Ch 10 Verse 1 Verse

Sanskrit Text

५.१० दशमोऽध्यायः । मन्त्रीद्वारा महिषासुरेण देव्या सह विवाहप्रस्तावः । व्यास उवाच । इति तस्य वचः श्रुत्वा प्रहस्य प्रमदोत्तमा । तमुवाच महाराज मेघगम्भीरया गिरा ॥ १ ॥

English Translation

Vyāsa said :-- The Mahā Māyā, that Excellent Lady, hearing thus the words of the prime minister of Mahiṣa, laughed and spoke with a voice, deep like that of a cloud, thus :--

Ch 10 Verse 2 Verse

Sanskrit Text

देव्युवाच । मन्त्रिवर्य सुराणां वै जननीं विद्धि मां किल । महालक्ष्मीमिति ख्यातां सर्वदैत्यनिषूदिनीम् ॥ २ ॥

English Translation

O Minister-in-chief! Know Me as the Mother of the gods; my name is Mahā Lakṣmī. It is I that destroy all the Daityas.

Ch 10 Verse 3 Verse

Sanskrit Text

प्रार्थिताहं सुरैः सर्वैर्महिषस्य वधाय च । पीडितैर्दानवेन्द्रेण यज्ञभागबहिष्कृतैः ॥ ३ ॥

English Translation

I am requested by all the Devas to kill Dānava Mahiṣa; they have been oppressed and deprived of their share of Yajña offerings.

Ch 10 Verse 4-5 Verse

Sanskrit Text

तस्मादिहागतास्म्यद्य तद्वधार्थं कृतोद्यमा । एकाकिनी न सैन्येन संयुता मन्त्रिसत्तम ॥ ४ ॥ यत्त्वयाहं सामपूर्वं कृत्वा स्वागतमादरात् । उक्ता मधुरया वाचा तेन तुष्टास्मि तेऽनघ ॥ ५ ॥

English Translation

Therefore I have come here today alone, without any army to take away his life. O Good One! I am pleased with your sweet words of welcome, in showing me marks of respect.

Ch 10 Verse 6 Verse

Sanskrit Text

नोचेद्धन्मि दृशा त्वां वै कालाग्निसमया किल । कस्य प्रीतिकरं न स्यान्माधुर्यवचनं खलु ॥ ६ ॥

English Translation

Had you not behaved thus, I would have certainly burnt you to ashes by my fiery sight, which is the universal conflagration at the break up of the world. O Minister! Who is there that gets not pleased with sweet words!

Ch 10 Verse 7 Verse

Sanskrit Text

गच्छ तं महिषं पापं वद मद्वचनादिदम् । गच्छ पातालमधुना जीवितेच्छा यदस्ति ते ॥ ७ ॥

English Translation

Go you to Mahiṣa and speak to him the following words of mine “O Villain! Go down to Pātāla (the nether regions) at once if you have any desire to live.

Ch 10 Verse 8 Verse

Sanskrit Text

नोचेत्कृतागसं दुष्टं हनिष्यामि रणाङ्गणे । मद्बाणक्षुण्णदेहस्त्वं गन्तासि यमसादनम् ॥ ८ ॥

English Translation

Otherwise, I will slay you, the wicked one, in the battle-field; you will have to go to the house of Death, pierced by my mass of arrows.

Ch 10 Verse 9-10 Verse

Sanskrit Text

दयालुत्वं ममेदं त्वं विदित्वा गच्छ सत्वरम् । हते त्वयि सुरा मूढ स्वर्गं प्राप्स्यन्ति सत्वरम् ॥ ९ ॥ तस्माद् गच्छस्व त्यक्त्वैको मेदिनीञ्च ससागराम् । पातालं तरसा मन्द यावद् बाणा न मेऽपतन् ॥ १० ॥

English Translation

O Stupid One! Know that this is merely kindness shown unto you, that I have told you to go soon to Pātāla and that the Devas get possession of their Heaven, with no delay. O One of weak intellect! Therefore dost Thou leave possession of this sea-girt earth and go alone without any delay to Pātāla, before my arrows are shot at you.

Ch 10 Verse 11 Verse

Sanskrit Text

युद्धेच्छा चेन्मनसि ते तर्ह्येहि त्वरितोऽसुर । वीरैर्महाबलैः सर्वैर्नयामि यमसादनम् ॥ ११ ॥

English Translation

O Asura! Or if you desire to fight, then come at once with your powerful warriors; I will destroy all of them.

Ch 10 Verse 12 Verse

Sanskrit Text

युगे युगे महामूढ हतास्त्वत्सदृशाः किल । असङ्ख्यातास्तथा त्वां वै हनिष्यामि रणाङ्गणे ॥ १२ ॥

English Translation

O One of dull intellect! I will kill you in battle, just as I killed before in yugas after yugas countless Asuras like you.

Ch 10 Verse 13 Verse

Sanskrit Text

साफल्यं कुरु शस्त्राणां धारणे तु श्रमोऽन्यथा । तद्युध्यस्व मया सार्धं समरे स्मरपीडितः ॥ १३ ॥

English Translation

O Passionate creature! Better shew that your efforts in holding weapons have been crowned with success by your being engaged in battle against Me; otherwise they will all be useless.

Ch 10 Verse 14 Verse

Sanskrit Text

मा गर्वं कुरु दुष्टात्मन् यन्मेऽस्ति ब्रह्मणो वरः । स्त्रीवध्यत्वे त्वया मूढ पीडिताः सुरसत्तमाः ॥ १४ ॥

English Translation

O Stupid! You thought that you would be vulnerable alone to women hence you oppressed the Devas entitled to worship; O wicked one! No longer show your pride on the strength of your getting the boon from Brahmā, that you would be vulnerable only to the females.

Ch 10 Verse 15-16 Verse

Sanskrit Text

कर्तव्यं वचनं धातुस्तेनाहं त्वामुपागता । स्त्रीरूपमतुलं कृत्वा सत्यं हन्तुं कृतागसम् ॥ १५ ॥ यथेच्छं गच्छ वा मूढ पातालं पन्नगावृतम् । हित्वा भूसुरसद्माद्य जीवितेच्छा यदस्ति ते ॥ १६ ॥

English Translation

Thinking it advisable to observe the words of the Creator, I have assumed this incomparable Eternal Female appearance and I have come here to slay you, O wicked one! O stupid one! If you have any desire for your life, then quit this Heaven and go to Pātāla, infested with snakes, or anywhere else you like.”

Ch 10 Verse 17 Verse

Sanskrit Text

व्यास उवाच । इत्युक्तः स ततो देव्या मन्त्रिश्रेष्ठो बलान्वितः । प्रत्युवाच निशम्यासौ वचनं हेतुगर्भितम् ॥ १७ ॥

English Translation

Vyāsa said :-- Hearing these words of the Devī, that minister, surrounded by forces, replied in reasonable words thus :--

Ch 10 Verse 18-19 Verse

Sanskrit Text

देवि स्त्रीसदृशं वाक्यं ब्रूषे त्वं मदगर्विता । क्वासौ क्व त्वं कथं युद्धमसम्भाव्यमिदं किल ॥ १८ ॥ एकाकिनी पुनर्बाला प्रारब्धयौवना मृदुः । महिषोऽसौ महाकायो दुर्विभाव्यं हि सङ्गतम् ॥ १९ ॥

English Translation

“O Devī! You are speaking in words befitting a woman and puffed up with pride. You are a woman; the lord of the Daityas is a hero; how can a battle be engaged between you two. It seems to me impossible. Your body is delicate, a girl in full youth; especially you are alone and Mahiṣa is of huge body and powerful; so the fight comes next to impossibility.

Ch 10 Verse 20-21 Verse

Sanskrit Text

सैन्यं बहुविधं तस्य हस्त्यश्वरथसङ्कुलम् । पदातिगणसंविद्धं नानायुधविराजितम् ॥ २० ॥ कः श्रमः करिराजस्य मालतीपुष्पमर्दने । मारणे तव वामोरु महिषस्य तथा रणे ॥ २१ ॥

English Translation

He has elephants, horses, chariots, infantry, etc., and countless soldiers all armed with weapons. Therefore, O Beautiful One! He will find no difficulty in killing you in battle as an elephant finds no difficulty in treading over the Mālati flowers.

Ch 10 Verse 22 Verse

Sanskrit Text

यदि त्वां परुषं वाक्यं ब्रवीमि स्वल्पमप्यहम् । शृङ्गारे तद्विरुद्धं हि रसभङ्गाद्बिभेम्यहम् ॥ २२ ॥

English Translation

Rather, if I utter anything harsh to you, that would go against the sentiment of love, with you; therefore I cannot speak rudely to you out of my fear not to interrupt the above feeling.

Ch 10 Verse 23 Verse

Sanskrit Text

राजास्माकं सुररिपुर्वर्तते त्वयि भक्तिमान् । साममेव मया वाच्यं दानयुक्तं तथा वचः ॥ २३ ॥

English Translation

True, that our king is an enemy of the gods; but be has become extremely devoted to you. Therefore it is wise to speak words full of conciliation or generosity.

Ch 10 Verse 24 Verse

Sanskrit Text

नोचेद्धन्म्यहमद्यैव बाणेन त्वां मृषावदाम् । मिथ्याभिमानचतुरां रूपयौवनगर्विताम् ॥ २४ ॥

English Translation

Were it otherwise, I would have shot arrows at you and would have killed you in as much as you have thus boasted in vain and spoken so dire a falsehood, resting merely on the strength of your youthful pride and cleverness.

Ch 10 Verse 25-26 Verse

Sanskrit Text

स्वामी मे मोहितः श्रुत्वा रूपं ते भुवनातिगम् । तत्प्रियार्थं प्रियं कामं वक्तव्यं त्वयि यन्मया ॥ २५ ॥ राज्यं तव धनं सर्वं दासस्ते महिषः किल । कुरु भावं विशालाक्षि त्यक्त्वा रोषं मृतिप्रदम् ॥ २६ ॥

English Translation

My master has become fascinated on hearing your extraordinary beauty hardly to be seen in this world; it therefore behoves me to speak sweet words to you for the sake of pleasing my master. O Large-eyed! This kingdom and the wealth thereof are all yours; in fact, Mahiṣa will be your obedient servant; therefore, better forsake your anger, leading to your death; and cultivate friendship with him.

Ch 10 Verse 27 Verse

Sanskrit Text

पतामि पादयोस्तेऽहं भक्तिभावेन भामिनि । पट्टराज्ञी महाराज्ञो भव शीघ्रं शुचिस्मिते ॥ २७ ॥

English Translation

O Sweet Smiling One! I am falling at your feet; you better go to him and become at once queen-consort.

Ch 10 Verse 28 Verse

Sanskrit Text

त्रैलोक्यविभवं सर्वं प्राप्स्यसि त्वमनाविलम् । सुखं संसारजं सर्वं महिषस्य परिग्रहात् ॥ २८ ॥

English Translation

O Handsome Woman! No sooner you become the queen of Mahiṣa than you will get at once all the pure wealth of the three worlds and the unbounding happiness of this world.”

Ch 10 Verse 29 Verse

Sanskrit Text

देव्युवाच । शृणु साचिव वक्ष्यामि वाक्यानां सारमुत्तमम् । शास्त्रदृष्टेन मार्गेण चातुर्यमनुचिन्त्य च ॥ २९ ॥

English Translation

The Devī said :-- “Minister! I now speak what is pregnant with goodness and wisdom to you, according to the rules of the Śāstras, keeping in view also the cleverness that you have shown in using your words.

Ch 10 Verse 30 Verse

Sanskrit Text

महिषस्य प्रधानस्त्वं मया ज्ञातं धिया किल । पशुबुद्धिस्वभावोऽसि वचनात्तव साम्प्रतम् ॥ ३० ॥

English Translation

Now I come to understand from your talk, that you are the chief secretary of Mahiṣa; and therefore your nature and intelligence are like those of a beast. And how can he be intelligent, whose ministership is occupied by a man of your nature!

Ch 10 Verse 31-32 Verse

Sanskrit Text

मन्त्रिणस्त्वादृशा यस्य स कथं बुद्धिमान्भवेत् । उभयोः सदृशो योगः कृतोऽयं विधिना किल ॥ ३१ ॥ यदुक्तं स्त्रीस्वभावासि तद्विचारस्य मूढ किम् । पुमान्नाहं तत्स्वभावाभवंस्त्रीवेषधारिणी ॥ ३२ ॥

English Translation

Nature has ordained connection between two persons of like nature. O Stupid One! Did you think a little beforehand the meaning of your words when you told me of my feminine nature? Though I am not apparently a man, yet my nature is that of the Highest Puruṣa (Man); I shew myself simply in a feminine form.

Ch 10 Verse 33 Verse

Sanskrit Text

याचितं मरणं पूर्वं स्त्रिया त्वत्प्रभुणा यथा । तस्मान्मन्येऽतिमूर्खोऽसौ न वीररसवित्तमः ॥ ३३ ॥

English Translation

Your master asked before from Brahmā that he would prefer death, if possible, at the hands of a woman ; therefore, I consider him quite illiterate and ignorant of the sentiment, worthy of a hero.

Ch 10 Verse 34 Verse

Sanskrit Text

कामिन्या मरणं क्लीबरतिदं शूरदुःखदम् । प्रार्थितं प्रभुणा तेन महिषेणात्मबुद्धिना ॥ ३४ ॥

English Translation

Because to die at the hands of a woman is very painful to one who is a hero; and this is gladly welcome to one who is a hermaphrodite.

Ch 10 Verse 35 Verse

Sanskrit Text

तस्मात्स्त्रीरूपमाधाय कार्यं कर्तुमुपागता । कथं बिभेमि त्वद्वाक्यैर्धर्मशास्त्रविरोधकैः ॥ ३५ ॥

English Translation

Now see that your master Mahiṣa has shown his intelligence, when he courted his death from the hands of a woman. For that very reason, I have come here in the shape of a woman to effect my purpose; why shall I fear, then, to hear your words, contradictory to those of the Śāstras.

Ch 10 Verse 36 Verse

Sanskrit Text

विपरीतं यदा दैवं तृणं वज्रसमं भवेत् । विधिश्चेत्सुमुखः कामं कुलिशं तूलवत्तदा ॥ ३६ ॥

English Translation

When Fate goes against any one, a grass comes like a thunderbolt; and when fate goes in favour of anyone, a thunderbolt becomes as soft as a bundle of cotton.

Ch 10 Verse 37 Verse

Sanskrit Text

किं सैन्यैरायुधैः किं वा प्रपञ्चैर्दुर्गसेवनैः । मरणं साम्प्रतं यस्य तस्य सैन्यैस्तु किं फलम् ॥ ३७ ॥

English Translation

What does it avail even when one possesses an extensive army or various weapons in abundance, taking shelter in a wide extending fort? What will his soldiers do to him, whose death has come close at hand?

Ch 10 Verse 38 Verse

Sanskrit Text

यदायं देहसम्बन्धो जीवस्य कालयोगतः । तदैव लिखितं सर्वं सुखं दुःखं तथा मृतिः ॥ ३८ ॥

English Translation

Whenever, in due time, the connection of the Jīva (the human soul) with this body is brought about, then his pleasures, pains and death are written.

Ch 10 Verse 39 Verse

Sanskrit Text

यस्य येन प्रकारेण मरणं दैवनिर्मितम् । तस्य तेनैव जायेत नान्यथेति विनिश्चयः ॥ ३९ ॥

English Translation

Know this as certain, very certain, that death will come to him in the manner as written by the hands of Fate; it will never be otherwise.

Ch 10 Verse 40 Verse

Sanskrit Text

ब्रह्मादीनां यथा काले नाशोत्पत्ती विनिर्मिते । तथैव भवतः कामं किमन्येषां विचार्यते ॥ ४० ॥

English Translation

As the birth and death of Brahmā and other gods are ordained, your death has been similarly ordained; no, there is no need of taking the example further than this.

Ch 10 Verse 41 Verse

Sanskrit Text

ये मृत्युधर्मिणस्तेषां वरदानेन दर्पिताः । मरिष्यामो न मन्यन्ते ते मूढा मन्दचेतसः ॥ ४१ ॥

English Translation

Those who are tied up by the hands of death are surely fools and of extremely blunt intellect, if they think simply on the strength of their getting some boons “that they would never die.”

Ch 10 Verse 42 Verse

Sanskrit Text

तस्माद् गच्छ नृपं ब्रूहि वचनं मम सत्वरम् । यदाज्ञापयते भूपस्तत्कर्तव्यं त्वया किल ॥ ४२ ॥

English Translation

Therefore go quickly to your king and speak to him what I have said; you will then surely obey what he commands you to do.

Ch 10 Verse 43 Verse

Sanskrit Text

मघवा स्वर्गमाप्नोतु देवाः सन्तु हविर्भुजः । यूयं प्रयात पातालं यदि जीवितुमिच्छथ ॥ ४३ ॥

English Translation

If he wants his life, he, with his retinue, would at once go down to Pātāla; let Indra and the other Devas get possession of the Heavens and their share of Yajñas.

Ch 10 Verse 44 Verse

Sanskrit Text

अन्यथा चेन्मतिर्मन्द महिषस्य दुरात्मनः । तद्युध्यस्व मया सार्धं मरणाय कृतादरः ॥ ४४ ॥

English Translation

If he holds a contrary opinion, let him be eager to go to the house of Death and come and fight with Me.

Ch 10 Verse 45 Verse

Sanskrit Text

मन्यसे सङ्गरे भग्ना देवा विष्णुपुरोगमाः । दैवं हि कारणं तत्र वरदानं प्रजापतेः ॥ ४५ ॥

English Translation

If he thinks that Viṣṇu and the other Devas have fled from the battle-fields, he has nothing to boast of; for he has not shewn his manliness at all even then; for his victory is solely due to his having got the boon from Brahmā.”

Ch 10 Verse 46 Verse

Sanskrit Text

व्यास उवाच । इति देव्या वचः श्रुत्वा चिन्तयामास दानवः । किं कर्तव्यं मया युद्धं गन्तव्यं वा नृपं प्रति ॥ ४६ ॥

English Translation

Vyāsa said :-- Hearing these words of the Devī, the Dānava began to think whether I ought to fight or to go to Mahiṣa?

Ch 10 Verse 47 Verse

Sanskrit Text

विवाहार्थमिहाज्ञप्तो राज्ञा कामातुरेण वै । तत्कथं विरसं कृत्वा गच्छेयं नृपसन्निधौ ॥ ४७ ॥

English Translation

The King has become very enamoured and has sent me hither to negotiate for marriage; how then will I be able to go to him if I make this affair unpleasant and interrupted in the middle in its course of harmony.

Ch 10 Verse 48 Verse

Sanskrit Text

इयं बुद्धिः समीचीना यद् व्रजामि कलिं विना । यथागतं तथा शीघ्रं राज्ञे संवेदयाम्यहम् ॥ ४८ ॥

English Translation

Now it is wise for me to go to the King without fighting; let me then go as early as possible in this way and inform him about this whole affair.

Ch 10 Verse 49 Verse

Sanskrit Text

स प्रमाणं पुनः कार्ये राजा मतिमतां वरः । करिष्यति विचार्यैव सचिवैर्निपुणैः सह ॥ ४९ ॥

English Translation

The King is exceptionally intelligent and experienced; he will consult with his other experienced ministers and do what is best.

Ch 10 Verse 50 Verse

Sanskrit Text

सहसा न मया युद्धं कर्तव्यमनया सह । जये पराजये वापि भूपतेरप्रियं भवेत् ॥ ५० ॥

English Translation

Therefore I ought not to fight here rashly; for victory or defeat would alike be distasteful to my monarch.

Ch 10 Verse 51 Verse

Sanskrit Text

यदि मां सुन्दरी हन्यादहं वा हन्मि तां पुनः । येन केनाप्युपायेन स कुप्येत्पार्थिवः किल ॥ ५१ ॥

English Translation

Whether this Lady kills me, or I kill this Lady, the king will be angry in either case.

Ch 10 Verse 52 Verse

Sanskrit Text

तस्मात्तत्रैव गत्वाहं बोधयिष्यामि तं नृपम् । यथाद्याभिहितं देव्या यथारुचि करोतु सः ॥ ५२ ॥

English Translation

I will therefore go now to the king and tell him what the Devī has said; he will do whatever he likes.

Ch 10 Verse 53 Verse

Sanskrit Text

व्यास उवाच । इति सञ्चिन्त्य मेधावी जगाम नृपसन्निधौ । प्रणम्य तमुवाचेदं कृताञ्जलिरमात्यकः ॥ ५३ ॥

English Translation

Vyāsa said :-- Thus that intelligent son of the minister argued and went to the king. Then, bowing down before him, he began to say thus :--

Ch 10 Verse 54 Verse

Sanskrit Text

मन्त्र्युवाच । राजन् देवी वरारोहा सिंहस्योपरि संस्थिता । अष्टादशभुजा रम्या वरायुधधरा परा ॥ ५४ ॥

English Translation

:-- O King! That excellent woman, fascinating to the world, the beautiful Devī is sitting on a lion with weapons in all her eighteen hands. O King! I told her

Ch 10 Verse 55 Verse

Sanskrit Text

सा मयोक्ता महाराज महिषं भज भामिनि । महिषी भव राज्ञस्त्वं त्रैलोक्याधिपतेः प्रिया ॥ ५५ ॥

English Translation

“O Beautiful Lady! Be attached to Mahiṣāsura; you will become, then, the queen-consort of the king, the lord of the three worlds.

Ch 10 Verse 56 Verse

Sanskrit Text

पट्टराज्ञी त्वमेवास्य भविता नात्र संशयः । स तवाज्ञाकरो जातो वशवर्ती भविष्यति ॥ ५६ ॥

English Translation

You will certainly then be his queen-consort; he will pass his life, ever obedient to you like an obedient servant.

Ch 10 Verse 57 Verse

Sanskrit Text

त्रैलोक्यविभवं भुक्त्वा चिरकालं वरानने । महिषं पतिमासाद्य योषितां सुभगा भव ॥ ५७ ॥

English Translation

O Beautiful One! If you choose to make Mahiṣa your husband, you will become fortunate amongst women and will enjoy ever all the wealth of the three worlds.”

Ch 10 Verse 58 Verse

Sanskrit Text

इति मद्वचनं श्रुत्वा सा स्मयावेशमोहिता । मामुवाच विशालाक्षी स्मितपूर्वमिदं वचः ॥ ५८ ॥

English Translation

Hearing my these words, that large-eyed woman, puffed up with egoism, laughed a little and said thus :--

Ch 10 Verse 59 Verse

Sanskrit Text

महिषीगर्भसम्भूतं पशूनामधमं किल । बलिं दास्याम्यहं देव्यै सुराणां हितकाम्यया ॥ ५९ ॥

English Translation

“Your king is born of a buffalo and is the worst of brutes; I will sacrifice him before the Devī for the benefit of the gods. Is there any woman in this world so stupid as to select Mahiṣa as her husband?

Ch 10 Verse 60-61 Verse

Sanskrit Text

का मूढा कामिनी लोके महिषं वै पतिं भजेत् । मादृशी मन्दबुद्धे किं पशुभावं भजेदिह ॥ ६० ॥ महिषी महिषं नाथं सशृङ्गा शृङ्गसंयुतम् । कुरुते क्रन्दमाना वै नाहं तत्सदृशी शठा ॥ ६१ ॥

English Translation

O You stupid! Can a woman like me ever indulge in bestial sentiments! A female buffalo has got horns; she, being excited with passion, may select your Mahiṣa with horns as her husband and come to him bellowing. I am not stupid nor like her so as to make him my husband.

Ch 10 Verse 62 Verse

Sanskrit Text

करिष्येऽहं मृधे युद्धं हनिष्ये त्वां सुराप्रियम् । गच्छ वा दुष्ट पातालं जीवितेच्छा यदस्ति ते ॥ ६२ ॥

English Translation

O Villain! I will fight and destroy the enemies of the gods in the battle-field. Or if he desires to live, let him flee to Pātāla.

Ch 10 Verse 63 Verse

Sanskrit Text

परुषं तु तया वाक्यमित्युक्तं नृप मत्तया । तच्छ्रुत्वाहं समायातः प्रविचिन्त्य पुनः पुनः ॥ ६३ ॥

English Translation

O King! Hearing those rough words uttered by Her in a moment of madness, I have come to you, thinking also how to redress this wrong.

Ch 10 Verse 64 Verse

Sanskrit Text

रसभङ्गं विचिन्त्यैव न युद्धं तु मया कृतम् । आज्ञां विना तवात्यन्तं कथं कुर्यां वृथोद्यमम् ॥ ६४ ॥

English Translation

O King! Only I feared not to interrupt in your love sentiment; and therefore I did not fight with Her; especially, without Your command, how can I engage myself in useless excitement?

Ch 10 Verse 65 Verse

Sanskrit Text

सातीव च बलोन्मत्ता वर्तते भूप भामिनी । भवितव्यं न जानामि किं वा भावि भविष्यति ॥ ६५ ॥

English Translation

O Lord of the Earth! That handsome woman rests maddened on Her own strength; I do not know what is in the womb of future or whatever is destined to happen, will surely come to pass. You are the sole master in this matter; I will do whatever you order me.

Ch 10 Verse 66 Verse

Sanskrit Text

कार्येऽस्मिंस्त्वं प्रमाणं नो मन्त्रोऽतीव दुरासदः । युद्धं पलायनं श्रेयो न जानेऽहं विनिश्चयम् ॥ ६६ ॥

Sanskrit Colophon

इति श्रीमद्देवीभागवते महापुराणेऽष्टादशसाहस्र्यां संहितायां पञ्चमस्कन्धे मन्त्रीद्वारा महिषासुरेण देव्या सह विवाहप्रस्तावो नाम दशमोऽध्यायः ॥ ५.१०॥

English Translation

The matter is very difficult to be reflected upon; whether it is better to fight or it is better to fly away, I cannot say definitely.” Here ends the Tenth Chapter of the Fifth Skandha on the messenger’s news to Mahiṣa, in Śrī Mad Devī Bhāgavatam the Mahā Purāṇam, of 18,000 verses by Maharṣi Veda Vyāsa.