Markandeya Purana — Adhyaya 90, Shloka 17

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

Sanskrit

तलप्रहाराभिहतो निपपात महीतले ।

स दैत्यराजः सहसा पुनरेव तथोत्थितः ॥

Transliteration

talaprahārābhihato nipapāta mahītale / sa daityarājaḥ sahasā punar eva tathotthitaḥ

Translation

ਉਸ ਦੇ ਕਰਤਲ ਦੇ ਵਾਰ ਨਾਲ ਉਹ ਦੈਤ-ਰਾਜ ਧਰਤੀ ਉੱਤੇ ਡਿੱਗ ਪਿਆ; ਪਰ ਅਚਾਨਕ ਹੀ ਫਿਰ ਉੱਠ ਖੜਾ ਹੋਇਆ।

Word by Word

• tala-prahāra-abhihataḥ: struck by the palm-blow
• tala-prahāra-abhihataḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tala+prahāra+abhihata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (तत्पुरुष) ‘struck by a blow of the palm’; Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• nipapāta: fell down
• nipapāta: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ni+pat (धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd person, Singular, Parasmaipada

• mahītale: on the ground
• mahītale: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahī+tala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (तत्पुरुष) ‘surface of the earth’; Neuter, Locative (7th), Singular

• saḥ: he
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun, Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• daityarājaḥ: the demon-king
• daityarājaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: daitya+rāja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (तत्पुरुष) ‘king of demons’; Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• sahasā: suddenly
• sahasā: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sahasā (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (क्रियाविशेषण अव्यय) ‘suddenly/forcibly’

• punar: again
• punar: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: punar (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (पुनरित्यर्थक अव्यय)

• eva: indeed
• eva: Sambandha (emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: Emphatic particle (निश्चयार्थक निपात)

• tathā: thus / in that manner
• tathā: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (तथार्थक अव्यय)

• utthitaḥ: rose up
• utthitaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ud+sthā (धातु)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), Masculine, Nominative, Singular; ‘risen/stood up’

Speakers

• Narrative within the Devi Mahatmyam

Primary Deities

• Devī (Caṇḍikā/Ambikā)

Shakti Aspects

• Devī as the irresistible force against recurring evil

Key Themes

• Shaktism
• Resilience of asuric tendency
• Continuing struggle

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

Negative tendencies may reassert themselves even after being struck down; perseverance in spiritual discipline (and divine support) is implied by the repeated contest.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana (5 characteristics)?

Carita: narrative reinforcement that cosmic order is maintained through sustained divine intervention, not a single moment alone.

What is the esoteric significance?

The fall and sudden rising mirrors saṃskāras: even after a strong insight, latent impressions can ‘stand up again’ unless fully uprooted.