{CHAPTER 10} *****{The Slaying of Sumbha}
The Rishi said:
1-3. Seeing his brother Nisumbha slain, who was dear to him as his life, and his army being slaughter, Sumbha angrily said. ‘O Durga who are puffed up with pride of strength, don’t show your pride (here). Though you are exceedingly haughty, you, resorting to the strength of others, fight.’ The Devi said:
4-5. ‘I am all alone in the world here. Who else is there besides me? See, O vile one, these Goddesses, who are but my own powers, entering into my own self!’
6. Then all those, Brahmani and the rest, were absorbed in the body of the Devi. Ambika alone then remained. The Devi said:
7-8. ‘ The numerous forms which I projected by my power here – those have been withdrawn by me, and (now) I stand alone. Be steadfast in combat.’ The Rishi said:
9-10. Then began a dreadful battle between them both, the Devi and Sumbha, while all the devas and asuras looked on.
11. With showers of arrows, with sharp weapons and frightful missiles, both engaged again in a combat that frightened all the worlds.
12. Then the lord of daityas broke the divine missiles, which Ambika discharged in hundreds, with (weapons) that repulsed them.
13. With fierce shout of hum and the like, the Paramesvari playfully broke the excellent missiles that he discharged.
14. Then the asura covered the Devi with hundreds of arrows, and the Devi in wrath split his bow with her arrows.
15. And when the bow was split the lord of the daityas took up his spear. With a discus, the Devi split that (spear) also in this hand.
16. Next the supreme monarch of the daityas, taking his sword bright like the sun and shining shield bearing the images of a hundred moons, rushed at the Devi at that moment.
17. Just as he was rushing forward, Chandika split his sword with sharp arrows shot from her bow, as also his shield as bright as the solar rays.
18. With his steeds slain, with his bow broken, without a charioteer, the daitya then grasped his terrible mace, being ready to kill Ambika.
19. With sharp arrows, she split the mace of Sumbha, who was rushing at her. Even then, raising his fist, he rushed swiftly at her.
20. The daitya-king brought his fist down on the heart of the Devi, and the Devi also with her palm smote him on his chest.
21. The daitya-king, wounded by the blow of her palm fell on the earth, but immediately he rose up again.
22. Seizing the Devi, he sprang up and mounted on high into the sky. There also Chandika, without any support, fought with him.
23. Then the daitya (Sumbha) and Chandika fought, a never before, with each other in the sky in a close contact, which wrought surprise to the Siddhas and sages.
24. Ambika then, after carrying on a close fight for a vary long time with him, lifted him up, whirled him around and flung him down on the earth.
25. Flung thus, the evil-natured (Sumbha) reaching the earth and raising his fist, hastily rushed forward desiring to kill Chandika.
26. Seeing that lord of all the daitya-folk approaching, the Devi, piercing him on the chest with a dart, threw him down on the earth.
27. Pierced by the pointed dart of the Devi he fell lifeless on the ground, shaking the entire earth with its seas, islands and mountains.
28. When that evil-natured (asura) was slain, the universe became happy and regained perfect peace, and the sky grew clear.
29. Flaming portent-clouds that were in evidence before became tranquil, and the rivers kept within their courses when (Sumbha) was stricken down there.
30. When he had been slain, the minds of all the bands of devas became overjoyed, and the Gandharvas sang sweetly.
31-32. Others sounded (their instruments), and the bands of nymphs danced; likewise favourable winds blew; the sun became very brilliant; the sacred fires blazed peacefully and tranquil became the strange sounds that had risen in different quarters. Here ends the tenth chapter called ‘The Slaying of Sumbha’ of Devi-mahatmya in Markandeya-purana, during the period of Savarni, the Manu.
