Durga Saptashati · Chapter 9
Durga Saptashati Chapter 9 (Nishumbha Vadha) in Sanskrit with Hindi and English meaning
King Suratha asks what happened after Raktabija fell, and the sage tells of the battle with the two brothers themselves. Nishumbha attacks with weapon after weapon and is brought down; Shumbha comes in his chariot with eight arms and is struck senseless; Nishumbha rises again and is ended at last by the Goddess’s spear and sword, while the Mothers scatter the rest of the army.
What chapter 9 is about
Chapter 9 continues the uttama charitra, the third part of the Saptashati (chapters 5 to 13), told by the sage Medhas to King Suratha and the merchant Samadhi. Chapter 8 ended with the fall of Raktabija, whose blood Chamunda caught before it could raise new asuras. This chapter opens with the king himself speaking (9.1–9.3): he has found the story wonderful and asks what Shumbha and Nishumbha did next. For the first time the two brothers come to fight in person.
Nishumbha attacks first, striking the Goddess’s lion with his sword; she breaks his sword and shield, his spear, his trident, his mace and finally brings him down with her arrows (9.11–9.16). Then Shumbha arrives in his chariot, eight arms raised with weapons, filling the sky (9.18). The Goddess answers with her conch, bowstring and bell, the lion and Kali roar, Shivaduti laughs, and the gods in the sky cry “Victory!” when she calls out to him, “Stay, wicked one!” (9.24). After an exchange of weapons her trident strikes Shumbha senseless (9.28).
Nishumbha recovers, takes ten thousand arms and covers the Goddess with discs; here she is named Durga, “the one who ends hardship” (9.31). She pierces his heart with her spear; another figure comes out of it crying “Stop!”, and she cuts it down with her sword, laughing (9.34–9.36). The lion, Kali, Shivaduti and the Mothers scatter the rest of the army (9.37–9.41). Only Shumbha is left for chapter 10. The chapter has 41 mantras; reciting it in Sanskrit takes about 7 minutes, and reading it with the meanings about 18.
Verses 9.1–9.16: Nishumbha’s first attack
The king asks to hear more, and Nishumbha attacks with weapon after weapon until he falls.
Verse 9.1
ॐ राजोवाच॥
Rajovacha
अर्थ: राजा (सुरथ) ने कहा:
Meaning: The king (Suratha) said:
Verse 9.2
विचित्रमिदमाख्यातं भगवन् भवता मम।
देव्याश्चरितमाहात्म्यं रक्तबीजवधाश्रितम्॥
Vichitram idam akhyatam bhagavan bhavata mama,
devyash charita-mahatmyam raktabija-vadhashritam.
अर्थ: “भगवन, आपने मुझे देवी के चरित्र और महिमा की यह अद्भुत कथा सुनाई, जो रक्तबीज के वध से जुड़ी है।
Meaning: “Revered one, you have told me this wonderful account of the Goddess’s deeds and greatness, the story of the slaying of Raktabija.
Verse 9.3
भूयश्चेच्छाम्यहं श्रोतुं रक्तबीजे निपातिते।
चकार शुम्भो यत्कर्म निशुम्भश्चातिकोपनः॥
Bhuyash chechchhamy aham shrotum raktabije nipatite,
chakara shumbho yat karma nishumbhash chatikopanah.
अर्थ: अब मैं और सुनना चाहता हूँ: रक्तबीज के गिर जाने के बाद शुम्भ ने और अत्यंत क्रोधी निशुम्भ ने क्या किया?”
Meaning: I wish to hear more: after Raktabija fell, what did Shumbha do, and the ever-wrathful Nishumbha?”
Verse 9.4
ऋषिरुवाच॥
Rishir uvacha
अर्थ: ऋषि (मेधा मुनि) ने कहा:
Meaning: The sage (Medhas) said:
Verse 9.5
चकार कोपमतुलं रक्तबीजे निपातिते।
शुम्भासुरो निशुम्भश्च हतेष्वन्येषु चाहवे॥
Chakara kopam atulam raktabije nipatite,
shumbhasuro nishumbhash cha hateshv anyeshu chahave.
अर्थ: रक्तबीज के गिर जाने पर और युद्ध में दूसरे असुरों के मारे जाने पर असुर शुम्भ और निशुम्भ को बहुत ही क्रोध आया।
Meaning: When Raktabija had fallen and the others had been slain in battle, the asura Shumbha and Nishumbha grew angry beyond measure.
Verse 9.6
हन्यमानं महासैन्यं विलोक्यामर्षमुद्वहन्।
अभ्यधावन्निशुम्भोऽथ मुख्ययासुरसेनया॥
Hanyamanam maha-sainyam vilokyamarsham udvahan,
abhyadhavan nishumbho 'tha mukhyayasura-senaya.
अर्थ: अपनी विशाल सेना को कटते देखकर निशुम्भ क्रोध से भर गया और असुरों की मुख्य सेना के साथ (देवी की ओर) दौड़ा।
Meaning: Seeing his great army being cut down, Nishumbha, burning with anger, rushed forward with the pick of the asura army.
Verse 9.7
तस्याग्रतस्तथा पृष्ठे पार्श्वयोश्च महासुराः।
संदष्टौष्ठपुटाः क्रुद्धा हन्तुं देवीमुपाययुः॥
Tasyagratas tatha prishthe parshvayosh cha mahasurah,
sandashtaushtha-putah kruddha hantum devim upayayuh.
अर्थ: उसके आगे, पीछे और दोनों ओर बड़े-बड़े असुर क्रोध से होंठ चबाते हुए देवी को मारने के लिए आए।
Meaning: In front of him, behind him and on both sides, great asuras, biting their lips in fury, came on to kill the Goddess.
Verse 9.8
आजगाम महावीर्यः शुम्भोऽपि स्वबलैर्वृतः।
निहन्तुं चण्डिकां कोपात्कृत्वा युद्धं तु मातृभिः॥
Ajagama maha-viryah shumbho 'pi sva-balair vritah,
nihantum chandikam kopat kritva yuddham tu matribhih.
अर्थ: महापराक्रमी शुम्भ भी अपनी सेना से घिरा हुआ, मातृकाओं से युद्ध करके, क्रोध में भरकर चण्डिका को मारने आया।
Meaning: Mighty Shumbha, too, surrounded by his own forces, came in his anger to kill Chandika, after fighting the Mothers.
Verse 9.9
ततो युद्धमतीवासीद्देव्या शुम्भनिशुम्भयोः।
शरवर्षमतीवोग्रं मेघयोरिव वर्षतोः॥
Tato yuddham ativasid devya shumbha-nishumbhayoh,
shara-varsham ativogram meghayor iva varshatoh.
अर्थ: तब देवी का शुम्भ और निशुम्भ से भयंकर युद्ध हुआ। वे दोनों बरसते हुए दो बादलों की तरह बाणों की बहुत तेज़ वर्षा करने लगे।
Meaning: Then a fierce battle broke out between the Goddess and Shumbha and Nishumbha. The two poured down a furious rain of arrows, like two clouds pouring rain.
Verse 9.10
चिच्छेदास्ताञ्छरांस्ताभ्यां चण्डिका स्वशरोत्करैः।
ताडयामास चाङ्गेषु शस्त्रौघैरसुरेश्वरौ॥
Chichchhedastan sharams tabhyam chandika sva-sharotkaraih,
tadayamasa changeshu shastraughair asureshvarau.
अर्थ: उन दोनों के चलाए बाणों को चण्डिका ने अपने बाणों के समूह से काट डाला, और शस्त्रों की बौछार से दोनों असुरराजों के अंगों पर प्रहार किया।
Meaning: Chandika cut down the arrows the two had shot with volleys of her own, and struck the two asura lords on their bodies with a flood of weapons.
Verse 9.11
निशुम्भो निशितं खड्गं चर्म चादाय सुप्रभम्।
अताडयन्मूर्ध्नि सिंहं देव्या वाहनमुत्तमम्॥
Nishumbho nishitam khadgam charma chadaya suprabham,
atadayan murdhni simham devya vahanam uttamam.
अर्थ: निशुम्भ ने तेज़ धार वाली तलवार और चमकती हुई ढाल लेकर देवी के श्रेष्ठ वाहन सिंह के सिर पर प्रहार किया।
Meaning: Nishumbha took up a sharp sword and a shining shield and struck the lion, the Goddess’s noble mount, on the head.
Verse 9.12
ताडिते वाहने देवी क्षुरप्रेणासिमुत्तमम्।
निशुम्भस्याशु चिच्छेद चर्म चाप्यष्टचन्द्रकम्॥
Tadite vahane devi kshuraprenasim uttamam,
nishumbhasyashu chichchheda charma chapy ashta-chandrakam.
अर्थ: अपने वाहन पर प्रहार होते ही देवी ने क्षुरप्र (उस्तरे जैसी धार वाले) बाण से निशुम्भ की उत्तम तलवार और आठ चंद्रमाओं के चिह्न वाली ढाल को तुरंत काट डाला।
Meaning: As soon as her mount was struck, the Goddess cut through Nishumbha’s fine sword with a razor-edged arrow, and his shield marked with eight moons as well.
Verse 9.13
छिन्ने चर्मणि खड्गे च शक्तिं चिक्षेप सोऽसुरः।
तामप्यस्य द्विधा चक्रे चक्रेणाभिमुखागताम्॥
Chhinne charmani khadge cha shaktim chikshepa so 'surah,
tam apy asya dvidha chakre chakrenabhimukhagatam.
अर्थ: ढाल और तलवार कट जाने पर उस असुर ने शक्ति (भाला) फेंकी; सामने आती उस शक्ति के भी देवी ने चक्र से दो टुकड़े कर दिए।
Meaning: With shield and sword cut down, the asura hurled a spear; 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॥
Kopadhmato nishumbho 'tha shulam jagraha danavah,
ayatam mushti-patena devi tach chapy achurnayat.
अर्थ: तब क्रोध से फूले हुए दानव निशुम्भ ने शूल उठाया; आते हुए उस शूल को भी देवी ने मुक्के की मार से चूर-चूर कर दिया।
Meaning: Then the danava Nishumbha, swelling with rage, seized a lance; and as it came, the Goddess smashed that too with a blow of her fist.
Verse 9.15
आविध्याथ गदां सोऽपि चिक्षेप चण्डिकां प्रति।
सापि देव्या त्रिशूलेन भिन्ना भस्मत्वमागता॥
Avidhyatha gadam so 'pi chikshepa chandikam prati,
sapi devya trishulena bhinna bhasmatvam agata.
अर्थ: फिर उसने गदा घुमाकर चण्डिका पर फेंकी; वह भी देवी के त्रिशूल से टूटकर भस्म हो गई।
Meaning: Then he whirled a mace and hurled it at Chandika; it too was split by the Goddess’s trident and turned to ashes.
Verse 9.16
ततः परशुहस्तं तमायान्तं दैत्यपुंगवम्।
आहत्य देवी बाणौघैरपातयत भूतले॥
Tatah parashu-hastam tam ayantam daitya-pungavam,
ahatya devi banaughair apatayata bhutale.
अर्थ: तब हाथ में फरसा लिए आते हुए उस श्रेष्ठ दैत्य पर देवी ने बाणों की बौछार से प्रहार करके उसे धरती पर गिरा दिया।
Meaning: Then, as that foremost of daityas came at her, axe in hand, the Goddess struck him with a flood of arrows and laid him on the ground.
Verses 9.17–9.28: Shumbha in the field
Shumbha comes in his chariot with eight arms, and the Goddess strikes him senseless.
Verse 9.17
तस्मिन्निपतिते भूमौ निशुम्भे भीमविक्रमे।
भ्रातर्यतीव संक्रुद्धः प्रययौ हन्तुमम्बिकाम्॥
Tasmin nipatite bhumau nishumbhe bhima-vikrame,
bhratary ativa sankruddhah prayayau hantum ambikam.
अर्थ: भयानक पराक्रम वाले अपने भाई निशुम्भ के धरती पर गिर जाने पर (शुम्भ) अत्यंत क्रोधित होकर अम्बिका को मारने चला।
Meaning: When his brother Nishumbha, of fearsome valour, had fallen to the ground, Shumbha, in towering rage, went forth to kill Ambika.
Verse 9.18
स रथस्थस्तथात्युच्चैर्गृहीतपरमायुधैः।
भुजैरष्टाभिरतुलैर्व्याप्याशेषं बभौ नभः॥
Sa rathasthas tathatyuchchair grihita-paramayudhaih,
bhujair ashtabhir atulair vyapyashesham babhau nabhah.
अर्थ: रथ पर खड़ा वह अपनी आठ अनुपम भुजाओं में श्रेष्ठ हथियार ऊँचे उठाए हुए, सारे आकाश में छाया हुआ दिखाई दिया।
Meaning: Standing in his chariot, his eight matchless arms raised high with mighty weapons, he seemed to fill the whole sky.
Verse 9.19
तमायान्तं समालोक्य देवी शङ्खमवादयत्।
ज्याशब्दं चापि धनुषश्चकारातीव दुःसहम्॥
Tam ayantam samalokya devi shankham avadayat,
jya-shabdam chapi dhanushash chakarativa duhsaham.
अर्थ: उसे आता देखकर देवी ने शंख बजाया, और धनुष की डोरी की ऐसी टंकार की जिसे सहना अत्यंत कठिन था।
Meaning: Seeing him come, the Goddess blew her conch and drew from her bowstring a twang that was almost unbearable to hear.
Verse 9.20
पूरयामास ककुभो निजघण्टास्वनेन च।
समस्तदैत्यसैन्यानां तेजोवधविधायिना॥
Purayamasa kakubho nija-ghanta-svanena cha,
samasta-daitya-sainyanam tejo-vadha-vidhayina.
अर्थ: और अपने घंटे की ध्वनि से, जो सारी दैत्य सेनाओं का तेज नष्ट कर देती थी, उन्होंने सारी दिशाएँ भर दीं।
Meaning: And with the sound of her bell, which drained the spirit of all the daitya armies, she filled every direction.
Verse 9.21
ततः सिंहो महानादैस्त्याजितेभमहामदैः।
पूरयामास गगनं गां तथैव दिशो दश॥
Tatah simho maha-nadais tyajitebha-maha-madaih,
purayamasa gaganam gam tathaiva disho dasha.
अर्थ: तब सिंह ने ऐसी भारी गर्जनाओं से, जिनसे बड़े-बड़े हाथियों का मद उतर गया, आकाश, धरती और दसों दिशाओं को भर दिया।
Meaning: Then the lion filled the sky, the earth and all ten directions with mighty roars that made the great elephants lose their pride.
Verse 9.22
ततः काली समुत्पत्य गगनं क्ष्मामताडयत्।
कराभ्यां तन्निनादेन प्राक्स्वनास्ते तिरोहिताः॥
Tatah kali samutpatya gaganam kshmam atadayat,
karabhyam tan-ninadena prak-svanas te tirohitah.
अर्थ: तब काली ने उछलकर अपने दोनों हाथों से आकाश और धरती पर प्रहार किया; उस ध्वनि में पहले की सारी ध्वनियाँ डूब गईं।
Meaning: Then Kali leapt up and struck the sky and the earth with both her hands, and in that sound all the earlier sounds were drowned.
Verse 9.23
अट्टाट्टहासमशिवं शिवदूती चकार ह।
तैः शब्दैरसुरास्त्रेसुः शुम्भः कोपं परं ययौ॥
Attatta-hasam ashivam shiva-duti chakara ha,
taih shabdair asuras tresuh shumbhah kopam param yayau.
अर्थ: शिवदूती ने अमंगल-सूचक भयानक अट्टहास किया; उन ध्वनियों से असुर काँप उठे और शुम्भ को बहुत अधिक क्रोध आया।
Meaning: Shivaduti let out a loud and ominous laugh; at those sounds the asuras trembled, and Shumbha’s anger rose to its height.
Verse 9.24
दुरात्मंस्तिष्ठ तिष्ठेति व्याजहाराम्बिका यदा।
तदा जयेत्यभिहितं देवैराकाशसंस्थितैः॥
Duratmams tishtha tishtheti vyajaharambika yada,
tada jayety abhihitam devair akasha-samsthitaih.
अर्थ: जब अम्बिका ने कहा, “ओ दुष्ट, ठहर! ठहर!”, तब आकाश में खड़े देवताओं ने “जय हो!” का घोष किया।
Meaning: When Ambika called out, “Stay, wicked one! Stay!”, the gods standing in the sky cried out, “Victory!”
Verse 9.25
शुम्भेनागत्य या शक्तिर्मुक्ता ज्वालातिभीषणा।
आयान्ती वह्निकूटाभा सा निरस्ता महोल्कया॥
Shumbhenagatya ya shaktir mukta jvalati-bhishana,
ayanti vahni-kutabha sa nirasta maholkaya.
अर्थ: शुम्भ ने पास आकर जो अत्यंत भयानक, ज्वालाओं से भरी शक्ति (भाला) छोड़ी, आग के पहाड़ जैसी चमकती हुई आती उस शक्ति को देवी ने एक बड़ी उल्का (जलते अस्त्र) से रोक दिया।
Meaning: The spear that Shumbha came and hurled, blazing fearsomely and glowing like a mountain of fire as it flew, the Goddess turned aside with a great flaming meteor.
Verse 9.26
सिंहनादेन शुम्भस्य व्याप्तं लोकत्रयान्तरम्।
निर्घातनिःस्वनो घोरो जितवानवनीपते॥
Simha-nadena shumbhasya vyaptam loka-trayantaram,
nirghata-nihsvano ghoro jitavan avanipate.
अर्थ: हे राजन, शुम्भ के सिंहनाद से तीनों लोक भर गए, पर (देवी की ओर से उठी) वज्रपात जैसी भयानक ध्वनि ने उसे भी दबा दिया।
Meaning: Shumbha’s lion-like roar filled all three worlds; but, O king, a dreadful sound like a thunderclap overpowered it.
Verse 9.27
शुम्भमुक्ताञ्छरान्देवी शुम्भस्तत्प्रहिताञ्छरान्।
चिच्छेद स्वशरैरुग्रैः शतशोऽथ सहस्रशः॥
Shumbha-muktan sharan devi shumbhas tat-prahitan sharan,
chichchheda sva-sharair ugraih shatasho 'tha sahasrashah.
अर्थ: शुम्भ के छोड़े बाणों को देवी ने और देवी के चलाए बाणों को शुम्भ ने अपने उग्र बाणों से सैकड़ों और हज़ारों की संख्या में काट डाला।
Meaning: The Goddess cut down the arrows Shumbha loosed, and Shumbha the arrows she shot, each with fierce arrows of their own, by the hundred and the thousand.
Verse 9.28
ततः सा चण्डिका क्रुद्धा शूलेनाभिजघान तम्।
स तदाभिहतो भूमौ मूर्च्छितो निपपात ह॥
Tatah sa chandika kruddha shulenabhijaghana tam,
sa tadabhihato bhumau murchchhito nipapata ha.
अर्थ: तब क्रोधित चण्डिका ने शूल से उस पर प्रहार किया; उस प्रहार से वह मूर्छित होकर धरती पर गिर पड़ा।
Meaning: Then Chandika, in her anger, struck him with her spear; and at that blow he fell senseless to the ground.
Verses 9.29–9.41: the end of Nishumbha
Nishumbha rises again and falls to the Goddess’s spear and sword; the Mothers scatter his army.
Verse 9.29
ततो निशुम्भः सम्प्राप्य चेतनामात्तकार्मुकः।
आजघान शरैर्देवीं कालीं केसरिणं तथा॥
Tato nishumbhah samprapya chetanam atta-karmukah,
ajaghana sharair devim kalim kesarinam tatha.
अर्थ: तब निशुम्भ ने होश में आकर धनुष उठाया और देवी, काली और सिंह पर बाणों से प्रहार किया।
Meaning: Then Nishumbha came back to his senses, took up his bow, and shot arrows at the Goddess, at Kali and at the lion.
Verse 9.30
पुनश्च कृत्वा बाहूनामयुतं दनुजेश्वरः।
चक्रायुधेन दितिजश्छादयामास चण्डिकाम्॥
Punash cha kritva bahunam ayutam danujeshvarah,
chakrayudhena ditijash chhadayamasa chandikam.
अर्थ: फिर उस दानवराज, दिति के पुत्र, ने दस हज़ार भुजाएँ बनाकर चक्रों से चण्डिका को ढक दिया।
Meaning: Then that lord of the danavas, son of Diti, took on ten thousand arms and covered Chandika with discs.
Verse 9.31
ततो भगवती क्रुद्धा दुर्गा दुर्गार्तिनाशिनी।
चिच्छेद तानि चक्राणि स्वशरैः सायकांश्च तान्॥
Tato bhagavati kruddha durga durgarti-nashini,
chichchheda tani chakrani sva-sharaih sayakamsh cha tan.
अर्थ: तब कठिनाई और पीड़ा का नाश करने वाली भगवती दुर्गा ने क्रोधित होकर अपने बाणों से उन चक्रों और बाणों को काट डाला।
Meaning: Then the blessed Durga, who ends hardship and pain, in her anger cut down those discs and those arrows with her own arrows.
Verse 9.32
ततो निशुम्भो वेगेन गदामादाय चण्डिकाम्।
अभ्यधावत वै हन्तुं दैत्यसेनासमावृतः॥
Tato nishumbho vegena gadam adaya chandikam,
abhyadhavata vai hantum daitya-sena-samavritah.
अर्थ: तब निशुम्भ दैत्य सेना से घिरा हुआ, गदा लेकर बड़े वेग से चण्डिका को मारने दौड़ा।
Meaning: Then Nishumbha, surrounded by the daitya army, took up his mace and rushed swiftly at Chandika to kill her.
Verse 9.33
तस्यापतत एवाशु गदां चिच्छेद चण्डिका।
खड्गेन शितधारेण स च शूलं समाददे॥
Tasyapatata evashu gadam chichchheda chandika,
khadgena shita-dharena sa cha shulam samadade.
अर्थ: उसके आते ही चण्डिका ने तेज़ धार वाली तलवार से उसकी गदा तुरंत काट डाली; तब उसने शूल उठा लिया।
Meaning: Even as he came on, Chandika swiftly cut through his mace with her keen-edged sword; and he took up a spear.
Verse 9.34
शूलहस्तं समायान्तं निशुम्भममरार्दनम्।
हृदि विव्याध शूलेन वेगाविद्धेन चण्डिका॥
Shula-hastam samayantam nishumbham amarardanam,
hridi vivyadha shulena vegaviddhena chandika.
अर्थ: देवताओं को सताने वाले निशुम्भ को हाथ में शूल लिए आते देखकर चण्डिका ने वेग से फेंके अपने शूल से उसका हृदय बेध दिया।
Meaning: As Nishumbha, the tormentor of the gods, came at her spear in hand, Chandika pierced him through the heart with her swiftly hurled spear.
Verse 9.35
भिन्नस्य तस्य शूलेन हृदयान्निःसृतोऽपरः।
महाबलो महावीर्यस्तिष्ठेति पुरुषो वदन्॥
Bhinnasya tasya shulena hridayan nihsrito 'parah,
mahabalo mahaviryas tishtheti purusho vadan.
अर्थ: शूल से बिंधे उसके हृदय से एक और महाबली, महापराक्रमी पुरुष “ठहर!” कहता हुआ निकला।
Meaning: From the heart of the pierced asura came out another figure, a man of great strength and valour, crying, “Stop!”
Verse 9.36
तस्य निष्क्रामतो देवी प्रहस्य स्वनवत्ततः।
शिरश्चिच्छेद खड्गेन ततोऽसावपतद्भुवि॥
Tasya nishkramato devi prahasya svanavat tatah,
shirash chichchheda khadgena tato 'sav apatad bhuvi.
अर्थ: उसके निकलते ही देवी ने ज़ोर से हँसकर तलवार से उसका सिर काट दिया, और वह धरती पर गिर पड़ा। (टीकाकार इस दूसरे पुरुष को अलग-अलग तरह से समझाते हैं; कुछ इसे निशुम्भ का ही सूक्ष्म रूप मानते हैं।)
Meaning: As he came out, the Goddess laughed aloud and cut off his head with her sword, and he fell to the ground. (Commentators explain this second figure in different ways; some take it as Nishumbha’s own inner form.)
Verse 9.37
ततः सिंहश्चखादोग्रं दंष्ट्राक्षुण्णशिरोधरान्।
असुरांस्तांस्तथा काली शिवदूती तथापरान्॥
Tatah simhash chakhadogram damshtra-kshunna-shirodharan,
asuramstams tatha kali shiva-duti tathaparan.
अर्थ: तब सिंह ने अपने उग्र दाँतों से गर्दनें तोड़कर उन असुरों को खा लिया, और इसी तरह काली और शिवदूती ने दूसरों को।
Meaning: Then the lion devoured those asuras, breaking their necks with its fierce teeth, and Kali and Shivaduti did the same to others.
Verse 9.38
कौमारीशक्तिनिर्भिन्नाः केचिन्नेशुर्महासुराः।
ब्रह्माणीमन्त्रपूतेन तोयेनान्ये निराकृताः॥
Kaumari-shakti-nirbhinnah kechin neshur mahasurah,
brahmani-mantra-putena toyenanye nirakritah.
अर्थ: कुछ महादैत्य कौमारी की शक्ति (भाले) से बिंधकर नष्ट हो गए; दूसरों को ब्रह्माणी ने मंत्र से पवित्र किए जल से दूर भगा दिया।
Meaning: Some great asuras perished, pierced by Kaumari’s spear; others were driven off by water made holy with Brahmani’s mantras.
Verse 9.39
माहेश्वरीत्रिशूलेन भिन्नाः पेतुस्तथापरे।
वाराहीतुण्डघातेन केचिच्चूर्णीकृता भुवि॥
Maheshvari-trishulena bhinnah petus tathapare,
varahi-tunda-ghatena kechich churnikrita bhuvi.
अर्थ: कुछ दूसरे माहेश्वरी के त्रिशूल से बिंधकर गिर पड़े, और कुछ वाराही की थूथन की मार से धरती पर चूर-चूर हो गए।
Meaning: Others fell, pierced by Maheshvari’s trident, and some were ground into the earth by blows of Varahi’s snout.
Verse 9.40
खण्डं खण्डं च चक्रेण वैष्णव्या दानवाः कृताः।
वज्रेण चैन्द्रीहस्ताग्रविमुक्तेन तथापरे॥
Khandam khandam cha chakrena vaishnavya danavah kritah,
vajrena chaindri-hastagra-vimuktena tathapare.
अर्थ: वैष्णवी के चक्र से दानवों के टुकड़े-टुकड़े हो गए, और ऐन्द्री के हाथ से छूटे वज्र से दूसरों के भी।
Meaning: Danavas were cut to pieces by Vaishnavi’s discus, and others by the thunderbolt flung from Aindri’s hand.
Verse 9.41
केचिद्विनेशुरसुराः केचिन्नष्टा महाहवात्।
भक्षिताश्चापरे कालीशिवदूतीमृगाधिपैः॥
Kechid vineshur asurah kechin nashta mahahavat,
bhakshitash chapare kali-shiva-duti-mrigadhipaih.
अर्थ: कुछ असुर मारे गए, कुछ उस महायुद्ध से भाग गए, और दूसरों को काली, शिवदूती और सिंह ने खा लिया।
Meaning: Some asuras perished, some fled the great battle, and others were devoured by Kali, Shivaduti and the lion.
Chapter colophon
इति श्रीमार्कण्डेयपुराणे सावर्णिके मन्वन्तरे देवीमाहात्म्ये
निशुम्भवधो नाम नवमोऽध्यायः॥
Iti shri-markandeya-purane savarnike manvantare devi-mahatmye
nishumbha-vadho nama navamo 'dhyayah.
अर्थ: इस प्रकार श्री मार्कण्डेय पुराण में, सावर्णिक मन्वंतर की कथा के अंतर्गत देवी माहात्म्य में “निशुम्भ वध” नाम का नौवाँ अध्याय पूरा हुआ।
Meaning: Thus ends the ninth chapter, called “the slaying of Nishumbha”, in the Devi Mahatmya, part of the account of the Savarni Manvantara in the Shri Markandeya Purana.
Questions
How is Nishumbha killed in chapter 9?
He falls twice. First the Goddess breaks every weapon he uses, sword, shield, spear, lance and mace, and brings him down with her arrows (9.11–9.16). Later he recovers, takes ten thousand arms and attacks again (9.29–9.33). Then she pierces his heart with her spear; another figure comes out of it crying “Stop!”, and she cuts it down with her sword (9.34–9.36).
What is the figure that comes out of Nishumbha’s heart?
The text says only that “another man, of great strength and valour” came out crying “Stop!” (9.35), and that the Goddess, laughing, cut off his head (9.36). Commentators differ: some see it as Nishumbha’s subtle or inner form, which also had to be ended; others as a last surge of his power. Shakta teachers often read it as the hidden root of ego, which speaks up even after its outer form is struck.
Why is the Goddess called “durgarti-nashini” in 9.31?
The phrase means “Durga, destroyer of hardship and pain” (durga can also mean a difficult or impassable place, arti means distress). It comes just when Nishumbha has covered her with discs from ten thousand arms, the moment of greatest pressure in the chapter. The same idea runs through the Saptashati and many Durga hymns: she is the one who carries her devotees across difficulty.
Why does King Suratha speak at the start of chapter 9?
The whole Saptashati is a conversation: the sage Medhas tells these stories to King Suratha, who has lost his kingdom, and the merchant Samadhi, who has been cast out by his family. Here the king says the story of Raktabija was wonderful and asks to hear what Shumbha and Nishumbha did next (9.1–9.3). The question reminds the reader that the battles are being told to two troubled men as a teaching, not just as a tale.
Text and sources
The Sanskrit text is public domain. We checked all 41 mantras and the colophon one by one against texts fetched on 1 November 2026: the complete Saptashati (“durga700”) on sanskritdocuments.org and chapter 89 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 speaker lines 9.1 and 9.4 as mantras, giving 41. Readings chosen with Gita Press and Wikisource against sanskritdocuments: “taih shabdair” (9.23, sanskritdocuments “vaih”, a misprint), “chichchheda tani chakrani” (9.31, “chichchheda devi chakrani”), “daitya-sena-samavritah” (9.32, “-sainya-”) and “chakhadogram damshtra-kshunna-” (9.37, “chakhadogra-damshtra-”, which Gita Press notes as a variant); with Gita Press and sanskritdocuments we read “avidhyatha gadam” (9.15), where Wikisource has “athadaya gadam”, a variant Gita Press also notes, along with “’shu sharotkaraih” in 9.10 and “tathopadisho” in 9.21. The Wikisource text skips the second half of 9.11 and the first of 9.12 by a copying slip. Gita Press prints “Om” before 9.1 and a meditation verse (dhyana, “bandhuka-kanchana-nibham…”) 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.