Markandeya Purana — Adhyaya 89, Shloka 31

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

Sanskrit

तस्यापतत एवाशु गदां चिच्छेद चण्डिका ।

खड्गेन शितधारेण स च शूलं समाददे ॥

Transliteration

tasyāpatata evāśu gadāṃ ciccheda caṇḍikā | khaḍgena śitadhāreṇa sa ca śūlaṃ samādade ||

Translation

As he rushed in, Caṇḍikā swiftly cut his mace with her sharp-edged sword; and he then took up a spear (trident-like lance).

Word by Word

• तस्य: of him (Niśumbha)
• तस्य: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• आपततः: as he was rushing/falling upon
• आपततः: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रिया-विशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ + पत् (धातु)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमानकृदन्त (present active participle), षष्ठी, एकवचन; ‘while falling/charging’ (agreeing with tasya)

• एव: indeed
• एव: Nipāta (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय, निपात (particle): emphasis ‘just/indeed’

• आशु: quickly
• आशु: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: āśu (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय, क्रियाविशेषण (adverb): ‘quickly’

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

• चिच्छेद: cut off
• चिच्छेद: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: छिद् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• चण्डिका: Caṇḍikā
• चण्डिका: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चण्डिका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• खड्गेन: with a sword
• खड्गेन: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: खड्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

• शितधारेण: sharp-edged
• शितधारेण: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शित (प्रातिपदिक) + धार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास: शिता धारा यस्य; पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (of khaḍga)

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• च: and
• च: Sambandha/Anvaya (सम्बन्ध/अन्वय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय, समुच्चयबोधक (conjunction): ‘and’

• शूलम्: a spear/trident
• शूलम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शूल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• समाददे: took up
• समाददे: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + आ + दा (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (perfect), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

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
• Divine skill in battle
• Neutralizing violence
• Escalation of conflict

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

When aggression changes tools, wisdom adapts faster. The Goddess’ response is precise and proportionate—power governed by clarity, not rage.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana (5 characteristics)?

Carita: a dramatic sequence highlighting Devi’s supremacy; not focused on cosmological creation cycles but on dharmic restoration.

What is the esoteric significance?

The sword is discriminative knowledge (viveka) that cuts through crude force (mace). The subsequent ‘śūla’ indicates subtler piercing pain—when gross habits are cut, deeper tendencies may still arise.