Markandeya Purana — Adhyaya 83, Shloka 35

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

Sanskrit

ननर्द चासुरः सोऽपि बलवीर्यमदोद्धतः ।

विषाणाभ्यां चिक्षेप चण्डिकां प्रति भूधरान् ॥

Transliteration

nanarda cāsuraḥ so 'pi balavīryamadoddhataḥ / viṣāṇābhyāṃ ca cikṣepa caṇḍikāṃ prati bhūdharān

Translation

那阿修罗也高声咆哮，沉醉于自身的力量与勇武，并以双角将群山掷向旃提迦（Caṇḍikā）。

Word by Word

• ननर्द: roared
• ननर्द: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नर्द् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect/परोक्सभूत), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (singular), परस्मैपद

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

• असुरः: the demon
• असुरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: असुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा विभक्ति (nominative/1st), एकवचन (singular)

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा (nominative/1st), एकवचन

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अपि = also/even (particle)

• बलवीर्यमदोद्धतः: arrogant from the intoxication of strength and valor
• बलवीर्यमदोद्धतः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बल + वीर्य + मद + उद्धत (प्रातिपदिक); उद्धत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः—बल-वीर्य-मदेन उद्धतः (instrumental-tatpuruṣa sense)

• विषाणाभ्याम्: with (his) two horns
• विषाणाभ्याम्: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विषाण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), तृतीया विभक्ति (instrumental/3rd), द्विवचन (dual)

• चिक्षेप: threw
• चिक्षेप: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: क्षिप् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• चण्डिकाम्: Caṇḍikā
• चण्डिकाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चण्डिका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (feminine), द्वितीया विभक्ति (accusative/2nd), एकवचन

• प्रति: towards
• प्रति: Adhikarana/Direction (अधिकरण/दिशा)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्रति (अव्यय)
• Form: उपसर्ग/अव्यय; दिशाबोधक (towards/against)

• भूधरान्: mountains
• भूधरान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूधर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (accusative/2nd), बहुवचन (plural)

Speakers

• Narrative frame (Ṛṣi recounting Devi’s deeds within Devi Mahatmyam)

Verse Rasa

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

Primary Deities

• Caṇḍikā (Devī)

Shakti Aspects

• Caṇḍikā (fierce form of Devī/Durgā)

Key Themes

• Shaktism
• Divine battle
• Pride of adharma overcome

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

Pride (mada) rooted in brute power escalates violence, yet it is ultimately self-defeating when opposed by dharma embodied as Devī. The verse highlights adharma’s reliance on force and intimidation.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana (5 characteristics)?

This passage is not sarga/pratisarga/manvantara/vaṁśa/vaṁśānucarita; it belongs to upākhyāna (sacred narrative) within the Purāṇic corpus, teaching dharma through Devī’s līlā.

What is the esoteric significance?

Mountains symbolize hardened ego and accumulated karmic mass. The asura hurling them ‘with horns’ suggests tamasic force; Devī’s unshaken stance implies the supremacy of awakened consciousness over inert weight.