Markandeya Purana — Adhyaya 82, Shloka 50
Adhyaya 82 — The Rise of Mahishasura and the Manifestation of the Goddess from the Gods’ Tejas
सापि देवी ततस्तानि शस्त्राण्यस्त्राणि चण्डिका ।
लीलयैव प्रचिच्छेद निजशस्त्रास्त्रवर्षिणी ॥
sāpi devī tatastāni śastrāṇyastrāṇi caṇḍikā / līlayaiva praciccheda nijaśastrāstravarṣiṇī
ततः सा देवी चण्डिका लीलया तानि शस्त्राणि प्रहरणानि च छित्त्वा स्वकीयैरेव शस्त्रैर्दिव्यैश्चास्त्रैः शरवृष्टिं मुमोच।
FAQs
True power is effortless when aligned with cosmic order; Chandikā’s ‘play’ contrasts with the asuras’ strain, suggesting that dharma has the support of reality itself.
A devotional-ethical episode (ākhyāna) illustrating divine intervention; not a pancalakṣaṇa element.
Līlā indicates mastery without inner conflict. The cutting of weapons symbolizes the dissolution of hostile tendencies the moment they arise, by awakened śakti.