Durga Saptashati Chapter 9 (Navama Adhyay): Nishumbha Vadha, Sanskrit Path with Meaning

Durga Saptashati Chapter 9, the Navama Adhyay, is the battle with the two brothers who rule the three worlds, Shumbha and Nishumbha, and ends with the death of Nishumbha. It belongs to the Uttara Charitra, presided over by Mahasaraswati, and has 41 verses in the standard numbering. The chapter is given here in full, with the dhyana and every verse in Sanskrit followed by its meaning.

The fight is told weapon by weapon. Nishumbha's sword, shield, spear, trident, mace and axe are each destroyed; Shumbha, eight-armed and filling the sky, is felled unconscious by the trident; Nishumbha returns with ten thousand arms and a storm of discuses, and when the Goddess's trident pierces his heart a second being steps out of his chest crying "Stop!", only to be beheaded. The Goddess's cry "Stand, stand, O evil one!" and the gods' answering "Victory!" (verse 24) are among the Saptashati's most recited lines.

संक्षेप में: दुर्गा सप्तशती का नौवाँ अध्याय (निशुम्भ वध) यहाँ पूरा दिया गया है: ध्यान और सभी 41 श्लोक संस्कृत में, हर श्लोक के हिंदी अर्थ के साथ। शुम्भ और निशुम्भ मिलकर देवी से लड़ते हैं; निशुम्भ का हर आयुध नष्ट होता है, शुम्भ त्रिशूल से मूर्छित होकर गिरता है, और दस हजार भुजाओं के साथ लौटे निशुम्भ का हृदय त्रिशूल से बींधकर देवी उसका वध करती हैं। परंपरा में यह अध्याय खोए हुए व्यक्ति या वस्तु की प्राप्ति, सन्तान और धन 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 9 at a glance

• Chapter: Ninth of 13, "Nishumbha Vadha" (निशुम्भ 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: 41 in the standard numbering (uvacha lines counted)
• Traditional fruit of reading: Tradition reads the ninth chapter for the return of a lost person or thing, for children and for wealth.

The story of Chapter 9 in brief

King Suratha asks what Shumbha and Nishumbha did after Raktabija fell. Seeing his army slaughtered, Nishumbha charges with the pick of the asuras, and Shumbha follows after fighting the Mothers. Arrows fly like rain from two clouds. Nishumbha strikes the lion with his sword; the Goddess cuts the sword and his eight-moon shield with a razor arrow, splits his spear with her discus, smashes his trident with her fist, burns his mace to ash with her trident, and when he comes with an axe brings him down with arrows. Shumbha, eight-armed in his chariot, advances; the Goddess blows her conch, twangs her bow and rings her bell, the lion roars, Kali strikes the earth, Shivaduti laughs, and when Ambika cries "Stand, stand, O evil one!" the gods in the sky shout "Victory!" Shumbha's blazing spear is knocked down, his roar outdone, his arrows cut, and the trident lays him unconscious. Nishumbha recovers, showers arrows on the Goddess, Kali and the lion, and makes himself ten thousand arms to hurl discuses; Durga cuts them all, cuts his mace, and when he comes at her with a trident pierces his heart with hers. From the wound a second being of great strength emerges shouting "Stop!"; the Goddess laughs and beheads him. The lion, Kali, Shivaduti and the Mothers finish the remaining asuras, and the rest flee.

Durga Saptashati Chapter 9: 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 बन्धूककाञ्चननिभं रुचिराक्षमालां
पाशाङ्कुशौ च वरदां निजबाहुदण्डैः ।
बिभ्राणमिन्दुशकलाभरणं त्रिनेत्र-
मर्धांबिकेशमनिशं वपुराश्रयामि ॥

Meaning: Om. I take refuge always in that form, the Lord who is half Ambika, shining like the bandhuka flower and gold, holding in his arms a beautiful rosary, the noose and the goad, and the gesture of granting boons; adorned with the crescent moon and three-eyed.

Verses 1 to 41

ॐ राजोवाच ॥१॥

Meaning: Om. The king said:

विचित्रमिदमाख्यातं भगवन् भवता मम ।
देव्याश्चरितमाहात्म्यं रक्तबीजवधाश्रितम् ॥२॥

Meaning: "Wonderful, revered sir, is this that you have told me, the greatness of the Goddess's deed in the slaying of Raktabija."

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

Meaning: "I wish to hear further what Shumbha did when Raktabija had fallen, and what the fiercely angry Nishumbha did."

ऋषिरुवाच ॥४॥

Meaning: The sage said:

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

Meaning: When Raktabija had fallen and others had been slain in battle, the asura Shumbha and Nishumbha flew into a rage beyond measure.

हन्यमानं महासैन्यं विलोक्यामर्षमुद्वहन् ।
अभ्यधावन्निशुम्भोऽथ मुख्ययासुरसेनया ॥६॥

Meaning: Seeing his great army being slaughtered, Nishumbha, unable to bear it, rushed forward with the pick of the asura army.

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

Meaning: Before him, behind him and on both sides, great asuras, biting their lips in fury, came to kill the Goddess.

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

Meaning: The mighty Shumbha also came, surrounded by his forces, to slay Chandika in his anger, after fighting the Mothers.

ततो युद्धमतीवासीद्देव्या शुम्भनिशुम्भयोः ।
शरवर्षमतीवोग्रं मेघयोरिव वर्षतोः ॥९॥

Meaning: Then a most fierce battle took place between the Goddess and Shumbha and Nishumbha, who rained the harshest showers of arrows like two clouds.

चिच्छेदास्ताञ्छरांस्ताभ्यां चण्डिका स्वशरोत्करैः ।
ताडयामास चाङ्गेषु शस्त्रौघैरसुरेश्वरौ ॥१०॥

Meaning: Chandika cut the arrows they shot with her own showers of arrows, and struck the two lords of the asuras on their limbs with torrents of weapons.

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

Meaning: Nishumbha, taking a sharp sword and a shining shield, struck the lion, the Goddess's excellent mount, on the head.

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

Meaning: When her mount was struck, the Goddess at once cut Nishumbha's fine sword with a razor-edged arrow, and his shield marked with eight moons.

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

Meaning: His shield and sword cut, the asura hurled a spear; as it came at her, she split that too in two with her discus.

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

Meaning: Swollen with anger, the danava Nishumbha then seized a trident; as it came, the Goddess shattered it with a blow of her fist.

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

Meaning: Then he whirled a mace and flung it at Chandika; split by the Goddess's trident, it too was reduced to ash.

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

Meaning: Then, as that bull among daityas came at her with an axe in hand, the Goddess struck him with torrents of arrows and brought him to the ground.

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

Meaning: When his brother Nishumbha of terrible valour had fallen to the earth, Shumbha, enraged beyond measure, advanced to kill Ambika.

स रथस्थस्तथात्युच्चैर्गृहीतपरमायुधैः ।
भुजैरष्टाभिरतुलैर्व्याप्याशेषं बभौ नभः ॥१८॥

Meaning: Standing in his chariot, his eight matchless arms raised high with the finest weapons, he shone, filling the whole sky.

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

Meaning: Seeing him coming, the Goddess blew her conch and made a twang of her bowstring most hard to bear.

पूरयामास ककुभो निजघण्टास्वनेन च ।
समस्तदैत्यसैन्यानां तेजोवधविधायिना ॥२०॥

Meaning: And she filled the quarters with the sound of her bell, which destroys the vigour of all the daitya armies.

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

Meaning: Then the lion filled the sky, the earth and the ten directions with mighty roars that made the great elephants give up their rut.

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

Meaning: Then Kali leapt into the sky and struck the earth with both her hands; at that sound all the earlier sounds were drowned.

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

Meaning: Shivaduti gave a loud and ominous laugh; at these sounds the asuras trembled, and Shumbha fell into extreme rage.

दुरात्मंस्तिष्ठ तिष्ठेति व्याजहाराम्बिका यदा ।
तदा जयेत्यभिहितं देवैराकाशसंस्थितैः ॥२४॥

Meaning: When Ambika called out, "Stand, stand, O evil one!", the gods standing in the sky cried, "Victory!"

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

Meaning: The spear that Shumbha hurled as he came, most terrible with its flames, blazing like a heap of fire, was knocked down by a great firebrand.

सिंहनादेन शुम्भस्य व्याप्तं लोकत्रयान्तरम् ।
निर्घातनिःस्वनो घोरो जितवानवनीपते ॥२६॥

Meaning: The space of the three worlds was filled by Shumbha's lion-roar; but the terrible sound of a thunderclap outdid it, O king.

शुम्भमुक्ताञ्छरान्देवी शुम्भस्तत्प्रहिताञ्छरान् ।
चिच्छेद स्वशरैरुग्रैः शतशोऽथ सहस्रशः ॥२७॥

Meaning: The Goddess cut the arrows Shumbha shot, and Shumbha the arrows she shot, with their own fierce arrows, by the hundred and the thousand.

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

Meaning: Then Chandika in anger struck him with her trident; struck by it he fell to the ground, unconscious.

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

Meaning: Then Nishumbha, regaining consciousness, took up his bow and struck the Goddess, Kali and the lion with arrows.

पुनश्च कृत्वा बाहूनामयुतं दनुजेश्वरः ।
चक्रायुधेन दितिजश्छादयामास चण्डिकाम् ॥३०॥

Meaning: And the lord of the danavas, son of Diti, making himself ten thousand arms, covered Chandika with discuses.

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

Meaning: Then the blessed Durga, destroyer of the distress of the hard-pressed, enraged, cut those discuses and arrows with her own arrows.

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

Meaning: Then Nishumbha, surrounded by the daitya army, took up a mace and rushed at Chandika to kill her.

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

Meaning: Even as he rushed, Chandika swiftly cut his mace with her sharp-edged sword; he then took up a trident.

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

Meaning: As Nishumbha, tormentor of the gods, came at her with the trident in his hand, Chandika pierced his heart with her swiftly flung trident.

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

Meaning: From the heart of him thus pierced by the trident came forth another being, of great strength and great valour, crying, "Stop!"

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

Meaning: As he came out, the Goddess laughed aloud and cut off his head with her sword; then he fell to the earth.

ततः सिंहश्चखादोग्रदंष्ट्राक्षुण्णशिरोधरान् ।
असुरांस्तांस्तथा काली शिवदूती तथापरान् ॥३७॥

Meaning: Then the lion devoured those asuras whose necks it crushed with its fierce fangs, and Kali and Shivaduti devoured others.

कौमारीशक्तिनिर्भिन्नाः केचिन्नेशुर्महासुराः ।
ब्रह्माणीमन्त्रपूतेन तोयेनान्ये निराकृताः ॥३८॥

Meaning: Some great asuras perished, pierced by Kaumari's spear; others were driven off by water sanctified with Brahmani's mantra.

माहेश्वरीत्रिशूलेन भिन्नाः पेतुस्तथापरे ।
वाराहीतुण्डघातेन केचिच्चूर्णीकृता भुवि ॥३९॥

Meaning: Others fell, split by Maheshvari's trident; and some were ground to powder on the earth by the blows of Varahi's snout.

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

Meaning: Danavas were cut to pieces by Vaishnavi's discus, and others by the thunderbolt loosed from Aindri's fingertips.

केचिद्विनेशुरसुराः केचिन्नष्टा महाहवात् ।
भक्षिताश्चापरे कालीशिवदूतीमृगाधिपैः ॥४१॥

Meaning: Some asuras perished, some fled from that great battle, and others were devoured by Kali, Shivaduti and the lion.

॥ स्वस्ति श्रीमार्कण्डेयपुराणे सावर्णिके मन्वन्तरे देवीमाहात्म्ये
निशुम्भवधो नाम नवमोऽध्यायः ॥ ९॥
उवाच २, अर्धश्लोकाः ३९, श्लोकाः ४१, एवमादितः ॥ ५४३॥

Meaning: Thus ends the ninth chapter, named Nishumbha Vadha, of the Devi Mahatmya in the Markandeya Purana, in the Savarnika manvantara. Two uvacha lines, thirty-nine half-verses and forty-one verses: five hundred and forty-three from the beginning.

Significance and benefits of reading Chapter 9

Tradition assigns a fruit to each chapter, and the ninth is read for the return of something or someone lost, and for children and wealth. The chapter is also read by those facing a two-fronted attack, since its whole movement is the Goddess dealing with two brothers who come at her in turn.

Verse 31 gives one of the oldest glosses on the name Durga: durga durgartinashini, "Durga, destroyer of the distress of the hard-pressed". The strange moment of verse 35, where a second being steps out of Nishumbha's pierced heart, is read in the tradition as the ego that survives even a mortal wound, and the Goddess's laughing stroke as the only answer to it. The chapter leaves Shumbha alive and alone for the final combat of Chapter 10.

How to read Chapter 9 (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 9 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 9?
Shumbha and Nishumbha fight the Goddess together. Nishumbha's every weapon is destroyed and he is brought down; Shumbha is felled unconscious by the trident; Nishumbha returns with ten thousand arms, is pierced through the heart, and the being that steps out of his chest is beheaded. The chapter has 41 verses.

How does Nishumbha die?
Verses 34 to 36: as he came with a trident in hand, Chandika pierced his heart with her own trident. From the wound another powerful being emerged crying "Stop!"; the Goddess laughed, cut off his head with her sword, and Nishumbha fell to the earth.

Is Shumbha killed in Chapter 9?
No. In verse 28 the Goddess strikes him with her trident and he falls to the ground unconscious, but he survives. His death, after the famous exchange in which he accuses the Goddess of relying on others and she withdraws all her Shaktis into herself, is the subject of Chapter 10.

What does "tishtha tishtha" in verse 24 mean?
"Stand, stand!" or "Stop, stop!", a challenge shouted in battle. Ambika calls it to Shumbha, "Stand, stand, O evil one!", and the gods watching from the sky answer with "Jaya", "Victory!" The same word is shouted by the being that emerges from Nishumbha's heart in verse 35.

What is Chapter 9 read for?
Tradition reads it for recovering a lost person or thing, and for children and wealth. It is read within the Uttara Charitra and the full paath, and on its own by those who feel attacked from two sides at once.