Shloka 20

Adhyaya 91 — The Gods’ Hymn to Kātyāyanī and the Goddess’ Prophecy of Future Manifestations

Sanskrit

दंष्ट्राकरालवदने शिरोमालाविभूषणे ।

चामुण्डे मुण्डमथने नारायणी नमोऽस्तु ते ॥

Transliteration

daṁṣṭrākarālavadane śiromālāvibhūṣaṇe / cāmuṇḍe muṇḍamathane nārāyaṇi namo 'stu te

Translation

礼敬于汝，圣母那罗耶尼——噢，查姆温达（Cāmuṇḍā），獠牙可怖、面容狰狞，以首级花鬘为饰；噢，摧碎蒙达（Muṇḍa）者。

Word by Word

• दंष्ट्रा-कराल-वदने: O one whose face is fearsome with fangs
• दंष्ट्रा-कराल-वदने: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दंष्ट्रा (प्रातिपदिक) + कराल (प्रातिपदिक) + वदन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन; समासः बहुव्रीहिः (दंष्ट्राभिः करालं वदनं यस्याः)

• शिरः-माला-विभूषणे: O one adorned with a garland of heads
• शिरः-माला-विभूषणे: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिरस् (प्रातिपदिक) + माला (प्रातिपदिक) + विभूषण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन; समासः तत्पुरुषः (शिरसां माला विभूषणं यस्याः)

• चामुण्डे: O Cāmuṇḍā
• चामुण्डे: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चामुण्डा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन

• मुण्ड-मथने: O crusher/churner of the shaven-headed (demons)
• मुण्ड-मथने: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुण्ड (प्रातिपदिक) + मथन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन; समासः तत्पुरुषः (मुण्डानां मथनम्/मथनी)

• नारायणी: O Nārāyaṇī
• नारायणी: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नारायणी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन

• नमः: salutation
• नमः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/उपपद-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नमस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; नमस्कारार्थक

• अस्तु: may (it) be
• अस्तु: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• ते: to you
• ते: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: चतुर्थी-एकवचन (Dative)

Speakers

• Devī-stuti within Devi Mahatmyam

Verse Rasa

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

Primary Deities

• Nārāyaṇī (Devī)
• Cāmuṇḍā
• Muṇḍa (referenced)

Shakti Aspects

• Cāmuṇḍā (fierce
• death-transcending aspect)

Key Themes

• Shaktism
• Fierce iconography
• Destruction of demonic forces
• Transcendence of fear/death

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

The frightening imagery teaches fearlessness: Devī confronts death and violence directly, converting terror into protection for the righteous.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana (5 characteristics)?

Carita—mythic praise; it supports dharma by portraying the eradication of adharma personified.

What is the esoteric significance?

The ‘garland of heads’ can symbolize the cutting of countless ego-identities; Muṇḍa represents dull-headedness/ignorance, which Devī pulverizes.