Shloka 6

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

Sanskrit

स्वर्गान्निराकृताः सर्वे तेन देवगणा भुवि । विचरन्ति यथा मर्त्या महिषेण दुरात्मना ॥

Transliteration

svargānnirākṛtāḥ sarve tena devagaṇā bhuvi / vicaranti yathā martyā mahiṣeṇa durātmanā

Translation

اس بدروح مہیشاسُر نے جب انہیں سُوَرگ سے نکال دیا تو دیوتاؤں کے تمام لشکر انسانوں کی طرح زمین پر آوارہ پھر رہے ہیں۔

Word by Word

स्वर्गात्from heaven

निराकृताःcast out/expelled

सर्वेall

तेनby him

देवगणाःthe hosts of gods

भुविon earth

विचरन्तिwander/roam

यथाas/like

मर्त्याःmortals

महिषेणby Mahisha (the buffalo-demon)

दुरात्मनाby the wicked-souled one

Speakers

Devas (collectively) in petitionary narrative

Primary Deities

MahishasuraDeva-gana (gods collectively)

Shakti Aspects

Prelude to Devī’s manifestation as Chandikā/Durgā against Mahishasura

Key Themes

Loss of svargaCosmic inversionRefuge-seekingSuffering as catalyst for divine intervention

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

Status and privilege (even divine) are not permanent when order is violated; the verse underscores humility and the necessity of seeking higher refuge when one’s own power is insufficient.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana (5 characteristics)?

Carita (narrative of events) with a didactic purpose—showing how cosmic disorder manifests as displacement of rightful rulers.

What is the esoteric significance?

‘Gods wandering like mortals’ indicates the descent of higher faculties into ordinary limitation; it foreshadows the re-ascent through the awakening of Śakti.