Shloka 4

Adhyaya 82 — The Rise of Mahishasura and the Manifestation of the Goddess from the Gods’ Tejas

Sanskrit

यथावृत्तं तयोस्तद्वन्महिषासुरचेष्टितम् ।

त्रिदशाः कथयामासुर्देवाभिभवविस्तरम् ॥

Transliteration

yathāvṛttaṃ tayos tadvan mahiṣāsuraceṣṭitam | tridaśāḥ kathayāmāsur devābhibhavavistaram ||

Translation

The Thirty recounted to those two (Śiva and Viṣṇu) exactly what had happened—how Mahīṣāsura acted—and described in detail the subjugation of the gods.

Word by Word

• यथा: as; according to
• यथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकार/उपमानवाचक (as/according to)

• वृत्तम्: what happened; the event
• वृत्तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वृत् (धातु) → वृत्त (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (PPP/क्त) used substantively; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• तयोः: of the two (gods)
• तयोः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), द्विवचन; of those two

• तद्वत्: likewise
• तद्वत्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तद्वत् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; तुल्यतावाचक (likewise/in the same manner)

• महिषासुरचेष्टितम्: the deeds of Mahishāsura
• महिषासुरचेष्टितम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महिषासुर+चेष्टित (प्रातिपदिक); समासः
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (mahiṣāsurasya ceṣṭitam)

• त्रिदशाः: the gods
• त्रिदशाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रिदश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन (devas)

• कथयामासुः: they narrated
• कथयामासुः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कथय् (धातु; causative of कथ्)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• देवाभिभवविस्तरम्: the detailed account of the gods' defeat/overpowering
• देवाभिभवविस्तरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव+अभिभव+विस्तर (प्रातिपदिक); समासः
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (devānām abhibhavasya vistaraḥ)

Speakers

• Ṛṣi (narrator)

Primary Deities

• Mahīṣāsura
• Śiva
• Viṣṇu
• Devas (collective)

Shakti Aspects

• Contextual: the devas’ detailed grievance becomes the immediate narrative trigger for Devī’s emergence

Key Themes

• Testimony and causality in mythic narrative
• Crisis articulation
• Prelude to Devī’s advent

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

Naming and truthfully describing harm is part of dharmic restoration; accurate diagnosis precedes effective remedy.

How does this fit the Pancalakṣaṇa (5 characteristics)?

Manvantara episode setup: establishes the adharma-pressure that necessitates divine intervention, a recurring Purāṇic pattern across cycles.

What is the esoteric significance?

The devas’ ‘detailed account’ signifies bringing the chaotic into articulate order—an inner movement where awareness (śiva/viṣṇu principles) can respond, culminating in Śakti’s decisive emergence.