२५ पञ्चव िंशदशकः - महासरस्वत्य तारः (shumbhadhi vadham)

25 panchavimshadashakah' - mahaasarasvatyavataarah'
Incarnation as Goddess Saraswathi (Killing of Shumbha and others.)
(The devas lost interest in worshipping you. Shumbha and Nishumbha got a
boon from Brahma that only females can kill them. They conquered Indra’s
world. Devas as per advice of Brahaspathi, started praying to you. Goddess
Parvathy came before them. From her body cell(kosa) you arose with a name
of Mahasaraswathi. Shumbha sent marriage proposals to you with various
messengers. When you gave negative answers they became very angry. Crores
of Sakthis arose from Brahma and others and fought. Kali came and drank
every drop of blood that fell from body of Raktha Bheeja. You cut off head of
Nishumbha and Shumbha. The devas praised you. This story is given in
chapters 21- 29 of book 5 of Devi Bhagawatham.)
In days of yore, there were two very powerful demons Śumbha and Niśumbha;
they were two brothers, strong heroes and invulnerable by the male persons.
Those two wicked Asuras were surrounded with numerable Dānavas; they
always tormented the Devas. Then the Goddess Ambikā, for the good of the
Devas, killed Śumbha and Niśumbha with all their attendants in a very dreadful
battle. In the battlefield the Devī killed their main assistants Chaṇḍa Muṇḍa and
the exceedingly terrible Rakta Bīja and Dhumralochana. When the Devī
destroyed those Dānavas, the Devas became fearless; the Devas then went to
the beautiful Sumeru mountain and praised Her and chanted hymns to Her.

अथामरााः शत्रुविनाशतृप्त-
आविराय भक्त्या भित ीं भजन्ताः ।
मन्द भिद्भक्तिहृदाः क्रमेण
पुनि दै त्यावभभिीं सम युाः ॥ २५-१॥
athaamaraah' shatruvinaashatri'pta-
ashchiraaya bhaktyaa bhavateem bhajantah' .
mandeebhavadbhaktihri'dah' kramena
punashcha daityaabhibhavam sameeyuh' .. 25-1..
1.The devas satisfied with destruction of their enemies spent several years in
praying to you with devotion. Over time their devotion started to reduce. And
again troubles started arising from the asuras.
After the killing of mahishasura, for many years everybody lived in peace. They
lived by praying to the devi. Those days they did not experience any troubles
from anywhere. Over a period of time their devotion towards devi started to
reduce. And the problems from the asuras also started.

सुम्भो वनसुम्भि सहोदरौ स्ैाः

प्रसावदतात्पद्मभिात्तपोवभाः ।
स्त्र मात्रिध्यत्वमिाप्य दे िान्
वजत्वा रणे ऽध्यूषतु रैन्द्रलोकम् ॥ २५-२॥
sumbho nisumbhashcha sahodarau svaih'
prasaaditaatpadmabhavaattapobhih'.
streemaatravadhyatvamavaapya devaan
jitvaa rane'dhyooshaturaindralokam .. 25-2..
2.The brothers Shumbha and NIshmbha due to their penance pleased Lord
Brahma and got a boon, that they could be killed only by a woman. Won a war
against the devas, and started living in Indra’s world.
The story of how the devas were troubled by the asuras, starts.
Brothers shumbha and nishumbha(asuras) lived in the nether world. They with
long and severe penance made brahma happy. They wanted a boon where
death will never come to them. Brahma very firmly said that he cannot give
that boon. So they asked that they should not be killed by any man(male
gender). Brahma granted them that boon. Women (female gender) are
considered to be weak. Because of which they assumed that nobody can kill
them. They got into heaven. The devas tried to fight with them-but they were
defeated. They deserted the world of heavens and ran away. Shumbha and
nishumbha started to rule heavens. Like this many years passed by.

भ्रष्टवियस्ते तु गुरूपदे शाद्

वहमाविमाप्ता नुनुिुाः सुरास्त्वाम् ।
तेषाीं पुरिाविसुताऽऽविरास त्
स्नातुीं गता सा वकल दे िनद्याम् ॥ २५-३॥
bhrasht'ashriyaste tu guroopadeshaadd
himaadrimaaptaa nunuvuh' suraastvaam .
teshaam purashchaadrisutaaviraaseet
snaatum gataa saa kila devanadyaam .. 25-3..
3.The devas who lost all their prosperity according to the advice of their Guru,
went to the Himalayas, And started praying to you. Goddess Parvathi
appeared before them when she was going to bathe in the ganges.
After roaming around here and there, the devas went to their guru Brihaspati.
Got a solution as to how to get back heaven. Brihaspati advised them to pray
to Devi. Hence, the devas went to the Himalayas and started to pray to the
devi. Devi Parvathy appeared before them-in the attire that she wears when
she goes to bathe in the ganges. The devas payed respect to her.

तद्दे हकोशात्त्वमजा प्रजाता

यताः प्रवसद्धा खलु कौवशक वत ।
महासरस्त्यवभधाीं दधाना
त्वीं राजस शक्तिररत ययसे च ॥ २५-४॥
taddehakoshaattvamajaa prajaataa
yatah' prasiddhaa khalu kaushikeeti .
mahaasarasvatyabhidhaam dadhaanaa
tvam raajaseeshaktiriteeryase cha .. 25-4..
4.You who do not have birth, from the cell(kosa) of that body, of that Goddess
was born the famous Kaushiki and whose other name is Saraswathi, and is full
of rajo guna
There arose a very beautiful devi from the cells of devi Parvathi. This devi is
known to us as kaushiki. Another name for devi is saraswati.
When the tormented Devas praised thus, the Devī created from Her body
another supremely beautiful form. This created form, the Ambikā Devī, became
known in all the worlds as Kauśikī, as She came out of the physical sheath of
the Devī Parvatī. When Kauśikī was created out of the body of Parvatī, the
Parvatī’s body became transformed and turned out into a black colour and
became known as KāIikā. Her terrible black appearance, when beheld,
increases the terror even of the Daityas.
वहमाविशृङ्गेषु मनोहराङ्ग
वसींहावधरूढा मृदुगानलोला ।
िोत्रावण नेत्राण्यवप दे हभाजाीं
चकवषयथाष्टादशबाहुयुिा ॥ २५-५॥
himaadrishri'ngeshu manoharaangee
simhaadhirood'haa mri'dugaanalolaa .
shrotraani netraanyapi dehabhaajaam
chakarshithaasht'aadashabaahuyuktaa .. 25-5..
5. You who were wandering on the peaks of Himalayas riding gracefully on a
lion, singing softly to yourself, and who had eighteen hands attracted the ears
and eyes of all people.
The 18 handed kaushiki, singing and riding on a lion, roamed around the
peaks of the Himalayas. Devi impressed and captivated everyone with her
beauty-their ears were satisfied by her soulful singing. Even the birds and the
animals were wonderstruck on seeing the devi and hearing her music. So
captivating was devi’s form and singing.
Devī Bhagavatī, elated with pride, mounted on a lion and, taking Kālikā with
Her, entered into the city of Śumbha, the enemy of the gods. Ambikā went to a
garden adjoining the city accompanied by Kālikā, and began to sing in such a
sweet melodious tune that enchants even the God of Love, who fascinates the
whole world. What more can be said than the fact that, hearing that sweet
melodious song, the birds and beasts became enchanted; the Devas then
began to feel much pleasure from the Sky.

विज्ञाय सुम्भाः वकल दू तिाक्यात्

त्वाीं मोहनाङ्ग ीं दवयताीं वचक षुयाः ।
त्वदक्तन्तके प्रेषयवतस्म दू तान्
एकैकशाः वस्नग्धिचोविलासान् ॥ २५-६॥
vijnyaaya sumbhah' kila dootavaakyaat
tvaam mohanaangeem dayitaam chikeershuh' .
tvadantike preshayatisma dootaan
ekaikashah' snigdhavachovilaasaan .. 25-6..
6.From the words of his messengers Shumbha understood that you were very
pretty. He wished to make you his wife. So he sent messengers, one after
another, who were very good in the act of convincing, with the use of words.
Shumbhas messengers happened to see the beauty who was singing and
roaming around the mountains. They conveyed the information to shumbha.
Shumbha had brought all the special things in the world under his control.
Messengers were asking why shumbha was bringing this beautiful lady under
his control. On hearing this shumbha sent messengers like sugreeva and
others to devi. Entice the devi with good words and bring her to me-this was
shumbhas orders.
On approaching towards the lord of the Daityas sitting in his room, they
bowed down and told thus in a sweet voice :-- "O King! Here has come from
the Himālayās a woman accidentally, mounted on a lion; Her limbs are shining
with all good signs so much so that even the God of love would be enchanted
by Her sight. Nowhere, in the Devalokas, the Gandarbha Lokas or in this earth
can be found such a beautiful lady; we never saw nor heard about such a lady
before. O King! That lady is singing so beautifully and pleasingly to all that
even the deer are standing motionless by Her side enchanted, as it were, by
Her melodious voice. O King! That Lady is fit for you; therefore determine first
whose daughter is this lady, what for she has come there and then marry Her.
Know this as certain that such a beautiful lady is not to be found anywhere in
this world. Therefore do you bring Her to your house and marry Her. O Lord of
men! You have acquired all the gems and jewels of the Devas; why not, then,
accept this Gem in the form of a lady? O King! You have taken by force the
exquisitely beautiful Airāvata elephant of Indra, the Pārijāta Tree, the seven
faced horse Uccaiśravā, and many other jewels. You have acquired by your
might the Prince of Jewels, the celestial car of the Creator Brahmā, ensigned by
the emblematic Swan. You have dispossessed Kuvera of his treasure of the
value of a Padma (one thousand billion) and Varuṇa, the God of oceans, of his
white umbrella. O King! When Varuṇa was defeated, your brother Niśumbha
took perforce his Pāśa weapon. O King! The Great Ocean gave you, out of
terror, various jewels and honoured you by presenting a garland of lotuses
which never fade away. What more can be said than the fact that you have
conquered the Death and took away His force and that you have easily
conquered Yama, the God of Death and have taken from Him His horrible
staff. O King! You have brought that Heavenly cow which came out when the
ocean was churned; that cow is still with you; what more to say than that
Menakā and other Apsarās are under your control. Thus you have got by your
strength all the jewels. Why, then, are you not taking this exquisitely beautiful
lady, the Prince of Jewels, amongst women. O King! All the jewels in your
house, will serve their real purpose, no doubt, then and then only when they
will shine with this queen of jewels, this Lady. O Lord of the Daityas! There
cannot be seen in all the Trilokas such a Beautiful Lady as this that I have now
described before you. Therefore bring this Beautiful Lady quickly and accept
Her as your wife. Hearing thus the sweet words of Chaṇḍa and Muṇḍa, Śumbha
spoke gladly to Sugrīva who was close by :-- “Go, Sugrīva, do my messenger’s
work; you are well skilled in these things. Speak so that the Beautiful Lady of
thin waist may come over to me. Those who are well versed in the science of
amorous love declare that only two methods are to be adopted by the clever
persons towards the female sex :-- (1) conciliation and gentle words and (2)
gifts and presents. For if the policy of division or sowing dissensions be
applied, then hypocrisy is shewn and that means the improper manifestation
of love sentiment; whereas if chastisement be applied then the love sentiment
becomes interrupted. Therefore, the wise have condemned these as corrupt
means. O Messenger! Where is that woman who does not come round excited
with passion when good and sweet words are spoken to her in accordance
with the Śama and Dāna methods?”

त्वाीं प्राप्य ते कावलकया समेताम्

एकैकशाः सुम्भगुणान् प्रभाष्य ।
पत्न भिास्येवत कृतोपदे शा-
स्तत्प्रावतकुल्यात्कुवपता बभूिुाः ॥ २५-७॥
tvaam praapya te kaalikayaa sametaam
ekaikashah' sumbhagunaan prabhaashya .
patnee bhavaasyeti kri'topadeshaa-
statpraatikulyaatkupitaa babhoovuh' .. 25-7..
7.Each one of them, met you one by one, you who was with a power called
Kalika, and started singing and praising about the qualities Of Shumbha. They
also advised you to become his wife. They got angry with you when you
were against it.
Sugreeva attempted to entice the devi towards shumbha by using nice words.
For that he glorified shumbha’s good qualities. Devi rebelled. “asuras should
live in the netherworld and the devas should reside in heaven. This is an
ancient rule. Whatever comforts are there in heaven are there in the
netherworld also. By capturing heavens the asuras have gone against this rule,
this is not right. Immediately leave the heavens to the devas. The asuras should
shift to the nether world. Everybody can live happily there. If you are not ready
for that, be ready to fight a war. And if you fight the war shumbha and
nishumbha and others will defeated royally”. Sugreeva returned and conveyed
the message to shumbha and nishumbha.
Kalikka-a very frightening form that was generated along with kaushiki devi.

सुम्भाज्ञया धूम्रविलोचनाख्यो
रणोद्यताः कावलकया हतोऽभूत् ।
चण्डीं च मुण्डीं च वनहत्य काल
त्वत्फालजा तिुवधरीं पपौ च ॥ २५-८॥
sumbhaajnyayaa dhoomravilochanaakhyo
ranodyatah' kaalikayaa hato'bhoot .
chand'am cha mund'am cha nihatya kaalee
tvatphaalajaa tadrudhiram papau cha .. 25-8..
8.An Asura called Dhoomralochana as per orders of Shumbha came ready for a
war with you and was killed by Kalika. Afterwards Kali, who was born out of
your forehead, killed Chanda and Munda and drank their blood.
Shumbha 1st sent an asura named dhoomralochana to fight with the devi. Try
to entice the devi and bring her to me by sweet talking to her. If that is not
possible fight with the devi and bring her to me-this was shumbha’s order.
Dhumralochana followed shumbha’s order. But, the frightful kalikka killed all of
shumbha’s asura messengers. A very angry dhumralochana got ready to fight
the war. Kalikka killed that asura also.
On knowing about this, shumbha sent the asuras chanda and munda together.
They did the same thing that dhumralochan did. A very terrible war waged
between Chanda and munda and devi Ambika. At the peak of the war, from
devi’s forehead a very frightening form of devi emerged-the devi was named
kali. Kali killed chanda and munda and drank their blood.
Muṇḍa, 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, Ambikā got very angry; out of Her frowny look, Her eyebrows
became crooked, Her face became black, and Her eyes turned red like Kadalī
flowers; at this time suddenly came out of Her forehead Kālī. 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, Śiva’s weapon, in Her hands, She
looked very terrible like the Night of Dissolution. She began to lick frequently
and forcibly dashed into the Dānava army and began to destroy it. She angrily
began to take the powerful Dānavas 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. Seeing that the forces were being thus destroyed, the two great
warriors Caṇḍa and Muṇḍa began to shoot arrows after arrows without
intermission and covered the Devī with them. Caṇḍa hurled the Sudarṣan-like
disc, lustrous like the Sun, with great force against the Devī, 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 Caṇḍa became overpowered by them and lay down senseless
on the ground. The powerful Muṇḍa seeing his brother unconscious became
very much distressed with grief; but he got angry and began to shoot arrows
immediately on the Devī. Caṇḍikā Devī hurled the weapon named Īṣikā and
thus cut off to pieces all the dreadful arrows of Muṇḍa in a moment and shot
Ardha Candra (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.
Muṇḍa thus lying on the ground, a great uproar arose amidst the army of the
Dānavas; and the Devas became delighted in the sky. In the meanwhile Chaṇḍa
became conscious and taking a very heavy club hurled it violently on the right
hand of Kālikā. Kālikā rendered that blow useless and instantly tied down that
Asura by Her Pāsha weapon, purified by Mantras. Muṇḍa again rose up, and,
seeing his brother in that fastened condition, came to the front well armoured
and with an exceedingly strong weapon called Śakti. Seeing the Asura coming,
She instantly fastened him down like his brother.

Taking the powerful Chaṇḍa and Muṇḍa like hares and laughing wildly, Kālī
went to Ambikā, and said :-- “I have brought the two beasts very auspicious as
offerings in this sacrificial war. Kindly accept these.”

Seeing the two Dānavas brought, as if they were the two wolves, Ambikā told
her sweetly :-- O you who is fond of war! you are very wise; so do not commit
the act of envy nor should you leave them; think over the purport of my
words and know that it is your duty to bring the Devī’s work to a successful
issue.

Hearing thus the words of Ambikā, Kālikā 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 your sacrifice. Thus no act of envy will be committed (i.e., killing in a
sacrifice is not considered as envy).” Thus saying, the Kālikā Devī cut off their
heads with great force and gladly drank their blood.

Thus seeing the two Asuras killed, Ambikā said gladly :-- you have done the
service to the gods; so I will give you an excellent boon. O Kālikā! As you have
killed Chaṇḍa and Muṇḍa, henceforth you will be renowned in this world as
Chāmuṇḍā.

चामुक्तण्डकेवत प्रवथता तताः सा

त्वाीं रिब जोऽध युयुत्सुराप ।
यििवबन्दू द्भिरिब ज-
सङ्घैजयगद्व्याप्तमभूदशेषम् ॥ २५-९॥
chaamund'iketi prathitaa tatah' saa
tvaam raktabeejo'dha yuyutsuraapa .
yadraktabindoodbhavaraktabeeja-
sanghairjagadvyaaptamabhoodashesham .. 25-9..
9.From that day that Goddess became well known as Chamundika. Later
Rakthabheeja came ready to fight war with you and the hoard of Raktha
Beejas that were born from each drop of his blood , filled up the world.
Because she drank the blood of chanda and munda, kalikka became famous by
the name chamunda. Afterward on the orders of shumbha, another asura
named raktabeeja, came ready to fight the war. A terrible war took place
between devi and raktabeeja. If a drop of blood of raktabeeja falls on the
ground, then from each droplet a new raktabeeja is formed-he had such a
boon. During the war between devi and raktabeeja, raktabeeja’s blood flowed
in the ground. And new new raktabeejas were born. The world was filled with
rakta beejas.
AN extraordinary boon that was given by Mahādeva, the God of gods, to the
great warrior, Raktabīja. Whenever a drop of blood from the body of that great
warrior will drop on the surface of the earth, immediately will arise
innumerable Dānavas, equal in form and power to him; thus the Deva Rudra
granted the Demon the wonderful boon. Thus elated with the boon, he
entered into the battlefield with great force in order to kill Kālikā with Ambikā
Devī. Seeing the Vaiṣṇavī Śakti, lotus-eyed, seated on the bird Garuḍa, the
Demon struck Her with a violent weapon (named Śakti). She then baffled the
weapon by Her club and hurled Sudarśana disc on the great Asura Raktabīja.
Thus struck by the disc, blood began to ooze out from his body as the red
stream of soft red sandstone comes out of a mountain-top. Wherever on the
surface of the earth drops of blood fell from his body, then and there sprang
out thousands and thousands of demons like him. Indrāṇi, the wife of Indra,
became very angry and struck the terrible Raktabīja with his thunderbolt.
Streams of blood then began to ooze out from his body. No sooner the drops
of blood fell from the Demon’s body, than were instantaneously born from the
blood many powerful Asuras, of similar forms, having similar weapons and
hard to be conquered in battle. Brahmāṇī then becoming enraged struck at
him with the staff of Brahmā with greater force. Māheśvarī rent the Dānava
asunder by striking him with Her trident. Nāra Simhī pierced the Asura with
Her nails; Vārāhī struck at him with Her teeth. Then the Dānava becoming
angry shot at them all with sharpened arrows and pierced them all. Thus when
the Mātrikā Devīs were pierced by the club and other various weapons of that
great Asura, they got very angry and pierced the Dānavas in return with shots
of arrows. Kaumārī, too, struck at his breast with Her weapon, named Śakti. The
Dānavas then got angry and hurled on them multitude of arrows and began to
pierce them. O King! The Caṇḍikā Devī, getting angry, cut off his weapons into
pieces and shot violently at him other arrows. O King! Thus struck by severe
blows, when blood began to flow in profuse quantities from his body,
thousands and thousands of Dānavas resembling Raktabīja sprang out
instantly from it. So much so, that the heavens were all covered over with
Raktabījas that sprang up from the blood. They all covered all over their bodies
with coats of armour, began to fight terribly with weapons in their hands. Then
the Devas, seeing that the innumerable Raktavījas were striking the Devī,
became very much frightened and were distressed with sorrow. They began to
talk with each other with sorrowful countenances that thousands and
thousands of huge bodied warriors were springing from the blood. These were
all very powerful; so how could they be destroyed! In this battlefield there
were now left only the Mātrikās, Kālikā, and Caṇḍikā. It would be certainly
extremely difficult for them to conquer all these Dānavas. And if at that
moment, Śumbha and Niśumbha were to join them with his army, certainly a
great catastrophe would occur.

ब्रह्मेन्द्रपाश्यावदकदे िशक्ति-
कोट्यो रणीं चक्रुररावतसङ्घैाः ।
तत्सङ्गरीं िणयवयतुीं न शिाः
सहस्रवजह्वोऽवप पु नाः वकमन्ये ॥ २५-१०॥
Brahmendrapaashyaadikadevashakti-
kot'yo ranam chakruraraatisanghaih' .
tatsangaram varnayitum na shaktah'
sahasrajihvo'pi punah' kimanye .. 25-10..
10. The crores of powers from, Brahma, Indra, Varuna and others fought with
the enemies. That war cannot be described even by the thousand toungued
one. How can others do it!
When the entire world was filled with raktabeejas, then brahma and the other
devas, brought out their respective powers. Brahma’s power brahmaani; indra’s
indraani; varuna’s vaaruni. In this way all the devas gave a form to their
respective powers. They provided these shakti forms with their weapons also.
The power of brahmaani rode a swan and carried a kamandalu. The power of
Indraani carried the thunderbold and rode on the elephant airavat. The shakti
of vaaruni had a rope as her weapon. Like this, the terrible war that was fought
between all the forms of the power of the devas and all the raktabeejas,
cannot be described by anyone. Even the 1000 tongued Anantha cannot do it.
Then how can others describe it.
Vaiṣṇavī Śakti, lotus-eyed, seated on the bird Garuḍa, the Demon struck Her
with a violent weapon (named Śakti). She then baffled the weapon by Her club
and hurled Sudarśana disc on the great Asura Raktabīja. Thus struck by the
disc, blood began to ooze out from his body as the red stream of soft red
sandstone comes out of a mountain-top. Wherever on the surface of the earth
drops of blood fell from his body, then and there sprang out thousands and
thousands of demons like him. Indrāṇi, the wife of Indra, became very angry
and struck the terrible Raktabīja with his thunderbolt. Streams of blood then
began to ooze out from his body. No sooner the drops of blood fell from the
Demon’s body, than were instantaneously born from the blood many powerful
Asuras, of similar forms, having similar weapons and hard to be conquered in
battle. Brahmāṇī then becoming enraged struck at him with the staff of Brahmā
with greater force. Māheśvarī rent the Dānava asunder by striking him with Her
trident. Nāra Simhī pierced the Asura with Her nails; Vārāhī struck at him with
Her teeth. Then the Dānava becoming angry shot at them all with sharpened
arrows and pierced them all. Thus when the Mātrikā Devīs were pierced by the
club and other various weapons of that great Asura, they got very angry and
pierced the Dānavas in return with shots of arrows. Kaumārī, too, struck at his
breast with Her weapon, named Śakti. The Dānavas then got angry and hurled
on them multitude of arrows and began to pierce them. O King! The Caṇḍikā
Devī, getting angry, cut off his weapons into pieces and shot violently at him
other arrows. O King! Thus struck by severe blows, when blood began to flow
in profuse quantities from his body, thousands and thousands of Dānavas
resembling Raktabīja sprang out instantly from it. So much so, that the
heavens were all covered over with Raktabījas that sprang up from the blood.
They all covered all over their bodies with coats of armour, began to fight
terribly with weapons in their hands.

रणेऽवतघोरे वििृतानना सा
काल स्वजह्वाीं खलु चालयन्त ।
त्वच्छस्त्रकृत्ताक्तखलरिब ज-
रिीं पपौ गजयनभ तदै त्या ॥ २५-११॥
rane'tighore vivri'taananaa saa
kaalee svajihvaam khalu chaalayantee .
tvachchhastrakri'ttaakhilaraktabeeja-
raktam papau garjanabheetadaityaa .. 25-11..
11.When the war became very fierce, that Kali went with a open mouth &
shaking her tongue and scaring those asuras and drank all the blood that
fell when the necks of asuras were cut.
It was mentioned earlier about the terrible war that took place between all the
power forms of the devas and the raktabeejas. Devi told kali of her wish to
stop this war. Kali opened her mouth and stuck her tongue out. Devi took each
raktabeeja, cut off its neck, and allowed the blood to flow into kali’s mouth. In
this way, one by one, the raktabeejas were killed. Kali drank the blood of all the
raktabeejas. Inthis way all the raktabeejas were killed. Only if raktabeejas blood
fall on the ground. Will a new rakta beeja sprout up. Understanding this, devi
acted accordingly. Kali got intoxicated by drinking all the blood of raktabeeja,
and kept roaring. This war with raktabeeja that was fought as an incarnation of
maha sarawati, was the most terrible one.
Ambikā Devī said to the lotus-eyed Kālī :-- “O Cāmuṇḍā! Open out your mouth
quickly, and no sooner I strike Raktabīja with weapons, you would drink off the
blood as fast as it runs out of his body. Instantly I will kill those Dānavas
sprung from the blood with sharpened arrows, clubs, swords and Muṣalas; and
you would then be able to devour them all at your will, and, then, roam in this
field as you like. O Large-eyed One! You would drink off all the jets of blood in
such a way that not a drop of it escapes and falls on the ground. And then
when they will all be devoured, no more Dānavas would be able to spring.
Thus they will surely be extirpated; otherwise they will never be destroyed. Let
me begin to strike blows after blows on Raktabīja and you better drink off
quickly all the blood, being intent on destroying the forces. O Camuṇḍe! Thus,
the Dānavas being all exterminated,
The Cāmuṇḍā Devī, of furious strength, hearing thus the Devī’s words began to
drink the jets of blood coming out of the body of Raktabīja. The Devī Ambikā
began to cut the Demon’s body into pieces and Cāmuṇḍā, of thin belly, went
on devouring them. Then Raktabīja, becoming angry, struck Cāmuṇḍā with his
club. But though She was thus hurt severely, She drank off the blood and then
devoured all the limbs thereof. O King! Thus Kālikā Devī drank off the blood of
all other powerful wicked Dānava Raktabījas that sprang out of the blood.
Ambikā thus destroyed them. Thus, all the Dānavas, created out of the blood
were devoured; then, there was left, lastly, the real Raktabīja. Ambikā Devī then
cut him asunder into pieces by Her axe and thus killed him.
There was once a very powerful demon known as Rakta Beej who had acquired
a boon that he could duplicate himself as soon as his drop of blood touched
the Earth. Due to this boon, the Gods were unable to bring the notorious
demon under control. Hence, Shakti in the form of Goddess Durga was
summoned to kill the demon.
Armed with all the weapons, the Goddess charged at the demon. But as soon
as She wounded him with Her sword and his blood fell on Earth, the demon
kept on multiplying. Huge armies of Rakta Beej were formed by the puddles of
blood which fell on Earth. Enraged by this, the Devi took the fierce form of Kali.
Then She went on to destroy the demon with sword in Her hand. She would
slay each demon and drink his blood immediately. Soon She finished the
whole army of Rakta Beej and only the real Rakta Beej was left. Then She slay
him and drank all his blood till he fell down lifeless.
It is said that the Goddess became mad with blood lust after this incident. She
started dancing the dance of destruction and forgot that She had already
killed the demon. She kept on slaying the innocent after that. Seeing this, the
Gods became extremely worried and approached Lord Shiva for help. Only
Shiva had the power to stop Kali at this stage.
So, Lord Shiva went and lay down among the corpses where the Goddess was
dancing. Accidentally, Kali stepped on Shiva and soon She realised Her
mistake. It is then Her tongue immediately came out of embarrassment and
She calmed down. She was ashamed that Her blood lust had prevented Her
from recognizing Her own husband. Thus, She came back to Her original form
and the destruction was stopped.
Shiva lying at Kali's feet also symbolises the supremacy of Nature over man. It
clearly shows that without Kali or Shakti even a powerful force like Lord Shiva
is inert. Hence, Kali is shown as stepping on Shiva's chest.

त्वया वनसुम्भस्य श रो वनकृत्तीं

सुम्भस्य तत्कावलकयाऽवप चान्ते ।
अन्येऽसुरास्त्वाीं वशरसा प्रणम्य
पातालमापुस्त्वदनु ग्रहे ण ॥ २५-१२॥
tvayaa nisumbhasya sheero nikri'ttam
sumbhasya tatkaalikayaa'pi chaante .
anye'suraastvaam shirasaa pranamya
paataalamaapustvadanugrahena .. 25-12..
12.You cut the head of Nishumba and made it fall, And Kalika cut off the
head of Shumbha and at the end other asuras bowed and saluted your feet,
And with your blessings reached the Patala world.
After the death of raktabeeja in the war, it was nishumba’s who came into the
battlefield. Kaushiki devi killed nishumbha. Finally shumbha reached the
battlefield. Kalikka who killed dhumralochan killed shumbha also. There
remained a lot of asuras. They prayed to devi. With the blessings of devi they
lived happily in the nether world.

हतेषु दे िा ररपुषु प्रणम्य

त्वाीं तुष्टु िुाः स्गयमगुाः पुनि ।
ते पूियिद्यज्ञहविहय रन्तो
भूमाििषयन् जहृषु ि मत्याय ाः ॥ २५-१३॥
hateshu devaa ripushu pranamya
tvaam tusht'uvuh' svargamaguh' punashcha .
te poorvavadyajnyahavirharanto
bhoomaavavarshan jahri'shushcha martyaah' .. 25-13..
13.After all their enemies were killed the devas saluted you, praised you and
went back to their heavens. Later, like before began to receive their share in
Yajnas and caused rain to fall on the earth and human beings became
extremely happy.
on the death of their enemies, the asuras, the devas, saluted and praised devi.
With the blessings of devi they got back heaven. All the offerings that were
given during a yagna, which asuras had grabbed, also they were able to
partake. They showered the earth with rains. Humans also were very happy.
Durga saptashati has a stotram named devi mahatmyam, where the 3
incarnations of devi has been described-mahakali, Mahalakshmi,
mahasaraswati. What has been described briefly in devi mahatmyam, has
been described in detail in devi bhagavatham. In skanda 5, 9 chapters-20-
28-the story of shumbha and nishumbha has been described.

मातमयद ये हृवद सक्तन्त दम्भ-

दपाय वभमानाद्यसुरा बवलष्ााः ।
वनहत्य तान् दे ह्यभयीं सुखीं च
त्वमेि माता मम ते नमोऽस्तु ॥ २५-१४॥
maatarmadeeye hri'di santi dambha-
darpaabhimaanaadyasuraa balisht'haah' .
nihatya taan dehyabhayam sukham cha
tvameva maataa mama te namo'stu .. 25-14..
14.Oh mother, in my mind lives the three strong asuras called deceit
arrogance and pride. Please kill them and grant me protection and happiness.
You are my mother! I salute you.
Deceit, conceit and pride are all parts of arrogance. All these are equivalent to
asuras of our mind. In the 16th chapter of the bhagavath Gita, it is said that
deceit, etc are all the possession of asuras. They make a person weak. Only
devi can destroy them. Fearlessness and purity of mind are the possession of
devi according to bhagavath gita. We need devi’s blessings and compassion to
remove the asurian characters like deceit, pride etc and to replace with devi
possession of fearlessness. For that the poet prays to devi. The poet hopes that
he can gain all these from devi who is like a mother to him.

Thus ends the 25th chapter