र स्त्रीकृतं तु यशोऽपहृत्

kiṁ kartavyaṁ ca gantavyaṁ viṣame samupasthite | maraṇaṁ nottamaṁ cātra strīkṛtaṁ tu yaśo'pahṛt

"What, then, is to be done, and where am I to go, now that this crisis has arrived? Death here is no glory, but to have my honor stripped away by a woman —"

Verse 29 (devibhagavatam.5.31.29)

मरणमृषिभिः प्रोक्तं सङ्गरे मङ्गलास्पदम् । यत्तत्समानबलयोर्योधयोर्युध्यतोः किल

maraṇamṛṣibhiḥ proktaṁ saṅgare maṅgalāspadam | yattatsamānabalayoryodhayoryudhyatoḥ kila

"— the sages have declared that death in battle is itself a source of blessing, but that holds true only when two warriors of equal strength fight one another."

Verse 30 (devibhagavatam.5.31.30)

प्राप्तेयं दैवरचिता नारी नरशतोत्तमा । नाशायास्मत्कुलस्येह सर्वथातिबलाबला

prāpteyaṁ daivaracitā nārī naraśatottamā | nāśāyāsmatkulasyeha sarvathātibalābalā

"This woman who has come here, fashioned by fate, is superior to a hundred men — though seemingly weak, she is in truth utterly powerful, and has come here for the destruction of our entire race."

Verse 31 (devibhagavatam.5.31.31)

वृथा किं सामवाक्यानि मया योज्यानि साम्प्रतम् । हननायागता ह्येषा किं नु साम्ना प्रसीदति

vṛthā kiṁ sāmavākyāni mayā yojyāni sāmpratam | hananāyāgatā hyeṣā kiṁ nu sāmnā prasīdati

"Why, then, should I now employ words of conciliation in vain? She has come here only to kill — will mere soft words ever pacify her?"

Verse 32 (devibhagavatam.5.31.32)

न दानैश्चालितुं योग्या नानाशस्त्रविभूषिता । भेदस्तु विफलः कामं सर्वदेववशानुगा

na dānaiścālituṁ yogyā nānāśastravibhūṣitā | bhedastu viphalaḥ kāmaṁ sarvadevavaśānugā

"She cannot be moved by gifts, adorned as she is with every kind of weapon; and division, too, will surely be futile, for she is wholly aligned with all the gods."

Verse 33 (devibhagavatam.5.31.33)

तस्मात्तु मरणं श्रेयो न सङ्ग्रामे पलायनम् । जयो वा मरणं वाद्य भवत्वेव यथाविधि

tasmāttu maraṇaṁ śreyo na saṅgrāme palāyanam | jayo vā maraṇaṁ vādya bhavatveva yathāvidhi

"Therefore death itself is the better course — not flight from the battlefield. Whether victory or death, let it now come to pass, exactly as ordained."

Verse 34 (devibhagavatam.5.31.34)

व्यास उवाच । इति सञ्चिन्त्य मनसा शुम्भः सत्त्वाश्रितोऽभवत् । युद्धाय सुस्थिरो भूत्वा तामुवाच पुरःस्थिताम्

vyāsa uvāca | iti sañcintya manasā śumbhaḥ sattvāśrito'bhavat | yuddhāya susthiro bhūtvā tāmuvāca puraḥsthitām

Vyasa said: Having reflected thus within his mind, Shumbha took refuge in his own inner strength, and, made steady for battle, addressed her, standing before him.

Verse 35 (devibhagavatam.5.31.35)

देवि युध्यस्व कान्तेऽद्य मृथायं ते परिश्रमः । मूर्खासि किल नारीणां नायं धर्मः कदाचन

devi yudhyasva kānte'dya mṛthāyaṁ te pariśramaḥ | mūrkhāsi kila nārīṇāṁ nāyaṁ dharmaḥ kadācana

"O Goddess, O beloved, fight now — this battle will only tire you out. You are foolish indeed — this is never the proper conduct for women."

Verse 36 (devibhagavatam.5.31.36)

नारीणां लोचने बाणा भ्रुवावेव शरासनम् । हावभावास्तु शस्त्राणि पुमाँल्लक्ष्यं विचक्षणः

nārīṇāṁ locane bāṇā bhruvāveva śarāsanam | hāvabhāvāstu śastrāṇi pumā~llakṣyaṁ vicakṣaṇaḥ

"A woman's eyes are her arrows, her eyebrows her very bow, and her graceful gestures her weapons — while a man, discerning, is her proper target."

Verse 37 (devibhagavatam.5.31.37)

सन्नाहश्चाङ्गरागोऽत्र रथश्चापि मनोरथः । मन्दप्रजल्पितं भेरीशब्दो नान्यः कदाचन

sannāhaścāṅgarāgo'tra rathaścāpi manorathaḥ | mandaprajalpitaṁ bherīśabdo nānyaḥ kadācana

"Her armor is her cosmetic adornment, and her chariot is nothing but her own desire; her soft, murmured words are her war-drum — nothing else, ever."

Verse 38 (devibhagavatam.5.31.38)

अन्यास्त्रधारणं स्त्रीणां विडम्बनमसंशयम् । लज्जैव भूषणं कान्ते न च धार्ष्ट्यं कदाचन

anyāstradhāraṇaṁ strīṇāṁ viḍambanamasaṁśayam | lajjaiva bhūṣaṇaṁ kānte na ca dhārṣṭyaṁ kadācana

"For a woman to bear any other weapon is, without doubt, a mere mockery. Modesty alone, my dear, is her true ornament — never audacity."

Verse 39 (devibhagavatam.5.31.39)

युध्यमाना वरा नारी कर्कशेवाभिदृश्यते । स्तनौ सङ्गोपनीयौ वा धनुषः कर्षणे कथम्

yudhyamānā varā nārī karkaśevābhidṛśyate | stanau saṅgopanīyau vā dhanuṣaḥ karṣaṇe katham

"A fine woman fighting in battle appears harsh and unbecoming — and how, in drawing back a bow, could her breasts even remain properly covered?"

Verse 40 (devibhagavatam.5.31.40)

क्व मन्दगमनं कुत्र गदामादाय धावनम् । बुद्धिदा कालिका तेऽत्र चामुण्डा परनायिका

kva mandagamanaṁ kutra gadāmādāya dhāvanam | buddhidā kālikā te'tra cāmuṇḍā paranāyikā

"Where is your gentle, graceful gait, and where this running about with a mace in hand? It must be Kalika who put this idea into your mind, or else that other leader, Chamunda."

Verse 41 (devibhagavatam.5.31.41)

चण्डिका मन्त्रमध्यस्था लालनेऽसुस्वरा शिवा । वाहनं मृगराडास्ते सर्वसत्त्वभयङ्करः

caṇḍikā mantramadhyasthā lālane'susvarā śivā | vāhanaṁ mṛgarāḍāste sarvasattvabhayaṅkaraḥ

"Chandika stands here amid mantras — but her voice, in tenderness, is harsh, not sweet, however auspicious she may be; and her mount is a lion, a terror to every living creature."

Verse 42 (devibhagavatam.5.31.42)

वीणानादं परित्यज्य घण्टानादं करोषि यत् । रूपयौवनयोः सर्वं विरोधि वरवर्णिनि

vīṇānādaṁ parityajya ghaṇṭānādaṁ karoṣi yat | rūpayauvanayoḥ sarvaṁ virodhi varavarṇini

"That you make the clang of a bell instead of the sweet music of the vina — O fair one, this is wholly at odds with your own beauty and youth."

Verse 43 (devibhagavatam.5.31.43)

यदि ते सङ्गरेच्छास्ति कुरूपा भव भामिनि । लम्बोष्ठी कुनखी क्रूरा ध्वाङ्क्षवर्णा विलोचना

yadi te saṅgarecchāsti kurūpā bhava bhāmini | lamboṣṭhī kunakhī krūrā dhvāṅkṣavarṇā vilocanā

"If you truly desire to fight, O angry one, then make yourself ugly first — with drooping lips, misshapen nails, cruel features, the color of a crow, and distorted eyes —"

Verse 44 (devibhagavatam.5.31.44)

लम्बपादा कुदन्ती च मार्जारनयनाकृतिः । ईदृशं रूपमास्थाय तिष्ठ युद्धे स्थिरा भव

lambapādā kudantī ca mārjāranayanākṛtiḥ | īdṛśaṁ rūpamāsthāya tiṣṭha yuddhe sthirā bhava

"— with dangling feet, crooked teeth, and the eyes of a cat. Assuming such a form, then take your stand, and remain steady in battle."

Verse 45 (devibhagavatam.5.31.45)

कर्कशं वचनं ब्रूहि ततो युद्धं करोम्यहम् । ईदृशीं सुदतीं दृष्ट्वा न मे पाणिः प्रसीदति

karkaśaṁ vacanaṁ brūhi tato yuddhaṁ karomyaham | īdṛśīṁ sudatīṁ dṛṣṭvā na me pāṇiḥ prasīdati

"Speak to me harsh words too — only then shall I fight you. Seeing your fine, beautiful teeth as they are now, my own hand refuses to strike —"

Verse 46 (devibhagavatam.5.31.46)

हन्तुं त्वां मृगशावाक्षि कामकान्तोपमे मृधे । व्यास उवाच । इति ब्रुवाणं कामार्तं वीक्ष्य तं जगदम्बिका

hantuṁ tvāṁ mṛgaśāvākṣi kāmakāntopame mṛdhe | vyāsa uvāca | iti bruvāṇaṁ kāmārtaṁ vīkṣya taṁ jagadambikā

"— to slay you, O fawn-eyed one, equal in beauty to the very consort of Kama, in this battle." Vyasa said: Seeing him thus speaking, tormented by desire, the Mother of the Universe —

Verse 47 (devibhagavatam.5.31.47)

स्मितपूर्वमिदं वाक्यमुवाच भरतोत्तम । देव्युवाच । किं विषीदसि मन्दात्मन् कामबाणविमोहितः

smitapūrvamidaṁ vākyamuvāca bharatottama | devyuvāca | kiṁ viṣīdasi mandātman kāmabāṇavimohitaḥ

— O best of the Bharatas, replied, smiling, with these words. The Goddess said: "Why do you despair so, O foolish one, deluded by the arrows of Kama?"

Verse 48 (devibhagavatam.5.31.48)

प्रेक्षिकाहं स्थिता मूढ कुरु कालिकया मृधम् । चामुण्डया वा कुर्वेते तव योग्ये रणाङ्गणे

prekṣikāhaṁ sthitā mūḍha kuru kālikayā mṛdham | cāmuṇḍayā vā kurvete tava yogye raṇāṅgaṇe

"I stand here, O fool, merely as a spectator — go, then, and fight with Kalika, or with Chamunda; on this battlefield, they alone are a fitting match for you."

Verse 49 (devibhagavatam.5.31.49)

प्रहरस्व यथाकामं नाहं त्वां योद्धमुत्सहे । इत्युक्त्वा कालिकां प्राह देवी मधुरया गिरा

praharasva yathākāmaṁ nāhaṁ tvāṁ yoddhamutsahe | ityuktvā kālikāṁ prāha devī madhurayā girā

"Strike out at them as you please — I myself have no wish to fight with you." Having said this, the Goddess spoke to Kalika in a sweet voice —

Verse 50 (devibhagavatam.5.31.50)

जह्येनं कालिके क्रूरे कुरूपप्रियमाहवे । व्यास उवाच । इत्युक्ता कालिका कालप्रेरिता कालरूपिणी

jahyenaṁ kālike krūre kurūpapriyamāhave | vyāsa uvāca | ityuktā kālikā kālapreritā kālarūpiṇī

"— O cruel Kalika, slay this one, who so prizes ugliness, in the battle!" Vyasa said: Thus addressed, Kalika, impelled by time itself and herself the very form of time —

Verse 51 (devibhagavatam.5.31.51)

गदां प्रगृह्य तरसा तस्थावाजौ कृतोद्यमा । तयोः परस्परं युद्धं बभूवातिभयानकम्

gadāṁ pragṛhya tarasā tasthāvājau kṛtodyamā | tayoḥ parasparaṁ yuddhaṁ babhūvātibhayānakam

— at once seized her mace and stood ready for battle, resolved. And a most terrifying battle then broke out between the two of them.

Verse 52 (devibhagavatam.5.31.52)

पश्यतां सर्वदेवानां मुनीनाञ्च महात्मनाम् । गदामुद्यम्य शुम्भोऽथ जघान कालिकां रणे

paśyatāṁ sarvadevānāṁ munīnāñca mahātmanām | gadāmudyamya śumbho'tha jaghāna kālikāṁ raṇe

Before the eyes of all the gods and the great sages, Shumbha raised his mace and struck at Kalika in that battle.

Verse 53 (devibhagavatam.5.31.53)

कालिका दैत्यराजानं गदया न्यहनद् भृशम् । बभञ्जास्य रथं चण्डी गदया कनकोज्ज्वलम्

kālikā daityarājānaṁ gadayā nyahanad bhṛśam | babhañjāsya rathaṁ caṇḍī gadayā kanakojjvalam

Kalika in turn struck the demon king fiercely with her own mace, and Chandi shattered his chariot, gleaming with gold, with a further blow of her mace.

Verse 54 (devibhagavatam.5.31.54)

खरान्हत्वा जघानाशु दारुकं दारुणस्वना । स पदातिर्गदां गुर्वीं समादाय क्रुधान्वितः

kharānhatvā jaghānāśu dārukaṁ dāruṇasvanā | sa padātirgadāṁ gurvīṁ samādāya krudhānvitaḥ

Her terrible voice roaring, she killed his donkeys and then swiftly struck down his charioteer, Daruka. Now on foot, he seized a heavy mace, filled with rage.

Verse 55 (devibhagavatam.5.31.55)

कालिकाभुजयोर्मध्ये प्रहसन्नहनत्तदा । वञ्चयित्वा गदाघातं खड्गमादाय सत्वरा

kālikābhujayormadhye prahasannahanattadā | vañcayitvā gadāghātaṁ khaḍgamādāya satvarā

Laughing, he struck a blow squarely between Kalika's two arms; but she, swiftly evading the fall of the mace, took up her sword at once —

Verse 56 (devibhagavatam.5.31.56)

चिच्छेदास्य भुजं सव्यं सायुधं चन्दनार्चितम् । स छिन्नबाहुर्विरथो गदापाणिः परिप्लुतः

cicchedāsya bhujaṁ savyaṁ sāyudhaṁ candanārcitam | sa chinnabāhurviratho gadāpāṇiḥ pariplutaḥ

— and severed his left arm, still holding its weapon, anointed with sandal-paste. With his arm cut off, chariotless, mace still in his remaining hand, he leapt about, overwhelmed.

Verse 57 (devibhagavatam.5.31.57)

अचिरेण समागम्य कालिकामहनत्तदा । काली च करवालेन भुजं तस्याथ दक्षिणम्

acireṇa samāgamya kālikāmahanattadā | kālī ca karavālena bhujaṁ tasyātha dakṣiṇam

Rushing forward again without delay, he struck at Kalika once more; and Kali then, with her sword, cut off his right arm as well.

Verse 58 (devibhagavatam.5.31.58)

चिच्छेद प्रहसन्ती सा सगदं किल साङ्गदम् । कर्तुं पादप्रहारं स कुपितः प्रययौ जवात्

ciccheda prahasantī sā sagadaṁ kila sāṅgadam | kartuṁ pādaprahāraṁ sa kupitaḥ prayayau javāt

Laughing, she severed it, mace, armlet, and all; and he, enraged, rushed forward swiftly to strike her with a kick of his foot.

Verse 59 (devibhagavatam.5.31.59)

काली चिच्छेद चरणौ खड्गेनास्य त्वरान्विता । सच्छिन्नकरपादोऽपि तिष्ठ तिष्ठेति च ब्रुवन्

kālī ciccheda caraṇau khaḍgenāsya tvarānvitā | sacchinnakarapādo'pi tiṣṭha tiṣṭheti ca bruvan

Kali swiftly cut off his feet as well with her sword; and even with his hands and feet thus severed, he still cried out, "Stand! Stand and fight!" —

Verse 60 (devibhagavatam.5.31.60)

धावमानो ययावाशु कालिकां भीषयन्निव । तमागच्छन्तमालोक्य कालिका कमलोपमम्

dhāvamāno yayāvāśu kālikāṁ bhīṣayanniva | tamāgacchantamālokya kālikā kamalopamam

— and rushed toward Kalika, as if trying still to terrify her. Seeing him coming on in this state, Kalika, lotus-eyed —

Verse 61 (devibhagavatam.5.31.61)

चकर्त मस्तकं कण्ठाद्रुधिरौघवहं भृशम् । छिन्नेऽसौ मस्तके भूमौ पपात गिरिसन्निभः

cakarta mastakaṁ kaṇṭhādrudhiraughavahaṁ bhṛśam | chinne'sau mastake bhūmau papāta girisannibhaḥ

— severed his very head from his neck, blood gushing forth in torrents; and with his head cut off, he fell to the ground like a collapsing mountain.

Verse 62 (devibhagavatam.5.31.62)

प्राणा विनिर्ययुस्तस्य देहादुत्क्रम्य सत्वरम् । गतासुं पतितं दैत्यं दृष्ट्वा देवाः सवासवाः

prāṇā viniryayustasya dehādutkramya satvaram | gatāsuṁ patitaṁ daityaṁ dṛṣṭvā devāḥ savāsavāḥ

His life-breath departed swiftly from his body; and seeing that lifeless demon fallen, the gods, Indra among them —

Verse 63 (devibhagavatam.5.31.63)

तुष्टुवुस्तां तदा देवीं चामुण्डां कालिकां तथा । ववुर्वाताः शिवास्तत्र दिशश्च विमला भृशम्

tuṣṭuvustāṁ tadā devīṁ cāmuṇḍāṁ kālikāṁ tathā | vavurvātāḥ śivāstatra diśaśca vimalā bhṛśam

— praised that Goddess, and Chamunda, and Kalika as well. Gentle, auspicious breezes then blew, and every direction became exceedingly clear and pure.

Verse 64 (devibhagavatam.5.31.64)

बभूवुश्चाग्नयो होमे प्रदक्षिणशिखाः शुभाः । हतशेषाश्च ये दैत्याः प्रणम्य जगदम्बिकाम्

babhūvuścāgnayo home pradakṣiṇaśikhāḥ śubhāḥ | hataśeṣāśca ye daityāḥ praṇamya jagadambikām

The sacrificial fires burned with auspicious flames curling to the right; and whatever demons remained after the slaughter, bowing before the Mother of the Universe —

Verse 65 (devibhagavatam.5.31.65)

त्यक्त्वाऽऽयुधानि ते सर्वे पातालं प्रययुर्नृप । एतत्ते सर्वमाख्यातं देव्याश्चरितमुत्तमम्

tyaktvā''yudhāni te sarve pātālaṁ prayayurnṛpa | etatte sarvamākhyātaṁ devyāścaritamuttamam

— abandoned their weapons, every one of them, and departed to the netherworld, O king. This, then, is the entire supreme deed of the Goddess as I have told it to you.

Verse 66 (devibhagavatam.5.31.66)

शुम्भादीनां वधं चैव सुराणां रक्षणं तथा । एतदाख्यानकं सर्वं पठन्ति भुवि मानवाः

śumbhādīnāṁ vadhaṁ caiva surāṇāṁ rakṣaṇaṁ tathā | etadākhyānakaṁ sarvaṁ paṭhanti bhuvi mānavāḥ

Whoever among men upon this earth reads this whole account — the slaying of Shumbha and the others, and the deliverance of the gods —

Verse 67 (devibhagavatam.5.31.67)

शृण्वन्ति च सदा भक्त्या ते कृतार्था भवन्ति हि । अपुत्रो लभते पुत्रान्निर्धनश्च धनं बहु

śṛṇvanti ca sadā bhaktyā te kṛtārthā bhavanti hi | aputro labhate putrānnirdhanaśca dhanaṁ bahu

— or hears it always with devotion, such a person attains true fulfillment; the one without a son obtains sons, and the one without wealth obtains abundant riches.

Verse 68 (devibhagavatam.5.31.68)

रोगी च मुच्यते रोगात्सर्वान्कामानवाप्नुयात् । शत्रुतो न भयं तस्य य इदं चरितं शुभम् । शृणोति पठते नित्यं मुक्तिमाञ्जायते नरः

rogī ca mucyate rogātsarvānkāmānavāpnuyāt | śatruto na bhayaṁ tasya ya idaṁ caritaṁ śubham | śṛṇoti paṭhate nityaṁ muktimāñjāyate naraḥ

The sick person is freed from illness, and obtains every desire; he has no fear at all from enemies — that man who constantly hears or recites this auspicious deed attains liberation itself.