Shloka 15

Adhyaya 86 — Dhumralocana’s Mission and His Ashing by the Goddess; Shumbha Sends Chanda and Munda

Sanskrit

क्षणेन तद्बलं सर्वं क्षयं नीतं महात्मना ।

तेन केसरिणा देव्याः वाहनेंनातिकोपिना ॥

Transliteration

kṣaṇena tadbalaṃ sarvaṃ kṣayaṃ nītaṃ mahātmanā / tena kesariṇā devyā vāhanenātikopinā

Translation

In einem einzigen Augenblick wurde jenes ganze Heer von dem großherzigen Löwen — dem Reittier der Göttin — in höchstem Zorn völlig vernichtet.

Word by Word

• क्षणेन: in a moment
• क्षणेन: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), एकवचन; adverbial-instrumental ‘in a moment’

• तत्: that
• तत्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; demonstrative ‘that’ (qualifying balaṃ)

• बलम्: army/strength
• बलम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• सर्वम्: entire
• सर्वम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; adjective to balaṃ

• क्षयम्: destruction
• क्षयम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन; ‘to destruction’ (goal)

• नीतम्: was brought/led
• नीतम्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नी (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘(was) led/brought’

• महात्मना: by the great-souled one
• महात्मना: Kartṛ (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महात्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), एकवचन; agent-instrumental ‘by the great-souled one’

• तेन: by that
• तेन: Kartṛ (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, तृतीया (3rd/करण), एकवचन; ‘by that’ (referring to the lion/vehicle)

• केसरिणा: by the lion
• केसरिणा: Kartṛ (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: केसरिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), एकवचन; ‘by the lion’

• देव्याः: of the Goddess
• देव्याः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/सम्बन्ध), एकवचन; genitive ‘of the Goddess’

• वाहनेन: by (her) mount
• वाहनेन: Kartṛ (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाहन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), एकवचन; ‘by the vehicle/mount’

• अति-कोपिना: not overly wrathful
• अति-कोपिना: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अति (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + कोपिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), एकवचन; adjective to vāhanena/kesariṇā; ‘not excessively angry’ (with न- prefix in sandhi)

Speakers

• Narrator within Devī Māhātmya (Ṛṣi’s narration in the Purāṇic frame)

Primary Deities

• Devī (Ambikā)
• Siṃha (lion mount)

Shakti Aspects

• Ambikā/Devī (implied; her vāhana is highlighted)

Key Themes

• Śāktism
• Divine intervention
• Protection of dharma
• Vīra-rasa (heroic mood)

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

Adharma-supported power (asuric military might) collapses swiftly when confronted by divinely aligned force; the verse stresses the immediacy and decisiveness of dharmic protection.

How does this fit the Pancalakṣaṇa (5 characteristics)?

Primarily within Manvantara material (the Devī Māhātmya is situated in a manvantara frame), and secondarily within Vaṃśānucarita-style narrative (heroic deeds within sacred history).

What is the esoteric significance?

The lion as vāhana symbolizes sovereign courage and mastery over fear; the ‘instant’ destruction suggests the Goddess’s śakti operates beyond ordinary temporal effort when invoked in alignment with truth.