Shloka 23

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

Sanskrit

कालदण्डाद्यमो दण्डं पाशं चाम्बुपतिर्ददौ ।

प्रजापतिश्चाक्षमालां ददौ ब्रह्मा कमण्डलुम् ॥

Transliteration

kāla-daṇḍād yamo daṇḍaṃ pāśaṃ cāmbu-patir dadau |

prajāpatiś cākṣa-mālāṃ dadau brahmā kamaṇḍalum ||

Translation

أعطاها ياما (Yama) عصًا من عصاه، عصا الموت الخاصة به؛ وأعطاها ربّ المياه (فارونا، Varuṇa) حبلًا ذا عُروة (لاسو). وأعطاها براجاباتي (Prajāpati) مسبحةً (مالا)، وأعطاها براهما (Brahmā) قِرْبةَ ماءٍ مقدّسة (كَمَنْدَلو، kamaṇḍalu).

Word by Word

• kāla-daṇḍāt: from the staff of Time/Death
• kāla-daṇḍāt: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kāla + daṇḍa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Ablative (5th/पञ्चमी), Singular (एकवचन); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘kālasya daṇḍāt’

• yamaḥ: Yama
• yamaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• daṇḍam: staff/rod
• daṇḍam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: daṇḍa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• pāśam: noose
• pāśam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pāśa (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)

• ambu-patiḥ: lord of waters (Varuṇa)
• ambu-patiḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ambu + pati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘ambūnām patiḥ’

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

• prajāpatiḥ: Prajāpati
• prajāpatiḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prajāpati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

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

• akṣa-mālām: rosary (garland of beads)
• akṣa-mālām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: akṣa + mālā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘akṣāṇām mālā’

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

• brahmā: Brahmā
• brahmā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• kamaṇḍalum: water-pot
• kamaṇḍalum: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kamaṇḍalu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

Speakers

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

Primary Deities

• Yama
• Varuṇa
• Prajāpati
• Brahmā
• Devī

Shakti Aspects

• Devī as both warrior and dharma-regulator (punishment
• restraint
• ritual power)

Key Themes

• Shaktism
• Dharma and punishment (daṇḍa)
• Restraint and binding of evil (pāśa)
• Ritual/ascetic implements

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

The Devi embodies both force and law: daṇḍa (just punishment) and pāśa (restraint) are necessary for social and cosmic order; alongside them appear japa and ritual purity (rosary, kamaṇḍalu), indicating that power must be guided by discipline and sanctity.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana (5 characteristics)?

A dharma-protecting narrative episode (carita) within the Devi Mahatmyam portion of the Purāṇa.

What is the esoteric significance?

Daṇḍa and pāśa represent karmic regulation and the binding of vāsanās; rosary and kamaṇḍalu indicate mantra and inner purification—suggesting conquest of both outer demons and inner compulsions.