Shloka 65
Adhyaya 85 — The Gods’ Hymn to the Goddess and the Emergence of Kaushiki; Shumbha Sends His Envoy
यानि चान्यानि देवेषु गन्धर्वेषूरगेषु च ।
रत्नभूतानि भूतानि तानि मय्येव शोभने ॥
yāni cānyāni deveṣu gandharveṣūrageṣu ca /
ratnabhūtāni bhūtāni tāni mayyeva śobhane
Et quels que soient les autres êtres parmi les dieux, les gandharvas et les serpents, qui soient « de nature de joyau » — tous ceux-là, ô belle, m’appartiennent à moi seule.
FAQs
The asura’s worldview reduces persons and powers into ‘objects of ownership.’ The Devi Mahatmyam counters this by presenting the Goddess as svatantrā (self-sovereign), not a ‘ratna’ to be possessed.
Episode-level narrative (vaṃśānucarita) illustrating dharma/adharma through speech and intent, rather than a direct pancalakshana section like manvantara lists or creation cycles.
‘Ratna-bhūta’ beings represent refined capacities (art, music, hidden powers). Ego’s impulse is to annex all excellence; Devi embodies the source of excellence that cannot be annexed—only approached through worthiness.