Shloka 5

Adhyaya 87 — The Slaying of Dhumralochana and the Emergence of Kali; the Fall of Chanda and Munda (Chamunda Named)

Sanskrit

भ्रुकुटीकुटिलात्तस्याः ललाटफलकाश् द्रुतम् ।

काली करालवदना विनिष्क्रान्तासिपाशिनी ॥

Transliteration

bhru-kuṭī-kuṭilāt tasyā lalāṭa-phalakād drutam /

kālī karāla-vadanā viniṣkrāntāsi-pāśinī

Translation

Mula sa kanyang noo na kumulubot dahil sa pagsimangot, biglang sumibol si Kālī—may mabangis na mukha—na lumitaw na may hawak na espada at lubid na panghuli (pāśa).

Word by Word

• भ्रुकुटी-कुटिलात्: from (her) crooked frown
• भ्रुकुटी-कुटिलात्: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भ्रुकुटी (प्रातिपदिक) + कुटिल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (अपादान/ablative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (भ्रुकुट्या कुटिलात् = ‘from the crooked frown’)

• तस्याः: of her
• तस्याः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (सम्बन्ध/genitive), एकवचन

• ललाट-फलकाश्: forehead-plates (brow-ridges)
• ललाट-फलकाश्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ललाट (प्रातिपदिक) + फलका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (कर्ता/nominative), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (ललाटस्य फलकाḥ)

• द्रुतम्: quickly
• द्रुतम्: Kriya-vishesana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: द्रुत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (क्रियाविशेषण/adverb)

• काली: Kālī
• काली: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काली (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (कर्ता/nominative), एकवचन

• कराल-वदना: with a terrifying face
• कराल-वदना: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कराल (प्रातिपदिक) + वदन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारय-समास (करालं वदनं यस्याः)

• विनिष्क्रान्त-असि-पाशिनी: bearing a drawn sword and noose
• विनिष्क्रान्त-असि-पाशिनी: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विनिष्क्रान्त (कृदन्त; नि√क्रम्/क्रम् धातु) + असि (प्रातिपदिक) + पाशिनी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (विनिष्क्रान्तौ असि-पाशौ यस्याः/धारयति)

Speakers

• Narrative within the Devi Mahatmyam (frame traditionally: the sage narrates the Goddess’s deeds; commonly Medhas to Suratha & Samadhi in this section)

Primary Deities

• Kālī
• Durgā/Chandikā

Shakti Aspects

• Kālī (also identified with Chamundā in the Shumbha–Nishumbha episode)

Key Themes

• Shaktism
• Divine intervention
• Wrath as protective power
• Battle symbolism

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

Protective fury is portrayed as a divine function: when dharma is threatened, the Goddess externalizes a fierce, decisive power that removes obstacles to cosmic order.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana (5 characteristics)?

Primarily within Vamśānucarita/Carita-type narrative (deeds of divine powers) rather than sarga/pratisarga/manvantara; it is a theological-epic episode embedded in the Purāṇic corpus.

What is the esoteric significance?

Kālī arising from the forehead signifies manifestation from the seat of command/insight (ājñā-bhāva): concentrated will becomes an autonomous force that cuts (sword) and binds/restrains (noose) disorder.