Markandeya Purana — Adhyaya 89, Shloka 30

Adhyaya 89 — The Wrath of Shumbha and Nishumbha and the Fall of Nishumbha

Sanskrit

ततो निशुम्भो वेगेन गदामादाय चण्डिकाम् ।

अभ्यधावत वै हन्तुं दैत्यसेनासमावृतः ॥

Transliteration

tato niśumbho vegena gadām ādāya caṇḍikām | abhyadhāvata vai hantuṃ daityasenāsamāvṛtaḥ ||

Translation

Then Niśumbha, seizing his mace and rushing with speed, charged to kill Caṇḍikā, surrounded by the army of the Daityas.

Word by Word

• ततः: then
• ततः: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatas (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय, क्रियाविशेषण: ‘then’

• निशुम्भः: Niśumbha
• निशुम्भः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निशुम्भ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• वेगेन: with speed
• वेगेन: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वेग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

• गदाम्: a mace
• गदाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गदा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• आदाय: having taken
• आदाय: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ + दा (धातु)
• Form: ल्यप्/क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (gerund): ‘having taken up’

• चण्डिकाम्: Caṇḍikā
• चण्डिकाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चण्डिका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• अभ्यधावत: rushed towards
• अभ्यधावत: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अभि + धाव् (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (imperfect/past), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• वै: indeed
• वै: Nipāta (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vai (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय, निपात (particle) — emphasis/indeed

• हन्तुम्: to kill
• हन्तुम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Verb
• Root: हन् (धातु)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त (infinitive), ‘to kill’

• दैत्यसेनासमावृतः: surrounded by the demon army
• दैत्यसेनासमावृतः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दैत्य (प्रातिपदिक) + सेना (प्रातिपदिक) + समावृत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास: दैत्यसेनया समावृतः; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण (of Niśumbha)

Speakers

• Narrative within the Devi Mahatmyam

Verse Rasa

{ "primaryRasa": "vira", "secondaryRasa": "raudra", "rasaIntensity": 0, "emotionalArcPosition": "", "moodDescriptors": [] }

Primary Deities

• Caṇḍikā/Durgā
• Niśumbha

Shakti Aspects

• Caṇḍikā

Key Themes

• Shaktism
• Asuric aggression
• Courage and divine steadfastness
• Battlefield dharma (protection of worlds)

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

Egoic force (Niśumbha) seeks victory by momentum and crowd-power (army), but dharma is not decided by numbers; it is decided by alignment with truth and the welfare of the worlds.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana (5 characteristics)?

Carita: heroic narration used as a vehicle for theological instruction—Devi as the ultimate refuge and defender.

What is the esoteric significance?

The mace signifies blunt compulsion and coercive power. ‘Surrounded by the army’ mirrors the mind backed by many supporting impulses; yet the central delusion remains singular and confrontable.