Shloka 17

Śumbha–Niśumbha-pīḍā and Devastuti to Durgā/Śivā

Names and Forms of the Devī

Devanagari script

इत्युक्त्वा सा तदा देवी तरसान्तर्हिताऽभवत् । चाण्डमुण्डौ तु तान्देवीमद्राष्टां सेवकौ तयोः

Transliteration

ityuktvā sā tadā devī tarasāntarhitā'bhavat | cāṇḍamuṇḍau tu tāndevīmadrāṣṭāṃ sevakau tayoḥ

Translation

Having spoken thus, the Goddess swiftly vanished from sight. Yet Caṇḍa and Muṇḍa—those two attendants—beheld that Goddess.

Word by Word

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: उक्त्यर्थक-अव्यय (quotative particle)

• उक्त्वा: having said
• उक्त्वा: Pūrvakāla (पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त—क्त्वा (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव (indeclinable)

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

• तदा: then
• तदा: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय

• देवी: the Goddess
• देवी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन

• तरसा: swiftly; with speed
• तरसा: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तरस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; क्रियाविशेषणवत् (instrumental of manner)

• अन्तर्हिता: having disappeared
• अन्तर्हिता: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अन्तर् + धा (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त—क्त (past passive participle), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; 'hidden/disappeared'

• अभवत्: became
• अभवत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect/past), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• चाण्डमुण्डौ: Cāṇḍa and Muṇḍa
• चाण्डमुण्डौ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चाण्ड + मुण्ड (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, द्विवचन (dual); समासः—चाण्डश्च मुण्डश्च (द्वन्द्व)

• तु: but
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: विरोध/अवधारणार्थक-अव्यय (but/indeed)

• तान्: those (ones)
• तान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• देवीम्: the Goddess
• देवीम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन

• अद्राष्टाम्: saw
• अद्राष्टाम्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, द्विवचन; अ-आगम (augment) + द्राष्टाम् (irregular aorist/imperfect stem)

• सेवकौ: two attendants
• सेवकौ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सेवक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, द्विवचन

• तयोः: of those two
• तयोः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, षष्ठी विभक्ति (genitive/6th), द्विवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Characters & Entities

• Devi (Goddess)
• Chanda
• Munda

FAQs

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

The verse highlights the Goddess’s sovereign yogic power to appear and disappear at will, pointing to Shakti’s role in veiling and revealing reality; in Shaiva Siddhanta this supports the understanding that divine grace (anugraha) and concealment (tirodhana) operate under the Lord and His Shakti.

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

By showing the Goddess’s manifest, perceivable form and her withdrawal from perception, the verse reinforces Saguna worship: devotees approach Shiva (often through the Linga) and Shakti through visible symbols and forms, while remembering that the Divine also transcends sensory grasp.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is steady japa of the Panchakshara mantra (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with focused dhyāna on Shiva-Shakti, cultivating inward attention when outer signs withdraw—supported by simple Shaiva observances like Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and Rudrāksha where appropriate.