The Glory of the Goddess-Devi Mahatmyam

Hundreds of asuras came into being from the stream of blood that fell on the ground as he
received multiple wounds by the lances, spears and other weapons. The entire world was
pervaded by the asuras who took birth from the blood of Raktabija. The gods were intensely
alarmed at this. Seeing the devas dejected, Chandika laughed and said to Kali, “O Chamunda,
keep your mouth wide open. And with this mouth quickly take in the drops of blood
generated by the blow of my weapon and also the great asuras born of the drops of blood of
Raktabija. Roam about in the battlefield, devouring the great asuras born from his blood.
Thus this demon shall perish, losing all his blood. As you go on devouring them, other fierce
asuras will not be born”.
Having enjoined her thus, the Goddess then struck Raktabija with her spear. Thereupon Kali
drank Raktabija's blood with her mouth. Rightaway Raktabija struck Chandika with his mace.
The the blow did not cause her even the slightest pain. On the other hand, blood flowed
profusely from the stricken parts of his body and from wherever it flowed Chamunda (Kali)
swallowed it with her mouth. And Chamunda devoured the asuras born from the blood in her
mouth, as she carried on with drinking his blood. The Goddess smote Raktabija with her
spear, thunderbolt, arrows, swords, and double-edged swords, while Kali went on drinking
his blood. Hit by a multitude of weapons that made him lose all his blood, the great asura
Raktabija eventually fell on the ground. Thereupon the gods attained great joy. The Mothergoddesses
who emerged from them danced drunk with the asura’s blood.
Chapter 9
After Raktabija was slain and other asuras were killed in the fight, the asura Shumbha and
Nishumbha gave way to unbounded wrath. Enraged on seeing his great army slaughtered,
Nishumbha rushed forth with the chief forces of the asuras. In front of him, at his back and on
his sides great asuras, biting their lips in ire advanced to slay the Goddess. Having fought
with the Mother-goddesses, the great warrior Shumbha too arrived in fury, accompanied by
his forces, to slay Chandika.
Then commenced a severe combat between the Devi on one side and, Shumbha and
Nishumbha on the other, from whom rained a most tempestuous shower of arrows on her like
showers from two clouds. With a shower of arrows Chandika quickly split the arrows shot by
the two asuras and hit the two lords of asuras on their limbs with a multitude of weapons. In
the ensuing combat Nishumbha hit the lion of the Goddess on the head, upon which the
Goddess destroyed his weapons one after another. Then the asura Nishumbha, bloated with
anger, seized the spear and that also, as it came, the Goddess powdered with a blow of her
fist. Then Goddess laid the advancing Nishumbha to the ground, striking him with a torrent
of arrows.
When the mighty Nishumbha was thus laid flat on the ground the exceedingly angry
Shumbha set out to slay Ambika. Standing in his chariot and pervading the entire sky with his
long and incomparable eight arms holding excellent weapons, he shone. Seeing him
advancing, the Goddess blew her conch, and made an extremely unbearable twang of her
bow-string. She filled all the quarters with the sound of her bell that rang the death-knell to
the splendour of the entire armies of asuras. Then the lion filled the heaven, the earth and the
ten quarters of the sky with loud roars, which made the elephants abandon their violent rut.
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