Durga Saptashati · Chapter 6
Durga Saptashati Chapter 6 (Dhumralochana Vadha) in Sanskrit with Hindi and English meaning
The Goddess has refused Shumbha’s proposal, so he sends his commander Dhumralochana with sixty thousand soldiers to bring her by force. She answers him calmly, turns him to ashes with a single sound, “hum”, and her lion scatters his army. Shumbha, furious, sends the brothers Chanda and Munda next.
What chapter 6 is about
Chapter 6 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. In chapter 5 the gods praised her, she appeared from the body of Parvati as the radiant Ambika, and Shumbha sent a messenger to ask for her hand. She replied that she had made a vow: she would marry only someone who defeats her in battle.
This chapter opens with the messenger’s angry report. Shumbha sends his commander Dhumralochana, “the smoke-eyed”, with sixty thousand asuras and orders him to drag the Goddess back by the hair (6.4). Her answer is calm and almost amused (6.11): you are strong and have an army; if you take me by force, what can I do? When he rushes at her, she turns him to ashes with nothing but the sound “hum” (6.13).
The rest of the battle belongs to her lion, which leaps on the army and destroys it in a moment (6.15–6.19); the text tells this in a few plain, fierce lines. Shumbha, trembling with rage, then sends the brothers Chanda and Munda with a large army (6.21–6.24), which leads into chapter 7. With 24 mantras this is the shortest chapter of the Saptashati; reciting it in Sanskrit takes about 4 minutes, and reading it with the meanings about 10.
Verses 6.1–6.12: Dhumralochana is sent
Shumbha sends his commander to bring the Goddess by force, and she answers him calmly.
Verse 6.1
ॐ ऋषिरुवाच॥
Rishir uvacha
अर्थ: ऋषि (मेधा मुनि) ने कहा:
Meaning: The sage (Medhas) said:
Verse 6.2
इत्याकर्ण्य वचो देव्याः स दूतोऽमर्षपूरितः।
समाचष्ट समागम्य दैत्यराजाय विस्तरात्॥
Ityakarnya vacho devyah sa duto 'marsha-puritah,
samachashta samagamya daitya-rajaya vistarat.
अर्थ: देवी के ये वचन सुनकर वह दूत क्रोध और अपमान से भर गया। उसने लौटकर दैत्यराज (शुम्भ) को सारी बात विस्तार से सुना दी।
Meaning: Hearing the Goddess’s words, the messenger was filled with resentment. He went back and told the king of the daityas everything in detail.
Verse 6.3
तस्य दूतस्य तद्वाक्यमाकर्ण्यासुरराट् ततः।
सक्रोधः प्राह दैत्यानामधिपं धूम्रलोचनम्॥
Tasya dutasya tad vakyam akarnyasura-rat tatah,
sakrodhah praha daityanam adhipam dhumralochanam.
अर्थ: दूत की वह बात सुनकर असुरों का राजा क्रोध में भर गया और दैत्यों के सेनापति धूम्रलोचन से बोला:
Meaning: Hearing the messenger’s report, the king of the asuras grew angry and spoke to Dhumralochana, a commander of the daityas:
Verse 6.4
हे धूम्रलोचनाशु त्वं स्वसैन्यपरिवारितः।
तामानय बलाद् दुष्टां केशाकर्षणविह्वलाम्॥
He dhumralochanashu tvam sva-sainya-parivaritah,
tam anaya balad dushtam keshakarshana-vihvalam.
अर्थ: “हे धूम्रलोचन, तुम अपनी सेना के साथ तुरंत जाओ और उस दुष्टा को बलपूर्वक ले आओ, चाहे बाल पकड़कर घसीटना पड़े और वह व्याकुल हो जाए।
Meaning: “Dhumralochana, go at once with your army and bring that wicked woman here by force, dragging her by the hair in her distress if you must.
Verse 6.5
तत्परित्राणदः कश्चिद्यदि वोत्तिष्ठतेऽपरः।
स हन्तव्योऽमरो वापि यक्षो गन्धर्व एव वा॥
Tat-paritranadah kashchid yadi vottishthate 'parah,
sa hantavyo 'maro vapi yaksho gandharva eva va.
अर्थ: और यदि कोई दूसरा उसकी रक्षा के लिए खड़ा हो, चाहे वह देवता हो, यक्ष हो या गंधर्व, तो उसे मार डालना।”
Meaning: And if anyone else stands up to protect her, be it a god, a yaksha or a gandharva, he is to be killed.”
Verse 6.6
ऋषिरुवाच॥
Rishir uvacha
अर्थ: ऋषि ने कहा:
Meaning: The sage said:
Verse 6.7
तेनाज्ञप्तस्ततः शीघ्रं स दैत्यो धूम्रलोचनः।
वृतः षष्ट्या सहस्राणामसुराणां द्रुतं ययौ॥
Tenajnaptas tatah shighram sa daityo dhumralochanah,
vritah shashtya sahasranam asuranam drutam yayau.
अर्थ: शुम्भ की आज्ञा पाकर वह दैत्य धूम्रलोचन साठ हज़ार असुरों से घिरा हुआ तुरंत चल पड़ा।
Meaning: So ordered, the daitya Dhumralochana set out at once, surrounded by sixty thousand asuras.
Verse 6.8
स दृष्ट्वा तां ततो देवीं तुहिनाचलसंस्थिताम्।
जगादोच्चैः प्रयाहीति मूलं शुम्भनिशुम्भयोः॥
Sa drishtva tam tato devim tuhinachala-samsthitam,
jagadochchaih prayahiti mulam shumbha-nishumbhayoh.
अर्थ: उसने हिमालय पर विराजमान देवी को देखा और ऊँचे स्वर में कहा: “शुम्भ और निशुम्भ के पास चलो।
Meaning: He saw the Goddess seated on the snowy mountain and called out loudly: “Come with me to Shumbha and Nishumbha.
Verse 6.9
न चेत्प्रीत्याद्य भवती मद्भर्तारमुपैष्यति।
ततो बलान्नयाम्येष केशाकर्षणविह्वलाम्॥
Na chet prityadya bhavati mad-bhartaram upaishyati,
tato balan nayamy esha keshakarshana-vihvalam.
अर्थ: यदि तुम आज प्रेम से मेरे स्वामी के पास नहीं चलोगी, तो मैं तुम्हें बाल पकड़कर बलपूर्वक ले जाऊँगा।”
Meaning: If you do not come to my master willingly today, I will take you by force, dragging you by the hair.”
Verse 6.10
देव्युवाच॥
Devy uvacha
अर्थ: देवी ने कहा:
Meaning: The Goddess said:
Verse 6.11
दैत्येश्वरेण प्रहितो बलवान् बलसंवृतः।
बलान्नयसि मामेवं ततः किं ते करोम्यहम्॥
Daityeshvarena prahito balavan bala-samvritah,
balan nayasi mam evam tatah kim te karomy aham.
अर्थ: “तुम्हें दैत्यराज ने भेजा है, तुम स्वयं बलवान हो और तुम्हारे साथ सेना भी है। यदि तुम मुझे इस तरह बलपूर्वक ले जाओ, तो मैं तुम्हारा क्या कर सकती हूँ?”
Meaning: “You have been sent by the lord of the daityas, you are strong, and an army stands with you. If you take me by force like this, what can I do to you?”
Verse 6.12
ऋषिरुवाच॥
Rishir uvacha
अर्थ: ऋषि ने कहा:
Meaning: The sage said:
Verses 6.13–6.24: one sound, the lion, and Chanda and Munda
Dhumralochana is turned to ashes, the lion scatters his army, and Shumbha sends two new commanders.
Verse 6.13
इत्युक्तः सोऽभ्यधावत्तामसुरो धूम्रलोचनः।
हुंकारेणैव तं भस्म सा चकाराम्बिका ततः॥
Ityuktah so 'bhyadhavat tam asuro dhumralochanah,
hunkarenaiva tam bhasma sa chakarambika tatah.
अर्थ: यह सुनकर असुर धूम्रलोचन उनकी ओर झपटा। तब अम्बिका ने केवल “हुं” की ध्वनि (हुंकार) से उसे भस्म कर दिया।
Meaning: At these words the asura Dhumralochana rushed at her. Then Ambika turned him to ashes with nothing but the sound “hum”.
Verse 6.14
अथ क्रुद्धं महासैन्यमसुराणां तथाम्बिका।
ववर्ष सायकैस्तीक्ष्णैस्तथा शक्तिपरश्वधैः॥
Atha kruddham maha-sainyam asuranam tathambika,
vavarsha sayakais tikshnais tatha shakti-parashvadhaih.
अर्थ: इससे असुरों की विशाल सेना क्रोध में भर गई। तब अम्बिका ने उस पर तीखे बाणों, शक्तियों (भालों) और फरसों की वर्षा की।
Meaning: At this the great army of the asuras grew furious, and Ambika rained sharp arrows, spears and axes upon it.
Verse 6.15
ततो धुतसटः कोपात्कृत्वा नादं सुभैरवम्।
पपातासुरसेनायां सिंहो देव्याः स्ववाहनः॥
Tato dhuta-satah kopat kritva nadam subhairavam,
papatasura-senayam simho devyah sva-vahanah.
अर्थ: तब देवी का अपना वाहन सिंह क्रोध से अयाल झटकते हुए, भयंकर गर्जना करके असुरों की सेना पर टूट पड़ा।
Meaning: Then the Goddess’s own mount, the lion, shaking its mane in anger and giving a terrible roar, fell upon the asura army.
Verse 6.16
कांश्चित् करप्रहारेण दैत्यानास्येन चापरान्।
आक्रम्य चाधरेणान्यान् स जघान महासुरान्॥
Kamshchit kara-praharena daityan asyena chaparan,
akramya chadharenanyan sa jaghana mahasuran.
अर्थ: कुछ दैत्यों को उसने पंजों की मार से, कुछ को जबड़ों से, और कुछ को अपने नीचे दबाकर मार गिराया। (कुछ प्रतियों में “पैरों से कुचलकर” पाठ है।)
Meaning: Some daityas it struck down with blows of its paws, others with its jaws, and others it pinned beneath its body. (Some copies read “trampled under its feet”.)
Verse 6.17
केषांचित्पाटयामास नखैः कोष्ठानि केसरी।
तथा तलप्रहारेण शिरांसि कृतवान् पृथक्॥
Keshanchit patayamasa nakhaih koshthani kesari,
tatha tala-praharena shiramsi kritavan prithak.
अर्थ: किसी का पेट उस सिंह ने नाखूनों से फाड़ दिया, और पंजे के थप्पड़ से कितनों के सिर अलग कर दिए।
Meaning: The lion tore open the bellies of some with its claws, and with blows of its paw it struck off the heads of others.
Verse 6.18
विच्छिन्नबाहुशिरसः कृतास्तेन तथापरे।
पपौ च रुधिरं कोष्ठादन्येषां धुतकेसरः॥
Vichchhinna-bahu-shirasah kritas tena tathapare,
papau cha rudhiram koshthad anyesham dhuta-kesarah.
अर्थ: कितनों की भुजाएँ और सिर उसने काट डाले, और अयाल झटकते हुए दूसरों का रक्त पी गया।
Meaning: Others it left with arms and heads cut away, and, shaking its mane, it drank the blood of others.
Verse 6.19
क्षणेन तद्बलं सर्वं क्षयं नीतं महात्मना।
तेन केसरिणा देव्या वाहनेनातिकोपिना॥
Kshanena tad balam sarvam kshayam nitam mahatmana,
tena kesarina devya vahanenatikopina.
अर्थ: देवी के उस अत्यंत क्रोधित, महाबली वाहन सिंह ने पल भर में वह सारी सेना नष्ट कर दी।
Meaning: In a moment that whole army was destroyed by the Goddess’s mighty mount, the lion, in its great fury.
Verse 6.20
श्रुत्वा तमसुरं देव्या निहतं धूम्रलोचनम्।
बलं च क्षयितं कृत्स्नं देवीकेसरिणा ततः॥
Shrutva tam asuram devya nihatam dhumralochanam,
balam cha kshayitam kritsnam devi-kesarina tatah.
अर्थ: जब (शुम्भ ने) सुना कि देवी ने असुर धूम्रलोचन को मार डाला है और देवी के सिंह ने उसकी सारी सेना नष्ट कर दी है,
Meaning: When Shumbha heard that the Goddess had slain the asura Dhumralochana, and that her lion had destroyed his entire army,
Verse 6.21
चुकोप दैत्याधिपतिः शुम्भः प्रस्फुरिताधरः।
आज्ञापयामास च तौ चण्डमुण्डौ महासुरौ॥
Chukopa daityadhipatih shumbhah prasphuritadharah,
ajnapayamasa cha tau chanda-mundau mahasurau.
अर्थ: तो दैत्यों का स्वामी शुम्भ क्रोध से भर गया, उसके होंठ फड़कने लगे, और उसने चण्ड और मुण्ड नाम के दो महान असुरों को आज्ञा दी:
Meaning: Shumbha, lord of the daityas, was enraged, his lips trembling, and he gave orders to the two great asuras Chanda and Munda:
Verse 6.22
हे चण्ड हे मुण्ड बलैर्बहुभिः परिवारितौ।
तत्र गच्छत गत्वा च सा समानीयतां लघु॥
He chanda he munda balair bahubhih parivaritau,
tatra gachchhata gatva cha sa samaniyatam laghu.
अर्थ: “हे चण्ड, हे मुण्ड, तुम दोनों बड़ी-बड़ी सेनाएँ साथ लेकर वहाँ जाओ और उसे जल्दी यहाँ ले आओ।
Meaning: “Chanda! Munda! Take large armies with you, go there, and bring her here quickly.
Verse 6.23
केशेष्वाकृष्य बद्ध्वा वा यदि वः संशयो युधि।
तदाशेषायुधैः सर्वैरसुरैर्विनिहन्यताम्॥
Keshesv akrishya baddhva va yadi vah samshayo yudhi,
tadashesha-yudhaih sarvair asurair vinihanyatam.
अर्थ: उसे बालों से खींचकर या बाँधकर लाना। और यदि युद्ध में (जीत पर) तुम्हें संदेह हो, तो सब असुर मिलकर सारे अस्त्र-शस्त्रों से उस पर प्रहार करें।
Meaning: Drag her by the hair or bind her and bring her. And if you have any doubt about the fight, let all the asuras strike her down together with every weapon they have.
Verse 6.24
तस्यां हतायां दुष्टायां सिंहे च विनिपातिते।
शीघ्रमागम्यतां बद्ध्वा गृहीत्वा तामथाम्बिकाम्॥
Tasyam hatayam dushtayam simhe cha vinipatite,
shighram agamyatam baddhva grihitva tam athambikam.
अर्थ: जब वह दुष्टा घायल हो जाए और उसका सिंह मार गिराया जाए, तब उस अम्बिका को पकड़कर, बाँधकर जल्दी लौट आना।” (यहाँ “हतायां” का अर्थ टीकाकार “घायल होने पर” लेते हैं, क्योंकि शुम्भ उन्हें जीवित लाना चाहता है।)
Meaning: When that wicked one is struck down and her lion has fallen, seize Ambika, bind her, and come back quickly.” (Commentators take “struck down” here as “wounded”, since Shumbha wants her brought alive.)
Chapter colophon
इति श्रीमार्कण्डेयपुराणे सावर्णिके मन्वन्तरे देवीमाहात्म्ये
शुम्भनिशुम्भसेनानीधूम्रलोचनवधो नाम षष्ठोऽध्यायः॥
Iti shri-markandeya-purane savarnike manvantare devi-mahatmye
shumbha-nishumbha-senani-dhumralochana-vadho nama shashtho 'dhyayah.
अर्थ: इस प्रकार श्री मार्कण्डेय पुराण में, सावर्णिक मन्वंतर की कथा के अंतर्गत देवी माहात्म्य में “शुम्भ-निशुम्भ के सेनापति धूम्रलोचन का वध” नाम का छठा अध्याय पूरा हुआ।
Meaning: Thus ends the sixth chapter, called “the slaying of Dhumralochana, commander of Shumbha and Nishumbha”, in the Devi Mahatmya, part of the account of the Savarni Manvantara in the Shri Markandeya Purana.
Questions
Who was Dhumralochana?
His name means “smoke-eyed”. He was a commander of the daitya army, the first warrior Shumbha sent against the Goddess after she refused his proposal. He came with sixty thousand asuras to take her by force and was the first of Shumbha’s commanders to fall. Many teachers read him as a picture of a clouded, smoky way of seeing, which cannot stand before clear awareness.
What does it mean that the Goddess killed him with “hum”?
Verse 6.13 says she turned him to ashes with a hunkara, the single sound “hum”, without lifting a weapon. The point of the story is her effortless power: what the strongest army cannot do, she does with a breath. “Hum” is also one of the seed syllables used in mantra practice, so devotional commentators see in this verse the power of sacred sound.
Is chapter 6 the shortest chapter of the Durga Saptashati?
Yes. In the Gita Press numbering it has 24 mantras (four speaker lines and twenty verses), the fewest of the thirteen chapters; chapter 7 follows with 27. Reciting it in Sanskrit takes about 4 minutes. Some people who cannot read the whole text in one sitting read a few chapters a day during Navratri, and this one fits easily into a short daily reading.
Why does Shumbha keep sending others instead of fighting himself?
He does not take the Goddess seriously. To him she is a woman to be brought to his court, so he sends a commander, then Chanda and Munda (6.21–6.24), then Raktabija and the whole army (chapter 8). Each defeat raises the stakes, and only in chapters 9 and 10 do Nishumbha and Shumbha themselves come to fight. Many readers see in this the way pride keeps underestimating what it faces.
Text and sources
The Sanskrit text is public domain. We checked all 24 mantras and the colophon one by one against texts fetched on 1 November 2026: the complete Saptashati (“durga700”) on sanskritdocuments.org and chapter 86 of the Markandeya Purana on Sanskrit Wikisource (the Devi Mahatmya is adhyayas 81–93 there), comparing them by program after normalising punctuation and spelling conventions, and against two archive.org scans of Gita Press editions of the “Shri Durga Saptashati” (the mula bhaga and the illustrated edition with Hindi translation), read by hand. We follow the Gita Press reading and numbering, which counts the four speaker lines (6.1, 6.6, 6.10, 6.12) as mantras, giving 24; the Purana text numbers only the 20 verses. Gita Press and Wikisource read “sa chakarambika tatah” (6.13, sanskritdocuments “tada”) and “akramya chadharenanyan sa jaghana mahasuran” (6.16, sanskritdocuments “akrantya … jaghana sa”); Gita Press notes the variants “akrantya”, “charanenanyan”, “sanjaghana” or “nijaghana” in 6.16, “tathambikam” in 6.14 and “keshari” in 6.17. Gita Press prints “Om” before the first speaker line and a meditation verse (dhyana, “nagadhishvara-vishtaram…”) at the head of the chapter; on these pages the dhyana verses are given only at the head of the three parts of the text (chapters 1, 2 and 5), and the dhyana is not counted among the 700 mantras. The transliteration and meanings are our own.