Shloka 36

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

Sanskrit

कौमारीशक्तिनिर्भिन्नाः केचिन्नेशुर्महासुराः ।

ब्रह्माणीमन्त्रपूतेन तोयेनान्ये निराकृताः ॥

Transliteration

kaumārīśaktinirbhinnāḥ kecin neśur mahāsurāḥ | brahmāṇīmantrapūtena toyenānye nirākṛtāḥ ||

Translation

وسقط بعضُ كبارِ الأسورا مشقوقين برمحِ كَوْمَارِي؛ وأمّا آخرون فصدّتهم برهماني وأهلكتهم بماءٍ مُقدَّسٍ بالمانترا.

Word by Word

• कौमारी-शक्ति-निर्भिन्नाः: pierced by Kaumārī’s spear/power
• कौमारी-शक्ति-निर्भिन्नाः: कर्तृ-विशेषण (Subject qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कौमारी (प्रातिपदिक) + शक्ति (प्रातिपदिक) + निर्भिन्न (कृदन्त; नि: + √भिद् धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (तृतीया-तत्पुरुष: कौमार्याः शक्त्या निर्भिन्नाः)

• केचित्: some
• केचित्: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; अनिश्चितवाचक सर्वनाम (indefinite pronoun)

• नेशुः: perished
• नेशुः: क्रिया (Verb/action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √नश् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect/लिट्), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• महासुराः: great demons
• महासुराः: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महासुर (प्रातिपदिक: महा + असुर)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; कर्मधारय-समास

• ब्रह्माणी-मन्त्र-पूतेन: purified by Brahmāṇī’s mantra
• ब्रह्माणी-मन्त्र-पूतेन: करण-विशेषण (Instrument qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ब्रह्माणी (प्रातिपदिक) + मन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक) + पूत (कृदन्त; √पू धातु)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, तृतीया, एकवचन (agreeing with तोयेन); तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी/तृतीया-भाव: ब्रह्माण्या मन्त्रेण पूतम्)

• तोयेन: with water
• तोयेन: करण (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तोय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, तृतीया, एकवचन

• अन्ये: others
• अन्ये: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• निराकृताः: were repelled
• निराकृताः: क्रिया (Predicate; passive)
• Type: Verb
• Root: निराकृत (कृदन्त; निर् + आ + √कृ धातु)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; ‘were repelled/warded off’

Speakers

• Narrative within the Devi Mahatmyam

Verse Rasa

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

Primary Deities

• Kauṃārī
• Brahmāṇī (Brāhmī)

Shakti Aspects

• Mātṛkās: Kauṃārī; Brahmāṇī (Brāhmī)

Key Themes

• Shaktism
• Matrika theology
• Mantra efficacy
• Ritual power in mythic form

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

Power has multiple modalities: force (spear) and sanctity (mantra-charged water). Purāṇic dharma affirms that spiritual authority can neutralize violence as decisively as weapons.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana (5 characteristics)?

Carita: the Mātṛkās function as extensions of Devi’s sovereignty, illustrating the Purāṇic theme of many powers emanating from the One.

What is the esoteric significance?

The spear is penetrating insight; mantra-purified water is the cleansing current of sacred sound and purity (śuddhi) washing away tamasic formations.