Shloka 3
Adhyaya 83 — The Slaying of Mahishasura’s Armies and the Final Death of Mahishasura
तस्य छित्त्वा ततो देवी लीलयैव शरोत्करान् ।
जघान तुरगान् बाणैर्यन्तारं चैव वाजिनाम् ॥
tasya cchittvā tato devī līlayaiva śarotkarān / jaghāna turagān bāṇairyantāraṃ caiva vājinām
Then the Goddess, having cut down his volleys of arrows as if in mere play, struck down the horses with her arrows—and also the charioteer of the steeds.
FAQs
What appears formidable to limited beings is ‘play’ to the Divine; the verse teaches humility and trust that dharma’s foundation is stronger than hostile force.
Anucarita in Manvantara narrative—martial episode illustrating protection of the cosmic order.
Cutting the arrow-volleys signifies neutralizing harmful saṅkalpas (intentions); striking horses and charioteer indicates mastery over the ‘vehicle’ of senses and its driver (mind).