Shloka 28

Adhyaya 91 — The Gods’ Hymn to Kātyāyanī and the Goddess’ Prophecy of Future Manifestations

Sanskrit

असुरासृग्वसापङ्कचर्चितस्ते करोज्ज्वलः ।

शुभाय खड्गो भवतु चण्डिके त्वां नता वयम् ॥

Transliteration

asurāsṛgvasāpaṅkacarcitaste karojjvalaḥ | śubhāya khaḍgo bhavatu caṇḍike tvāṃ natā vayam ||

Translation

Bàn tay cầm kiếm rực sáng của Ngài, vấy bùn nhơ bởi máu và mỡ của bọn asura—xin cho thanh kiếm ấy trở nên điềm lành, hộ trì cho an lạc của chúng con. Ô Caṇḍikā, chúng con cúi đầu đảnh lễ Ngài.

Word by Word

• asura-asṛk-vasā-paṅka-carcitaḥ: smeared with demon-blood, fat, and mire
• asura-asṛk-vasā-paṅka-carcitaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: asura (प्रातिपदिक) + asṛk (प्रातिपदिक) + vasā (प्रातिपदिक) + paṅka (प्रातिपदिक) + carcita (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative, 1st), एकवचन; past participle (क्त) from √carc ‘to smear/adorn’, ‘smeared with’; बहुपद-तत्पुरुष (with demon-blood-fat-mud)

• te: your
• te: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yusmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (Genitive, 6th) एकवचन; enclitic form

• kara-ujjvalaḥ: shining in (your) hand
• kara-ujjvalaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kara (प्रातिपदिक) + ujjvala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative, 1st), एकवचन; कर्मधारय ‘bright as/bright in the hand’ (hand-bright)

• śubhāya: for auspiciousness
• śubhāya: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śubha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (or पुंलिङ्ग as abstract), चतुर्थी (Dative, 4th), एकवचन

• khaḍgaḥ: the sword
• khaḍgaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: khaḍga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative, 1st), एकवचन

• bhavatu: may it be
• bhavatu: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhū (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative/benedictive), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

• caṇḍike: O Caṇḍikā
• caṇḍike: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: caṇḍikā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन

• tvām: you
• tvām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yusmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया (Accusative, 2nd), एकवचन

• natāḥ: bowed down
• natāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: nam (धातु)
• Form: क्त (past passive participle) used adjectivally; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; ‘having bowed’

• vayam: we
• vayam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा (Nominative, 1st), बहुवचन

Speakers

• Gods (Devas) offering praise to the Devī

Verse Rasa

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

Primary Deities

• Devī (Caṇḍikā)

Shakti Aspects

• Caṇḍikā; weapon symbolism (khaḍga)

Key Themes

• Fierce compassion (ugra yet śubha)
• Victory over asuric forces
• Auspicious protection

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

Even fierce action can be ‘śubha’ when it restores moral order; the verse reframes violence in mythic battle as the removal of entrenched adharma, not personal hatred.

How does this fit the Pancalakṣaṇa (5 characteristics)?

A hymn segment within the Purāṇic narrative of Devī’s exploits; it serves devotional instruction rather than the five formal characteristics.

What is the esoteric significance?

The sword symbolizes discriminative wisdom (viveka) that cuts ignorance; the ‘blood and fat’ imagery points to severing dense, tamasic accretions in the psyche—made auspicious when offered to dharma.