Markandeya Purana — Adhyaya 90, Shloka 18

Adhyaya 90 — The Slaying of Shumbha and the Reabsorption of the Goddesses into Ambika

Sanskrit

उत्पत्य च प्रगृह्योच्चैर्देवीं गगनमास्थितः ।

तत्रापि सा निराधारा युयुधे तेन चण्डिका ॥

Transliteration

utpatya ca pragṛhyoccair devīṃ gaganam āsthitaḥ / tatrāpi sā nirādhārā yuyudhe tena caṇḍikā

Translation

Tumalon siya at sinunggaban ang Diyosa, saka umakyat nang mataas sa kalangitan. Kahit doon, na walang masasandalan, nakipaglaban pa rin si Caṇḍikā sa kanya.

Word by Word

• utpatya: having sprung up
• utpatya: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ud+pat (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वा/ल्यप्) ‘having leapt up’

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चयबोधक)

• pragṛhya: having seized
• pragṛhya: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra+grah (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वा/ल्यप्) ‘having seized’

• uccaiḥ: high (up)
• uccaiḥ: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: uccaiḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (उच्चैः-क्रियाविशेषण) ‘high/upwards’

• devīm: the Goddess
• devīm: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: devī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative (2nd), Singular

• gaganam: the sky
• gaganam: Karma (गत्यर्थक-कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gagana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd), Singular; goal with motion verb (to/into)

• āsthitaḥ: having reached / stationed in
• āsthitaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ā+sthā (धातु)
• Form: Past participle (क्त), Masculine, Nominative, Singular; ‘having mounted/entered, being in’

• tatra: there
• tatra: Deśa-adhikaraṇa (देशाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatra (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb of place (देशवाचक अव्यय)

• api: also
• api: Sambandha (connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात) ‘also/even’

• sā: she
• sā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun, Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• nirādhārā: unsupported
• nirādhārā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nir+ādhāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Bahuvrīhi (बहुव्रीहि) ‘having no support’; Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• yuyudhe: fought
• yuyudhe: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: yudh (धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन), Ātmanepada (आत्मनेपद)

• tena: with him
• tena: Sahakāraka (सहकारक)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental (3rd), Singular

• caṇḍikā: Caṇḍikā
• caṇḍikā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: caṇḍikā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (1st), Singular; proper epithet of Devī

Speakers

• Narrative within the Devi Mahatmyam

Primary Deities

• Devī (Caṇḍikā)

Shakti Aspects

• Caṇḍikā (explicitly named) as transcending dependence on ‘support’

Key Themes

• Shaktism
• Transcendence
• Fearlessness
• Aerial battle motif

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

The Goddess’s stability does not depend on external supports; likewise, steadfastness in dharma persists even when one is ‘lifted’ into uncertain conditions.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana (5 characteristics)?

Carita: an intensification of the battle narrative, presenting the Goddess as beyond ordinary constraints (space/ground/support).

What is the esoteric significance?

‘Nirādhārā’ suggests the Self’s independence from worldly bases; in yogic symbolism, consciousness can remain poised even when the usual ‘ground’ (habitual reference points) is removed.