Fifth Skandha · Chapter 24
Sourceव्यास उवाच देव्यास्तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा स दूतः प्राह विस्मितः । किं ब्रूषे रुचिरापाङ्गि स्त्रीस्वभावाद्धि साहसात् ॥ १ ॥ इन्द्राद्या निर्जिता येन देवा दैत्यास्तथापरे । तं कथं समरे देवि जेतुमिच्छसि भामिनि ॥ २ ॥ त्रैलोक्ये तादृशो नास्ति यः शुम्भं समरे जयेत् । का त्वं कमलपत्राक्षि तस्याग्रे युधि साम्प्रतम् ॥ ३ ॥ अविचार्य न वक्तव्यं वचनं चापि सुन्दरि । बलं स्वपरयोर्ज्ञात्वा वक्तव्यं समयोचितम् ॥ ४ ॥ त्रैलोक्याधिपतिः शुम्भस्तव रूपेण मोहितः । त्वाञ्च प्रार्थयते राजा कुरु तस्येप्सितं प्रिये ॥ ५ ॥ त्यक्त्वा मूर्खस्वभावं त्वं सम्मान्य वचनं मम । भज शुम्भं निशुम्भं वा हितमेतद् ब्रवीमि ते ॥ ६ ॥ शृङ्गारः सर्वथा सर्वैः प्राणिभिः परया मुदा । सेवनीयो बुद्धिमद्भिर्नवानामुत्तमो यतः ॥ ७ ॥ नागमिष्यसि चेद् बाले संक्रुद्धः पृथिवीपतिः । अन्यानाज्ञाकरान्प्रेष्य बलान्नेष्यति साम्प्रतम् ॥ ८ ॥ केशेष्वाकृष्य ते नूनं दानवा बलदर्पिताः । त्वां नयिष्यन्ति वामोरु तरसा शुम्भसन्तिधौ ॥ ९ ॥ स्वलज्जां रक्ष तन्वङ्गि साहसं सर्वथा त्यज । मानिता गच्छ तत्पार्श्वे मानपात्रं यतोऽसि वै ॥ १० ॥ क्व युद्धं निशितैर्बाणैः क्व सुखं रतिसङ्गजम् । सारासारं परिच्छेद्य कुरु मे वचनं पटु ॥ ११ ॥ भज शुम्भं निशुम्भं वा लब्धासि परमं सुखम् । देव्युवाच सत्यं दूत महाभाग प्रवक्तुं निपुणो ह्यसि ॥ १२ ॥ निशुम्भशुम्भौ जानामि बलवन्ताविति ध्रुवम् । प्रतिज्ञा मे कृता बाल्यादन्यथा सा कथं भवेत् ॥ १३ ॥ तस्माद् ब्रूहि निशुम्भञ्च शुम्भं वा बलवत्तरम् । विना युद्धं न मे भर्ता भविता कोऽपि सौष्ठवात् ॥ १४ ॥ जित्वा मां तरसा कामं करं गृह्णातु साम्प्रतम् । युद्धेच्छया समायातां विद्धि मामबलां नृप ॥ १५ ॥ युद्धं देहि समर्थोऽसि वीरधर्मं समाचर । बिभेषि मम शूलाच्चेत्पातालं गच्छ मा चिरम् ॥ १६ ॥ त्रिदिवं च धरां त्यक्त्वा जीवितेच्छा यदस्ति ते । इति दूत वदाशु त्वं गत्वा स्वपतिमादरात् ॥ १७ ॥ स विचार्य यथायुक्तं करिष्यति महाबलः । संसारे दूतधर्मोऽयं यत्सत्यं भाषणं किल ॥ १८ ॥ शत्रौ पत्यौ च धर्मज्ञ तथा त्वं कुरु मा चिरम् । व्यास उवाच अथ तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा नीतिमद्बलसंयुतम् ॥ १९ ॥ हेतुयुक्तं प्रगल्पञ्च विस्मितः प्रययौ तदा । गत्वा दैत्यपतिं दूतो विचार्य च पुनः पुनः ॥ २० ॥ प्रणम्य पादयोः प्रह्वः प्रत्युवाच नृपञ्ज तम् । राजनीतिकरं वाक्यं मृदुपूर्वं प्रियं वचः ॥ २१ ॥ दूत उवाच सत्यं प्रियं च वक्तव्यं तेन चिन्तापरो ह्यहम् । सत्यं प्रियं च राजेन्द्र वचनं दुर्लभं किल ॥ २२ ॥ अप्रियं वदतां कामं राजा कुप्यति सर्वथा । साक्षात्कुतः समायाता कस्य वा किंबलाबला ॥ २३ ॥ न ज्ञानगोचरं किञ्चित्किं ब्रवीमि विचेष्टितम् । युद्धकामा मया दृष्टा गर्विता कटुभाषिणी ॥ २४ ॥ तया यत्कथितं सम्यक् तच्छृणुष्व महामते । मया बाल्यात्प्रतिज्ञेयं कृता पूर्वं विनोदतः ॥ २५ ॥ सखीनां पुरतः कामं विवाहं प्रति सर्वथा । यो मां युद्धे जयेदद्धा दर्पञ्च विधुनोति वै ॥ २६ ॥ तं वरिष्याम्यहं कामं पतिं समबलं किल । न मे प्रतिज्ञा मिथ्या सा कर्तव्या नृपसत्तम ॥ २७ ॥ तस्माद्युध्यस्व धर्मज्ञ जित्वा मां स्ववशं कुरु । तयेति व्याहृतं वाक्यं श्रुत्वाहं समुपागतः ॥ २८ ॥ यथेच्छसि महाराज तथा कुरु तव प्रियम् । सा युद्धार्थं कृतमतिः सायुधा सिंहगामिनी ॥ २९ ॥ निश्चला वर्तते भूप यद्योग्यं तद्विधीयताम् । व्यास उवाच इत्याकर्ण्य वचस्तस्य सुग्रीवस्य नराधिपः ॥ ३० ॥ पप्रच्छ भ्रातरंशूरं समीपस्थं महाबलम् । शुम्भ उवाच भ्रातः किमत्र कर्तव्यं ब्रूहि सत्यं महामते ॥ ३१ ॥ नार्येका योद्धुकामास्ति समाह्वयति साम्प्रतम् । अहं गच्छामि संग्रामे त्वं वा गच्छ बलान्वितः ॥ ३२ ॥ यद्रोचते निशुम्भात्र तत्कर्तव्यं मया किल । निशुम्भ उवाच न मया न त्वया वीर गन्तव्यं रणमूर्धनि ॥ ३३ ॥ प्रेषयस्व महाराज त्वरितं धूम्रलोचनम् । स गत्वा तां रणे जित्वा गृहीत्वा चारुलोचनाम् ॥ ३४ ॥ आगमिष्यति शुम्भात्र विवाहः संविधीयताम् । व्यास उवाच तन्निशम्य वचस्तस्य शुम्भो भ्रातुः कनीयसः ॥ ३५ कोपात्सम्प्रेषयामास पार्श्वस्थं धूम्रलोचनम् । शुम्भ उवाच धूम्रलोचन गच्छाशु सैन्येन महताऽऽवृतः ॥ ३६ ॥ गृहीत्वाऽऽनय तां मुग्धां स्ववीर्यमदमोहिताम् । देवो वा दानवो वापि मनुष्यो वा महाबलः ॥ ३७ ॥ तत्पार्ष्णिग्राहतां प्राप्तो हन्तव्यस्तरसा त्वया । तत्पार्श्ववर्तिनीं कालीं हत्वा संगृह्य तां पुनः ॥ ३८ ॥ शीघ्रमत्र समागच्छ कृत्वा कार्यमनुत्तमम् । रक्षणीया त्वया साध्वी मुञ्चन्ती मृदुमार्गणान् ॥ ३९ ॥ यत्नेन महता वीर मृदुदेहा कृशोदरी । तत्सहायाश्च हन्तव्या ये रणे शस्त्रपाणयः ॥ ४० ॥ सर्वथा सा न हन्तव्या रक्षणीया प्रयत्नतः । व्यास उवाच इत्यादिष्टस्तदा राज्ञा तरसा धूम्रलोचनः ॥ ४१ ॥ प्रणम्य शुम्भं सैन्येन भूतः शीघ्रं ययौ रणे । असाधूनां सहस्राणां षष्ट्या तेषां वृतस्तथा ॥ ४२ ॥ स ददर्श ततो देवीं रम्योपवनसंस्थिताम् । दृष्ट्वा तां मृगशावाक्षीं विनयेन समन्वितः ॥ ४३ ॥ उवाच वचनं श्लक्ष्णं हेतुमद्रसभूषितम् । शृणु देवि महाभागे शुम्भस्त्वद्विरहातुरः ॥ ४४ ॥ दूतं प्रेषितवान्पार्श्वे तव नीतिविशारदः । रसभङ्गभयोद्विग्नः सामपूर्वं त्वयि स्वयम् ॥ ४५ ॥ तेनागत्य वचः प्रोक्तं विपरीतं वरानने । वचसा तेन मे भर्ता चिन्ताविष्टमना नृपः ॥ ४६ ॥ बभूव रसमार्गज्ञे शुम्भः कामविमोहितः । दूतेन तेन न ज्ञातं हेतुगर्भं वचस्तव ॥ ४७ ॥ यो मां जयति संग्रामे यदुक्तं कठिनं वचः । न ज्ञातस्तेन संग्रामो द्विविधः खलु मानिनि ॥ ४८ ॥ रतिजोऽथोत्साहजश्च पात्रभेदे विवक्षितः । रतिजस्त्वयि वामोरु शत्रोरुत्साहजः स्मृतः ॥ ४९ ॥ सुखदः प्रथमः कान्ते दुःखदश्चारिजः स्मृतः । जानाम्यहं वरारोहे भवत्या मानसं किल ॥ ५० ॥ रतिसंग्रामभावस्ते हृदये परिवर्तते । इति तज्ज्ञं विदित्वा मां त्वत्सकाशं नराधिपः ॥ ५१ ॥ प्रेषयामास शुम्भोऽद्य बलेन महताऽऽवृतम् । चतुरासि महाभागे शृणु मे वचनं मृदु ॥ ५२ ॥ भज शुम्भं त्रिलोकेशं देवदर्पनिबर्हणम् । पट्टराज्ञी प्रिया भूत्वा भुंक्ष्व भोगाननुत्तमान् ॥ ५३ ॥ जेष्यति त्वां महाबाहुः शुम्भः कामबलार्थवित् । विचित्रान्कुरु हावांस्त्वं सोऽपि भावान्करिष्यति ॥ ५४ ॥ भविष्यति कालिकेयं तत्र वै नर्मसाक्षिणी । एवं सङ्गरयोगेन पतिर्मे परमार्थवित् ॥ ५५ ॥ जित्वा त्वां सुखशय्यायां परिश्रान्तां करिष्यति । रक्तदेहां नखाघातैर्दन्तैश्च खण्डिताधराम् ॥ ५६ ॥ स्वेदक्लिन्नां प्रभग्नां त्वां संविधास्यति भूपतिः । भविता मानसः कामो रतिसंग्रामजस्तव ॥ ५७ ॥ दर्शनाद्वश एवास्ते शुम्भः सर्वात्मना प्रिये । वचनं कुरु मे पथ्यं हितकृच्चापि पेशलम् ॥ ५८ ॥ भज शुम्भं गणाध्यक्षं माननीयातिमानिनी । मन्दभाग्याश्च ते नूनं ह्यस्त्रयुद्धप्रियाश्च ये ॥ ५९ ॥ न तदर्हासि कान्ते त्वं सदा सुरतवल्लभे । अशोकं कुरु राजानं पादाघातविकासितम् ॥ ६० ॥ बकुलं सीधुसेकेन तथा कुरबकं कुरु ॥ ६१ ॥
vyāsa uvāca devyāstadvacanaṃ śrutvā sa dūtaḥ prāha vismitaḥ | kiṃ brūṣe rucirāpāṅgi strīsvabhāvāddhi sāhasāt || 1 || indrādyā nirjitā yena devā daityāstathāpare | taṃ kathaṃ samare devi jetumicchasi bhāmini || 2 || trailokye tādṛśo nāsti yaḥ śumbhaṃ samare jayet | kā tvaṃ kamalapatrākṣi tasyāgre yudhi sāmpratam || 3 || avicārya na vaktavyaṃ vacanaṃ cāpi sundari | balaṃ svaparayorjñātvā vaktavyaṃ samayocitam || 4 || trailokyādhipatiḥ śumbhastava rūpeṇa mohitaḥ | tvāñca prārthayate rājā kuru tasyepsitaṃ priye || 5 || tyaktvā mūrkhasvabhāvaṃ tvaṃ sammānya vacanaṃ mama | bhaja śumbhaṃ niśumbhaṃ vā hitametad bravīmi te || 6 || śṛṅgāraḥ sarvathā sarvaiḥ prāṇibhiḥ parayā mudā | sevanīyo buddhimadbhirnavānāmuttamo yataḥ || 7 || nāgamiṣyasi ced bāle saṃkruddhaḥ pṛthivīpatiḥ | anyānājñākarānpreṣya balānneṣyati sāmpratam || 8 || keśeṣvākṛṣya te nūnaṃ dānavā baladarpitāḥ | tvāṃ nayiṣyanti vāmoru tarasā śumbhasantidhau || 9 || svalajjāṃ rakṣa tanvaṅgi sāhasaṃ sarvathā tyaja | mānitā gaccha tatpārśve mānapātraṃ yato'si vai || 10 || kva yuddhaṃ niśitairbāṇaiḥ kva sukhaṃ ratisaṅgajam | sārāsāraṃ paricchedya kuru me vacanaṃ paṭu || 11 || bhaja śumbhaṃ niśumbhaṃ vā labdhāsi paramaṃ sukham | devyuvāca satyaṃ dūta mahābhāga pravaktuṃ nipuṇo hyasi || 12 || niśumbhaśumbhau jānāmi balavantāviti dhruvam | pratijñā me kṛtā bālyādanyathā sā kathaṃ bhavet || 13 || tasmād brūhi niśumbhañca śumbhaṃ vā balavattaram | vinā yuddhaṃ na me bhartā bhavitā ko'pi sauṣṭhavāt || 14 || jitvā māṃ tarasā kāmaṃ karaṃ gṛhṇātu sāmpratam | yuddhecchayā samāyātāṃ viddhi māmabalāṃ nṛpa || 15 || yuddhaṃ dehi samartho'si vīradharmaṃ samācara | bibheṣi mama śūlāccetpātālaṃ gaccha mā ciram || 16 || tridivaṃ ca dharāṃ tyaktvā jīvitecchā yadasti te | iti dūta vadāśu tvaṃ gatvā svapatimādarāt || 17 || sa vicārya yathāyuktaṃ kariṣyati mahābalaḥ | saṃsāre dūtadharmo'yaṃ yatsatyaṃ bhāṣaṇaṃ kila || 18 || śatrau patyau ca dharmajña tathā tvaṃ kuru mā ciram | vyāsa uvāca atha tadvacanaṃ śrutvā nītimadbalasaṃyutam || 19 || hetuyuktaṃ pragalpañca vismitaḥ prayayau tadā | gatvā daityapatiṃ dūto vicārya ca punaḥ punaḥ || 20 || praṇamya pādayoḥ prahvaḥ pratyuvāca nṛpañja tam | rājanītikaraṃ vākyaṃ mṛdupūrvaṃ priyaṃ vacaḥ || 21 || dūta uvāca satyaṃ priyaṃ ca vaktavyaṃ tena cintāparo hyaham | satyaṃ priyaṃ ca rājendra vacanaṃ durlabhaṃ kila || 22 || apriyaṃ vadatāṃ kāmaṃ rājā kupyati sarvathā | sākṣātkutaḥ samāyātā kasya vā kiṃbalābalā || 23 || na jñānagocaraṃ kiñcitkiṃ bravīmi viceṣṭitam | yuddhakāmā mayā dṛṣṭā garvitā kaṭubhāṣiṇī || 24 || tayā yatkathitaṃ samyak tacchṛṇuṣva mahāmate | mayā bālyātpratijñeyaṃ kṛtā pūrvaṃ vinodataḥ || 25 || sakhīnāṃ purataḥ kāmaṃ vivāhaṃ prati sarvathā | yo māṃ yuddhe jayedaddhā darpañca vidhunoti vai || 26 || taṃ variṣyāmyahaṃ kāmaṃ patiṃ samabalaṃ kila | na me pratijñā mithyā sā kartavyā nṛpasattama || 27 || tasmādyudhyasva dharmajña jitvā māṃ svavaśaṃ kuru | tayeti vyāhṛtaṃ vākyaṃ śrutvāhaṃ samupāgataḥ || 28 || yathecchasi mahārāja tathā kuru tava priyam | sā yuddhārthaṃ kṛtamatiḥ sāyudhā siṃhagāminī || 29 || niścalā vartate bhūpa yadyogyaṃ tadvidhīyatām | vyāsa uvāca ityākarṇya vacastasya sugrīvasya narādhipaḥ || 30 || papraccha bhrātaraṃśūraṃ samīpasthaṃ mahābalam | śumbha uvāca bhrātaḥ kimatra kartavyaṃ brūhi satyaṃ mahāmate || 31 || nāryekā yoddhukāmāsti samāhvayati sāmpratam | ahaṃ gacchāmi saṃgrāme tvaṃ vā gaccha balānvitaḥ || 32 || yadrocate niśumbhātra tatkartavyaṃ mayā kila | niśumbha uvāca na mayā na tvayā vīra gantavyaṃ raṇamūrdhani || 33 || preṣayasva mahārāja tvaritaṃ dhūmralocanam | sa gatvā tāṃ raṇe jitvā gṛhītvā cārulocanām || 34 || āgamiṣyati śumbhātra vivāhaḥ saṃvidhīyatām | vyāsa uvāca tanniśamya vacastasya śumbho bhrātuḥ kanīyasaḥ || 35 kopātsampreṣayāmāsa pārśvasthaṃ dhūmralocanam | śumbha uvāca dhūmralocana gacchāśu sainyena mahatā''vṛtaḥ || 36 || gṛhītvā''naya tāṃ mugdhāṃ svavīryamadamohitām | devo vā dānavo vāpi manuṣyo vā mahābalaḥ || 37 || tatpārṣṇigrāhatāṃ prāpto hantavyastarasā tvayā | tatpārśvavartinīṃ kālīṃ hatvā saṃgṛhya tāṃ punaḥ || 38 || śīghramatra samāgaccha kṛtvā kāryamanuttamam | rakṣaṇīyā tvayā sādhvī muñcantī mṛdumārgaṇān || 39 || yatnena mahatā vīra mṛdudehā kṛśodarī | tatsahāyāśca hantavyā ye raṇe śastrapāṇayaḥ || 40 || sarvathā sā na hantavyā rakṣaṇīyā prayatnataḥ | vyāsa uvāca ityādiṣṭastadā rājñā tarasā dhūmralocanaḥ || 41 || praṇamya śumbhaṃ sainyena bhūtaḥ śīghraṃ yayau raṇe | asādhūnāṃ sahasrāṇāṃ ṣaṣṭyā teṣāṃ vṛtastathā || 42 || sa dadarśa tato devīṃ ramyopavanasaṃsthitām | dṛṣṭvā tāṃ mṛgaśāvākṣīṃ vinayena samanvitaḥ || 43 || uvāca vacanaṃ ślakṣṇaṃ hetumadrasabhūṣitam | śṛṇu devi mahābhāge śumbhastvadvirahāturaḥ || 44 || dūtaṃ preṣitavānpārśve tava nītiviśāradaḥ | rasabhaṅgabhayodvignaḥ sāmapūrvaṃ tvayi svayam || 45 || tenāgatya vacaḥ proktaṃ viparītaṃ varānane | vacasā tena me bhartā cintāviṣṭamanā nṛpaḥ || 46 || babhūva rasamārgajñe śumbhaḥ kāmavimohitaḥ | dūtena tena na jñātaṃ hetugarbhaṃ vacastava || 47 || yo māṃ jayati saṃgrāme yaduktaṃ kaṭhinaṃ vacaḥ | na jñātastena saṃgrāmo dvividhaḥ khalu mānini || 48 || ratijo'thotsāhajaśca pātrabhede vivakṣitaḥ | ratijastvayi vāmoru śatrorutsāhajaḥ smṛtaḥ || 49 || sukhadaḥ prathamaḥ kānte duḥkhadaścārijaḥ smṛtaḥ | jānāmyahaṃ varārohe bhavatyā mānasaṃ kila || 50 || ratisaṃgrāmabhāvaste hṛdaye parivartate | iti tajjñaṃ viditvā māṃ tvatsakāśaṃ narādhipaḥ || 51 || preṣayāmāsa śumbho'dya balena mahatā''vṛtam | caturāsi mahābhāge śṛṇu me vacanaṃ mṛdu || 52 || bhaja śumbhaṃ trilokeśaṃ devadarpanibarhaṇam | paṭṭarājñī priyā bhūtvā bhuṃkṣva bhogānanuttamān || 53 || jeṣyati tvāṃ mahābāhuḥ śumbhaḥ kāmabalārthavit | vicitrānkuru hāvāṃstvaṃ so'pi bhāvānkariṣyati || 54 || bhaviṣyati kālikeyaṃ tatra vai narmasākṣiṇī | evaṃ saṅgarayogena patirme paramārthavit || 55 || jitvā tvāṃ sukhaśayyāyāṃ pariśrāntāṃ kariṣyati | raktadehāṃ nakhāghātairdantaiśca khaṇḍitādharām || 56 || svedaklinnāṃ prabhagnāṃ tvāṃ saṃvidhāsyati bhūpatiḥ | bhavitā mānasaḥ kāmo ratisaṃgrāmajastava || 57 || darśanādvaśa evāste śumbhaḥ sarvātmanā priye | vacanaṃ kuru me pathyaṃ hitakṛccāpi peśalam || 58 || bhaja śumbhaṃ gaṇādhyakṣaṃ mānanīyātimāninī | mandabhāgyāśca te nūnaṃ hyastrayuddhapriyāśca ye || 59 || na tadarhāsi kānte tvaṃ sadā suratavallabhe | aśokaṃ kuru rājānaṃ pādāghātavikāsitam || 60 || bakulaṃ sīdhusekena tathā kurabakaṃ kuru || 61 ||
English translation
1-12. Vyasa said O King! The messenger was thunderstruck with Devi’s words and said “O Beautiful Lady! What art Thou speaking? It seems that Thou dost not think on this matter, owing to Thy feminine nature. O Devi! Thou art boasting in vain; how canst Thou expect to conquer S’umbha in a battle when he has conquered Indra and other Devas and many other Danavas? Lotus-eyed One! There is no hero in the three worlds that can conquer S’umbha in battle; Thou seemest to be a mere trifle before that King of Demons in a face-to-face fight. O Fair One! Nowhere ought to be said any words without being thought over; one must weigh one’s own and other’s might and then speak accordingly. The King S’umbha, the Lord of the three worlds, enchanted by Thy fascinating beauty, is desirous of Thee; therefore dost Thou fulfill his desires and become his beloved wife. Thou better now abandonest Thy illiterate nature and worhippest S’umbha or Nis’umbha; I am speaking for Thy good; so keep my words. The amorous love sentiment is the best of nine prevailing sentiments. Therefore every intelligent being ought to cherish with gladness this amorous feeling. And if Thou, O Weak girl! dost not go to S’umbha, then that Lord of the Earth will become very angry and will order his servants to take Thee perforce before him. O Fair One! Those proud Demons will carry Thee by holding Thy hair before S’umbha; there is no doubt in this. O thin bodied One! Better forego Thy boldness in every way and keep Thy self-respect. Thou art the object of respect and admiration and so should go before him. What difference is there between the fight which makes one’s body liable to cuts and wounds by sharp arrows and pleasures that arise out of sexual intercourse! These are like the two opposite poles; therefore judge what is useless and what is useful and keep my good advice. Thou shalt be exceedingly happy if Thou servest S’umbha or Nis’umbha.”
13-19. The Devi spoke “O Messenger! You are fortunate; you are well trained to speak out truth; I know full well that S’umbha and Nis’umbha are strong. Still out of My childish nature, the promise that I made before I cannot undo it. Therefore speak to the powerful S’umbha or Nis’umbha that none can be my husband simply from his beauty without defeating Me in battle no one can marry Me. So conquer Me soon and marry Me as you like. Though of a weaker sex, I have come here to fight; know this as certain. Therefore if you be capable, fight and do the duty of a warrior. And if you be terrified by seeing my trident or if you want your life, quit the Heavens and this earth and go down to Patala without any delay. O Messenger!
Go just now to your master and tell him sweetly these words. Then that powerful Lord of the Danavas will judge what ought to be done.
O Knower of Dharma! To speak out truth before an enemy, before one’s own master is certainly the duty of a messenger in this world; therefore go quickly and tell him what are verily true.”
20-21. Vyasa said O King! The messenger was quite surprised to hear the bold words, though full of reason and morals, of the Devi, puffed up by the vanity of Her strength and departed. Coming to the Lord of the Daityas, the messenger bowed down before his feet and told him sweet words, full of morals, in a very humble way after pondering over and over again what he would say.
22-29. The messenger said O King! Words, true and the same time sweet, ought to be spoken before one’s master; but these are very rare in this world. On the other hand, if unpleasant words be spoken, the King gets very angry. So I am very anxious now. O King! Whether that lady is weak or strong, whence has She come, whose wife is She, I have not been able to ascertain all these. How then can I say about Her conduct? But, on seeing that harsh speaking woman, I have come to understand this much that She is
exceedingly haughty and has come to fight. O King! You are very intelligent; therefore judge what ought to be done after hearing only what that lady has told me to speak to you. That Lady said “In days of childhood, while I was playing, out of my childish nature, I promised before my comrades that I would marry that valiant warrior who would defeat me thoroughly in a battle and thus curb My pride. O best of kings! You are religious; so you ought to make My word turn out false. Bring Me under your control by defeating Me in a battle.” O King! Hearing these words I have returned; now do whatever you like. That Lady is determined to fight and is waiting there, firmly mounted on a lion, and with various weapons in Her hands. Now judge and do what is best.
30. Vyasa said O King! Hearing thus the words of Sugriva, the king S'umbha asked his hero brother Nis’umbha who was close by.
31-32. O Brother! You are intelligent; speak out truly what ought to be done now? The lovely woman is challenging us to fight. Shall I go to fight or you would go with forces? I will do whatever you say.
33-34. Nis’umbha said O King! It is not proper that you or I would go to the battlefield. Better send Dhumralochana to the field quickly. Let that hero go there and defeat that beautiful Lady and bring Her here. You can then marry Her.
35. Vyasa said Hearing thus his younger brother’s words, S’umbha filled with anger, instantly sent Dhumralochana who was close by to battle.
36-40. S’umbha said “O Dhumralochana! Take a vast army and go at once to the battlefield and bring that stupid Lady, vainly boasting of Her strength. If any Deva, Danava or any other powerful human being take Her side, kill him instantly. Slay Her companion the Goddess Kali and bring Her too. Do all these responsible duties and return quickly. That Chaste Lady is to be protected by all means. The body of that thin Lady is very delicate; so shoot arrows at Her very carefully and see that they are not sharp. But kill those that will help Her with weapons in their hands. Try your best to protect Her, never to kill Her.
41-60. Vyasa said O King! No sooner ordered thus by the king, Dhumralochana bowed down to the king, and, accompanied by sixty thousand Danava forces, quickly went to the battlefield and saw there that the Lady was sitting in a beautiful garden. Seeing that deer-eyed Lady, Dhumralochana began to address Her with great humility and in sweet words full of reason and goodness. O Devi! O highly Fortunate One! Hear! S’umbha is very much distressed owing to Thy absence. Lest there be any break in the love sentiments, that King, a wise statesman, sent a messenger with instructions to speak Thee in sweet and suitable terms; but, O fair One! That messenger, on arriving before the King had told all the contrary words. O Knower of love sentiments! Hearing thus the messenger’s words, my lord S’umbha, sick with love, has become immersed in cares and anxieties. That messenger had not been able to realise the true meaning of Thy words. O honourable Lady! The sentence uttered by Thee, “He who will conquer me in battle” is full of deep meanings; he was stupid; hence he could not realise the meaning of the word “battle” intended by Thee. O Beautiful One! “Battle” means two different things according to persons for whom it is intended; it is of two kinds One out of excitement and another out of sexual intercourse. With Thee, the sexual intercourse is intended; and with any other enemy, excitement in a real fight is meant. Out of these, the fight of sexual intercourse is full of sweetness and the fight with
enemies is painful. O Beautiful One! I know Thy intentions fully. In Thy heart reigns that fight of sexual intercourse. Knowing me as expert in these affairs, the king S’umbha has sent me today to Thee with a vast army. O highly Fortunate Lady! Thou art clever and shrewd; hear my gentle words; serve S’umbha, the lord of the three worlds, the destroyer of the Deva’s pride. Thou wilt be the dearest queen-consort and enjoy the best pleasures. The powerful S’umbha knows the real meaning of the fight of sexual intercourse; so he will easily conquer Thee. When Thou wilt shew various amorous gestures, he will also show his feelings. And the Kalika Devi, your companion will remain with Thee as a helping mate in your vital pleasures. The lord of the Daityas, expert in the science of love, will certainly conquer Thee engaged in amorous fight and will lay Thee stretched on a soft bedding and will make Thee tired; he will make Thy body covered with blood by striking with nails and he will bite Thy lips to pieces; then Thou wilt perspire profusely and wilt cease fighting. Thus Thy mental desire for fight - sexual intercourse - will be satisfied. O Beloved! At Thy mere sight S’umbha will be completely subject to Thee. Therefore dost Thou keep my sweet and beneficial words. Thou art an honourable Lady; and Thou wilt be highly honoured by all if Thou marryest S’umbha. Those are certainly very unfortunate who like fighting with weapons. O Beloved! The sexual intercourse is always favourite to Thee; therefore it is not worthy of Thee to fight with weapons. Therefore dost Thou make the king free of sorrows by pouring on him Thy mouth nectar and by making his heart bud forth by Thy kicking, as Bakula and Kurubaka trees blossom forth when drenched with mouth nectar and Asoka tree gets blossomed by the kicking of women.
Here ends the Twenty-fourth Chapter of the Fifth Book on the description and Dhumralochana giving the news in S’ri Mad Devi Bhagavatam, the Maha Puranam of 18,000 verses by Maharsi Veda Vyasa.
Complete chapter-aligned witnesses. Sanskrit Wikisource page 24421, revision 74859 (2016-07-22T00:09:38Z). English is Swami Vijñanananda’s complete 1921–23 public-domain translation, controlled against the archival OCR and its chapter page at https://sacred-texts.com/hin/db/bk05ch24.htm. Historic spelling and transliteration are lightly normalized; no verse-by-verse alignment is asserted.