📖 Markandeya Purana — Durga Saptashati
Verse 1
ततः शुम्भो निशुम्भश्च हतानीक्ष्य महाचमूः ।
क्रोधसंरक्तनयनौ देव्याः शक्तिमभिद्रुतौ ॥
Tatah shumbho nishumbhashcha hatanikshy mahachamu |
Krodhasanraktanayanau devyah shaktimabhidrutau ||
हतानीक्ष्य
seeing their army destroyed
क्रोधसंरक्तनयनौ
eyes red with rage
देव्याः शक्तिम्
toward the Devi
अभिद्रुतौ
charged forward
According to the Markandeya Purana, Shumbha and Nishumbha saw their armies destroyed. Eyes red with rage, both charged directly toward the Devi.
Verse 2
निशुम्भो ऽत्यन्तसंक्रुद्धः सुप्रज्वलितलोचनः ।
शक्तिमाहत्य देवीं च जघान परमाहवे ॥
Nishumbho atyantasankruddah suprajvalitokanah |
Shaktimahattya devim cha jaghana paramahave ||
अत्यन्तसंक्रुद्धः
consumed with fury
सुप्रज्वलितलोचनः
eyes blazing
शक्तिम् आहत्य
hurling his shakti weapon
परमाहवे
in this fierce battle
Nishumbha, blazing-eyed and furious, hurled his shakti (spear-weapon) at the Devi. But the Devi's power was greater.
Verse 3
सा चिच्छेद महादेवी शूलेनैव त्रिशूलिनी ।
निशुम्भस्य शिरो देव्या निपातयत महाहवे ॥
Sa chichchheda mahadevi shuleneva trishulini |
Nishumbhasya shiro devya nipatayata mahahave ||
महादेवी त्रिशूलिनी
the trident-bearing Mahadevi
निशुम्भस्य शिरः
Nishumbha's head
The trident-bearing Mahadevi struck Nishumbha with her trident. He fell in the great battle.
Verse 4
हते निशुम्भे दैत्येन्द्रे देव्या खड्गेन चण्डिका ।
शुम्भस्य बलमाहत्य समपोहद्रणाजिरात् ॥
Hate nishumbhe daityendre devya khadgena Chandika |
Shumbhasya balamahattya samapohad ranajiraat ||
हते निशुम्भे
when Nishumbha fell
देव्या खड्गेन
by the Devi's sword
शुम्भस्य बलम्
Shumbha's remaining army
रणाजिरात् अपोहत्
fled from the battlefield
When Nishumbha fell, the last of Shumbha's army broke and fled the battlefield.
Verse 5
देवाः स्तोत्रं प्रचक्रुस्तु देव्याः प्रसन्नचेतसः ।
पुष्पवृष्टिं च कुर्वन्ति स्म जयशब्दं ददुस्तदा ॥
Devah stotram prachakrustu devyah prasannachetasah |
Pushpavrishtim cha kurvanti sma jayashabdam dadutada ||
स्तोत्रं प्रचक्रुः
offered praises
प्रसन्नचेतसः
with joyful hearts
पुष्पवृष्टिम् कुर्वन्ति
showered flowers
जयशब्दम् ददुः
raised cries of victory
The devas offered praises with joyful hearts. Flowers rained down from the sky. Cries of victory rang out in every direction.
Verse 6
ततः प्रसन्नवदना देवी लोकहितंकरी ।
उवाच वाचं मधुरां तानां देवान् प्रहर्षिता ॥
Tatah prasannavadana devi lokahitamkari |
Uvaca vacham madhuram tanam devan praharshita ||
प्रसन्नवदना
with a serene, radiant face
लोकहितंकरी
the one who works for the good of all worlds
वाचं मधुराम्
in a gentle voice
The Devi's face was serene and radiant. She turned to the devas and spoke in a gentle voice.
Verse 7
वरं वृणुध्वं देवेशा यद् वाञ्छितमिहानघाः ।
ददामि वो महाभागाः परितुष्टा ऽस्मि वः सदा ॥
Varam vrunidhvam devasha yad vanchitamihanaghah |
Dadami vo mahabhagah paritushta asmi vah sada ||
वरं वृणुध्वं
ask for a boon
देवेशाः
O lords of the devas
यद् वाञ्छितम्
whatever you wish for
परितुष्टा
I am fully satisfied
The Devi said to the devas: ask for whatever you wish. I am always pleased with you — ask, and it shall be given.
Verse 8
देवा ऊचुः ।
सर्वाबाधाप्रशमनं त्रैलोक्यस्याखिलेश्वरि ।
एवमेव त्वया कार्यमस्मद्वैरिविनाशनम् ॥
Deva uchuh |
Sarvabadhaprasha manam trailokyasyakhileshvari |
Evameva tvaya karyamasmadvairivinshashanam ||
सर्वाबाधाप्रशमनम्
the removal of all obstacles
त्रैलोक्यस्य
of all three worlds
अखिलेश्वरि
O sovereign of all
अस्मद्वैरिविनाशनम्
the destruction of our enemies
The devas made a simple request: O sovereign of all, continue to remove the obstacles that threaten all three worlds. That is our only wish.
References
According to the Markandeya Purana, the ninth chapter tells of Nishumbha's defeat. Shumbha's brother Nishumbha was immensely powerful. The trident-bearing Mahadevi brought him down.
After Nishumbha fell, Shumbha's army scattered. The devas celebrated with flowers from the sky. The Devi offered to grant any boon, and the devas asked for just one thing: that she continue to protect all three worlds.
Durga Saptashati · 9 / 13