Shloka 77

Adhyaya 85 — Suratha's Devotion

Sanskrit

सा त्वं गच्छ मयैवोक्ता पार्श्वं शुम्भनिशुम्भयोः ।

केशाकर्षणनिर्धूतगौरवा मा गमिष्यसि ॥

Transliteration

sā tvaṃ gaccha mayaivoktā pārśvaṃ śumbhaniśumbhayoḥ | keśākarṣaṇanirdhūtagauravā mā gamiṣyasi ||

Translation

അതുകൊണ്ട് പോകുക—ഞാൻ പറഞ്ഞിരിക്കുന്നു—ശുംബ-നിശുംബരുടെ അടുക്കൽ. മുടി പിടിച്ച് വലിച്ചുകൊണ്ടുപോയി നിന്റെ മാനമര്യാദ കുലയാതിരിക്കട്ടെ.

Word by Word

sāshe; that (woman)

tvamyou

gacchago

mayāby me

evaindeed; only

uktā(you are) told; instructed

pārśvamto the side

śumbhaniśumbhayoḥof Śumbha and Niśumbha

keśākarṣaṇanirdhūtagauravā(you) whose dignity will be shaken off by hair-pulling

mādo not

gamiṣyasiyou will go

Speakers

Dūta addressing Devī

Primary Deities

DevīŚumbhaNiśumbha

Shakti Aspects

Devī as the one whose ‘gaurava’ cannot truly be diminished (ironic contrast to threat)

Key Themes

Coercion vs consentAsuric violenceHonor and inviolability of the Divine

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

The asuric mindset escalates from persuasion to coercion. The text condemns forced possession and foretells its reversal: violence aimed at the sacred rebounds upon the violent.

How does this fit the Pancalakṣaṇa (5 characteristics)?

Narrative (ākhyāna) within manvantara; it functions as a moral exemplum about adharma’s methods and their downfall.

What is the esoteric significance?

Hair-dragging symbolizes the attempt to control the ‘crown’ (śiras) of consciousness by force. Śakti cannot be compelled; attempts to dominate the inner power lead to psychic fragmentation for the aggressor.