Shloka 22

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

Sanskrit

तमायान्तं ततो देवी सर्वदैत्यजनेश्वरम् ।

जगत्यां पातयामास भित्त्वा शूलेन वक्षसि ॥

Transliteration

tam āyāntaṃ tato devī sarva-daitya-janeśvaram /

jagatyāṃ pātayāmāsa bhittvā śūlena vakṣasi

Translation

Bấy giờ, Nữ Thần giáng xuống trên mặt đất kẻ đang xông tới, chúa tể của toàn bộ đạo quân Daitya, và dùng giáo đâm xuyên ngực hắn.

Speakers

• Narrative voice within Devī Māhātmyam

Primary Deities

• Devī (Caṇḍikā/Ambikā)

Shakti Aspects

• Devī as Caṇḍikā/Ambikā wielding śūla

Key Themes

• Daitya-nigraha
• Protection of cosmic order
• Triumph of Śakti

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

When destructive intent becomes irredeemable, the righteous response is decisive and proportionate; Devī’s act is not cruelty but the restoration of safety for the world.

How does this fit the Pancalakṣaṇa (5 characteristics)?

An exemplary episode (vaṃśānucarita/itihāsa mode) embedded in Manvantara narration—showing how divine agency stabilizes an age.

What is the esoteric significance?

Piercing the ‘chest’ indicates breaking the seat of hardened self-assertion; the śūla signifies penetrating discriminative power that ends inner tyranny.