Killing of Chanda and Munda

Upon learning about the beautiful goddess who had appeared in the Himalayas, the Asura king Shumbha sent a messenger to propose marriage to her. Devi declined and stated that she would only marry someone who could defeat her in battle. Angered, Shumbha ordered his commander, Dhumralochana, to intimidate Devi and bring her to him. When Dhumralochana threatened to take her by force, Devi destroyed him with a single humkara. Her lion then ferociously tore through the vast demon army, annihilating the soldiers. Enraged by the loss of Dhumralochana and his forces, Shumbha ordered the powerful demons Chanda and Munda to capture Devi, either by binding her or defeating her in battle.

Now, the 7th chapter of Durga Saptashati.

1st and 2nd shlokas -

ॐ ऋषिरुवाच ॥ 

आज्ञप्तास्ते ततो दैत्याश्चण्डमुण्डपुरोगमाः ।

चतुरङ्गबलोपेता ययुरभ्युद्यतायुधाः ॥ 

The Rishi said:

Thus commanded, the demons, led by Chanda and Munda, marched forth with their fourfold army, weapons raised and ready for battle.

3rd shloka -

ददृशुस्ते ततो देवीमीषद्धासां व्यवस्थिताम् ।

सिंहस्योपरि शैलेन्द्रश‍ृङ्गे महति काञ्चने ॥ 

They then saw Devi, slightly smiling, seated upon a lion atop a great golden peak of the king of mountains.

4th shloka -

ते दृष्ट्वा तां समादातुमुद्यमं चक्रुरुद्यताः ।

आकृष्टचापासिधरास्तथान्ये तत्समीपगाः ॥

Seeing her, they prepared to capture her, drawing their bows and wielding swords, while others approached near her, ready for battle.

5th shloka -

ततः कोपं चकारोच्चैरम्बिका तानरीन्प्रति ।

कोपेन चास्या वदनं मषीवर्णमभूत्तदा ॥

Then Ambika became intensely enraged at those enemies. In her fury, her face turned as dark as ink.

6th shloka -

भ्रुकुटीकुटिलात्तस्या ललाटफलकाद्द्रुतम् ।

काली करालवदना विनिष्क्रान्तासिपाशिनी ॥

From the furrowed frown of her forehead, Kali emerged swiftly. She had a fearsome face, wielding a sword and a noose.

7th shloka -

विचित्रखट्वाङ्गधरा नरमालाविभूषणा ।

द्वीपिचर्मपरीधाना शुष्कमांसातिभैरवा ॥

She held a strange club adorned with skulls and was adorned with a garland of human heads. Dressed in a tiger’s skin, she appeared extremely terrifying with her emaciated and ghastly form.

8th shloka -

अतिविस्तारवदना जिह्वाललनभीषणा ।

निमग्नारक्तनयना नादापूरितदिङ्मुखा ॥

Her face was enormously wide, and her terrifying tongue constantly flicked out. Her eyes were sunk and blood-red, and her thunderous roar filled all directions.

9th shloka -

सा वेगेनाभिपतिता घातयन्ती महासुरान् ।

सैन्ये तत्र सुरारीणामभक्षयत तद्बलम् ॥

She charged forward with great speed, striking down the mighty Asuras. Within the enemy army, she devoured their forces entirely.

10th shloka -

पार्ष्णिग्राहाङ्कुशग्राहयोधघण्टासमन्वितान् ।

समादायैकहस्तेन मुखे चिक्षेप वारणान् ॥

With one hand, she seized elephants, along with their riders, rear guards, goads, and bells, and hurled them into her mouth.

11th shloka -

तथैव योधं तुरगै रथं सारथिना सह ।

निक्षिप्य वक्त्रे दशनैश्चर्वयन्त्यतिभैरवम् ॥

In the same way, she grabbed warriors along with their horses, chariots, and charioteers, and terrifyingly chewed them with her sharp teeth.

12th shloka -

एकं जग्राह केशेषु ग्रीवायामथ चापरम् ।

पादेनाक्रम्य चैवान्यमुरसान्यमपोथयत् ॥

She seized one by the hair, another by the neck, trampled one under her foot, and crushed another with her chest.

13th shloka -

तैर्मुक्तानि च शस्त्राणि महास्त्राणि तथासुरैः ।

मुखेन जग्राह रुषा दशनैर्मथितान्यपि ॥

The weapons and mighty missiles hurled by the Asuras were angrily swallowed by her, and even crushed with her teeth.

14th shloka -

बलिनां तद्बलं सर्वमसुराणां दुरात्मनाम् ।

ममर्दाभक्षयच्चान्यानन्यांश्चाताडयत्तदा ॥

She crushed the entire army of those wicked and powerful Asuras. Some she devoured, while others she struck down fiercely.

15th shloka -

असिना निहताः केचित्केचित्खट्वाङ्गताडिताः ।

जग्मुर्विनाशमसुरा दन्ताग्राभिहतास्तथा ॥

Some Asuras were slain by her sword, others were struck down by her skull-club, and many met their end after being struck by her sharp teeth.

16th shloka -

क्षणेन तद्बलं सर्वमसुराणां निपातितम् ।

दृष्ट्वा चण्डोऽभिदुद्राव तां कालीमतिभीषणाम् ॥

In an instant, the entire army of Asuras was destroyed. Seeing this, Chanda charged towards the immensely terrifying Kali.

17th shloka -

शरवर्षैर्महाभीमैर्भीमाक्षीं तां महासुरः ।

छादयामास चक्रैश्च मुण्डः क्षिप्तैः सहस्रशः ॥

The mighty Asura Chanda, with torrents of terrifying arrows, and Munda, with thousands of hurled discs, covered the fierce-eyed Kali.

18th shloka -

तानि चक्राण्यनेकानि विशमानानि तन्मुखम् ।

बभुर्यथार्कबिम्बानि सुबहूनि घनोदरम् ॥

The numerous spinning discs entering her mouth shone brightly, resembling countless suns disappearing into a dense cloud.

19th shloka -

ततो जहासातिरुषा भीमं भैरवनादिनी ।

काली करालवदना दुर्दर्शदशनोज्ज्वला ॥

Then Kali, with her fearsome face and terrifyingly radiant teeth, let out a dreadful roar and laughed fiercely in intense rage.

20th shloka -

उत्थाय च महासिंहं देवी चण्डमधावत ।

गृहीत्वा चास्य केशेषु शिरस्तेनासिनाच्छिनत् ॥

Rising up, the great lion and Devi charged at Chanda. Grasping his hair, she severed his head with her sword.

21st shloka -

अथ मुण्डोऽभ्यधावत्तां दृष्ट्वा चण्डं निपातितम् ।

तमप्यपातयद्भूमौ सा खड्गाभिहतं रुषा ॥

Seeing Chanda slain, Munda rushed towards her. But she, in fury, struck him down with her sword, felling him to the ground.

22nd shloka -

हतशेषं ततः सैन्यं दृष्ट्वा चण्डं निपातितम् ।

मुण्डं च सुमहावीर्यं दिशो भेजे भयातुरम् ॥

Seeing the army destroyed, along with the mighty Chanda and Munda slain, the remaining soldiers, overcome with fear, fled in all directions.

23rd shloka -

शिरश्चण्डस्य काली च गृहीत्वा मुण्डमेव च ।

प्राह प्रचण्डाट्टहासमिश्रमभ्येत्य चण्डिकाम् ॥

Kali, holding the heads of Chanda and Munda, approached Chandika with a thunderous and fierce laugh and spoke to her.

24th shloka -

मया तवात्रोपहृतौ चण्डमुण्डौ महापशू ।

युद्धयज्ञे स्वयं शुम्भं निशुम्भं च हनिष्यसि ॥

‘I have brought you the great offerings, Chanda and Munda, to this sacrificial battle. You yourself shall slay Shumbha and Nishumbha.’

25th and 26th shlokas -

ऋषिरुवाच ॥

तावानीतौ ततो दृष्ट्वा चण्डमुण्डौ महासुरौ ।

उवाच कालीं कल्याणी ललितं चण्डिका वचः ॥

The Rishi said: Seeing the mighty Asuras, Chanda and Munda, brought before her, Chandika, the auspicious one, spoke gracefully to Kali in a gentle tone.

27th shloka -

यस्माच्चण्डं च मुण्डं च गृहीत्वा त्वमुपागता ।

चामुण्डेति ततो लोके ख्याता देवी भविष्यसि ॥

‘Since you have brought Chanda and Munda, you shall henceforth be renowned in the world as Chamunda, O Devi.’

The Asura king Shumbha sent his commanders, Chanda and Munda, with a vast army to capture Devi. Enraged by their threat, Devi manifested the fearsome Kali from her forehead. Kali, with her terrifying form, charged into battle, destroying the demon army. She devoured warriors, crushed elephants, and chewed weapons. After slaying Chanda and Munda with her sword, she brought their severed heads to Devi Chandika. Pleased, Chandika declared that Kali would henceforth be known as Chamunda for defeating Chanda and Munda. The remaining soldiers, terrified by the destruction, fled in all directions, marking Devi’s overwhelming victory.

Ramaswamy Sastry and Vighnesh Ghanapaathi