हुङ्कारेणैव तं भस्म (धूम्रलोचन का भस्म होना) — Word-by-Word Meaning
हुङ्कारेणैव तं भस्म (धूम्रलोचन का भस्म होना)
Every Sanskrit word explained in English
Word-by-Word Breakdown
देव्युवाच
devyuvāca
The Devi (Goddess) said
दैत्येश्वरेण प्रहितः
daityeśvareṇa prahitaḥ
Sent by the lord of the daityas (Shumbha)
बलवान्
balavān
Mighty, powerful
बलसंवृतः
bala-saṃvṛtaḥ
Surrounded by an army
बलात् नयसि माम् एवम्
balāt nayasi mām evam
If you would thus lead me away by force
ततः किं ते करोमि अहम्
tataḥ kiṃ te karomi aham
Then what can I do to you (how can I prevent it)?
ऋषिरुवाच
ṛṣiruvāca
The Rishi (sage) said
इति उक्तः
iti uktaḥ
Thus addressed, thus spoken to
सः अभ्यधावत् ताम्
saḥ abhyadhāvat tām
He rushed at her
असुरः धूम्रलोचनः
asuraḥ dhūmralocanaḥ
The asura Dhumralochana ('smoky-eyed')
हुङ्कारेण एव
huṅkāreṇa eva
By a mere 'hum' sound (hunkara)
तं भस्म सा चकार
taṃ bhasma sā cakāra
She reduced him to ashes
अम्बिका तदा
ambikā tadā
Ambika (the Mother), then
Complete Translation
देवी बोलीं — 'तुम दैत्येश्वर द्वारा भेजे गए हो, बलवान् हो और सेना से घिरे हो; यदि तुम इस प्रकार मुझे बलपूर्वक ले जाओगे — तो मैं तुम्हारा क्या कर सकती हूँ?' ऋषि बोले — इस प्रकार कहे जाने पर असुर धूम्रलोचन उन पर झपटा; और तब अम्बिका ने हुँकार मात्र से उसे भस्म कर दिया।
Origin & History
Source: Durga Saptashati Chapter 6
Author: Sage Markandeya (Markandeya Purana)
Period: 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Dhumralochana?▼
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.
What is the significance of the '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.
Which chapter of the Durga Saptashati is this from?▼
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.
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