Shloka 51
Śumbha–Niśumbha-pīḍā and Devastuti to Durgā/Śivā
Names and Forms of the Devī
ततः प्रभृति सा देवी धूमावत्युच्यते भुवि । आराधिता स्वभक्तानां शत्रुवर्गनिकर्तिनी
tataḥ prabhṛti sā devī dhūmāvatyucyate bhuvi | ārādhitā svabhaktānāṃ śatruvarganikartinī
Von da an ist jene Göttin auf Erden als Dhūmāvatī bekannt. Wird sie verehrt, so wird sie zur Vernichterin der Feindesscharen ihrer eigenen Verehrer.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Umāpati
Sthala Purana: Not a jyotirliṅga passage; it functions as a nāma-nirukti/etiology: the Devī becomes known as Dhūmāvatī after reducing Dhūmralocana to ash/smoke, and grants protection to devotees by removing hostile forces.
Significance: General śakti-upāsanā benefit: śatru-nāśa and rakṣā for devotees (framed as Devī’s anugraha).
Type: stotra
Shakti Form: Dhumāvatī
Role: liberating
Offering: pushpa
FAQs
The verse highlights the Goddess as a protective Śakti who responds to sincere bhakti: when propitiated, she removes hostile forces that obstruct a devotee’s dharma and inner progress toward Shiva-realization.
In the Shiva Purana’s Saguna framework, Shiva and Śakti function inseparably: devotion to the Goddess supports and safeguards the devotee’s Shiva-upāsanā (including Linga worship) by cutting down impediments and adversarial influences.
The implied practice is regular ārādhana (propitiatory worship) with mantra-japa and devotional offerings, undertaken with purity and steadfastness; the fruit emphasized is protection—removal of enemy-like obstacles to sādhanā.