Chapter 2 · Dvitīyo’dhyāyaḥ (Second Chapter)
Verse 55
मृदङ्गांश्च तथैवान्ये तस्मिन् युद्धमहोत्सवे। ततो देवी त्रिशूलेन गदया शक्तिवृष्टिभिः ॥ ५५ ॥
mṛdaṅgāṁśca tathaivānyē tasmin yuddhamahōtsavē | tatō dēvī triśūlēna gadayā śaktivṛṣṭibhiḥ || 55 ||
Translation
'And likewise, others (played) drums in that great festival of battle. Then the Goddess (attacked) with the trident, with the mace, and with showers of spears.'
Word by word
- mṛdaṅgān
- drums
- ca
- and
- tathā
- likewise
- eva
- indeed
- anye
- others
- tasmin
- in that
- yuddha
- battle
- mahotsave
- great festival
- tataḥ
- then
- devī
- the Goddess
- triśūlena
- with the trident
- gadayā
- with the mace
- śaktivṛṣṭibhiḥ
- with showers of spears
Meaning
The battle is described as a 'great festival' (mahotsave), a metaphor highlighting the Goddess's divine play and the inevitable victory of good over evil, which is a cause for celebration. The Goddess herself, the central celebrant, now joins the fight directly with her most potent weapons: Shiva's trident, Vishnu's mace, and a torrent of spears.