Markandeya Purana — Adhyaya 86, Shloka 10

Adhyaya 86 — Dhumralocana’s Mission and His Ashing by the Goddess; Shumbha Sends Chanda and Munda

Sanskrit

अथ क्रुद्धं महासैन्यमसुराणां तथाम्बिका ।

ववर्ष सायकैस्तीक्ष्णैस्तथा शक्तिपरश्वधैः ॥

Transliteration

atha kruddhaṃ mahāsainyam asurāṇāṃ tathāmbikā /

vavarṣa sāyakais tīkṣṇais tathā śaktiparaśvadhaiḥ

Translation

Pagkaraan, ibinuhos ni Ambikā sa nagngangalit na malaking hukbo ng mga Asura ang ulang ng matutulis na palaso, at gumamit din ng mga sibat at palakol-pandigma.

Word by Word

• अथ: then
• अथ: सम्बन्ध/प्रसङ्गसूचक (Discourse connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अनुक्रम/आरम्भसूचक (sequence/then)

• क्रुद्धम्: angered
• क्रुद्धम्: कर्मविशेषण (Qualifier of object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: क्रुध् (धातु) → क्रुद्ध (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त/PPP); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन; ‘महासैन्यम्’ इति विशेषणम्

• महासैन्यम्: the great army
• महासैन्यम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महत् + सैन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन; समासः—महद् सैन्यम्

• असुराणाम्: of the demons
• असुराणाम्: षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: असुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; षष्ठी (6th/genitive), बहुवचन

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकार/समुच्चयार्थ (in that manner/also)

• अम्बिका: Ambikā (the Goddess)
• अम्बिका: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अम्बिका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (1st/कर्ता), एकवचन

• ववर्ष: rained down
• ववर्ष: क्रिया (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वृष् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect/परोक्षभूत), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• सायकैः: with arrows
• सायकैः: करण (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सायक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; तृतीया (3rd/instrumental), बहुवचन

• तीक्ष्णैः: sharp
• तीक्ष्णैः: करणविशेषण (Qualifier of instrument)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तीक्ष्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; तृतीया, बहुवचन; ‘सायकैः’ इति विशेषणम्

• तथा: and also
• तथा: समुच्चय (Coordinator)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय/पुनरुक्ति (also/likewise)

• शक्ति-परश्वधैः: with spears and axes
• शक्ति-परश्वधैः: करण (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शक्ति (प्रातिपदिक) + परश्वध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वन्द्वसमास; पुंलिङ्ग; तृतीया (instrumental), बहुवचन

Speakers

• Ṛṣi narrator; action by Ambikā

Verse Rasa

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

Primary Deities

• Devī (Ambikā)

Shakti Aspects

• Ambikā as warrior-Goddess (Cāmuṇḍā/caṇḍikā-like martial mode
• though name here is Ambikā)

Key Themes

• Shaktism
• Divine warfare
• Protection of cosmic order

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

When adharma organizes into collective violence, dharma may respond with disciplined force. The Goddess’s weapons represent measured, purposeful action rather than rage-driven cruelty.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana (5 characteristics)?

An ākhyāna segment embedded in the Purāṇa—illustrative narrative supporting devotional and ethical teaching.

What is the esoteric significance?

Arrows, spears, and axes symbolize discriminative faculties that ‘cut’ delusion: insight (arrow), focused intent (spear), and severing attachment (axe).