Shloka 5

Adhyaya 81 — Suratha and Samadhi Seek Sage Medhas; Introduction to Mahamaya and the Madhukaitabha Origin Account

Sanskrit

तस्य तैरभवद्युद्धमतिप्रबलदण्डिनः ।

न्यूनैरपि स तैर्युद्धे कोलाविध्वंसिभिर्जितः ॥

Transliteration

tasya tair abhavad yuddham ati-prabala-daṇḍinaḥ |

nyūnair api sa tair yuddhe kolā-vidhvaṃsibhir jitaḥ ||

Translation

وهو، مع أنه صاحبُ عقابٍ وقوةٍ بالغة الشدة، قاتلهم؛ غير أنه في تلك المعركة هُزم على يد أولئك مدمّري الكولا، مع أنهم كانوا أقل عددًا.

Word by Word

• tasya: of him
• tasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular

• taiḥ: by them/with them
• taiḥ: Karaṇa/Agent-instrument (करण/कर्तृसाधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural

• abhavat: arose/occurred
• abhavat: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhū (धातु)
• Form: Luṅ (लुङ्, aorist), Parasmaipada, 3rd person, Singular

• yuddham: a battle
• yuddham: Karta (कर्ता) (of abhavat)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yuddha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• ati-prabala-daṇḍinaḥ: of (him) who wielded a very powerful force/punishment
• ati-prabala-daṇḍinaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ati (अव्यय) + prabala (प्रातिपदिक) + daṇḍin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular; karmadhāraya: 'very-strong (prabala) daṇḍin' with intensifier ati; qualifies tasya (king)

• nyūnaiḥ: by fewer (men)
• nyūnaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nyūna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural; used substantively 'by the fewer/weaker'

• api: even
• api: Sambandha/Emphasis (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, particle (निपात) expressing concession

• saḥ: he
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता) (of jitaḥ)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• taiḥ: by them
• taiḥ: Kartṛ (कर्ता) in passive
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural

• yuddhe: in battle
• yuddhe: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yuddha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular

• kolā-vidhvaṃsibhiḥ: by the Kolā-destroyers
• kolā-vidhvaṃsibhiḥ: Kartṛ (कर्ता) in passive (agent)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kolā (प्रातिपदिक) + vidhvaṃsin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural; tatpuruṣa: 'destroyers of Kolā(s)'

• jitaḥ: defeated
• jitaḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया) (passive predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ji (धातु)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त/कृत), Masculine, Nominative, Singular; agrees with saḥ

Speakers

• Narrator within the Devi Mahatmyam frame

Key Themes

• Reversal of fortune
• Limits of worldly power
• Karmic/political vulnerability

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

Worldly strength and administration (daṇḍa) are not absolute; circumstances and collective forces can overcome even a strong ruler—prompting the turn toward higher refuge.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana (5 characteristics)?

Vaṃśānucarita (accounts of royal lines) within a Manvantara frame: the king’s career arc is narrated as part of purāṇic historical exempla.

What is the esoteric significance?

Defeat ‘by fewer’ signals that subtle inner forces (desire, fear, attachment) can overpower gross strength; this anticipates the doctrine of Mahāmāyā’s binding power.