Markandeya Purana — Adhyaya 83, Shloka 29
Adhyaya 83 — The Slaying of Mahishasura’s Armies and the Final Death of Mahishasura
Sanskrit
सा क्षिप्त्वा तस्य वै पाशं तं बबन्ध महासुरम् ।
तत्याज माहिषं रूपं सोऽपि बद्धो महामृधे ॥
Transliteration
sā kṣiptvā tasya vai pāśaṃ taṃ babandha mahāsuram /
tatyāja māhiṣaṃ rūpaṃ so 'pi baddho mahāmṛdhe
Translation
她将索套掷向他，缚住那大阿修罗。虽在大战中被缚，他仍舍弃其水牛之形。
Word by Word
साshe
सा:
कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
TypeNoun
Rootतद् (प्रातिपदिक)
Formसर्वनाम (pronoun), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन
क्षिप्त्वाhaving cast
क्षिप्त्वा:
पूर्वकाल क्रिया (Prior action)
TypeVerb
Root√क्षिप् (धातु)
Formक्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव: 'having thrown/cast'
तस्यof him; his
तस्य:
सम्बन्ध (Genitive/Relation)
TypeNoun
Rootतद् (प्रातिपदिक)
Formसर्वनाम (pronoun), पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन
वैindeed
वै:
सम्बन्ध/निपात (Emphasis particle)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootवै (अव्यय)
Formनिपात (particle), निश्चय/खलु-अर्थ (indeed)
पाशम्noose; snare
पाशम्:
कर्म (Karma/Object)
TypeNoun
Rootपाश (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन
तम्him
तम्:
कर्म (Karma/Object)
TypeNoun
Rootतद् (प्रातिपदिक)
Formसर्वनाम (pronoun), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन
बबन्धshe bound; tied
बबन्ध:
क्रिया (Kriyā/Verb)
TypeVerb
Root√बन्ध् (धातु)
Formलिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन
महासुरम्the great demon
महासुरम्:
कर्म (Karma/Object) (अप्पोजिशन to तम्)
TypeNoun
Rootमहā + असुर (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन
तत्याजhe abandoned; gave up
तत्याज:
क्रिया (Kriyā/Verb)
TypeVerb
Root√त्यज् (धातु)
Formलिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन
माहिषम्buffalo-like; of a buffalo
माहिषम्:
कर्म (Karma/Object) विशेषण
TypeAdjective
Rootमाहिष (प्रातिपदिक; महिष-सम्बन्धी)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषण (adjective) रूपम् इति
रूपम्form
रूपम्:
कर्म (Karma/Object)
TypeNoun
Rootरूप (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन
सःhe
सः:
कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
TypeNoun
Rootतद् (प्रातिपदिक)
Formसर्वनाम (pronoun), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन
अपिalso; even
अपि:
सम्बन्ध/निपात (Particle/Connector)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootअपि (अव्यय)
Formनिपात (particle), समुच्चय/अपि-अर्थ (also/even)
बद्धःbound; tied up
बद्धः:
कर्ता (Karta/Subject) विशेषण
TypeAdjective
Rootबद्ध (कृदन्त; √बन्ध् 'to bind')
Formभूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषण (adjective) सः इति
महा-मृधेin the great battle
महा-मृधे:
अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Location)
TypeNoun
Rootमहā (प्रातिपदिक) + मृध (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; अधिकरणे सप्तमी (locative of place/state): 'in the great battle'
Speakers
Narrative voice within Devi Mahatmyam
Primary Deities
Caṇḍikā (Devī)Mahīṣāsura
Shakti AspectsCaṇḍikā/Ambikā (Goddess as warrior)
Key ThemesShaktismBinding of adharmaMetamorphosis of MahishasuraDivine weapons (pāśa)
FAQs
Adharma is evasive: when constrained in one mode, it shifts form. The verse teaches vigilance—spiritual struggle often involves subtler reappearances of the same fault.
Carita: a battle-episode illustrating Devī’s sovereignty over māyic transformations.
The pāśa (noose) signifies binding the vṛttis (mental modifications). The demon’s changing form suggests the protean nature of ego and desire under pressure.