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मराठीहिंदीEN

Part of: श्रीदुर्गासप्तशती

नवमोऽध्यायः · निशुम्भवध

Chapter 9 · The slaying of Nishumbha

Durga Saptashati, chapter 9: Nishumbha is slain

43 verses Audio will be added later

Source: Gita Press, Chapter 9 Scholar review pending
About this stotra

Nishumbha-vadha, the slaying of Nishumbha, is the ninth chapter of the Durga Saptashati, the Devi Mahatmya of the Markandeya Purana. Its closing colophon places the story within the Savarni Manvantara section of that Purana. By tradition, chapters 5 to 13 form the final episode (uttama carita) of the Saptashati, and this chapter belongs to it.

Raktabija fell in chapter 8. Now King Suratha asks the sage what Shumbha and Nishumbha did next, and the sage describes the battle. Nishumbha is wounded and falls first. Shumbha then rides out in his chariot, and the Devi strikes him unconscious. Nishumbha revives and fights again, until the Devi pierces his heart with her trident and ends him with her sword. In the closing verses the Matrikas, Kali, Shivaduti and the lion destroy what is left of the asura army.

How the chapter is laid out

It opens with a meditation verse on Ardhanarishvara, the form that is half Shiva and half the Devi. Then come 41 numbered mantras in the Gita Press count: two 'said' lines and 39 verses, followed by the colophon. The references shown here (9.1, 9.2 …) follow the Gita Press edition.

If you are reading it for the first time

Go slowly, one half-verse at a time, with a short pause between. Read the meanings once before you recite; the story carries you once you know it. A few words need care:

  • संदष्टौष्ठपुटाः: a clear retroflex ṣṭh, not a plain 'st'.
  • क्षुरप्रेण, दंष्ट्राक्षुण्ण: keep the clusters kṣ and ṣṭr together.
  • निर्घातनिःस्वनो: let the visarga in the middle be heard, lightly.
  • शुम्भ, निशुम्भ: the palatal ś, not 's' or 'ṣ'.

The meaning on this page was written by our team directly from the Sanskrit. Whether a scholar has reviewed it is shown on the page.

ध्यानम्

ॐ बन्धूककाञ्चननिभं रुचिराक्षमालां पाशाङ्कुशौ च वरदां निजबाहुदण्डैः। बिभ्राणमिन्दुशकलाभरणं त्रिनेत्रमर्धाम्बिकेशमनिशं वपुराश्रयामि॥

oṃ bandhūkakāñcananibhaṃ rucirākṣamālāṃ pāśāṅkuśau ca varadāṃ nijabāhudaṇḍaiḥ | bibhrāṇaminduśakalābharaṇaṃ trinetramardhāmbikeśamaniśaṃ vapurāśrayāmi ||

I always take refuge in the form that is half Ambika and half Shiva, the Ardhanarishvara. It glows like the red bandhuka flower and like gold. In its arms it holds a fine rosary, a noose and a goad, and shows the gesture of granting boons. It wears the crescent moon as an ornament and has three eyes.

ॐ राजोवाच॥

oṃ rājovāca ||

Om. The king said:

verse 9.2

विचित्रमिदमाख्यातं भगवन् भवता मम। देव्याश्चरितमाहात्म्यं रक्तबीजवधाश्रितम्॥

vicitramidamākhyātaṃ bhagavan bhavatā mama | devyāścaritamāhātmyaṃ raktabījavadhāśritam ||

Revered sir, you have told me a wonderful account of the Devi's deeds and greatness, centred on the slaying of Raktabija.

verse 9.3

भूयश्चेच्छाम्यहं श्रोतुं रक्तबीजे निपातिते। चकार शुम्भो यत्कर्म निशुम्भश्चातिकोपनः॥

bhūyaścecchāmyahaṃ śrotuṃ raktabīje nipātite | cakāra śumbho yatkarma niśumbhaścātikopanaḥ ||

I want to hear more. Once Raktabija had been struck down, what did Shumbha do, and the hot-tempered Nishumbha?

ऋषिरुवाच॥

ṛṣiruvāca ||

The sage said:

verse 9.5

चकार कोपमतुलं रक्तबीजे निपातिते। शुम्भासुरो निशुम्भश्च हतेष्वन्येषु चाहवे॥

cakāra kopamatulaṃ raktabīje nipātite | śumbhāsuro niśumbhaśca hateṣvanyeṣu cāhave ||

With Raktabija fallen and the others killed in battle, the asura Shumbha and Nishumbha were seized by a rage beyond measure.

verse 9.6

हन्यमानं महासैन्यं विलोक्यामर्षमुद्वहन्। अभ्यधावन्निशुम्भोऽथ मुख्ययासुरसेनया॥

hanyamānaṃ mahāsainyaṃ vilokyāmarṣamudvahan | abhyadhāvanniśumbho'tha mukhyayāsurasenayā ||

Seeing his great army being cut down, Nishumbha, burning with fury, charged forward with the main asura force.

verse 9.7

तस्याग्रतस्तथा पृष्ठे पार्श्वयोश्च महासुराः। संदष्टौष्ठपुटाः क्रुद्धा हन्तुं देवीमुपाययुः॥

tasyāgratastathā pṛṣṭhe pārśvayośca mahāsurāḥ | saṃdaṣṭauṣṭhapuṭāḥ kruddhā hantuṃ devīmupāyayuḥ ||

Great asuras flanked him in front, behind and on both sides. Biting their lips in anger, they came to kill the Devi.

verse 9.8

आजगाम महावीर्यः शुम्भोऽपि स्वबलैर्वृतः। निहन्तुं चण्डिकां कोपात्कृत्वा युद्धं तु मातृभिः॥

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

Mighty Shumbha came too, surrounded by his own forces. Having fought the Matrikas, he advanced in anger to kill Chandika.

verse 9.9

ततो युद्धमतीवासीद्देव्या शुम्भनिशुम्भयोः। शरवर्षमतीवोग्रं मेघयोरिव वर्षतोः॥

tato yuddhamatīvāsīddevyā śumbhaniśumbhayoḥ | śaravarṣamatīvograṃ meghayoriva varṣatoḥ ||

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

verse 9.10

चिच्छेदास्ताञ्छरांस्ताभ्यां चण्डिका स्वशरोत्करैः। ताडयामास चाङ्गेषु शस्त्रौघैरसुरेश्वरौ॥

cicchedāstāñcharāṃstābhyāṃ caṇḍikā svaśarotkaraiḥ | tāḍayāmāsa cāṅgeṣu śastraughairasureśvarau ||

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

verse 9.11

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 lion, the Devi's noble mount, on the head.

verse 9.12

ताडिते वाहने देवी क्षुरप्रेणासिमुत्तमम्। निशुम्भस्याशु चिच्छेद चर्म चाप्यष्टचन्द्रकम्॥

tāḍite vāhane devī kṣurapreṇāsimuttamam | niśumbhasyāśu ciccheda carma cāpyaṣṭacandrakam ||

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

verse 9.13

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 gone, the asura hurled a spear (śakti). As it came at her, she split it in two with her discus.

verse 9.14

कोपाध्मातो निशुम्भोऽथ शूलं जग्राह दानवः। आयातं मुष्टिपातेन देवी तच्चाप्यचूर्णयत्॥

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

Swollen with rage, the danava Nishumbha seized a pike (śūla). As it came at her, the Devi smashed it to pieces with a blow of her fist.

verse 9.15

आविध्याथ गदां सोऽपि चिक्षेप चण्डिकां प्रति। सापि देव्या त्रिशूलेन भिन्ना भस्मत्वमागता॥

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

Then he whirled a mace and flung it at Chandika. It too was shattered by the Devi's trident and turned to ash.

verse 9.16

ततः परशुहस्तं तमायान्तं दैत्यपुङ्गवम्। आहत्य देवी बाणौघैरपातयत भूतले॥

tataḥ paraśuhastaṃ tamāyāntaṃ daityapuṅgavam | āhatya devī bāṇaughairapātayata bhūtale ||

Then that foremost of daityas came at her with an axe in hand. The Devi struck him with a hail of arrows and brought him down to the ground.

verse 9.17

तस्मिन्निपतिते भूमौ निशुम्भे भीमविक्रमे। भ्रातर्यतीव संक्रुद्धः प्रययौ हन्तुमम्बिकाम्॥

tasminnipatite bhūmau niśumbhe bhīmavikrame | bhrātaryatīva saṃkruddhaḥ prayayau hantumambikām ||

When Nishumbha, terrible in his might, fell to the ground, Shumbha, enraged over his brother, set out to kill Ambika.

verse 9.18

स रथस्थस्तथात्युच्चैर्गृहीतपरमायुधैः। भुजैरष्टाभिरतुलैर्व्याप्याशेषं बभौ नभः॥

sa rathasthastathātyuccairgṛhītaparamāyudhaiḥ | bhujairaṣṭābhiratulairvyāpyāśeṣaṃ babhau nabhaḥ ||

Standing high in his chariot, he blazed out, his eight matchless arms gripping the finest weapons and seeming to fill the whole sky.

verse 9.19

तमायान्तं समालोक्य देवी शङ्खमवादयत्। ज्याशब्दं चापि धनुषश्चकारातीव दुःसहम्॥

tamāyāntaṃ samālokya devī śaṅkhamavādayat | jyāśabdaṃ cāpi dhanuṣaścakārātīva duḥsaham ||

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

verse 9.20

पूरयामास ककुभो निजघण्टास्वनेन च। समस्तदैत्यसैन्यानां तेजोवधविधायिना॥

pūrayāmāsa kakubho nijaghaṇṭāsvanena ca | samastadaityasainyānāṃ tejovadhavidhāyinā ||

She filled every direction with the ringing of her bell, a sound that drained the strength of every daitya army.

verse 9.21

ततः सिंहो महानादैस्त्याजितेभमहामदैः। पूरयामास गगनं गां तथैव दिशो दश॥

tataḥ siṃho mahānādaistyājitebhamahāmadaiḥ | pūrayāmāsa gaganaṃ gāṃ tathaiva diśo daśa ||

Then the lion roared and roared, so loudly that great elephants lost their frenzy. The roars filled the sky, the earth and all ten directions.

verse 9.22

ततः काली समुत्पत्य गगनं क्ष्मामताडयत्। कराभ्यां तन्निनादेन प्राक्स्वनास्ते तिरोहिताः॥

tataḥ kālī samutpatya gaganaṃ kṣmāmatāḍayat | karābhyāṃ tanninādena prāksvanāste tirohitāḥ ||

Then Kali leapt high into the sky and struck the earth with both hands. That crash drowned out every sound before it.

verse 9.23

अट्टाट्टहासमशिवं शिवदूती चकार ह। तैः शब्दैरसुरास्त्रेसुः शुम्भः कोपं परं ययौ॥

aṭṭāṭṭahāsamaśivaṃ śivadūtī cakāra ha | taiḥ śabdairasurāstresuḥ śumbhaḥ kopaṃ paraṃ yayau ||

Shivaduti let out a loud, ominous peal of laughter. The asuras shook at these sounds, and Shumbha's anger rose to its peak.

verse 9.24

दुरात्मंस्तिष्ठ तिष्ठेति व्याजहाराम्बिका यदा। तदा जयेत्यभिहितं देवैराकाशसंस्थितैः॥

durātmaṃstiṣṭha tiṣṭheti vyājahārāmbikā yadā | tadā jayetyabhihitaṃ devairākāśasaṃsthitaiḥ ||

When Ambika called out, 'Stand, wicked one, stand,' the gods watching from the sky cried 'Victory.'

verse 9.25

शुम्भेनागत्य या शक्तिर्मुक्ता ज्वालातिभीषणा। आयान्ती वह्निकूटाभा सा निरस्ता महोल्कया॥

śumbhenāgatya yā śaktirmuktā jvālātibhīṣaṇā | āyāntī vahnikūṭābhā sā nirastā maholkayā ||

Shumbha came forward and hurled a spear (śakti), dreadful with flames, like a heap of fire. As it flew in, it was beaten back by a great blazing meteor.

verse 9.26

सिंहनादेन शुम्भस्य व्याप्तं लोकत्रयान्तरम्। निर्घातनिःस्वनो घोरो जितवानवनीपते॥

siṃhanādena śumbhasya vyāptaṃ lokatrayāntaram | nirghātaniḥsvano ghoro jitavānavanīpate ||

O king, Shumbha's lion-like roar filled all the space of the three worlds. But a terrible crash like a thunderbolt overpowered even that.

verse 9.27

शुम्भमुक्ताञ्छरान्देवी शुम्भस्तत्प्रहिताञ्छरान्। चिच्छेद स्वशरैरुग्रैः शतशोऽथ सहस्रशः॥

śumbhamuktāñcharāndevī śumbhastatprahitāñcharān | ciccheda svaśarairugraiḥ śataśo'tha sahasraśaḥ ||

The Devi cut down the arrows Shumbha shot, and Shumbha cut down the arrows she sent, each with fierce arrows of their own, by the hundreds and thousands.

verse 9.28

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, now angry, struck him with her trident. Hit, he fell to the ground unconscious.

verse 9.29

ततो निशुम्भः सम्प्राप्य चेतनामात्तकार्मुकः। आजघान शरैर्देवीं कालीं केसरिणं तथा॥

tato niśumbhaḥ samprāpya cetanāmāttakārmukaḥ | ājaghāna śarairdevīṃ kālīṃ kesariṇaṃ tathā ||

Meanwhile Nishumbha came to, took up his bow, and shot arrows at the Devi, at Kali and at the lion.

verse 9.30

पुनश्च कृत्वा बाहूनामयुतं दनुजेश्वरः। चक्रायुधेन दितिजश्छादयामास चण्डिकाम्॥

punaśca kṛtvā bāhūnāmayutaṃ danujeśvaraḥ | cakrāyudhena ditijaśchādayāmāsa caṇḍikām ||

Then the danava lord, son of Diti, made himself ten thousand arms and buried Chandika under a storm of discuses.

verse 9.31

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

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

Then the goddess Durga, who ends the pain of hard times, grew angry and cut down all those discuses and arrows with her own arrows.

verse 9.32

ततो निशुम्भो वेगेन गदामादाय चण्डिकाम्। अभ्यधावत वै हन्तुं दैत्यसेनासमावृतः॥

tato niśumbho vegena gadāmādāya caṇḍikām | abhyadhāvata vai hantuṃ daityasenāsamāvṛtaḥ ||

Then Nishumbha, ringed by the daitya army, grabbed a mace and rushed at Chandika to kill her.

verse 9.33

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

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

Even as he rushed in, Chandika cut his mace apart with her keen-edged sword. He then took up a pike.

verse 9.34

शूलहस्तं समायान्तं निशुम्भममरार्दनम्। हृदि विव्याध शूलेन वेगाविद्धेन चण्डिका॥

śūlahastaṃ samāyāntaṃ niśumbhamamarārdanam | hṛdi vivyādha śūlena vegāviddhena caṇḍikā ||

As Nishumbha, the tormentor of the gods, came at her pike in hand, Chandika drove her trident, hurled with force, into his heart.

verse 9.35

भिन्नस्य तस्य शूलेन हृदयान्निःसृतोऽपरः। महाबलो महावीर्यस्तिष्ठेति पुरुषो वदन्॥

bhinnasya tasya śūlena hṛdayānniḥsṛto'paraḥ | mahābalo mahāvīryastiṣṭheti puruṣo vadan ||

From his pierced heart another man came out, huge in strength and courage, shouting 'Stop.'

verse 9.36

तस्य निष्क्रामतो देवी प्रहस्य स्वनवत्ततः। शिरश्चिच्छेद खड्गेन ततोऽसावपतद्भुवि॥

tasya niṣkrāmato devī prahasya svanavattataḥ | śiraściccheda khaḍgena tato'sāvapatadbhuvi ||

While he was still coming out, the Devi laughed aloud and cut off his head with her sword. He fell to the ground.

verse 9.37

ततः सिंहश्चखादोग्रं दंष्ट्राक्षुण्णशिरोधरान्। असुरांस्तांस्तथा काली शिवदूती तथापरान्॥

tataḥ siṃhaścakhādograṃ daṃṣṭrākṣuṇṇaśirodharān | asurāṃstāṃstathā kālī śivadūtī tathāparān ||

Then the lion fiercely devoured those asuras, crushing their necks in his fangs, while Kali and Shivaduti devoured others.

verse 9.38

कौमारीशक्तिनिर्भिन्नाः केचिन्नेशुर्महासुराः। ब्रह्माणीमन्त्रपूतेन तोयेनान्ये निराकृताः॥

kaumārīśaktinirbhinnāḥ kecinneśurmahāsurāḥ | brahmāṇīmantrapūtena toyenānye nirākṛtāḥ ||

Some great asuras, pierced by Kaumari's spear, perished. Others were driven off by water made holy with Brahmani's mantra.

verse 9.39

माहेश्वरीत्रिशूलेन भिन्नाः पेतुस्तथापरे। वाराहीतुण्डघातेन केचिच्चूर्णीकृता भुवि॥

māheśvarītriśūlena bhinnāḥ petustathāpare | vārāhītuṇḍaghātena keciccūrṇīkṛtā bhuvi ||

Others fell, pierced by Maheshvari's trident. Some were ground to dust on the earth by blows from Varahi's snout.

verse 9.40

खण्डं खण्डं च चक्रेण वैष्णव्या दानवाः कृताः। वज्रेण चैन्द्रीहस्ताग्रविमुक्तेन तथापरे॥

khaṇḍaṃ khaṇḍaṃ ca cakreṇa vaiṣṇavyā dānavāḥ kṛtāḥ | vajreṇa caindrīhastāgravimuktena tathāpare ||

Vaishnavi's discus cut danavas to pieces, and the thunderbolt flung from Aindri's hand struck down others.

verse 9.41

केचिद्विनेशुरसुराः केचिन्नष्टा महाहवात्। भक्षिताश्चापरे कालीशिवदूतीमृगाधिपैः॥ ॐ॥

kecidvineśurasurāḥ kecinnaṣṭā mahāhavāt | bhakṣitāścāpare kālīśivadūtīmṛgādhipaiḥ || oṃ ||

Some asuras died, some fled the great battle, and the rest were devoured by Kali, Shivaduti and the lion. Om.

पुष्पिका

॥ इति श्रीमार्कण्डेयपुराणे सावर्णिके मन्वन्तरे देवीमाहात्म्ये निशुम्भवधो नाम नवमोऽध्यायः॥

|| iti śrīmārkaṇḍeyapurāṇe sāvarṇike manvantare devīmāhātmye niśumbhavadho nāma navamo'dhyāyaḥ ||

Here ends the ninth chapter, called ‘The Slaying of Nishumbha’, of the Devi Mahatmya, in the account of the Savarni Manvantara in the Shri Markandeya Purana.