Shloka 34

Śumbha–Niśumbha’s Mobilization After Devī’s Victories

Battle Muster and Omens

Devanagari script

स भिन्नखड्गो निचखान मार्गणं पराम्बिका वक्षसि सोऽपि चिच्छिदे । पुनस्त्रिशूलं हृदयेऽक्षिपत्तदप्यचूर्ण यन्मुष्टिनिपातनेन सा

Transliteration

sa bhinnakhaḍgo nicakhāna mārgaṇaṃ parāmbikā vakṣasi so'pi cicchide | punastriśūlaṃ hṛdaye'kṣipattadapyacūrṇa yanmuṣṭinipātanena sā

Translation

ಕತ್ತಿ ಮುರಿದಾಗ ಅವನು ಪರಾಂಬಿಕೆಯ ಎದೆಯ ಮೇಲೆ ಬಾಣವನ್ನು ಎಸೆದನು, ಅದನ್ನು ಅವಳು ಕತ್ತರಿಸಿದಳು. ಮತ್ತೆ ತ್ರಿಶೂಲವನ್ನು ಎಸೆದಾಗ ಅವಳು ಮುಷ್ಟಿ ಪ್ರಹಾರದಿಂದ ಅದನ್ನು ಪುಡಿಮಾಡಿದಳು.

Word by Word

• saḥ: he
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम (pronoun), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nom./कर्ता), एकवचन

• bhinna-khaḍgaḥ: with a broken sword
• bhinna-khaḍgaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bhinna (कृदन्त; √bhid भिद्) + khaḍga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारय-समास ('broken sword'); भूतकृदन्त (past passive participle)

• nicakhāna: struck/thrust (dug in)
• nicakhāna: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ni+√khan (खन् धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect/परोक्षभूत), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• mārgaṇam: the arrow/missile
• mārgaṇam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mārgaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Acc./कर्म), एकवचन

• parā-ambikā: the Supreme Mother
• parā-ambikā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: parā (प्रातिपदिक) + ambikā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nom./कर्ता), एकवचन; कर्मधारय-समास

• vakṣasi: on the chest
• vakṣasi: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vakṣas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (Loc./अधिकरण), एकवचन

• saḥ: he
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• api: also
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, अवधान/समुच्चयार्थक-निपात (particle: 'also/even')

• cicchide: cut/broke
• cicchide: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √chid (छिद् धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• punaḥ: again
• punaḥ: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: punaḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, क्रियाविशेषण (adverb: 'again')

• tri-śūlam: trident
• tri-śūlam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tri (प्रातिपदिक) + śūla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Acc./कर्म), एकवचन; द्विगु-समास (त्रीणि शूलानि/त्रिशूलम्)

• hṛdaye: in the heart
• hṛdaye: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hṛdaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (Loc./अधिकरण), एकवचन

• akṣipat: threw/cast
• akṣipat: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā+√kṣip (क्षिप् धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/Past), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• tat: that (weapon)
• tat: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Acc.), एकवचन

• api: also
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, निपात ('also/even')

• acūrṇayat: pulverized
• acūrṇayat: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: a+√cūrṇ (चूर्ण् धातु, denominative/causative sense 'to pulverize')
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद; नकारार्थक-उपसर्ग 'a-' here as augment? (textual: 'acūrṇayat' = 'he pulverized')

• yat: which
• yat: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया/प्रथमा एकवचन; सम्बन्धसूचक (relative pronoun: 'which/that')

• muṣṭi-nipātanena: by the blow/strike of the fist
• muṣṭi-nipātanena: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: muṣṭi (प्रातिपदिक) + nipātana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instr./करण), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (muṣṭyā nipātanam)

• sā: she
• sā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nom./कर्ता), एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages at Naimisharanya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Characters & Entities

• Parvati

FAQs

What is the spiritual significance of this verse in the Shiva Purana?

The verse portrays Parāmbikā (Umā) as invincible Shakti: worldly and ego-driven “weapons” cannot pierce the Divine. In Shaiva Siddhanta terms, Pati’s grace operates through Shakti, dissolving the pasha-like forces of fear, aggression, and bondage.

How does this verse relate to the worship of the Linga or Saguna Shiva?

It supports Saguna worship by showing the Divine as personally protective: Shiva’s reality is approached through his inseparable power, Umā. Linga-worship honors Pati (Shiva) while recognizing Shakti as the dynamic force that safeguards and transforms the devotee.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is to take refuge in japa of the Panchakshara mantra (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with bhakti, visualizing the Divine Couple’s protection; on Mahāśivarātri, combine mantra-japa with Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and Rudrākṣa as reminders of detachment and grace.