Markandeya Purana 89.25 — Adhyaya 89, Shloka 25

Adhyaya 89 — The Wrath of Shumbha and Nishumbha and the Fall of Nishumbha

Sanskrit

शुम्भमुक्ताञ्छरान्देवी शुम्भस्तत्प्रहिताञ्छरान् ।

चिच्छेद स्वशरैरुग्रैः शतशोऽथ सहस्रशः ॥

Transliteration

śumbhamuktāñcharāndevī śumbhastatprahitāñcharān / ciccheda svaśarairugraiḥ śataśo 'tha sahasraśaḥ

Translation

デーヴィーはシュンバ（Śumbha）の放った矢を断ち、シュンバもまた彼女の放つ矢を斬り落とした――双方それぞれの猛き矢柄をもって、百に及び、やがて千に及んだ。

Word by Word

• śumbha-muktān: released by Śumbha
• śumbha-muktān: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śumbha (प्रातिपदिक) + √muc (धातु)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā (Accusative/द्वितीया), Bahuvacana (Plural/बहुवचन); Kta (P.P.P.) muktān with genitive-relation in compound: 'released by Śumbha' qualifying śarān

• śarān: arrows
• śarān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā, Bahuvacana

• devī: the Goddess
• devī: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: devī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana

• śumbhaḥ: Śumbha
• śumbhaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śumbha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana

• tat-prahitān: sent by her
• tat-prahitān: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + pra√hi (धातु)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā, Bahuvacana; Kta (P.P.P.) prahitān; Tatpuruṣa: 'sent by her/that (Goddess)' qualifying śarān

• śarān: arrows
• śarān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā, Bahuvacana

• ciccheda: cut; severed
• ciccheda: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √chid (धातु)
• Form: Laṅ-lakāra (Imperfect/Past/लङ्), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद), Prathama-puruṣa (3rd person/प्रथमपुरुष), Ekavacana

• sva-śaraiḥ: with (her) own arrows
• sva-śaraiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sva (प्रातिपदिक) + śara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Tṛtīyā, Bahuvacana; Tatpuruṣa: 'with his/her own arrows'

• ugraiḥ: fierce
• ugraiḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ugra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Tṛtīyā, Bahuvacana; qualifying śaraiḥ

• śataśaḥ: by hundreds
• śataśaḥ: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: śataśas (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyaya (indeclinable adverb/क्रियाविशेषण) meaning 'by hundreds'

• atha: then; and
• atha: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atha (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; conjunction/particle (अनन्तरार्थक)

• sahasraśaḥ: by thousands
• sahasraśaḥ: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sahasraśas (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyaya (adverb) meaning 'by thousands'

Speakers

• Narratorial

Verse Rasa

{ "primaryRasa": "vira", "secondaryRasa": "raudra", "rasaIntensity": 0, "emotionalArcPosition": "", "moodDescriptors": [] }

Primary Deities

• Devī
• Śumbha

Shakti Aspects

• Devī (battle-form; consistent with Caṇḍikā/Ambikā context)

Key Themes

• Shaktism
• Martial imagery
• Contest of powers
• Overcoming hostility

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

Hostile actions can multiply, but they are not decisive when met by steadiness and skill. The Devī’s mastery shows that dharma is not passive; it is competent and responsive.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana (5 characteristics)?

Akhyanic/didactic narrative episode demonstrating the restoration of cosmic order.

What is the esoteric significance?

Arrows can represent thought-impulses and reactive patterns. Cutting them down ‘by hundreds and thousands’ indicates disciplined awareness interrupting proliferating negativity.