Shloka 10
Śumbha–Niśumbha’s Mobilization After Devī’s Victories
Battle Muster and Omens
पदातयो निर्व वजुर्हि कोटिशः प्रभूतमाना विजयाभिलाषिणः । रथाश्वगा वारणगा अथापरेऽसुरा निरीयुः कति कोटिशो मुदा
padātayo nirva vajurhi koṭiśaḥ prabhūtamānā vijayābhilāṣiṇaḥ | rathāśvagā vāraṇagā athāpare'surā nirīyuḥ kati koṭiśo mudā
In countless crores, the foot-soldiers surged forth—puffed up with pride and yearning for victory. Other Asuras too marched out in delighted multitudes: some mounted on chariots and horses, and some riding mighty elephants.
Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages at Naimisharanya)
Tattva Level: pashu
FAQs
It portrays the Asuric temperament—pride and hunger for victory—as a binding force (pāśa) that drives beings into conflict, contrasting with the Shaiva path where surrender to Pati (Shiva) loosens bondage and leads toward grace.
While the verse is martial in tone, it implicitly highlights the opposite of Linga-worship: instead of turning the mind toward Saguna Shiva through devotion, the Asuras turn outward to conquest. Linga-upāsanā in the Shiva Purana is repeatedly presented as the remedy for ego and restlessness.
A practical takeaway is to counter pride with japa of the Pañcākṣarī ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya") and cultivate humility; on Mahāśivarātri, this is reinforced through disciplined worship (abhisheka, vibhūti/tripuṇḍra) aimed at dissolving victory-lust and ego.