Adhyaya 87 — The Slaying of Dhumralochana and the Emergence of Kali; the Fall of Chanda and Munda (Chamunda Named)
ऋषिरुवाच तावानीतौ ततो दृष्ट्वा चणाडमुण्डौ महासुरौ । उवाच कालीं कल्याणी ललितं चण्डिका वचः ॥
ṛṣir uvāca tāvānītau tato dṛṣṭvā caṇḍa-muṇḍau mahāsurau / uvāca kālīṃ kalyāṇī lalitaṃ caṇḍikā vacaḥ
رِشی نے کہا— پھر اُن دونوں عظیم اسوروں، چنڈ اور مُنڈ، کو حاضر کیا گیا دیکھ کر، مبارک چندیکا نے نرمی بھرے کلمات سے کالی دیوی سے خطاب کیا۔
Even within fierce conflict, Devī’s sovereignty includes restraint and right ordering: Caṇḍikā’s ‘gentle speech’ to Kālī shows that divine ferocity is not uncontrolled rage but purposeful protection of dharma.
Primarily within Manvantara/Anucarita (narrative of a Manvantara and exemplary deeds). The Devi Mahatmyam is embedded as a sacred episode illustrating dharma-protection within the Sāvarṇika Manvantara frame.
Caṇḍikā and Kālī function as the commanding consciousness and the executing power: the scene depicts śakti as differentiated yet non-dual—Devī’s will (ājñā) and Devī’s force (kriyā) operating in harmony.