Markandeya Purana — Adhyaya 83, Shloka 16

Adhyaya 83 — The Slaying of Mahishasura’s Armies and the Final Death of Mahishasura

Sanskrit

उदग्रश्च रणे देव्याः शिलावृक्षादिभिर्हतः ।

दन्तमुष्टितलैश्चैव करालश्च निपातितः ॥

Transliteration

udagraś ca raṇe devyāḥ śilāvṛkṣādibhir hataḥ | dantamuṣṭitalaiś caiva karālaś ca nipātitaḥ ||

Translation

又有乌达格罗（Udagra）在战场上被女神之军以巨石、树木等物击杀；迦罗罗（Karāla）亦被牙齿、拳头与掌击所击倒。

Word by Word

• udagraḥ: (the demon) Udagra
• udagraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: udagra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), conjunction (समुच्चयबोधक)

• raṇe: in battle
• raṇe: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: raṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन)

• devyāḥ: of the Goddess
• devyāḥ: Sambandha/Ṣaṣṭhī (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: devī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन)

• śilā-vṛkṣa-ādibhiḥ: by stones, trees, and the like
• śilā-vṛkṣa-ādibhiḥ: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śilā (प्रातिपदिक) + vṛkṣa (प्रातिपदिक) + ādi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (तत्पुरुष) ‘śilā-vṛkṣa-ādi’ = ‘stones, trees, etc.’; Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural (बहुवचन)

• hataḥ: was slain/struck down
• hataḥ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √han (धातु)
• Form: Past passive participle (कर्मणि क्त), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन) agreeing with udagraḥ

• danta-muṣṭi-talaiḥ: with teeth, fists, and palms
• danta-muṣṭi-talaiḥ: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: danta (प्रातिपदिक) + muṣṭi (प्रातिपदिक) + tala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Dvandva (द्वन्द्व) ‘danta-muṣṭi-tala’ = ‘teeth, fists, and palms’; Neuter collective sense, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural (बहुवचन)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), conjunction (समुच्चयबोधक)

• eva: indeed
• eva: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), particle of emphasis (निपात)

• karālaḥ: (the demon) Karāla
• karālaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: karāla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), conjunction (समुच्चयबोधक)

• nipātitaḥ: was made to fall, was felled
• nipātitaḥ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ni-√pat (धातु)
• Form: Causative past passive participle (णिच् + कर्मणि क्त) from ni-√pat ‘to cause to fall’; Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन) agreeing with karālaḥ

Speakers

• Narrative voice within the Devi Mahatmyam frame (Medhas Ṛṣi narration in the standard tradition)

Primary Deities

• Mahādevī (Ambikā/Durgā)

Shakti Aspects

• Mahādevī’s śakti operating through her gaṇas/attendants and battlefield energy

Key Themes

• Shaktism
• Divine host (gaṇas)
• Removal of demonic forces

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

The verse emphasizes that divine order can prevail through many instruments—great and small. Even ‘ordinary’ means (stones, trees, bodily strength) become dharmic when aligned with the Goddess’s cause.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana (5 characteristics)?

Primarily kathā (sacred narrative) supporting dharma; not a direct sarga/pratisarga/manvantara/vaṃśa/vaṃśānucarita unit.

What is the esoteric significance?

The use of natural objects (stone/tree) suggests prakṛti itself fighting for balance when śakti is awakened—nature becomes an extension of the Divine in restoring equilibrium.