Shloka 6

Adhyaya 84 — The Gods’ Hymn after the Slaying of Mahishasura and the Goddess’ Boon

Sanskrit

किं वर्णयाम तव रूपमचिन्त्यमेतत् किं चातिवीर्यमसुरक्षयकारि भूरि । किं चाहवेषु चरितानि तवाद्भुतानि सर्वेषु देव्यसुरदेवगणादिकेषु ॥

Transliteration

kiṃ varṇayāma tava rūpamacintyametat kiṃ cātivīryamasurakṣayakāri bhūri / kiṃ cāhaveṣu caritāni tavādbhutāni sarveṣu devyasuradevagaṇādikeṣu

Translation

噢，女神（Devi）啊，我们如何能描述您这不可思议的形相？又如何能述说您那充盈而超越的勇力，能摧灭阿修罗？又如何能称扬您在诸天、阿修罗及其他众军交战之中所显现的奇妙战功，噢，女神！

Word by Word

• kim: what
• kim: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kim (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); interrogative pronoun used adverbially

• varṇayāma: we describe
• varṇayāma: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √varṇ (धातु)
• Form: Laṭ (लट्, Present), 1st person (उत्तमपुरुष), Plural (बहुवचन), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)

• tava: of you/your
• tava: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tvad (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन)

• rūpam: form
• rūpam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rūpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• acintyam: inconceivable
• acintyam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: a-cintya (प्रातिपदिक; √cint + य, कृत्)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); adjectival to rūpam

• etat: this
• etat: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: etad (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); demonstrative qualifying rūpam

• kim: what
• kim: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kim (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular; interrogative used adverbially

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction/particle (समुच्चय/अन्वय)

• ati-vīryam: exceeding power
• ati-vīryam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ati + vīrya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular; avyayībhāva: ati (excessively) + vīrya (power)

• asura-kṣaya-kāri: causing the destruction of demons
• asura-kṣaya-kāri: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: asura + kṣaya + kārin (प्रातिपदिक; √kṛ + णिन्)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular; adjectival to vīryam; tatpuruṣa: asurāṇāṃ kṣayaṃ karoti iti

• bhūri: abundant, great
• bhūri: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bhūri (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Indeclinable-like adjective; here used adverbially/qualifying vīryam: ‘much, abundant’

• kim: what
• kim: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kim (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular; interrogative used adverbially

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction/particle

• āhaveṣu: in battles
• āhaveṣu: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: āhava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Plural (बहुवचन)

• caritāni: deeds, exploits
• caritāni: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: carita (प्रातिपदिक; √car + क्त, कृत्)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural; past-participial noun ‘deeds’

• tava: of you/your
• tava: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tvad (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: Genitive, Singular

• adbhutāni: wonderful
• adbhutāni: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: adbhuta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Plural; qualifying caritāni

• sarveṣu: among all
• sarveṣu: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Locative (7th), Plural; qualifying the following locative compound

• devi-asura-deva-gaṇa-ādikeṣu: among goddesses, demons, gods, hosts, and others
• devi-asura-deva-gaṇa-ādikeṣu: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: devī + asura + deva + gaṇa + ādi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Plural; dvandva list: devyāḥ (goddesses) + asurāḥ (demons) + devāḥ (gods) + gaṇāḥ (hosts) + ādayaḥ (etc.)

Speakers

• Indra and the host of Devas addressing the Goddess

Primary Deities

• Devi
• Indra
• Devas

Shakti Aspects

• Chandika
• Mahishasuramardini

Key Themes

• Shaktism
• Bhakti
• Divine Attributes
• Stuti (Hymn)
• Transcendence

FAQs

What is the philosophical significance of 'acintyam rūpam'?

It highlights the transcendental nature of the Goddess (Para-Brahman). Her form is beyond the grasp of the mind (manas) and speech (vak), signifying that she exists beyond the limitations of human or divine conceptualization.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana framework?

This verse is embedded within the Manvantara section, specifically the narrative describing the origins and protection of the Savarni Manvantara period through the intervention of the Goddess.

What is the esoteric significance of the three questions asked in the verse?

The Devas express awe at three distinct levels of the Divine Feminine: Her Form (Rupa/Saguna), Her Potency/Power (Virya/Shakti), and Her Divine Play/Action (Charita/Lila) in the relative world of Devas and Asuras.