Shloka 66

Adhyaya 85 — The Gods’ Hymn to the Goddess and the Emergence of Kaushiki; Shumbha Sends His Envoy

Sanskrit

स्त्रीरत्नभूतां त्वां देवि लोके मन्यामहे वयम् ।

सा त्वमस्मानुपागच्छ यतो रत्नभुजो वयम् ॥

Transliteration

strīratnabhūtāṃ tvāṃ devi loke manyāmahe vayam /

sā tvamasmānupāgaccha yato ratnabhujo vayam

Translation

O Göttin, in der Welt halten wir dich für ein „Frauenjuwel“. Darum komm zu uns, denn wir sind die Genießer und Besitzer der Juwelen.

Word by Word

• स्त्रीरत्नभूताम्: (as) the jewel among women
• स्त्रीरत्नभूताम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्त्रीरत्नभूत (प्रातिपदिक; स्त्री+रत्न+भूत)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; qualifies त्वाम्

• त्वाम्: you
• त्वाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग/सामान्य, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; 2nd person pronoun

• देवि: O goddess
• देवि: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, संबोधन-विभक्ति (Vocative), एकवचन

• लोके: in the world
• लोके: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• मन्यामहे: we consider
• मन्यामहे: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: मन् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), उत्तमपुरुष (1st person), बहुवचन; आत्मनेपद

• वयम्: we
• वयम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• सा: therefore/that (one)
• सा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; demonstrative ‘she/that’

• त्वम्: you
• त्वम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• अस्मान्: us
• अस्मान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• उपागच्छ: come near
• उपागच्छ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उप+आ+गम् (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• यतः: because
• यतः: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यतः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; हेत्वर्थक (causal) / यत्-सम्बन्धी अव्यय ‘because/since’

• रत्नभुजः: enjoyers of jewels
• रत्नभुजः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रत्नभुज् (प्रातिपदिक; रत्न+भुज्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; ‘those who enjoy jewels’

• वयम्: we
• वयम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

Speakers

• Demon side (Shumbha’s party) addressing the Goddess

Primary Deities

• Durgā
• Śumbha
• Niśumbha (implied as ‘we’)

Shakti Aspects

• Durgā / Bhagavatī (object of the proposal)

Key Themes

• Shaktism
• Misogynistic objectification contrasted with Devi’s sovereignty
• Dharma vs coercion
• Prelude to vow of combat

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

The verse displays adharma as objectification—reducing the Goddess to an item of consumption. Devi’s forthcoming response reasserts autonomy and establishes the ethical principle that union/power must be earned through rightful means, not seized.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana (5 characteristics)?

Narrative ethics within vaṃśānucarita: it teaches dharma through the characterization of asuric speech and Devi’s corrective vow.

What is the esoteric significance?

Calling Devi a ‘ratna’ is a category mistake: Shakti is the ground of value, not a valuable object. The asura’s error is avidyā—treating the source as a possession.