We are seeing the meaning of the 6th chapter of Durga Saptashati. After coming to know about the presence of the beautiful goddess who has appeared in the Himalayas, Asura king Shumbha sent a a messenger to her with a marriage proposal. Devi refused and told him that she would marry only someone who defeats her in battle. Shumbha then sent his commander Dhumralochana to intimidate Devi and bring her to him. He told her, ‘If you do not willingly go to my lord now, then I will forcibly take you, dragging you by your hair and humiliated.’

Now the 10th and 11th shlokas -

देव्युवाच ॥

दैत्येश्वरेण प्रहितो बलवान्बलसंवृतः ।

बलान्नयसि मामेवं ततः किं ते करोम्यहम् ॥

'Devi said:
The king of demons has sent you. You are strong and surrounded by an army.
If you take me by force, what can I do?'

The 12th and 13th shlokas -

ऋषिरुवाच ॥ 

इत्युक्तः सोऽभ्यधावत्तामसुरो धूम्रलोचनः ।

हुङ्कारेणैव तं भस्म सा चकाराम्बिका तदा ॥ 

The Rishi said:

Hearing this, the demon Dhumralochana rushed towards her. With just a humkara, Ambika turned him to ashes.

The 14th shloka -

अथ क्रुद्धं महासैन्यमसुराणां तथाम्बिका ।

ववर्ष सायकैस्तीक्ष्णैस्तथा शक्तिपरश्वधैः ॥ 

Ambika, in anger, attacked the mighty army of the demons. She rained sharp arrows, spears, and battle-axes on them.

The 15th shloka - 

ततो धुतसटः कोपात्कृत्वा नादं सुभैरवम् ।

पपातासुरसेनायां सिंहो देव्याः स्ववाहनः ॥ 

Then, shaking his mane (long hair on the neck)  in fury and letting out a terrifying roar, the lion, Devi's vehicle, leaped onto the demon army.

The 16th shloka -

कांश्चित्करप्रहारेण दैत्यानास्येन चापरान् ।

आक्रान्त्या चाधरेणान्यान् जघान स महासुरान् ॥ 

Some demons were struck by his paws, and some were crushed in his jaws. Others were trampled or struck by his lower fangs as he killed the mighty demons.

The 17th shloka -

केषाञ्चित्पाटयामास नखैः कोष्ठानि केसरी ।

तथा तलप्रहारेण शिरांसि कृतवान्पृथक् ॥ 

The lion tore open the bodies of some with his claws. He struck others with his paws, severing their heads.

The 18th shloka -

विच्छिन्नबाहुशिरसः कृतास्तेन तथापरे ।

पपौ च रुधिरं कोष्ठादन्येषां धुतकेसरः ॥ 

He cut off the arms and heads of many others. Shaking his mane, he drank the blood from their bodies.

The 19th shloka -

क्षणेन तद्बलं सर्वं क्षयं नीतं महात्मना ।

तेन केसरिणा देव्या वाहनेनातिकोपिना ॥ 

In a moment, that entire army was destroyed by the mighty lion, Devi's furious and powerful vehicle.

The 20th and 21st shlokas -

श्रुत्वा तमसुरं देव्या निहतं धूम्रलोचनम् ।

बलं च क्षयितं कृत्स्नं देवीकेसरिणा ततः ॥

चुकोप दैत्याधिपतिः शुम्भः प्रस्फुरिताधरः ।

आज्ञापयामास च तौ चण्डमुण्डौ महासुरौ ॥ 

Hearing that the demon Dhumralochana was killed by Devi, and her lion had destroyed the entire army, the demon king Shumbha became furious, his lips quivering in rage. He then ordered the mighty demons Chanda and Munda.

The 22nd, 23rd, and 24th shlokas -

हे चण्ड हे मुण्ड बलैर्बहुभिः परिवारितौ ।

तत्र गच्छत गत्वा च सा समानीयतां लघु ॥ 

केशेष्वाकृष्य बद्ध्वा वा यदि वः संशयो युधि ।

तदाशेषायुधैः सर्वैरसुरैर्विनिहन्यताम् ॥ 

तस्यां हतायां दुष्टायां सिंहे च विनिपातिते ।

शीघ्रमागम्यतां बद्ध्वा गृहीत्वा तामथाम्बिकाम् ॥ 

He said, ‘O Chanda, O Munda, go there, along with your armies. Bring her here quickly dragged by hair or bound by ropes. If she resists, attack and make her and her lion fall on the ground, and then bring her.

In the sixth chapter of Durga Saptashati, we witness the fierce battle between Devi and the forces of the demon king Shumbha. After Devi refused Shumbha’s marriage proposal, his commander Dhumralochana was sent to subdue her. When he threatened to take her by force, Devi destroyed him with a single humkara. Her lion then annihilated the vast demon army with unmatched ferocity, tearing through the soldiers. Furious at the loss of Dhumralochana and his army, Shumbha commanded the mighty demons Chanda and Munda to capture Devi, either by binding her or defeating her in battle. The stage is set for the next encounter, showcasing Devi’s power and divine strength.

Knowledge Bank

Which character from Mahabharata was also called Panchali?

Draupadi. She was called Draupadi because she was the daughter of king Drupada. She was called Panchali because she belonged to Panchala desha (daughter of the king of Panchala).

What is adhikara?

In Sanatana Dharma, 'adhikara' means qualification or eligibility to perform rituals or spiritual practices. It shows that a person has the right knowledge, skill, and status to do certain rituals or duties. A person gets adhikara after formal teaching or initiation by a guru. The guru decides how much knowledge to give based on the student's ability, interest, and nature. Adhikara is very important in Tantra and other spiritual traditions. It ensures the person is ready to handle the responsibilities and spiritual practices correctly.