Shloka 2

Adhyaya 82 — The Rise of Mahishasura and the Manifestation of the Goddess from the Gods’ Tejas

Sanskrit

तत्रासुरैर्महावीर्यैर्देवसैन्यं पराजितम् ।

जित्वा च सकलान् देवानिन्द्रोऽबून्महिषासुरः ॥

Transliteration

tatrāsurair mahāvīryair devasainyaṃ parājitam | jitvā ca sakalān devān indro 'būn mahiṣāsuraḥ ||

Translation

ସେଠାରେ ବଳବାନ ଅସୁରମାନେ ଦେବସେନାକୁ ପରାଜିତ କଲେ; ଏବଂ ସମସ୍ତ ଦେବତାଙ୍କୁ ଜୟ କରି ମହୀଷାସୁର ମନେ ହେଲା ଯେନେ ଇନ୍ଦ୍ର ହୋଇଗଲା।

Word by Word

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देशवाचक (locative adverb: there)

• असुरैः: by the demons
• असुरैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: असुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन

• महावीर्यैः: of great prowess
• महावीर्यैः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महा+वीर्य (प्रातिपदिक); समासः
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; विशेषण (of asuraiḥ)

• देवसैन्यम्: the army of the gods
• देवसैन्यम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव+सैन्य (प्रातिपदिक); समासः
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (devānāṃ sainyam)

• पराजितम्: defeated
• पराजितम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पराजि (धातु) → पराजित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (PPP/क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण (of devasainyam)

• जित्वा: having conquered
• जित्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: जि (धातु) → जित्वा (क्त्वान्त)
• Form: अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund/क्त्वा); पूर्वकालिक क्रिया (having conquered)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (and)

• सकलान्: all
• सकलान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सकल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन; विशेषण (of devān)

• देवान्: the gods
• देवान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• इन्द्रः: Indra
• इन्द्रः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• अभूत्: became
• अभूत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लुङ् (Aorist), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• महिषासुरः: Mahishāsura
• महिषासुरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महिष+असुर (प्रातिपदिक); समासः
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारय (महिषः असुरः / buffalo-demon)

Speakers

• Ṛṣi (narrator)

Primary Deities

• Mahīṣāsura
• Devas (collective)

Shakti Aspects

• Contextual: Devī will be invoked due to this usurpation

Key Themes

• Usurpation of divine authority
• Asuric dominion
• Crisis preceding Devī’s manifestation

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

When adharma gains the seat of authority (‘becoming Indra’), the narrative frames it as illegitimate power—setting the stage for restoration through Devī.

How does this fit the Pancalakṣaṇa (5 characteristics)?

Manvantara-focused episode: illustrates governance disruption within a time-cycle, prompting divine rebalancing.

What is the esoteric significance?

‘Mahīṣa’ (buffalo) connotes inertia and brute force; it occupying Indra’s seat symbolizes tamas overpowering the luminous ruling faculty.