Shloka 7
Adhyaya 90 — The Slaying of Shumbha and the Reabsorption of the Goddesses into Ambika
शरवर्षैः शितैः शस्त्रैस्तथा चास्त्रैः सुदारुणैः । तयोर्युद्धमभूद् भूयः सर्वलोकभयङ्करम् ॥
śaravarṣaiḥ śitaiḥ śastraistathā cāstraiḥ sudāruṇaiḥ / tayoryuddhamabhūd bhūyaḥ sarvalokabhayaṅkaram
తీక్ష్ణ బాణవర్షాలు, శస్త్రాలు మరియు అత్యంత ఘోరమైన అస్త్రప్రయోగాలతో ఆ ఇద్దరి మధ్య మళ్లీ సమరం చెలరేగింది; అది సమస్త లోకాలకు భయంకరమైంది.
FAQs
The verse distinguishes between 'Shastra' (hand-held weapons representing physical force) and 'Astra' (missiles/mantric weapons representing intellectual or psychic force). This indicates that the battle between the Ego (Shumbha) and the Divine Self (Devi) is fought on both the physical and subtle planes.
This narrative falls under the 'Manvantara' characteristic. The Devi Mahatmyam is technically an interlude describing the events that secure the tenure of the Savarni Manu.
It emphasizes that the conflict is not merely local but cosmic. When the supreme delusion (Shumbha) challenges the Supreme Reality (Devi), the stability of all planes of existence (Lokas) is shaken, necessitating a restoration of Dharma.