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Devi Mahatmya / Chapter 6

Chapter 6 · Markandeya Purana canto 86

The slaying of Sumbha and Nisumbha's general Dhumra-loc'ana

धूम्रलोचनवधो नाम

24 verses.

Verses follow the standard 700-verse numbering of the Durga Saptashati. Pargiter numbered the Purana differently, so his English was matched to each Sanskrit verse by its content; at a few joins a word or two may sit with the neighbouring verse. Lines found only in some printed editions are marked.

Artist's impression of this chapter.
Artist's impression.

Verses 1 to 10

1ऋषिरुवाच ॥

1The rishi spoke:

2इत्याकर्ण्य वचो देव्याः स दूतोऽमर्षपूरितः । समाचष्ट समागम्य दैत्यराजाय विस्तरात् ॥

2The messenger, on hearing this speech from the goddess, was filled with indignation, and approaching related it fully to the Daitya king.

3तस्य दूतस्य तद्वाक्यमाकर्ण्यासुरराट् ततः । सक्रोधः प्राह दैत्यानामधिपं धूम्रलोचनम् ॥

3The Asura monarch then, after hearing that report from his messenger, was wroth and commanded Dhumra-locana, a chieftain of the Daityas;— “Ho!

4हे धूम्रलोचनाशु त्वं स्वसैन्यपरिवारितः । तामानय बलाद् दुष्टां केशाकर्षणविह्वलाम् ॥

4Dhumra-locana, haste thee together with thy army; fetch by force that shrew, who will be unnerved when dragged along by her hair.

5तत्परित्राणदः कश्चिद्यदि वोत्तिष्ठतेऽपरः । स हन्तव्योऽमरो वापि यक्षो गन्धर्व एव वा ॥

5Or if any man besides stands up to offer her deliverance, let him be slain, be he an Immortal, a Yaksha or a Gandharva forsooth.”

6ऋषिरुवाच ॥

6The rishi spoke:

7तेनाज्ञप्तस्ततः शीघ्रं स दैत्यो धूम्रलोचनः । वृतः षष्ट्या सहस्राणामसुराणां द्रुतं ययो ॥

7Thereupon at his command the Daitya Dhumra-locana went forthwith quickly, accompanied by sixty thousand Asuras.

8स दृष्ट्वा तां ततो देवीं तुहिनाचलसंस्थिताम् । जगादोच्चैः प्रयाहीति मूलं शुम्भनिशुम्भयोः ॥

8On seeing the goddess stationed on the snowy mountain, he cried aloud to her there—‘Come forward to the presence of Sumbha and Nisumbha;

9न चेत्प्रीत्याद्य भवती मद्भर्तारमुपैष्यति । ततो बलान्नयाम्येष केशाकर्षणविह्वलाम् ॥

9if thou wilt not, lady, approach my lord with affection now, I will here take thee by force, who wilt he unnerved since thou shalt be dragged along by thy hair!”

10श्रीदेव्युवाच ॥

10The goddess spoke:

Verses 11 to 20

11दैत्येश्वरेण प्रहितो बलवान् बलसंवृतः । बलान्नयसि मामेवं ततः किं ते करोम्यहम् ॥

11Sent by the king of the Daityas, mighty thyself, and accompanied by an army, thou dost thus take me by force—then what can I do unto thee?

12ऋषिरुवाच ॥

12The rishi spoke:

13इत्युक्तः सोऽभ्यधावत्तामसुरो धूम्रलोचनः । हुङ्कारेणैव तं भस्म सा चकाराम्बिका ततः ॥

13At this reply the Asura Dhumra-locana rushed towards her. Then Ambika with a mere roar reduced him to ashes.

14अथ क्रुद्धं महासैन्यमसुराणां तथाम्बिका । ववर्ष सायकैस्तीक्ष्णैस्तथा शक्तिपरश्वधैः ॥

14And the great army of Asuras enraged poured on Ambika a shower both of sharp arrows and of javelins and axes.

15ततो धुतसटः कोपात् कृत्वा नादं सुभैरवम् । पपातासुरसेनायां सिंहो देव्याः स्ववाहनः ॥

15The lion that carried the goddess, shaking his mane in anger and uttering a most terrific roar, fell on the army of Asuras;

16कांश्चित् करप्रहारेण दैत्यानास्येन चापरान् । आक्रम्य चाधरेणान्यान् स जघान महासुरान् ॥

16he slaughtered some Asuras with a blow from his fore-paw, and others with his mouth, and others, very great Asuras, by striking them with his hind foot.

17केषाञ्चित् पाटयामास नखैः कोष्ठानि केसरी । तथा तलप्रिहारेण शिरांसि कृतवान् पृथक् ॥

17The lion with his claws tore out the entrails of some, and struck their heads off with a cuff-like blow.

18विच्छिन्नबाहुशिरसः सृतास्तेन तथापरे । पपौ च रुधिरं कोष्ठादन्येषां धुतकेसरः ॥

18And he severed arms and heads from others, and shaking his mane drank the blood that flowed from the entrails of others.

19क्षणेन तद्बलं सर्वं क्षयं नीतं महात्मना । तेन केसरिणा देव्या वाहनेनातिकोपिना ॥

19In a moment all that army was brought to destruction by the high-spirited lion, who bore the goddess and who was enraged exceedingly.

20श्रुत्वा तमसुरं देव्या निहतं धूम्रलोचनम् । बलं च क्षयितं कृत्स्त्रं देवीकेसरिणा ततः ॥

20When he heard that that Asura Dhumra-loc'ana was slain by the goddess, and all his army besides was destroyed by the goddess’ lion, Sumbha,

Verses 21 to 24

21चुकोप दैत्याधिपतिः शुम्भः प्रस्फुरिताधरः । आज्ञापयामास च तौ चण्डमुण्डौ महासुरौ ॥

21the lord of the Daityas, fell into a rage and his lip quivered greatly, and he commanded the two mighty Asuras C'anda and Munda,—

22हे चण्ड हे मुण्ड बलैर्बहुभिः परिवारितौ । तत्र गच्छत गत्वा च सा समानीयतां लघु ॥

22“Ho, C'anda! Ho, Munda! take with you a multitude of troops and go there; and going there bring her here speedily,

23केशेष्वाकृष्य बद्ध्वा वा यदि वः संशयो युधि । तदाशेषायुधैः सर्वैरसुरैर्विनिहन्यताम् ॥

23dragging her by her hair or binding her; if ye have a doubt of that, then let her be slain outright in fight by all the Asuras brandishing all their weapons.

24तस्यां हतायां दुष्टायां सिंहे च विनिपातिते । शीघ्रमागम्यतां बद्ध्वा गृहीत्वा तामथाम्बिकाम् ॥

24When that shrew is slain and her lion striken down, seize her, Ambika, bind her and bring her quickly!”

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