Chapter 9 of the Devi Mahatmya has 39 verses in the Markandeya Purana numbering (chapter 89 of the Purana). It is the story of the death of Nishumbha, the younger of the two demon brothers, and it carries the story to the point where Shumbha himself must come forward.
The sage Medhas is still telling the story to King Suratha and the merchant Samadhi. Chapter 8 ended with the death of Raktabija, and Suratha says (verse 1) that the account is wonderful and asks to hear more.
What happens in this chapter
Verses 1 and 2 are King Suratha’s request to the sage. Verses 3 to 6 show Shumbha and Nishumbha both angry and coming forward with their armies, biting their lips.
Nishumbha takes the field first (verses 9 to 14). He strikes the goddess’s lion with a sword and shield, then hurls a lance, a spear and a club in turn. She breaks each one: the shield and sword with her own weapons, the lance with her discus, the spear with a blow of her fist, and the club with her trident, so that it turns to ash. Then she brings him down to the ground with a flood of arrows as he comes at her with an axe.
In verses 15 to 22 Shumbha comes to avenge his brother, standing in a chariot with eight matchless arms holding the best of weapons, so that the sky is lit up. The goddess sounds her conch, twangs her bow and rings her bell, and the lion, Kali and Shivaduti add their own sounds. The gods in the sky shout victory when Ambika tells Shumbha to stand and face her.
Verses 23 to 34 are the longer duel. Shumbha hurls a flaming spear which she turns aside, and the two cut one another’s arrows to pieces. She strikes him with her spear and he falls fainting. Nishumbha comes to himself, takes up his bow and, making ten thousand arms for himself, covers Chandika with discuses. The goddess cuts down the discuses, his club and his spear. When she pierces him through the heart with her spear, another figure comes out of his heart saying stand, and she laughs and cuts off his head with her sword.
Verses 35 to 39 describe the mother goddesses finishing the rest of the army. The lion devours some, Kali and Shivaduti others, Kaumari’s spear, Brahmani’s mantra-purified water, Maheshvari’s trident, Varahi’s tusk, Vaishnavi’s discus and Aindri’s thunderbolt kill the rest, and some flee.
Details to notice
In both GRETIL and Wikisource, verse 10 is a second copy of verse 9, the two lines about Nishumbha striking the lion. The Nirnaya Sagar print has those lines once, and then a verse that neither of the other texts has: when his lion is struck, the goddess quickly cuts Nishumbha’s sword and then his shield with its eight moons. That print verse is the text of verse 10 on this page.
The figure who comes out of Nishumbha’s heart in verse 33 is not named, and the text does not explain him. Some commentators take him as Nishumbha’s own power or life departing in a form, and some as a second form of the demon. The goddess cuts off his head and the matter ends.
The chapter also shows how the three groups on the goddess’s side work together. Chandika deals with the two chiefs, her lion and Kali and Shivaduti fight alongside her, and the mother goddesses finish the army. In chapter 10 the goddess meets Shumbha alone, and it holds the best known speech in the book.
This page gives each verse in Devanagari with a plain transliteration and a meaning in our own words.
The text, transliteration and meaning
विचित्रमिदमाख्यातं भगवन् भवता मम
देव्याश्चरितमाहात्म्यं रक्तबीजवधाश्रितम् ॥ ९.१ ॥
Vichitramidamakhyatam bhagavan bhavata mama
Devyashcharitamahatmyam raktabijavadhashritam
MeaningThe king says: Venerable sir, this account you have given me of the goddess's great deeds, which ended with the death of Raktabija, is wonderful.
भूयश्चेच्छाम्यहं श्रोतुं रक्तबीजे निपातिते
चकार शुम्भो यत्कर्म निशुम्भश्चातिकोपनः ॥ ९.२ ॥
Bhuyashchechchhamyaham shrotum raktabije nipatite
Chakara shumbho yatkarma nishumbhashchatikopanah
MeaningI want to hear more about what Shumbha did, and the very angry Nishumbha, after Raktabija had been struck down.
चकार कोपमतुलं रक्तबीजे निपातिते
शुम्भासुरो निशुम्भश्च हतेष्वन्येषु चाहवे ॥ ९.३ ॥
Chakara kopamatulam raktabije nipatite
Shumbhasuro nishumbhashcha hateshvanyeshu chahave
MeaningThe sage says: After Raktabija had fallen and the other demons were killed in the battle, Shumbha and Nishumbha were incomparably angry.
हन्यमानं महासैन्यं विलोक्यामर्षमुद्वहन्
अभ्यधावन्निशुम्भोऽथ मुख्ययासुरसेनया ॥ ९.४ ॥
Hanyamanam mahasainyam vilokyamarshamudvahan
Abhyadhavannishumbho'tha mukhyayasurasenaya
MeaningSeeing the great army being destroyed and filled with indignation, Nishumbha rushed forward with the main force of the demon army.
तस्याग्रतस्तथा पृष्ठे पार्श्वयोश्च महासुराः
संदष्टौष्ठपुटाः क्रुद्धा हन्तुं देवीमुपाययुः ॥ ९.५ ॥
Tasyagratastatha prishthe parshvayoshcha mahasurah
Sandashtaushthaputah kruddha hantum devimupayayuh
MeaningIn front of him, behind him and at his sides, great demons, biting their lips in rage, came up to kill the goddess.
आजगाम महावीर्यः शुम्भोऽपि स्वबलैर्वृतः
निहन्तुं चण्डिकां कोपात्कृत्वा युद्धं तु मातृभिः ॥ ९.६ ॥
Ajagama mahaviryah shumbho'pi svabalairvritah
Nihantum chandikam kopatkritva yuddham tu matribhih
MeaningThe mighty Shumbha too came, surrounded by his own forces, to kill Chandika in his anger, after a battle with the mother goddesses.
ततो युद्धमतीवासीद्देव्या शुम्भनिशुम्भयोः
शरवर्षमतीवोग्रं मेघयोरिव वर्षतोः ॥ ९.७ ॥
Tato yuddhamativasiddevya shumbhanishumbhayoh
Sharavarshamativogram meghayoriva varshatoh
MeaningThen a great battle took place between the goddess and Shumbha and Nishumbha, with a very fierce rain of arrows, like two clouds pouring rain.
चिच्छेदास्ताञ्छरांस्ताभ्यां चण्डिका स्वशरोत्करैः
ताडयामास चाङ्गेषु शस्त्रौघैरसुरेश्वरौ ॥ ९.८ ॥
Chichchhedastanchharamstabhyam chandika svasharotkaraih
Tadayamasa changeshu shastraughairasureshvarau
MeaningChandika cut the arrows that the two demon lords shot at her with her own volleys, and struck their bodies with floods of weapons.
निशुम्भो निशितं खड्गं चर्म चादाय सुप्रभम्
अताडयन्मूर्ध्नि सिंहं देव्या वाहनमुत्तमम् ॥ ९.९ ॥
Nishumbho nishitam khadgam charma chadaya suprabham
Atadayanmurdhni simham devya vahanamuttamam
MeaningWhen her mount was struck, the goddess quickly cut Nishumbha's excellent sword with a razor-edged arrow, and his shield with its eight moons as well.
ताडिते वाहने देवी क्षुरप्रेणासिमुत्तमम्
निशुम्भस्याशु चिच्छेद चर्म चाप्यष्टचन्द्रकम् ॥ ९.१० ॥
Tadite vahane devi kshuraprenasimuttamam
Nishumbhasyashu chichchheda charma chapyashtachandrakam
MeaningWhen her mount was struck, the goddess quickly cut Nishumbha's excellent sword with a razor-edged arrow, and his shield with its eight moons as well.
NoteThis verse is from the Nirnaya Sagar print. GRETIL and Wikisource do not have it: they repeat verse 9 here.
छिन्ने चर्मणि खड्गे च शक्तिं चिक्षेप सोऽसुरः
तामप्यस्य द्विधा चक्रे चक्रेणाभिमुखागताम् ॥ ९.११ ॥
Chhinne charmani khadge cha shaktim chikshepa so'surah
Tamapyasya dvidha chakre chakrenabhimukhagatam
MeaningWhen his shield and sword were cut up, the demon hurled a lance, but she cut that in two too with her discus as it came towards her.
कोपाध्मातो निशुम्भोऽथ शूलं जग्राह दानवः
आयातं मुष्टिपातेन देवी तच्चाप्यचूर्णयत् ॥ ९.१२ ॥
Kopadhmato nishumbho'tha shulam jagraha danavah
Ayatam mushtipatena devi tachchapyachurnayat
MeaningThen the Danava Nishumbha, swollen with anger, took a spear. As it came, the goddess crushed it with a blow of her fist.
आविध्याथ गदां सोऽपि चिक्षेप चण्डिकां प्रति
सापि देव्या त्रिशूलेन भिन्ना भस्मत्वमागता ॥ ९.१३ ॥
Avidhyatha gadam so'pi chikshepa chandikam prati
Sapi devya trishulena bhinna bhasmatvamagata
MeaningThen he whirled a club and threw it at Chandika, but it was split by the goddess's trident and turned to ash.
ततः परशुहस्तं तमायान्तं दैत्यपुङ्गवम्
आहत्य देवी बाणौघैरपातयत भूतले ॥ ९.१४ ॥
Tatah parashuhastam tamayantam daityapungavam
Ahatya devi banaughairapatayata bhutale
MeaningThen, as that bull among demons came at her with an axe in his hand, the goddess struck him with a flood of arrows and brought him down to the ground.
तस्मिन्निपतिते भूमौ निशुम्भे भीमविक्रमे
भ्रातर्यतीव संक्रुद्धः प्रययौ हन्तुमम्बिकाम् ॥ ९.१५ ॥
Tasminnipatite bhumau nishumbhe bhimavikrame
Bhrataryativa sankruddhah prayayau hantumambikam
MeaningWhen his brother, the terrible Nishumbha, had fallen to the ground, Shumbha, in great fury, went to kill Ambika.
स रथस्थस्तथात्युच्चैर्गृहीतपरमायुधैः
भुजैरष्टाभिरतुलैर्व्याप्याशेषं बभौ नभः ॥ ९.१६ ॥
Sa rathasthastathatyuchchairgrihitaparamayudhaih
Bhujairashtabhiratulairvyapyashesham babhau nabhah
MeaningStanding in his chariot, with eight matchless arms holding the best of weapons, he lit up all the sky.
तमायान्तं समालोक्य देवी शङ्खमवादयत्
ज्याशब्दं चापि धनुषश्चकारातीव दुस्सहम् ॥ ९.१७ ॥
Tamayantam samalokya devi shankhamavadayat
Jyashabdam chapi dhanushashchakarativa dussaham
MeaningSeeing him coming, the goddess sounded her conch and made the twang of her bow, which was impossible to bear.
NoteThe conch, bow, bell, lion, Kali and Shivaduti all sound in turn from here to verse 21. The noise is part of the battle and the text spends several verses on it.
पूरयामास ककुभो निजघण्टास्वनेन च
समस्तदैत्यसैन्यानां तेजोवधविधायिना ॥ ९.१८ ॥
Purayamasa kakubho nijaghantasvanena cha
Samastadaityasainyanam tejovadhavidhayina
MeaningShe filled the directions with the sound of her bell, which took away the strength of all the demon armies.
ततः सिंहो महानादैस्त्याजितेभमहामदैः
पूरयामास गगनं गां तथैव दिशो दश ॥ ९.१९ ॥
Tatah simho mahanadaistyajitebhamahamadaih
Purayamasa gaganam gam tathaiva disho dasha
MeaningThen the lion, with great roars that made the elephants lose their pride, filled the sky, the earth and the ten directions.
ततः काली समुत्पत्य गगनं क्ष्मामताडयत्
कराभ्यां तन्निनादेन प्राक्स्वनास्ते तिरोहिताः ॥ ९.२० ॥
Tatah kali samutpatya gaganam kshmamatadayat
Karabhyam tanninadena praksvanaste tirohitah
MeaningThen Kali leapt up and struck the sky and the earth with her two hands, and under that sound the earlier sounds were lost.
अट्टाट्टहासमशिवं शिवदूती चकार ह
तैः शब्दैरसुरास्त्रेसुः शुम्भः कोपं परं ययौ ॥ ९.२१ ॥
Attattahasamashivam shivaduti chakara ha
Taih shabdairasurastresuh shumbhah kopam param yayau
MeaningShivaduti let out a dreadful, loud laugh. At those sounds the demons trembled, and Shumbha became extremely angry.
दुरात्मंस्तिष्ठ तिष्ठेति व्याजहाराम्बिका यदा
तदा जयेत्यभिहितं देवैराकाशसंस्थितैः ॥ ९.२२ ॥
Duratmamstishtha tishtheti vyajaharambika yada
Tada jayetyabhihitam devairakashasamsthitaih
MeaningWhen Ambika cried, Stand, stand, wicked one, the gods in the sky called out, Victory.
शुम्भेनागत्य या शक्तिर्मुक्ता ज्वालातिभीषणा
आयान्ती वह्निकूटाभा सा निरस्ता महोल्कया ॥ ९.२३ ॥
Shumbhenagatya ya shaktirmukta jvalatibhishana
Ayanti vahnikutabha sa nirasta maholkaya
MeaningThe spear that Shumbha came and hurled, terrible with flames and looking like a peak of fire, was driven off by a great firebrand.
सिंहनादेन शुम्भस्य व्याप्तं लोकत्रयान्तरम्
निर्घातनिःस्वनो घोरो जितवानवनीपते ॥ ९.२४ ॥
Simhanadena shumbhasya vyaptam lokatrayantaram
Nirghatanihsvano ghoro jitavanavanipate
MeaningShumbha's lion roar filled the space between the worlds, and its terrible sound, like a crash of thunder, overcame the other sounds, king.
शुम्भमुक्ताञ्छरान्देवी शुम्भस्तत्प्रहिताञ्छरान्
चिच्छेद स्वशरैरुग्रैः शतशोऽथ सहस्रशः ॥ ९.२५ ॥
Shumbhamuktanchharandevi shumbhastatprahitanchharan
Chichchheda svasharairugraih shatasho'tha sahasrashah
MeaningThe goddess cut the arrows that Shumbha shot, and Shumbha cut those she shot, in hundreds and thousands, with her own fierce arrows.
ततः सा चण्डिका क्रुद्धा शूलेनाभिजघान तम्
स तदाभिहतो भूमौ मूर्च्छितो निपपात ह ॥ ९.२६ ॥
Tatah sa chandika kruddha shulenabhijaghana tam
Sa tadabhihato bhumau murchchhito nipapata ha
MeaningThen Chandika, angry, struck Shumbha with her spear. Struck, he fell fainting to the ground.
ततो निशुम्भः सम्प्राप्य चेतनामात्तकार्मुकः
आजघान शरैर्देवीं कालीं केसरिणं तथा ॥ ९.२७ ॥
Tato nishumbhah samprapya chetanamattakarmukah
Ajaghana sharairdevim kalim kesarinam tatha
MeaningThen Nishumbha, who had come to himself, took up his bow and struck the goddess, Kali and the lion with arrows.
पुनश्च कृत्वा बाहूनामयुतं दनुजेश्वरः
चक्रायुधेन दितिजश्छादयामास चण्डिकाम् ॥ ९.२८ ॥
Punashcha kritva bahunamayutam danujeshvarah
Chakrayudhena ditijashchhadayamasa chandikam
MeaningAnd the lord of the Danavas, making ten thousand arms for himself, covered Chandika with discuses.
ततो भगवती क्रुद्धा दुर्गा दुर्गार्तिनाशिनी
चिच्छेद देवी चक्राणि स्वशरैः सायकांश्च तान् ॥ ९.२९ ॥
Tato bhagavati kruddha durga durgartinashini
Chichchheda devi chakrani svasharaih sayakamshcha tan
MeaningThen the blessed Durga, who ends the troubles of those in difficulty, angry, cut those discuses and those arrows with her own arrows.
ततो निशुम्भो वेगेन गदामादाय चण्डिकाम्
अभ्यधावत वै हन्तुं दैत्यसेनासमावृतः ॥ ९.३० ॥
Tato nishumbho vegena gadamadaya chandikam
Abhyadhavata vai hantum daityasenasamavritah
MeaningThen Nishumbha quickly took a club and ran at Chandika to kill her, surrounded by his demon troops.
तस्यापतत एवाशु गदां चिच्छेद चण्डिका
खड्गेन शितधारेण स च शूलं समाददे ॥ ९.३१ ॥
Tasyapatata evashu gadam chichchheda chandika
Khadgena shitadharena sa cha shulam samadade
MeaningAs he was coming, Chandika quickly cut his club with a sharp-edged sword, and he picked up a spear.
शूलहस्तं समायान्तं निशुम्भममरार्दनम्
हृदि विव्याध शूलेन वेगाविद्धेन चण्डिका ॥ ९.३२ ॥
Shulahastam samayantam nishumbhamamarardanam
Hridi vivyadha shulena vegaviddhena chandika
MeaningAs Nishumbha, the tormentor of the gods, came with the spear in his hand, Chandika pierced him in the heart with her spear, thrown with force.
भिन्नस्य तस्य शूलेन हृदयान्निःसृतोऽपरः
महाबलो महावीर्यस्तिष्ठेति पुरुषो वदन् ॥ ९.३३ ॥
Bhinnasya tasya shulena hridayannihsrito'parah
Mahabalo mahaviryastishtheti purusho vadan
MeaningFrom his heart, as it was split by the spear, another man came out, very strong and very mighty, saying, Stand.
NoteThe text does not name the figure who comes out of Nishumbha's heart or explain him. Some commentators read him as the demon's own power leaving his body.
तस्य निष्क्रामतो देवी प्रहस्य स्वनवत्ततः
शिरश्चिच्छेद खड्गेन ततोऽसावपतद् भुवि ॥ ९.३४ ॥
Tasya nishkramato devi prahasya svanavattatah
Shirashchichchheda khadgena tato'savapatad bhuvi
MeaningThe goddess laughed aloud at him as he came out, and cut off his head with her sword, and he fell to the ground.
ततः सिंहश्चखादोग्रं दंष्ट्राक्षुण्णशिरोधरान्
असुरांस्तांस्तथा काली शिवदूती तथापरान् ॥ ९.३५ ॥
Tatah simhashchakhadogram damshtrakshunnashirodharan
Asuramstamstatha kali shivaduti tathaparan
MeaningThen the lion devoured the demons whose necks were crushed by his teeth, and Kali and Shivaduti ate others.
कौमारीशक्तिनिर्भिन्नाः केचिन्नेशुर्महासुराः
ब्रह्माणीमन्त्रपूतेन तोयेनान्ये निराकृताः ॥ ९.३६ ॥
Kaumarishaktinirbhinnah kechinneshurmahasurah
Brahmanimantraputena toyenanye nirakritah
MeaningSome great demons were split by Kaumari's spear and perished, and others were driven away by water purified by Brahmani's mantra.
माहेश्वरीत्रिशूलेन भिन्नाः पेतुस्तथापरे
वाराहीतुण्डघातेन केचिच्चूर्णीकृता भुवि ॥ ९.३७ ॥
Maheshvaritrishulena bhinnah petustathapare
Varahitundaghatena kechichchurnikrita bhuvi
MeaningSome were pierced by Maheshvari's trident and fell, others were reduced to powder on the ground by Varahi's snout.
खण्डं खण्डं च चक्रेण वैष्णव्या दानवाः कृताः
वज्रेण चैन्द्रीहस्ताग्रविमुक्तेन तथापरे ॥ ९.३८ ॥
Khandam khandam cha chakrena vaishnavya danavah kritah
Vajrena chaindrihastagravimuktena tathapare
MeaningOther demons were cut in pieces by Vaishnavi's discus, and others by the thunderbolt let fly from the tip of Aindri's hand.
केचिद्विनेशुरसुराः केचिन्नष्टा महाहवात्
भक्षिताश्चापरे कालीशिवदूतीमृगाधिपैः ॥ ९.३९ ॥
Kechidvineshurasurah kechinnashta mahahavat
Bhakshitashchapare kalishivadutimrigadhipaih
MeaningSome demons perished, some fled from the great battle, and others were eaten by Kali, Shivaduti and the lion.
Chapter summary
After Raktabija, Shumbha and Nishumbha both come forward angry. Nishumbha strikes first and the goddess breaks his sword and shield, lance, spear and club one after another and brings him down with arrows. Shumbha, in a chariot with eight arms, comes to avenge him, and the goddess, her lion, Kali and Shivaduti make a great din.
Nishumbha rises again and covers Chandika with discuses made by ten thousand arms. She cuts them down and pierces him in the heart, and a second figure comes out and is also killed. The mother goddesses destroy the remnants of the army. Chapter 10 is the duel with Shumbha.
Where the other texts differ from the print
The Sanskrit above is the text of the Nirnaya Sagar print, which we read page by page against the page images. The GRETIL e-text of the Markandeya Purana (the Sansknet entry) and Sanskrit Wikisource are used here as witnesses only. This chapter has 39 verses in the Purana numbering.
In 4 verses (9.10, 9.13, 9.17, 9.29) the print reads differently from the GRETIL e-text in the words, or does not have the verse, beyond the small typing slips listed further down. In each case we follow the print. The other reading is given here so that you can see it. The GRETIL text is quoted with its typing slips already corrected.
- 9.10: the print has ताडिते वाहने देवी क्षुरप्रेणासिमुत्तमम् / निशुम्भस्याशु चिच्छेद चर्म चाप्यष्टचन्द्रकम्. The GRETIL e-text has निशुम्भो निशितं खड्गं चर्म चादाय सुप्रभम् अताडयन्मूर्ध्नि सिंहं देव्या वाहनमुत्तमम्. Wikisource agrees with GRETIL.
- 9.13: the print has आविध्याथ गदां सोऽपि चिक्षेप चण्डिकां प्रति / सापि देव्या त्रिशूलेन भिन्ना भस्मत्वमागता. The GRETIL e-text has अथादाय गदां सोऽपि चिक्षेप चण्डिकां प्रति सापि देव्या त्रिशूलेन भिन्ना भस्मत्वमागता. Wikisource agrees with GRETIL.
- 9.17: the print has तमायान्तं समालोक्य देवी शङ्खमवादयत् / ज्याशब्दं चापि धनुषश्चकारातीव दुस्सहम्. The GRETIL e-text has तमायान्तं समालोक्य देवी शङ्खमवादयत् ज्याशब्दं चापि धनुषश्चकारातीव दुःसहम्. Wikisource has तमायान्तं समालोक्य देवी शङ्घमवादयत् ज्याशब्दं चापि धनुषश्चकारातीव दुः सहम्.
- 9.29: the print has ततो भगवती क्रुद्धा दुर्गा दुर्गार्तिनाशिनी / चिच्छेद देवी चक्राणि स्वशरैः सायकांश्च तान्. The GRETIL e-text has ततो भगवती क्रुद्धा दुर्गा दुर्गार्तिनाशिनी चिच्छेद तानि चक्राणि स्वशरैः सायकांश्च तान्. Wikisource agrees with GRETIL.
Typing slips in the GRETIL e-text, so that you can see exactly what was changed (the print has the corrected form in each):
- 9.2: the GRETIL e-text has चका शुम्भो, a typing slip; the print has चकार शुम्भो, which we print.
- 9.6: the GRETIL e-text has कोपात्कृताव, a typing slip shared with Wikisource; the print has कोपात्कृत्वा, which we print.
- 9.14: the GRETIL e-text has तमायान्त दैत्यपुङ्गवम्, a typing slip shared with Wikisource; the print has तमायान्तं दैत्यपुङ्गवम्, which we print.
- 9.17: the GRETIL e-text has शङ्घमवादयत्, a typing slip shared with Wikisource; the print has शङ्खमवादयत्, which we print.
- 9.17: the GRETIL e-text has दुः सहम्, a typing slip shared with Wikisource; the print reads differently here, as given above.
- 9.24: the GRETIL e-text has निर्घातनिः स्वनो, a typing slip shared with Wikisource; the print has निर्घातनिःस्वनो, which we print.
- 9.33: the GRETIL e-text has हृदयान्निः सृतो, a typing slip shared with Wikisource; the print has हृदयान्निःसृतो, which we print.
- 9.37: the GRETIL e-text has केचिच्चूर्णोकृता, a typing slip shared with Wikisource; the print has केचिच्चूर्णीकृता, which we print.
Wikisource also has a speaker name or an editor’s note written into the verse text in 1 verse (9.1); these are not part of the text and are left out.
Source of the text on this page. The Sanskrit is the text of the Nirnaya Sagar Press edition of the Saptashati (Bombay, Shaka 1839, which is 1917 CE, edited by Vasudev Laxman Shastri Panshikar and published by Tukaram Javaji), read page by page from the scan on archive.org (identifier SaptashatiNirnayaSagarPress, scan pages 207 to 215 for this chapter). We follow the print's readings. We space the words and write the nasals in the usual style of this site, and we do not count that as a difference. The GRETIL e-text of the Markandeya Purana (where this chapter is chapter 89) and Sanskrit Wikisource are used as witnesses only: where they read differently from the print, their readings are listed under the heading above. The print numbers its speaker lines, and its own running count reaches 543 at the end of this chapter; this page keeps the Markandeya Purana numbering, so the verse numbers differ. The transliteration is a simple guide to sound and the meanings are our own wording. See the Devi Mahatmya hub for the full note on sources.