Shloka 26

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

Sanskrit

ज्वालाकरालमत्युग्रमशेषासुरशूदनम् ।

त्रिशूलं पातु नो भीतेर्भद्रकाली नमोऽस्तु ते ॥

Transliteration

jvālākarālamatyugramaśeṣāsuraśūdanam | triśūlaṃ pātu no bhīterbhadrakāli namo 'stu te ||

Translation

ขอพระตรีศูลของพระองค์ อันน่าสะพรึงดุจเปลวเพลิง แหลมคมและดุร้ายยิ่ง เป็นผู้สังหารอสูรทั้งปวง จงคุ้มครองเราจากความหวาดกลัวเสมอ โอภัทรกาลี ขอนอบน้อมแด่พระองค์

Word by Word

• jvālā-karālam: flame-fierce; blazing and terrible
• jvālā-karālam: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: jvālā (प्रातिपदिक) + karāla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative), एकवचन; कर्मधारय: ‘flame-terrible’ qualifying त्रिशूलम्

• ati-ugram: exceedingly fierce
• ati-ugram: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ati (अव्यय) + ugra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; अव्ययीभाव: ‘exceedingly fierce’

• aśeṣa-asura-śūdanam: slayer of all demons
• aśeṣa-asura-śūdanam: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: aśeṣa (प्रातिपदिक) + asura (प्रातिपदिक) + śūdana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: ‘slayer of all asuras without remainder’

• tri-śūlam: the trident
• tri-śūlam: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tri (प्रातिपदिक) + śūla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन; द्विगु: ‘three-pronged spear (trident)’

• pātu: may it protect
• pātu: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √pā (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative/benedictive), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• naḥ: us
• naḥ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: अस्मद्-सर्वनाम, द्वितीया, बहुवचन — enclitic

• bhīteḥ: from fear
• bhīteḥ: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhīti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (Ablative), एकवचन

• bhadrakāli: O Bhadrakālī
• bhadrakāli: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhadrakālī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन

• namaḥ: salutation
• namaḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Salutation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: namas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय, नमस्कारार्थक-निपात

• astu: let there be
• astu: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √as (धातु)
• Form: लोट्, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• te: to you
• te: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yusmad (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: चतुर्थी (Dative), एकवचन

Speakers

• Gods (Devas) offering praise to the Devī

Verse Rasa

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

Primary Deities

• Devī (Bhadrakālī)

Shakti Aspects

• Bhadrakālī; weapon-aspect (triśūla) emphasized

Key Themes

• Protective weapons as sacred symbols
• Destruction of demonic forces
• Fearlessness through divine power

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

The verse frames ‘weapons’ as instruments of dharma: fierce force is legitimate when directed toward the destruction of adharma (āsuric tendencies) and the protection of the vulnerable.

How does this fit the Pancalakṣaṇa (5 characteristics)?

It is devotional praise within the Devī narrative; it supports dharma teaching through mythic theology rather than being a primary pancalakṣaṇa unit.

What is the esoteric significance?

The triśūla commonly signifies piercing/transcending the three guṇas (sattva-rajas-tamas) or threefold suffering; Bhadrakālī’s ‘fierce’ grace cuts attachment and fear at the root.