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Fifth Skandha · Chapter 25

Chapter 25

Unit 112 of 318Fifth Skandha · Chapter 25Fifth Skandha · Chapter 251 source entries

Fifth Skandha · Chapter 25

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व्यास उवाच इत्युक्त्वा विररामासौ वचनं धूम्रलोचनः । प्रत्युवाच तदा काली प्रहस्य ललितं वचः ॥ १ ॥ विदूषकोऽसि जाल्म त्वं शैलूष इव भाषसे । वृथा मनोरथांश्चित्ते करोषि मधुरं वदन् ॥ २ ॥ बलवान्बलसंयुक्तः प्रेषितोऽसि दुरात्मना । कुरु युद्धं वृथा वादं मुञ्च मूढमतेऽधुना ॥ ३ ॥ हत्वा शुम्भं निशुम्भञ्च त्वदन्यान्वा बलाधिकान् । देवी क्रुद्धा शराघातैर्व्रजिष्यति निजालयम् ॥ ४ ॥ क्वासौ मन्दमतिः शुम्भः क्व वा विश्वविमोहिनी । अयुक्तः खलु संसारे विवाहविधिरेतयोः ॥ ५ ॥ सिंही किं त्वतिकामार्ता जम्बुकं कुरुते पतिम् । करिणी गर्दभं वापि गवयं सुरभिः किमु ॥ ६ ॥ गच्छ शुम्भं निशुम्भं च वद सत्यं वचो मम । कुरु युद्धं न चेद्याहि पातालं तरसाधुना ॥ ७ ॥ व्यास उवाच कालिकायावचः श्रुत्वा स दैत्यो धूम्रलोचनः । तामुवाच महाभाग क्रोधसंरक्तलोचनः ॥ ८ ॥ दुर्दर्शे त्वां निहत्याजौ सिंहञ्च मदगर्वितम् । गृहीत्वैनां गमिष्यामि राजानं प्रत्यहं किल ॥ ९ ॥ रसभङ्गभयात्कालि बिभेमि त्विह साम्प्रतम् । नोचेत्त्वां निशितैर्बाणैर्हन्म्यद्य कलहप्रिये ॥ १० ॥ कालिकोवाच किं विकत्थसि मन्दात्मन्नायं धर्मो धनुष्मताम् । स्वशक्त्या मुञ्च विशिखान्गन्तासि यमसंसदि ॥ ११ ॥ व्यास उवाच तच्छ्रुत्वा वचनं दैत्यः संगृह्य कार्मुकं दृढम् । कालिकां तां शरासारैर्ववर्षातिशिलाशितैः ॥ १२ ॥ देवास्तु प्रेक्षकास्तत्र विमानवरसंस्थिताः । तां स्तुवन्तो जयेत्यूचुर्देवीं शक्रपुरोगमाः ॥ १३ ॥ तयोः परस्परं युद्धं प्रवृत्तं चातिदारुणम् । बाणखड्गगदाशक्तिमुसलादिभिरुत्कटम् ॥ १४ ॥ कालिका बाणपातैस्तु हत्वा पूर्वं खरानथ । बभञ्ज तद्‌रथं व्यूढं जहास च मुहुर्मुहुः ॥ १५ ॥ स चान्यं रथमारूढः कोपेन प्रज्वलन्निव । बाणवृष्टिं चकारोग्रां कालिकोपरि भारत ॥ १६ ॥ सापि चिच्छेद तरसा तस्य बाणानसङ्गतान् । मुमोचान्यानुग्रवेगान्दानवोपरि कालिका ॥ १७ ॥ तैर्बाणैर्निहतास्तस्य पार्ष्णिग्राहा सहस्रशः । बभञ्ज च रथं वेगात्सूतं हत्वा खरानपि ॥ १८ ॥ चिच्छेद तद्धनुः सद्यो बाणैरुरगसन्निभैः । मुदं चक्रे सुराणां सा शङ्खनादं तथाकरोत् ॥ १९ ॥ विरथः परिघं गृह्य सर्वलोहमयं दृढम् । आजगाम रथोपस्थं कुपितो धूम्रलोचनः ॥ २० ॥ वाचा निर्भर्त्सयन्कालीं करालः कालसन्निभः । अद्यैव त्वां हनिष्यामि कुरूपे पिङ्गलोचने ॥ २१ ॥ इत्युक्त्वा सहसाऽऽगत्य परिघं क्षिपते यदा । हुङ्कारेणैव तं भस्म चकार तरसाम्बिका ॥ २२ ॥ दृष्ट्वा भस्मीकृतं दैत्यं सैनिका भयविह्वलाः । चक्रुः पलायनं सद्यो हा तातेत्यब्रुवन्पथि ॥ २३ ॥ देवास्तं निहतं दृष्ट्वा दानवं धूम्रलोचनम् । मुमुचुः पुष्पवृष्टिं ते मुदिता गगने स्थिताः ॥ २४ ॥ रणभूमिस्तदा राजन् दारुणा समपद्यत । निहतैर्दानवैरश्वैः खरैश्च वारणैस्तथा ॥ २५ ॥ गृध्राः काका वटाः श्येना वरफा जम्बुकास्तथा । ननृतुश्चुक्रुशुः प्रेतान्पतितान् रणभूमिषु ॥ २६ ॥ अम्बिका तद्‌रणस्थानं त्यक्त्वा दूरं स्थलान्तरे । गत्वा चकार चाप्युग्रं शङ्खनादं भयप्रदम् ॥ २७ ॥ तं श्रुत्वा दरशब्दं तु शुम्भः सद्मनि संस्थितः । दृष्ट्वाथ दानवान्भग्नानागतान् रुधिरोक्षितान् ॥ २८ ॥ छिन्नपादकराक्षांश्च मञ्चकारोपितानपि । भग्नपृष्ठकटिग्रीवान्क्रन्दमानाननेकशः ॥ २९ ॥ वीक्ष्य शुम्भो निशुम्भश्च क्व गतो धूम्रलोचनः । कथं भग्नाः समायाता नानीता किं वरानना ॥ ३० ॥ सैन्यं कुत्र गतं मन्दाः कथयन्तु यथोचितम् । कस्यायं शङ्खनादोऽद्य श्रूयते भयवर्धनः ॥ ३१ ॥ गणा ऊचुः बलञ्च पातितं सर्वं निहतो धूम्रलोचनः । कृतं कालिकया कर्म रणभूमावमानुषम् ॥ ३२ ॥ शङ्खनादोऽम्बिकायास्तु गगनं व्याप्य राजते । हर्षदः सुरसङ्घानां दानवानाञ्च शोककृत् ॥ ३३ ॥ यदा निपातिताः सर्वे तेन केसरिणा विभो । रथा भग्ना हयाश्चैव बाणपातैर्विनाशिताः ॥ ३४ ॥ गगनस्थाः सुराश्चक्रुः पुष्पवृष्टिं मुदान्विताः । दृष्ट्वा भग्नं बलं सर्वं पातितं धूम्रलोचनम् ॥ ३५ ॥ निश्चयस्तु कृतोऽस्माभिर्जयो नैव भवेदिति । विचारं कुरु राजेन्द्र मन्त्रिभिर्मन्त्रवित्तमैः ॥ ३६ ॥ विस्मयोऽयं महाराज यदेका जगदम्बिका । भवद्‌भिः सह युद्धाय संस्थिता सैन्यवर्जिता ॥ ३७ ॥ निर्भयैकाकिनी बाला सिंहारूढा मदोत्कटा । चित्रमेतन्महाराज भासतेऽद्‌भुतमञ्जसा ॥ ३८ ॥ सन्धिर्वा विग्रहो वाद्य स्थानं निर्याणमेव च । मन्त्रयित्वा महाराज कुरु कार्यं यथारुचि ॥ ३९ ॥ तत्सन्निधौ बलं नास्ति तथापि शत्रुतापन । पार्ष्णिग्राहा सुराः सर्वे भविष्यन्ति किलापदि ॥ ४० ॥ समये तत्समीपस्थौ ज्ञातौ च हरिशङ्करौ । लोकपालाः समीपेऽद्य वर्तन्ते गगने स्थिताः ॥ ४१ ॥ रक्षोगणाश्च गन्धर्वाः किन्नरा मानुषास्तथा । तत्सहायाश्च मन्तव्याः समये सुरतापन ॥ ४२ ॥ अस्माकं मतिमानेन ज्ञायते सर्वथेदृशम् । अम्बिकायाः सहायाशा तत्कार्याशा न काचन ॥ ४३ ॥ एका नाशयितुं शक्ता जगत्सर्वं चराचरम् । का कथा दानवानां तु सर्वेषामिति निश्चयः ॥ ४४ ॥ इति ज्ञात्वा महाभाग यथारुचि तथा कुरु । हितं सत्यं मितं वाक्यं वक्तव्यमनुयायिभिः ॥ ४५ ॥ व्यास उवाच तच्छ्रुत्वा वचनं तेषां शुम्भः परबलार्दनः । कनीयांसं समानीय पप्रच्छ रहसि स्थितः ॥ ४६ ॥ भ्रातः कालिकयाद्यैव निहतो धूम्रलोचनः । बलञ्च शातितं सर्वं गणा भग्नाः समागताः ॥ ४७ ॥ अम्बिका शङ्खनादं वै करोति मदगर्विता । ज्ञानिनां चैव दुर्ज्ञेया गतिः कालस्य सर्वथा ॥ ४८ ॥ तृणं वज्रायते नूनं वज्रं चैव तृणायते । बलवान्बलहीनः स्याद्दैवस्य गतिरीदृशी ॥ ४९ ॥ पृच्छामि त्वां महाभाग किं कर्तव्यमितः परम् । अभोग्या चाम्बिका नूनं कारणादत्र चागता ॥ ५० ॥ युक्तं पलायनं वीर युद्धं वा वद सत्वरम् । लघुं ज्येष्ठं विजानामि त्वामहं कार्यसङ्कटे ॥ ५१ ॥ निशुम्भ उवाच न वा पलायनं युक्तं न दुर्गग्रहणं तथा । युद्धमेव परं श्रेयः सर्वथैवानयानघ ॥ ५२ ॥ ससैन्योऽहं गमिष्यामि रणे तु प्रवराश्रितः । हत्वा तामागमिष्यामि तरसा त्वबलामिमाम् ॥ ५३ ॥ अथवा बलवद्दैवादन्यथा चेद्‌भविष्यति । मृते मयि त्वया कार्यं विमृश्य च पुनः पुनः ॥ ५४ ॥ इति तस्य वचः श्रुत्वा शुम्भः प्रोवाच चानुजम् । तिष्ठ त्वं चण्डमुण्डौ द्वौ गच्छेतां बलसंयुतौ ॥ ५५ ॥ शशकग्रहणायात्र न युक्तं गजमोचनम् । चण्डमुण्डौ महावीरौ तां हन्तुं सर्वथा क्षमौ ॥ ५६ ॥ इत्युक्त्वा भ्रातरं शुम्भः सम्भाष्य च महाबलौ । उवाच वचनं राजा चण्डमुण्डौ पुरःस्थितौ ॥ ५७ ॥ गच्छतं चण्डमुण्डौ द्वौ स्वसैन्यपरिवारितौ । हन्तुं तामबलां शीघ्रं निर्लज्जां मदगर्विताम् ॥ ५८ ॥ गृहीत्वाथ निहत्याजौ कालिकां पिङ्गलोचनाम् । आगम्यतां महाभागौ कृत्वा कार्यं महत्तरम् ॥ ५९ ॥ सा नायाति गृहीतापि गर्विता चाम्बिका यदि । तदा बाणैर्महातीक्ष्णैर्हन्तव्याहवमण्डिता ॥ ६० ॥

vyāsa uvāca ityuktvā virarāmāsau vacanaṃ dhūmralocanaḥ | pratyuvāca tadā kālī prahasya lalitaṃ vacaḥ || 1 || vidūṣako'si jālma tvaṃ śailūṣa iva bhāṣase | vṛthā manorathāṃścitte karoṣi madhuraṃ vadan || 2 || balavānbalasaṃyuktaḥ preṣito'si durātmanā | kuru yuddhaṃ vṛthā vādaṃ muñca mūḍhamate'dhunā || 3 || hatvā śumbhaṃ niśumbhañca tvadanyānvā balādhikān | devī kruddhā śarāghātairvrajiṣyati nijālayam || 4 || kvāsau mandamatiḥ śumbhaḥ kva vā viśvavimohinī | ayuktaḥ khalu saṃsāre vivāhavidhiretayoḥ || 5 || siṃhī kiṃ tvatikāmārtā jambukaṃ kurute patim | kariṇī gardabhaṃ vāpi gavayaṃ surabhiḥ kimu || 6 || gaccha śumbhaṃ niśumbhaṃ ca vada satyaṃ vaco mama | kuru yuddhaṃ na cedyāhi pātālaṃ tarasādhunā || 7 || vyāsa uvāca kālikāyāvacaḥ śrutvā sa daityo dhūmralocanaḥ | tāmuvāca mahābhāga krodhasaṃraktalocanaḥ || 8 || durdarśe tvāṃ nihatyājau siṃhañca madagarvitam | gṛhītvaināṃ gamiṣyāmi rājānaṃ pratyahaṃ kila || 9 || rasabhaṅgabhayātkāli bibhemi tviha sāmpratam | nocettvāṃ niśitairbāṇairhanmyadya kalahapriye || 10 || kālikovāca kiṃ vikatthasi mandātmannāyaṃ dharmo dhanuṣmatām | svaśaktyā muñca viśikhāngantāsi yamasaṃsadi || 11 || vyāsa uvāca tacchrutvā vacanaṃ daityaḥ saṃgṛhya kārmukaṃ dṛḍham | kālikāṃ tāṃ śarāsārairvavarṣātiśilāśitaiḥ || 12 || devāstu prekṣakāstatra vimānavarasaṃsthitāḥ | tāṃ stuvanto jayetyūcurdevīṃ śakrapurogamāḥ || 13 || tayoḥ parasparaṃ yuddhaṃ pravṛttaṃ cātidāruṇam | bāṇakhaḍgagadāśaktimusalādibhirutkaṭam || 14 || kālikā bāṇapātaistu hatvā pūrvaṃ kharānatha | babhañja tad‌rathaṃ vyūḍhaṃ jahāsa ca muhurmuhuḥ || 15 || sa cānyaṃ rathamārūḍhaḥ kopena prajvalanniva | bāṇavṛṣṭiṃ cakārogrāṃ kālikopari bhārata || 16 || sāpi ciccheda tarasā tasya bāṇānasaṅgatān | mumocānyānugravegāndānavopari kālikā || 17 || tairbāṇairnihatāstasya pārṣṇigrāhā sahasraśaḥ | babhañja ca rathaṃ vegātsūtaṃ hatvā kharānapi || 18 || ciccheda taddhanuḥ sadyo bāṇairuragasannibhaiḥ | mudaṃ cakre surāṇāṃ sā śaṅkhanādaṃ tathākarot || 19 || virathaḥ parighaṃ gṛhya sarvalohamayaṃ dṛḍham | ājagāma rathopasthaṃ kupito dhūmralocanaḥ || 20 || vācā nirbhartsayankālīṃ karālaḥ kālasannibhaḥ | adyaiva tvāṃ haniṣyāmi kurūpe piṅgalocane || 21 || ityuktvā sahasā''gatya parighaṃ kṣipate yadā | huṅkāreṇaiva taṃ bhasma cakāra tarasāmbikā || 22 || dṛṣṭvā bhasmīkṛtaṃ daityaṃ sainikā bhayavihvalāḥ | cakruḥ palāyanaṃ sadyo hā tātetyabruvanpathi || 23 || devāstaṃ nihataṃ dṛṣṭvā dānavaṃ dhūmralocanam | mumucuḥ puṣpavṛṣṭiṃ te muditā gagane sthitāḥ || 24 || raṇabhūmistadā rājan dāruṇā samapadyata | nihatairdānavairaśvaiḥ kharaiśca vāraṇaistathā || 25 || gṛdhrāḥ kākā vaṭāḥ śyenā varaphā jambukāstathā | nanṛtuścukruśuḥ pretānpatitān raṇabhūmiṣu || 26 || ambikā tad‌raṇasthānaṃ tyaktvā dūraṃ sthalāntare | gatvā cakāra cāpyugraṃ śaṅkhanādaṃ bhayapradam || 27 || taṃ śrutvā daraśabdaṃ tu śumbhaḥ sadmani saṃsthitaḥ | dṛṣṭvātha dānavānbhagnānāgatān rudhirokṣitān || 28 || chinnapādakarākṣāṃśca mañcakāropitānapi | bhagnapṛṣṭhakaṭigrīvānkrandamānānanekaśaḥ || 29 || vīkṣya śumbho niśumbhaśca kva gato dhūmralocanaḥ | kathaṃ bhagnāḥ samāyātā nānītā kiṃ varānanā || 30 || sainyaṃ kutra gataṃ mandāḥ kathayantu yathocitam | kasyāyaṃ śaṅkhanādo'dya śrūyate bhayavardhanaḥ || 31 || gaṇā ūcuḥ balañca pātitaṃ sarvaṃ nihato dhūmralocanaḥ | kṛtaṃ kālikayā karma raṇabhūmāvamānuṣam || 32 || śaṅkhanādo'mbikāyāstu gaganaṃ vyāpya rājate | harṣadaḥ surasaṅghānāṃ dānavānāñca śokakṛt || 33 || yadā nipātitāḥ sarve tena kesariṇā vibho | rathā bhagnā hayāścaiva bāṇapātairvināśitāḥ || 34 || gaganasthāḥ surāścakruḥ puṣpavṛṣṭiṃ mudānvitāḥ | dṛṣṭvā bhagnaṃ balaṃ sarvaṃ pātitaṃ dhūmralocanam || 35 || niścayastu kṛto'smābhirjayo naiva bhavediti | vicāraṃ kuru rājendra mantribhirmantravittamaiḥ || 36 || vismayo'yaṃ mahārāja yadekā jagadambikā | bhavad‌bhiḥ saha yuddhāya saṃsthitā sainyavarjitā || 37 || nirbhayaikākinī bālā siṃhārūḍhā madotkaṭā | citrametanmahārāja bhāsate'd‌bhutamañjasā || 38 || sandhirvā vigraho vādya sthānaṃ niryāṇameva ca | mantrayitvā mahārāja kuru kāryaṃ yathāruci || 39 || tatsannidhau balaṃ nāsti tathāpi śatrutāpana | pārṣṇigrāhā surāḥ sarve bhaviṣyanti kilāpadi || 40 || samaye tatsamīpasthau jñātau ca hariśaṅkarau | lokapālāḥ samīpe'dya vartante gagane sthitāḥ || 41 || rakṣogaṇāśca gandharvāḥ kinnarā mānuṣāstathā | tatsahāyāśca mantavyāḥ samaye suratāpana || 42 || asmākaṃ matimānena jñāyate sarvathedṛśam | ambikāyāḥ sahāyāśā tatkāryāśā na kācana || 43 || ekā nāśayituṃ śaktā jagatsarvaṃ carācaram | kā kathā dānavānāṃ tu sarveṣāmiti niścayaḥ || 44 || iti jñātvā mahābhāga yathāruci tathā kuru | hitaṃ satyaṃ mitaṃ vākyaṃ vaktavyamanuyāyibhiḥ || 45 || vyāsa uvāca tacchrutvā vacanaṃ teṣāṃ śumbhaḥ parabalārdanaḥ | kanīyāṃsaṃ samānīya papraccha rahasi sthitaḥ || 46 || bhrātaḥ kālikayādyaiva nihato dhūmralocanaḥ | balañca śātitaṃ sarvaṃ gaṇā bhagnāḥ samāgatāḥ || 47 || ambikā śaṅkhanādaṃ vai karoti madagarvitā | jñānināṃ caiva durjñeyā gatiḥ kālasya sarvathā || 48 || tṛṇaṃ vajrāyate nūnaṃ vajraṃ caiva tṛṇāyate | balavānbalahīnaḥ syāddaivasya gatirīdṛśī || 49 || pṛcchāmi tvāṃ mahābhāga kiṃ kartavyamitaḥ param | abhogyā cāmbikā nūnaṃ kāraṇādatra cāgatā || 50 || yuktaṃ palāyanaṃ vīra yuddhaṃ vā vada satvaram | laghuṃ jyeṣṭhaṃ vijānāmi tvāmahaṃ kāryasaṅkaṭe || 51 || niśumbha uvāca na vā palāyanaṃ yuktaṃ na durgagrahaṇaṃ tathā | yuddhameva paraṃ śreyaḥ sarvathaivānayānagha || 52 || sasainyo'haṃ gamiṣyāmi raṇe tu pravarāśritaḥ | hatvā tāmāgamiṣyāmi tarasā tvabalāmimām || 53 || athavā balavaddaivādanyathā ced‌bhaviṣyati | mṛte mayi tvayā kāryaṃ vimṛśya ca punaḥ punaḥ || 54 || iti tasya vacaḥ śrutvā śumbhaḥ provāca cānujam | tiṣṭha tvaṃ caṇḍamuṇḍau dvau gacchetāṃ balasaṃyutau || 55 || śaśakagrahaṇāyātra na yuktaṃ gajamocanam | caṇḍamuṇḍau mahāvīrau tāṃ hantuṃ sarvathā kṣamau || 56 || ityuktvā bhrātaraṃ śumbhaḥ sambhāṣya ca mahābalau | uvāca vacanaṃ rājā caṇḍamuṇḍau puraḥsthitau || 57 || gacchataṃ caṇḍamuṇḍau dvau svasainyaparivāritau | hantuṃ tāmabalāṃ śīghraṃ nirlajjāṃ madagarvitām || 58 || gṛhītvātha nihatyājau kālikāṃ piṅgalocanām | āgamyatāṃ mahābhāgau kṛtvā kāryaṃ mahattaram || 59 || sā nāyāti gṛhītāpi garvitā cāmbikā yadi | tadā bāṇairmahātīkṣṇairhantavyāhavamaṇḍitā || 60 ||

English translation

1-7. Vyasa said O Janamejaya! When Dhumralochana ceased speaking, the Devi Kalika made a wild laughter and began to speak sweetly thus O Stupid! Skilled in flattery, you know only how to use jugglery of words like an actor; do you think that your ends will be served if you speak only sweet words; this can never be. O Stupid! Fight now; there is no need of useless words. You are strong and have been sent by that wicked Demon with a great army. This Devi, out of wrath, will kill you, S’umbha, and Nis’umbha and other commanders by Her arrows and will then return to Her abode. Where is that stupid S’umbha? And where is this Devi, the Great Enchantress of the Universe!

Their marriage in this world is entirely out of question and can never take place. O Stupid! What do you think that a lioness becoming very passionate, would make an ordinary jackal her husband? or would a she-elephant prefer an ass? or would a heavenly Cow like a bison? Go to S’umbha and Nis’umbha and tell truly to them “Fight or go instantly to Patala.”

8-10. Vyasa said O Fortunate One! The Demon Dhumralochana, hearing thus the Kalika’s words, became very angry and spoke with reddened eyes “O Ugly One! I will slay Thee and this lion infatuated with pride in battle and take this Fair One to the king. O Kali! I have not been able to do this, simply it would break our amorous love sentiments. O Quarrelsome One! Otherwise I would have undoubtedly slain Thee just now with my sharpened arrows tipped with irons.”

11. Hearing thus, Kalika said O Fool! Why do you boast vainly? this is not the religion of a hero with bows and arrows in their hands. Shoot your arrows with all your might; I will send you to the realm of Death.

12-31. Vyasa said O King! Hearing the Devi’s words, Dhumralochana caught hold of his very strong bow and began to shoot arrows after arrows at Kalika. Indra and the other Devas came out to see the fight on their best cars in the celestial space and shouted “Victory to the Devi” and thus eulogised Her. Then a deadly fight ensued between them with arrows, axes, clubs, S’aktis, and Musalas and various other weapons. Kalika cut off at the very outset all the asses that carried the chariot by Her arrows and next broke his chariot and began to laugh repeatedly. O Bharata! Then Dhumralochana becoming angry mounted on another chariot and began to shoot deadly arrows at Kalika. Kalika Devi, too, out off those arrows into pieces before they reached Her and shot arrows after arrows on the Danava in quick succession. Thousands of his soldiers near to him were killed; the asses and the charioteer were killed and the chariot was broken. She cut off his arrows by Her swift serpent-like arrows and blew Her conchshell. The Devas seeing this became very glad. Dhumralochana, seeing himself displaced from his chariot, took up with anger his very strong Parigha weapon and came near to the chariot of the Devi. Then the Danava, terrific like death, began to abuse the Devi and said “O Ugly tawny-eyed Kali! I will kill Thee just now.” Thus saying, he suddenly went near to Her and when he was about to throw his Parigha weapon on Her, the Ambika Devi burnt him to ashes simply by Her loud shout (of defiance). Seeing Dhumralochana burnt to ashes, his soldiers became panic-stricken, and fled away immediately, crying aloud “O Father! O Father!” The Devas saw this and and gladly showered from high heaps of flowers on the Devi. O King! The battle ground then assumed a dreadful appearance; at some places the slain Danavas; at others, the horses; at other places elephants and at

some other places the asses lay scattered on the field. The herons, crows, vultures, the Pis’achas of the class Batabaraphas and jackals and other carnivorous animals, began to dance wildly and clamour hideously at the sight of the dead bodies, lying on the field. The Ambika Devi then quitting the field, went to a distant place and blew Her conchshell so furiously and terribly that S’umbha heard that terrific noise, while he was sitting in his own residence. At the next moment, he saw that the Danava forces had retreated, and they were coming there crying. Some of them were besmeared with blood all over the bodies; some had got their feet, some their arms, cut asunder, some were devoid of eyes, some had got their backs broken; some had their waists broken; some got their necks broken and some were going on bedsteads. Seeing them thus, S’umbha and Nis’umbha asked them “Where is Dhumralochana? Why have you all retreated? And why have you not brought that Lady? Where are the other forces? Who has blown this horrible conch-shell? O Fools! Inform me quickly and truly all these things.”

32-33. The soldiers said “O King! Dhumralochana has been slain by Kalika; She has destroyed all the soldiers and has done extraordinary deeds.” O King! Know the blowing of the conchshell that has caused terror in the hearts of the Danavas and has enhanced the joy of the Devas and is being resounded in the celestial space, is that done by the Ambika Devi. (Note: In the Markandeya Purana, Ambika killed Dhumra.)

34-45. O Lord! When the Devi broke the chariot of Dhumralochana by the multitude of Her arrows and killed the horses and at last slew Dhumralochana himself, when all the forces were slain by Her who appeared like a lion and when the rest of the army retreated, the Devas seeing all these were very much gladdened and showered flowers from the celestial sky. O King! We have come to a perfect conclusion that we will not get the victory; now consult with your

expert ministers and do what is needful. O King! The Supreme Goddess of the Universe is waiting there alone to fight with you without any help of any other forces; this is a great wonder to us. O King! Intoxicated with Her power, that Girl, fearless, is reigning there taking Her stand on the lion. All these seem wonderful to us. O King! Consult with your councillors and out of the four policies peace, fight, retreat or remaining neutral, accept what is best. O Tormentor of the foes! True! There are no forces with the Devi, but the whole host of the Devas will take up Her cause in crisis, there is no doubt. In due time, Hari and Hara both will come and assist Her; now the guardians of the several quarters, the Lokapalas are waiting by Her side in the celestial space. O Tormentor of the Gods! Know that the Gandarbhas, Kinnaras, and human beings all will come timely and help Her. O King! We guess all these. But that Lady does not want the assistance of anyone nor does She expect that any other body would do the work for Her. You must know this certainly, that She alone can destroy this whole Universe. What to speak of the Danavas only! O Highly Fortunate One! Knowing all these, do as you like. It is the duty of the servants to speak beneficial and at the same time true words with moderation.

46-51. Vyasa said O King! S’umbha, the tormentor of others, hearing their words asked his younger brother in private “O Brother! This Kalika has slain today Dhumralochana with his forces; the few retreated and came over to me. Now the Ambika Devi, puffed up with pride is blowing Her conchshell. Brother! The ways of Time are knowable even to the wise. The grass becomes a thunderbolt and the thunderbolt becomes like a grass and powerless. Know thus the course of Destiny. O Fortunate One! Now I ask you, what are we to do now? Are we to entertain yet the desire of enjoying Ambika, or are we to fly away from here or are we to fight on? Say quickly. Though younger, in times of difficulty, I consider you as my elder.”

52-54. Hearing thus the S’umbha’s words, Nis’umbha said “O Sinless One! Flight or taking refuge in a fort is not reasonable. To fight with this Lady is the best course. I will take the best generals and soldiers with me and will slay that Lady and quickly return. And if Fate be strong and prove it otherwise, then, after my death, think out again and again and do what is best.”

55-60. Hearing thus the younger brother’s words, S’umbha said,

“You better wait; let Chanda and Munda go to the battle, surrounded with forces. To kill a hare it is not necessary to send an elephant. This is a very trifling matter; the two great warriors Chanda and Munda will be freely able to slay Her.” Thus saying his younger brother, the King S’umbha addressed Chanda Munda, who were waiting before him, thus O Chanda! O Munda! Take your forces and go quickly to kill that shameless Lady, puffed up with pride. O Pair of Warriors! Kill that tawny-eyed Kalika in the battle and bring that Ambika Devi here quickly. Do this Great Service. And if that haughty Ambika be unwilling to come here, though taken as a captive, then kill that Durga, the ornament of the battle, too, by sharp arrows.

Here ends the Twenty-fifth Chapter of the Fifth Book on the killing of Dhumralochana in S’ri Mad Devi Bhagavatam, the Maha Puranam, of 18,000 verses by Maharsi Veda Vyasa.

Complete chapter-aligned witnesses. Sanskrit Wikisource page 24422, revision 74860 (2016-07-22T00:11:42Z). English is Swami Vijñanananda’s complete 1921–23 public-domain translation, controlled against the archival OCR and its chapter page at https://sacred-texts.com/hin/db/bk05ch25.htm. Historic spelling and transliteration are lightly normalized; no verse-by-verse alignment is asserted.