Durga Saptashati
Shashthodhyaya
CHAPTER 6
The Slaying of Dhumralocana
The Rishi said:
1-2. The messenger, filled with indignation on hearing the words the Devi, returned and related them in detail to the king of the daityas.
3-4. Then the asura monarch, enraged on hearing that report from his messenger, told Dhumralocana, a chieftain of the daityas: ‘O Dhumralocana, hasten together with your army and fetch here by force that shrew, distressed when dragged by her hair.
5. ‘Or if any one else stands up as her saviors, let him be slain, be he a god, a yaksa or a gandharva.’ The Rishi said:
6-7. Then the asura Dhuralocana, commanded thus by Sumbha, went forth quickly, accompanied by sixty thousand asuras.
8. On seeing the Devi stationed on the snowy mountain, he asked her aloud, ‘Come to the presence of Sumbha and Nisumbha.
9. ‘If you will not go to my lord with pleasure now, here I take you by force, distressed when dragged by your hair.’ The Devi said:
10-11. ‘You are sent by the lord of the asuras, mighty yourself and accompanied by an army. If you thus take me by force, then what can I do to you?’ The Rishi said:
12-13. Thus told, the asura Dhumralocana rushed towards her and thereupon Ambika reduced him to ashes with a mere heave of the sound ‘hum’
14. Then the great army of asuras became enraged and showered on Ambika sharp arrows, javelins, and axes.
15. Then the lion, vehicle of the Devi, shaking its mane in anger, and making the most terrific roar, fell on the army of the asuras.
16. Some asuras, it slaughtered with a blow of its fore paw, others with its mouth, and other great asuras, by treading over with its hind legs.
17. The lion, with its claws, tore out the hearts of some and severed heads with a blow of the paw.
18. And it severed arms and heads from others, and shaking its mane drank the blood from the hearts of others.
19. In a moment all that army was destroyed by that high-spirited and exceedingly enraged lion who bore the Devi.
20-21. When Sumbha, the lord of asuras, heard that asura Dhumralocana was slain by the Devi and all his army was destroyed by the lion of the Devi, he was infuriated, his lip quivered and he commanded the two mighty asuras Chanda and Munda:
22-23. ‘O Chanda, O Munda, go there with large forces, and bring her here speedily, dragging her by her hair or binding her. But if you have any doubt about doing that, then let the asuras strike (her) in the fight with all their weapons.
24. ‘When that shrew is wounded and her lion stricken down, seize that Ambika, bind and bring her quickly.’ Here ends the sixth chapter called ‘The Slaying of Dhumralocana’ of Devi-mahatmya in Markandeya purana during the period of Savarni, the Manu.