Shloka 35

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

Sanskrit

ततः सिंहश्चखादोग्रं दंष्ट्राक्षुण्णशिरोधरान् ।

असुरांस्तांस्तथा काली शिवदूती तथापरान् ॥

Transliteration

tataḥ siṃhaś cakhād ograṃ daṃṣṭrākṣuṇṇaśirodharān | asurāṃs tāṃs tathā kālī śivadūtī tathāparān ||

Translation

Dann verschlang der Löwe voller Wildheit jene Asuras, deren Hälse von seinen Fangzähnen zerquetscht waren; ebenso machten Kālī und Śivadūtī (Śivas Botin) andere Dämonen nieder.

Word by Word

• ततः: then
• ततः: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverb)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb)

• सिंहः: the lion
• सिंहः: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सिंह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• चखाद: devoured
• चखाद: क्रिया (Verb/action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √खाद् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect/लिट्), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• उग्रम्: fierce
• उग्रम्: कर्म-विशेषण (Object qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उग्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, द्वितीया, बहुवचन (agreeing with असुरान्)

• दंष्ट्रा-क्षुण्ण-शिरोधरान्: whose necks were crushed by fangs
• दंष्ट्रा-क्षुण्ण-शिरोधरान्: कर्म-विशेषण (Object qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दंष्ट्रा (प्रातिपदिक) + क्षुण्ण (कृदन्त; √क्षुद्/√क्षुण्ण from √क्षुद्) + शिरोधर (प्रातिपदिक: शिरस् + धर)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (करण/तृतीया-तत्पुरुष: दंष्ट्राभिः क्षुण्णाः शिरोधराः येषाम्/वा) used as qualifier of असुरान्

• असुरान्: demons
• असुरान्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: असुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• तान्: those
• तान्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; सर्वनाम

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverb)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb): ‘likewise’

• काली: Kālī
• काली: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काली (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• शिवदूती: Śiva’s messenger (Śivadūtī)
• शिवदूती: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिवदूती (प्रातिपदिक: शिव + दूती)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: शिवस्य दूती)

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverb)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb)

• अपरान्: others
• अपरान्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अपर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

Speakers

• Narrative within the Devi Mahatmyam

Verse Rasa

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

Primary Deities

• Kālī
• Śivadūtī
• Siṃha (Devi’s lion)

Shakti Aspects

• Kālī; Śivadūtī; Devi’s lion (siṃha) as her shakti-vāhana/ally

Key Themes

• Shaktism
• Divine retinue and emanations
• Destruction of adharma
• Battlefield imagery

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

Dharma is upheld not only by a single heroic act but by an integrated order of powers—courage (lion), transformative time (Kālī), and divine command (Śivadūtī).

How does this fit the Pancalakshana (5 characteristics)?

Carita: supporting cast and battle-detail typical of Purāṇic heroic narration, reinforcing Devi’s cosmic rulership.

What is the esoteric significance?

The lion represents mastered instinct and royal courage; Kālī represents time that consumes all; Śivadūtī represents the imperative of higher consciousness directing the dissolution of lower forces.