Shloka 1

Śumbha–Niśumbha’s Mobilization After Devī’s Victories

Battle Muster and Omens

Devanagari script

राजोवाच । धूम्राक्षं चण्डमुण्डं च रक्तबीजासुरन्तथा । भगवन्निहतन्देव्या श्रुत्वा शुम्भः सुरार्दनः

Transliteration

rājovāca | dhūmrākṣaṃ caṇḍamuṇḍaṃ ca raktabījāsurantathā | bhagavannihatandevyā śrutvā śumbhaḥ surārdanaḥ

Translation

The King said: “O Blessed One, having heard that the Goddess has slain Dhūmrākṣa, Caṇḍa and Muṇḍa, and also the demon Raktabīja, what did Śumbha—the tormentor of the gods—do then?”

Word by Word

• राजा: the king
• राजा: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: क्रिया (Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect/परोक्षभूत), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• धूम्राक्षम्: Dhūmrākṣa
• धूम्राक्षम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धूम्राक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन

• चण्ड-मुण्डम्: Caṇḍa and Muṇḍa
• चण्ड-मुण्डम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चण्ड (प्रातिपदिक) + मुण्ड (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन; समाहार-द्वन्द्वः (the pair Caṇḍa-Muṇḍa as a unit)

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक (conjunction)

• रक्तबीज-असुरम्: the demon Raktabīja
• रक्तबीज-असुरम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रक्तबीज (प्रातिपदिक) + असुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः—रक्तबीजः असुरः (the demon Raktabīja)

• तथा: also
• तथा: क्रियाविशेषण/समुच्चय (Adverb/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय/प्रकारवाचक (also/likewise)

• भगवन्: O Lord
• भगवन्: सम्बोधन (Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भगवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th/Vocative), एकवचन

• निहतम्: slain
• निहतम्: विशेषण (कर्म-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √हन् (धातु) उपसर्ग-नि + → निहत (कृदन्त, क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्तः—हत/वधित (slain)

• देव्या: by the Goddess
• देव्या: कर्तृकरण (Agent in passive/instrumental)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), एकवचन

• श्रुत्वा: having heard
• श्रुत्वा: पूर्वकाल (Prior action)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: √श्रु (धातु) → श्रुत्वा (क्त्वान्त)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्तः अव्ययभावः (gerund/absolutive)

• शुम्भः: Śumbha
• शुम्भः: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शुम्भ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• सुर-अर्दनः: destroyer of the gods
• सुर-अर्दनः: कर्ता (Subject apposition/कर्ता-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुर (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्दन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः—सुराणाम् अर्दनः (crusher of the gods)

Speaker

The King (Rājā)

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: destructive

Characters & Entities

• Devi (Goddess)
• Shumbha
• Dhumraksha
• Chanda
• Munda
• Raktabija
• Devas

FAQs

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

It highlights the triumph of Divine Śakti over asuric forces that oppress dharma; in Shaiva understanding, the Goddess acts as Shiva’s power (Śakti) protecting gods and devotees and restoring cosmic order.

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

Though the verse is a narrative question, it supports Saguna worship by presenting the tangible activity of the Divine in the world—Shiva as Pati and the Goddess as Śakti—encouraging devotion to Shiva together with reverence for His inseparable power.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The takeaway is śaraṇāgati (seeking refuge): devotees may remember Shiva-Śakti while japa of the Panchākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and offer simple worship (bilva, water, vibhūti) seeking protection and inner victory over negativity.