Devi Mahatmyam

Devi Mahatmyam

Chapter 10: Killing of Shumbha.

1.    Rishir Uvacha:-

       Nishumbham nihatham drushtwa bratharam pranasammitham,

       Hanyamanam balanchaiva Shumbha krudha abraveedvacha.

The sage told:-

Seeing that his solu like brother was killed as also his army, Shumbha became very angry and told.

2.    Balavale pa dushte, thwam maa durge, Garvamavaha,

       Anyasam balamasrithya yudhyase yathi manani.

Hey Durga, Hey bad lady, you should not be proud of your strength for You have fought this war with the help of others and are depending on their strength.

3.    Devyuvacha:-

       Ekaivaham jagathyathra dwithiya kaa mamaa para,

       Pasyaitha dushta, mayyeva visanthyo madvibhuthaya.

The goddess told:-

In this world, I only am and where is the second. Please see that all these people enter within me.

4.    Thatha samasthastha devyo brahmani pramukhalayam,

       Thasya devyasthanou jagmur ekaivasee thadambika.

Afterwards all the goddesses like Brahmani became one with the body of goddess Chandika and the goddess became alone.

5.    Devi uvacha:-

       Aham vibhoothya bahubhiriha roopair yathasthadha,

       Tatsamhrutham mayaikeva thishtamyajou sthidhirobhava.

The goddess told:-

In this battlefield I assumed many forms due to my innate power and now the plurality has become singularity and now stand here firmly and fight with me.

6.    Rishir uvacha:-

       Thatha pravavrutham yudham devya shumbhasya cho bhayo,

       Pasyaitham sarva devanam asuranaam cha darunam.

The sage told:-

Afterwards in the presence of all the devas and asuras, a terrible war took place between the two (Shumbha and the Goddess).

7.    Saravarshai sithai sasthraisthadha asthraischaiva dharunai,

       Thayor yudhamabhooth bhooya sarva loka bayankaram.

A very fearful and terrible war took place between them in which sharp arrows were rained and using other weapons and horrifyingly great arrows

8.    Divyanasthrani sathaso mumuche yanyadhambika,

       Babhancha thani daithyendra sthath prathi gatha karthrubhi.

Afterwards when the goddess sent several divine arrows in batches of hundreds, Shumbha destroyed them using arrows, which were capable of destroying them.

9.    Mukthani thena chasthrani divyani parameshwari,

       Banbancha leelayaivogra hoongarocharanadhibhi.

That Goddess Chandika cut the divine arrows sent by Shumbha by her deep breath (Hum) and also playfully.

10.  Thatha sara sathair devi machadhayatha so asura,

       Saapi that kupitha devi dhanu chicchedha cheshubhi.

Then that Shumbha covered the Goddess with hundreds of arrows and becoming angry due to this, she cut off his bow using her arrows.

11.  Chinne dhanushi daithyendra sthadha shakthi madhadade,

       Chichechadha devi chakrena thamapyasya kare sthithaam.

When his bow was broken, That Shumbha took in his hand a spear and the goddess cut it with her holy wheel.

12.  Thatha gadgamupadhaya sathachandram cha bhanumath,

       Abhyadavatha thaam deveem daithyanam adhipeswara.

Then that chief of chiefs of Asuras, Shumbha took a sword and a shield, which shined like hundred moons and sun and ran towards the goddess.

13.  Thasya pathatha evasu gadgam chichedha chandika,

       Dhanur mukthai shithairbanaischarma charkarakamalam.

Goddess Chandika while he was coming cut off his sword and shield which were reflecting the sun, with arrows sent from her bow.

14.  Hathaswa sa thadha daithya chinnadhanwa visaradhi,

       Jagraha mudhgaram goram ambika nidhanodhyadha.

Then that Asura, whose horses were killed, whose bow was broken and whose chariot driver was killed took a horrifying mace to kill the goddess.

15.  Chichedhaa pathatha thasya mudhgaram nishithai sarai,

       Thadapi so abhyadavatham mushti mudhyamya vegavaan.

She cut off the mace of Shumbha who was nearing her with sharp arrows. In spite of that he ran towards the goddess with extended fist.

16.  Sa mushtim padayamasa hrudhaye daithya pungava,

       Devyastham chapi saa devi thalanorasya thadayath.

That chief of asuras hit the goddess with his fist on her forehead and she slapped him with her palm on his chest.

17.  Thalapraharabhi hatho nipapatha maheethale,

       Sa daithyaraja sahasa punareva thadosthidha.

That king of asuras fell on the ground due to her slap but recovered and got up fast.

18.  Uthpathya cha pragruhyo uchair devim gaganamasthidha,

       Thathrapi saa niradhara yuyudhe thena chandika.

That Shumbha jumped caught hold of the goddess and placed her high in the sky but Chandika stayed there without any support and fought with him.

19.  Niyudham khe thadha daithyaschandika cha parasparam,

       Chakrathu pradhamam yudham muni vismayakarakam.

Then that Asura and goddess Chandika first fought with bare hands on the sky, making the sages aghast.

20.  Thatho niyudham suchiram kruthwa thenambhika saha,

       Uthpathya bramayamasa chikshepa dharani thale.

After fighting war with bare hands for long time, that goddess lifted him and threw him on the ground.

21.  Samkshiptho dharanim prapya mushti mudhyamya vegatha,

       Abhyadavatha dushtathma chandika nidhanechaya.

Thus thrown that Asura reached the earth, recovered fast and with a wish to kill the goddess ran towards her with clenched fist.

22.  Thamayantham thatho devi sarva daithya janeswaram,

       Jagathyam pathayamasa bhithwa soolena vakshasi.

Afterwards that goddess felled him who was the king of all asuras, by tearing his chest with a trident and made him fall on the ground.

23.  Sa gathasu papthorvyam devi soolagravikshatha,

       Chalayan sakalam pruthweem sabdhi dweepam saparvatham.

That Shumbha torn by the trident of the goddess fell dead on the ground shaking the entire earth with its oceans, islands and mountains.

24.  Thatha prasannamakhilam hathe thasmin durathmani,

       Jagathswasthyamatheevapa nirmalam cha bhavnnabha.

When the bad one was killed, the entire universe became happy, the world became calmer and the sky became clearer

25.  Uthpathamegha solka ye pragasamsthe samam yayu,

       Saritho marga vahinyasthadha samsthathra pathithe.

Those clouds, which were comet shaped before Shumbha died, became calm and also all the rivers started flowing in the right direction.

26.  Thatho deva gana sarve harsha nirbhara manasa,

       Bhabhuvur nihathe thasmin gandharva lalitham Jagu.

Because of his killing, the mind of all the groups of devas was filled with happiness. Gandharwas sang prettily.

27.  Avadhayamsthadhai vanyai nanyathu schapsarogana.

Vavu punyasthadha vatha suprabho bhoo divakara.

Similarly another group of devas played musical instruments, apsaras (celestial dancers) danced in-groups, holy wind blew and the sun shone brightly.

28.  Jajwaluschagnaya santha santha digjanithaswana.

The fire burnt calmly and the sounds in the different directions also became calm.

Ithi Markandeya purane savarnike manwanthare,

       Devi Mahatmye,

       Shumbha Vadho Nama,

       Damask adhyaya,

This is the tenth chapter in Devi Mahatmya dealing with the killing of Shumbha Occurring in the Savarnika period of Markandeya Purana

(to be contd…..)