Shloka 5

Adhyaya 83 — The Slaying of Mahishasura’s Armies and the Final Death of Mahishasura

Sanskrit

स छिन्नधन्वा विरथो हताश्वो हतसारथिः ।

अभ्यधावत तां देवीं खड्गचर्मधरोऽसुरः ॥

Transliteration

sa cchinnadhanvā viratho hatāśvo hatasārathiḥ | abhyadhāvata tāṃ devīṃ khaḍga-carmadharo 'suraḥ ||

Translation

ତାହାର ଧନୁ ଭଙ୍ଗିଗଲା, ରଥ ଚୁର୍ଣ୍ଣ ହେଲା, ଘୋଡ଼ାମାନେ ନିହତ ହେଲେ ଏବଂ ସାରଥି ମଧ୍ୟ ମରିଗଲା। ତେବେ ଖଡ଼୍ଗ ଓ ଢାଳ ଧରି ସେ ଅସୁର ଦେବୀଙ୍କ ଉପରେ ସିଧା ଧାଇଲା।

Word by Word

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; सर्वनाम (pronoun)

• छिन्न-धन्वा: whose bow was cut
• छिन्न-धन्वा: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: छिन्न (कृदन्त; √छिद्) + धन्वन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः—'यस्य धनुः छिन्नम्' (whose bow is cut)

• वि-रथः: chariotless
• वि-रथः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रथ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; उपसर्ग-युक्त विशेषण (वि-), 'रथ-रहितः' (without chariot)

• हत-अश्वः: with slain horses
• हत-अश्वः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हत (कृदन्त; √हन्) + अश्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः—'यस्य अश्वाः हताः' (whose horses are slain)

• हत-सारथिः: with slain charioteer
• हत-सारथिः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हत (कृदन्त; √हन्) + सारथि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः—'यस्य सारथिः हतः' (whose charioteer is slain)

• अभ्य-अधावत: rushed toward
• अभ्य-अधावत: Kriya (क्रिया/Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √धाव् (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect/Past), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; उपसर्गः अभि-

• ताम्: her
• ताम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• देवीम्: the goddess
• देवीम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• खड्ग-चर्म-धरः: bearing sword and shield
• खड्ग-चर्म-धरः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: खड्ग (प्रातिपदिक) + चर्म (प्रातिपदिक) + धर (कृदन्त; √धृ)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष/उपपद-समासः—'खड्गं च चर्म च धरति' (bearing sword and shield)

• असुरः: the demon
• असुरः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: असुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

Speakers

• Narrative voice within the Devi Mahatmyam frame (traditionally Markandeya recounting to the listener in the Purana’s frame)

Primary Deities

• Devi (Ambika/Chandika)

Shakti Aspects

• Devi as Chandika/Ambika; battlefield aspect aligns with Bhadrakali in this chapter’s diction

Key Themes

• Shaktism
• Divine warfare
• Triumph of Devi
• Courage and wrath against adharma

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

When external supports (weapons, vehicles, allies) collapse, the asura still rushes forward through sheer aggression; the text contrasts this blind rajasic force with Devi’s composed sovereignty—power guided by dharma prevails over power driven by rage.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana (5 characteristics)?

This passage belongs to a narrative upākhyāna within the Purana, not directly to sarga/pratisarga/manvantara/vamsha/vamshanucarita exposition; it functions as dharma-kathā illustrating divine intervention and the destruction of adharma.

What is the esoteric significance?

The stripping away of the asura’s ‘equipment’ symbolizes the collapse of ego’s props; yet ego still charges. Devi represents buddhi/śakti that meets raw impulse and subdues it.