Markandeya Purana — Adhyaya 82, Shloka 52
Adhyaya 82 — The Rise of Mahishasura and the Manifestation of the Goddess from the Gods’ Tejas
सोऽपि क्रुद्धो धुतसटो देव्याः वाहनकेशरी ।
चचारासुरसैन्येषु वनेष्विव हुताशनः ॥
so 'pi kruddho dhutasaṭo devyā vāhanakeśarī / cacārāsurasainyeṣu vaneṣviva hutāśanaḥ
और उसका सिंह-वाहन भी क्रुद्ध होकर, अपनी अयाल हिलाता हुआ, दावानल की भाँति असुर-सेनाओं में वन-वन घूमती अग्नि की तरह विचरने लगा।
FAQs
The Goddess’s vahana participates in dharma-restoration: courage and righteous ferocity are not separate from the divine but are instruments when governed by higher purpose.
An ākhyāna detail within the Devi cycle; not one of the five characteristics.
The lion signifies sovereign will and fearless discernment. Fire in a forest suggests purgation: adharma is ‘burnt out’ when confronted by awakened power.