Shloka 2

Adhyaya 92 — Devi’s Assurance of Protection and the Fruits of Reciting the Devi Mahatmyam

Sanskrit

मधुकैटभनाशं च महिषासुरघातनम् ।

कीर्तयिष्यन्ति ये तद्वद्वधं शुम्भनिशुम्भयोः ॥

Transliteration

madhukaiṭabhanāśaṃ ca mahiṣāsuraghātanam |

kīrtayiṣyanti ye tadvad vadhaṃ śumbhaniśumbhayoḥ ||

Translation

Those who recount the destruction of Madhu and Kaiṭabha, the slaying of Mahiṣāsura, and likewise the killing of Śumbha and Niśumbha—(they gain the Devī’s favor and protection, as the phalaśruti continues).

Word by Word

• मधु-कैटभ-नाशम्: the destruction of Madhu and Kaiṭabha
• मधु-कैटभ-नाशम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मधु (प्रातिपदिक) + कैटभ (प्रातिपदिक) + नाश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (accusative/2nd), एकवचन (singular); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (genitive determinative): 'मधुकैटभयोः नाशः'

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• महिषासुर-घातनम्: the slaying of Mahiṣāsura
• महिषासुर-घातनम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महिषासुर (प्रातिपदिक) + घातन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (accusative/2nd), एकवचन (singular); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: 'महिषासुरस्य घातनम्'

• कीर्तयिष्यन्ति: they will recount, proclaim
• कीर्तयिष्यन्ति: Kriya (क्रिया/Verbal action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कीर्तय् (धातु; णिच् causative of कीर्त्/कीर्)
• Form: लृट्-लकार (Simple Future), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन (plural), परस्मैपद; णिच्-प्रयोग (causative: 'will proclaim')

• ये: who (those who)
• ये: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (nominative/1st), बहुवचन (plural)

• तद्वत्: likewise
• तद्वत्: Kriya-vishesana (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तद्वत् (अव्यय)
• Form: तुल्यतार्थक-अव्यय (adverb: 'likewise/in that manner')

• वधम्: the killing, slaying
• वधम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (accusative/2nd), एकवचन (singular)

• शुम्भ-निशुम्भयोः: of Śumbha and Niśumbha
• शुम्भ-निशुम्भयोः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation to 'vadham')
• Type: Noun
• Root: शुम्भ (प्रातिपदिक) + निशुम्भ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), षष्ठी-विभक्ति (genitive/6th), द्विवचन (dual); इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व (copulative): 'शुम्भश्च निशुम्भश्च'

Speakers

• Devī (phalaśruti voice)

Primary Deities

• Devī

Shakti Aspects

• Devī as slayer of Madhu-Kaiṭabha
• Mahiṣāsura
• Śumbha-Niśumbha; Caṇḍikā/Durgā in her martial aspect

Key Themes

• Shaktism
• Mythic exemplars
• Recitation benefits
• Victory over adharma

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

Remembering the Devī’s victories is a ritualized recollection of the triumph of dharma over disorder—inviting the devotee to cultivate courage, steadiness, and reliance on the Divine in crises.

How does this fit the Pancalakṣaṇa (5 characteristics)?

This is an extension of the Purāṇic upākhyāna (sacred narrative) used for dharma and devotion; while not a direct sarga/pratisarga passage, it leverages itihāsa-like episodes to teach dharma and confer phala.

What is the esoteric significance?

The three major demon cycles can symbolize layers of inner obstruction: tamasic inertia (Madhu-Kaiṭabha), brute ego-force (Mahiṣa), and refined pride/ambition (Śumbha-Niśumbha). Recounting them is contemplative re-enactment of inner conquest.