Shloka 52

Śumbha–Niśumbha-pīḍā and Devastuti to Durgā/Śivā

Names and Forms of the Devī

Devanagari script

धूम्राक्षे निहते देव्या वाहनेनातिकोपिना । चर्वितास्तद्गणास्सर्वेऽपलायन्तावशेषिताः

Transliteration

dhūmrākṣe nihate devyā vāhanenātikopinā | carvitāstadgaṇāssarve'palāyantāvaśeṣitāḥ

Translation

When Dhūmrākṣa had been slain by the Goddess, her mount—fiercely enraged—crushed and devoured all his attendant hosts; the few that remained fled away.

Word by Word

• धूम्र-अक्षे: when/with Dhūmrākṣa
• धूम्र-अक्षे: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Location—context)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धूम्र (प्रातिपदिक) + अक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (7th/Locative), एकवचन; समासः कर्मधारयः (धूम्रम् अक्षं यस्य—धूम्राक्षः; नाम)

• निहते: having been slain
• निहते: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa—locative absolute)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि-हन् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्तः—क्त; पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; लोकेटिव्-अब्सोल्यूट् (सप्तमी-सम्बन्ध) ‘being slain’

• देव्या: by the goddess
• देव्या: कर्ता (Karta/Agent—by the goddess)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• वाहनेन: by (her) mount/vehicle
• वाहनेन: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाहन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• अति-कोपिना: very furious
• अति-कोपिना: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अति (उपसर्ग/प्रातिपदिक) + कोपिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः कर्मधारयः (अतिकोपिन् = अत्यन्त-क्रुद्धः); विशेषणम् (of vāhanena)

• चर्विताः: were chewed up/devoured
• चर्विताः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject—those who were chewed)
• Type: Verb
• Root: चर्व् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्तः—क्त; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; अर्थः ‘चर्विताः/भक्षिताः’

• तद्-गणाः: his followers/troops
• तद्-गणाः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + गण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (तस्य गणाः)

• सर्वे: all
• सर्वे: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (of tadgaṇāḥ)

• अपलायन्त: fled away
• अपलायन्त: क्रिया (Kriyā/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अप-लाय् (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/Past), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, बहुवचन

• अवशेषिताः: those remaining
• अवशेषिताः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject—remaining ones)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अव-शिष् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्तः—क्त; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; अर्थः ‘शिष्टाः/अवशिष्टाः’

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Durgā

Role: destructive

Characters & Entities

• Parvati
• Dhūmrākṣa

FAQs

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

It portrays Shakti as the active power that destroys adharmic forces; spiritually, it points to the annihilation of inner tamas and hostile tendencies when one takes refuge in Shiva-Shakti and aligns with dharma.

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

In Shaiva Siddhanta, Saguna worship of Shiva is inseparable from Shakti; the verse highlights that divine protection and the removal of obstacles arise through devotion to Shiva together with Uma, whose power manifests to uphold cosmic order.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is steady japa of the Panchakshara ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya") with devotion to Shiva-Shakti, supported by simple Shaiva observances like Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and Rudrāksha as reminders of discipline and protection.