Devi Mahatmyam

DEVI MAHATMYAM

Chapter 7: Killing of Chanda and Munda

1.    Rishir Uvacha:-

       Agnapthasthe thatho daithya Chanda Munda purogama,

       Chathuranga balopetha yayurbhuythayudha.

Then Chanda and Munda sent by that Asura went there with four types of army and holding their weapons aloft.

2.    Dhadrususthe thatho devimeeshadhasam vyavasthitham,

       Simhasyopari sailendra srunge mahathi kanchane.

Then they saw the smiling Devi riding on a lion on the top of the big golden Himalayas.

3.    They drushtwa thaam samadhathu mudhyamam chakurudyutha,

       Akrushta chapasi dharasthadanyei tatsameepaga.

Seeing her they enthusiastically started trying to catch her and others armed with weapons like bows and sword neared her.

4.    Thatha kopam chakarochai rambika thanarin prathi,

       Kopena chasya vadanam masheevarna mabhooth thada.

That Goddess became very angry with her enemies and her face became as black as the Indian ink.

5.    Brukuti kutila thasya lalata phalakadbhutham,

       Kali karala vadana vinishkranthasi pasini.

From her broad forehead, which was bent by her curved eyebrows, rose a goddess called Kali armed with sword and a rope.

6.    Vichithra gatwangadhara nara maala vibhooshana,

       Dweepicharma pareedhana sushka mamasadi bhairava.

7.    Athi vistara vadana jihwa lalana bheeshana,

       Nimagna aaraktha nayana nada pooritha dingmukha.

She was holding a very peculiar sword, wearing a garland of human skulls, dressed in the hide of a tiger, with no flesh in her body, with very terrible looks, with a broad face, who looked very fearful because she was moving her tongue, who was sunken red eyes and was filling all directions with her roars from her throat.

8.    Saa vegenaabhi pathitha gathayanthi mhaasuraan,

       Sainye thathra surareenaambhayakshtha thath balam.

That goddess went straight and fast and warning the great asuras and started eating the enemies of devas whom were part of the army.

9.    Parshni grahangusagrahiyodhaganda samanwithan,

       Samadhayika hasthena mukhe chikshepa varanaan.

She caught hold of huge elephants along with men shielding its backside, the trainer with his long spear and the hero riding on it and crushed them and put in her mouth.

10.  Thadiva yodham thuragai radham saradhina saha,

       Nikshipya vakthre dasanai scharvantyaithi bairavam.

Similarly she was placing charioteer along with horses and driver in her mouth and started chewing them terribly with her teeth.

11.  Ekam jagraha keseshu greevayamadha chaparam,

       Padanakramya chaivanyamurasa anyamapodhayath.

She killed one Asura catching hold of his hair, another catching his throat, another by kicking with her leg and another by pressing his chest.

12.  Thair mukthani cha sasthrani mahasthrani thada asurai,

       Mukhena jagraha rusha dasanair madhithanyapi.

She caught hold of the arrows as well as weapons sent against her by those asuras (Chanda and Munda) and broke them to pieces by her teeth.

13.  Balinaam thath balam sarvamasuranam mahatmaanam,

       Mamardha abakshshayachanya nanyamsuscha thadayathathdha.

She beat the entire Asura army consisting of big and strong-bodied asuras. She ate some of them and gave severe punishment to others.

14.  Asina nihatha kechith kechith gadwanga thaditha,

       Jagmur vinasamasura danthagrabhihathasthadha.

Some of the asuras were punished by sword, some by Gadgayudha (sword with curved end) and some by her teeth and all of them were destroyed.

15.  Kshanena thathbalam sarvaam asuranaam nipathitham,

       Drushtwa Chando abhidhudrwa Kalim athi bheeshanam.

Seeing that within a short time the entire Asura army was destroyed Chanda ran towards the terrible goddess Kali.

16.  Saravarshai maha bheemai r bheemaksheem tham mahasura,

       Chadayamasa chakraischa Munda Kshiptai sahasrasa.

Chanda with horrible rain of punishing arrows and Munda with the weapon of wheel (Chakras) send again and again fought with the greatly fearful eyed Goddess Kali.

17.  Thaani chakanyanekaani visamaanani than mukham,

       Bhaburyadharka bimbhani subahooni ganodharam.

Those numerous Chakras (wheels) entering the face of Goddess Kali appeared like several Suns, which have entered the dense clouds.

18.  Thatho jahasathirusha bheemam bhairava nadhini,

       Kali karala vakthrantha dur darsanojjwala.

Then That goddess Kali, shouting in a horrifying way and having a horror raising face with shining teeth which cannot be stared at, laughed widely and loudly

19.  Uthaya cha mahaasim ham devi Chandamadhavatha,

       Graheethwa chasya keseshu Sirasthenasinachinath.

That goddess lifted her sword very high, spoke “Ham”, and ran towards Chanda, caught hold of his hair and cut off his head.

(Saying of “Ham”, denotes she is very angry)

20.  Adha Mundo abhyadatham drushtwa Chandam nipathitham,

       Tham apya patayath bhoomou sa gadagbhihatham rusha.

Then Chanda seeing that Munda has fallen ran towards her, and Goddess Kali beat him with her sword and he fell on the ground.

21.  Hathasesham thatha sainyam drushtwa Chandam nipathitham.,

       Mundascha sumaha veeryam dhiso bheje bhayathuram.

Then whatever Asura army was remaining seeing that Chanda and the greatly valorous Munda has fallen, ran in all directions due to great fear.

22.  Siraschandasya kali cha graheethwa mundameva cha,

       Praha prachand attahasa misramabhethya Chandikam.

Then Goddess Kali holding the head of Chanda and Munda neared Goddess Chandika and with great exultation told.

23.  Mayo thathropa hruthou Chanda Mundou Maha pasu,

       Yudha yagne swayam Shumbham Nishumbham cha hanishyasi.

In this fire sacrifice of war I have brought this Chanda and Munda to you as sacrificed animals and you yourself will kill Shumbha and Nishumbha and sacrifice them in this war.

24.  Rishir Uvacha:-

       Thavaneethou thatho drushtwa Chanda Mundou Mahasurou,

       Uvacha Kalim Kalyani lalitham Chandika vacha.

Then that Chandika, who tells very pleasant words, seeing that the asuras Chanda and Munda were brought to her, told the following pretty words to goddess Kali.

25.  Yasmachandascha mundascha graheethwa twam upagatha,

       Chamundethi thatho loke khyata devi bavishyasi.

Hey Kali, because you have killed Chanda and Munda you would become famous in this world and would be known as Chamunda.

Ithi Markandeya purane savarnike manwanthare,

       Devi Mahatmye,

       Chanda Munda vadho nama,

       Sapthamo adhyaya,

This is the seventh chapter in Devi Mahatmya dealing with the killing of Chanda and Munda Occurring in the Savarnika period of Markandeya Purana.

(To be contd…..)