
ALT Devi Mahatmyam Durga Saptashati Nishumbha fell first. When the Devi pierced his heart, another figure leapt out of it crying "Stop!" She laughed, and cut off its head. Now Shumbha stood alone, burning with anger. He mocked Her: "Durga, don't be so proud. You fight by leaning on the strength of others." The Devi said: I am alone here in this world. What second is there besides Me? See, wicked one, these powers of Mine are entering back into Me. And every Shakti on the battlefield merged into Her. Only Ambika remained. They fought across the sky. At last She hurled him to the earth and pierced his chest with Her trident.

ALT Devi Mahatmyam Durga Saptashati Then came Raktabija, the most frightening of them all. Every drop of his blood that touched the ground rose up as another Raktabija, just as strong. The more the Shaktis struck him, the more of him there were, until the battlefield was full of Raktabijas. So the Devi turned to Kali: Chamunda, open your mouth wide. Kali spread Her mouth across the battlefield and took in every drop before it could fall. With nothing left to multiply, Raktabija fell, drained. Every sadhak meets Raktabija. Fight a thought, and two more rise. Hate an anger, and it spreads. The only way through is Kali's way: take it into awareness before it touches the ground.























