Shloka 6

Adhyaya 82 — Death of Shumbha

Sanskrit

स्वर्गान्निराकृताः सर्वे तेन देवगणा भुवि । विचरन्ति यथा मर्त्या महिषेण दुरात्मना ॥

Transliteration

svargānnirākṛtāḥ sarve tena devagaṇā bhuvi / vicaranti yathā martyā mahiṣeṇa durātmanā

Translation

ആ ദുഷ്ടാത്മാവായ മഹിഷാസുരൻ സ്വർഗത്തിൽ നിന്ന് പുറത്താക്കിയതിനാൽ ദേവഗണങ്ങളുടെ എല്ലാ സൈന്യങ്ങളും മർത്ത്യരെപ്പോലെ ഭൂമിയിൽ അലഞ്ഞുതിരിയുന്നു।

Word by Word

स्वर्गात्from heaven

निराकृताःcast out/expelled

सर्वेall

तेनby him

देवगणाःthe hosts of gods

भुविon earth

विचरन्तिwander/roam

यथाas/like

मर्त्याःmortals

महिषेणby Mahisha (the buffalo-demon)

दुरात्मनाby the wicked-souled one

Speakers

Devas (collectively) in petitionary narrative

Primary Deities

MahishasuraDeva-gana (gods collectively)

Shakti Aspects

Prelude to Devī’s manifestation as Chandikā/Durgā against Mahishasura

Key Themes

Loss of svargaCosmic inversionRefuge-seekingSuffering as catalyst for divine intervention

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

Status and privilege (even divine) are not permanent when order is violated; the verse underscores humility and the necessity of seeking higher refuge when one’s own power is insufficient.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana (5 characteristics)?

Carita (narrative of events) with a didactic purpose—showing how cosmic disorder manifests as displacement of rightful rulers.

What is the esoteric significance?

‘Gods wandering like mortals’ indicates the descent of higher faculties into ordinary limitation; it foreshadows the re-ascent through the awakening of Śakti.