Shloka 22

Adhyaya 82 — The Rise of Mahishasura and the Manifestation of the Goddess from the Gods’ Tejas

Sanskrit

वज्रमिन्द्रः समुत्पाद्य कुलिशादमराधिपः ।

ददौ तस्यै सहस्राक्षो घण्टामैरावताद्गजात् ॥

Transliteration

vajram indraḥ samutpādya kuliśād amarādhipaḥ |

dadau tasyai sahasrākṣo ghaṇṭām airāvatād gajāt ||

Translation

Indra, seigneur des immortels, tirant un foudre (vajra) de son propre vajra, le lui remit ; le Mille-Yeux lui donna aussi une cloche provenant de son éléphant Airāvata.

Word by Word

• vajram: thunderbolt
• vajram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vajra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• indraḥ: Indra
• indraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: indra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• samutpādya: having produced
• samutpādya: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam-ut-pād (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त/ल्यप्), ‘having produced’

• kuliśāt: from (his) club/weapon (kuliśa)
• kuliśāt: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kuliśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Ablative (5th/पञ्चमी), Singular (एकवचन)

• amara-adhipaḥ: lord of the immortals
• amara-adhipaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: amara + adhipa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘amarāṇām adhipaḥ’

• dadau: gave
• dadau: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dā (धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd Person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• tasyai: to her
• tasyai: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Dative (4th/चतुर्थी), Singular (एकवचन)

• sahasra-akṣaḥ: the thousand-eyed one (Indra)
• sahasra-akṣaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sahasra + akṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); बहुव्रीहि: ‘yasya sahasram akṣāṇi’

• ghaṇṭām: bell
• ghaṇṭām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ghaṇṭā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• airāvatāt: from Airāvata
• airāvatāt: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: airāvata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Ablative (5th/पञ्चमी), Singular (एकवचन)

• gajāt: from the elephant
• gajāt: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gaja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Ablative (5th/पञ्चमी), Singular (एकवचन)

Speakers

• Devi Mahatmyam narrator (within Markandeya Purana’s frame narration)

Primary Deities

• Indra
• Airāvata
• Devī

Shakti Aspects

• Devī as the supreme commander of divine forces

Key Themes

• Shaktism
• Royal sovereignty and divine authority
• Weapon symbolism
• Preparation for Mahishasura battle

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

Indra’s surrender of his emblematic weapon indicates that even ‘kingship’ and command must submit to dharma; authority is validated by service to the higher good.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana (5 characteristics)?

Itihāsa-like devī-carita within the Purāṇa; not a manvantara/genealogy unit.

What is the esoteric significance?

Vajra symbolizes indestructible clarity and decisive force; the bell signifies awakening, resonance, and the dispersal of negativity—often linked to ritual space-clearing and the announcement of divine presence.