31 A M B I K A D E C A P I TAT E S C H A N D A A N D M U N D A AND K ALI BRINGS THEIR HEADS TO HER
Chanda and Munda attempt to fight Kali but Ambika cuts off their heads and Kali brings them to her.
16. On seeing all the hosts of asuras laid low in a
looked like numerous solar orbs disappearing
moment, Chanda rushed against that Kali, who
into the midst of a cloud.
was exceedingly terrible.
19. Thereat Kali, who was roaring frightfully, whose
17. The great asura (Chanda) with very terrible
fearful teeth were gleaming within her dreadful
showers of arrows, and Munda with discuses
mouth, laughed terribly with exceeding fury.
hurled in thousands covered that
20. Then the Devi, mounting upon her great lion,
terrible-eyed (Devi).
rushed at Chanda, and seizing him by his hair,
18. Those numerous
severed his head with her sword.
discuses,
21. Seeing Chanda laid low, Munda also rushed at her.
disappearing
She felled him also to the ground, striking him with
into her mouth,
her sword in her fury.
22. Seeing the most valiant Chanda and Munda laid
low, the remaining army there became panicky
and fled in all directions.
23. And Kali, holding the heads of Chanda and
Munda in her hands, approached Chandika and
said, her words mingled with very loud laughter:
24. ‘Here have I brought you the heads of Chanda
and Munda as two great animal offerings in this
sacrifice of battle; you shall yourself slay
Shumbha and Nishumbha.’
The Rishi said:
India (Kangra), circa 1810 Folio: Height: 23.2 cm Width: 29.3 cm
Image: Height: 18.7 cm Width: 25.2 cm
Opaque pigments and gold and silver on paper within wide red borders
25-27. Thereupon seeing those asuras Chanda and
Munda brought to her, the auspicious Chandika
said to Kali these playful words: ‘Because you
have brought me both Chanda and Munda, you
O Devi, shall be famed in the world by the
name Chamunda.
Here ends the seventh chapter called ‘The Slaying of Chanda and Munda’ of Devi Mahatmya in Markandeya Purana.
Numbered 32 on reverse and 33 on cover sheet and inscribed with the subject of the painting: ‘The slaying of
Chanda and Munda. [End of] the seventh chapter’ Cf. Goswamy 1986, no. 165