Shloka 51

Mahiṣāsura’s Conquest of Svarga and the Devas’ Appeal to Śiva and Viṣṇu

Devanagari script

सचर्म्मासिकरं तं च देवी बाणैरताडयत् । ततो गजवपुर्भूत्वा सिंहं चिच्छेद शुण्डया

Transliteration

sacarmmāsikaraṃ taṃ ca devī bāṇairatāḍayat | tato gajavapurbhūtvā siṃhaṃ ciccheda śuṇḍayā

Translation

Богиня осыпала стрелами того льва — свирепого, облачённого в шкуру. Затем, приняв облик слона, она разорвала льва своим хоботом.

Word by Word

• सचर्म्मासिकरम्: him who had leather and sword in hand
• सचर्म्मासिकरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स + चर्म + असि + कर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुव्रीहि-समास (चर्म-असि-करः यस्य सः), पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• तम्: him
• तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम (Pronoun), पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

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

• देवी: the Goddess
• देवी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• बाणैः: with arrows
• बाणैः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बाण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन (Plural)

• अताडयत्: struck
• अताडयत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ + तड् (धातु)
• Form: लङ्/अनद्यतनभूत (Imperfect/Past), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular)

• ततः: then
• ततः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अनन्तर-अव्यय (then)

• गजवपुः: elephant-form body
• गजवपुः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गज + वपुस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (गज-रूपं वपुः), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• भूत्वा: having become
• भूत्वा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (Gerund/Absolutive), पूर्वकालिक क्रिया (having become)

• सिंहम्: the lion
• सिंहम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सिंह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• चिच्छेद: cut/sliced
• चिच्छेद: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: छिद् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्/परोक्षभूत (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular)

• शुण्डया: with the trunk
• शुण्डया: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शुण्डा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन (Singular)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Gajasamhāramūrti

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Caṇḍikā

Role: destructive

Characters & Entities

• Parvati

FAQs

What is the spiritual significance of this verse in the Shiva Purana?

It highlights Shakti as the active, protective power of the Supreme (Pati). The Goddess’ effortless change of form signifies divine sovereignty over nature and the removal of obstructive forces that threaten dharma.

How does this verse relate to the worship of the Linga or Saguna Shiva?

Though the action is of the Goddess, the Uma Samhita frames her as inseparable from Shiva—Shiva as consciousness (Pati) and Shakti as power. Worship of the Linga honors this unity: the transcendent Shiva made approachable through manifest divine activity.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is protective japa with the Panchakshara mantra ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya") while contemplating Shiva-Shakti unity—steadiness in awareness (Shiva) and courage in right action (Shakti) when facing inner “lion-like” passions.