Shloka 74
Adhyaya 85 — The Gods’ Hymn to the Goddess and the Emergence of Kaushiki; Shumbha Sends His Envoy
दूत उवाच अवलिप्तासि मैवं त्वं देवि ब्रूहि ममाग्रतः ।
त्रैलोक्ये कः पुमांस्तिष्ठेदग्रे शुम्भनिशुम्भयोः ॥
dūta uvāca avaliptāsi maivaṃ tvaṃ devi brūhi mamāgrataḥ | trailokye kaḥ pumāṃs tiṣṭhed agre śumbhaniśumbhayoḥ ||
दूत उवाच—त्वं दर्पिता; मा मे पुरतो देवि एवं वद। त्रिषु लोकेषु कः पुमान् शुम्भनिशुम्भयोः पुरतः स्थातुं समर्थः?
FAQs
Adharma often speaks with the voice of intimidation, mistaking dominance for truth. The messenger equates ‘three-worldly’ power with ultimate authority—precisely the confusion the Devī Māhātmyam corrects.
An ākhyāna embedded in manvantara narration, used to illustrate dharma’s triumph and the limits of asuric rule.
‘Who can stand before them?’ is the psyche’s fear-response when confronted by entrenched habits (asuras). The text sets up the revelation that Śakti alone can face and transform such forces.