Shloka 5

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

Sanskrit

तस्याग्रतस्तथा पृष्ठे पार्श्वयोश्च महासुराः ।

संदष्टौष्ठपुटाः क्रुद्धा हन्तुं देवीमुपाययुः ॥

Transliteration

tasyāgratas tathā pṛṣṭhe pārśvayoś ca mahāsurāḥ | saṃdaṣṭauṣṭhapuṭāḥ kruddhā hantuṃ devīm upāyayuḥ ||

Translation

ອະສຸຣະໃຫຍ່ໆ ຢູ່ຕໍ່ໜ້ານາງ ຢູ່ຂ້າງຫຼັງນາງ ແລະຢູ່ຂ້າງຂ້າງນາງ ດ້ວຍຄວາມໂກດ ກັດຮິມຝີປາກ ເຂົ້າມາເພື່ອສັງຫານ ພຣະເທວີ.

Word by Word

• तस्य: of him / his
• तस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive), एकवचन

• अग्रतः: in front
• अग्रतः: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अग्रतः (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक-निबद्ध)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb: in front)

• तथा: also
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb: likewise/also)

• पृष्ठे: at the back
• पृष्ठे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पृष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative), एकवचन

• पार्श्वयोः: on (both) sides
• पार्श्वयोः: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पार्श्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative), द्विवचन (Dual)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-बोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• महासुराः: great demons
• महासुराः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महासुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; समास: महत् + असुर (great demons)

• संदष्टौष्ठपुटाः: with clenched lips
• संदष्टौष्ठपुटाः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम्-दंश् (धातु) + ओष्ठपुट (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कृदन्त (PPP/क्त) + समास; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; समास-विग्रह: संदष्टः ओष्ठपुटः येषाम् (clenched-lipped)

• क्रुद्धाः: angry
• क्रुद्धाः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: क्रुध् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (PPP/क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषण of महासुराः

• हन्तुम्: to kill
• हन्तुम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हन् (धातु)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त (infinitive)

• देवीम्: the Goddess
• देवीम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• उपाययुः: approached / came near
• उपाययुः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उप-या (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, बहुवचन

Speakers

• Ṛṣi narrating

Primary Deities

• Devī
• Asuras (collective)

Shakti Aspects

• Devī as the central battlefield presence; foes attempt encirclement

Key Themes

• Encirclement motif
• Futility of opposing Śakti
• Wrath and fear in battle

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

Adversity may seem to surround one from every direction, yet dharmic centeredness (Devī at the center) is not overcome by mere numbers; alignment with truth is portrayed as unassailable.

How does this fit the Pancalakṣaṇa (5 characteristics)?

An episode within the manvantara-anchored Devī Māhātmyam narrative, illustrating divine protection and the defeat of adharmic forces.

What is the esoteric significance?

Encirclement symbolizes sensory and mental assaults from all sides; the Goddess represents the inner axis (ātma-śakti) that remains unmoved when awareness is steady.