Shloka 42

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

Devanagari script

एवं स्वीयेषु सैन्येषु हतेषु महिषासुरः । देवीनिःश्वाससंभूतान्भावयामास तान्गणान्

Transliteration

evaṃ svīyeṣu sainyeṣu hateṣu mahiṣāsuraḥ | devīniḥśvāsasaṃbhūtānbhāvayāmāsa tāngaṇān

Translation

Thus, when his own troops had been slain, Mahiṣāsura rallied and heartened those bands that had arisen from the Goddess’s very breath.

Word by Word

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/प्रकार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; manner-adverb — ‘thus/in this way’

• स्वीयेषु: in his own
• स्वीयेषु: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्वीय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), बहुवचन; विशेषणम् — ‘in his own’

• सैन्येषु: in the troops
• सैन्येषु: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सैन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), बहुवचन; अधिकरण — ‘in the armies/troops’

• हतेषु: (being) slain
• हतेषु: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/सप्तमी-सम्बन्धे)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हन् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (past passive participle/क्त), ‘हत’; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), बहुवचन; विशेषणम् — ‘when (they were) slain’

• महिषासुरः: Mahiṣāsura
• महिषासुरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महिषासुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; कर्ता

• देवी-निःश्वास-संभूतान्: born of the Goddess’s breath
• देवी-निःश्वास-संभूतान्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: देवी (प्रातिपदिक) + निःश्वास (प्रातिपदिक) + संभूत (भू धातु, कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन; विशेषणम् — ‘born from the Goddess’s breath’

• भावयामास: brought forth; produced
• भावयामास: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु) + णिच् (causative)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्; णिजन्त-धातु ‘भावयति’ — ‘caused to be/produced; brought forth’

• तान्: those
• तान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन; निर्देश (correlative)

• गणान्: troops; hosts
• गणान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन; कर्म

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages at Naimisharanya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Durgā

Role: destructive

Characters & Entities

• Devi
• Mahishasura

FAQs

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

It highlights that divine power (Śakti) can manifest effortlessly—“from the Goddess’s breath”—showing the supremacy of the divine over demonic force, and teaching that ego-driven strength collapses when opposed by the Lord’s (and His Śakti’s) ordinance.

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

In Shaiva understanding, the Goddess’s dynamic power operates under Pati (Shiva). Worship of Saguna Shiva in the Linga is worship of that supreme Lord together with His inseparable Śakti, from whom protective forces arise to restore dharma.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is steady japa of the Panchakshara (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) with devotion to Shiva-Śakti, cultivating inner strength and protection through remembrance rather than relying on mere external power.