Shloka 21

Adhyaya 82 — The Rise of Mahishasura and the Manifestation of the Goddess from the Gods’ Tejas

Sanskrit

शङ्खञ्च वरुणः शक्तिं ददौ तस्यै हुताशनः ।

मारुतो दत्तवांश्चापं बाणपूर्णे तथेषुधी ॥

Transliteration

śaṅkhaṃ ca varuṇaḥ śaktiṃ dadau tasyai hutāśanaḥ |

māruto dattavāṃś cāpaṃ bāṇa-pūrṇe tatheṣudhī ||

Translation

أعطاها فارونا (Varuṇa) صدفةً مقدّسة؛ وأعطاها هوتاشانا (أغني، Agni) رمحًا (شَكتي). وأعطاها ماروتا (فايو، Vāyu) قوسًا، وكذلك جعبتين مملوءتين بالسهام.

Word by Word

• śaṅkham: conch
• śaṅkham: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śaṅkha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction/particle (समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय)

• varuṇaḥ: Varuṇa
• varuṇaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: varuṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• śaktim: spear/energy-weapon (śakti)
• śaktim: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śakti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• dadau: gave
• dadau: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dā (धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd Person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• tasyai: to her
• tasyai: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Dative (4th/चतुर्थी), Singular (एकवचन)

• hutāśanaḥ: Fire (Agni)
• hutāśanaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: huta + aśana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); कर्मधारय: ‘hutaṃ aśnāti’/‘huta-aśana’ = fire

• mārutaḥ: Wind (Vāyu)
• mārutaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: māruta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• dattavān: gave
• dattavān: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dā (धातु) + kta-vat (कृत् प्रत्यय)
• Form: Past active participle (क्तवत्), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction/particle (समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय)

• āpam: bow
• āpam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: āpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• bāṇa-pūrṇe: in (the two) arrow-filled (quivers)
• bāṇa-pūrṇe: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bāṇa + pūrṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Dual (द्विवचन); used adjectivally with iṣudhī (dual): ‘in the two (quivers) filled with arrows’

• tathā: also/likewise
• tathā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (क्रियाविशेषण अव्यय)

• iṣudhī: two quivers
• iṣudhī: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: iṣudhi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Dual (द्विवचन)

Speakers

• Devi Mahatmyam narrator (within Markandeya Purana’s frame narration)

Primary Deities

• Varuṇa
• Agni (Hutāśana)
• Vāyu (Māruta)
• Devī

Shakti Aspects

• Devī as Durgā/Chandikā (armed for Mahīṣāsura battle context)

Key Themes

• Shaktism
• Ritual symbolism (conch; fire)
• Martial readiness
• Cosmic elements as allies

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

The elements (water, fire, wind) become instruments of dharma when aligned with the Devi; power is legitimate when it serves restoration of cosmic balance rather than domination.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana (5 characteristics)?

A dharma-restoring divine episode (carita) embedded in the Purāṇic narrative continuum.

What is the esoteric significance?

Conch suggests primordial vibration and proclamation of order; fire-spear is focused transformative energy; bow and arrows indicate directed will (icchā-śakti) and precise action (kriyā-śakti).