Adhyaya 89 — The Wrath of Shumbha and Nishumbha and the Fall of Nishumbha
आजगाम महावीर्यः शुम्भोऽपि स्वबलैर्वृतः ।
निहन्तुं चण्डिकां कोपात्कृताव युद्धं तु मातृभिः ॥
ājagāma mahāvīryaḥ śumbho 'pi svabalair vṛtaḥ | nihantuṃ caṇḍikāṃ kopāt kṛtāva yuddhaṃ tu mātṛbhiḥ ||
Kemudian Śumbha yang sangat perkasa pun datang dikelilingi pasukannya sendiri; setelah berperang melawan para Ibu (Mātṛkā), ia maju dalam amarah untuk membunuh Caṇḍikā.
Pride (Śumbha) escalates to direct confrontation when intermediaries fail; the text underscores that arrogance ultimately challenges the very source of order and is thereby undone.
Manvantara-embedded narrative illustrating dharma’s defense through Devī; it is exemplary sacred history rather than cosmogenesis.
Caṇḍikā represents the incisive power that cuts through delusion; Śumbha approaching ‘with his own forces’ suggests the ego’s last consolidation before surrender/defeat.