Markandeya Purana 89.12 — Adhyaya 89, Shloka 12

Adhyaya 89 — The Wrath of Shumbha and Nishumbha and the Fall of Nishumbha

Sanskrit

कोपाध्मातो निशुम्भोऽथ शूलं जग्राह दानवः ।

आयातं मुष्टिपातेन देवी तच्चाप्यचूर्णयत् ॥

Transliteration

kopādhmāto niśumbho 'tha śūlaṃ jagrāha dānavaḥ |

āyātaṃ muṣṭipātena devī tac cāpy acūrṇayat ||

Translation

پھر غضب سے پھولا ہوا دانَو نِشُمبھ ترشول لے آیا؛ اور وہ اس کی طرف آتے ہی دیوی نے اپنی مُٹھی کے وار سے اسے چورا چورا کر دیا۔

Word by Word

• कोप: anger
• कोप: —
• Type: Noun
• Root: कोप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रातिपदिक (compound member)

• आध्मातः: swollen with anger
• आध्मातः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आ + ध्मा (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः: कोपेन आध्मातः = ‘swollen/inflated with anger’

• निशुम्भः: Niśumbha
• निशुम्भः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निशुम्भ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• अथ: then
• अथ: Sambandha (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: काल/अनन्तरबोधक-अव्यय (particle: then/now)

• शूलम्: trident/spear
• शूलम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शूल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• जग्राह: he seized
• जग्राह: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ग्रह् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• दानवः: the demon
• दानवः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दानव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; निशुम्भस्य विशेषणरूपेण (appositional)

• आयातम्: come/approaching
• आयातम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आ + या (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्मविशेषण (of tac/śūlam)

• मुष्टि: fist
• मुष्टि: —
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुष्टि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रातिपदिक (compound member)

• पातेन: with a fist-blow
• पातेन: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पात (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः: मुष्टेः पातः = ‘blow/strike of the fist’

• देवी: the Goddess
• देवी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• तत्: that (weapon)
• तत्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; शूलम् इत्यस्य निर्देशः

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• अपि: also
• अपि: Emphasis (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle: also/even)

• अचूर्णयत्: she crushed/powdered
• अचूर्णयत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ + चूर्णय् (धातु; denom. from चूर्ण)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

Speakers

• Narrative voice within the Devi Mahatmyam

Verse Rasa

{ "primaryRasa": "vira", "secondaryRasa": "raudra", "rasaIntensity": 0, "emotionalArcPosition": "", "moodDescriptors": [] }

Primary Deities

• Chandika/Durga

Shakti Aspects

• Chandika

Key Themes

• Shaktism
• Anger vs. mastery
• Divine strength
• Battle

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

Rage (kopa) inflates the ego but not effectiveness against the grounded power of the Devi. The Goddess demonstrates effortless superiority: what is brandished with anger is undone with calm mastery.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana (5 characteristics)?

Not a Sarga/Manvantara catalog; it is a dharma-restoration episode functioning as instructive sacred history.

What is the esoteric significance?

The fist (muṣṭi) can symbolize unmediated will (icchā-śakti) and direct presence. The crushing of the śūla implies that the ‘three-pronged’ afflictions/dualities are reduced to dust by unified awareness.