Shloka 23

Adhyaya 83 — The Slaying of Mahishasura’s Armies and the Final Death of Mahishasura

Sanskrit

वेगेन कांश्चिदपरान् नादेन भ्रमणेन च ।

निश्वासपवनेनान्यान् पातयामास भूतले ॥

Transliteration

vegena kāṃś cid aparān nādena bhramaṇena ca | niśvāsapavanenānyān pātayāmāsa bhūtale ||

Translation

కొంతమందిని తన వేగంతోనే కూల్చాడు, మరికొందరిని గర్జనతో మరియు చక్రాకార కదలికలతో; ఇంకొందరిని తన శ్వాస గాలితో నేలకూల్చాడు।

Word by Word

• वेगेन: by speed/force
• वेगेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वेग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन

• कान्: some
• कान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन

• चित्: some
• चित्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: चित् (अव्यय)
• Form: अनिश्चितार्थक निपात (indefinite particle)

• अपरान्: others
• अपरान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अपर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन

• नादेन: by roaring/sound
• नादेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नाद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन

• भ्रमणेन: by whirling/turning
• भ्रमणेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भ्रमण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन

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

• निश्वास-पवनेन: by the wind of (his) breath
• निश्वास-पवनेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निश्वास (प्रातिपदिक) + पवन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः: ‘निश्वासस्य पवनेन’

• अन्यान्: others
• अन्यान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन

• पातयामास: made (them) fall
• पातयामास: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पत् (धातु) [णिच् causative]
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; णिजन्त: ‘caused to fall’

• भूतले: on the ground
• भूतले: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूतल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन

Speakers

• Narrative voice within the Devi Mahatmyam frame

Primary Deities

• Mahīṣāsura

Shakti Aspects

• Contextual: the Goddess’s battlefield; Mahishasura’s might as obstruction to dharma

Key Themes

• Shaktism
• Tamas and upheaval
• Overpowering force

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

Power without righteousness destabilizes: it overwhelms by noise, motion, and intimidation rather than by truth. The verse depicts the chaotic signature of adharma.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana (5 characteristics)?

Kathā segment; not directly aligned to the five purāṇic characteristics as a data unit.

What is the esoteric significance?

Roar, whirl, and breath-wind can symbolize sensory overload, restless mind (rajas-tamas agitation), and prāṇic disturbance—inner conditions that ‘knock down’ steadiness until mastered by the Goddess (higher awareness).