Adhyaya 85 — The Gods’ Hymn to the Goddess and the Emergence of Kaushiki; Shumbha Sends His Envoy
दूत उवाच अवलिप्तासि मैवं त्वं देवि ब्रूहि ममाग्रतः ।
त्रैलोक्ये कः पुमांस्तिष्ठेदग्रे शुम्भनिशुम्भयोः ॥
dūta uvāca avaliptāsi maivaṃ tvaṃ devi brūhi mamāgrataḥ | trailokye kaḥ pumāṃs tiṣṭhed agre śumbhaniśumbhayoḥ ||
使者说道:“你太傲慢了——女神啊,莫在我面前如此言说。三界之中,哪一个男子能站在商婆与尼商婆面前对抗?”
Adharma often speaks with the voice of intimidation, mistaking dominance for truth. The messenger equates ‘three-worldly’ power with ultimate authority—precisely the confusion the Devī Māhātmyam corrects.
An ākhyāna embedded in manvantara narration, used to illustrate dharma’s triumph and the limits of asuric rule.
‘Who can stand before them?’ is the psyche’s fear-response when confronted by entrenched habits (asuras). The text sets up the revelation that Śakti alone can face and transform such forces.