Markandeya Purana — Adhyaya 89, Shloka 29

Adhyaya 89 — The Wrath of Shumbha and Nishumbha and the Fall of Nishumbha

Sanskrit

ततो भगवती क्रुद्धा दुर्गा दुर्गार्तिनाशिनी ।

चिच्छेद तानि चक्राणि स्वशरैः सायकांश्च तान् ॥

Transliteration

tato bhagavatī kruddhā durgā durgārtināśinī | ciccheda tāni cakrāṇi svaśaraiḥ sāyakāṃś ca tān ||

Translation

于是，忿怒的圣母女神——杜尔迦，能摧灭难越之苦者——以自身之箭斩断那些轮刃，并且也摧毁了那些飞射的兵器。

Word by Word

• ततः: then
• ततः: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatas (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय, अव्यय-प्रयोग (indeclinable adverb): ‘then/thereupon’

• भगवती: the Blessed Goddess
• भगवती: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भगवती (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• क्रुद्धा: angry
• क्रुद्धा: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: क्रुध् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past participle), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifier)

• दुर्गा: Durgā
• दुर्गा: Apposition to Karta (कर्ता-समनाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दुर्गा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; नाम (proper name)

• दुर्गार्तिनाशिनी: destroyer of Durgā’s distress
• दुर्गार्तिनाशिनी: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दुर्गा (प्रातिपदिक) + आर्ति (प्रातिपदिक) + नाशिनी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास: दुर्गायाः आर्तिः (दुर्गार्तिः) तस्याः नाशिनी; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

• चिच्छेद: cut to pieces
• चिच्छेद: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: छिद् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• तानि: those
• तानि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; सर्वनाम (pronoun)

• चक्राणि: discus-weapons
• चक्राणि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चक्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• स्वशरैः: with her own arrows
• स्वशरैः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्व (प्रातिपदिक) + शर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास: स्वाः शराः; पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन

• सायकान्: arrows/darts
• सायकान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सायक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha/Anvaya (सम्बन्ध/अन्वय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय, समुच्चयबोधक (conjunction): ‘and’

• तान्: those (also)
• तान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; सर्वनाम

Speakers

• Narrative within the Devi Mahatmyam

Verse Rasa

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

Primary Deities

• Durgā/Caṇḍikā

Shakti Aspects

• Durgā; Durgārtināśinī; Caṇḍikā (same Goddess in fierce combat mode)

Key Themes

• Shaktism
• Divine protection
• Overcoming adversity
• Victory over asuric assault

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

The epithet Durgārtināśinī frames battle as compassion-in-action: the Goddess does not merely win; she removes the very conditions that generate suffering and fear.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana (5 characteristics)?

Carita/vaṃśānucarita style narration: an exemplary episode that conveys dharma through mythic action rather than ritual instruction or cosmography.

What is the esoteric significance?

Arrows represent focused intention (ekāgratā). The severing of spinning ‘chakras’ indicates the cutting of repetitive mental cycles by concentrated awareness.