Chapter 10: The Slaying of Shumba
The Rishi said: Seeing his brother Nishumbha slain, who was
dear to him as his life, and his army being slaughtered, Shumbha angrily said.
'O Durga who are puffed up with pride of strength, don't show your pride
(here). Though you are exceedingly haughty, you, resorting to the strength of
others, fight.' The Devi said: 'I am all alone in the world here. Who else is
there besides me? See, O vile one, these Goddesses, who are but my own powers,
entering into my own self!' Then all those, Brahmani and the rest, were
absorbed in the body of the Devi.
Ambika alone then remained. The Devi said:
'The numerous forms, which I projected by my power here - those have been
withdrawn by me, and (now) I stand alone. Be steadfast in combat.' The Rishi
said: Then began a dreadful battle between them both, the Devi and Shumbha,
while all the devas and asuras looked on. With showers of arrows, with sharp
weapons and frightful missiles, both engaged again in a combat that frightened
all the worlds.
The daitya-king, wounded by the blow of her palm fell on the
earth, but immediately he rose up again. Seizing the Devi, he sprang up and
mounted on high into the sky. There also Chandika, without any support, fought
with him. Then the daitya (Shumbha) and Chandika fought as never before, with
each other in the sky in a close contact, which wrought surprise to the Siddhas
and sages. Ambika then, after carrying on a close fight for a very long time
with him, lifted him up, whirled him around and flung him down to earth. Flung
thus, the evil-natured (Shumbha) reaching the earth and raising his fist,
hastily rushed forward desiring to kill Chandika. Seeing that lord of all the
daitya-folk approaching, the Devi, piercing him on the chest with a dart, threw
him down to earth. Pierced by the pointed dart of the Devi he fell lifeless on
the ground, shaking the entire earth with its seas, islands and mountains.
When that evil-natured (asura) was slain, the universe
became happy and regained perfect peace, and the sky grew clear. Flaming
portent-clouds that were in evidence before became tranquil, and the rivers
kept within their courses when (Shumbha) was stricken down there. When he had been
slain, the minds of all the bands of devas became overjoyed, and the Gandharvas
sang sweetly. Others sounded (their instruments), and the bands of nymphs
danced; likewise favourable winds blew; the sun became very brilliant; the
sacred fires blazed peacefully and tranquil became the strange sounds that had
risen in different quarters.
Here ends the tenth chapter called 'The Slaying of Shumbha'
of Devi- Mahatmya in Markandeya-Purana, during the period of Savarni, the Manu.
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