The Slaying of Shumbha
Maharishi Medha said – O King, when the Daitya king Shumbha saw his beloved brother slain and his army destroyed, he was overcome with rage and cried out, “O Durga! Do not be so proud. You fight only with the strength of others.”
The Goddess replied, “O wicked one, look carefully. I alone exist here. Who else is there in this universe apart from Me? All these forms are My own Shaktis. Watch now as they return into Me.”
At once, Brahmani and all the other Goddesses merged back into the body of the Devi, leaving Her standing alone. Then She said, “Through My divine power I appeared here in many forms. I have now withdrawn them all. I stand before you alone — so remain where you are and face Me.”
Maharishi Medha said – Then, before the eyes of the Devas and Asuras, a fierce battle began between the Goddess and Shumbha. Ambika released hundreds of divine weapons, while Shumbha answered with terrible weapons of his own. He cut down many of the weapons sent by the Goddess, and the Goddess, in turn, destroyed the weapons he launched with the force of Her mighty Hunkar.
When Shumbha covered the Goddess with a storm of arrows, She became furious and shattered his bow with Her own arrows. With his bow destroyed, he hurled a Shakti weapon at Her, but She cut that down as well.
Shumbha then rushed towards Her carrying a shining shield. As he came close, the Goddess split the shield apart with Her sharp arrows. His horse was killed, his chariot was broken and his charioteer fell. Still refusing to retreat, Shumbha seized a heavy Mudgar and charged at the Goddess, but She cut the weapon apart with another volley of arrows.
Enraged, Shumbha struck the Goddess forcefully in the chest with his fist. The Goddess immediately answered with a powerful slap to his chest. The blow sent him crashing to the ground, but he sprang back to his feet almost at once.
He then seized the Goddess and leapt high into the sky. There, suspended above the Earth, the two continued their battle. The sight was so extraordinary that even the Rishis and Devas watched in amazement.
For a long time, the Goddess fought Shumbha in the sky. At last, She seized him, whirled him around and hurled him back down to the Earth. But the wicked Asura rose once again and rushed towards Her, determined to continue the fight.
Seeing him charge, the Goddess struck him in the chest with Her Trishul and brought him crashing to the ground. Pierced by the divine weapon, Shumbha finally gave up his life. As he fell, the oceans, islands, mountains and the Earth itself trembled.
With the death of that wicked Asura, peace returned to the universe. The sky became clear, and the ominous clouds and falling meteors that had appeared earlier disappeared. Rivers once again flowed peacefully along their natural courses.
The hearts of the Devas were filled with joy. The Gandharvas began singing beautiful celestial songs and playing their instruments, while the Apsaras danced in celebration. Pure and gentle winds began to blow, the light of the Sun became clear and radiant, and the sacred fires in the Yajna Shalas, which had gone out, rekindled on their own. Peace spread throughout all directions.