Shloka 13

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

Sanskrit

तस्यापतत एवाशु खड्गं चिच्छेद चण्डिका ।

धनुर्मुक्तैः शितैर्बाणैश्चर्म चार्ककरामलम् ॥

Transliteration

tasyāpatata evāśu khaḍgaṃ ciccheda caṇḍikā / dhanurmuktaiḥ śitair bāṇaiś carma cārkakarāmalam

Translation

अभिद्रवतः तस्य खड्गं चण्डिका शीघ्रं चिच्छेद; धनुषो मुक्तैस्तीक्ष्णैः शरैश्च तस्य सूर्यरश्मिसमप्रभं फलकं विव्याध।

Word by Word

• तस्य: of him, his
• तस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी विभक्ति, एकवचन

• आपततः: as (he) was rushing/falling upon
• आपततः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-√पत् (धातु)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमानकृदन्त (present active participle), षष्ठी-सम्बन्धे एकवचन; ‘while (he) was falling/charging’

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

• आशु: quickly
• आशु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: आशु (अव्यय)
• Form: शीघ्रार्थक अव्यय (adverb)

• खड्गम्: sword
• खड्गम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: खड्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन

• चिच्छेद: cut, severed
• चिच्छेद: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √छिद् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (परोक्षभूत/Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• चण्डिका: Caṇḍikā (the fierce Goddess)
• चण्डिका: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चण्डिका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन

• धनुः: from the bow
• धनुः: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धनुस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘from the bow’ (ablative) in dhanurmuktaiḥ

• मुक्तैः: released, shot
• मुक्तैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मुक्त (कृदन्त; √मुच् धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति, बहुवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त — ‘released’ qualifying बाणैः

• शितैः: sharp
• शितैः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषण

• बाणैः: with arrows
• बाणैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बाण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• चर्म: shield, leather (shield)
• चर्म: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन

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

• अर्ककरामलम्: bright/pure like the sun’s rays
• अर्ककरामलम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अर्क-कर-अमल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (अर्कस्य करः इव अमलम्) — ‘pure/bright like the sun’s rays’ qualifying चर्म

Speakers

• Narrative within the Devi Mahatmyam

Primary Deities

• Devī (Caṇḍikā)

Shakti Aspects

• Caṇḍikā (explicitly named)

Key Themes

• Shaktism
• Fierce grace
• Precision and swiftness in divine action

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

Divine action is both compassionate and precise: it disarms aggression (sword) and nullifies defenses (shield) that protect wrongdoing.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana (5 characteristics)?

Carita: exemplary narrative reinforcing the Goddess as the decisive power that restores balance.

What is the esoteric significance?

The sword can symbolize violent intent; the shield symbolizes rationalizations and self-protection of ego. Devī’s arrows (focused awareness) penetrate both.