Adhyaya 82 — Death of Shumbha
तत्रासुरैर्महावीर्यैर्देवसैन्यं पराजितम् ।
जित्वा च सकलान् देवानिन्द्रोऽबून्महिषासुरः ॥
tatrāsurair mahāvīryair devasainyaṃ parājitam | jitvā ca sakalān devān indro 'būn mahiṣāsuraḥ ||
そこで神々の軍勢は強大な阿修羅たちに敗れ、すべての神々を征服したのち、マヒーシャースラは(いわば)インドラとなった。
When adharma gains the seat of authority (‘becoming Indra’), the narrative frames it as illegitimate power—setting the stage for restoration through Devī.
Manvantara-focused episode: illustrates governance disruption within a time-cycle, prompting divine rebalancing.
‘Mahīṣa’ (buffalo) connotes inertia and brute force; it occupying Indra’s seat symbolizes tamas overpowering the luminous ruling faculty.