Shloka 24

Adhyaya 83 — The Slaying of Mahishasura’s Armies and the Final Death of Mahishasura

Sanskrit

निपात्य प्रमथानीकमभ्यधावत सोऽसुरः ।

सिंहं हन्तुं महादेव्याः कोपं चक्रे ततोऽम्बिका ॥

Transliteration

nipātya pramathānīkam abhyadhāvata so 'suraḥ | siṃhaṃ hantuṃ mahādevyāḥ kopaṃ cakre tato 'mbikā ||

Translation

Nachdem er das Heer der Pramathas niedergeworfen hatte, stürmte jener Dämon vor, um den Löwen der Großen Göttin zu töten; da entbrannte Ambikā in Zorn.

Word by Word

• निपात्य: having knocked down
• निपात्य: Purvakala (पूर्वकाल/क्त्वा)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि + पत् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (gerund/absolutive): ‘having felled/caused to fall’

• प्रमथ-अनीकम्: the host of Pramathas
• प्रमथ-अनीकम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रमथ (प्रातिपदिक) + अनीक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः: ‘प्रमथानाम् अनीकम्’

• अभ्यधावत: charged toward
• अभ्यधावत: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अभि + धाव् (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; ‘ran towards/charged’

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• असुरः: the demon
• असुरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: असुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• सिंहम्: the lion
• सिंहम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सिंह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• हन्तुम्: to kill
• हन्तुम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/उद्देश्य)
• Type: Verb
• Root: हन् (धातु)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त (infinitive), ‘to kill’

• महादेव्याः: of the Great Goddess
• महादेव्याः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक) + देवी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः: ‘महती देवी’

• कोपम्: anger
• कोपम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कोप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• चक्रे: became/assumed
• चक्रे: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; ‘made/assumed’

• ततः: then/thereupon
• ततः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb): ‘thereupon/from that’

• अम्बिका: Ambikā (the Goddess)
• अम्बिका: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अम्बिका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

Speakers

• Narrative voice within the Devi Mahatmyam frame

Primary Deities

• Mahādevī (Ambikā/Durgā)
• Siṃha (lion mount)
• Mahīṣāsura

Shakti Aspects

• Ambikā / Mahādevī (protective wrath; imminent direct confrontation with Mahishasura)

Key Themes

• Shaktism
• Protective fury of the Goddess
• Climactic confrontation
• Defense of divine order

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

When adharma turns from general violence to targeting the very support of dharma (the lion as the Goddess’s power/vehicle), divine response becomes immediate and uncompromising. Protective anger (kopa) is framed as a righteous force.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana (5 characteristics)?

A dharma-centric narrative episode (upākhyāna) within the Purāṇa; not a pancalakṣaṇa list passage.

What is the esoteric significance?

The lion can signify courage and sovereign will. Mahishasura attacking it symbolizes an inner assault on courage itself; Ambikā’s arising wrath is the awakening of higher power that refuses to let fear dominate.