Shloka 49

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

Sanskrit

केचिच्च चिक्षिपुः शक्तीः केचित् पाशांस्तथापरे ।

देवीं खड्गप्रहारैस्तु ते तां हन्तुं प्रचक्रमुः ॥

Transliteration

kecicca cikṣipuḥ śaktīḥ kecit pāśāṃstathāpare / devīṃ khaḍgaprahāraistu te tāṃ hantuṃ pracakramuḥ

Translation

ある者は投げ槍を放ち、ある者は投げ縄を投じ、さらに剣の斬撃をもって、女神を殺そうとし始めた。

Word by Word

• kecit: some (of them)
• kecit: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kim (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; ‘some’

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय

• cikṣipuḥ: threw
• cikṣipuḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṣip (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect/परोक्शभूत), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• śaktīḥ: spears
• śaktīḥ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śakti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन

• kecit: some
• kecit: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kim (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन

• pāśān: nooses
• pāśān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pāśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन

• tathā: likewise
• tathā: Samuccaya/Prakāra (समुच्चय/प्रकार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/प्रकारवाचक अव्यय

• apare: others
• apare: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: apara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; used substantively

• devīm: the Goddess
• devīm: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: devī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• khaḍga-prahāraiḥ: with sword-blows
• khaḍga-prahāraiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: khaḍga (प्रातिपदिक) + prahāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष समास (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘sword-strikes’), पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन

• tu: indeed/but
• tu: Sambandha-bodhaka (सम्बन्धबोधक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: विरोध/अन्वयबोधक अव्यय

• te: they
• te: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन

• tām: her
• tām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• hantum: to kill
• hantum: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/उद्देश्य)
• Type: Verb
• Root: han (धातु)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययभाव (infinitive/तुमन्त), ‘to kill’

• pracakramuḥ: set about/began
• pracakramuḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-√kram (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect/परोक्शभूत), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

Speakers

• Narrative voice within Devi Mahatmyam

Primary Deities

• Devi (Ambika/Chandika)

Shakti Aspects

• Devi as inviolable warrior power

Key Themes

• Shaktism
• Assault on the Goddess
• Ineffectiveness of asuric force

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

Attempting to ‘bind’ or ‘cut down’ the divine mirrors the ego’s attempt to control reality; the narrative teaches surrender and alignment with dharma rather than domination.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana (5 characteristics)?

Mythic-ethical instruction (ākhyāna) rather than cosmological or genealogical material.

What is the esoteric significance?

The pāśa (noose) symbolizes bondage—attachments and compulsions. The Goddess cannot be bound, indicating the freedom of pure consciousness from grasping.