Durga Saptashati Chapter 6: The Slaying of Dhumralochana

The Durga Saptashati, also known as the Devi Mahatmya and the Chandi Path, is a sacred Hindu text of 700 verses in 13 chapters that celebrates the glory of Goddess Durga. The sixth chapter describes the slaying of Dhumralochana.

Shashtho'dhyaya (॥ षष्ठोऽध्यायः ॥)

Dhyanam (॥ ध्यानम् ॥)

ॐ नागाधीश्वरविष्टरां फणिफणोत्तंसोरुरत्नावली- भास्वद्देहलतां दिवाकरनिभां नेत्रत्रयोद्भासिताम्। मालाकुम्भकपालनीरजकरां चन्द्रार्धचूडां परां सर्वज्ञेश्वरभैरवाङ्कनिलयां पद्मावतीं चिन्तये॥

Om Nagadhishvara-Vishtaram Phani-Phanottamsoru-Ratnavali- Bhasvad-Dehalatam Divakara-Nibham Netratrayodbhasitam | Mala-Kumbha-Kapala-Niraja-Karam Chandrardha-Chudam Param Sarvajneshvara-Bhairavanka-Nilayam Padmavatim Chintaye ||

Meaning: I meditate on Goddess Padmavati, who has the king of serpents as her seat and on whose body the beautiful gems on the hoods of the serpents are shining. Her radiance is like the sun, and her three eyes are luminous. In her hands she holds a rosary, a pot (kalash) and a lotus, and she wears the half-moon on her head. She is seated in the lap of the all-knowing Lord Bhairava.

Verses

Rishir Uvacha

"ॐ" ऋषिरुवाच॥1॥

"Om" Rishiruvacha || 1 ||

Verse 2

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

Ityakarnya Vacho Devyah Sa Duto'marsha-Puritah | Samachashta Samagamya Daityarajaya Vistarat || 2 ||

Meaning: Hearing the Goddess’s words, the messenger was filled with anger. He went back and told Shumbha, the King of the demons, everything the Goddess had said.

Verse 3

तस्य दूतस्य तद्वाक्यमाकर्ण्यासुरराट् ततः। सक्रोधः प्राह दैत्यानामधिपं धूम्रलोचनम्॥3॥

Tasya Dutasya Tad Vakyam Akarnyasurarat Tatah | Sakrodhah Praha Daityanam Adhipam Dhumralochanam || 3 ||

Meaning: Hearing the messenger’s words, Shumbha, the King of the asuras, became very angry. He summoned Dhumralochana, the commander of the asuras, and ordered him:

Verse 4

हे धूम्रलोचनाशु त्वं स्वसैन्यपरिवारितः। तामानय बलाद् दुष्टां केशाकर्षणविह्वलाम्॥4॥

He Dhumralochanashu Tvam Svasainya-Parivaritah | Tamanaya Balad Dushtam Keshakarshana-Vihvalam || 4 ||

Meaning: Shumbha said: “O Dhumralochana! Go at once with your army and bring that Goddess here by force. If you must, drag her here by the hair.

Verse 5

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

Tat-Paritranadah Kashchidyadi Vottishthate'parah | Sa Hantavyo'maro Vapi Yaksho Gandharva Eva Va || 5 ||

Meaning: “If anyone comes forward to protect her — whether a god, a yaksha or a gandharva — kill him too.”

Rishir Uvacha

Verse 6

ऋषिरुवाच॥6॥

Rishiruvacha || 6 ||

Meaning: The sage says:

Verse 7

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

Tenajnaptas Tatah Shighram Sa Daityo Dhumralochanah | Vritah Shashtya Sahasranam Asuranam Drutam Yayau || 7 ||

Meaning: On receiving Shumbha’s order, the demon Dhumralochana at once went to the Goddess with an army of sixty thousand asuras.

Verse 8

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

Sa Drishtva Tam Tato Devim Tuhinachala-Samsthitam | Jagadochchaih Prayahiti Mulam Shumbha-Nishumbhayoh || 8 ||

Meaning: Seeing the Goddess on the Himalaya, Dhumralochana cried out loudly: “Come with me to Shumbha and Nishumbha.

Verse 9

न चेत्प्रीत्याद्य भवती मद्भर्तारमुपैष्यति। ततो बलान्नयाम्येष केशाकर्षणविह्वलाम्॥9॥

Na Chet Prityadya Bhavati Mad-Bhartaram Upaishyati | Tato Balan Nayamy Esha Keshakarshana-Vihvalam || 9 ||

Meaning: “If you do not come willingly to my master Shumbha, I will take you by force, dragging you by the hair.”

Devyuvacha

Verse 10

देव्युवाच॥10॥

Devyuvacha || 10 ||

Meaning: The Goddess said:

Verse 11

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

Daityeshvarena Prahito Balavan Bala-Samvritah | Balannayasi Mamevam Tatah Kim Te Karomyaham || 11 ||

Meaning: The Goddess said: “You have come on your demon king’s orders with a very large army and wish to take me by force. In such a situation, what can I do?”

Rishir Uvacha

Verse 12

ऋषिरुवाच॥12॥

Rishiruvacha || 12 ||

Meaning: The sage says:

Verse 13

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

Ityuktah So'bhyadhavat Tam Asuro Dhumralochanah | Hunkarenaiva Tam Bhasma Sa Chakarambika Tatah || 13 ||

Meaning: Hearing the Goddess’s words, Dhumralochana rushed forward to attack her. Then Goddess Ambika, with a mere roar (hunkara), burned him to ashes that very instant.

Verse 14

अथ क्रुद्धं महासैन्यमसुराणां तथाम्बिका।* ववर्ष सायकैस्तीक्ष्णैस्तथा शक्तिपरश्वधैः॥14॥

Atha Kruddham Mahasainyam Asuranam Tathambika | Vavarsha Sayakais Tikshnais Tatha Shakti-Parashvadhaih || 14 ||

Meaning: After this, the enraged Goddess Ambika began to strike the vast army of the asuras with sharp arrows, spears and axes.

Verse 15

ततो धुतसटः कोपात्कृत्वा नादं सुभैरवम्। पपातासुरसेनायां सिंहो देव्याः स्ववाहनः॥15॥

Tato Dhutasatah Kopatkritva Nadam Subhairavam | Papatasura-Senayam Simho Devyah Svavahanah || 15 ||

Meaning: Then the Goddess’s mount, the lion, shaking its mane in fury and roaring terribly, fell upon the army of the asuras.

Verse 16

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

Kamshchit Kara-Praharena Daityan Asyena Chaparan | Akramya Chadharenanyan Sa Jaghana Mahasuran || 16 ||

Meaning: The lion struck some asuras with its paws, seized some in its jaws and killed them, and trampled others underfoot.

Verse 17

केषाञ्चित्पाटयामास नखैः कोष्ठानि केसरी।* तथा तलप्रहारेण शिरांसि कृतवान् पृथक्॥17॥

Keshanchit Patayamasa Nakhaih Koshthani Kesari | Tatha Tala-Praharena Shiramsi Kritavan Prithak || 17 ||

Meaning: With its sharp claws the lion tore open the bodies of some asuras, and with blows of its paws it severed the heads of many.

Verse 18

विच्छिन्नबाहुशिरसः कृतास्तेन तथापरे। पपौ च रुधिरं कोष्ठादन्येषां धुतकेसरः॥18॥

Vichchhinna-Bahu-Shirasah Kritastena Tathapare | Papau Cha Rudhiram Koshthad Anyesham Dhutakesarah || 18 ||

Meaning: It cut off the arms and heads of many asuras. It even drank the blood flowing from the bodies of some of them.

Verse 19

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

Kshanena Tadbalam Sarvam Kshayam Nitam Mahatmana | Tena Kesarina Devya Vahanenatikopina || 19 ||

Meaning: In a short time, the Goddess’s furious lion destroyed that entire army of the asuras.

Verse 20

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

Shrutva Tamasuram Devya Nihatam Dhumralochanam | Balam Cha Kshayitam Kritsnam Devikesarina Tatah || 20 ||

Meaning: Hearing the news that Dhumralochana and his whole army had been killed by the Goddess’s lion, Shumbha became very angry.

Verse 21

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

Chukopa Daityadhipatih Shumbhah Prasphuritadharah | Ajnapayamasa Cha Tau Chandamundau Mahasurau || 21 ||

Meaning: Shumbha, the King of the demons, was filled with rage, and he gave orders to two mighty asuras named Chanda and Munda.

Verse 22

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

He Chanda He Munda Balair Bahubhih Parivaritau | Tatra Gachchhata Gatva Cha Sa Samaniyatam Laghu || 22 ||

Meaning: Shumbha said: “O Chanda and Munda! Go there, both of you, with a large army and bring that Goddess here at once.

Verse 23

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

Kesheshv Akrishya Baddhva Va Yadi Vah Samshayo Yudhi | Tad Asheshayudhaih Sarvair Asurair Vinihanyatam || 23 ||

Meaning: “If you think you will have to fight the Goddess, seize her by the hair, bind her and bring her. And if she resists, let all the asuras strike her with all their weapons.

Verse 24

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

Tasyam Hatayam Dushtayam Simhe Cha Vinipatite | Shighram Agamyatam Baddhva Grihitva Tam Athambikam || Om || 24 ||

Meaning: “When that Goddess has been struck down and her lion too has been felled, bind Goddess Ambika and bring her to me at once.”

Conclusion

॥ इति श्रीमार्कण्डेयपुराणे सावर्णिके मन्वन्तरे देवीमाहात्म्ये शुम्भनिशुम्भसेनानीधूम्रलोचनवधो नाम षष्ठोऽध्यायः॥6॥

|| Iti Shri-Markandeya-Purane Savarnike Manvantare Devimahatmye Shumbha-Nishumbha-Senani-Dhumralochana-Vadho Nama Shashtho'dhyayah || 6 ||

Meaning: Thus ends the sixth chapter, named ‘The Slaying of Dhumralochana’, in the Devi Mahatmya, within the account of the Savarnika manvantara in the Shri Markandeya Purana. ॥6॥