Markandeya Purana — Adhyaya 82, Shloka 23

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

Sanskrit

कालदण्डाद्यमो दण्डं पाशं चाम्बुपतिर्ददौ ।

प्रजापतिश्चाक्षमालां ददौ ब्रह्मा कमण्डलुम् ॥

Transliteration

kāla-daṇḍād yamo daṇḍaṃ pāśaṃ cāmbu-patir dadau |

prajāpatiś cākṣa-mālāṃ dadau brahmā kamaṇḍalum ||

Translation

यम ने अपने मृत्यु-दण्ड से दण्ड निकालकर उसे दिया; जलों के स्वामी वरुण ने पाश दिया। प्रजापति ने जपमाला दी और ब्रह्मा ने कमण्डलु प्रदान किया।

Word by Word

• kāla-daṇḍāt: from the staff of Time/Death
• kāla-daṇḍāt: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kāla + daṇḍa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Ablative (5th/पञ्चमी), Singular (एकवचन); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘kālasya daṇḍāt’

• yamaḥ: Yama
• yamaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• daṇḍam: staff/rod
• daṇḍam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: daṇḍa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• pāśam: noose
• pāśam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pāśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction/particle (समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय)

• ambu-patiḥ: lord of waters (Varuṇa)
• ambu-patiḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ambu + pati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘ambūnām patiḥ’

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

• prajāpatiḥ: Prajāpati
• prajāpatiḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prajāpati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction/particle (समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय)

• akṣa-mālām: rosary (garland of beads)
• akṣa-mālām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: akṣa + mālā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘akṣāṇām mālā’

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

• brahmā: Brahmā
• brahmā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• kamaṇḍalum: water-pot
• kamaṇḍalum: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kamaṇḍalu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

Speakers

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

Primary Deities

• Yama
• Varuṇa
• Prajāpati
• Brahmā
• Devī

Shakti Aspects

• Devī as both warrior and dharma-regulator (punishment
• restraint
• ritual power)

Key Themes

• Shaktism
• Dharma and punishment (daṇḍa)
• Restraint and binding of evil (pāśa)
• Ritual/ascetic implements

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

The Devi embodies both force and law: daṇḍa (just punishment) and pāśa (restraint) are necessary for social and cosmic order; alongside them appear japa and ritual purity (rosary, kamaṇḍalu), indicating that power must be guided by discipline and sanctity.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana (5 characteristics)?

A dharma-protecting narrative episode (carita) within the Devi Mahatmyam portion of the Purāṇa.

What is the esoteric significance?

Daṇḍa and pāśa represent karmic regulation and the binding of vāsanās; rosary and kamaṇḍalu indicate mantra and inner purification—suggesting conquest of both outer demons and inner compulsions.