Durga Saptashati Chapter 6 (Shashtha Adhyay): Dhumralochana Vadha, Sanskrit Path with Meaning
Durga Saptashati Chapter 6, the Shashtha Adhyay, is the shortest chapter of the Devi Mahatmya, 24 verses in the standard numbering, and part of the Uttara Charitra presided over by Mahasaraswati. It carries one unforgettable moment: the asura general Dhumralochana, "the smoke-eyed", sent with sixty thousand soldiers to drag the Goddess to Shumbha by the hair, is burnt to ash by a single syllable, hum. The chapter is given here in full, with the dhyana and every verse in Sanskrit followed by its meaning.
The Goddess's one line in this chapter, "If you take me by force like this, what can I do to you?", is read as the quietest of all her replies, spoken a breath before the hunkara that ends the threat. The lion then destroys the whole army, and the chapter closes with Shumbha, lip trembling, sending Chanda and Munda, whose fate is Chapter 7.
संक्षेप में: दुर्गा सप्तशती का छठा अध्याय (धूम्रलोचन वध) यहाँ पूरा दिया गया है: ध्यान और सभी 24 श्लोक संस्कृत में, हर श्लोक के हिंदी अर्थ के साथ। यह सबसे छोटा अध्याय है और उत्तर चरित्र का भाग है, जिसकी अधिष्ठात्री महासरस्वती हैं। शुम्भ सेनापति धूम्रलोचन को साठ हजार असुरों के साथ देवी को लाने भेजता है; देवी एक हुंकार से उसे भस्म कर देती हैं और सिंह उसकी सेना नष्ट कर देता है। परंपरा में यह अध्याय भय, शंका और बाधाओं को दूर करने के लिए पढ़ा जाता है। पूरा लेख हिंदी में पढ़ें →
This chapter is part of the complete Durga Saptashati path, with all 13 chapters and the angas in reading order.
Chapter 6 at a glance
- Chapter: Sixth of 13, "Dhumralochana Vadha" (धूम्रलोचन वध)
- Charitra: Uttara Charitra (the last episode)
- Presiding deity: Mahasaraswati
- Rishi: Rudra
- Chhanda: Anushtup
- Shakti · Bija · Tattva · Veda: Bhima · Bhramari · Surya (the sun) · Samaveda
- Verses: 24 in the standard numbering (uvacha lines counted)
- Traditional fruit of reading: Tradition reads the sixth chapter for removal of fear, doubt and obstacles, and for protection from those who use force.
The story of Chapter 6 in brief
The messenger Sugriva returns to Shumbha and reports the Goddess's refusal. Enraged, Shumbha orders Dhumralochana to bring her by force, dragged by the hair, and to kill anyone who defends her, god, yaksha or gandharva. Dhumralochana marches to the Himalaya with sixty thousand asuras and shouts at the Goddess to go to Shumbha and Nishumbha, or be dragged. She answers mildly that he is strong, sent by the king and backed by an army, so what can she do? He rushes at her, and Ambika reduces him to ash with a single "hum". The asura army attacks in fury; she rains arrows, spears and axes on it, and her lion, roaring, kills the asuras with paw, mouth and hind legs, tears bellies with its claws, strikes off heads and drinks blood from the fallen, until in a moment the army is gone. Hearing of it, Shumbha, his lip trembling with rage, commands Chanda and Munda to go with a great force, to bring her bound or by the hair, and if in doubt to kill her and her lion and return quickly.
Durga Saptashati Chapter 6: Sanskrit text with meaning
The Sanskrit follows the standard text of the Devi Mahatmya; the numbering is the common 700-verse numbering, in which the uvacha lines are counted. Each verse is followed by its meaning in plain English.
Dhyanam
ॐ नागाधीश्वरविष्टरां फणिफणोत्तंसोरु रत्नावली-
भास्वद्देहलतां दिवाकरनिभां नेत्रत्रयोद्भासिताम् ।
मालाकुम्भकपालनीरजकरां चन्द्रार्धचूडां परां
सर्वज्ञेश्वरभैरवाङ्गनिलयां पद्मावतीं चिन्तये ॥
Meaning: Om. I contemplate Padmavati, seated on the lord of serpents, her creeper-like body shining with the great jewels on the hoods of the serpents, bright as the sun, lit by her three eyes, holding a rosary, a pot, a skull and a lotus in her hands, with the half moon on her crest, the supreme one who dwells in the body of Bhairava, the omniscient Lord.
Verses 1 to 24
ॐ ऋषिरुवाच ॥१॥
Meaning: Om. The sage said:
इत्याकर्ण्य वचो देव्याः स दूतोऽमर्षपूरितः ।
समाचष्ट समागम्य दैत्यराजाय विस्तरात् ॥२॥
Meaning: Hearing these words of the Goddess, the messenger, filled with indignation, went back and reported everything in detail to the king of the daityas.
तस्य दूतस्य तद्वाक्यमाकर्ण्यासुरराट् ततः ।
सक्रोधः प्राह दैत्यानामधिपं धूम्रलोचनम् ॥३॥
Meaning: Hearing the messenger's report, the king of the asuras was enraged and said to Dhumralochana, a chief of the daityas:
हे धूम्रलोचनाशु त्वं स्वसैन्यपरिवारितः ।
तामानय बलाद्दुष्टां केशाकर्षणविह्वलाम् ॥४॥
Meaning: "O Dhumralochana, go quickly with your army around you, and bring that wicked woman here by force, dragged and dishevelled by the hair."
तत्परित्राणदः कश्चिद्यदि वोत्तिष्ठतेऽपरः ।
स हन्तव्योऽमरो वापि यक्षो गन्धर्व एव वा ॥५॥
Meaning: "And if anyone else rises to protect her, let him be killed, be he a god, a yaksha or a gandharva."
ऋषिरुवाच ॥६॥
Meaning: The sage said:
तेनाज्ञप्तस्ततः शीघ्रं स दैत्यो धूम्रलोचनः ।
वृतः षष्ट्या सहस्राणामसुराणां द्रुतं ययौ ॥७॥
Meaning: So commanded by him, the daitya Dhumralochana set out at once, surrounded by sixty thousand asuras.
स दृष्ट्वा तां ततो देवीं तुहिनाचलसंस्थिताम् ।
जगादोच्चैः प्रयाहीति मूलं शुम्भनिशुम्भयोः ॥८॥
Meaning: Seeing the Goddess seated on the snowy mountain, he called out loudly: "Go to Shumbha and Nishumbha."
न चेत्प्रीत्याद्य भवती मद्भर्तारमुपैष्यति ।
ततो बलान्नयाम्येष केशाकर्षणविह्वलाम् ॥९॥
Meaning: "If you will not go to my master gladly today, then I shall take you by force, dragged and dishevelled by the hair."
देव्युवाच ॥१०॥
Meaning: The Goddess said:
दैत्येश्वरेण प्रहितो बलवान्बलसंवृतः ।
बलान्नयसि मामेवं ततः किं ते करोम्यहम् ॥११॥
Meaning: "You have been sent by the lord of the daityas, you are strong, and you are surrounded by an army. If you take me by force like this, what can I do to you?"
ऋषिरुवाच ॥१२॥
Meaning: The sage said:
इत्युक्तः सोऽभ्यधावत्तामसुरो धूम्रलोचनः ।
हुङ्कारेणैव तं भस्म सा चकाराम्बिका तदा ॥१३॥
Meaning: At these words the asura Dhumralochana rushed at her; and then Ambika reduced him to ash with a mere "hum".
अथ क्रुद्धं महासैन्यमसुराणां तथाम्बिका ।
ववर्ष सायकैस्तीक्ष्णैस्तथा शक्तिपरश्वधैः ॥१४॥
Meaning: Then Ambika rained sharp arrows, spears and axes on the great army of the asuras, which was now furious.
ततो धुतसटः कोपात्कृत्वा नादं सुभैरवम् ।
पपातासुरसेनायां सिंहो देव्याः स्ववाहनः ॥१५॥
Meaning: Then the lion, the Goddess's own mount, shaking its mane and uttering a most terrible roar in anger, fell upon the army of the asuras.
कांश्चित्करप्रहारेण दैत्यानास्येन चापरान् ।
आक्रान्त्या चाधरेणान्यान् जघान स महासुरान् ॥१६॥
Meaning: Some daityas it killed with a blow of its paw, others with its mouth, and other great asuras by trampling them under its hind legs.
केषाञ्चित्पाटयामास नखैः कोष्ठानि केसरी ।
तथा तलप्रहारेण शिरांसि कृतवान्पृथक् ॥१७॥
Meaning: The lion tore open the bellies of some with its claws, and with blows of its paw struck off the heads of others.
विच्छिन्नबाहुशिरसः कृतास्तेन तथापरे ।
पपौ च रुधिरं कोष्ठादन्येषां धुतकेसरः ॥१८॥
Meaning: Others it left with arms and heads severed; and shaking its mane, it drank the blood from the bellies of still others.
क्षणेन तद्बलं सर्वं क्षयं नीतं महात्मना ।
तेन केसरिणा देव्या वाहनेनातिकोपिना ॥१९॥
Meaning: In a moment that whole army was destroyed by the great-souled lion, the Goddess's mount, in its towering anger.
श्रुत्वा तमसुरं देव्या निहतं धूम्रलोचनम् ।
बलं च क्षयितं कृत्स्नं देवीकेसरिणा ततः ॥२०॥
Meaning: Hearing that the asura Dhumralochana had been slain by the Goddess and his whole army destroyed by the Goddess's lion...
चुकोप दैत्याधिपतिः शुम्भः प्रस्फुरिताधरः ।
आज्ञापयामास च तौ चण्डमुण्डौ महासुरौ ॥२१॥
Meaning: ...Shumbha, lord of the daityas, raged, his lip trembling, and commanded the two great asuras Chanda and Munda:
हे चण्ड हे मुण्ड बलैर्बहुभिः परिवारितौ ।
तत्र गच्छत गत्वा च सा समानीयतां लघु ॥२२॥
Meaning: "O Chanda, O Munda, go there surrounded by great forces, and having gone, bring her here quickly..."
केशेष्वाकृष्य बद्ध्वा वा यदि वः संशयो युधि ।
तदाशेषायुधैः सर्वैरसुरैर्विनिहन्यताम् ॥२३॥
Meaning: "...dragged by the hair or bound; and if you have any doubt in the fight, let her be killed by all the asuras with every weapon."
तस्यां हतायां दुष्टायां सिंहे च विनिपातिते ।
शीघ्रमागम्यतां बद्ध्वा गृहीत्वा तामथाम्बिकाम् ॥२४॥
Meaning: "When that wicked woman has been slain and her lion struck down, seize that Ambika, bind her, and come back quickly."
॥ स्वस्ति श्रीमार्कण्डेयपुराणे सावर्णिके मन्वन्तरे देवीमाहात्म्ये
शुम्भनिशुम्भसेनानीधूम्रलोचनवधो नाम षष्ठोऽध्यायः ॥ ६॥
उवाच ४, श्लोकाः २४, एवमादितः ॥ ४१२॥
Meaning: Thus ends the sixth chapter, named the slaying of Dhumralochana, the general of Shumbha and Nishumbha, of the Devi Mahatmya in the Markandeya Purana, in the Savarnika manvantara. Four uvacha lines and twenty-four verses: four hundred and twelve from the beginning.
Significance and benefits of reading Chapter 6
Tradition assigns a fruit to each chapter, and the sixth chapter is read for the removal of fear, doubt and obstacles, and for protection from people who rely on force. Its central image, an armed general and sixty thousand soldiers undone by one syllable from a seated Goddess, is the Saptashati's teaching that true power is not loud.
Because it is the shortest chapter, the sixth is often the one a beginner reads first as a complete unit, and in a nine-day navahna paath it is usually paired with the seventh. The hunkara of verse 13 is also the scriptural basis for the use of the seed syllable hum in Devi mantras for protection and the dispelling of harm.
How to read Chapter 6 (vidhi)
In a complete Saptashati path the chapters are read in order after the three angas, Devi Kavach, Argala Stotram and Keelak Stotram, and the Ratri Suktam. Many traditions also do the Navarna mantra japa with nyasa before and after. If you are reading this chapter on its own, begin with its dhyana as given above, read the verses without hurry, and close with the Kshamapana or the Siddha Kunjika Stotram.
Sit facing east or north on a clean asana, light a ghee lamp, keep water in a kalash, and read from a printed or clearly displayed text rather than from memory. Do not break a chapter in the middle; if you must stop, finish the chapter first. A samput mantra can be added before and after each verse for a specific purpose, but a plain reading with attention is the foundation.
Astrological relevance
In the Jyotish tradition the Devi Mahatmya is read as a remedy of the widest kind: the Prathama Charitra is associated with Mahakali and with the pacification of Rahu, Ketu and Shani, the Madhyama Charitra with Mahalakshmi and the Sun and Jupiter, and the Uttara Charitra with Mahasaraswati and Mercury and Venus. Chapter 6 belongs to the Uttara Charitra, so it is read with the rest of that episode when those grahas are difficult in a chart, and during their dashas. Nothing here replaces reading your own chart; it is the devotional side of the same picture. Start with a free kundli or talk to an astrologer to see which dasha is running.
Frequently Asked Questions
What happens in Durga Saptashati Chapter 6?
Shumbha sends the general Dhumralochana with sixty thousand asuras to bring the Goddess by force. She reduces him to ash with a single "hum", her lion destroys his army, and Shumbha then orders Chanda and Munda to go. It is the shortest chapter, with 24 verses.
Who was Dhumralochana?
A chief of the daityas and a general of Shumbha and Nishumbha. His name means "smoke-eyed". He is the first of Shumbha's commanders sent against the Goddess in the Uttara Charitra, and he dies without a fight, burnt by her hunkara in verse 13.
What does "hunkarena eva tam bhasma" mean?
It is from verse 13: "Then Ambika reduced him to ash with a mere hum." Hunkara is the sound "hum" uttered in anger or power; in the Saptashati it is the Goddess's simplest weapon, and in mantra practice "hum" is a protective seed syllable.
Why is Chapter 6 read for removing fear and obstacles?
Tradition assigns that fruit to it, and the story fits: a threat backed by overwhelming force is dissolved in an instant, without the Goddess rising from her seat. Devotees read it when facing intimidation or a block that seems too big to move.
Which chapter comes after the Dhumralochana Vadha?
Chapter 7, the Chanda Munda Vadha, in which Kali springs from the Goddess's brow and kills the two generals sent at the end of this chapter, earning the name Chamunda. Chapters 5 to 13 together form the Uttara Charitra.
