Durga Saptashati Chapter 8 (Ashtama Adhyay): Raktabija Vadha and the Sapta Matrikas, with Meaning

Durga Saptashati Chapter 8, the Ashtama Adhyay, is the chapter of the Sapta Matrikas and of Raktabija. It belongs to the Uttara Charitra, presided over by Mahasaraswati, and has 63 verses in the standard numbering. When Shumbha marches with his whole host, the Shaktis of the gods come out of their bodies, Brahmani on her swan, Maheshvari on her bull, Kaumari on her peacock, Vaishnavi on Garuda, Varahi, Narasimhi and Aindri on her elephant, and the Goddess sends Shiva himself as her messenger, earning the name Shivaduti. The chapter is given here in full, with the dhyana and every verse in Sanskrit followed by its meaning.

Then comes the demon everyone remembers: Raktabija, "blood-seed", from whose every drop of spilt blood a new asura of equal strength rises, until the world is overrun. Chandika tells Chamunda to open her mouth and catch the blood before it touches the ground; the Mothers wound him, Chamunda drinks, and the Goddess slays him when he has no blood left. The image of Kali with her tongue out drinking the blood of Raktabija comes from verses 53 to 62 of this chapter.

संक्षेप में: दुर्गा सप्तशती का आठवाँ अध्याय (रक्तबीज वध) यहाँ पूरा दिया गया है: ध्यान और सभी 63 श्लोक संस्कृत में, हर श्लोक के हिंदी अर्थ के साथ। इसमें ब्रह्माणी, माहेश्वरी, कौमारी, वैष्णवी, वाराही, नारसिंही और ऐन्द्री, सात मातृकाएँ, देवताओं के शरीरों से निकलकर आती हैं, और देवी शिव को दूत बनाकर शिवदूती कहलाती हैं। फिर रक्तबीज आता है, जिसके रक्त की हर बूँद से नया असुर उठता है, और चामुण्डा उसका रक्त पीकर उसका अन्त कराती हैं। परंपरा में यह अध्याय धन और सफलता 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 8 at a glance

• Chapter: Eighth of 13, "Raktabija Vadha" (रक्तबीज 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: 63 in the standard numbering (uvacha lines counted)
• Traditional fruit of reading: Tradition reads the eighth chapter for winning others over and for wealth and success, and for the end of a trouble that multiplies the more one fights it.

The story of Chapter 8 in brief

With Chanda and Munda dead, Shumbha sends out every clan of his army, the Udayudhas, the Kambus, the Dhaumras, the Kalakas, Daurhridas, Mauryas and Kalikeyas, and marches himself. The Goddess answers with the twang of her bow, the lion's roar, her bell and Kali's howl. As the daityas close in, the Shaktis of the gods emerge from their bodies in the gods' own forms: Brahmani, Maheshvari, Kaumari, Vaishnavi, Varahi, Narasimhi and Aindri. From the Goddess's own body comes the fierce Shakti of Chandika, howling like a hundred jackals, who appoints Shiva as her messenger with an ultimatum for Shumbha and Nishumbha: give Indra the three worlds and go to the netherworld, or come and feed my jackals. Hence her name Shivaduti. The asuras attack and the Mothers destroy them, Brahmani with sprinkled water, Maheshvari with the trident, Vaishnavi with the discus, Kaumari with the spear, Aindri with the thunderbolt, Varahi with her tusks, Narasimhi with her claws, Shivaduti with her laughter. Then Raktabija enters: every drop of his blood that reaches the ground becomes another Raktabija, and soon thousands fill the world. Chandika laughs and tells Chamunda to open her mouth wide and swallow the blood and the demons as they appear. The Goddess strikes him with the trident, Chamunda drinks what flows, devours the asuras that rise in her mouth, and the Goddess finishes him with trident, thunderbolt, arrows, swords and lances. Raktabija falls bloodless, the gods rejoice and the Mothers dance.

Durga Saptashati Chapter 8: 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 अरुणां करुणातरङ्गिताक्षीं
धृतपाशाङ्कुशबाणाचापहस्ताम् ।
अणिमादिभिरावृतां मयूखै-
रहमित्येव विभावये भवानीम् ॥

Meaning: Om. I contemplate Bhavani as crimson, her eyes rippling with compassion, holding in her hands the noose, the goad, the arrow and the bow, surrounded by the rays of anima and the other powers, and I meditate on her as "I myself".

Verses 1 to 63

ॐ ऋषिरुवाच ॥१॥

Meaning: Om. The sage said:

चण्डे च निहते दैत्ये मुण्डे च विनिपातिते ।
बहुलेषु च सैन्येषु क्षयितेष्वसुरेश्वरः ॥२॥

Meaning: When the daitya Chanda had been slain and Munda struck down, and many armies destroyed, the lord of the asuras...

ततः कोपपराधीनचेताः शुम्भः प्रतापवान् ।
उद्योगं सर्वसैन्यानां दैत्यानामादिदेश ह ॥३॥

Meaning: ...the mighty Shumbha, his mind in the grip of anger, gave the order for all the daitya armies to march.

अद्य सर्वबलैर्दैत्याः षडशीतिरुदायुधाः ।
कम्बूनां चतुरशीतिर्निर्यान्तु स्वबलैर्वृताः ॥४॥

Meaning: "Today let the eighty-six Udayudha daityas march out with all their forces, and the eighty-four Kambu clans surrounded by their troops."

कोटिवीर्याणि पञ्चाशदसुराणां कुलानि वै ।
शतं कुलानि धौम्राणां निर्गच्छन्तु ममाज्ञया ॥५॥

Meaning: "Let the fifty clans of asuras of ten million strength, and the hundred clans of the Dhaumras, go out at my command."

कालका दौर्हृदा मौर्वाः कालिकेयास्तथासुराः ।
युद्धाय सज्जा निर्यान्तु आज्ञया त्वरिता मम ॥६॥

Meaning: "Let the Kalaka, Daurhrida, Maurya and Kalikeya asuras, ready for battle, march out quickly at my command."

इत्याज्ञाप्यासुरपतिः शुम्भो भैरवशासनः ।
निर्जगाम महासैन्यसहस्रैर्बहुभिर्वृतः ॥७॥

Meaning: Having thus commanded, Shumbha, lord of the asuras, whose rule was terrible, set out himself, surrounded by many thousands of great armies.

आयान्तं चण्डिका दृष्ट्वा तत्सैन्यमतिभीषणम् ।
ज्यास्वनैः पूरयामास धरणीगगनान्तरम् ॥८॥

Meaning: Seeing that most fearsome army approaching, Chandika filled the space between earth and sky with the twang of her bowstring.

ततः सिंहो महानादमतीव कृतवान्नृप ।
घण्टास्वनेन तान्नादानम्बिका चोपबृंहयत् ॥९॥

Meaning: Then, O king, her lion roared a mighty roar, and Ambika swelled those sounds with the ringing of her bell.

धनुर्ज्यासिंहघण्टानां नादापूरितदिङ्मुखा ।
निनादैर्भीषणैः काली जिग्ये विस्तारितानना ॥१०॥

Meaning: Kali, her mouth stretched wide, drowned the sounds of bowstring, lion and bell with her own dreadful roars, which filled every quarter.

तं निनादमुपश्रुत्य दैत्यसैन्यैश्चतुर्दिशम् ।
देवी सिंहस्तथा काली सरोषैः परिवारिताः ॥११॥

Meaning: Hearing that roar, the daitya armies, furious, surrounded the Goddess, the lion and Kali on all four sides.

एतस्मिन्नन्तरे भूप विनाशाय सुरद्विषाम् ।
भवायामरसिंहानामतिवीर्यबलान्विताः ॥१२॥

Meaning: At that moment, O king, for the destruction of the enemies of the gods and the welfare of the lions among the immortals, endowed with great valour and strength...

ब्रह्मेशगुहविष्णूनां तथेन्द्रस्य च शक्तयः ।
शरीरेभ्यो विनिष्क्रम्य तद्रूपैश्चण्डिकां ययुः ॥१३॥

Meaning: ...the Shaktis of Brahma, Shiva, Guha (Kartikeya), Vishnu and Indra came out of their bodies and went to Chandika in those gods' own forms.

यस्य देवस्य यद्रूपं यथा भूषणवाहनम् ।
तद्वदेव हि तच्छक्तिरसुरान्योद्धुमाययौ ॥१४॥

Meaning: Whatever form, ornament and mount each god had, in exactly that form his Shakti came to fight the asuras.

हंसयुक्तविमानाग्रे साक्षसूत्रकमण्डलुः ।
आयाता ब्रह्मणः शक्तिर्ब्रह्माणीत्यभिधीयते ॥१५॥

Meaning: On a chariot drawn by swans, with rosary and water pot, came the Shakti of Brahma, who is called Brahmani.

माहेश्वरी वृषारूढा त्रिशूलवरधारिणी ।
महाहिवलया प्राप्ता चन्द्ररेखाविभूषणा ॥१६॥

Meaning: Maheshvari arrived mounted on a bull, bearing a fine trident, wearing bracelets of great serpents and adorned with the crescent moon.

कौमारी शक्तिहस्ता च मयूरवरवाहना ।
योद्धुमभ्याययौ दैत्यानम्बिका गुहरूपिणी ॥१७॥

Meaning: Kaumari, with a spear in her hand and the finest peacock as her mount, came to fight the daityas, Ambika in the form of Guha.

तथैव वैष्णवी शक्तिर्गरुडोपरि संस्थिता ।
शङ्खचक्रगदाशार्ङ्गखड्गहस्ताभ्युपाययौ ॥१८॥

Meaning: Likewise the Shakti Vaishnavi came, seated on Garuda, with conch, discus, mace, bow and sword in her hands.

यज्ञवाराहमतुलं रूपं या बिभ्रतो हरेः ।
शक्तिः साप्याययौ तत्र वाराहीं बिभ्रती तनुम् ॥१९॥

Meaning: The Shakti of Hari who bears the matchless form of the sacrificial boar also came there, in the body of Varahi.

नारसिंही नृसिंहस्य बिभ्रती सदृशं वपुः ।
प्राप्ता तत्र सटाक्षेपक्षिप्तनक्षत्रसंहतिः ॥२०॥

Meaning: Narasimhi arrived, bearing a body like Nrisimha's, scattering the constellations with the toss of her mane.

वज्रहस्ता तथैवैन्द्री गजराजोपरि स्थिता ।
प्राप्ता सहस्रनयना यथा शक्रस्तथैव सा ॥२१॥

Meaning: Likewise Aindri, thunderbolt in hand, seated on the king of elephants, thousand-eyed, arrived looking exactly like Indra.

ततः परिवृतस्ताभिरीशानो देवशक्तिभिः ।
हन्यन्तामसुराः शीघ्रं मम प्रीत्याह चण्डिकाम् ॥२२॥

Meaning: Then Shiva, surrounded by those Shaktis of the gods, said to Chandika: "Let the asuras be killed quickly, for my pleasure."

ततो देवीशरीरात्तु विनिष्क्रान्तातिभीषणा ।
चण्डिका शक्तिरत्युग्रा शिवाशतनिनादिनी ॥२३॥

Meaning: Then from the body of the Goddess came forth the Shakti of Chandika, most terrible, exceedingly fierce, howling like a hundred jackals.

सा चाह धूम्रजटिलमीशानमपराजिता ।
दूत त्वं गच्छ भगवन् पार्श्वं शुम्भनिशुम्भयोः ॥२४॥

Meaning: And she, the invincible, said to Shiva of the smoke-coloured matted locks: "Go, O Lord, as my messenger to Shumbha and Nishumbha."

ब्रूहि शुम्भं निशुम्भं च दानवावतिगर्वितौ ।
ये चान्ये दानवास्तत्र युद्धाय समुपस्थिताः ॥२५॥

Meaning: "Tell the two arrogant danavas Shumbha and Nishumbha, and the other danavas gathered there for battle:"

त्रैलोक्यमिन्द्रो लभतां देवाः सन्तु हविर्भुजः ।
यूयं प्रयात पातालं यदि जीवितुमिच्छथ ॥२६॥

Meaning: "'Let Indra have the three worlds and let the gods enjoy the oblations. Go to the netherworld if you wish to live.'"

बलावलेपादथ चेद्भवन्तो युद्धकाङ्क्षिणः ।
तदागच्छत तृप्यन्तु मच्छिवाः पिशितेन वः ॥२७॥

Meaning: "'But if, out of pride in your strength, you long for battle, then come, and let my jackals be sated with your flesh.'"

यतो नियुक्तो दौत्येन तया देव्या शिवः स्वयम् ।
शिवदूतीति लोकेऽस्मिंस्ततः सा ख्यातिमागता ॥२८॥

Meaning: Because Shiva himself was appointed messenger by that Goddess, she became famed in this world as Shivaduti.

तेऽपि श्रुत्वा वचो देव्याः शर्वाख्यातं महासुराः ।
अमर्षापूरिता जग्मुर्यत्र कात्यायनी स्थिता ॥२९॥

Meaning: Hearing the words of the Goddess reported by Shiva, the great asuras too, filled with fury, went to where Katyayani stood.

ततः प्रथममेवाग्रे शरशक्त्यृष्टिवृष्टिभिः ।
ववर्षुरुद्धतामर्षास्तां देवीममरारयः ॥३०॥

Meaning: Then, at the very outset, the enemies of the immortals, swollen with anger, rained showers of arrows, spears and lances on the Goddess.

सा च तान् प्रहितान् बाणाञ्छूलशक्तिपरश्वधान् ।
चिच्छेद लीलयाध्मातधनुर्मुक्तैर्महेषुभिः ॥३१॥

Meaning: And she cut to pieces, as if in play, the arrows, tridents, spears and axes they hurled, with great arrows shot from her full-drawn bow.

तस्याग्रतस्तथा काली शूलपातविदारितान् ।
खट्वाङ्गपोथितांश्चारीन्कुर्वती व्यचरत्तदा ॥३२॥

Meaning: Before her, Kali then roamed, tearing the enemies open with strokes of her trident and crushing them with her skull-topped staff.

कमण्डलुजलाक्षेपहतवीर्यान् हतौजसः ।
ब्रह्माणी चाकरोच्छत्रून्येन येन स्म धावति ॥३३॥

Meaning: Brahmani, wherever she ran, robbed the enemies of valour and vigour by sprinkling water from her water pot.

माहेश्वरी त्रिशूलेन तथा चक्रेण वैष्णवी ।
दैत्याञ्जघान कौमारी तथा शक्त्यातिकोपना ॥३४॥

Meaning: Maheshvari slew the daityas with her trident, Vaishnavi with her discus, and Kaumari, in great anger, with her spear.

ऐन्द्री कुलिशपातेन शतशो दैत्यदानवाः ।
पेतुर्विदारिताः पृथ्व्यां रुधिरौघप्रवर्षिणः ॥३५॥

Meaning: Torn open by the fall of Aindri's thunderbolt, daityas and danavas by the hundreds fell to the earth, pouring streams of blood.

तुण्डप्रहारविध्वस्ता दंष्ट्राग्रक्षतवक्षसः ।
वाराहमूर्त्या न्यपतंश्चक्रेण च विदारिताः ॥३६॥

Meaning: Shattered by the blows of her snout and wounded in the chest by the tips of her tusks, they fell before Varahi, and were torn by her discus too.

नखैर्विदारितांश्चान्यान् भक्षयन्ती महासुरान् ।
नारसिंही चचाराजौ नादापूर्णदिगम्बरा ॥३७॥

Meaning: Narasimhi roamed the battlefield devouring other great asuras torn by her claws, filling the sky and the quarters with her roar.

चण्डाट्टहासैरसुराः शिवदूत्यभिदूषिताः ।
पेतुः पृथिव्यां पतितांस्तांश्चखादाथ सा तदा ॥३८॥

Meaning: Asuras stunned by the fierce laughter of Shivaduti fell to the ground, and as they fell she devoured them.

इति मातृगणं क्रुद्धं मर्दयन्तं महासुरान् ।
दृष्ट्वाभ्युपायैर्विविधैर्नेशुर्देवारिसैनिकाः ॥३९॥

Meaning: Seeing the angry band of Mothers crushing the great asuras, the soldiers of the enemies of the gods fled by various means.

पलायनपरान्दृष्ट्वा दैत्यान्मातृगणार्दितान् ।
योद्धुमभ्याययौ क्रुद्धो रक्तबीजो महासुरः ॥४०॥

Meaning: Seeing the daityas, harried by the Mothers, bent on flight, the great asura Raktabija came forward in anger to fight.

रक्तबिन्दुर्यदा भूमौ पतत्यस्य शरीरतः ।
समुत्पतति मेदिन्यां तत्प्रमाणो महासुरः ॥४१॥

Meaning: Whenever a drop of blood fell from his body to the ground, a great asura of his own stature sprang up from the earth.

युयुधे स गदापाणिरिन्द्रशक्त्या महासुरः ।
ततश्चैन्द्री स्ववज्रेण रक्तबीजमताडयत् ॥४२॥

Meaning: The great asura fought with mace in hand against the Shakti of Indra; then Aindri struck Raktabija with her thunderbolt.

कुलिशेनाहतस्याशु बहु सुस्राव शोणितम् ।
समुत्तस्थुस्ततो योधास्तद्रूपास्तत्पराक्रमाः ॥४३॥

Meaning: Struck by the thunderbolt, he at once shed much blood, and from it rose warriors of his form and his valour.

यावन्तः पतितास्तस्य शरीराद्रक्तबिन्दवः ।
तावन्तः पुरुषा जातास्तद्वीर्यबलविक्रमाः ॥४४॥

Meaning: As many drops of blood fell from his body, so many men were born, with his strength, might and courage.

ते चापि युयुधुस्तत्र पुरुषा रक्तसम्भवाः ।
समं मातृभिरत्युग्रशस्त्रपातातिभीषणम् ॥४५॥

Meaning: And those men born of his blood also fought there with the Mothers, most dreadfully, with the hurling of fierce weapons.

पुनश्च वज्रपातेन क्षतमस्य शिरो यदा ।
ववाह रक्तं पुरुषास्ततो जाताः सहस्रशः ॥४६॥

Meaning: When his head was wounded again by a thunderbolt stroke, his blood flowed, and from it men were born by the thousand.

वैष्णवी समरे चैनं चक्रेणाभिजघान ह ।
गदया ताडयामास ऐन्द्री तमसुरेश्वरम् ॥४७॥

Meaning: Vaishnavi struck him with her discus in the battle, and Aindri beat that lord of the asuras with her mace.

वैष्णवीचक्रभिन्नस्य रुधिरस्रावसम्भवैः ।
सहस्रशो जगद्व्याप्तं तत्प्रमाणैर्महासुरैः ॥४८॥

Meaning: From the streams of blood of him cut by Vaishnavi's discus, the world was filled with thousands of great asuras of his size.

शक्त्या जघान कौमारी वाराही च तथासिना ।
माहेश्वरी त्रिशूलेन रक्तबीजं महासुरम् ॥४९॥

Meaning: Kaumari struck the great asura Raktabija with her spear, Varahi with her sword and Maheshvari with her trident.

स चापि गदया दैत्यः सर्वा एवाहनत् पृथक् ।
मातॄः कोपसमाविष्टो रक्तबीजो महासुरः ॥५०॥

Meaning: And that daitya Raktabija, possessed by anger, struck all the Mothers in turn with his mace.

तस्याहतस्य बहुधा शक्तिशूलादिभिर्भुवि ।
पपात यो वै रक्तौघस्तेनासञ्छतशोऽसुराः ॥५१॥

Meaning: From the stream of blood that fell to the earth from him, struck many times by spears, tridents and the rest, asuras arose by the hundreds.

तैश्चासुरासृक्सम्भूतैरसुरैः सकलं जगत् ।
व्याप्तमासीत्ततो देवा भयमाजग्मुरुत्तमम् ॥५२॥

Meaning: By those asuras born of the asura's blood the whole world was overrun, and the gods fell into the greatest fear.

तान् विषण्णान् सुरान् दृष्ट्वा चण्डिका प्राहसत्वरम् ।
उवाच कालीं चामुण्डे विस्तीर्णं वदनं कुरु ॥५३॥

Meaning: Seeing the gods dejected, Chandika laughed and quickly said to Kali: "O Chamunda, open your mouth wide."

मच्छस्त्रपातसम्भूतान् रक्तबिन्दून् महासुरान् ।
रक्तबिन्दोः प्रतीच्छ त्वं वक्त्रेणानेन वेगिना ॥५४॥

Meaning: "With this wide mouth of yours, swiftly take in the drops of blood and the great asuras born of the drops as my weapons fall on him."

भक्षयन्ती चर रणे तदुत्पन्नान्महासुरान् ।
एवमेष क्षयं दैत्यः क्षेणरक्तो गमिष्यति ॥५५॥

Meaning: "Roam the battle devouring the great asuras born of him. Thus that daitya, drained of blood, shall come to his end."

भक्ष्यमाणास्त्वया चोग्रा न चोत्पत्स्यन्ति चापरे ।
इत्युक्त्वा तां ततो देवी शूलेनाभिजघान तम् ॥५६॥

Meaning: "While you devour those fierce ones, no others will be born." So saying, the Goddess struck him with her trident.

मुखेन काली जगृहे रक्तबीजस्य शोणितम् ।
ततोऽसावाजघानाथ गदया तत्र चण्डिकाम् ॥५७॥

Meaning: Kali caught the blood of Raktabija in her mouth; then he struck Chandika there with his mace.

न चास्या वेदनां चक्रे गदापातोऽल्पिकामपि ।
तस्याहतस्य देहात्तु बहु सुस्राव शोणितम् ॥५८॥

Meaning: The blow of the mace caused her not the slightest pain; but from his wounded body much blood flowed...

यतस्ततस्तद्वक्त्रेण चामुण्डा सम्प्रतीच्छति ।
मुखे समुद्गता येऽस्या रक्तपातान्महासुराः ॥५९॥

Meaning: ...and wherever it fell Chamunda received it in her mouth. The great asuras who sprang up in her mouth from the falling blood...

तांश्चखादाथ चामुण्डा पपौ तस्य च शोणितम् ।
देवी शूलेन वज्रेण बाणैरसिभिरृष्टिभिः ॥६०॥

Meaning: ...Chamunda devoured, and she drank his blood. The Goddess, with trident, thunderbolt, arrows, swords and lances...

जघान रक्तबीजं तं चामुण्डापीतशोणितम् ।
स पपात महीपृष्ठे शस्त्रसङ्घसमाहतः ॥६१॥

Meaning: ...struck Raktabija, whose blood Chamunda had drunk. Struck by that mass of weapons, he fell to the ground...

नीरक्तश्च महीपाल रक्तबीजो महासुरः ।
ततस्ते हर्षमतुलमवापुस्त्रिदशा नृप ॥६२॥

Meaning: ...bloodless, O king, the great asura Raktabija. Then, O king, the gods attained joy beyond compare.

तेषां मातृगणो जातो ननर्तासृङ्मदोद्धतः ॥६३॥

Meaning: And the band of Mothers born of them danced, intoxicated with blood.

॥ स्वस्ति श्रीमार्कण्डेयपुराणे सावर्णिके मन्वन्तरे देवीमाहात्म्ये
रक्तबीजवधो नामाष्टमोऽध्यायः ॥ ८॥
उवाच १, अर्धश्लोकः १, श्लोकाः ६१, एवमादितः ॥ ५०२॥

Meaning: Thus ends the eighth chapter, named Raktabija Vadha, of the Devi Mahatmya in the Markandeya Purana, in the Savarnika manvantara. One uvacha line, one half-verse and sixty-one verses: five hundred and two from the beginning.

Significance and benefits of reading Chapter 8

Tradition assigns a fruit to each chapter, and the eighth is read for winning people over, for wealth and for success. Many devotees also read it for a trouble that seems to multiply whenever it is attacked, which is exactly what Raktabija is: the chapter's answer is not more force but catching the problem at its source, before it touches the ground.

This chapter is the scriptural origin of the Sapta Matrikas, the seven Mothers carved in a row in temples across India, each with the mount and weapon of the god she came from (verses 12 to 21), and of Shivaduti, the Goddess who made Shiva her messenger (verses 23 to 28). The Mothers are worshipped in Navratri and in Chandi Homa as the powers that stand beside the Goddess in battle.

How to read Chapter 8 (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 8 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

Who was Raktabija and how was he killed?
Raktabija was an asura in Shumbha's army from whose every drop of spilt blood a new asura of equal strength arose. Chandika told Chamunda to catch his blood in her mouth before it reached the ground; Chamunda drank it and devoured the asuras that rose, and the Goddess slew him with trident, thunderbolt, arrows and swords once he was drained of blood. This is Chapter 8, verses 40 to 62.

Who are the Sapta Matrikas in Chapter 8?
The seven Shaktis who came out of the bodies of the gods in their own forms: Brahmani from Brahma, on a swan chariot with rosary and water pot; Maheshvari from Shiva, on a bull with a trident; Kaumari from Kartikeya, on a peacock with a spear; Vaishnavi from Vishnu, on Garuda; Varahi from Vishnu's boar form; Narasimhi from Narasimha; and Aindri from Indra, on an elephant with a thunderbolt.

Why is the Goddess called Shivaduti?
Because she sent Shiva as her messenger (duta) to Shumbha and Nishumbha. Verse 28: "Because Shiva himself was appointed messenger by that Goddess, she became famed in this world as Shivaduti."

What is the message Shivaduti sends to Shumbha?
Verses 26 and 27: let Indra have the three worlds and the gods their oblations; go to the netherworld if you wish to live; but if pride in your strength makes you want battle, come, and let my jackals be sated with your flesh.

What is Chapter 8 read for?
Tradition reads it for winning others over, for wealth and for success. Devotees also read it when a problem seems to grow with every attempt to fight it, taking Raktabija as the image of such a trouble and Chamunda's method, catching it at the source, as the lesson.