Shloka 71
Adhyaya 85 — The Gods’ Hymn to the Goddess and the Emergence of Kaushiki; Shumbha Sends His Envoy
किं त्वत्र यत्प्रतिज्ञातं मिथ्या तत्क्रियते कथम् ।
श्रूयतामल्पबुद्धित्वात् प्रतिज्ञा या कृता पुरा ॥
kiṃ tvatra yatpratijñātaṃ mithyā tatkriyate katham /
śrūyatāmalpabuddhitvāt pratijñā yā kṛtā purā
କିନ୍ତୁ ଏଠାରେ ଯେ ପ୍ରତିଜ୍ଞା କରାଯାଇଛି, ତାହା କର୍ମରେ କିପରି ମିଥ୍ୟା ହେବ? ଶୁଣ—ତୁମ ଅଳ୍ପବୁଦ୍ଧି ହେତୁ—ପୂର୍ବରୁ କୃତ ପ୍ରତିଜ୍ଞାକୁ ଯଥାର୍ଥ।
FAQs
A vow (pratijñā) is presented as morally binding; dharma is not convenience-based. Devi frames the encounter under the law of truthfulness: even in conflict, right conduct is anchored in keeping one’s word.
Didactic narrative (vaṃśānucarita) emphasizing dharma through the motif of vows—common across Puranas as a mechanism that governs events more deeply than brute force.
Pratijñā symbolizes sankalpa (resolute intention). In inner practice, liberation depends on unwavering sankalpa; Devi’s vow signifies the inviolability of divine resolve against ego’s bargaining.