"I Am Alone": The End of Shumbh

In the tenth adhyay, having lost his dear brother Nishumbh and his army, Shumbh was filled with rage. He taunted the Devi, 'O Durga, you are proud of your strength, but you are fighting with the strength of others. So many goddesses stand beside you.'

The Devi calmly replied, 'In this world I alone exist. Who else is there besides me? Look, these are all my own vibhutis, and they are merging back into me.' At that very moment Brahmani, Maheshwari, Kali and all the other goddesses melted into the Devi's body, and Ambika stood alone on the battlefield.

The Devi said, 'I was here in many forms; now I have drawn them back. Now I stand alone. Steady yourself and fight.' Then a terrible battle took place between Shumbh and the Devi, and the gods and all beings watched in wonder. One by one she cut down Shumbh's arrows, bow, spear and mace.

With his weapons gone, Shumbh seized the Devi and flew up into the sky. Even there, with no support, the Devi fought him, a battle that amazed even the siddhas and sages. After fighting a long while, she whirled him around and flung him down to the earth.

Shumbh rose again and ran at her with his fist raised. Then the Devi ended him with her trident. As he fell, the whole world became calm and happy. The sky cleared, the rivers flowed in their courses, cool breezes blew, and the gods joyfully sang the victory of the Devi.