Shloka 9

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

Sanskrit

मुक्तानि तेन चास्त्राणि दिव्यानि परमेś्वरि ।

बभञ्ज लीलयैवोग्रहुंकारोच्चारणादिभिः ॥

Transliteration

muktāni tena cāstrāṇi divyāni parameśvarī / babhañja līlayaivograhuṅkāroccāraṇādibhiḥ

Translation

О Верховная Владычица! Божественные снаряды, выпущенные им, Она без труда сокрушила яростными возгласами — такими, как грозный боевой клич «хумкара» (huṃkāra) и подобными ему.

Word by Word

• मुक्तानि: released, discharged
• मुक्तानि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मुक्त (कृदन्त; √मुच् धातु)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया विभक्ति, बहुवचन; भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (क्त) — past passive participle used adjectivally

• तेन: by him/with him
• तेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति, एकवचन — instrumental (करण)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• अस्त्राणि: weapons (missiles)
• अस्त्राणि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• दिव्यानि: divine
• दिव्यानि: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दिव्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषण

• परमेश्वरि: O Supreme Lady
• परमेश्वरि: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: परमेश्वरी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन विभक्ति, एकवचन — vocative address

• बभञ्ज: broke, shattered
• बभञ्ज: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √भञ्ज् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (परोक्षभूत/Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• लीलया: playfully, as if in sport
• लीलया: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लीला (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति, एकवचन — instrumental (manner)

• एव: indeed, just
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चय/अवधारणार्थक अव्यय (emphatic particle)

• उग्र: fierce
• उग्र: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उग्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति, बहुवचन; समासपूर्वपद-विशेषण (qualifier of following members)

• हुंकार: roar, huṃ-sound
• हुंकार: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हुंकार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति, बहुवचन; समासाङ्ग

• उच्चारण: utterance, pronunciation
• उच्चारण: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उच्चारण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति, बहुवचन; समासाङ्ग

• आदिभिः: and the like, etc.
• आदिभिः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति, बहुवचन; ‘आदि’ = etc., and the like

Speakers

• Narrative within the Devi Mahatmyam (frame traditionally: the sage recounts the Goddess’s deeds; commonly Medhas to Suratha & Samadhi in this section)

Primary Deities

• Devī (Caṇḍikā)

Shakti Aspects

• Caṇḍikā / Devī / Ambikā / Parameśvarī

Key Themes

• Shaktism
• Divine protection
• Mantra-śakti (huṃkāra)
• Triumph over asuric power

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

Asuric aggression, even when armed with ‘divine’ power, is powerless before the Supreme when she acts for dharma; her effortless victory emphasizes that true sovereignty is spiritual, not merely martial.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana (5 characteristics)?

Primarily within Vaṃśānucarita/Carita-style narrative (deeds of divine powers) rather than sarga/pratisarga; the Devi Mahatmyam functions as exemplary sacred history embedded in the Purana.

What is the esoteric significance?

The huṃkāra signifies śabda-brahman/mantra-śakti: sound as a direct force that dissolves hostile energies; it also hints that inner realization can neutralize external ‘weapons’ (vṛttis) without struggle.