The mighty treasure known as Mahāpadma had been brought from the lord of wealth, and the ocean itself had gifted a garland of unfading lotus flowers, their filaments shining with beauty. In your house stood Varuṇa’s golden umbrella, streaming with radiant light, and the foremost of chariots, once belonging to Prajāpati, was now yours. O Lord, you have claimed the power called Utkrāntidā, which brings about death, and you possess the noose of the Lord of Waters, your own brother. All the jewels born from the ocean, once belonging to Niśumbha, have been given to you; even the fire has offered you garments purified by its flames. Thus, O Lord of the Daityas, all these treasures have been brought before you—yet, why do you not take this jewel among women, this auspicious lady? Hearing these words, Śumbha, the great Asura, sent his messenger Sugrīva, through Caṇḍa and Muṇḍa, to the Goddess. “Go,” he commanded, “and say this and this to her on my behalf; and as she responds with favor, act quickly.” Sugrīva went to the splendid mountain region where the Goddess resided and addressed her with gentle and sweet words: “O Goddess, Śumbha, lord of the demons, is the supreme ruler of the three worlds. I am his messenger, sent here to you. His commands are never obstructed among the divine beings, and he has conquered all the enemies of the demons—listen to what he says. ‘The entire three worlds are mine; the gods are subject to my will; I alone partake in all the shares of sacrifice. The best jewels in the three worlds are completely under my control. The elephant-jewel, the vehicle of the king of the gods, I have seized. The horse-jewel, Uccaiḥśravas, which arose from the churning of the milk ocean, was respectfully offered to me by the immortals. Whatever other precious beings exist among the gods, gandharvas, and serpents, O beautiful one, all those are with me alone. O Devi, we consider you the jewel among women in this world; therefore, come to us, for we are the possessors of jewels. O you of restless glance, since you are indeed a jewel, choose either me or my younger brother Niśumbha, of great prowess. By accepting me, you will obtain incomparable and supreme sovereignty; consider this carefully and accept my proposal.’” Thus addressed, the blessed Devi Durga, sustainer of the world, smiled deeply and spoke: “What you have said is true; there is nothing false in your words. Śumbha is the lord of the three worlds, and Niśumbha is likewise. But how can what has been promised here be made false? Listen well, since you are of little understanding, to the vow that was made before: Whoever defeats me in battle, dispels my pride, and stands as my equal in the world—he shall become my husband. Let Śumbha or Niśumbha, the great demon, come here; having conquered me, why delay? Let him quickly take my hand.” Sugrīva replied, “You are arrogant, O Devi; tell me, who in the three worlds could stand against Śumbha and Niśumbha? Even all the gods and other demons do not face them in battle; how then, as a woman alone, will you? All the gods, including Indra, have retreated from battle with Śumbha and his kind; how will you, a woman, go forth alone against them? Go, as I have told you, to the side of Śumbha and Niśumbha; you will not go, shaken from your dignity by hair-pulling.” The Devi responded, “Thus it is: Śumbha is powerful, and Niśumbha is exceedingly mighty. What can I do? I made a promise before, without considering this. So you go, as I have told you, and respectfully convey all this to the lord of the asuras. Let him act accordingly.” Hearing the words of the Goddess, the messenger, filled with indignation, returned and reported everything in detail to the king of the demons. Upon hearing this, Śumbha, the king of the asuras, angered, addressed Dhūmralocana, chief of the demons: “O Dhūmralocana, quickly go, surrounded by your own army, and bring that wicked woman here by force, dragging her by the hair if she resists. If anyone else rises to protect her, whether immortal, yaksha, or gandharva, he must be slain.” Thus commanded, Dhūmralocana swiftly set out, surrounded by thousands of asuras, advancing quickly. He declared, “If today, out of affection, you do not approach my master, then by force I will take you, your hair seized and you distressed.” The Devi replied, “Sent by the lord of the daityas, powerful and accompanied by force, if you take me away by force, then what can I do to you?” Dhūmralocana rushed at her, but with a mere roar, Ambika reduced him to ashes. Then Ambika showered the enraged army of asuras with sharp arrows, as well as spears and axes. Her lion mount, shaking his mane in anger and making a terrifying roar, leapt into the army of the asuras. Some demons he struck with his paws, others with his mouth; seizing yet others with his lower jaw, he killed them. The lion tore open the bellies of some with his claws, and with blows of his paw, severed the heads of others.