Ch 13 Verse 1 Verse

Sanskrit Text

५.१३ त्रयोदशोऽध्यायः । महिषसेनाधिपबाष्कलदुर्मुखनिपातनवर्णनम् । व्यास उवाच । इत्युक्त्वा तौ महाबाहू दैत्यौ बाष्कलदुर्मुखौ । जग्मतुर्मददिग्धाङ्गौ सर्वशस्त्रास्त्रकोविदौ ॥ १ ॥

English Translation

Vyāsa said :-- O King! The two powerful Dānavas Vāskala and Durmukha, well-versed in arts of warfare, went out for battle, maddened with their prowess.

Ch 13 Verse 2 Verse

Sanskrit Text

तौ गत्वा समरे देवीमूचतुर्वचनं तदा । दानवौ च मदोन्मत्तौ मेघगम्भीरया गिरा ॥ २ ॥

English Translation

The two Dānavas, elated with vanity, went to the battle-field and began to address the Devī in voice deep as the rumbling of a cloud.

Ch 13 Verse 3 Verse

Sanskrit Text

देवि देवा जिता येन महिषेण महात्मना । वरय त्वं वरारोहे सर्वदैत्याधिपं नृपम् ॥ ३ ॥

English Translation

O Beautiful Devī! You better choose and worship the Lord of the Daityas, that high-souled Mahiṣāsura who has conquered all the Devas.

Ch 13 Verse 4 Verse

Sanskrit Text

स कृत्वा मानुषं रूपं सर्वलक्षणसंयुतम् । भूषितं भूषणैर्दिव्यैस्त्वामेष्यति रहः किल ॥ ४ ॥

English Translation

He will come before you in privacy in a human shape, with all auspicious signs and adorned with beautiful ornaments.

Ch 13 Verse 5 Verse

Sanskrit Text

त्रैलोक्यविभवं कामं त्वमेष्यसि शुचिस्मिते । महिषे परमं भावं कुरु कान्ते मनोगतम् ॥ ५ ॥

English Translation

O Sweet smiling One! better place your highest feelings of love on the lovely Mahiṣa as your husband, and you will get all the pleasures of the three worlds as you desire.

Ch 13 Verse 6 Verse

Sanskrit Text

कृत्वा पतिं महावीरं संसारसुखमद्भुतम् । त्वं प्राप्स्यसि पिकालापे योषितां खलु वाञ्छितम् ॥ ६ ॥

English Translation

O Sweet speaking! In short, if you select him as your husband, you will be the mistress of those incomparable worldly happinesses that women always aspire.

Ch 13 Verse 7 Verse

Sanskrit Text

देव्युवाच । जाल्म त्वं किं विजानासि नारीयं काममोहिता । मन्दबुद्धिबलात्यर्थं भजेयं महिषं शठम् ॥ ७ ॥

English Translation

Hearing thus the words of Vāskala and Durmukha, the Devī said :-- “O Stupid! Do you think Me as deluded by passion? Do I not possess strength and intelligence that I will worship that hypocrite Mahiṣa as husband?

Ch 13 Verse 8-9 Verse

Sanskrit Text

कुलशीलगुणैस्तुल्यं तं भजन्ति कुलस्त्रियः । अधिकं रूपचातुर्यबुद्धिशीलक्षमादिभिः ॥ ८ ॥ का नु कामातुरा नारी भजेच्च पशुरूपिणम् । पशूनामधमं नूनं महिषं देवरूपिणी ॥ ९ ॥

English Translation

See! The ladies of a high family select those persons that are equal in rank as far as family and distinctions, qualifications and propriety of conduct are concerned or those who are superior in beauty, cleverness, intelligence and other qualifications. Then how can a Devī, becoming passionate, worship the worst of all beasts, the beast Mahiṣa?

Ch 13 Verse 10-11 Verse

Sanskrit Text

गच्छतं महिषं तूर्णं भूपं बाष्कलदुर्मुखौ । वदतं मद्वचो दैत्यं गजतुल्यं विषाणिनम् ॥ १० ॥ पातालं गच्छ वाभ्येत्य सङ्ग्रामं कुरु वा मया । रणे जाते सहस्राक्षो निर्भयः स्यादिति धुवम् ॥ ११ ॥

English Translation

O two Asuras! Go you immediately to your King Mahiṣa resembling in his body like an elephant and having a pair of horns and tell him, Go either to Pātāla (the nether regions) or come and fight with Me; the Lord of the Devas will no doubt be happy if the war ensues.

Ch 13 Verse 12-13 Verse

Sanskrit Text

हत्वाहं त्वां गमिष्यामि नान्यथा गमनं मम । इत्थं ज्ञात्वा सुदुर्बुद्धे यथेच्छसि तथा कुरु ॥ १२ ॥ मामनिर्जित्य भूभागे न स्थानं ते कदाचन । भविष्यति चतुष्पाद दिवि वा गिरिकन्दरे ॥ १३ ॥

English Translation

O Stupid! My advent here cannot go in vain; I will easily slay you and then depart; knowing this do as you like. O Beast! Without conquering Me, you would get no shelter either in the heavens, or in this earth, or in the caves of mountains?”

Ch 13 Verse 14 Verse

Sanskrit Text

व्यास उवाच । इत्युक्तौ तौ तया दैत्यौ कोपाकुलितलोचनौ । धनुर्बाणधरौ वीरौ युद्धकामौ बभूवतुः ॥ १४ ॥

English Translation

Vyāsa said :-- Hearing thus, the two powerful Daityas, with eyes reddened with anger, firmly resolved to fight and took bows and arrows in their hands.

Ch 13 Verse 15-16 Verse

Sanskrit Text

कृत्वा सुविपुलं नादं देवी सा निर्भया स्थिता । उभौ च चक्रतुस्तीव्रा बाणवृष्टिं कुरूद्वह ॥ १५ ॥ भगवत्यपि बाणौघान्मुमोच दानवौ प्रति । कृत्वातिमधुरं नादं देवकार्यार्थसिद्धये ॥ १६ ॥

English Translation

O Descent of Kuru! The Devī then made a terrible noise and fearlessly stood there. The two Dānavas then began to shoot dreadful arrows at Her. For the victory of the Devas, the Devī also begin to hurl arrows after arrows on the two Dānavas, emitting a sweet sound.

Ch 13 Verse 17-18 Verse

Sanskrit Text

तयोस्तु बाष्कलस्तूर्णं सम्मुखोऽभूद् रणाङ्गणे । दुर्मुखः प्रेक्षकस्तत्र देवीमभिमुखः स्थितः ॥ १७ ॥ तयोर्युद्धमभूद् घोरं देवीबाष्कलयोस्तदा । बाणासिपरिघाघातैर्भयदं मन्दचेतसाम् ॥ १८ ॥

English Translation

Vāskala first came forward with no delay; and Durmukha stood aloof there simply as a witness. The terrible fight then ensued between the Devī and Vāskala; arrows, swords and weapons were seen shining in the air and raised terror to those that were dull in intellect.

Ch 13 Verse 19 Verse

Sanskrit Text

ततः क्रुद्धा जगन्माता दृष्ट्वा तं युद्धदुर्मदम् । जघान पञ्चभिर्बाणैः कर्णाकृष्टैः शिलाशितैः ॥ १९ ॥

English Translation

Then the Mother of the Universe seeing Vāskala growing turbulent shot at him five arrows sharpened on stone.

Ch 13 Verse 20-21 Verse

Sanskrit Text

दानवोऽपि शरान्देव्याश्चिच्छेद निशितैः शरैः । सप्तभिस्ताडयामास देवीं सिंहोपरिस्थिताम् ॥ २० ॥ सापि तं दशभिस्तीक्ष्णैः सुपीतैः सायकैः खलम् । जघान तच्छरांश्छित्त्वा जहास च मुहुर्मुहुः ॥ २१ ॥

English Translation

The Devī cut off the Dānava’s arrows and shot at that hypocrite, sharpened arrows and began to laugh frequently.

Ch 13 Verse 22 Verse

Sanskrit Text

अर्धचन्द्रेण बाणेन चिच्छेद च शरासनम् । बाष्कलोऽपि गदां गृह्य देवीं हन्तुमुपाययौ ॥ २२ ॥

English Translation

She again cut off his arrows with Ardhacandra arrow; Vāskala then pursued the Devī with a club in his hands to slay Her.

Ch 13 Verse 23 Verse

Sanskrit Text

आगच्छन्तं गदापाणिं दानवं मदगर्वितम् । चण्डिका स्वगदापातैः पातयामास भूतले ॥ २३ ॥

English Translation

Seeing the arrogant Dānava with club in his hands, Caṇḍikā Devī struck him down on the ground with Her own club. The very powerful Vāskala fell down on the ground but rose up within a very short time and hurled again on the Devī his club.

Ch 13 Verse 24 Verse

Sanskrit Text

बाष्कलः पतितो भूमौ मुहूर्तादुत्थितः पुनः । चिक्षेप च गदां सोऽपि चण्डिकां चण्डविक्रमः ॥ २४ ॥

English Translation

Seeing him again attacking Her, the Devī got angry and pierced him with Her trident; Vāskala fell down, thus pierced, and died.

Ch 13 Verse 25-26 Verse

Sanskrit Text

तमागच्छन्तमालोक्य देवी शूलेन वक्षसि । जघान बाष्कलं क्रुद्धा पपात च ममार सः ॥ २५ ॥ पतिते बाष्कले सैन्यं भग्नं तस्य दुरात्मनः । जयेति च मुदा देवाश्चुक्रुशुर्गगने स्थिताः ॥ २६ ॥

English Translation

Vāskala falling thus dead on the field, the soldiers of the wicked demon routed; whereas the Devas became glad and repeatedly shouted aloud, “Victory to the Devī.”

Ch 13 Verse 27 Verse

Sanskrit Text

तस्मिंश्च निहते दैत्ये दुर्मुखोऽतिबलान्वितः । आजगाम रणे देवीं क्रोधसंरक्तलोचनः ॥ २७ ॥

English Translation

On this Daitya being slain, Durmukha came forward on the battle-field, filled with anger and accompanied by a stronger army.

Ch 13 Verse 28-29 Verse

Sanskrit Text

तिष्ठ तिष्ठाबले सोऽपि भाषमाणः पुनः पुनः । धनुर्बाणधरः श्रीमान्रथस्थः कवचावृतः ॥ २८ ॥ तमागच्छन्तमालोक्य देवी शङ्खमवादयत् । कोपयन्ती दानवं तं ज्याघोषञ्च चकार ह ॥ २९ ॥

English Translation

The Devī blew Her conchshell and made sounds by stretching Her bow in order to make the Dānava infuriated with anger.

Ch 13 Verse 30 Verse

Sanskrit Text

सोऽपि बाणान्मुमोचाशु तीक्ष्णानाशीविषोपमान् । स्वबाणैस्तान्महामाया चिच्छेद च ननाद च ॥ ३० ॥

English Translation

The Asura then began to shoot sharp arrows after arrows like poisonous snakes. The Mahāmāyā, by Her own arrows, cut off those of Her enemy and began to shout loudly.

Ch 13 Verse 31 Verse

Sanskrit Text

तयोः परस्परं युद्धं बभूव तुमुलं नृप । बाणशक्तिगदाघातैर्मुसलैस्तोमरैस्तथा ॥ ३१ ॥

English Translation

The fight then raged furiously, when both parties began to use arrows, Śaktis, clubs, Muṣalas, and Tomaras.

Ch 13 Verse 32-33 Verse

Sanskrit Text

रणभूमौ तदा जाता रुधिरौघवहा नदी । पतितानि तदा तीरे शिरांसि प्रबभुस्तदा ॥ ३२ ॥ यथा सन्तरणार्थाय यमकिङ्करनायकैः । तुम्बीफलानि नीतानि नवशिक्षापरैर्मुदा ॥ ३३ ॥

English Translation

Blood began to flow in the battle-field in torrents like rivers and on the banks of that river of blood, were seen the severed heads of the dead bodies which looked like so many hollow shells of gourds, as if kept there by the attendant of the god of Death, for their swimming purposes.

Ch 13 Verse 34-35 Verse

Sanskrit Text

रणभूमिस्तदा घोरा बभूवातीव दुर्गमा । शरीरैः पतितैर्भूमौ खाद्यमानैर्वृकादिभिः ॥ ३४ ॥ गोमायुसारमेयाश्च काकाः कङ्का अयोमुखाः । गृध्रा श्येनाश्च खादन्ति शरीराणि दुरात्मनाम् ॥ ३५ ॥

English Translation

The battle-field, then, became very dreadful and impassable; at some places dead bodies are lying; wolves are feeding on their flesh; at other places are seen jackals, dogs, herons, crows, vultures, eagles, and other voracious birds and beasts and iron-tipped arrows, eating the dead bodies of those wicked demons.

Ch 13 Verse 36 Verse

Sanskrit Text

ववौ वायुश्च दुर्गन्धो मृतानां देहसङ्गतः । अभूत्किलकिलाशब्दः खगानां पलभक्षिणाम् ॥ ३६ ॥

English Translation

Air began to emit an offensive smell, because of its contact with these corpses; and there were heard the heart-rending sounds of various carnivorous birds and animals.

Ch 13 Verse 37 Verse

Sanskrit Text

तदा चुकोप दुष्टात्मा दुर्मुखः कालमोहितः । देवीमुवाच गर्वेण कृत्वा चोर्ध्वकरं शुभम् ॥ ३७ ॥

English Translation

Then the wicked Durmukha began, as if inspired by the god of Death, to address the Devī angrily and arrogantly with his right hand raised up before Her.

Ch 13 Verse 38 Verse

Sanskrit Text

गच्छ चण्डि हनिष्यामि त्वामद्यैव सुबालिशे । दैत्यं वा भज वामोरु महिषं मदगर्वितम् ॥ ३८ ॥

English Translation

“Your brain has become perverted; fly away just now or I will send you unto death, or you better accept the proud Mahiṣa, the lord of the Daityas, as your husband.”

Ch 13 Verse 39 Verse

Sanskrit Text

देव्युवाच । आसन्नमरणः कामं प्रलपस्यद्य मोहितः । अद्यैव त्वां हनिष्यामि यथायं बाष्कलो हतः ॥ ३९ ॥

English Translation

The Devī said :-- “O Villain! I see your death at hand this very day; therefore you are deluded and therefore raving like a mad man. I will kill you today like Vāskala.

Ch 13 Verse 40 Verse

Sanskrit Text

गच्छ वा तिष्ठ वा मन्द मरणं यदि रोचते । हत्वा त्वां वै वधिष्यामि बालिशं महिषीसुतम् ॥ ४० ॥

English Translation

O Stupid! Better fly away; or if you prefer death, then wait; I will slay you first; then the dull Mahiṣa, the son of a she-buffalo.”

Ch 13 Verse 41 Verse

Sanskrit Text

तच्छ्रुत्वा वचनं तस्या दुर्मुखो मर्तुमुद्यतः । मुमोच बाणवृष्टिं तु चण्डिकां प्रति दारुणाम् ॥ ४१ ॥

English Translation

Hearing thus, Durmukha, as if prompted by Death, hurled dreadful arrows on the Devī.

Ch 13 Verse 42 Verse

Sanskrit Text

सापि तां तरसा छित्त्वा बाणवृष्टिं शितैः शरैः । जघान दानवं कृद्धा वृत्रं वज्रधरो यथा ॥ ४२ ॥

English Translation

Instantly the Devī, too, cut off all his arrows and, infuriated with anger, pierced the Dānava by sharpened arrows as Indra had pierced Vritrāsura before. The fight then turned out very dreadful.

Ch 13 Verse 43-44 Verse

Sanskrit Text

तयोः परस्परं युद्धं सञ्जातं चातिकर्कशम् । भयदं कातराणाञ्च शूराणां बलवर्धनम् ॥ ४३ ॥ देवी चिच्छेद तरसा धनुस्तस्य करे स्थितम् । तथैव पञ्चभिर्बाणैर्बभञ्ज रथमुत्तमम् ॥ ४४ ॥

English Translation

O King! Weak persons become very afraid and strong ones become very excited. Instantly the Devī cut off the Asura’s bow and broke his chariot by five arrows.

Ch 13 Verse 45 Verse

Sanskrit Text

रथे भग्ने महाबाहुः पदातिर्दुर्मुखस्तदा । गदां गहीत्वा दुर्धर्षां जगाम चण्डिकां प्रति ॥ ४५ ॥

English Translation

On seeing his chariot broken, the powerful Durmukha attacked on foot the Devī with his club, very hard to overcome.

Ch 13 Verse 46 Verse

Sanskrit Text

चकार स गदाघातं सिंहमौलौ महाबलः । न चचाल हरिः स्थानात्ताडितोऽपि महाबलः ॥ ४६ ॥

English Translation

He knocked at the head of the lion with that club with great force; but the powerful lion did not become unsteady, though so very hard hit.

Ch 13 Verse 47 Verse

Sanskrit Text

अम्बिका तं समालोक्य गदापाणिं पुरःस्थितम् । खड्गेन शितधारेण शिरश्चिच्छेद मौलिमत् ॥ ४७ ॥

English Translation

Seeing the demon thus standing before Her, the goddess Ambikā cut down his head by her sharpened axe.

Ch 13 Verse 48 Verse

Sanskrit Text

छिन्ने च मस्तके भूमौ पपात दुर्मुखो मृतः । जयशब्दं तदा चक्रुर्मुदिता निर्जरा भृशम् ॥ ४८ ॥

English Translation

On his head being thus severed, Durmukha fell down dead on the field. The band of Immortals, then, loudly shouted, “Victory to the Devī.”

Ch 13 Verse 49 Verse

Sanskrit Text

तुष्टुवुस्तां तदा देवीं दुर्मुखे निहतेऽमराः । पुष्पवृष्टिं तथा चक्रुर्जयशब्दं नभःस्थिताः ॥ ४९ ॥

English Translation

When Durmukha was slain, the Immortals from the celestial space began to chant praises and hymns to the Devī, showered down flowers on Her head and gave shouts of “Victory to the Devī.”

Ch 13 Verse 50-51 Verse

Sanskrit Text

ऋषयः सिद्धगन्धर्वाः सविद्याधरकिन्नराः । जहृषुस्तं हतं दृष्ट्वा दानवं रणमस्तके ॥ ५० ॥

Sanskrit Colophon

इति श्रीमद्देवीभागवते महापुराणेऽष्टादशसाहस्र्यां संहितायां पञ्चमस्कन्धे महिषसेनाधिप- बाष्कलदुर्मुखनिपातनवर्णनं नाम त्रयोदशोऽध्यायः ॥ ५.१३॥

English Translation

The Ṛṣis, Siddhas, Gandarbhas, Vidyādharas, and Kinnaras all became very glad to see the Demon dead on the field. Here ends the Thirteenth Chapter of the Fifth Book on the killing of Vāskala and Durmukha in Śrī Mad Devī Bhāgavatam, the Mahāpurāṇam, of 18,000 verses by Maharṣi Veda Vyāsa.