Shloka 41

Mahiṣāsura’s Conquest of Svarga and the Devas’ Appeal to Śiva and Viṣṇu

Devanagari script

ततो जघान सा देवी चिक्षुरप्रमुखानरीन् । सगणान्गदया बाणैः शूलशक्तिपरश्वधैः

Transliteration

tato jaghāna sā devī cikṣurapramukhānarīn | sagaṇāngadayā bāṇaiḥ śūlaśaktiparaśvadhaiḥ

Translation

Then that Goddess struck down the hostile warriors—Cikṣura and the rest—together with their troops, using her mace, arrows, trident, spear, and axe.

Word by Word

• ततः: then
• ततः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/क्रम)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रमसूचक — ‘then’

• जघान: slew; struck down
• जघान: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: हन् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• सा: she
• सा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• देवी: the Goddess
• देवी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; अप्पोजिशन to सा

• चिक्षुर-प्रमुखान्: Cikṣura and the others (led by Cikṣura)
• चिक्षुर-प्रमुखान्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चिक्षुर (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रमुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन; विशेषणम् — ‘having Cikṣura as foremost’

• अरीन्: enemies
• अरीन्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अरि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन; कर्म

• स-गणान्: along with their groups
• स-गणान्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + गण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन; विशेषणम् — ‘together with their troops/retinues’

• गदया: with a mace
• गदया: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गदा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन; करण (instrument)

• बाणैः: with arrows
• बाणैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बाण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन; करण

• शूल-शक्ति-परश्वधैः: with tridents, spears, and axes
• शूल-शक्ति-परश्वधैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शूल (प्रातिपदिक) + शक्ति (प्रातिपदिक) + परश्वध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्वः; करण — ‘with tridents, spears, and axes’

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Purāṇic account to the sages, with the Umāsaṃhitā narrative voice)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Durgā

Role: destructive

Characters & Entities

• Parvati (Devī/Umā)
• Cikṣura

FAQs

What is the spiritual significance of this verse in the Shiva Purana?

The verse portrays Devī as the active power of Śiva (Śakti) who removes hostile forces; spiritually, it points to divine grace destroying inner enemies—anger, pride, delusion—that bind the soul (paśu) through pāśa.

How does this verse relate to the worship of the Linga or Saguna Shiva?

Though the scene is martial, it supports Saguna worship: devotees contemplate Shiva together with Śakti, understanding the Liṅga as Śiva’s transcendent reality and Devī as the manifest, protective power that acts in the world for dharma.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is protective japa of the Pañcākṣarī—“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—with devotion to Shiva-Shakti unity; mentally offer one’s fears and obstacles into the Lord through calm breath and focused remembrance.