durgadeviambikadurga-saptashati

Hunkarenaiva Tam Bhasma (Dhumralochana Reduced to Ashes)

हुङ्कारेणैव तं भस्म (धूम्रलोचन का भस्म होना)

🕉️ hindu·📿 11× repetitions·🕐 During Navaratri, on Ashtami, or on Tuesdays and Fridays at dawn·📜 Durga Saptashati Chapter 6

Also known as: hunkarenaiva tam bhasma · dhumralochana vadha · ambika burns dhumralochana · hunkara mantra durga · durga saptashati chapter 6

📜 Complete Lyrics 📖 Word-by-Word Meaning ✨ Benefits & How to Chant ⬇️ PDF Download

Read in your language / script

हिन्दी / देवनागरीతెలుగు தமிழ்ಕನ್ನಡ മലയാളം ગુજરાતી বাংলা ଓଡ଼ିଆ ਪੰਜਾਬੀ English සිංහල 𑌗𑍍𑌰𑌨𑍍𑌥

✦ Meaning

From the sixth chapter of the Durga Saptashati, these verses tell how the demon Dhumralochana, sent by Shumbha to seize the Goddess by force, was annihilated in an instant. When he charged at her, Ambika needed no weapon: with a single fierce syllable 'hum' (hunkara) she burned him to ashes. The episode reveals the effortless, all-consuming power of the Goddess against the mightiest of foes.

Origin & Story

Durga Saptashati Chapter 6 · Sage Markandeya (Markandeya Purana) · c. 400–600 CE (Markandeya Purana)

After the demon-king Shumbha's first messenger failed to win over the Goddess, Shumbha sent the daitya Dhumralochana with sixty thousand asuras to bring her by force. The Goddess, seated on the Himalaya, calmly told him she could not stop him from trying. When Dhumralochana charged, Ambika reduced him to ashes with a single hunkara, and her lion destroyed his army.

✦ As told in scripture

Devotees hold that this verse demonstrates how the Mother can dissolve an overwhelming threat in an instant; those who chant it in moments of intimidation report a sudden, unexpected collapse of the forces arrayed against them, as Dhumralochana's army crumbled before the Devi's lion.

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Complete Text with Meaning

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Verse 1

देव्युवाच दैत्येश्वरेण प्रहितो बलवान्बलसंवृतः । बलान्नयसि मामेवं ततः किं ते करोम्यहम् ॥

devyuvāca daityeśvareṇa prahito balavānbalasaṃvṛtaḥ balānnayasi māmevaṃ tataḥ kiṃ te karomyaham

Meaning:The Devi said: 'You are sent by the lord of the daityas, mighty and surrounded by an army; if you would thus lead me away by force — then what can I do to you?' The Rishi said: Thus addressed, the asura Dhumralochana rushed at her; and with a mere 'hum' (hunkara) Ambika then reduced him to ashes.

Verse 2

ऋषिरुवाच इत्युक्तः सोऽभ्यधावत्तामसुरो धूम्रलोचनः । हुङ्कारेणैव तं भस्म सा चकाराम्बिका तदा ॥

ṛṣiruvāca ityuktaḥ so'bhyadhāvattāmasuro dhūmralocanaḥ huṅkāreṇaiva taṃ bhasma sā cakārāmbikā tadā

Word-by-Word Meaning

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देव्युवाच🔊devyuvācaThe Devi (Goddess) said

दैत्येश्वरेण प्रहितः🔊daityeśvareṇa prahitaḥSent by the lord of the daityas (Shumbha)

बलवान्🔊balavānMighty, powerful

बलसंवृतः🔊bala-saṃvṛtaḥSurrounded by an army

बलात् नयसि माम् एवम्🔊balāt nayasi mām evamIf you would thus lead me away by force

ततः किं ते करोमि अहम्🔊tataḥ kiṃ te karomi ahamThen what can I do to you (how can I prevent it)?

ऋषिरुवाच🔊ṛṣiruvācaThe Rishi (sage) said

इति उक्तः🔊iti uktaḥThus addressed, thus spoken to

सः अभ्यधावत् ताम्🔊saḥ abhyadhāvat tāmHe rushed at her

असुरः धूम्रलोचनः🔊asuraḥ dhūmralocanaḥThe asura Dhumralochana ('smoky-eyed')

हुङ्कारेण एव🔊huṅkāreṇa evaBy a mere 'hum' sound (hunkara)

तं भस्म सा चकार🔊taṃ bhasma sā cakāraShe reduced him to ashes

अम्बिका तदा🔊ambikā tadāAmbika (the Mother), then

Benefits of Chanting Hunkarenaiva Tam Bhasma (Dhumralochana Reduced to Ashes)

✦

Invokes the Goddess's power to destroy threats effortlessly, even with a single sound

✦

Recited for swift protection when one is being coerced, intimidated or dragged into wrong

✦

Reminds the devotee that the Divine Mother needs no elaborate means to vanquish evil

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The hunkara (the sacred 'hum') is a potent bija for burning away negativity and fear

✦

Strengthens inner resolve to refuse force and falsehood with dignity, like the Devi's reply

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Powerful during Navaratri readings of the Devi Mahatmya

How to Chant Hunkarenaiva Tam Bhasma (Dhumralochana Reduced to Ashes)

Repetitions11times

Best TimeDuring Navaratri, on Ashtami, or on Tuesdays and Fridays at dawn

Begin with the Saptashati seed mantra 'Om Aim Hrim Klim Chamundayai Vichche'. Chant these verses with calm steadiness on the Devi's words and with force on the hunkara, visualising the demon dissolving to ash. Recited for protection against those who try to overpower or coerce the devotee, and as part of the sixth chapter path of the Durga Saptashati.

Frequently Asked Questions

Dhumralochana, meaning 'smoky-eyed', was a chief among the daityas. The demon-king Shumbha sent him with sixty thousand asuras to seize the Goddess by force and drag her by the hair. The Goddess reduced him to ashes with a single hunkara.

The hunkara is the powerful seed-sound 'hum'. That the Goddess destroys a mighty demon with this single utterance shows that her power is effortless and that sacred sound itself, charged with her will, can burn away the greatest evil.

These are verses 8 and 9 of the sixth chapter (Dhumralochana-Vadha) of the Durga Saptashati, which falls within the Uttama Charita presided over by the Goddess Mahasaraswati.