Markandeya Purana — Adhyaya 90, Shloka 26

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

Sanskrit

ततो देवगणाः सर्वे हर्षनिर्भमानसाः ।

बभूवुर्निहते तस्मिन् गन्धर्वा ललितं जगुः ॥

Transliteration

tato deva-gaṇāḥ sarve harṣa-nirbhamānasāḥ /

babhūvur nihate tasmin gandharvā lalitaṃ jaguḥ

Translation

Pagkaraan, nang siya’y mapatay, napuno ng galak ang lahat ng pangkat ng mga diyos, at ang mga Gandharva ay umawit nang matamis.

Word by Word

• tataḥ: then
• tataḥ: Kāla (काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatas (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय, काल/अनन्तर्यवाचक (then)

• deva-gaṇāḥ: groups of gods
• deva-gaṇāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva (देव प्रातिपदिक) + gaṇa (गण प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष (devānāṃ gaṇāḥ)

• sarve: all
• sarve: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (सर्व प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; ‘deva-gaṇāḥ’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• harṣa-nirbhara-mānasāḥ: whose minds were full of joy
• harṣa-nirbhara-mānasāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: harṣa (हर्ष) + nirbhara (निर्भर) + mānasa (मानस)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; बहुव्रीहि: ‘harṣeṇa nirbharaṃ mānasaṃ yeṣām’

• babhūvuḥ: became / were
• babhūvuḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhū (भू धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन

• nihate: when (he) was slain
• nihate: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: han (हन् धातु) → nihata (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कृदन्त (past passive participle with नि-), सप्तमी एकवचन; ‘when slain’

• tasmin: in him/that one
• tasmin: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन

• gandharvāḥ: Gandharvas
• gandharvāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gandharva (गन्धर्व प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• lalitam: a sweet/pleasant (song)
• lalitam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: lalita (ललित प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्मपद (object)

• jaguḥ: sang
• jaguḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: gai (गै धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन

Speakers

• Narrative voice within Devī Māhātmyam

Primary Deities

• Devī
• Deva-gaṇas
• Gandharvas

Shakti Aspects

• Devī as object of divine praise (implicit)

Key Themes

• Divine celebration
• Stotra/praise culture
• Communal relief

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

Gratitude and praise follow protection; the gods’ rejoicing models the proper response to grace—recognizing the source of restored order.

How does this fit the Pancalakṣaṇa (5 characteristics)?

Itihāsa-like episode within a manvantaric frame; illustrates the functional role of devas in cosmic administration responding to restored balance.

What is the esoteric significance?

Gandharva-song symbolizes the harmony of inner faculties after conflict; ‘music’ is the sign of re-integration of the psyche under śakti.