Shloka 21

Adhyaya 82 — The Rise of Mahishasura and the Manifestation of the Goddess from the Gods’ Tejas

Sanskrit

शङ्खञ्च वरुणः शक्तिं ददौ तस्यै हुताशनः ।

मारुतो दत्तवांश्चापं बाणपूर्णे तथेषुधी ॥

Transliteration

śaṅkhaṃ ca varuṇaḥ śaktiṃ dadau tasyai hutāśanaḥ |

māruto dattavāṃś cāpaṃ bāṇa-pūrṇe tatheṣudhī ||

Translation

Ipinagkaloob ni Varuṇa sa Kaniya ang isang kabibe (conch); ipinagkaloob ni Hutāśana (Agni) sa Kaniya ang isang sibat na śakti. Ipinagkaloob ni Māruta (Vāyu) sa Kaniya ang isang busog, at gayundin ang dalawang lalagyan ng palaso na punô ng mga palaso.

Word by Word

• śaṅkham: conch
• śaṅkham: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śaṅkha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction/particle (समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय)

• varuṇaḥ: Varuṇa
• varuṇaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: varuṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• śaktim: spear/energy-weapon (śakti)
• śaktim: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śakti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• dadau: gave
• dadau: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dā (धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd Person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• tasyai: to her
• tasyai: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Dative (4th/चतुर्थी), Singular (एकवचन)

• hutāśanaḥ: Fire (Agni)
• hutāśanaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: huta + aśana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); कर्मधारय: ‘hutaṃ aśnāti’/‘huta-aśana’ = fire

• mārutaḥ: Wind (Vāyu)
• mārutaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: māruta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• dattavān: gave
• dattavān: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dā (धातु) + kta-vat (कृत् प्रत्यय)
• Form: Past active participle (क्तवत्), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction/particle (समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय)

• āpam: bow
• āpam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: āpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• bāṇa-pūrṇe: in (the two) arrow-filled (quivers)
• bāṇa-pūrṇe: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bāṇa + pūrṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Dual (द्विवचन); used adjectivally with iṣudhī (dual): ‘in the two (quivers) filled with arrows’

• tathā: also/likewise
• tathā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (क्रियाविशेषण अव्यय)

• iṣudhī: two quivers
• iṣudhī: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: iṣudhi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Dual (द्विवचन)

Speakers

• Devi Mahatmyam narrator (within Markandeya Purana’s frame narration)

Primary Deities

• Varuṇa
• Agni (Hutāśana)
• Vāyu (Māruta)
• Devī

Shakti Aspects

• Devī as Durgā/Chandikā (armed for Mahīṣāsura battle context)

Key Themes

• Shaktism
• Ritual symbolism (conch; fire)
• Martial readiness
• Cosmic elements as allies

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

The elements (water, fire, wind) become instruments of dharma when aligned with the Devi; power is legitimate when it serves restoration of cosmic balance rather than domination.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana (5 characteristics)?

A dharma-restoring divine episode (carita) embedded in the Purāṇic narrative continuum.

What is the esoteric significance?

Conch suggests primordial vibration and proclamation of order; fire-spear is focused transformative energy; bow and arrows indicate directed will (icchā-śakti) and precise action (kriyā-śakti).