Shloka 27

Adhyaya 83 — The Slaying of Mahishasura’s Armies and the Final Death of Mahishasura

Sanskrit

धुतशृङ्गविभिन्नाश्च खण्डं खण्डं ययुर्घनाः ।

श्वासानिलास्ताः शतशो निपेतुर्नभसोऽचलाः ॥

Transliteration

dhutaśṛṅgavibhinnāśca khaṇḍaṃ khaṇḍaṃ yayurghanā /

śvāsānilāstāḥ śataśo nipeturnabhaso 'calāḥ

Translation

また、角の揺さぶりにより雲は砕けて散り、彼の息の風に駆られて、幾百もの山が天より落ちた。

Word by Word

• धुत-शृङ्ग-विभिन्नाः: split by the shaken horns
• धुत-शृङ्ग-विभिन्नाः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject) विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धुत (कृदन्त; √धू 'to shake') + शृङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक) + विभिन्न (कृदन्त; √भिद् 'to split')
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; विशेषण (adjective) घनाः इति; तत्पुरुषः—धुतेन शृङ्गेण विभिन्नाः (split by the shaken horn[s])

• च: and
• च: सम्बन्ध/समुच्चय (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय (conjunction)

• खण्डम्: a piece; fragment
• खण्डम्: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial accusative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: खण्ड (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; क्रियाविशेषणवत् (accusative of manner): 'into pieces'

• खण्डम्: piece by piece
• खण्डम्: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial accusative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: खण्ड (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; पुनरुक्ति (reduplication) बलार्थ (for emphasis)

• ययुः: went; were carried
• ययुः: क्रिया (Kriyā/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √या (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन

• घनाः: cloud-masses; dense masses
• घनाः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: घन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन

• श्वास-अनिलाः: breath-winds; gusts from (his) breath
• श्वास-अनिलाः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्वास (प्रातिपदिक) + अनिल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः—श्वासरूपाः अनिलाः (winds of breath)

• ताः: those (they)
• ताः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject) (अन्वय-सूचक)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम (pronoun), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; घनाः इत्यस्य (clouds) प्रति निर्देशः (refers to them)

• शतशः: by hundreds
• शतशः: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial modifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: शतशः (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण (adverb): बहुधा/शतप्रकारेण (by hundreds; in hundreds)

• निपेतुः: fell down
• निपेतुः: क्रिया (Kriyā/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √पत् (धातु) (नि- + √पत्)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन

• नभसः: from the sky
• नभसः: अपादान (Apādāna/Source)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नभस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/Ablative), एकवचन

• अचलाः: mountains; immovables (mountain-like)
• अचलाः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject) (उपमा/विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अचल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; घनाः इत्यस्य उपमा/विशेषणवत् (like mountains / mountain-like)

Speakers

• Narrative voice within Devi Mahatmyam

Primary Deities

• Caṇḍikā (Devī)
• Mahīṣāsura

Shakti Aspects

• Caṇḍikā/Ambikā (contextual opponent)

Key Themes

• Shaktism
• Cosmic storm imagery
• Asuric power
• Mythic hyperbole as theology

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

When power is severed from restraint and wisdom, it becomes destructive spectacle; the verse emphasizes that mere strength (bala) without dharma turns the world into debris.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana (5 characteristics)?

Carita: a theologically charged narrative illustrating Devī’s necessity for loka-saṃgraha (holding the worlds together).

What is the esoteric significance?

Clouds (thought-forms) and mountains (fixed convictions) are scattered by the ‘breath-wind’ of restless prāṇa under tamas; Devī’s coming action represents mastery of prāṇa and mind.