Ch 15 Verse 1-3 Verse

Sanskrit Text

५.१५ पञ्चदशोऽध्यायः । असिलोमबिडालाख्यवधवर्णनम् । व्यास उवाच । तौ तया निहतौ श्रुत्वा महिषो विस्मयान्वितः । प्रेषयामास दैतेयांस्तद्वधार्थं महाबलान् ॥ १ ॥ असिलोमबिडालाख्यप्रमुखान् युद्धदुर्मदान् । सैन्येन महता युक्तान्सायुधान्सपरिच्छदान् ॥ २ ॥ ते तत्र ददृशुर्देवीं सिंहस्योपरि संस्थिताम् । अष्टादशभुजां दिव्यां खड्गखेटकधारिणीम् ॥ ३ ॥

English Translation

Vyāsa said :-- O King! Hearing the two Demons slain by the Devī, Mahiṣāsura became very much amazed and sent the powerful Asilomā and Viḍālākṣa and the other Dānavas to the battle to kill the Devī. The Dānavas, all very skilled in the art of warfare, marched on for battle, fully equipped with weapons and clad in armour, and we attended by a vast army. They arrived there and saw the Divine Mother with eighteen hands taking Her stand on a lion, with axes and shield in Her hands.

Ch 15 Verse 4 Verse

Sanskrit Text

असिलोमाग्रतो गत्वा तामुवाच हसन्निव । विनयावनतः शान्तो देवीं दैत्यवधोद्यताम् ॥ ४ ॥

English Translation

The calm-tempered Asilomā appeared before the Devī ready to kill the Daityas, saluted Her and smilingly said :--

Ch 15 Verse 5 Verse

Sanskrit Text

असिलोमोवाच । देवि ब्रूहि वचः सत्यं किमर्थमिह सुन्दरि । आगतासि किमर्थं वा हंसि दैत्यान्निरागसः ॥ ५ ॥

English Translation

O Devī! Why have You come here? and what for You are killing these faultless Daityas? O Beautiful One! Tell all these to me truly. We will make treaty with you.

Ch 15 Verse 6 Verse

Sanskrit Text

कारणं कथयाद्य त्वं त्वया सन्धिं करोम्यहम् । काञ्चनं मणिरत्नानि भाजनानि वराणि च ॥ ६ ॥

English Translation

Take gold, jewels, pearls and any other excellent things the you like and retire from the field as early as passible.

Ch 15 Verse 7 Verse

Sanskrit Text

यानीच्छसि वरारोहे गहीत्वा गच्छ मा चिरम् । किमर्थं युद्धकामासि दुःखसन्तापवर्धनम् ॥ ७ ॥

English Translation

Why do you like this warfare tending to increase misery; the wise persons say that it leads to the destruction of all happiness.

Ch 15 Verse 8 Verse

Sanskrit Text

कथयन्ति महात्मानो युद्धं सर्वसुखापहम् । कोमलेऽतीव ते देहे पुष्पघातासहे भृशम् ॥ ८ ॥

English Translation

Your body is very delicate; it cannot bear the stroke of flowers even; then why are you suffering the stroke of weapons on your bodies; I am very much puzzled to think these things.

Ch 15 Verse 9 Verse

Sanskrit Text

किमर्थं शस्त्रसम्पातान्सहसीति विसिस्मिये । चातुर्यस्य फलं शान्तिः सततं सुखसेवनम् ॥ ९ ॥

English Translation

See! The cleverness is judged when peace is the result thereof; for it leads always to happiness.

Ch 15 Verse 10 Verse

Sanskrit Text

तत्किमर्थं दुःखहेतुं सङ्ग्रामं कर्तुमिच्छसि । संसारेऽत्र सुखं ग्राह्यं दुःखं हेयमिति स्थितिः ॥ १० ॥

English Translation

Then why are you liking to fight which will lead only to pain and suffering. Happiness is only to be had and pain is to be avoided; this is the rule.

Ch 15 Verse 11 Verse

Sanskrit Text

तत्सुखं द्विविधं प्रोक्तं नित्यानित्यप्रभेदतः । आत्मज्ञानं सुखं नित्यमनित्यं भोगजं स्मृतम् ॥ ११ ॥

English Translation

O Devī! That happiness is again of two kinds :-- Permanent and transitory. The pleasure that comes out of the knowledge of Atmajñān is permanent and that which is derived from enjoyments is transitory; these who know truly the Veda Śāstra, they avoid this transitory pleasure of enjoyments.

Ch 15 Verse 12-13 Verse

Sanskrit Text

नाशात्मकं तु तत्त्याज्यं वेदशास्त्रार्थचिन्तकैः । सौगतानां मतं चेत्त्वं स्वीकरोषि वरानने ॥ १२ ॥ तथापि यौवनं प्राप्य भुङ्क्ष्व भोगाननुत्तमान् । परलोकस्य सन्देहो यदि तेऽस्ति कृशोदरि ॥ १३ ॥

English Translation

If you follow the opinion of the Mimāmsakas and do not believe in the existence of future births, even then you ought not to fight; when you have got this youthful age, you ought to enjoy the excellent pleasures in this world. O One of lean stomach!

Ch 15 Verse 14 Verse

Sanskrit Text

स्वर्गभोगपरा नित्यं भव भामिनि भूतले । अनित्यं यौवनं देहे ज्ञात्वेति सुकृतं चरेत् ॥ १४ ॥

English Translation

And if you doubt in the existence of the other worlds after death, even then you ought to desert from fighting and perform, in this life, such actions as will lead you to the attainment of Heavens.

Ch 15 Verse 15 Verse

Sanskrit Text

परोपतापनं कार्यं वर्जनीयं सदा बुधैः । अविरोधेन कर्तव्यं धर्मार्थकामसेवनम् ॥ १५ ॥

English Translation

This fully developed womanhood is transient; knowing this do virtuous actions always; the wise ones always avoid tormenting others; thus one ought to perform things not contradictory to Dharma, Artha and Kama.

Ch 15 Verse 16 Verse

Sanskrit Text

तस्मात्त्वमपि कल्याणि मतिं धर्मे सदा कुरु । अपराधं विना दैत्यान्कस्मान्मारयसेऽम्बिके ॥ १६ ॥

English Translation

Therefore, O Auspicious One! Do You also things virtuous always. O Mother! Why are you killing these Daityas without any cause? There is, again, the feeling of mercy; the lives again of all are dependent on Truth.

Ch 15 Verse 17 Verse

Sanskrit Text

दयाधर्मोऽस्य देहोऽस्ति सत्ये प्राणाः प्रकीर्तिताः । तस्माद्दया तथा सत्यं रक्षणीयं सदा बुधैः ॥ १७ ॥

English Translation

Therefore the sages always preserve piety, mercy and Truth. O Beautiful One! Then what is the use in Your killing these Demons? Please say explicitly on this point.

Ch 15 Verse 18 Verse

Sanskrit Text

कारणं वद सुश्रोणि दानवानां वधे तव । देव्युवाच । त्वया पृष्टं महाबाहो किमर्थमिह चागता ॥ १८ ॥

English Translation

The Devī said :-- O Powerful one! Hear why I have come here and why I am killing the Daityas? I answer your question on the above points.

Ch 15 Verse 19 Verse

Sanskrit Text

तदहं सम्प्रवक्ष्यामि हनने च प्रयोजनम् । विचरामि सदा दैत्य सर्वलोकेषु सर्वदा ॥ १९ ॥

English Translation

O Demon! I, though merely a spectator, always go about all over the worlds, seeing the justices and injustices done by the several souls there.

Ch 15 Verse 20 Verse

Sanskrit Text

न्यायान्यायौ च भूतानां पश्यन्ती साक्षिरूपिणी । न मे कदापि भोगेच्छा न लोभो न च वैरिता ॥ २० ॥

English Translation

Never I possess any desire of enjoyment, nor have I greed for anything, nor have I enmity with any creature.

Ch 15 Verse 21 Verse

Sanskrit Text

धर्मार्थं विचराम्यत्र संसारे साधुरक्षणम् । व्रतमेतत्तु नियतं पालयामि निजं सदा ॥ २१ ॥

English Translation

Only to preserve the virtue and religion and to keep up the righteous, I roam over the worlds. This is My vow and I always adhere to it. To preserve the good and to put down the evil doers is My duty.

Ch 15 Verse 22 Verse

Sanskrit Text

साधूनां रक्षणं कार्यं हन्तव्या येऽप्यसाधवः । वेदसंरक्षणं कार्यमवतारैरनेकशः ॥ २२ ॥

English Translation

Many Avataras are to take their incarnations, cycles after cycles, to preserve the Vedas; therefore I incarnate Myself in yugas after yugas.

Ch 15 Verse 23 Verse

Sanskrit Text

युगे युगे तानेवाहमवतारान्बिभर्मि च । महिषस्तु दुराचारो देवान्वै हन्तुमुद्यतः ॥ २३ ॥

English Translation

Now the wicked Mahiṣa is ready to destroy the Devas; seeing this, I have come here to kill him.

Ch 15 Verse 24-25 Verse

Sanskrit Text

ज्ञात्वाहं तद्वधार्थं भोः प्राप्तास्मि राक्षसाधुना । तं हनिष्ये दुराचारं सुरशत्रुं महाबलम् ॥ २४ ॥ गच्छ वा तिष्ठ कामं त्वं सत्यमेतदुदाहृतम् । ब्रूहि वा तं दुरात्मानं राजानं महिषीसुतम् ॥ २५ ॥

English Translation

Or you can go to Mahiṣa, that impious son of a she-buffalo, and say what is the use in sending other Asuras to the battle; he can come himself and fight.

Ch 15 Verse 26 Verse

Sanskrit Text

किमन्यान् प्रेषयस्यत्र स्वयं युद्धं कुरुष्व ह । सन्धिञ्चेत्कर्तुमिच्छास्ति राज्ञस्तव मया सह ॥ २६ ॥

English Translation

If your king likes to make a treaty, then let him avoid his enmity with the Devas and go down to the Pātāla.

Ch 15 Verse 27 Verse

Sanskrit Text

सर्वे गच्छन्तु पातालं वैरं त्यक्त्वा यथासुखम् । देवद्रव्यं तु यत्किञ्चिद्धृतं जित्वा रणे सुरान् । तद्दत्त्वा यान्तु पातालं प्रह्लादो यत्र तिष्ठति ॥ २७ ॥

English Translation

Let him return to the Devas whatever he has taken perforce from them and go to the Pātāla, where Prahlāda is residing.

Ch 15 Verse 28 Verse

Sanskrit Text

व्यास उवाच । तच्छुत्वा वचनं देव्या असिलोमा पुरःस्थितः । बिडालाख्यं महावीरं पप्रच्छ प्रीतिपूर्वकम् ॥ २८ ॥

English Translation

Vyāsa said :-- O King! Hearing thus the Devī’s words, Asilomā asked gladly, before the Devī, the powerful Asura Viḍālākṣa :--

Ch 15 Verse 29 Verse

Sanskrit Text

असिलोमोवाच । श्रुतं तेऽद्य बिडालाख्य भवान्या कथितं च यत् । एवं गते किं कर्तव्यो विग्रहः सन्धिरेव वा ॥ २९ ॥

English Translation

Well, Viḍālākṣa! You have heard just now all what the Devī has said; now are we to observe treaty or declare war. What are we to do under the circumstances?

Ch 15 Verse 30 Verse

Sanskrit Text

बिडालाख्य उवाच । न सन्धिकामोऽस्ति नृपोऽभिमानी युद्धे च मृत्युं नियतं हि जानन् । दृष्ट्वा हतान् प्रेरयते तथास्मा- न्दैव हि कोऽतिक्रमितुं समर्थः ॥ ३० ॥

English Translation

said :-- Bidālāksya said: Our king knows full well that his death will certainly take place in the battle; knowing this, he is not willing to make peace, out of his egoism and vanity. He is seeing before him daily the deaths of the Dānavas and still he has sent us to battle. Who can overcome the destiny?

Ch 15 Verse 31 Verse

Sanskrit Text

(दुःसाध्य एवास्त्विह सेवकानां धर्मः सदा मानविवर्जितानाम् । आज्ञापराणां वशवर्तिकानां पाञ्चालिकानामिव सूत्रभेदात् ॥) गत्वा कथं तस्य पुरस्त्वया च मयापि वक्तव्यमिदं कठोरम् । गच्छन्तु पातालमितश्च सर्वे दत्त्वाथ रत्नानि धनं सुराणाम् ॥ ३१ ॥

English Translation

The duty of a servant is a very difficult one; he will have to be always submissive and obedient, without caring the least for his own self-respect; just as the dancing dolls are completely under the hands of the actors and their movements vary according to the pulling of the wires employed in making them dance.

Ch 15 Verse 32 Verse

Sanskrit Text

(प्रियं हि वक्तव्यमसत्यमेव न च प्रियं स्याद्धितकृत्तु भाषितम् । सत्यं प्रियं नो भवतीह कामं मौनं ततो बुद्धिमतां प्रतिष्ठितम् ॥) न फल्गुवाक्यैः प्रतिबोधनीयो राजा तु वीरैरिति नीतिशास्त्रम् ॥ ३२ ॥

English Translation

How can we then go to our master and say such hard words as he would give away to the Devas all the gems and jewels and go down to Pātāla with other Dānavas. One considers it one’s duty to speak pleasant words though untrue; true words cannot be beneficial; true and at the same time beneficial words are very rare in this world; at such critical cases, one ought to remain silent.

Ch 15 Verse 33 Verse

Sanskrit Text

न नूनं तत्र गन्तव्यं हितं वा वक्तुमादरात् । प्रष्टुं वापि गते राजा कोपयुक्तो भविष्यति ॥ ३३ ॥

English Translation

Especially heroes ought never to excite their kings by useless words; this is the essence of politics. We should never go and advise our king with eagerness what is best or to ask advice from him about such things; the king would then certainly be very angry.

Ch 15 Verse 34 Verse

Sanskrit Text

इति सञ्चिन्त्य कर्तव्यं युद्धं प्राणस्य संशये । स्वामिकार्यं परं मत्वा मरणं तृणवत्तथा ॥ ३४ ॥

English Translation

Therefore we ought to do our duties to the king, even if our lives be at stake. To consider our lives as nothing and to fight for our king are what is best for us.

Ch 15 Verse 35 Verse

Sanskrit Text

व्यास उवाच । इति सञ्चिन्त्य तौ वीरौ संस्थितौ युद्धतत्परौ । धनुर्बाणधरौ तत्र सन्नद्धौ रथसङ्गतौ ॥ ३५ ॥

English Translation

Vyāsa said :-- O King! Thus thinking, the two heroes then wore their coats of armour, mounted on their chariots and, with bows and arrows in their hands, became ready for fight.

Ch 15 Verse 36 Verse

Sanskrit Text

प्रथमं तु बिडालाख्यः सप्तबाणान्मुमोच ह । असिलोमा स्थितो दूरे प्रेक्षकः परमास्त्रवित् ॥ ३६ ॥

English Translation

First Viḍālākṣa shot seven arrows; the great warrior Asilomā stood aloof at a distance as a mere witness.

Ch 15 Verse 37 Verse

Sanskrit Text

चिच्छेद तांस्तथाप्राप्तानम्बिका स्वशरैः शरान् । बिडालाख्यं त्रिभिर्बाणैर्जघान च शिलाशितैः ॥ ३७ ॥

English Translation

The Divine Mother cut off those arrows to pieces with Her arrows, no sooner they reached Her, and then shot at Viḍālākṣa three arrows sharpened on stone.

Ch 15 Verse 38 Verse

Sanskrit Text

प्राप्य बाणव्यथां दैत्यः पपात समराङ्गणे । मूर्च्छितोऽथ ममाराशु दानवो दैवयोगतः ॥ ३८ ॥

English Translation

The demon Vidālāksa fell senselss by these arrows on the battle-field and after a short while died, as if ordained by Fate.

Ch 15 Verse 39 Verse

Sanskrit Text

बिडालाख्यं हतं दृष्ट्वा रणे शक्तिशरोत्करैः । असिलोमा धनुष्पाणिः संस्थितो युद्धतत्परः ॥ ३९ ॥

English Translation

Seeing Viḍālākṣa thus dead, Asilomā took up his bows and arrows and came up, for fight. The hero, then, raising his left hand, said briefly, thus :--

Ch 15 Verse 40-41 Verse

Sanskrit Text

ऊर्ध्वं सव्यं करं कृत्वा तामुवाच मितं वचः । देवि जानामि मरणं दानवानां दुरात्मनाम् ॥ ४० ॥ तथापि युद्धं कर्तव्यं पराधीनेन वै मया । महिषो मन्दबुद्धिश्च न जानाति प्रियाप्रिये ॥ ४१ ॥

English Translation

:-- “O Devī! I know that death is inevitable to the Dānavas; still I am ready to fight; for I am dependent and Mahiṣa is of very dull intellect; he cannot make any distinction between what is really good and what is merely pleasant.

Ch 15 Verse 42-43 Verse

Sanskrit Text

तदग्रे नैव वक्तव्यं हितं चैवाप्रियं मया । मर्तव्यं वीरधर्मेण शुभं वाप्यशुभं भवेत् ॥ ४२ ॥ दैवमेव परं मन्ये धिपौरुषमनर्थकम् । पतन्ति दानवास्तूर्णं तव बाणहता भुवि ॥ ४३ ॥

English Translation

I will never speak before him unpleasant words, though beneficial. Rather I will sacrifice my life in the battle-field than advise him anything, be that auspicious or inauspicious.

Ch 15 Verse 44 Verse

Sanskrit Text

इत्युक्त्वा शरवृष्टिं स चकार दानवोत्तमः । देवी चिच्छेद तान्बाणैरप्राप्तांस्तु निजान्तिके ॥ ४४ ॥

English Translation

The Dānavas are being killed no sooner they are shot at by your arrows; seeing this I consider Fate superior to all.

Ch 15 Verse 45-46 Verse

Sanskrit Text

अन्यैर्विव्याध तं तूर्णमसिलोमानमाशुगैः । वीक्षितामरसङ्घैश्च कोपपूर्णानना तदा ॥ ४५ ॥ शुशुभे दानवः कामं बाणैर्विद्धतनुः किल । स्रवद्रुधिरधारः स प्रफुल्लः किंशुको यथा ॥ ४६ ॥

English Translation

Prowess does not lead to any success; Fie on one’s prowess! Thus saying, the Demon began to shower arrows after arrows on the Devī; the Devī, too, cut them to pieces with Her own arrows before they came to Her; and, becoming angry, soon pierced him with arrows. The Devas witnessed this sight from above.

Ch 15 Verse 47 Verse

Sanskrit Text

असिलोमा गदां गुर्वीं लौहीमुद्यम्य वेगतः । दुद्राव चण्डिकां कोपात्सिंहं मूर्ध्नि जघान ह ॥ ४७ ॥

English Translation

The body of the Demon was then covered with cuts and wounds; blood began to flow from them; the Demon consequently began to shine like the jovial Kimsuka tree.

Ch 15 Verse 48 Verse

Sanskrit Text

सिंहोऽपि नखराघातैस्तं ददार भुजान्तरे । अगणय्य गदाघातं कृतं तेन बलीयसा ॥ ४८ ॥

English Translation

Asilomā then lifted aloft his heavy iron club and ran after Caṇḍikā and hurt the lion on his head with anger.

Ch 15 Verse 49 Verse

Sanskrit Text

उत्पत्य तरसा दैत्यो गदापाणिः सुदारुणः । सिंहमूर्ध्नि समारुह्य जघान गदयाम्बिकाम् ॥ ४९ ॥

English Translation

Not caring at all this severe stroke of the club inflicted by that powerful Demon, the lion tore asunder his arms with his claws.

Ch 15 Verse 50 Verse

Sanskrit Text

कृतं तेन प्रहारं तु वञ्चयित्वा विशाम्पते । खड्गेन शितधारेण शिरश्चिच्छेद कण्ठतः ॥ ५० ॥

English Translation

Then that dreadful Demon leapt with club in his hand and got up the shoulder of the lion and hit the Devī very hard.

Ch 15 Verse 51 Verse

Sanskrit Text

छिन्ने शिरसि दैत्येन्द्रः पपात तरसा क्षितौ । हाहाकारो महानासीत्सैन्ये तस्य दुरात्मनः ॥ ५१ ॥

English Translation

O King! The Devī, then, baffled the hit and cut off the Demon’s head with Her sharp axe.

Ch 15 Verse 52 Verse

Sanskrit Text

जय देवीति देवास्ता तुष्टुवुर्जगदम्बिकाम् । देवदुन्दुभयो नेदुर्जगुश्च नृप किन्नराः ॥ ५२ ॥

English Translation

The head being thus severed, the Demon was thrown on the ground with great force; seeing this, a general cry of distress arose among his soldiers.

Ch 15 Verse 53 Verse

Sanskrit Text

निहतौ दानवौ वीक्ष्य पतितौ च रणाङ्गणे । निहताः सैनिकाः सर्वे तत्र केसरिणा बलात् ॥ ५३ ॥

English Translation

The Devas shouted aloud “Victory to the Devī” and chanted hymns to Her. The drums of the Devas resounded and the Gandarbhas began to dance in great joy.

Ch 15 Verse 54 Verse

Sanskrit Text

भक्षिताश्च तथा केचिन्निःशेषं तद्रणं कृतम् । भग्नाः केचिद् गता मन्दा महिषं प्रति दुःखिताः ॥ ५४ ॥

English Translation

Seeing the two Demons thus lying dead on the battlefield, the lion killed some of the remaining forces by his sheer strength and ate up others, and made the battlefield void of any persons. Some fled away in great distress to Mahiṣāsura.

Ch 15 Verse 55-56 Verse

Sanskrit Text

चुक्रुशू रुरुदुश्चैव त्राहि त्राहीति भाषणैः । असिलोमबिडालाख्यौ निहतौ नृपसत्तम ॥ ५५ ॥ अन्ये ये सैनिका राजन् सिंहेन भक्षिताश्च ते । एवं ब्रुवन्तो राजानं तदा चक्रुश्च वैशसम् ॥ ५६ ॥

English Translation

The fugitives began to cry aloud, “Save us, save us” and said, “O King! Asilomā and Viḍālākṣa are both slain; and those soldiers that remained were eaten up by the lion.” Thus they told and plunged the King in an ocean of dire distress.

Ch 15 Verse 57 Verse

Sanskrit Text

तच्छ्रुत्वा वचनं तेषां महिषो दुर्मनास्तदा । बभूव चिन्ताकुलितो विमना दुःखसंयुतः ॥ ५७ ॥

Sanskrit Colophon

इति श्रीमद्देवीभागवते महापुराणेऽष्टादशसाहस्र्यां संहितायां पञ्चमस्कन्धे असिलोम- बिडालाख्यवधवर्णनं नाम पञ्चदशोऽध्यायः ॥ ५.१५॥

English Translation

Hearing their words, Mahiṣa became absent minded through pain and grief and began to think over the matter with great anxiety. Here ends the Fifteenth Chapter of the Fifth Book on the slaying of Viḍālākṣa and Asilomā in Śrīmad Devī Bhāgavatam, the Mahā Purāṇam, of 18,000 verses by Maharṣi Veda Vyāsa.