Shloka 26

Adhyaya 90 — The Slaying of Shumbha and the Reabsorption of the Goddesses into Ambika

Sanskrit

ततो देवगणाः सर्वे हर्षनिर्भमानसाः ।

बभूवुर्निहते तस्मिन् गन्धर्वा ललितं जगुः ॥

Transliteration

tato deva-gaṇāḥ sarve harṣa-nirbhamānasāḥ /

babhūvur nihate tasmin gandharvā lalitaṃ jaguḥ

Translation

അവൻ വധിക്കപ്പെട്ടപ്പോൾ എല്ലാ ദേവഗണങ്ങളും ആനന്ദത്തിൽ നിറഞ്ഞു; ഗന്ധർവന്മാർ മധുരമായി പാടി।

Word by Word

• tataḥ: then
• tataḥ: Kāla (काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatas (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय, काल/अनन्तर्यवाचक (then)

• deva-gaṇāḥ: groups of gods
• deva-gaṇāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva (देव प्रातिपदिक) + gaṇa (गण प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष (devānāṃ gaṇāḥ)

• sarve: all
• sarve: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (सर्व प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; ‘deva-gaṇāḥ’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• harṣa-nirbhara-mānasāḥ: whose minds were full of joy
• harṣa-nirbhara-mānasāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: harṣa (हर्ष) + nirbhara (निर्भर) + mānasa (मानस)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; बहुव्रीहि: ‘harṣeṇa nirbharaṃ mānasaṃ yeṣām’

• babhūvuḥ: became / were
• babhūvuḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhū (भू धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन

• nihate: when (he) was slain
• nihate: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: han (हन् धातु) → nihata (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कृदन्त (past passive participle with नि-), सप्तमी एकवचन; ‘when slain’

• tasmin: in him/that one
• tasmin: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन

• gandharvāḥ: Gandharvas
• gandharvāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gandharva (गन्धर्व प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• lalitam: a sweet/pleasant (song)
• lalitam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: lalita (ललित प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्मपद (object)

• jaguḥ: sang
• jaguḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: gai (गै धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन

Speakers

• Narrative voice within Devī Māhātmyam

Primary Deities

• Devī
• Deva-gaṇas
• Gandharvas

Shakti Aspects

• Devī as object of divine praise (implicit)

Key Themes

• Divine celebration
• Stotra/praise culture
• Communal relief

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

Gratitude and praise follow protection; the gods’ rejoicing models the proper response to grace—recognizing the source of restored order.

How does this fit the Pancalakṣaṇa (5 characteristics)?

Itihāsa-like episode within a manvantaric frame; illustrates the functional role of devas in cosmic administration responding to restored balance.

What is the esoteric significance?

Gandharva-song symbolizes the harmony of inner faculties after conflict; ‘music’ is the sign of re-integration of the psyche under śakti.