The End of Nishumbh

At the start of the ninth adhyay, King Suratha said to the sage Medha, 'Revered one, you have told me of Raktabeej. Now tell me, what did the furious Shumbh and Nishumbh do?' The sage said: the end of Raktabeej and the other asuras made both brothers burn with rage. Nishumbh rushed out first with the main army.

Shumbh too came with his army to fight the Matrikas. Nishumbh attacked the Devi with sword and shield, but she cut through both. He hurled a spear, and she broke it to pieces with her discus. He raised a trident and a mace, and those too were shattered by her weapons.

At last, struck by the Devi's arrows, Nishumbh fell to the ground. Seeing his younger brother fall, Shumbh grew furious, took a huge eight-armed form and charged at the Devi. She blew her conch, twanged her bow and with the ringing of her bell dimmed the asuras' power. She stopped Shumbh's spear and trident too, and struck him down to the ground.

Meanwhile Nishumbh came to his senses, rose again and, with countless arms, hurled countless discs. The Devi cut them down too and struck him with her trident. Then from within him came out another mighty warrior, crying 'Stop!' The Devi laughed and struck off his head with her sword. Thus Nishumbh met his end. Kali, Shivaduti and the Matrikas defeated the rest of the army.