86 - The Devi-mahatmya;

The slaying of Sumhha and Nishumbha’s general Bhumra-loch’ana. Shumbha despatched his general Dhumra-loch’ana and an army to capture the goddess and she destroyed them. —He then despatched Chanda and Munda with another army. 

The riahi spoke:

1 The messenger, on hearing this speech from the goddess, was filled with indignation, and approaching related it fully

2 to the Daitya king. The Asura monarch then, after hearing that report from his messenger, was wroth and commanded Dhumra-lochana, a chieftain of the Daityas: -

3 “Ho! Dhumra-lochana, haste thee together with thy army; fetch by force that shrew, who will he unnerved when dragged

4 along by her hair. Or if any man besides stands up to offer her deliverance, let him be slain, be he an Immortal, a Yaksha or a Gandharva forsooth.” 

The rishi spoke:

5 Thereupon at his command the Daitya Dhumra-lochana went

6 forthwith quickly, accompanied by sixty thousand Asuras. On seeing the goddess stationed on the snowy mountain, he cried aloud to her there— “Come forward to the presence of Sh’umbhar

7 and Nishumbha; if thou wilt not, lady, approach my lord with affection now, I will here take thee by force, who wilt he unnerved since thou shalt be dragged along by thy hair!” 

The goddess spoke:

8 Sent by the king of the Daityas, mighty thyself, and accompanied by an army, thou dost thus take me by force—then what can I do unto thee? 

The rishi spoke:

9 At this reply the Asura Dhumra-lochana rushed towards her.

10 Then Ambika with a mere roar reduced him to ashes. And the great army of Asuras enraged poured on Ambika a shower

11 both of sharp arrows and of javelins and axes. The lion that carried* the goddess, shaking his mane in anger and uttering a

* Tu vahanah in the Bombay edition is better than sva-vahanah.

12 most terrific roar, fell on the army of Asuras; he slaughtered some Asuras with a blow from his fore-paw, and others with his mouth, and others, very great Asuras, by striking

13 them with his hind foot.† The lion with his claws tore out the entrails of some, and struck their heads off with a cuff-like

† Ch’aranena of the Bombay edition is better than ch’ddharena.

 14 blow. And be severed arms and heads from others, and shaking his mane drank the blood that flowed irom the entrails ††

†† For kaushthad read koahthad.

 15 of others. In a moment all that army was brought to destruction by the high-spirited lion, who bore the goddess and who was enraged exceedingly. 

16 When he heard that that Asura Dhumra-lochana was slain by the goddess, and all his army besides was destroyed by the

17 goddess’ lion, Sh’umbha, the lord of the Daityas, fell into a rage and his lip quivered greatly, and he commanded the two

18 mighty Asuras Chanda and Munda,— “Ho, Ch‘anda! Ho, Munda! take with you a multitude of troops and go there; and going

19 there bring her here speedily, dragging her by her hair or binding her; if ye have a doubt of that, then let her be slain outright in fight by all the Asuras brandishing all their

20 weapons. When that shrew is slain and her lion striken down, seize her, Ambika, bind her and bring her quickly!”