Fifth Skandha · Chapter 26
Sourceव्यास उवाच इत्याज्ञप्तौ तदा वीरौ चण्डमुण्डौ महाबलौ । जग्मतुस्तरसैवाजौ सैन्येन महतान्वितौ ॥ १ ॥ दृष्ट्वा तत्र स्थितां देवीं देवानां हितकारिणीम् । ऊचतुस्तौ महावीर्यौ तदा सामान्वितं वचः ॥ २ ॥ बाले त्वं किं न जानासि शुम्भं सुरबलार्दनम् । निशुम्भञ्च महावीर्यं तुराषाड्विजयोद्धतम् ॥ ३ ॥ त्वमेकासि वरारोहे कालिकासिंहसंयुता । जेतुमिच्छसि दुर्बुद्धे शुम्भं सर्वबलान्वितम् ॥ ४ ॥ मतिदः कोऽपि ते नास्ति नारी वापि नरोऽपि वा । देवास्त्वां प्रेरयन्त्येव विनाशाय तवैव ते ॥ ५ ॥ विमृश्य कुरु तन्वङ्गि कार्यं स्वपरयोर्बलम् । अष्टादशभुजत्वात्त्वं गर्वञ्च कुरुषे मृषा ॥ ६ ॥ किं भुजैर्बहुभिर्व्यर्थैरायुधैः किं श्रमप्रदैः । शुम्भस्याग्रे सुराणां वै जेतुः समरशालिनः ॥ ७ ॥ ऐरावतकरच्छेत्तुर्दन्तिदारणकारिणः । जयिनः सुरसङ्घानां कार्यं कुरु मनोगतम् ॥ ८ ॥ वृथा गर्वायसे कान्ते कुरु मे वचनं प्रियम् । हितं तव विशालाक्षि सुखदं दुःखनाशनम् ॥ ९ ॥ दुःखदानि च कार्याणि त्याज्यानि दूरतो बुधैः । सुखदानि च सेव्यानि शास्त्रतत्त्वविशारदैः ॥ १० ॥ चतुरासि पिकालापे पश्य शुम्भबलं महत् । प्रत्यक्षं सुरसङ्घानां मर्दनेन महोदयम् ॥ ११ ॥ प्रत्यक्षञ्च परित्यज्य वृथैवानुमितिः किल । सन्देहसहिते कार्ये न विपश्चित्प्रवर्तते ॥ १२ ॥ शत्रुः सुराणां परमः शुम्भः समरदुर्जयः । तस्मात्त्वां प्रेरयन्त्यत्र देवा दैत्येशपीडिताः ॥ १३ ॥ तस्मात्तद्वचनैः स्निग्धैर्वञ्चितासि शुचिस्मिते । दुःखाय तव देवानां शिक्षा स्वार्थस्य साधिका ॥ १४ ॥ कार्यमित्रं परिक्षिप्य धर्ममित्रं समाश्रयेत् । देवाः स्वार्थपराः कामं त्वामहं सत्यमब्रुवम् ॥ १५ ॥ भज शुम्भं सुरेशानं जेतारं भुवनेश्वरम् । चतुरं सुन्दरं शूरं कामशास्त्रविशारदम् ॥ १६ ऐश्वर्यं सर्वलोकानां प्राप्स्यसे शुम्भशासनात् । निश्चयं परमं कृत्वा भर्तारं भज शोभनम् ॥ १७ ॥ व्यास उवाच इति तस्य वचः श्रुत्वा चण्डस्य जगदम्बिका । मेघगम्भीरनिनदं जगर्ज पुनरब्रवीत् ॥ १८ ॥ गच्छ जाल्म मृषा किं त्वं भाषसे वञ्चकं वचः । त्यक्त्वा हरिहरादींश्च शुम्भं कस्माद्भजे पतिम् ॥ १९ ॥ न मे कश्चित्पतिः कार्यो न कार्यं पतिना सह । स्वामिनी सर्वभूतानामहमेव निशामय ॥ २० ॥ शुम्भा मे बहवो दृष्टा निशुम्भाश्च सहस्रशः । घातिताश्च मया पूर्वं शतशो दैत्यदानवाः ॥ २१ ॥ ममाग्रे देववृन्दानि विनष्टानि युगे युगे । नाशं यास्यन्ति दैत्यानां यूथानि पुनरद्य वै ॥ २२ ॥ काल एवागतोऽस्त्यत्र दैत्यसंहारकारकः । वृथा त्वं कुरुषे यत्नं रक्षणायात्मसन्ततेः ॥ २३ ॥ कुरु युद्धं वीरधर्मरक्षायै त्वं महामते । मरणं भावि दुस्त्याज्यं यशो रक्ष्यं महात्मभिः ॥ २४ ॥ किं ते कार्यं निशुम्भेन शुम्भेन च दुरात्मना । वीरधर्मं परं प्राप्य गच्छ स्वर्गं सुरालयम् ॥ २५ ॥ शुम्भो निशुम्भश्चैवान्ये ये चात्र तव बान्धवाः । सर्वे तवानुगाः पश्चादागमिष्यन्ति साम्प्रतम् ॥ २६ ॥ क्रमशः सर्वदैत्यानां करिष्याम्यद्य संक्षयम् । विषादं त्यज मन्दात्मन् कुरु युद्धं विशांपते ॥ २७ ॥ त्वामहं निहनिष्यामि भ्रातरं तव साम्प्रतम् । ततः शुम्भं निशुम्भं च रक्तबीजं मदोत्कटम् ॥ २८ ॥ अन्यांश्च दानवान्सर्वान्हत्वाहं समराङ्गणे । गमिष्यामि यथास्थानं तिष्ठ वा गच्छ वा द्रुतम् ॥ २९ ॥ गृहाणास्त्रं वृथापुष्ट कुरु युद्धं मयाधुना । किं जल्पसि मृषा वाक्यं सर्वथा कातरप्रियम् ॥ ३० ॥ व्यास उवाच तयेत्थं प्रेरितौ दैत्यौ चण्डमुण्डौ क्रुधान्वितौ । ज्याशब्दं तरसा घोरं चक्रतुर्बलदर्पितौ ॥ ३१ ॥ सापि शङ्खस्वनं चक्रे पूरयन्ती दिशो दश । सिंहोऽपि कुपितस्तावन्नादं समकरोद्बली ॥ ३२ ॥ तेन नादेन शक्राद्या जहर्षुरमरास्तदा । मुनयो यक्षगन्धर्वाः सिद्धाः साध्याश्च किन्नराः ॥ ३३ ॥ युद्धं परस्परं तत्र जातं कातरभीतिदम् । चण्डिकाचण्डयोस्तीव्रं बाणखड्गगदादिभिः ॥ ३४ ॥ चण्डमुक्ताञ्छरान्देवी चिच्छेद निशितैः शरैः । मुमोच पुनरुग्रान्सा बाणांश्च पन्नगानिव ॥ ३५ ॥ गगनं छादितं तत्र संग्रामे विशिखैस्तदा । शलभैरिव मेघान्ते कर्षकाणां भयप्रदैः ॥ ३६ ॥ मुण्डोऽपि सैनिकैः सार्धं पपात तरसा रणे । मुमोच बाणवृष्टिं वै क्रुद्धः परमदारुणः ॥ ३७ ॥ बाणजालं महद् दृष्ट्वा कुद्धा तत्राम्बिका भृशम् । कोपेन वदनं तस्या बभूव घनसन्निभम् ॥ ३८ ॥ कदलीपुष्पनेत्रञ्च भृकुटीकुटिलं तदा । निष्क्रान्ता च तदा काली ललाटफलकाद्द्रुतम् ॥ ३९ ॥ व्याघ्रचर्माम्बरा क्रूरा गजचर्मोत्तरीयका । मुण्डमालाधरा घोरा शुष्कवापीसमोदरा ॥ ४० ॥ खड्गपाशधरातीव भीषणा भयदायिनी । खट्वाङ्गधारिणी रौद्रा कालरात्रिरिवापरा ॥ ४१ ॥ विस्तीर्णवदना जिह्वां चालयन्ती मुहुर्मुहुः । विस्तारजघना वेगाज्जघानासुरसैनिकान् ॥ ४२ ॥ करे कृत्वा महावीरांस्तरसा सा रुषान्विता । मुखे चिक्षेप दैतेयान्पिपेष दशनैः शनैः ॥ ४३ ॥ गजान्घण्टान्वितान्हस्ते गृहीत्वा निदधौ मुखे । सारोहान्भक्षयित्वाजौ साट्टहासं चकार ह ॥ ४४ ॥ तथैव तुरगानुष्ट्रांस्तथा सारथिभिः सह । निक्षिप्य वक्त्त्रे दशनैश्चर्वयत्यतिभैरवम् ॥ ४५ ॥ हन्यमानं बलं प्रेक्ष्य चण्डमुण्डौ महासुरौ । छादयामासतुर्देवीं बाणासारैरनन्तरैः ॥ ४६ ॥ चण्डश्चण्डकरच्छायं चक्रं चक्रधरायुधम् । चिक्षेप तरसा देवीं ननाद च मुहुर्मुहुः ॥ ४७ ॥ नदन्तं वीक्ष्य तं काली रथाङ्गञ्च रविप्रभम् । बाणेनैकेन चिच्छेद सुप्रभं तत्सुदर्शनम् ॥ ४८ ॥ तं जघान शरैस्तीक्ष्णैश्चण्डं चण्डी शिलाशितैः । मूर्च्छितोऽसौ पपातोर्व्यां देवीबाणार्दितो भृशम् ॥ ४९ ॥ पतितं भ्रातरं वीक्ष्य मुण्डो दुःखार्दितस्तदा । चकार शरवृष्टिञ्च कालिकोपरि कोपतः ॥ ५० ॥ चण्डिका मुण्डनिर्मुक्तां शरवृष्टिं सुदारुणाम् । ईषिकास्त्रैर्बलान्मुक्तैश्चकार तिलशः क्षणात् ॥ ५१ ॥ अर्धचन्द्रेण बाणेन ताडयामास तं पुनः । पतितोऽसौ महावीर्यो मेदिन्यां मदवर्जितः ॥ ५२ ॥ हाहाकारो महानासीद्दानवानां बले तदा । जहर्षुरमराः सर्वे गगनस्था गतव्यथाः ॥ ५३ ॥ विहाय मूर्च्छां चण्डस्तु संगृह्य महतीं गदाम् । तरसा ताडयामास कालिकां दक्षिणे भुजे ॥ ५४ ॥ वञ्चयित्वा गदाघातं तं बबन्ध महासुरम् । तरसा बाणपाशेन मन्त्रमुक्तेन कालिका ॥ ५५ ॥ उत्थितस्तु तदा मुण्डो बद्धं दृष्ट्वानुजं बलात् । आजगाम सुसन्नद्धः शक्तिं कृत्वा करे दृढाम् ॥ ५६ ॥ आगच्छन्तं तदा काली दानवं वीक्ष्य सत्वरम् । बबन्ध तरसा तं तु द्वितीयं भ्रातरं भृशम् ॥ ५७ ॥ गृहीत्वा तौ महावीर्यौ चण्डमुण्डौ शशाविव । कुर्वती विपुलं हासमाजगामाम्बिकां प्रति ॥ ५८ ॥ आगत्य तामथोवाच गृहाणेमौ पशू प्रिये । रणयज्ञार्थमानीतौ दानवौ रणदुर्जयौ ॥ ५९ ॥ तावानीतौ तदा वीक्ष्य चण्डिका तौ वृकाविव । अम्बिका कालिकां प्राह माधुरीसंयुतं वचः ॥ ६० ॥ वधं मा कुरु मा मुञ्च चतुरासि रणप्रिये । देवानां कार्यसंसिद्धिः कर्तव्या तरसा त्वया ॥ ६१ ॥ व्यास उवाच इति तस्या वचः श्रुत्वा कालिका प्राह तां पुनः । युद्धयज्ञेऽतिविख्याते खड्गयूपे प्रतिष्ठिते ॥ ६२ ॥ आलम्भञ्च करिष्यामि यथा हिंसा न जायते । इत्युक्त्वा सा तदा देवी खड्गेन शिरसी तयोः ॥ ६३ ॥ चकर्त तरसा काली पपौ च रुधिरं मुदा । एवं दैत्यौ हतौ दृष्ट्वा मुदितोवाच चाम्बिका ॥ ६४ ॥ कृतं कार्यं सुराणां ते ददाम्यद्य वरं शुभम् । चण्डमुण्डौ हतौ यस्मात्तस्मात्ते नाम कालिके । चामुण्डेति सुविख्यातं भविष्यति धरातले ॥ ६५ ॥
vyāsa uvāca ityājñaptau tadā vīrau caṇḍamuṇḍau mahābalau | jagmatustarasaivājau sainyena mahatānvitau || 1 || dṛṣṭvā tatra sthitāṃ devīṃ devānāṃ hitakāriṇīm | ūcatustau mahāvīryau tadā sāmānvitaṃ vacaḥ || 2 || bāle tvaṃ kiṃ na jānāsi śumbhaṃ surabalārdanam | niśumbhañca mahāvīryaṃ turāṣāḍvijayoddhatam || 3 || tvamekāsi varārohe kālikāsiṃhasaṃyutā | jetumicchasi durbuddhe śumbhaṃ sarvabalānvitam || 4 || matidaḥ ko'pi te nāsti nārī vāpi naro'pi vā | devāstvāṃ prerayantyeva vināśāya tavaiva te || 5 || vimṛśya kuru tanvaṅgi kāryaṃ svaparayorbalam | aṣṭādaśabhujatvāttvaṃ garvañca kuruṣe mṛṣā || 6 || kiṃ bhujairbahubhirvyarthairāyudhaiḥ kiṃ śramapradaiḥ | śumbhasyāgre surāṇāṃ vai jetuḥ samaraśālinaḥ || 7 || airāvatakaracchetturdantidāraṇakāriṇaḥ | jayinaḥ surasaṅghānāṃ kāryaṃ kuru manogatam || 8 || vṛthā garvāyase kānte kuru me vacanaṃ priyam | hitaṃ tava viśālākṣi sukhadaṃ duḥkhanāśanam || 9 || duḥkhadāni ca kāryāṇi tyājyāni dūrato budhaiḥ | sukhadāni ca sevyāni śāstratattvaviśāradaiḥ || 10 || caturāsi pikālāpe paśya śumbhabalaṃ mahat | pratyakṣaṃ surasaṅghānāṃ mardanena mahodayam || 11 || pratyakṣañca parityajya vṛthaivānumitiḥ kila | sandehasahite kārye na vipaścitpravartate || 12 || śatruḥ surāṇāṃ paramaḥ śumbhaḥ samaradurjayaḥ | tasmāttvāṃ prerayantyatra devā daityeśapīḍitāḥ || 13 || tasmāttadvacanaiḥ snigdhairvañcitāsi śucismite | duḥkhāya tava devānāṃ śikṣā svārthasya sādhikā || 14 || kāryamitraṃ parikṣipya dharmamitraṃ samāśrayet | devāḥ svārthaparāḥ kāmaṃ tvāmahaṃ satyamabruvam || 15 || bhaja śumbhaṃ sureśānaṃ jetāraṃ bhuvaneśvaram | caturaṃ sundaraṃ śūraṃ kāmaśāstraviśāradam || 16 aiśvaryaṃ sarvalokānāṃ prāpsyase śumbhaśāsanāt | niścayaṃ paramaṃ kṛtvā bhartāraṃ bhaja śobhanam || 17 || vyāsa uvāca iti tasya vacaḥ śrutvā caṇḍasya jagadambikā | meghagambhīraninadaṃ jagarja punarabravīt || 18 || gaccha jālma mṛṣā kiṃ tvaṃ bhāṣase vañcakaṃ vacaḥ | tyaktvā hariharādīṃśca śumbhaṃ kasmādbhaje patim || 19 || na me kaścitpatiḥ kāryo na kāryaṃ patinā saha | svāminī sarvabhūtānāmahameva niśāmaya || 20 || śumbhā me bahavo dṛṣṭā niśumbhāśca sahasraśaḥ | ghātitāśca mayā pūrvaṃ śataśo daityadānavāḥ || 21 || mamāgre devavṛndāni vinaṣṭāni yuge yuge | nāśaṃ yāsyanti daityānāṃ yūthāni punaradya vai || 22 || kāla evāgato'styatra daityasaṃhārakārakaḥ | vṛthā tvaṃ kuruṣe yatnaṃ rakṣaṇāyātmasantateḥ || 23 || kuru yuddhaṃ vīradharmarakṣāyai tvaṃ mahāmate | maraṇaṃ bhāvi dustyājyaṃ yaśo rakṣyaṃ mahātmabhiḥ || 24 || kiṃ te kāryaṃ niśumbhena śumbhena ca durātmanā | vīradharmaṃ paraṃ prāpya gaccha svargaṃ surālayam || 25 || śumbho niśumbhaścaivānye ye cātra tava bāndhavāḥ | sarve tavānugāḥ paścādāgamiṣyanti sāmpratam || 26 || kramaśaḥ sarvadaityānāṃ kariṣyāmyadya saṃkṣayam | viṣādaṃ tyaja mandātman kuru yuddhaṃ viśāṃpate || 27 || tvāmahaṃ nihaniṣyāmi bhrātaraṃ tava sāmpratam | tataḥ śumbhaṃ niśumbhaṃ ca raktabījaṃ madotkaṭam || 28 || anyāṃśca dānavānsarvānhatvāhaṃ samarāṅgaṇe | gamiṣyāmi yathāsthānaṃ tiṣṭha vā gaccha vā drutam || 29 || gṛhāṇāstraṃ vṛthāpuṣṭa kuru yuddhaṃ mayādhunā | kiṃ jalpasi mṛṣā vākyaṃ sarvathā kātarapriyam || 30 || vyāsa uvāca tayetthaṃ preritau daityau caṇḍamuṇḍau krudhānvitau | jyāśabdaṃ tarasā ghoraṃ cakraturbaladarpitau || 31 || sāpi śaṅkhasvanaṃ cakre pūrayantī diśo daśa | siṃho'pi kupitastāvannādaṃ samakarodbalī || 32 || tena nādena śakrādyā jaharṣuramarāstadā | munayo yakṣagandharvāḥ siddhāḥ sādhyāśca kinnarāḥ || 33 || yuddhaṃ parasparaṃ tatra jātaṃ kātarabhītidam | caṇḍikācaṇḍayostīvraṃ bāṇakhaḍgagadādibhiḥ || 34 || caṇḍamuktāñcharāndevī ciccheda niśitaiḥ śaraiḥ | mumoca punarugrānsā bāṇāṃśca pannagāniva || 35 || gaganaṃ chāditaṃ tatra saṃgrāme viśikhaistadā | śalabhairiva meghānte karṣakāṇāṃ bhayapradaiḥ || 36 || muṇḍo'pi sainikaiḥ sārdhaṃ papāta tarasā raṇe | mumoca bāṇavṛṣṭiṃ vai kruddhaḥ paramadāruṇaḥ || 37 || bāṇajālaṃ mahad dṛṣṭvā kuddhā tatrāmbikā bhṛśam | kopena vadanaṃ tasyā babhūva ghanasannibham || 38 || kadalīpuṣpanetrañca bhṛkuṭīkuṭilaṃ tadā | niṣkrāntā ca tadā kālī lalāṭaphalakāddrutam || 39 || vyāghracarmāmbarā krūrā gajacarmottarīyakā | muṇḍamālādharā ghorā śuṣkavāpīsamodarā || 40 || khaḍgapāśadharātīva bhīṣaṇā bhayadāyinī | khaṭvāṅgadhāriṇī raudrā kālarātririvāparā || 41 || vistīrṇavadanā jihvāṃ cālayantī muhurmuhuḥ | vistārajaghanā vegājjaghānāsurasainikān || 42 || kare kṛtvā mahāvīrāṃstarasā sā ruṣānvitā | mukhe cikṣepa daiteyānpipeṣa daśanaiḥ śanaiḥ || 43 || gajānghaṇṭānvitānhaste gṛhītvā nidadhau mukhe | sārohānbhakṣayitvājau sāṭṭahāsaṃ cakāra ha || 44 || tathaiva turagānuṣṭrāṃstathā sārathibhiḥ saha | nikṣipya vakttre daśanaiścarvayatyatibhairavam || 45 || hanyamānaṃ balaṃ prekṣya caṇḍamuṇḍau mahāsurau | chādayāmāsaturdevīṃ bāṇāsārairanantaraiḥ || 46 || caṇḍaścaṇḍakaracchāyaṃ cakraṃ cakradharāyudham | cikṣepa tarasā devīṃ nanāda ca muhurmuhuḥ || 47 || nadantaṃ vīkṣya taṃ kālī rathāṅgañca raviprabham | bāṇenaikena ciccheda suprabhaṃ tatsudarśanam || 48 || taṃ jaghāna śaraistīkṣṇaiścaṇḍaṃ caṇḍī śilāśitaiḥ | mūrcchito'sau papātorvyāṃ devībāṇārdito bhṛśam || 49 || patitaṃ bhrātaraṃ vīkṣya muṇḍo duḥkhārditastadā | cakāra śaravṛṣṭiñca kālikopari kopataḥ || 50 || caṇḍikā muṇḍanirmuktāṃ śaravṛṣṭiṃ sudāruṇām | īṣikāstrairbalānmuktaiścakāra tilaśaḥ kṣaṇāt || 51 || ardhacandreṇa bāṇena tāḍayāmāsa taṃ punaḥ | patito'sau mahāvīryo medinyāṃ madavarjitaḥ || 52 || hāhākāro mahānāsīddānavānāṃ bale tadā | jaharṣuramarāḥ sarve gaganasthā gatavyathāḥ || 53 || vihāya mūrcchāṃ caṇḍastu saṃgṛhya mahatīṃ gadām | tarasā tāḍayāmāsa kālikāṃ dakṣiṇe bhuje || 54 || vañcayitvā gadāghātaṃ taṃ babandha mahāsuram | tarasā bāṇapāśena mantramuktena kālikā || 55 || utthitastu tadā muṇḍo baddhaṃ dṛṣṭvānujaṃ balāt | ājagāma susannaddhaḥ śaktiṃ kṛtvā kare dṛḍhām || 56 || āgacchantaṃ tadā kālī dānavaṃ vīkṣya satvaram | babandha tarasā taṃ tu dvitīyaṃ bhrātaraṃ bhṛśam || 57 || gṛhītvā tau mahāvīryau caṇḍamuṇḍau śaśāviva | kurvatī vipulaṃ hāsamājagāmāmbikāṃ prati || 58 || āgatya tāmathovāca gṛhāṇemau paśū priye | raṇayajñārthamānītau dānavau raṇadurjayau || 59 || tāvānītau tadā vīkṣya caṇḍikā tau vṛkāviva | ambikā kālikāṃ prāha mādhurīsaṃyutaṃ vacaḥ || 60 || vadhaṃ mā kuru mā muñca caturāsi raṇapriye | devānāṃ kāryasaṃsiddhiḥ kartavyā tarasā tvayā || 61 || vyāsa uvāca iti tasyā vacaḥ śrutvā kālikā prāha tāṃ punaḥ | yuddhayajñe'tivikhyāte khaḍgayūpe pratiṣṭhite || 62 || ālambhañca kariṣyāmi yathā hiṃsā na jāyate | ityuktvā sā tadā devī khaḍgena śirasī tayoḥ || 63 || cakarta tarasā kālī papau ca rudhiraṃ mudā | evaṃ daityau hatau dṛṣṭvā muditovāca cāmbikā || 64 || kṛtaṃ kāryaṃ surāṇāṃ te dadāmyadya varaṃ śubham | caṇḍamuṇḍau hatau yasmāttasmātte nāma kālike | cāmuṇḍeti suvikhyātaṃ bhaviṣyati dharātale || 65 ||
English translation
1-17. Vyasa said O King! Thus ordered, the two strong warriors Chanda and Munda hurriedly went to the battle, accompanied by a vast army. There they saw the Devi, intent on doing good to the Gods. Then they began to address Her in conciliatory words. O Lady! Dost Thou not know that the extraordinarily strong S’umbha and Nis’umhha, the Lords of the Daityas have crushed down the Devas and vanquished Indra and have become intoxicated with their victory? O Fair One! Thou art alone! Only Kalika and Thy Lion are with Thee! It is Thy foolishness that Thou art desirous to conquer S’umbha, who is endowed with all power. I think there is no adviser to Thee, man nor woman; the Devas have sent Thee here simply for Thy destruction. Think, O Delicate One! over the powers of Thine as well as those of Thy enemy. Vainly dost Thou boast of Thy having eighteen hands. Before the great warrior S’umbha, the conqueror of the Devas, many hands and many weapons will be useless; they will prove mere burdens. So dost Thou fulfil what reigns in the heart of S’umbha, the destroyer of the legs and the uprooter of the teeth of Airavata elephant. Vain is Thy boast, O Beloved! Follow my sweet words; they will do good to Thee, O Large-eyed One! They will destroy Thy pains and give Thee bliss. Those actions that lead to pain are to be avoided by the wise; and those that bring in happiness are to be served by the Pundits, versed in the S’astras. O Sweet speaking one! Thou art clever. Look at the great strength of S’umbha with Thy eyes. He has enhanced his glory by crushing down the Devas. And if Thou thinkest the gods superior, that is false, for the wise men do not rely on the mere guess, full of doubts; they believe what they actually see. S’umbha, hard to be conquered in battles, is the great enemy of the Gods; they have been crushed down by him, and have therefore sent Thee here. O Sweet smiling One! Thou hast been deceived by their sweet words; they, prompted by their selfish ends, have sent Thee here simply to give Thee trouble. The friends
that come with certain business and selfish ends are to be rejected. Friends out of religious motives are only to be sought for refuge. Verily I tell Thee that the gods are terribly selfish. Therefore dost Thou serve S’umbha, the conqueror of Indra and the lord of the three worlds; he is a hero, beautiful, lovely, cunning and thoroughly expert in the science of amorous love. Thou wilt get the prosperity of all the worlds by the mere command of S’umbha; therefore make a firm resolve and serve that splendid husband S’umbha.
18-30. Vyasa said O King! The Universal Mother, hearing the words of Chanda spoke with a voice deep as thunder. O Boor! Why do you use false deceitful words? Fly away just now. Why shall I make S’umbha my husband, disregarding Hah, Hara and the other Devas? O You, a veritable Fool! I have no necessity for My lord; I have got nothing to do with my lord. I Myself am the Lord of all the beings; and I preserve this whole Universe with all the lords and beings therein. Note this. In ancient times I saw thousands and thousands of S’umbha and Nis’umbha and I slew them all. I sent hundreds and hundreds of Daityas and Demons to the realm of Death. Before Me the hosts of Devas were destroyed in yugas after yugas. Today the Daityas again will go unto destruction. The Time has come to destroy the Daityas; why, then, are you struggling in vain with your followers for your lives? Fight now and keep the Dharma of the warriors; death is inevitable; thinking thus, the high- souled ones should keep their name, fame, and respect. What business have you to do with S’umbha and Nis’umbha? Follow the warrior’s Dharma and go to Heavens, the abode of the gods. S’umbha, Nis’umbha and your other friends and followers, all will follow you and will come here no doubt. O Stupid One! I will put an end to all the Danavas today. Therefore cast aside your weakness and go on, fight. I will slay you and your brother just now; next I will kill the proud Rakta Vija, Nis’umbha and S’umbha and the other Danavas in the battle field and will then go to My desired place. Now remain here if you like or fly away quickly. You have been fed in vain
because you fear to fight. What use is there now in using sweet words like a weak and distressed man. Well! Take up your arms now and fight.
31-61. Vyasa said O King! Chanda and Munda, elated with pride got excited at the Devi’s words, became angry and made a violent noise with their bow strings. The Devi, too, blew Her conchshell so loudly that the ten quarters of the sky reverberated; in the meanwhile, the powerful lion became very angry and roared loudly. Hearing that sound Indra and other Devas, the Munis, Yaksas, Siddhas, and Kinnaras became all very glad. A dreadful fight than ensued between Chandika and Chanda with arrows, axes and other weapons, causing terror to the weak. Then Chandika Devi became very wrathful and cut off to pieces all the arrows shot by Chanda and then hurled arrows serpent-like on him. Then the sky over the battle ground seemed to be overcast with arrows just as the clouds get covered over with locusts, dreadful to the cultivators. In the meanwhile Munda, exceedingly terrible, came up to the field, taking with him his army and becoming impatient with anger began to shoot arrows. Seeing that multitude of arrows, Ambika got very angry; out of Her frowny look. Her eyebrows became crooked. Her face became black, and Her eyes turned red like Kadali flowers; at this time suddenly came out of Her forehead Kali. Wearing the tiger’s skin, cruel, covering Her body with elephant’s skin, wearing a garland of skulls, terrible, with a belly like a well dried up, mouth wide open, with a wide waist, lip hanging loosely, with axe, noose, S’iva’s weapon, in Her hands. She looked very terrible like the Night of Dissolution. She began to lick frequently and forcibly dashed into the Danava army and began to destroy it. She angrily began to take the powerful Danavas by Her arms and pouring them into Her mouth crushed them with Her teeth. Taking the elephants with bells by Her own power in Her hands She put them all into Her mouth and swallowed them all with their riders and began to laugh hoarsely. Thus camels, horses and charioteers with chariots all She put into
Her mouth and began to chew them all grimly. O King! Seeing that the forces were being thus destroyed, the two great warriors Chanda and Munda began to shoot arrows after arrows without intermission and covered the Devi with them. Chanda hurled the Sudarsan-like disc, lustrous like the Sun, with great force against the Devi, and frequently shouted thundering cries. Seeing him roaring and the lustrous disc coming towards Her like another sun. She shot at him arrows sharpened on stones so that the warrior Chanda became overpowered by them and lay down senseless on the ground. The powerful Munda seeing his brother unconscious became very much distressed with grief; but he got angry and began to shoot arrows immediately on the Devi. Chandika Devi hurled the weapon named Isika and thus cut off to pieces all the dreadful arrows of Munda in a moment and shot Ardha Chandra (semi-circular) arrow at him. With this arrow the powerful Asura was deprived of his pride and made to lie down unconscious on the earth. Munda thus lying on the ground, a great uproar arose amidst the army of the Danavas; and the Devas became delighted in the sky. In the meanwhile Chanda became conscious and taking a very heavy club hurled it violently on the right hand of Kalika. Kalika rendered that blow useless and instantly tied down that Asura by Her Pasa weapon, purified by Mantras. Munda again rose up, and, seeing his brother in that fastened condition, came to the front well armoured and with an exceedingly strong weapon called S’akti. Seeing the Asura coming. She instantly fastened him down like his brother. Taking the powerful Chanda and Munda like hares and laughing wildly. Kali went to Ambika, and said “I have brought the two beasts very auspicious as offerings in this sacrificial war. Kindly accept these.” Seeing the two Danavas brought, as if they were the two wolves, Ambika told her sweetly O Thou, fond of war! Thou art very wise; so dost not commit the act of envy nor dost leave them; think over the purport of my words and know that it is Thy duty to bring the Devi’s work to a successful issue.
62-65. Vyasa said O King! Hearing thus the words of Ambika, Kalika spoke to Her again “In this war-sacrifice there is this axe which is like a sacrificial post; I will offer these two as victims to Thy sacrifice. Thus no act of envy will be committed (i.e., killing in a sacrifice is not considered as envy).” Thus saying, the Kalika Devi cut off their heads with great force and gladly drank their blood. Thus seeing the two Asuras killed, Ambika said gladly Thou hast done the service to the gods; so I will give Thee an excellent boon. O Kalika! As Thou hast killed Chanda and Munda, henceforth Thou wilt be renowned in this world as Chamunda.
Here ends the Twenty-sixth Chapter of the Fifth Book on the killing of Chanda and Munda in S’ri Mad Devi Bhagavatam, the Maha Puranam, of 18,000 verses by Maharsi Veda Vyasa.
Complete chapter-aligned witnesses. Sanskrit Wikisource page 24423, revision 74861 (2016-07-22T00:13:35Z). 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/bk05ch26.htm. Historic spelling and transliteration are lightly normalized; no verse-by-verse alignment is asserted.