Chapter 7

Chapter 7

The Rishi said:

Then, as commanded, the Asuras Chanda and Munda marched forth with their army, all four battalions with weapons raised and ready. Soon they saw the Devi serenely composed, mounted on Her lion, at the peak of the golden mountain. She smiled as she saw them approaching. At the sight of Her some rushed to capture Her while others flourished their swords or bent their bows.
At this Ambika became furious and in Her anger Her face grew dark as ink. From the fierce frown of Her forehead, suddenly, the Goddess Kali emerged holding a sword and a noose. She was truly terrifying. She had a strange staff with a skull on top. Her garland was of skulls. Her clothing was of tiger skins and she was appallingly emaciated, with a huge mouth and great tongue lolling out. Her eyes were deep sunk and reddened. She filled the sky with her roars.
Falling impetuously on the Asura army She devoured those hosts of foes. With one hand She snatched up elephants, drivers, rear-men and warriors, bells and all, and flung them into Her mouth. In the same way She threw soldiers, horses, chariots and drivers into Her mouth and ground them horribly with Her teeth. One was seized by the hair. Another by the neck. One was killed by the weight of Her foot and another crushed against Her body. They hurled weapons at Her, these She caught in Her mouth also and furiously crunched them with Her teeth. In this way She destroyed that whole host of evil-natured asuras. They were beaten and crushed. Many were killed by Her sword. Some she beat with Her Khatvanga – Her skull-topped staff. Others met their death ground by the edge of Her teeth.
Seeing the whole demon army destroyed in a trice by that appalling, terrible Kali, Chanda rushed at Her while Munda gave cover with showers of arrows and discuses all over that Goddess with the terrible eyes. Then those discuses entered Her mouth like so many suns consumed by cloud. At this the Goddess Kali roared frightfully, Her ferocious teeth gleamed in Her dreadful mouth, so difficult to look at. She laughed in terrible rage. Then mounting Her great lion She rushed at Chanda, seized him by his hair, and, uttering the frightful sound “Hum”, severed his head with Her sword.
Seeing Chanda brought down, Munda also rushed at Her. She felled him with Her scimitar in fury. Then the remainder of the army took flight in panic, scattering in all directions at the sight of mighty Chanda and Munda destroyed. Carrying the heads of the slain Chanda and Munda, Kali approached Chandika and, laughing, She said with passion:

“Here I bring You two great beasts in the battle sacrifice. You yourself shall now kill Shumbha and Nishumbha.”

The Rishi said:

Then lovely Chandika looked at the two mighty demons’ heads and joked:

“Since You have now brought Chanda and Munda You will be famous in all the world as ‘Chamunda’”.