Shloka 17

Adhyaya 87 — The Slaying of Dhumralochana and the Emergence of Kali; the Fall of Chanda and Munda (Chamunda Named)

Sanskrit

तानि चक्राण्यनेकानि विशमानानि तन्मुखम् ।

बभुर्यथार्कबिम्बानि सुबहूनि घनोदरम् ॥

Transliteration

tāni cakrāṇy anekāni viśamānāni tanmukham | babhur yathārkabimbāni subahūni ghanodaram ||

Translation

Cakra-cakra yang banyak itu, melaju ke arah wajahnya, memancarkan sinar; di dalam gumpalan rapat awan senjata, mereka berkilau laksana banyak cakram matahari.

Word by Word

• तानि: those
• तानि: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; Nominative plural (those)

• चक्राणि: discs
• चक्राणि: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चक्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; Nominative plural (discs)

• अनेकानि: many
• अनेकानि: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनेक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; Adjective agreeing with चक्राणि (many)

• विशमानानि: entering
• विशमानानि: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वि + शम् (धातु) → विशमान (कृदन्त, शतृ/वर्तमानकृदन्त)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमानकृदन्त; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; Present participle agreeing with चक्राणि (entering/penetrating)

• तत्-मुखम्: that face
• तत्-मुखम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तत् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + मुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Accusative singular (that face/mouth)

• बभुः: appeared
• बभुः: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (परस्मैपद), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; 3rd pl perfect: became/appeared

• यथा: like
• यथा: Upamāna-dyotaka (उपमान-द्योतक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमानवाचक अव्यय (comparative particle): as/like

• अर्क-बिम्बानि: discs of the sun
• अर्क-बिम्बानि: Upamāna (उपमान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्क (प्रातिपदिक) + बिम्ब (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; Nominative plural (sun-discs) used as upamāna

• सु-बहूनि: very many
• सु-बहूनि: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु (उपसर्गवत्/अव्यय-पूर्वपद) + बहु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; Adjective agreeing with (अर्कबिम्बानि/चक्राणि): very many

• घन-उदरम्: a dense mass
• घन-उदरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: घन (प्रातिपदिक) + उदर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Accusative singular (the dense mass/cluster)

Speakers

• Narrator within Devi Mahatmyam

Primary Deities

• Devī

Shakti Aspects

• Bhomākṣī (continued context)
• Chandikā/Kālī battle-cycle

Key Themes

• Poetic battle similes
• Radiance vs. obscuration
• Asuric display of power

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

Even hostile forces can appear ‘radiant’ and impressive; splendor is not the same as righteousness. The Purāṇic ethic repeatedly distinguishes dazzle (tejas as spectacle) from dharmic tejas.

How does this fit the Pancalakṣaṇa (5 characteristics)?

Carita (narrative of divine deeds). The verse is descriptive ornamentation (alaṅkāra) serving the episode’s dramatic arc.

What is the esoteric significance?

Solar-disc imagery suggests the ego’s counterfeit ‘sun’—a false center of light. The dense ‘cloud’ hints at tamas covering sattva; the Goddess’ laughter that follows breaks the spell of this apparent radiance.