Shloka 28

Adhyaya 91 — The Gods’ Hymn to Kātyāyanī and the Goddess’ Prophecy of Future Manifestations

Sanskrit

असुरासृग्वसापङ्कचर्चितस्ते करोज्ज्वलः ।

शुभाय खड्गो भवतु चण्डिके त्वां नता वयम् ॥

Transliteration

asurāsṛgvasāpaṅkacarcitaste karojjvalaḥ | śubhāya khaḍgo bhavatu caṇḍike tvāṃ natā vayam ||

Translation

அசுரர்களின் இரத்தமும் கொழுப்பும் கலந்த சேற்றால் பூசப்பட்ட உன் ஒளிவீசும் வாள்-தாங்கிய கை—அந்த வாள் எங்கள் நலனுக்காக மங்களகரமான காவலாக ஆகட்டும். சண்டிகையே, உனக்கு வணக்கம்.

Word by Word

• asura-asṛk-vasā-paṅka-carcitaḥ: smeared with demon-blood, fat, and mire
• asura-asṛk-vasā-paṅka-carcitaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: asura (प्रातिपदिक) + asṛk (प्रातिपदिक) + vasā (प्रातिपदिक) + paṅka (प्रातिपदिक) + carcita (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative, 1st), एकवचन; past participle (क्त) from √carc ‘to smear/adorn’, ‘smeared with’; बहुपद-तत्पुरुष (with demon-blood-fat-mud)

• te: your
• te: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yusmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (Genitive, 6th) एकवचन; enclitic form

• kara-ujjvalaḥ: shining in (your) hand
• kara-ujjvalaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kara (प्रातिपदिक) + ujjvala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative, 1st), एकवचन; कर्मधारय ‘bright as/bright in the hand’ (hand-bright)

• śubhāya: for auspiciousness
• śubhāya: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śubha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (or पुंलिङ्ग as abstract), चतुर्थी (Dative, 4th), एकवचन

• khaḍgaḥ: the sword
• khaḍgaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: khaḍga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative, 1st), एकवचन

• bhavatu: may it be
• bhavatu: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhū (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative/benedictive), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

• caṇḍike: O Caṇḍikā
• caṇḍike: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: caṇḍikā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन

• tvām: you
• tvām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yusmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया (Accusative, 2nd), एकवचन

• natāḥ: bowed down
• natāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: nam (धातु)
• Form: क्त (past passive participle) used adjectivally; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; ‘having bowed’

• vayam: we
• vayam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा (Nominative, 1st), बहुवचन

Speakers

• Gods (Devas) offering praise to the Devī

Verse Rasa

{ "primaryRasa": "raudra", "secondaryRasa": "bhakti", "rasaIntensity": 0, "emotionalArcPosition": "", "moodDescriptors": [] }

Primary Deities

• Devī (Caṇḍikā)

Shakti Aspects

• Caṇḍikā; weapon symbolism (khaḍga)

Key Themes

• Fierce compassion (ugra yet śubha)
• Victory over asuric forces
• Auspicious protection

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

Even fierce action can be ‘śubha’ when it restores moral order; the verse reframes violence in mythic battle as the removal of entrenched adharma, not personal hatred.

How does this fit the Pancalakṣaṇa (5 characteristics)?

A hymn segment within the Purāṇic narrative of Devī’s exploits; it serves devotional instruction rather than the five formal characteristics.

What is the esoteric significance?

The sword symbolizes discriminative wisdom (viveka) that cuts ignorance; the ‘blood and fat’ imagery points to severing dense, tamasic accretions in the psyche—made auspicious when offered to dharma.