Devi Mahatmyam Durga Saptasati Chapter 9
Durga
tap any word for its meaning
- verse 1निशुम्भवधोनाम नवमोध्यायः ॥niśumbhavadhōnāma navamōdhyāyaḥ ॥meaning
The ninth chapter — the slaying of Nishumbha — of the Devi Mahatmyam begins. [chapter heading]
- verse 2ध्यानंॐ बन्धूक काञ्चननिभं रुचिराक्षमालांपाशाङ्कुशौ च वरदां निजबाहुदण्डैः ।बिभ्राणमिन्दु शकलाभरणां त्रिनेत्रां-अर्धाम्बिकेशमनिशं वपुराश्रयामि ॥dhyānaṃōṃ bandhūka kāñchananibhaṃ ruchirākṣamālāṃpāśāṅkuśau cha varadāṃ nijabāhudaṇḍaiḥ ।bibhrāṇamindu śakalābharaṇāṃ trinētrāṃ-ardhāmbikēśamaniśaṃ vapurāśrayāmi ॥meaning
Dhyana verse: I take refuge always in that form of half-Ambika-and-Shiva, resembling the bandhuka and gold, bearing a beautiful rosary, noose, goad, and boon-granting hand, adorned with a crescent, three-eyed. [dhyana]
- verse 3राजौवाच॥1॥rājauvācha॥1॥meaning
The king speaks. [narrative marker]
- verse 4विचित्रमिदमाख्यातं भगवन् भवता मम ।देव्याश्चरितमाहात्म्यं रक्त बीजवधाश्रितम् ॥ 2॥भूयश्चेच्छाम्यहं श्रोतुं रक्तबीजे निपातिते ।चकार शुम्भो यत्कर्म निशुम्भश्चातिकोपनः ॥3॥vichitramidamākhyātaṃ bhagavan bhavatā mama ।dēvyāścharitamāhātmyaṃ rakta bījavadhāśritam ॥ 2॥bhūyaśchēchChāmyahaṃ śrōtuṃ raktabījē nipātitē ।chakāra śumbhō yatkarma niśumbhaśchātikōpanaḥ ॥3॥meaning
This great account of the Goddess's deeds related to the slaying of Raktabija has been wonderfully told by you, O blessed one. I wish to hear further what Shumbha and the furious Nishumbha did when Raktabija was slain.
- verse 5ऋषिरुवाच ॥4॥ṛṣiruvācha ॥4॥meaning
The Rishi speaks. [narrative marker]
- verse 6चकार कोपमतुलं रक्तबीजे निपातिते।शुम्भासुरो निशुम्भश्च हतेष्वन्येषु चाहवे ॥5॥chakāra kōpamatulaṃ raktabījē nipātitē।śumbhāsurō niśumbhaścha hatēṣvanyēṣu chāhavē ॥5॥meaning
When Raktabija was slain, Shumbha and Nishumbha flew into immeasurable rage as all the other demons fell in battle.
- verse 7हन्यमानं महासैन्यं विलोक्यामर्षमुद्वहन्।अभ्यदावन्निशुम्बोऽथ मुख्ययासुर सेनया ॥6॥hanyamānaṃ mahāsainyaṃ vilōkyāmarṣamudvahan।abhyadāvanniśumbō'tha mukhyayāsura sēnayā ॥6॥meaning
Seeing the great army being slaughtered, Nishumbha, filled with fury, charged forward with the chief demon force.
- verse 8तस्याग्रतस्तथा पृष्ठे पार्श्वयोश्च महासुराःसन्दष्टौष्ठपुटाः क्रुद्धा हन्तुं देवीमुपाययुः ॥7॥tasyāgratastathā pṛṣṭhē pārśvayōścha mahāsurāḥsandaṣṭauṣṭhapuṭāḥ kruddhā hantuṃ dēvīmupāyayuḥ ॥7॥meaning
Before and behind him, and on both flanks, great demons with lips clenched in anger came forward to slay the Goddess.
- verse 9आजगाम महावीर्यः शुम्भोऽपि स्वबलैर्वृतः।निहन्तुं चण्डिकां कोपात्कृत्वा युद्दं तु मातृभिः ॥8॥ājagāma mahāvīryaḥ śumbhō'pi svabalairvṛtaḥ।nihantuṃ chaṇḍikāṃ kōpātkṛtvā yuddaṃ tu mātṛbhiḥ ॥8॥meaning
The mighty Shumbha also came, surrounded by his own forces, in rage to fight the Matrikas and slay Chandika.
- verse 10ततो युद्धमतीवासीद्देव्या शुम्भनिशुम्भयोः।शरवर्षमतीवोग्रं मेघयोरिव वर्षतोः ॥9॥tatō yuddhamatīvāsīddēvyā śumbhaniśumbhayōḥ।śaravarṣamatīvōgraṃ mēghayōriva varṣatōḥ ॥9॥meaning
A most fierce battle then took place between the Goddess and Shumbha and Nishumbha, with arrows pouring like the showers from rain-laden clouds.
- verse 11चिच्छेदास्ताञ्छरांस्ताभ्यां चण्डिका स्वशरोत्करैः।ताडयामास चाङ्गेषु शस्त्रौघैरसुरेश्वरौ ॥10॥chichChēdāstāñCharāṃstābhyāṃ chaṇḍikā svaśarōtkaraiḥ।tāḍayāmāsa chāṅgēṣu śastraughairasurēśvarau ॥10॥meaning
Chandika severed their arrows with her own shafts, and struck the two demon-lords on their limbs with masses of weapons.
- verse 12निशुम्भो निशितं खड्गं चर्म चादाय सुप्रभम्।अताडयन्मूर्ध्नि सिंहं देव्या वाहनमुत्तमम्॥11॥niśumbhō niśitaṃ khaḍgaṃ charma chādāya suprabham।atāḍayanmūrdhni siṃhaṃ dēvyā vāhanamuttamam॥11॥meaning
Nishumbha took up a bright sharp sword and shield, and struck the Goddess's lion — her supreme vehicle — on the head.
- verse 13ताडिते वाहने देवी क्षुर प्रेणासिमुत्तमम्।शुम्भस्याशु चिच्छेद चर्म चाप्यष्ट चन्द्रकम् ॥12॥tāḍitē vāhanē dēvī kṣura prēṇāsimuttamam।śumbhasyāśu chichChēda charma chāpyaṣṭa chandrakam ॥12॥meaning
When her vehicle was struck, the Goddess with a razor-edged sword quickly cut off the sword of Shumbha and his shield of eight moons.
- verse 14छिन्ने चर्मणि खड्गे च शक्तिं चिक्षेप सोऽसुरः।तामप्यस्य द्विधा चक्रे चक्रेणाभिमुखागताम्॥13॥Chinnē charmaṇi khaḍgē cha śaktiṃ chikṣēpa sō'suraḥ।tāmapyasya dvidhā chakrē chakrēṇābhimukhāgatām॥13॥meaning
When sword and shield were severed, the demon hurled a javelin at her; she split even that in two with her discus as it came toward her.
- verse 15कोपाध्मातो निशुम्भोऽथ शूलं जग्राह दानवः।आयातं मुष्ठिपातेन देवी तच्चाप्यचूर्णयत्॥14॥kōpādhmātō niśumbhō'tha śūlaṃ jagrāha dānavaḥ।āyātaṃ muṣṭhipātēna dēvī tachchāpyachūrṇayat॥14॥meaning
Enraged, Nishumbha the demon seized a trident; but the Goddess destroyed that too when it came flying with a blow of her fist.
- verse 16आविद्ध्याथ गदां सोऽपि चिक्षेप चण्डिकां प्रति।सापि देव्यास् त्रिशूलेन भिन्ना भस्मत्वमागता॥15॥āviddhyātha gadāṃ sō'pi chikṣēpa chaṇḍikāṃ prati।sāpi dēvyās triśūlēna bhinnā bhasmatvamāgatā॥15॥meaning
He seized a mace and hurled it at Chandika; she split that too with her trident and it was reduced to ash.
- verse 17ततः परशुहस्तं तमायान्तं दैत्यपुङ्गवं।आहत्य देवी बाणौघैरपातयत भूतले॥16॥tataḥ paraśuhastaṃ tamāyāntaṃ daityapuṅgavaṃ।āhatya dēvī bāṇaughairapātayata bhūtalē॥16॥meaning
Then with a volley of arrows the Goddess struck down that battle-axe-wielding foremost of demons as he came toward her and flung him to the ground.
- verse 18तस्मिन्नि पतिते भूमौ निशुम्भे भीमविक्रमे।भ्रातर्यतीव सङ्क्रुद्धः प्रययौ हन्तुमम्बिकाम्॥17॥tasminni patitē bhūmau niśumbhē bhīmavikramē।bhrātaryatīva saṅkruddhaḥ prayayau hantumambikām॥17॥meaning
When the terribly powerful Nishumbha thus fell to the ground, his brother Shumbha blazed with extreme fury and came forward to slay Ambika.
- verse 19स रथस्थस्तथात्युच्छै र्गृहीतपरमायुधैः।भुजैरष्टाभिरतुलै र्व्याप्या शेषं बभौ नभः॥18॥sa rathasthastathātyuchChai rgṛhītaparamāyudhaiḥ।bhujairaṣṭābhiratulai rvyāpyā śēṣaṃ babhau nabhaḥ॥18॥meaning
Standing on his chariot, bearing supreme weapons in his eight incomparable arms, he shone in the sky filling all with his majesty.
- verse 20तमायान्तं समालोक्य देवी शङ्खमवादयत्।ज्याशब्दं चापि धनुष श्चकारातीव दुःसहम्॥19॥tamāyāntaṃ samālōkya dēvī śaṅkhamavādayat।jyāśabdaṃ chāpi dhanuṣa śchakārātīva duḥsaham॥19॥meaning
When the Goddess saw him coming she sounded her conch and made the twang of her bowstring unbearable.
- verse 21पूरयामास ककुभो निजघण्टा स्वनेन च।समस्तदैत्यसैन्यानां तेजोवधविधायिना॥20॥pūrayāmāsa kakubhō nijaghaṇṭā svanēna cha।samastadaityasainyānāṃ tējōvadhavidhāyinā॥20॥meaning
She filled the quarters with the sound of her bell, which destroys the vigor of all the demon armies.
- verse 22ततः सिंहो महानादै स्त्याजितेभमहामदैः।पुरयामास गगनं गां तथैव दिशो दश॥21॥tataḥ siṃhō mahānādai styājitēbhamahāmadaiḥ।purayāmāsa gaganaṃ gāṃ tathaiva diśō daśa॥21॥meaning
Then the lion filled the sky and the earth and all ten directions with his mighty roars.
- verse 23ततः काली समुत्पत्य गगनं क्ष्मामताडयत्।कराभ्यां तन्निनादेन प्राक्स्वनास्ते तिरोहिताः॥22॥tataḥ kāḻī samutpatya gaganaṃ kṣmāmatāḍayat।karābhyāṃ tanninādēna prāksvanāstē tirōhitāḥ॥22॥meaning
Then Kali, leaping up, struck the sky and the earth with both hands — the previous sounds were swallowed by that noise.
- verse 24अट्टाट्टहासमशिवं शिवदूती चकार ह।वैः शब्दैरसुरास्त्रेसुः शुम्भः कोपं परं ययौ॥23॥aṭṭāṭṭahāsamaśivaṃ śivadūtī chakāra ha।vaiḥ śabdairasurāstrēsuḥ śumbhaḥ kōpaṃ paraṃ yayau॥23॥meaning
Shivaduti burst into a dreadful inauspicious laughter; with those shrieks and sounds the demons were terror-struck and Shumbha blazed with extreme fury.
- verse 25दुरात्मं स्तिष्ट तिष्ठेति व्याज हाराम्बिका यदा।तदा जयेत्यभिहितं देवैराकाश संस्थितैः॥24॥durātmaṃ stiṣṭa tiṣṭhēti vyāja hārāmbikā yadā।tadā jayētyabhihitaṃ dēvairākāśa saṃsthitaiḥ॥24॥meaning
When Ambika called out 'Stop, stop, O wicked one!' — then the gods stationed in the sky exclaimed 'Victory!'
- verse 26शुम्भेनागत्य या शक्तिर्मुक्ता ज्वालातिभीषणा।आयान्ती वह्निकूटाभा सा निरस्ता महोल्कया॥25॥śumbhēnāgatya yā śaktirmuktā jvālātibhīṣaṇā।āyāntī vahnikūṭābhā sā nirastā mahōlkayā॥25॥meaning
The energy hurled by Shumbha — blazing like a terrible mass of fire coming like a meteor — was dispelled by the Goddess with a great torch.
- verse 27सिंहनादेन शुम्भस्य व्याप्तं लोकत्रयान्तरम्।निर्घातनिःस्वनो घोरो जितवानवनीपते॥26॥siṃhanādēna śumbhasya vyāptaṃ lōkatrayāntaram।nirghātaniḥsvanō ghōrō jitavānavanīpatē॥26॥meaning
Shumbha's lion-roar filled the space between the three worlds — a terrible thunderous sound that overmastered the earth.
- verse 28शुम्भमुक्ताञ्छरान्देवी शुम्भस्तत्प्रहिताञ्छरान्।चिच्छेद स्वशरैरुग्रैः शतशोऽथ सहस्रशः॥27॥śumbhamuktāñCharāndēvī śumbhastatprahitāñCharān।chichChēda svaśarairugraiḥ śataśō'tha sahasraśaḥ॥27॥meaning
The Goddess cut with her own fierce arrows all the arrows released by Shumbha — and Shumbha's arrows aimed at her — by the hundreds and thousands.
- verse 29ततः सा चण्डिका क्रुद्धा शूलेनाभिजघान तम्।स तदाभि हतो भूमौ मूर्छितो निपपात ह॥28॥tataḥ sā chaṇḍikā kruddhā śūlēnābhijaghāna tam।sa tadābhi hatō bhūmau mūrChitō nipapāta ha॥28॥meaning
Then the furious Chandika struck him with her trident; struck, he fainted and fell to the ground.
- verse 30ततो निशुम्भः सम्प्राप्य चेतनामात्तकार्मुकः।आजघान शरैर्देवीं कालीं केसरिणं तथा॥29॥tatō niśumbhaḥ samprāpya chētanāmāttakārmukaḥ।ājaghāna śarairdēvīṃ kāḻīṃ kēsariṇaṃ tathā॥29॥meaning
Then Nishumbha, recovering consciousness, took up his bow and shot the Goddess, Kali, and the lion with arrows.
- verse 31पुनश्च कृत्वा बाहुनामयुतं दनुजेश्वरः।चक्रायुधेन दितिजश्चादयामास चण्डिकाम्॥30॥punaścha kṛtvā bāhunāmayutaṃ danujēśvaraḥ।chakrāyudhēna ditijaśchādayāmāsa chaṇḍikām॥30॥meaning
And once more that lord of demons made ten thousand arms and covered Chandika with weapons and discs.
- verse 32ततो भगवती क्रुद्धा दुर्गादुर्गार्ति नाशिनी।चिच्छेद देवी चक्राणि स्वशरैः सायकांश्च तान्॥31॥tatō bhagavatī kruddhā durgādurgārti nāśinī।chichChēda dēvī chakrāṇi svaśaraiḥ sāyakāṃścha tān॥31॥meaning
Then the blessed Goddess, who destroys the distress of the difficult — the fury-born Durga — cut those discus-weapons and arrows with her own arrows.
- verse 33ततो निशुम्भो वेगेन गदामादाय चण्डिकाम्।अभ्यधावत वै हन्तुं दैत्य सेनासमावृतः॥32॥tatō niśumbhō vēgēna gadāmādāya chaṇḍikām।abhyadhāvata vai hantuṃ daitya sēnāsamāvṛtaḥ॥32॥meaning
Then Nishumbha with speed took up a mace to strike Chandika, and charged surrounded by the demon army.
- verse 34तस्यापतत एवाशु गदां चिच्छेद चण्डिका।खड्गेन शितधारेण स च शूलं समाददे॥33॥tasyāpatata ēvāśu gadāṃ chichChēda chaṇḍikā।khaḍgēna śitadhārēṇa sa cha śūlaṃ samādadē॥33॥meaning
Even as he was charging, Chandika cut his mace with a sharp-edged sword; he took up a javelin.
- verse 35शूलहस्तं समायान्तं निशुम्भममरार्दनम्।हृदि विव्याध शूलेन वेगाविद्धेन चण्डिका॥34॥śūlahastaṃ samāyāntaṃ niśumbhamamarārdanam।hṛdi vivyādha śūlēna vēgāviddhēna chaṇḍikā॥34॥meaning
Chandika struck the javelin-bearing Nishumbha, tormentor of the gods, in the chest with a javelin hurled at speed.
- verse 36खिन्नस्य तस्य शूलेन हृदयान्निःसृतोऽपरः।महाबलो महावीर्यस्तिष्ठेति पुरुषो वदन्॥35॥khinnasya tasya śūlēna hṛdayānniḥsṛtō'paraḥ।mahābalō mahāvīryastiṣṭhēti puruṣō vadan॥35॥meaning
From his chest pierced by the javelin, another man of great strength and great valor came forth saying 'Stop!'
- verse 37तस्य निष्क्रामतो देवी प्रहस्य स्वनवत्ततः।शिरश्चिच्छेद खड्गेन ततोऽसावपतद्भुवि॥36॥tasya niṣkrāmatō dēvī prahasya svanavattataḥ।śiraśchichChēda khaḍgēna tatō'sāvapatadbhuvi॥36॥meaning
As he was coming out, the Goddess laughed and with her sword severed his head; then he fell to the earth.
- verse 38ततः सिंहश्च खादोग्र दंष्ट्राक्षुण्णशिरोधरान्।असुरां स्तांस्तथा काली शिवदूती तथापरान्॥37॥tataḥ siṃhaścha khādōgra daṃṣṭrākṣuṇṇaśirōdharān।asurāṃ stāṃstathā kāḻī śivadūtī tathāparān॥37॥meaning
Then the lion devoured some demons with his fierce gnashing teeth; Kali and Shivaduti devoured others.
- verse 39कौमारी शक्तिनिर्भिन्नाः केचिन्नेशुर्महासुराःब्रह्माणी मन्त्रपूतेन तोयेनान्ये निराकृताः॥38॥kaumārī śaktinirbhinnāḥ kēchinnēśurmahāsurāḥbrahmāṇī mantrapūtēna tōyēnānyē nirākṛtāḥ॥38॥meaning
Some mighty demons were pierced by Kaumari's javelin; others were annihilated by Brahmani's mantra-purified water.
- verse 40माहेश्वरी त्रिशूलेन भिन्नाः पेतुस्तथापरे।वाराहीतुण्डघातेन केचिच्चूर्णी कृता भुवि॥39॥māhēśvarī triśūlēna bhinnāḥ pētustathāparē।vārāhītuṇḍaghātēna kēchichchūrṇī kṛtā bhuvi॥39॥meaning
Others fell pierced by Maheshvari's trident; some fell to the ground crushed by Varahi's snout-blow.
- verse 41खण्डं खण्डं च चक्रेण वैष्णव्या दानवाः कृताः।वज्रेण चैन्द्री हस्ताग्र विमुक्तेन तथापरे॥40॥khaṇḍaṃ khaṇḍaṃ cha chakrēṇa vaiṣṇavyā dānavāḥ kṛtāḥ।vajrēṇa chaindrī hastāgra vimuktēna tathāparē॥40॥meaning
The demons were cut to pieces by Vaishnavi's discus; others were struck by the thunderbolt released from Aindri's hand.
- verse 42केचिद्विनेशुरसुराः केचिन्नष्टामहाहवात्।भक्षिताश्चापरे कालीशिवधूती मृगाधिपैः॥41॥kēchidvinēśurasurāḥ kēchinnaṣṭāmahāhavāt।bhakṣitāśchāparē kāḻīśivadhūtī mṛgādhipaiḥ॥41॥meaning
Some demons perished, some fled the great battle; others were devoured by Kali, Shivaduti, and the lion.
- verse 43॥ स्वस्ति श्री मार्कण्डेय पुराणे सावर्निके मन्वन्तरे देवि महत्म्ये निशुम्भवधोनाम नवमोध्याय समाप्तम् ॥॥ svasti śrī mārkaṇḍēya purāṇē sāvarnikē manvantarē dēvi mahatmyē niśumbhavadhōnāma navamōdhyāya samāptam ॥meaning
Victory to the ninth chapter named 'The Slaying of Nishumbha' in the Devi Mahatmyam of the Savarnaka Manvantara. [colophon]
- verse 44आहुतिॐ क्लीं जयन्ती साङ्गायै सशक्तिकायै सपरिवारायै सवाहनायै महाहुतिं समर्पयामि नमः स्वाहा ॥āhutiōṃ klīṃ jayantī sāṅgāyai saśaktikāyai saparivārāyai savāhanāyai mahāhutiṃ samarpayāmi namaḥ svāhā ॥meaning
Oblation: Om Klim — to Jayanti together with all her powers, retinue, and vehicle — I offer the great oblation, salutation, svaha. [ritual oblation]
Primary text from vignanam.org