ॐ राजोवाच॥ १॥

Transliteration

om rājovāca || 1||

English Translation

1.The king said:

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॥ Chapter 009 ॥ Śloka 002 ॥

Sanskrit

विचित्रमिदमाख्यातं भगवन् भवता मम।
देव्याश्चरितमाहात्म्यं रक्तबीजवधाश्रितम्॥ २॥

Transliteration

vicitramidamākhyātaṁ bhagavan bhavatā mama |
devyāścaritamāhātmyaṁ raktabījavadhāśritam || 2||

English Translation

2.Sire, wonderful is this narration related by you, the glory of the Devi’s deed pertaining to the slaying of Raktabīja.

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॥ Chapter 009 ॥ Śloka 003 ॥

Sanskrit

भूयश्चेच्छाम्यहं श्रोतुं रक्तबीजे निपातिते।
चकार शुम्भो यत्कर्म निशुम्भश्चातिकोपनः॥ ३॥

Transliteration

bhūyaścecchāmyahaṁ śrotuṁ raktabīje nipātite |
cakāra śumbho yatkarma niśumbhaścātikopanaḥ || 3||

English Translation

3.I want to hear further what act did Śumbha and the wrathful Niśumbha do when Raktabīja was felled.

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॥ Chapter 009 ॥ Śloka 004 ॥

Sanskrit

ऋषिरुवाच॥ ४॥

Transliteration

ṛṣiruvāca || 4||

English Translation

4.The sage said:

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॥ Chapter 009 ॥ Śloka 005 ॥

Sanskrit

चकार कोपमतुलं रक्तबीजे निपातिते।
शुम्भासुरो निशुम्भश्च हतेष्वन्येषु चाहवे॥ ५॥

Transliteration

cakāra kopamatulaṁ raktabīje nipātite |
śumbhāsuro niśumbhaśca hateṣvanyeṣu cāhave || 5||

English Translation

5.When Raktabīja was felled and the others killed in battle, the Asuras Śumbha and Niśumbha became exceedingly angry.

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॥ Chapter 009 ॥ Śloka 006 ॥

Sanskrit

हन्यमानं महासैन्यं विलोक्यामर्षमुद्वहन्।
अभ्यधावन्निशुम्भोऽथ मुख्ययासुरसेनया॥ ६॥

Transliteration

hanyamānaṁ mahāsainyaṁ vilokyāmarṣamudvahan |
abhyadhāvanniśumbho’tha mukhyayāsurasenayā || 6||

English Translation

6.Flying into a passion on seeing his great army being slaughtered Niśumbha rushed forth with the chief forces of the Asuras.

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॥ Chapter 009 ॥ Śloka 007 ॥

Sanskrit

तस्याग्रतस्तथा पृष्ठे पार्श्वयोश्च महासुराः।
सन्दष्टौष्ठपुटाः क्रुद्धा हन्तुं देवीमुपाययुः॥ ७॥

Transliteration

tasyāgratastathā pṛṣṭhe pārśvayośca mahāsurāḥ |
sandaṣṭauṣṭhapuṭāḥ kruddhā hantuṁ devīmupāyayuḥ || 7||

English Translation

7.In front of him, at his back and on his sides great Asuras biting their lip in rage advanced for slaying the Goddess.

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॥ Chapter 009 ॥ Śloka 008 ॥

Sanskrit

आजगाम महावीर्यः शुम्भोऽपि स्वबलैर्वृतः।
निहन्तुं चण्डिकां कोपात्कृत्वा युद्धं तु मातृभिः॥ ८॥

Transliteration

ājagāma mahāvīryaḥ śumbho’pi svabalairvṛtaḥ |
nihantuṁ caṇḍikāṁ kopātkṛtvā yuddhaṁ tu mātṛbhiḥ || 8||

English Translation

8The great warrior Śumbha too accompanied by his forces arrived in fury to slay Caṇḍikā, after having fought with the mothers.

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॥ Chapter 009 ॥ Śloka 009 ॥

Sanskrit

ततो युद्धमतीवासीद्देव्या शुम्भनिशुम्भयोः।
शरवर्षमतीवोग्रं मेघयोरिव वर्षतोः॥ ९॥

Transliteration

tato yuddhamatīvāsīddevyā śumbhaniśumbhayoḥ |
śaravarṣamatīvograṁ meghayoriva varṣatoḥ || 9||

English Translation

9.Then there began an intense fight between the Goddess on one side and Śumbha, Niśumbha on the other, from whom the volley of arrows was intensely fierce like pourings from two clouds.

**

॥ Chapter 009 ॥ Śloka 010 ॥

Sanskrit

चिच्छेदास्ताञ्छरांस्ताभ्यां चण्डिका स्वशरोत्करैः।
ताडयामास चाङ्गेषु शस्त्रौघैरसुरेश्वरौ॥ १०॥

Transliteration

cicchedāstāñcharāṁstābhyāṁ caṇḍikā svaśarotkaraiḥ |
tāḍayāmāsa cāṅgeṣu śastraughairasureśvarau || 10||

English Translation

10.Caṇḍikā with her shower of arrows cut asunder their arrows and hit the lords of the Asuras on different parts of the body with a stream of weapons.

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॥ Chapter 009 ॥ Śloka 011 ॥

Sanskrit

निशुम्भो निशितं खड्गं चर्म चादाय सुप्रभम्।
अताडयन्मूर्ध्नि सिंहं देव्या वाहनमुत्तमम्॥ ११॥

Transliteration

niśumbho niśitaṁ khaḍgaṁ carma cādāya suprabham |
atāḍayanmūrdhni siṁhaṁ devyā vāhanamuttamam || 11||

English Translation

11.Niśumbha took a sharp sword and a shining shield and hit the lion, the superb vehicle of the Goddess, on the head.

**

॥ Chapter 009 ॥ Śloka 012 ॥

Sanskrit

ताडिते वाहने देवी क्षुरप्रेणासिमुत्तमम्।
निशुम्भस्याशु चिच्छेद चर्म चाप्यष्टचन्द्रकम्॥ १२॥

Transliteration

tāḍite vāhane devī kṣurapreṇāsimuttamam |
niśumbhasyāśu ciccheda carma cāpyaṣṭacandrakam || 12||

English Translation

12.When her mount was hit, the goddess soon cut asunder with a sharp-edged arrow the superb sword and the shield figuring eight moons, of Niśumba.

**

॥ Chapter 009 ॥ Śloka 013 ॥

Sanskrit

छिन्ने चर्मणि खड्गे च शक्तिं चिक्षेप सोऽसुरः।
तामप्यस्य द्विधा चक्रे चक्रेणाभिमुखागताम्॥ १३॥

Transliteration

chinne carmaṇi khaḍge ca śaktiṁ cikṣepa so’suraḥ |
tāmapyasya dvidhā cakre cakreṇābhimukhāgatām || 13||

English Translation

13.When his sword and his shield were cut asunder, that Asura threw the lance. She cut that also into two, as it came towards her, with a discus.

**

॥ Chapter 009 ॥ Śloka 014 ॥

Sanskrit

कोपाध्मातो निशुम्भोऽथ शूलं जग्राह दानवः।
आयातं मुष्टिपातेन देवी तच्चाप्यचूर्णयत्॥ १४॥

Transliteration

kopādhmāto niśumbho’tha śūlaṁ jagrāha dānavaḥ |
āyātaṁ muṣṭipātena devī taccāpyacūrṇayat || 14||

English Translation

14.Then the Asura Niśumbha bloated with anger seized the spear. The Goddess powdered that also as it came towards her, with a blow of her fist.

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॥ Chapter 009 ॥ Śloka 015 ॥

Sanskrit

आविद्याथ गदां सोऽपि चिक्षेप चण्डिकां प्रति।
सापि देव्याः त्रिशूलेन भिन्ना भस्मत्वमागता॥ १५॥

Transliteration

āvidyātha gadāṁ so’pi cikṣepa caṇḍikāṁ prati |
sāpi devyāḥ triśūlena bhinnā bhasmatvamāgatā || 15||

English Translation

15.And he whirled his mace and threw it towards Caṇḍikā. That too was reduced to ashes split by her trident.

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॥ Chapter 009 ॥ Śloka 016 ॥

Sanskrit

ततः परशुहस्तं तमायान्तं दैत्यपुङ्गवम्।
आहत्य देवी बाणौघैरपातयत भूतले॥ १६॥

Transliteration

tataḥ paraśuhastaṁ tamāyāntaṁ daityapuṅgavam |
āhatya devī bāṇaughairapātayata bhūtale || 16||

English Translation

16.Then the Goddess struck with a volley of arrows that strong and eminent Asura advancing towards her with a battle-axe in his hand and laid him flat on the ground.

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॥ Chapter 009 ॥ Śloka 017 ॥

Sanskrit

तस्मिन्निपतिते भूमौ निशुम्भे भीमविक्रमे।
भ्रातर्यतीव सङ्क्रुद्धः प्रययौ हन्तुमम्बिकाम्॥ १७॥

Transliteration

tasminnipatite bhūmau niśumbhe bhīmavikrame |
bhrātaryatīva saṅkruddhaḥ prayayau hantumambikām || 17||

English Translation

17.When his brother, Niśumba, of terrible prowess was thus laid flat on the ground. (Śumbha) exceedingly angry set out to slay Ambikā.

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॥ Chapter 009 ॥ Śloka 018 ॥

Sanskrit

स रथस्थस्तथात्युच्चैर्गृहीतपरमायुधैः।
भुजैरष्टाभिरतुलैर्व्याप्याशेषं बभौ नभः॥ १८॥

Transliteration

sa rathasthastathātyuccairgṛhītaparamāyudhaiḥ |
bhujairaṣṭābhiratulairvyāpyāśeṣaṁ babhau nabhaḥ || 18||

English Translation

18.Standing in his chariot and pervading the entire sky with his incomparable lofty eight arms holding excellent weapons, he shone.

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॥ Chapter 009 ॥ Śloka 019 ॥

Sanskrit

तमायान्तं समालोक्य देवी शङ्खमवादयत्।
ज्याशब्दं चापि धनुषश्चकारातीव दुःसहम्॥ १९॥

Transliteration

tamāyāntaṁ samālokya devī śaṅkhamavādayat |
jyāśabdaṁ cāpi dhanuṣaścakārātīva duḥsaham || 19||

English Translation

19.Seeing him advancing, the Goddess blew the conch and made a twang with her bow-string which was simply unbearable.

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॥ Chapter 009 ॥ Śloka 020 ॥

Sanskrit

पूरयामास ककुभो निजघण्टास्वनेन च।
समस्तदैत्यसैन्यानां तेजोवधविधायिना॥ २०॥

Transliteration

pūrayāmāsa kakubho nijaghaṇṭāsvanena ca |
samastadaityasainyānāṁ tejovadhavidhāyinā || 20||

English Translation

20.She filled the quarters with the sound of her bell, that rang the death knell to the splendour of all the hosts of Asuras.1

1. In external worship, the bell plays a significant part. Its ringing is a sign for invocation of the Deity, Devatāhvāna lāncanam. For the coming in all of the gods and for the driving away of demonic forces one shoule ring the bell.
आगमार्थे तु देवानां गमनार्थे च रक्षसाम्।
कुर्यात् घण्टारवं तत्र देवताह्वानलाञ्छनम्॥
āgamārthe tu devānāṁ gamanārthe ca rakṣasām|
kuryāt ghaṇṭāravaṁ tatra devatāhvānalāñchanam||

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॥ Chapter 009 ॥ Śloka 021 ॥

Sanskrit

ततः सिंहो महानादैस्त्याजितेभमहामदैः।
पूरयामास गगनं गां तथैव दिशो दश॥ २१॥

Transliteration

tataḥ siṁho mahānādaistyājitebhamahāmadaiḥ |
pūrayāmāsa gaganaṁ gāṁ tathaiva diśo daśa || 21||

English Translation

21.Then the lion filled the sky, the earth and the ten - quarters with its loud roars, making the elephants there abandon their wild rut.

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॥ Chapter 009 ॥ Śloka 022 ॥

Sanskrit

ततः काली समुत्पत्य गगनं क्ष्मामताडयत्।
कराभ्यां तन्निनादेन प्राक्स्वनास्ते तिरोहिताः॥ २२॥

Transliteration

tataḥ kālī samutpatya gaganaṁ kṣmāmatāḍayat |
karābhyāṁ tanninādena prāksvanāste tirohitāḥ || 22||

English Translation

22.Thereupon, Kālī jumped and slapped the sky and the earth with both her hands. In that sound all the previous sounds were submerged.

**

॥ Chapter 009 ॥ Śloka 023 ॥

Sanskrit

अट्टाट्टहासमशिवं शिवदूती चकार ह।
तैः शब्दैरसुरास्त्रेसुः शुम्भः कोपं परं ययौ॥ २३॥

Transliteration

aṭṭāṭṭahāsamaśivaṁ śivadūtī cakāra ha |
vaiḥ śabdairasurāstresuḥ śumbhaḥ kopaṁ paraṁ yayau || 23||

English Translation

23.Śivadūtī began her thundering inauspicious laughter. By these sounds the Asuras were terrified. Śumbha became exceedingly angry.

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॥ Chapter 009 ॥ Śloka 024 ॥

Sanskrit

दुरात्मंस्तिष्ठ तिष्ठेति व्याजहाराम्बिका यदा।
तदा जयेत्यभिहितं देवैराकाशसंस्थितैः॥ २४॥

Transliteration

durātmaṁstiṣṭha tiṣṭheti vyājahārāmbikā yadā |
tadā jayetyabhihitaṁ devairākāśasaṁsthitaiḥ || 24||

English Translation

24.No sooner the Mother exclaimed “Stand fast, O wicked one!” then the gods stationed in the sky proclaimed “Victory to thee”

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॥ Chapter 009 ॥ Śloka 025 ॥

Sanskrit

शुम्भेनागत्य या शक्तिर्मुक्ता ज्वालातिभीषणा।
आयान्ती वह्निकूटाभा सा निरस्ता महोल्कया॥ २५॥

Transliteration

śumbhenāgatya yā śaktirmuktā jvālātibhīṣaṇā |
āyāntī vahnikūṭābhā sā nirastā maholkayā || 25||

English Translation

25.The lance, flaming fiercely, hurled by the advancing Śumbha was coming like a mount of fire. It was prevented by a big fire-brand.

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॥ Chapter 009 ॥ Śloka 026 ॥

Sanskrit

सिंहनादेन शुम्भस्य व्याप्तं लोकत्रयान्तरम्।
निर्घातनिःस्वनो घोरो जितवानवनीपते॥ २६॥

Transliteration

siṁhanādena śumbhasya vyāptaṁ lokatrayāntaram |
nirghātaniḥsvano ghoro jitavānavanīpate || 26||

English Translation

26.The space between the three worlds was pervaded by Śumbha’s war - cry. O Lord of earth, the dreadful thunder - stroke overpowered it.

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॥ Chapter 009 ॥ Śloka 027 ॥

Sanskrit

शुम्भमुक्ताञ्छरान्देवी शुम्भस्तत्प्रहिताञ्छरान्।
चिच्छेद स्वशरैरुग्रैः शतशोऽथ सहस्रशः॥ २७॥

Transliteration

śumbhamuktāñcharāndevī śumbhastatprahitāñcharān |
ciccheda svaśarairugraiḥ śataśo’tha sahasraśaḥ || 27||

English Translation

27.In hundreds and thousands, they cut with their fierce arrows those of the opponent-the Goddess cutting the arrows hurled by Śumbha and Śumbha cutting the arrows released by her.

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॥ Chapter 009 ॥ Śloka 028 ॥

Sanskrit

ततः सा चण्डिका क्रुद्धा शूलेनाभिजघान तम्।
स तदाभिहतो भूमौ मूर्च्छितो निपपात ह॥ २८॥

Transliteration

tataḥ sā caṇḍikā kruddhā śūlenābhijaghāna tam |
sa tadābhihato bhūmau mūrcchito nipapāta ha || 28||

English Translation

28.Then the enraged Caṇḍikā struck him with the spear. Hit by that he fell swooning to the ground.

**

॥ Chapter 009 ॥ Śloka 029 ॥

Sanskrit

ततो निशुम्भः सम्प्राप्य चेतनामात्तकार्मुकः।
आजघान शरैर्देवीं कालीं केसरिणं तथा॥ २९॥

Transliteration

tato niśumbhaḥ samprāpya cetanāmāttakārmukaḥ |
ājaghāna śarairdevīṁ kālīṁ kesariṇaṁ tathā || 29||

English Translation

29.Then Niśumbha regaining consciousness, took his bow and smote with his arrows, the Goddess, Kālī and the lion.

**

॥ Chapter 009 ॥ Śloka 030 ॥

Sanskrit

पुनश्च कृत्वा बाहूनामयुतं दनुजेश्वरः।
चक्रायुतेन दितिजश्छादयामास चण्डिकाम्॥ ३०॥

Transliteration

punaśca kṛtvā bāhūnāmayutaṁ danujeśvaraḥ |
cakrāyutena ditijaśchādayāmāsa caṇḍikām || 30||

English Translation

30.Again the lord of the Asuras, son of Diti, creating for himself ten thousand arms covered Caṇḍikā with ten thousand discuses.

**

॥ Chapter 009 ॥ Śloka 031 ॥

Sanskrit

ततो भगवती क्रुद्धा दुर्गा दुर्गार्तिनाशिनी।
चिच्छेद तानि चक्राणि स्वशरैः सायकांश्च तान्॥ ३१॥

Transliteration

tato bhagavatī kruddhā durgā durgārtināśinī |
ciccheda tāni cakrāṇi svaśaraiḥ sāyakāṁśca tān || 31||

English Translation

31.Then the Goddess Durgā, the destroyer of pains and perils, became angry and cut asunder those discuses and those arrows with her own arrows.

**

॥ Chapter 009 ॥ Śloka 032 ॥

Sanskrit

ततो निशुम्भो वेगेन गदामादाय चण्डिकाम्।
अभ्यधावत वै हन्तुं दैत्यसैन्यसमावृतः॥ ३२॥

Transliteration

tato niśumbho vegena gadāmādāya caṇḍikām |
abhyadhāvata vai hantuṁ daityasainyasamāvṛtaḥ || 32||

English Translation

32.Then Niśumbha accompanied by the army of the Asuras swiftly taking his mace rushed forward to kill Caṇḍikā.

**

॥ Chapter 009 ॥ Śloka 033 ॥

Sanskrit

तस्यापतत एवाशु गदां चिच्छेद चण्डिका।
खड्गेन शितधारेण स च शूलं समाददे॥ ३३॥

Transliteration

tasyāpatata evāśu gadāṁ ciccheda caṇḍikā |
khaḍgena śitadhāreṇa sa ca śūlaṁ samādade || 33||

English Translation

33.As he was rushing. Caṇḍikā with a sharp-edged sword broke the mace to pieces. And he seized the spear.

**

॥ Chapter 009 ॥ Śloka 034 ॥

Sanskrit

शूलहस्तं समायान्तं निशुम्भममरार्दनम्।
हृदि विव्याध शूलेन वेगाविद्धेन चण्डिका॥ ३४॥

Transliteration

śūlahastaṁ samāyāntaṁ niśumbhamamarārdanam |
hṛdi vivyādha śūlena vegāviddhena caṇḍikā || 34||

English Translation

34.Caṇḍikā smote in the heart with a spear hurled with speed, Niśumbha, the afflicter of the gods, who was coming towards her with a spear in hand.

**

॥ Chapter 009 ॥ Śloka 035 ॥

Sanskrit

भिन्नस्य तस्य शूलेन हृदयान्निःसृतोऽपरः।
महाबलो महावीर्यस्तिष्ठेति पुरुषो वदन्॥ ३५॥

Transliteration

bhinnasya tasya śūlena hṛdayānniḥsṛto’paraḥ |
mahābalo mahāvīryastiṣṭheti puruṣo vadan || 35||

English Translation

35.From his heart pierced by the spear emerged another person of great strength and of great value exclaiming “Stop”.

**

॥ Chapter 009 ॥ Śloka 036 ॥

Sanskrit

तस्य निष्क्रामतो देवी प्रहस्य स्वनवत्ततः।
शिरश्चिच्छेद खड्गेन ततोऽसावपतद्भुवि॥ ३६॥

Transliteration

tasya niṣkrāmato devī prahasya svanavattataḥ |
śiraściccheda khaḍgena tato’sāvapatadbhuvi || 36||

English Translation

36.As he emerged, the Goddess laughed noisily and cut off his head with her sword. So he fell to the ground.

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॥ Chapter 009 ॥ Śloka 037 ॥

Sanskrit

ततः सिंहश्चखादोग्रदंष्ट्राक्षुण्णशिरोधरान्। असुरांस्तांस्तथा काली शिवदूती तथापरान्॥ ३७॥

Transliteration

tataḥ siṁhaścakhādogradaṁṣṭrākṣuṇṇaśirodharān |
asurāṁstāṁstathā kālī śivadūtī tathāparān || 37||

English Translation

37.Then the lion ground the necks of Asuras with its fierce teeth and ate them up. Likewise, Kālī and Śivadūti, ate the others.

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॥ Chapter 009 ॥ Śloka 038 ॥

Sanskrit

कौमारीशक्तिनिर्भिन्नाः केचिन्नेशुर्महासुराः।
ब्रह्माणीमन्त्रपूतेन तोयेनान्ये निराकृताः॥ ३८॥

Transliteration

kaumārīśaktinirbhinnāḥ kecinneśurmahāsurāḥ |
brahmāṇīmantrapūtena toyenānye nirākṛtāḥ || 38||

English Translation

38.Certain great Asuras perished pierced by the lance of Kaumārī. Others were repulsed by the water sanctified by the Mantra of Brahmāṇī.

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॥ Chapter 009 ॥ Śloka 039 ॥

Sanskrit

माहेश्वरीत्रिशूलेन भिन्नाः पेतुस्तथापरे। वाराहीतुण्डघातेन केचिच्चूर्णीकृता भुवि॥ ३९॥

Transliteration

māheśvarītriśūlena bhinnāḥ petustathāpare |
vārāhītuṇḍaghātena keciccūrṇīkṛtā bhuvi || 39||

English Translation

39.Some others were cut asunder by the trident of Māheśvarī and fell. Certain Asuras were smashed to powder on the ground by the assault of Vārāhi’s snout.

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॥ Chapter 009 ॥ Śloka 040 ॥

Sanskrit

खण्डं खण्डं च चक्रेण वैष्णव्या दानवाः कृताः।
वज्रेण चैन्द्रीहस्ताग्रविमुक्तेन तथापरे॥ ४०॥

Transliteration

khaṇḍaṁ khaṇḍaṁ ca cakreṇa vaiṣṇavyā dānavāḥ kṛtāḥ |
vajreṇa caindrīhastāgravimuktena tathāpare || 40||

English Translation

40.The Asuras were cut into bits and pieces by the discus of Vaiṣṇavi. Similarly others were dealt with by the thunderbolt released from the forepart of Aindrī’s hand.

**

॥ Chapter 009 ॥ Śloka 041 ॥

Sanskrit

केचिद्विनेशुरसुराः केचिन्नष्टा महाहवात्।
भक्षिताश्चापरे कालीशिवदूतीमृगाधिपैः॥ ४१॥

Transliteration

kecidvineśurasurāḥ kecinnaṣṭā mahāhavāt |
bhakṣitāścāpare kālīśivadūtīmṛgādhipaiḥ || 41||

English Translation

41.Some Asuras perished. Some fled from the great battle. Others were devoured by Kālī, Śivadūtī and the lord of animals.

**

Sanskrit

॥ इति श्रीमार्कण्डेयपुराणे सावर्णिके मन्वन्तरे देवीमाहात्म्ये नवमः॥ ९॥

Transliteration

|| iti śrīmārkaṇḍeyapurāṇe sāvarṇike manvantare devīmāhātmye niśumbhavadho nāma navamaḥ || 9||

English Translation

Here ends the ninth of Devi Māhātmya in Mārkaṇḍeyapurāṇa during the period of Sāvarṇi, the Manu.