Candishataka 28

28

itītthaṃ sotprāsāḥ samanāssitā ya ālāpāsteṣāṃ pātairvidagdhaṃ caturaṃ danu-
jaṃ mahiṣaṃ daśā nirdahantī umā vo'vyāt . itīti kim . he mugdhe, ardha-
candro bāṇaviśeṣaścandrārdha ca āstāṃ tiṣṭhatu . anena tava bhartṛmūrdhasthitenārdha-
candreṇa kimaparāddhaṃ varākeṇeti bhāvaḥ . surasaritaṃ gaṅgāṃ kṣipa yā bhavatyāḥ
sapatnī vartate . asthānakopavatī tvamata eva mugdhāpadena saṃbodhyase . amunai
kena pāśakenālpapāśena dyūtasādhanenākṣeṇa me cālam . aparaṃ dvitīyamapi pā-
śakaṃ muñca . yataḥ krīḍā dvābhyāṃ pāśakābhyāṃ bhavati . ekena krīḍituṃ na śa-
kyate . kālamāyudhaṃ vyādhiśca . śūlaṃ kimiti tyajasi . mama śirasi prāgeva
śūlaṃ rogaviśeṣo lagnam . yato mayā sahābalā yoṣiyudhyase . idamakīrti-
rūpaṃ śūlam . yadvā ahaṃ sabalaḥ sasainyaḥ, tvaṃ punarabalā ekākinīti . idama-
kīrtirūpaṃ śūlaṃ mama śirasi lagnameva ..
vakrāṇāṃ viklavaḥ kiṃ vahasi bata rucaṃ skanda ṣaṇṇāṃ viṣaṇṇā-
manyāḥ ṣaṇmātaraste bhava bhava sakalastvaṃ śarīrārdhalabdhyā .
jihmā hanmyadya kālīmiti samamasubhiḥ kaṇṭhato nirgatā gī-
rgīrvāṇāreryayecchā1mṛdupadamṛditasyādrijā sāvatādvaḥ .. 28..

"Thus, through the blows of those remarks which were full of mockery and deceit, may Umā, consuming the cunning Danu-born Mahiṣa with her glance, protect you." "Thus"—how? "O charming fool, let the crescent-arrow [ardhacandra]—and the crescent moon [ardhacandra]—remain where it is! What wrong has that poor wretch, the crescent moon dwelling upon your husband's crest, done? Cast the River of the Gods, the Gaṅgā, who is your co-wife! You are angry at the wrong target; therefore you are addressed as 'fool.' Enough of this single die [pāśaka], this mere small noose [pāśa], this game-piece for gambling, for me! Cast a second die/noose as well, since playing is done with two dice; one cannot play with a single one. [And why cast] the spear [śūla], the weapon—and the colic [śūla]? Why do you throw it? Colic, that particular malady, has already struck my head, since you, a weak woman, fight with me: this disgrace itself is the colic. Or rather: I am powerful and equipped with an army, whereas you are weak and alone—this colic in the form of disgrace has already struck my head." / "Why, O Skanda, distressed, alas, do you bear a dejected look on your six faces? / You have other mothers, the six [Kṛttikās]; O Bhava, become whole again by recovering half your body! / Today I shall slay crooked Kālī!"—with these words issuing from his throat along with his breaths, / the enemy of the gods was crushed at will by her gentle foot: may she, the Mountain's Daughter, protect you! (28)