Markandeya Purana — Adhyaya 84, Shloka 20

Adhyaya 84 — The Gods’ Hymn after the Slaying of Mahishasura and the Goddess’ Boon

Sanskrit

खड्गप्रभानिकरविस्फुरणैस्तथोग्रैः शूलाग्रकान्तिनिवहेन दृशोऽसुराणाम् । यन्नागता विलयमंशुमदिन्दुखण्ड- योग्याननं तव विलोकयतां तदेतत् ॥

Transliteration

khaḍgaprabhānikaravisphuraṇaistathograiḥ śūlāgrakāntinivahena dṛśo 'surāṇām / yannāgatā vilayamaṃśumadindukhaṇḍa-yogyānanaṃ tava vilokayatāṃ tadetat

Translation

Jika mata para Asura tidak musnah oleh kilatan garang dari gugusan cahaya pada pedang-Mu dan oleh sinar yang melimpah pada hujung trisula-Mu, itu kerana mereka sedang memandang wajah-Mu yang menyerupai bulan sabit yang bercahaya gemilang.

Word by Word

• khaḍga-prabhā-nikara-visphuraṇaiḥ: by the flashing masses of sword-light
• khaḍga-prabhā-nikara-visphuraṇaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: khaḍga (प्रातिपदिक) + prabhā (प्रातिपदिक) + nikara (प्रातिपदिक) + visphuraṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa chain ('flashes of clusters of sword-light'); Neuter, Instrumental (3rd), Plural

• tathā: and likewise
• tathā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb

• ugraiḥ: fierce
• ugraiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ugra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental (3rd), Plural; qualifies visphuraṇaiḥ (or the instrumental phrase)

• śūla-agra-kānti-nivahena: by the mass of radiance of spear-points
• śūla-agra-kānti-nivahena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śūla (प्रातिपदिक) + agra (प्रातिपदिक) + kānti (प्रातिपदिक) + nivaha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa ('mass of the splendor of spear-tips'); Masculine, Instrumental (3rd), Singular

• dṛśaḥ: eyes/sights
• dṛśaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dṛś (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (1st), Plural

• asurāṇām: of the demons
• asurāṇām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asura (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th), Plural

• yat: which/that
• yat: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Relative indeclinable connector (यत् = 'that/which')

• na: not
• na: Nipāta (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Negation particle

• āgatāḥ: have come
• āgatāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ā-√gam (धातु) → āgata (कृदन्त, क्त)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (1st), Plural; agrees with dṛśaḥ; 'having come'

• vilayam: destruction
• vilayam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vilaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd), Singular; goal 'to destruction'

• aṃśumat-indu-khaṇḍa-yogya-ānanam: your face, worthy of a fragment of the radiant moon
• aṃśumat-indu-khaṇḍa-yogya-ānanam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: aṃśumat (प्रातिपदिक) + indu (प्रातिपदिक) + khaṇḍa (प्रातिपदिक) + yogya (प्रातिपदिक) + ānana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Bahuvrīhi describing 'your face' as 'fit to (be compared with) a piece of the radiant moon'; Neuter, Accusative (2nd), Singular; object of vilokayatām

• tava: your
• tava: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tvad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Genitive (6th), Singular

• vilokayatām: of those who look
• vilokayatām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vi-√lok (धातु) → vilokayat (वर्तमान कृदन्त/शतृ)
• Form: Present active participle (शतृ) used substantively; Genitive (6th), Plural; 'of those who are looking'

• tat: that
• tat: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (1st), Singular

• etat: this
• etat: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: etad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (1st), Singular; appositional with tat

Speakers

• Indra and the Devas

Primary Deities

• Devi
• Indra

Shakti Aspects

• Chandika
• Ambika

Key Themes

• Shaktism
• Divine Beauty
• Divine Wrath
• Stuti

FAQs

What is the esoteric significance of this verse?

This verse highlights the paradox of the Goddess's nature (Saumya-Raudra). While her weapons (Shakti as power/energy) emit blinding light capable of destroying vision (ego/ignorance), her face (Shakti as consciousness/bliss) provides the cooling grace that sustains the observer. It suggests that the demons were kept alive during the battle solely by the captivation of Her divine beauty, eventually leading to their purification through death by Her hand.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana?

This text falls under the Manvantara characteristic of the Purana. Specifically, the Devi Mahatmyam is narrated within the context of the Savarni Manvantara to explain the origin and destiny of the 8th Manu.

What is the poetic device used here?

The verse uses 'Virodhabhasa' (apparent contradiction) or a form of 'Kavyalinga' (poetic reason). It explains a physical impossibility (eyes not burning from intense light) by providing a poetic cause (the cooling effect of the moon-like face).