Shloka 13

Adhyaya 93 — The Goddess’s Boons to Suratha and the Merchant (Conclusion of the Devi Mahatmyam)

Sanskrit

श्रीदेव्युवाच स्वल्पैरहोभिर्नृपते स्वं राज्यं प्राप्स्यते भवान् ।

हत्वा रिपूनस्कलितं तव तत्र भविष्यति ॥

Transliteration

śrīdevyuvāca svalpair ahobhir nṛpate svaṃ rājyaṃ prāpsyate bhavān | hatvā ripūn askhalitaṃ tava tatra bhaviṣyati ||

Translation

Die selige Göttin sprach: „O König, in wenigen Tagen wirst du dein eigenes Reich wiedererlangen. Nachdem du deine Feinde erschlagen hast, wird deine Herrschaft dort unerschütterlich sein.“

Word by Word

• śrī-devī: the revered Goddess
• śrī-devī: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śrī-devī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन); compound: śrī + devī (honoured goddess)

• uvāca: said
• uvāca: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)

• svalpaiḥ: with a few
• svalpaiḥ: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: svalpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter (पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Instrumental (तृतीया/3), Plural (बहुवचन)

• ahobhiḥ: days
• ahobhiḥ: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ahaḥ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Instrumental (तृतीया/3), Plural (बहुवचन)

• nṛpate: O king
• nṛpate: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nṛpati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Vocative (सम्बोधन), Singular (एकवचन)

• svam: your own
• svam: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन)

• rājyam: kingdom
• rājyam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rājya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन)

• prāpsyate: will obtain
• prāpsyate: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: āp (धातु)
• Form: Future (लृट्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन), Ātmanepada (आत्मनेपद)

• bhavān: you (honorific)
• bhavān: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhavat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)

• hatvā: having slain
• hatvā: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: han (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त/ल्यप्), indeclinable verbal form (अव्ययभाव)

• ripūn: enemies
• ripūn: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ripu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Plural (बहुवचन)

• askhalitam: unhindered; without stumbling
• askhalitam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: a-skhalita (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन); privative a- (नञ्) + skhalita

• tava: of you; your
• tava: Shashthi-sambandha (षष्ठीसम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tvad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Genitive (षष्ठी/6), Singular (एकवचन)

• tatra: there
• tatra: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatra (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (क्रियाविशेषण) of place

• bhaviṣyati: will be
• bhaviṣyati: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhū (धातु)
• Form: Future (लृट्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)

Speakers

• Goddess (Devī) to King Suratha

Primary Deities

• Devī (Durgā/Chāṇḍikā as supreme Goddess)

Shakti Aspects

• Devī as boon-giver (Varadā)
• worshipped as the supreme Śakti in Devi Mahatmyam

Key Themes

• Shaktism
• Divine grace (anugraha)
• Kingship and restoration of dharma
• Karma and fruition of devotion

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

Steadfast devotion (bhakti) and right effort, when aligned with divine grace, restore dharmic order: the king regains sovereignty not merely by force, but as a fruit of worship and inner realignment.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana (5 characteristics)?

Primarily Vamśānucarita/Carita (narrative of exemplary persons) with a bridge toward Manvantara (as Suratha is later linked to Sāvarṇi Manu).

What is the esoteric significance?

The ‘unshaken rule’ (askhalita) symbolizes stabilized buddhi and sovereignty over the senses—outer kingship mirroring inner mastery granted through Śakti-upāsanā.