Shloka 22

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

Sanskrit

वज्रमिन्द्रः समुत्पाद्य कुलिशादमराधिपः ।

ददौ तस्यै सहस्राक्षो घण्टामैरावताद्गजात् ॥

Transliteration

vajram indraḥ samutpādya kuliśād amarādhipaḥ |

dadau tasyai sahasrākṣo ghaṇṭām airāvatād gajāt ||

Translation

امروں کے سردار اندر نے اپنے ہی وجر سے وجر پیدا کرکے دیوی کو دیا؛ اور ہزار آنکھوں والے نے اپنے ہاتھی ایراوت سے گھنٹی بھی اسے عطا کی۔

Word by Word

• vajram: thunderbolt
• vajram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vajra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• indraḥ: Indra
• indraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: indra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• samutpādya: having produced
• samutpādya: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam-ut-pād (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त/ल्यप्), ‘having produced’

• kuliśāt: from (his) club/weapon (kuliśa)
• kuliśāt: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kuliśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Ablative (5th/पञ्चमी), Singular (एकवचन)

• amara-adhipaḥ: lord of the immortals
• amara-adhipaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: amara + adhipa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘amarāṇām adhipaḥ’

• 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)

• sahasra-akṣaḥ: the thousand-eyed one (Indra)
• sahasra-akṣaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sahasra + akṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); बहुव्रीहि: ‘yasya sahasram akṣāṇi’

• ghaṇṭām: bell
• ghaṇṭām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ghaṇṭā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• airāvatāt: from Airāvata
• airāvatāt: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: airāvata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Ablative (5th/पञ्चमी), Singular (एकवचन)

• gajāt: from the elephant
• gajāt: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gaja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Ablative (5th/पञ्चमी), Singular (एकवचन)

Speakers

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

Primary Deities

• Indra
• Airāvata
• Devī

Shakti Aspects

• Devī as the supreme commander of divine forces

Key Themes

• Shaktism
• Royal sovereignty and divine authority
• Weapon symbolism
• Preparation for Mahishasura battle

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

Indra’s surrender of his emblematic weapon indicates that even ‘kingship’ and command must submit to dharma; authority is validated by service to the higher good.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana (5 characteristics)?

Itihāsa-like devī-carita within the Purāṇa; not a manvantara/genealogy unit.

What is the esoteric significance?

Vajra symbolizes indestructible clarity and decisive force; the bell signifies awakening, resonance, and the dispersal of negativity—often linked to ritual space-clearing and the announcement of divine presence.