Markandeya Purana — Adhyaya 83, Shloka 22

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

Sanskrit

कांश्चित्तुण्डप्रिहारेण खुरक्षेपैस्तथापरान् ।

लाङ्गूलताडितांश्चान्यान् शृङ्गाभ्याञ्च विदारितान् ॥

Transliteration

kāṃś cit tuṇḍaprihāreṇa khurakṣepais tathāparān | lāṅgūlatāḍitāṃś cānyān śṛṅgābhyāṃ ca vidāritān ||

Translation

有的被他以口鼻猛击；有的被他以蹄踢飞；有的被他以尾鞭击；还有的被他以双角撕裂。

Word by Word

• कान्: some (of them)
• कान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन; ‘some/whom’ (indefinite in context)

• चित्: some
• चित्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: चित् (अव्यय)
• Form: अनिश्चितार्थक निपात (indefinite particle)

• तुण्ड-प्रिहारेण: by a beak/face-strike
• तुण्ड-प्रिहारेण: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तुण्ड (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रहार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः: ‘तुण्डस्य प्रहारेण’

• खुर-क्षेपैः: with hoof-throws/kicks
• खुर-क्षेपैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: खुर (प्रातिपदिक) + क्षेप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः: ‘खुरस्य क्षेपैः’

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकार/समुच्चयवाचक-अव्यय (thus/likewise)

• अपरान्: others
• अपरान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अपर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन; ‘others’

• लाङ्गूल-ताडितान्: struck by the tail
• लाङ्गूल-ताडितान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: लाङ्गूल (प्रातिपदिक) + ताडित (ताड्-धातु, क्त-प्रत्यय; कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त; तत्पुरुषः: ‘लाङ्गूलेन ताडितान्’

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• अन्यान्: others
• अन्यान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन

• शृङ्गाभ्याम्: with (his) two horns
• शृङ्गाभ्याम्: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शृङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), द्विवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• विदारितान्: torn apart
• विदारितान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वि + दृ (धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त: ‘torn asunder’

Speakers

• Narrative voice within the Devi Mahatmyam frame

Primary Deities

• Mahīṣāsura
• Mahādevī (Ambikā/Durgā)

Shakti Aspects

• Contextual: Ambikā’s battlefield; Mahishasura’s tamasic ferocity highlighted

Key Themes

• Shaktism
• Violence of adharma
• Buffalo symbolism (tamas)

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

Adharma’s nature is indiscriminate harm—using whatever ‘limb’ or capacity is available. The text contrasts this with the Goddess’s purposeful, discriminating destruction aimed at restoring order.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana (5 characteristics)?

A battle-description within sacred narrative; not a cosmological/genealogical pancalakṣaṇa segment.

What is the esoteric significance?

The many modes of assault reflect how tamas manifests in varied ways—dullness, aggression, and destabilization—striking the ‘gaṇas’ (inner faculties) unless steadied by higher śakti.