Markandeya Purana — Adhyaya 82, Shloka 50
Adhyaya 82 — The Rise of Mahishasura and the Manifestation of the Goddess from the Gods’ Tejas
सापि देवी ततस्तानि शस्त्राण्यस्त्राणि चण्डिका ।
लीलयैव प्रचिच्छेद निजशस्त्रास्त्रवर्षिणी ॥
sāpi devī tatastāni śastrāṇyastrāṇi caṇḍikā / līlayaiva praciccheda nijaśastrāstravarṣiṇī
Then the Goddess—Chandikā—playfully cut those weapons and missiles into pieces, while she herself rained forth her own weapons and divine missiles.
FAQs
True power is effortless when aligned with cosmic order; Chandikā’s ‘play’ contrasts with the asuras’ strain, suggesting that dharma has the support of reality itself.
A devotional-ethical episode (ākhyāna) illustrating divine intervention; not a pancalakṣaṇa element.
Līlā indicates mastery without inner conflict. The cutting of weapons symbolizes the dissolution of hostile tendencies the moment they arise, by awakened śakti.