Chapter 9: The slaying of Nishumbha

राजोवाच
विचित्रमिदमाख्यातं भगवन् भवता मम ।
देव्याश्चरितमाहात्म्यं रक्तबीजवधाश्रितम्

rājovāca
vicitramidamākhyātaṃ bhagavan bhavatā mama |
devyāścaritamāhātmyaṃ raktabījavadhāśritam

The king said: Bhagavan, you have told me a wondrous thing, the glory of the Devi's deeds in the slaying of Raktabija.

भूयश्चेच्छाम्यहं श्रोतुं रक्तबीजे निपातिते ।
चकार शुम्भो यत्कर्म निशुम्भश्चातिकोपनः

bhūyaścecchāmyahaṃ śrotuṃ raktabīje nipātite |
cakāra śumbho yatkarma niśumbhaścātikopanaḥ

I wish to hear more. After Raktabija fell, what did Shumbha do, and the wrathful Nishumbha?

चकार कोपमतुलं रक्तबीजे निपातिते ।
शुम्भासुरो निशुम्भश्च हतेष्वन्येषु चाहवे

cakāra kopamatulaṃ raktabīje nipātite |
śumbhāsuro niśumbhaśca hateṣvanyeṣu cāhave

The Rishi said: When Raktabija had fallen and the others had been slain in battle, the asura Shumbha and Nishumbha were seized by boundless anger.

हन्यमानं महासैन्यं विलोक्यामर्षमुद्वहन् ।
अभ्यधावन्निशुम्भोऽथ मुख्ययासुरसेनया

hanyamānaṃ mahāsainyaṃ vilokyāmarṣamudvahan |
abhyadhāvanniśumbho'tha mukhyayāsurasenayā

Seeing his great army being cut down, Nishumbha, burning with rage, rushed forward with the pick of the asura army.

तस्याग्रतस्तथा पृष्ठे पार्श्वयोश्च महासुराः ।
संदष्टौष्ठपुटाः क्रुद्धा हन्तुं देवीमुपाययुः

tasyāgratastathā pṛṣṭhe pārśvayośca mahāsurāḥ |
saṃdaṣṭauṣṭhapuṭāḥ kruddhā hantuṃ devīmupāyayuḥ

Before him, behind him and on either side came great asuras, biting their lips in anger, to kill the Devi.

आजगाम महावीर्यः शुम्भोऽपि स्वबलैर्वृतः ।
निहन्तुं चण्डिकां कोपात्कृताव युद्धं तु मातृभिः

ājagāma mahāvīryaḥ śumbho'pi svabalairvṛtaḥ |
nihantuṃ caṇḍikāṃ kopātkṛtāva yuddhaṃ tu mātṛbhiḥ

The mighty Shumbha also came, surrounded by his own forces, to kill Chandika in his anger, after first fighting the Matrikas.

ततो युद्धमतीवासीद्देव्या शुम्भनिशुम्भयोः ।
शरवर्षमतीवोग्रं मेघयोरिव वर्षतोः

tato yuddhamatīvāsīddevyā śumbhaniśumbhayoḥ |
śaravarṣamatīvograṃ meghayoriva varṣatoḥ

Then a fierce battle broke out between the Devi and Shumbha and Nishumbha. They poured a most dreadful rain of arrows, like two clouds pouring rain.

चिच्छेदास्ताञ्छरांस्ताभ्यां चण्डिका स्वशरोत्करैः ।
ताडयामास चाङ्गेषु शस्त्रौघैरसुरेश्वरौ

cicchedāstāñcharāṃstābhyāṃ caṇḍikā svaśarotkaraiḥ |
tāḍayāmāsa cāṅgeṣu śastraughairasureśvarau

Chandika cut down the arrows the two shot with showers of her own, and struck the two asura lords on their limbs with volleys of weapons.

निशुम्भो निशितं खड्गं चर्म चादाय सुप्रभम् ।
अताडयन्मूर्ध्नि सिंहं देव्या वाहनमुत्तमम्

niśumbho niśitaṃ khaḍgaṃ carma cādāya suprabham |
atāḍayanmūrdhni siṃhaṃ devyā vāhanamuttamam

Nishumbha took up a sharp sword and a gleaming shield and struck the Devi's noble mount, the lion, on the head.

निशुम्भो निशितं खड्गं चर्म चादाय सुप्रभम् ।
अताडयन्मूर्ध्नि सिंहं देव्या वाहनमुत्तमम्

niśumbho niśitaṃ khaḍgaṃ carma cādāya suprabham |
atāḍayanmūrdhni siṃhaṃ devyā vāhanamuttamam

When her mount was struck, the Devi swiftly cut through Nishumbha's fine sword with a razor-edged arrow, and also his shield marked with eight moons.

छिन्ने चर्मणि खड्गे च शक्तिं चिक्षेप सोऽसुरः ।
तामप्यस्य द्विधा चक्रे चक्रेणाभिमुखागताम्

chinne carmaṇi khaḍge ca śaktiṃ cikṣepa so'suraḥ |
tāmapyasya dvidhā cakre cakreṇābhimukhāgatām

With shield and sword cut, the asura hurled a spear. As it came straight at her, she split that too in two with her discus.

कोपाध्मातो निशुम्भोऽथ शूलं जग्राह दानवः ।
आयातं मुष्टिपातेन देवी तच्चाप्यचूर्णयत्

kopādhmāto niśumbho'tha śūlaṃ jagrāha dānavaḥ |
āyātaṃ muṣṭipātena devī taccāpyacūrṇayat

Then Nishumbha the danava, swelling with anger, seized a trident. As it flew at her, the Devi smashed it to powder with a blow of her fist.

अथादाय गदां सोऽपि चिक्षेप चण्डिकां प्रति ।
सापि देव्या त्रिशूलेन भिन्ना भस्मत्वमागता

athādāya gadāṃ so'pi cikṣepa caṇḍikāṃ prati |
sāpi devyā triśūlena bhinnā bhasmatvamāgatā

He then took up a mace and hurled it at Chandika. Split by the Devi's trident, it too was reduced to ashes.

ततः परशुहस्तं तमायान्त दैत्यपुङ्गवम् ।
आहत्य देवी बाणौघैरपातयत भूतले

tataḥ paraśuhastaṃ tamāyānta daityapuṅgavam |
āhatya devī bāṇaughairapātayata bhūtale

Then, as that bull among daityas came on with an axe in hand, the Devi struck him with a flood of arrows and laid him on the ground.

तस्मिन्निपतिते भूमौ निशुम्भे भीमविक्रमे ।
भ्रातर्यतीव संक्रुद्धः प्रययौ हन्तुमम्बिकाम्

tasminnipatite bhūmau niśumbhe bhīmavikrame |
bhrātaryatīva saṃkruddhaḥ prayayau hantumambikām

When his brother Nishumbha, of terrible valour, fell to the ground, Shumbha, in the height of fury, advanced to kill Ambika.

स रथस्थस्तथात्युच्चैर्गृहीतपरमायुधैः ।
भुजैरष्टाभिरतुलैर्व्याप्याशेषं बभौ नभः

sa rathasthastathātyuccairgṛhītaparamāyudhaiḥ |
bhujairaṣṭābhiratulairvyāpyāśeṣaṃ babhau nabhaḥ

Standing high in his chariot, with eight matchless arms holding mighty weapons, he shone as though he filled the whole sky.

तमायान्तं समालोक्य देवी शङ्घमवादयत् ।
ज्याशब्दं चापि धनुषश्चकारातीव दुः सहम्

tamāyāntaṃ samālokya devī śaṅghamavādayat |
jyāśabdaṃ cāpi dhanuṣaścakārātīva duḥ saham

Seeing him come, the Devi blew her conch and twanged her bowstring with a sound hard to bear.

पूरयामास ककुभो निजघण्टास्वनेन च ।
समस्तदैत्यसैन्यानां तेजोवधविधायिना

pūrayāmāsa kakubho nijaghaṇṭāsvanena ca |
samastadaityasainyānāṃ tejovadhavidhāyinā

She filled the quarters with the ring of her bell, a sound that crushed the spirit of all the daitya armies.

ततः सिंहो महानादैस्त्याजितेभमहामदैः ।
पूरयामास गगनं गां तथैव दिशो दश

tataḥ siṃho mahānādaistyājitebhamahāmadaiḥ |
pūrayāmāsa gaganaṃ gāṃ tathaiva diśo daśa

Then the lion filled the sky, the earth and the ten quarters with great roars that made the great elephants lose their rut.

ततः काली समुत्पत्य गगनं क्ष्मामताडयत् ।
कराभ्यां तन्निनादेन प्राक्स्वनास्ते तिरोहिताः

tataḥ kālī samutpatya gaganaṃ kṣmāmatāḍayat |
karābhyāṃ tanninādena prāksvanāste tirohitāḥ

Then Kali leapt into the sky and struck the earth with both hands, and at that sound all the earlier sounds were drowned.

अट्टाट्टहासमशिवं शिवदूती चकार ह ।
तैः शब्दैरसुरास्त्रेसुः शुम्भः कोपं परं ययौ

aṭṭāṭṭahāsamaśivaṃ śivadūtī cakāra ha |
taiḥ śabdairasurāstresuḥ śumbhaḥ kopaṃ paraṃ yayau

Shivaduti gave a loud, ill-omened laugh. At these sounds the asuras trembled, and Shumbha fell into the utmost rage.

दुरात्मंस्तिष्ठ तिष्ठेति व्याजहाराम्बिका यदा ।
तदा जयेत्यभिहितं देवैराकाशसंस्थितैः

durātmaṃstiṣṭha tiṣṭheti vyājahārāmbikā yadā |
tadā jayetyabhihitaṃ devairākāśasaṃsthitaiḥ

When Ambika cried, "Stand, wicked one, stand!", the devas standing in the sky called out, "Victory!"

शुम्भेनागत्य या शक्तिर्मुक्ता ज्वालातिभीषणा ।
आयान्ती वह्निकूटाभा सा निरस्ता महोल्कया

śumbhenāgatya yā śaktirmuktā jvālātibhīṣaṇā |
āyāntī vahnikūṭābhā sā nirastā maholkayā

The spear Shumbha came and hurled, blazing with dreadful flames and shining like a mountain of fire, was turned aside by a great firebrand.

सिंहनादेन शुम्भस्य व्याप्तं लोकत्रयान्तरम् ।
निर्घातनिः स्वनो घोरो जितवानवनीपते

siṃhanādena śumbhasya vyāptaṃ lokatrayāntaram |
nirghātaniḥ svano ghoro jitavānavanīpate

Shumbha's lion-like roar filled the three worlds, O king, but a terrible sound like a thunderclap overcame it.

शुम्भमुक्ताञ्छरान्देवी शुम्भस्तत्प्रहिताञ्छरान् ।
चिच्छेद स्वशरैरुग्रैः शतशोऽथ सहस्रशः

śumbhamuktāñcharāndevī śumbhastatprahitāñcharān |
ciccheda svaśarairugraiḥ śataśo'tha sahasraśaḥ

The Devi cut down with her fierce arrows the arrows Shumbha loosed, and Shumbha cut down those she sent, by the hundred and the thousand.

ततः सा चण्डिका क्रुद्धा शूलेनाभिजघान तम् ।
स तदाभिहतो भूमौ मूर्च्छितो निपपात ह

tataḥ sā caṇḍikā kruddhā śūlenābhijaghāna tam |
sa tadābhihato bhūmau mūrcchito nipapāta ha

Then Chandika in her anger struck him with her trident, and he fell senseless to the ground.

ततो निशुम्भः सम्प्राप्य चेतनामात्तकार्मुकः ।
आजघान शरैर्देवीं कालीं केसरिणं तथा

tato niśumbhaḥ samprāpya cetanāmāttakārmukaḥ |
ājaghāna śarairdevīṃ kālīṃ kesariṇaṃ tathā

Then Nishumbha came back to his senses, took up his bow, and struck the Devi, Kali and the lion with arrows.

पुनश्च कृत्वा बाहूनामयुतं दनुजेश्वरः ।
चक्रायुधेन दितिजश्छादयामास चण्डिकाम्

punaśca kṛtvā bāhūnāmayutaṃ danujeśvaraḥ |
cakrāyudhena ditijaśchādayāmāsa caṇḍikām

Again that lord of the danavas, son of Diti, made himself ten thousand arms and covered Chandika with discuses.

ततो भगवती क्रुद्धा दुर्गा दुर्गार्तिनाशिनी ।
चिच्छेद तानि चक्राणि स्वशरैः सायकांश्च तान्

tato bhagavatī kruddhā durgā durgārtināśinī |
ciccheda tāni cakrāṇi svaśaraiḥ sāyakāṃśca tān

Then Bhagavati Durga, who destroys distress hard to overcome, cut down those discuses and arrows with her own arrows in her anger.

ततो निशुम्भो वेगेन गदामादाय चण्डिकाम् ।
अभ्यधावत वै हन्तुं दैत्यसेनासमावृतः

tato niśumbho vegena gadāmādāya caṇḍikām |
abhyadhāvata vai hantuṃ daityasenāsamāvṛtaḥ

Then Nishumbha seized a mace and rushed at Chandika with speed to kill her, surrounded by the daitya army.

तस्यापतत एवाशु गदां चिच्छेद चण्डिका ।
खड्गेन शितधारेण स च शूलं समाददे

tasyāpatata evāśu gadāṃ ciccheda caṇḍikā |
khaḍgena śitadhāreṇa sa ca śūlaṃ samādade

As he rushed in, Chandika swiftly cut his mace with her sharp-edged sword, and he took up a trident.

शूलहस्तं समायान्तं निशुम्भममरार्दनम् ।
हृदि विव्याध शूलेन वेगाविद्धेन चण्डिका

śūlahastaṃ samāyāntaṃ niśumbhamamarārdanam |
hṛdi vivyādha śūlena vegāviddhena caṇḍikā

As Nishumbha, tormentor of the devas, came on with trident in hand, Chandika pierced him in the heart with a swiftly hurled trident.

भिन्नस्य तस्य शूलेन हृदयान्निः सृतोऽपरः ।
महाबलो महावीर्यस्तिष्ठेति पुरुषो वदन्

bhinnasya tasya śūlena hṛdayānniḥ sṛto'paraḥ |
mahābalo mahāvīryastiṣṭheti puruṣo vadan

From his heart, pierced by the trident, another being came out, of great strength and valour, crying "Stand!"

तस्य निष्क्रामतो देवी प्रहस्य स्वनवत्ततः ।
शिरश्चिच्छेद खड्गेन ततोऽसावपतद् भुवि

tasya niṣkrāmato devī prahasya svanavattataḥ |
śiraściccheda khaḍgena tato'sāvapatad bhuvi

As he came out, the Devi laughed aloud and cut off his head with her sword, and he fell to the ground.

ततः सिंहश्चखादोग्रं दंष्ट्राक्षुण्णशिरोधरान् ।
असुरांस्तांस्तथा काली शिवदूती तथापरान्

tataḥ siṃhaścakhādograṃ daṃṣṭrākṣuṇṇaśirodharān |
asurāṃstāṃstathā kālī śivadūtī tathāparān

Then the lion devoured asuras whose necks it had crushed with its fierce fangs, and Kali and Shivaduti devoured others.

कौमारीशक्तिनिर्भिन्नाः केचिन्नेशुर्महासुराः ।
ब्रह्माणीमन्त्रपूतेन तोयेनान्ये निराकृताः

kaumārīśaktinirbhinnāḥ kecinneśurmahāsurāḥ |
brahmāṇīmantrapūtena toyenānye nirākṛtāḥ

Some great asuras perished, pierced by Kaumari's spear; others were driven off by water purified with Brahmani's mantras.

माहेश्वरीत्रिशूलेन भिन्नाः पेतुस्तथापरे ।
वाराहीतुण्डघातेन केचिच्चूर्णोकृता भुवि

māheśvarītriśūlena bhinnāḥ petustathāpare |
vārāhītuṇḍaghātena keciccūrṇokṛtā bhuvi

Others fell, split by Maheshvari's trident, and some were ground to dust on the earth by blows of Varahi's snout.

खण्डं खण्डं च चक्रेण वैष्णव्या दानवाः कृताः ।
वज्रेण चैन्द्रीहस्ताग्रविमुक्तेन तथापरे

khaṇḍaṃ khaṇḍaṃ ca cakreṇa vaiṣṇavyā dānavāḥ kṛtāḥ |
vajreṇa caindrīhastāgravimuktena tathāpare

Danavas were hacked to pieces by Vaishnavi's discus, and others by the thunderbolt flung from the tip of Aindri's hand.

केचिद्विनेशुरसुराः केचिन्नष्टा महाहवात् ।
भक्षिताश्चापरे कालीशिवदूतीमृगाधिपैः

kecidvineśurasurāḥ kecinnaṣṭā mahāhavāt |
bhakṣitāścāpare kālīśivadūtīmṛgādhipaiḥ

Some asuras perished, some fled from the great battle, and others were devoured by Kali, Shivaduti and the lion.