Chapter 10

Chapter 10

The Rishi said:

As Shumbha saw his brother Nishumbha, dear to him as life itself, now dead and his army slaughtered, he spoke angrily:
“O Durga! You have become arrogant, proud of Your success! Don’t boast here. There is no reason to look so haughty. You depend on these others for Your strength!”

The Devi said:

“O vile creature! I am all alone in the world of movement. Who else is there beside Me? These goddesses are manifestations of My powers. See! They dwell within Me alone!”
Then Brahmani and all the others were absorbed into Her body. Ambika was all alone.

The Devi said:

All these forms projected here are My attributes.
I have now withdrawn them. I stand alone on the battlefield.
So come on! Let’s fight!

The Rishi said:

Then began a dreadful battle between the Devi and Shumbha while the Devas and asuras watched.
They fought without quarter, hurling deadly missiles and showering arrows in a fight which frightened all the worlds.
The demon lord broke the divine weapons which the Devi hurled in hundreds.
The mighty weapons he employed She, Parameshwari, easily smashed with a forceful sound of “Hum!”
Then the Demon covered the Devi with hundreds of arrows. In Her wrath She split his bow with Her arrows.
His bow broken, he used a pike. That too She cut with Her discus as he still held it.
Then he, the supreme lord of the demons, took up his sword and his brilliant shield adorned with a hundred moons. He charged.
Chandika split his sword as he came. Her arrows also pierced his bright shield.
His steeds were slain, his charioteer gone. The daitya grasped his fearsome mace, ready to kill Ambika.
Her arrows split the mace. Shumbha raised his fist and rushed at Her.
He struck at Her heart.
She hit his chest with Her open palm.
He fell, wounded, to the earth.
Immediately he rose again and seized Her as he flew into the sky.
Chandika fought him there; unsupported.
The Siddhas and Munis watched the fight with shock and dismay.
Such fierce close combat had never been seen before.
After a long time Ambika lifted him up. She whirled him around, then She threw him down to earth.
Then, that evil asura Shumbha raised his fist and rushed at Her for the kill.
This time the Devi met him with a dart which pierced his chest.
He fell lifeless to the ground, shaking the entire earth and its oceans, mountains and islands.
At the death of the wicked demon the whole world rejoiced. The sky cleared. Peace was restored.
The clouds and meteors, which had foretold danger, now were gone.
The rivers flowed in their courses again when Shumbha was destroyed.
The hearts of the Gods were filled with joy. The gandharvas resumed their songs. Others played instruments. Nymphs danced, gentle breezes blew, the sun glowed, sacred fires blazed peacefully and all the disturbing sounds were silenced everywhere.

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