Shloka 59

Adhyaya 85 — The Gods’ Hymn to the Goddess and the Emergence of Kaushiki; Shumbha Sends His Envoy

Sanskrit

स तत्र गत्वा यत्रास्ते शैलोद्देशेऽतिशोभने ।

तां च देवीं ततः प्राह श्लक्ष्णं मधुरया गिरा ॥

Transliteration

sa tatra gatvā yatrāste śailoddeśe 'tiśobhane / tāṃ ca devīṃ tataḥ prāha ślakṣṇaṃ madhurayā girā

Translation

Tendo ido ao lugar onde ela habitava—num sítio montanhoso de esplendor magnífico—ele então falou à Deusa com palavras polidas e doces.

Word by Word

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन (pronoun)

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

• गत्वा: having gone
• गत्वा: Kriyā (क्रिया-पूर्वक)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु) + त्वा (क्त्वा-प्रत्यय)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्ययकृदन्त (absolutive), पूर्वक्रिया

• यत्र: where
• यत्र: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक अव्यय (where)

• आस्ते: sits; remains
• आस्ते: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आस् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• शैल-उद्देशे: in a mountain region
• शैल-उद्देशे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शैल (प्रातिपदिक) + उद्देश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (शैलस्य उद्देशः)

• अतिशोभने: very splendid
• अतिशोभने: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अतिशोभन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; शैलोद्देशे इति विशेषण

• ताम्: her
• ताम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन (pronoun)

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

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

• ततः: then
• ततः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रम/अपादानार्थक अव्यय (then; thereafter)

• प्राह: said; spoke
• प्राह: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-√अह्/ब्रू (धातु; परस्मैपद-आदेश)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• श्लक्ष्णम्: soft; gentle
• श्लक्ष्णम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्लक्ष्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; गिरा इति विशेषण (adverbial accusative: softly)

• मधुरया: with sweet
• मधुरया: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मधुरा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; गिरा इति विशेषण

• गिरा: speech; voice
• गिरा: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गिर् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

Speakers

• Narrative voice

Verse Rasa

{ "primaryRasa": "adbhuta", "secondaryRasa": "vira", "rasaIntensity": 0, "emotionalArcPosition": "", "moodDescriptors": [] }

Primary Deities

• Devī

Shakti Aspects

• Devī (mountain-dwelling; contextually associated with Pārvatī-like setting
• though the text here says simply Devī)

Key Themes

• Sacred geography (mountain locus)
• Approach of envoy
• Persuasion attempt

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

The contrast between the ‘splendid’ sacred setting and the envoy’s agenda highlights that sacred spaces can still be approached with impure motives; refinement of speech is not the same as purity of intent.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana (5 characteristics)?

Narrative progression within Devi Mahatmyam; not pancalakṣaṇa.

What is the esoteric significance?

The mountain locale symbolizes the elevated seat of consciousness (stability, transcendence). The envoy’s sweet speech symbolizes the mind’s alluring thoughts attempting to ‘descend’ the Divine into egoic possession.