UTTAMA CHARITRA · MAHASARASWATI
Chapter 9 of 13
Nishumbha Vadha
निशुम्भवधः
Cutting the 'mine'
KEY SHLOKA
तस्यापतन्तं वेगेन निशुम्भस्यासुरस्य च । चिच्छेद सायकास्तीक्ष्णैश्चर्म चाष्टशशीयुतम् ॥
tasyāpatantaṃ vegena niśumbhasyāsurasya ca | ciccheda sāyakāstīkṣṇaiścarma cāṣṭaśaśīyutam ||
With sharp arrows she cut the swiftly falling sword of the demon Nishumbha, and his shield adorned with eight moons.
Sanskrit recitation
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FULL TRANSCRIPT
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The Story
Furious at Raktabija's death, Nishumbha charges. He is struck down, rises again with ten thousand arms, and is struck again. From his chest a second being emerges, crying 'Stop!' — the Devi laughs and beheads it. The Matrikas and Kali destroy his army.
Teachings
- ✦Nishumbha is 'mamatā' — the sense of 'mine'.
- ✦Possessiveness keeps reappearing in new forms.
- ✦Laughter, not struggle, is the Devi's posture.
TODAY'S SADHANA
Give away one thing today that you think of as 'mine', even a small one.
Reflect & Remember
1. Nishumbha represents…
2. What emerges from Nishumbha's chest?
3. Who is Nishumbha's brother?