Durga Saptashati · Chapter 10
Durga Saptashati Chapter 10 (Shumbha Vadha) in Sanskrit with Hindi and English meaning
Shumbha mocks the Goddess for fighting with the help of other goddesses. She answers that she alone exists, draws all of them back into herself, and meets him alone. After a long fight on the ground and in the sky she brings him down, and the whole world grows calm and clear again.
What chapter 10 is about
Chapter 10 belongs to the third and longest part of the Saptashati, the uttama charitra (chapters 5 to 13), in which the sage Medhas tells King Suratha and the merchant Samadhi how the Goddess freed the gods from the brothers Shumbha and Nishumbha. Chapter 9 ended with the death of Nishumbha. Now only Shumbha is left, and this short chapter of 32 verses brings the war to its end.
Grieving and angry, Shumbha taunts the Goddess: you are proud, but you fight with the strength of others (10.3). Her reply is the best-known verse of the chapter (10.5): “I alone exist here in this world; who else is there besides me?” Brahmani and all the other goddesses who fought beside her merge back into her body (10.6), showing that they were always her own powers. Many readers take this as the heart of the Saptashati’s teaching: the many forms of the divine are one.
The battle that follows is told step by step: weapons against weapons, bow, spear, sword and mace cut down one by one, then a hand-to-hand fight high in the sky (10.22–10.23), until the Goddess brings Shumbha down with her trident (10.26). The chapter ends not with the battle but with the world healing: the sky clears, rivers return to their courses, winds blow gently and the sacred fires burn again (10.28–10.32). Reading it with the meanings takes about 15 minutes.
Verses 10.1–10.9: “I alone exist here”
Shumbha taunts the Goddess, and she draws all her forms back into herself.
Verse 10.1
ऋषिरुवाच॥
Rishir uvacha
अर्थ: ऋषि (मेधा मुनि) ने कहा:
Meaning: The sage (Medhas) said:
Verse 10.2
निशुम्भं निहतं दृष्ट्वा भ्रातरं प्राणसम्मितम्।
हन्यमानं बलं चैव शुम्भः क्रुद्धोऽब्रवीद्वचः॥
Nishumbham nihatam drishtva bhrataram prana-sammitam,
hanyamanam balam chaiva shumbhah kruddho 'bravid vachah.
अर्थ: अपने प्राणों के समान प्यारे भाई निशुम्भ को मारा गया देखकर, और अपनी सेना को भी कटते हुए देखकर, शुम्भ क्रोध में भरकर यह बोला:
Meaning: Seeing his brother Nishumbha, dear to him as his own life, slain, and his army being cut down, Shumbha spoke in anger:
Verse 10.3
बलावलेपाद्दुष्टे त्वं मा दुर्गे गर्वमावह।
अन्यासां बलमाश्रित्य युद्ध्यसे यातिमानिनी॥
Balavalepad dushte tvam ma durge garvam avaha,
anyasam balam ashritya yuddhyase yatimanini.
अर्थ: “अपने बल के घमंड में भरी दुष्टा दुर्गा, तू गर्व मत कर। तू तो दूसरी देवियों के बल का सहारा लेकर लड़ रही है, और फिर भी इतना अभिमान करती है।”
Meaning: “Durga, wicked one swollen with pride in your strength, do not be so proud. You fight leaning on the strength of other goddesses, yet you think so highly of yourself.”
Verse 10.4
देव्युवाच॥
Devy uvacha
अर्थ: देवी ने कहा:
Meaning: The Goddess said:
Verse 10.5
एकैवाहं जगत्यत्र द्वितीया का ममापरा।
पश्यैता दुष्ट मय्येव विशन्त्यो मद्विभूतयः॥
Ekaivaham jagaty atra dvitiya ka mamapara,
pashyaita dushta mayy eva vishantyo mad-vibhutayah.
अर्थ: “इस संसार में मैं अकेली ही हूँ; मेरे सिवा दूसरी कौन है? अरे दुष्ट, देख, ये सब मेरी ही शक्तियाँ (विभूतियाँ) हैं, जो मुझमें ही समा रही हैं।”
Meaning: “I alone exist here in this world; who else is there besides me? Look, wicked one: these are my own powers, entering back into me.”
Verse 10.6
ततः समस्तास्ता देव्यो ब्रह्माणीप्रमुखा लयम्।
तस्या देव्यास्तनौ जग्मुरेकैवासीत्तदाम्बिका॥
Tatah samastas ta devyo brahmani-pramukha layam,
tasya devyas tanau jagmur ekaivasit tadambika.
अर्थ: तब ब्रह्माणी आदि वे सभी देवियाँ उस देवी के शरीर में लीन हो गईं, और उस समय केवल अकेली अम्बिका ही रह गईं।
Meaning: Then all those goddesses, Brahmani and the rest, merged into the body of the Goddess, and Ambika alone remained.
Verse 10.7
देव्युवाच॥
Devy uvacha
अर्थ: देवी ने कहा:
Meaning: The Goddess said:
Verse 10.8
अहं विभूत्या बहुभिरिह रूपैर्यदास्थिता।
तत्संहृतं मयैकैव तिष्ठाम्याजौ स्थिरो भव॥
Aham vibhutya bahubhir iha rupair yad asthita,
tat samhritam mayaikaiva tishthamy ajau sthiro bhava.
अर्थ: “अपनी शक्ति से मैं यहाँ जिन अनेक रूपों में प्रकट थी, उन सबको मैंने समेट लिया है। अब मैं अकेली ही युद्ध में खड़ी हूँ; तू भी स्थिर हो जा (सामने डटकर लड़)।”
Meaning: “The many forms in which I stood here by my power, I have now drawn back into myself. I stand alone in battle; now hold your ground.”
Verse 10.9
ऋषिरुवाच॥
Rishir uvacha
अर्थ: ऋषि (मेधा मुनि) ने कहा:
Meaning: The sage (Medhas) said:
Verses 10.10–10.27: the last battle
Weapon by weapon, then hand to hand in the sky, until Shumbha falls.
Verse 10.10
ततः प्रववृते युद्धं देव्याः शुम्भस्य चोभयोः।
पश्यतां सर्वदेवानामसुराणां च दारुणम्॥
Tatah pravavrite yuddham devyah shumbhasya chobhayoh,
pashyatam sarva-devanam asuranam cha darunam.
अर्थ: तब देवी और शुम्भ, दोनों के बीच भयंकर युद्ध शुरू हुआ, और सभी देवता और असुर उसे देखते रहे।
Meaning: Then a fierce battle began between the two, the Goddess and Shumbha, as all the gods and the asuras looked on.
Verse 10.11
शरवर्षैः शितैः शस्त्रैस्तथा चास्त्रैः सुदारुणैः।
तयोर्युद्धमभूद्भूयः सर्वलोकभयङ्करम्॥
Shara-varshaih shitaih shastrais tatha chastraih sudarunaih,
tayor yuddham abhud bhuyah sarva-loka-bhayankaram.
अर्थ: बाणों की वर्षा से, तीखे शस्त्रों से और बहुत भयानक अस्त्रों से उन दोनों का युद्ध और भी तेज़ हो गया, जिससे सारे लोक डर गए।
Meaning: With showers of arrows, sharp weapons and fearsome missiles, their fight grew fiercer still, frightening all the worlds.
Verse 10.12
दिव्यान्यस्त्राणि शतशो मुमुचे यान्यथाम्बिका।
बभञ्ज तानि दैत्येन्द्रस्तत्प्रतीघातकर्तृभिः॥
Divyany astrani shatasho mumuche yany athambika,
babhanja tani daityendras tat-pratighata-kartribhih.
अर्थ: अम्बिका ने जो सैकड़ों दिव्य अस्त्र छोड़े, उन्हें दैत्यराज ने उनको काटने वाले अस्त्रों से तोड़ दिया।
Meaning: The hundreds of divine weapons that Ambika released, the demon king broke with weapons made to counter them.
Verse 10.13
मुक्तानि तेन चास्त्राणि दिव्यानि परमेश्वरी।
बभञ्ज लीलयैवोग्रहुङ्कारोच्चारणादिभिः॥
Muktani tena chastrani divyani parameshvari,
babhanja lilayaivogra-hunkaroccharanadibhih.
अर्थ: और उसके छोड़े हुए दिव्य अस्त्रों को परमेश्वरी ने खेल-खेल में ही, अपनी प्रचंड “हुं” की हुंकार आदि से तोड़ डाला।
Meaning: And the divine weapons he released, the Supreme Goddess broke as if in play, with a fierce cry of “hum” and the like.
Verse 10.14
ततः शरशतैर्देवीमाच्छादयत सोऽसुरः।
सापि तत्कुपिता देवी धनुश्चिच्छेद चेषुभिः॥
Tatah shara-shatair devim acchadayata so 'surah,
sapi tat-kupita devi dhanush chichheda cheshubhih.
अर्थ: तब उस असुर ने सैकड़ों बाणों से देवी को ढक दिया। इससे कुपित होकर देवी ने भी अपने बाणों से उसका धनुष काट दिया।
Meaning: Then the asura covered the Goddess with hundreds of arrows. Angered by this, the Goddess cut his bow with her arrows.
Verse 10.15
छिन्ने धनुषि दैत्येन्द्रस्तथा शक्तिमथाददे।
चिच्छेद देवी चक्रेण तामप्यस्य करे स्थिताम्॥
Chhinne dhanushi daityendras tatha shaktim athadade,
chichheda devi chakrena tam apy asya kare sthitam.
अर्थ: धनुष कट जाने पर दैत्यराज ने शक्ति (भाला) उठाई; देवी ने उसे भी, जब वह उसके हाथ में ही थी, चक्र से काट दिया।
Meaning: With his bow cut, the demon king took up a spear; the Goddess cut that too with her discus while it was still in his hand.
Verse 10.16
ततः खड्गमुपादाय शतचन्द्रं च भानुमत्।
अभ्यधावत्तदा देवीं दैत्यानामधिपेश्वरः॥
Tatah khadgam upadaya shata-chandram cha bhanumat,
abhyadhavat tada devim daityanam adhipeshvarah.
अर्थ: तब दैत्यों का वह स्वामी तलवार और सौ चंद्रमा के चिह्नों वाली चमकती ढाल लेकर देवी की ओर दौड़ा।
Meaning: Then the lord of the demons took up a sword and a gleaming shield marked with a hundred moons, and rushed at the Goddess.
Verse 10.17
तस्यापतत एवाशु खड्गं चिच्छेद चण्डिका।
धनुर्मुक्तैः शितैर्बाणैश्चर्म चार्ककरामलम्॥
Tasyapatata evashu khadgam chichheda chandika,
dhanur-muktaih shitair banaish charma charka-karamalam.
अर्थ: वह झपट ही रहा था कि चण्डिका ने धनुष से छोड़े तीखे बाणों से तुरंत उसकी तलवार काट दी, और सूर्य की किरणों जैसी उजली उसकी ढाल भी। (कुछ प्रतियों में यहाँ एक और पंक्ति है कि देवी ने उसके घोड़े और सारथी सहित रथ भी गिरा दिया।)
Meaning: Even as he rushed in, Chandika swiftly cut his sword with sharp arrows from her bow, and his shield, bright as the sun’s rays. (Some copies add a line here: she also struck down his horses and his chariot with its driver.)
Verse 10.18
हताश्वः स तदा दैत्यश्छिन्नधन्वा विसारथिः।
जग्राह मुद्गरं घोरमम्बिकानिधनोद्यतः॥
Hatashvah sa tada daityash chhinna-dhanva visarathih,
jagraha mudgaram ghoram ambika-nidhanodyatah.
अर्थ: घोड़े मारे जाने, धनुष कट जाने और सारथी न रहने पर उस दैत्य ने अम्बिका को मारने के लिए एक भयानक मुद्गर (गदा जैसा हथियार) उठाया।
Meaning: His horses slain, his bow cut and his charioteer gone, the demon seized a terrible mace, set on killing Ambika.
Verse 10.19
चिच्छेदापततस्तस्य मुद्गरं निशितैः शरैः।
तथापि सोऽभ्यधावत्तां मुष्टिमुद्यम्य वेगवान्॥
Chichhedapatatas tasya mudgaram nishitaih sharaih,
tathapi so 'bhyadhavat tam mushtim udyamya vegavan.
अर्थ: जब वह झपटा, देवी ने तीखे बाणों से उसका मुद्गर भी काट दिया; फिर भी वह तेज़ी से मुट्ठी उठाकर उनकी ओर दौड़ा।
Meaning: As he charged, she cut his mace with sharp arrows; even so he rushed at her, fist raised, with great speed.
Verse 10.20
स मुष्टिं पातयामास हृदये दैत्यपुङ्गवः।
देव्यास्तं चापि सा देवी तलेनोरस्यताडयत्॥
Sa mushtim patayamasa hridaye daitya-pungavah,
devyas tam chapi sa devi talenorasy atadayat.
अर्थ: उस दैत्यश्रेष्ठ ने देवी की छाती पर मुट्ठी से वार किया, और देवी ने भी अपनी हथेली से उसकी छाती पर प्रहार किया।
Meaning: That chief of demons brought his fist down on the Goddess’s chest, and the Goddess in turn struck him on the chest with her palm.
Verse 10.21
तलप्रहाराभिहतो निपपात महीतले।
स दैत्यराजः सहसा पुनरेव तथोत्थितः॥
Tala-praharabhihato nipapata mahitale,
sa daitya-rajah sahasa punar eva tathotthitah.
अर्थ: हथेली की चोट खाकर वह दैत्यराज धरती पर गिर पड़ा, पर तुरंत फिर उठ खड़ा हुआ।
Meaning: Struck by the blow of her palm, the demon king fell to the ground, but at once he rose again.
Verse 10.22
उत्पत्य च प्रगृह्योच्चैर्देवीं गगनमास्थितः।
तत्रापि सा निराधारा युयुधे तेन चण्डिका॥
Utpatya cha pragrihyocchair devim gaganam asthitah,
tatrapi sa niradhara yuyudhe tena chandika.
अर्थ: वह उछलकर देवी को पकड़कर ऊपर आकाश में जा पहुँचा। वहाँ भी, बिना किसी सहारे के, चण्डिका उससे लड़ती रहीं।
Meaning: He leapt up, seized the Goddess and rose high into the sky. There too, with nothing to stand on, Chandika fought him.
Verse 10.23
नियुद्धं खे तदा दैत्यश्चण्डिका च परस्परम्।
चक्रतुः प्रथमं सिद्धमुनिविस्मयकारकम्॥
Niyuddham khe tada daityash chandika cha parasparam,
chakratuh prathamam siddha-muni-vismaya-karakam.
अर्थ: तब आकाश में दैत्य और चण्डिका ने आपस में हाथों से ऐसा मल्लयुद्ध किया, जैसा पहले कभी नहीं हुआ था, जिसे देखकर सिद्ध और मुनि चकित रह गए।
Meaning: Then in the sky the demon and Chandika wrestled hand to hand, a fight such as had never been, which filled the siddhas and sages with wonder.
Verse 10.24
ततो नियुद्धं सुचिरं कृत्वा तेनाम्बिका सह।
उत्पात्य भ्रामयामास चिक्षेप धरणीतले॥
Tato niyuddham suchiram kritva tenambika saha,
utpatya bhramayamasa chikshepa dharanitale.
अर्थ: उसके साथ बहुत देर तक मल्लयुद्ध करने के बाद अम्बिका ने उसे ऊपर उठाया, घुमाया और धरती पर पटक दिया।
Meaning: After wrestling with him for a long time, Ambika lifted him up, whirled him round and hurled him down to the earth.
Verse 10.25
स क्षिप्तो धरणीं प्राप्य मुष्टिमुद्यम्य वेगितः।
अभ्यधावत दुष्टात्मा चण्डिकानिधनेच्छया॥
Sa kshipto dharanim prapya mushtim udyamya vegitah,
abhyadhavata dushtatma chandika-nidhanechchhaya.
अर्थ: पटका जाकर धरती पर पहुँचते ही वह दुष्टात्मा फिर मुट्ठी उठाकर, चण्डिका को मारने की इच्छा से तेज़ी से दौड़ा।
Meaning: Thrown down, as soon as he reached the ground the evil one raised his fist again and ran swiftly at Chandika, wanting to kill her.
Verse 10.26
तमायान्तं ततो देवी सर्वदैत्यजनेश्वरम्।
जगत्यां पातयामास भित्त्वा शूलेन वक्षसि॥
Tam ayantam tato devi sarva-daitya-janeshvaram,
jagatyam patayamasa bhittva shulena vakshasi.
अर्थ: सारे दैत्यों के उस स्वामी को आते देखकर देवी ने त्रिशूल से उसकी छाती बेध दी और उसे धरती पर गिरा दिया।
Meaning: As the lord of all the demons came on, the Goddess pierced his chest with her trident and brought him down to the earth.
Verse 10.27
स गतासुः पपातोर्व्यां देवीशूलाग्रविक्षतः।
चालयन् सकलां पृथ्वीं साब्धिद्वीपां सपर्वताम्॥
Sa gatasuh papatorvyam devi-shulagra-vikshatah,
chalayan sakalam prithvim sabdhi-dvipam saparvatam.
अर्थ: देवी के त्रिशूल की नोक से घायल होकर वह प्राणहीन होकर धरती पर गिरा, और उसके गिरने से समुद्रों, द्वीपों और पर्वतों समेत सारी पृथ्वी हिल गई।
Meaning: Wounded by the point of the Goddess’s trident, he fell lifeless to the ground, and his fall shook the whole earth with its seas, islands and mountains.
Verses 10.28–10.32: the world at peace
The sky clears, the rivers flow true and the gods rejoice.
Verse 10.28
ततः प्रसन्नमखिलं हते तस्मिन् दुरात्मनि।
जगत्स्वास्थ्यमतीवाप निर्मलं चाभवन्नभः॥
Tatah prasannam akhilam hate tasmin duratmani,
jagat svasthyam ativapa nirmalam chabhavan nabhah.
अर्थ: उस दुष्टात्मा के मारे जाने पर सब कुछ प्रसन्न हो उठा। संसार को फिर से पूरा स्वास्थ्य और चैन मिला, और आकाश निर्मल हो गया।
Meaning: When that evil one was slain, everything became bright and calm. The world regained its full well-being, and the sky became clear.
Verse 10.29
उत्पातमेघाः सोल्का ये प्रागासंस्ते शमं ययुः।
सरितो मार्गवाहिन्यस्तथासंस्तत्र पातिते॥
Utpata-meghah solka ye prag asams te shamam yayuh,
sarito marga-vahinyas tathasams tatra patite.
अर्थ: पहले जो अशुभ बादल और गिरते उल्का दिखते थे, वे शांत हो गए; और उसके गिरने पर नदियाँ फिर अपने सही मार्ग में बहने लगीं।
Meaning: The ominous clouds and falling meteors seen before grew still, and once he had fallen, the rivers flowed in their proper courses again.
Verse 10.30
ततो देवगणाः सर्वे हर्षनिर्भरमानसाः।
बभूवुर्निहते तस्मिन् गन्धर्वा ललितं जगुः॥
Tato deva-ganah sarve harsha-nirbhara-manasah,
babhuvur nihate tasmin gandharva lalitam jaguh.
अर्थ: उसके मारे जाने पर सभी देवताओं के मन आनंद से भर गए, और गंधर्वों ने मधुर गीत गाए।
Meaning: With him slain, the hearts of all the gods overflowed with joy, and the gandharvas sang sweetly.
Verse 10.31
अवादयंस्तथैवान्ये ननृतुश्चाप्सरोगणाः।
ववुः पुण्यास्तथा वाताः सुप्रभोऽभूद्दिवाकरः॥
Avadayams tathaivanye nanritush chapsaro-ganah,
vavuh punyas tatha vatah suprabho 'bhud divakarah.
अर्थ: दूसरे गंधर्व बाजे बजाने लगे और अप्सराएँ नाचने लगीं। पवित्र, सुखद हवाएँ बहने लगीं और सूर्य अच्छी तरह चमकने लगा।
Meaning: Others played instruments and the apsaras danced. Pure, pleasant winds blew, and the sun shone brightly.
Verse 10.32
जज्वलुश्चाग्नयः शान्ताः शान्ता दिग्जनितस्वनाः॥
Jajvalush chagnayah shantah shanta dig-janita-svanah.
अर्थ: यज्ञ की जो अग्नियाँ बुझ गई थीं, वे फिर से जल उठीं, और दिशाओं से उठने वाली भयानक आवाज़ें शांत हो गईं।
Meaning: The sacred fires that had died down blazed up again, and the frightening sounds that had risen from every direction fell quiet.
Chapter colophon
इति श्रीमार्कण्डेयपुराणे सावर्णिके मन्वन्तरे देवीमाहात्म्ये
शुम्भवधो नाम दशमोऽध्यायः॥
Iti shri-markandeya-purane savarnike manvantare devi-mahatmye
shumbha-vadho nama dashamo 'dhyayah.
अर्थ: इस प्रकार श्री मार्कण्डेय पुराण में, सावर्णिक मन्वंतर की कथा के अंतर्गत देवी माहात्म्य में “शुम्भ वध” नाम का दसवाँ अध्याय पूरा हुआ।
Meaning: Thus ends the tenth chapter, called “the slaying of Shumbha”, in the Devi Mahatmya, part of the account of the Savarni Manvantara in the Shri Markandeya Purana.
Questions
What does “ekaivaham jagaty atra” (10.5) mean?
“I alone exist here in this world; who else is there besides me?” Shumbha has accused the Goddess of relying on other goddesses. She answers by taking them all back into her own body (10.6), showing that Brahmani, Vaishnavi and the rest were her own powers all along. Shakta teachers read the verse as a statement that the one divine Mother appears as many forms; others read it more simply as the Goddess showing her full strength before the final fight.
Who were the goddesses who merged into Durga in chapter 10?
They are the Matrikas, the “mothers” who came out of the gods as their shaktis in chapter 8: Brahmani, Maheshvari, Kaumari, Vaishnavi, Varahi, Narasimhi and Aindri, along with Kali (Chamunda) and Shivaduti. Verse 10.6 names Brahmani as the first of them and says all of them went back into the Goddess, leaving Ambika alone.
Why does chapter 10 end with nature becoming calm?
In the story, the rule of Shumbha and Nishumbha had thrown the world out of balance: the gods had lost their places, the sacrifices had stopped and the skies were full of bad omens. Verses 10.28–10.32 show order returning: clear skies, rivers in their courses, gentle winds, a bright sun and the sacred fires burning again. The point is less the victory than the peace it brings back to everyone.
Text and sources
The Sanskrit text is public domain. We checked all 32 mantras and the colophon one by one against three sources, comparing them by program after normalising punctuation and spelling conventions: the complete Saptashati (“durga700”) on sanskritdocuments.org, chapter 90 of the Markandeya Purana on Sanskrit Wikisource (the Devi Mahatmya is adhyayas 81–93 there), and the archive.org scan of the Gita Press “Shri Durga Saptashati” (mula bhaga). We follow the Gita Press reading and its numbering, which counts the speaker lines (10.1, 10.4, 10.7, 10.9) and the closing half-verse (10.32) as mantras, giving 32. Readings chosen with Gita Press and Wikisource against sanskritdocuments: “balavalepad dushte” and “yatimanini” (10.3), “sapi” (10.14), “abhyadhavat tada devim” (10.16), “utpatya” (10.24) and “vegitah” (10.25); Gita Press notes “balavalepa-dushte”, “tam” and “vegavan” as variants. In 10.17 Gita Press has two lines and mentions in a footnote the extra line “ashvamsh cha patayamasa ratham sarathina saha” found in some copies (and in our other two sources). Wikisource also adds a speaker line “Rishir uvacha” before 10.6, which Gita Press notes as found in some copies; sanskritdocuments and Gita Press print a meditation verse (dhyana, “uttapta-hema-rucham…”) at the head of the chapter, which we leave out: on these pages the dhyana verses are given only at the head of the three parts of the text (chapters 1, 2 and 5); it is not counted among the 700 mantras. The transliteration and meanings are our own.