Chapter 2 · Dvitīyo’dhyāyaḥ (Second Chapter)
Verse 56
खड्गादिभिश्च शतशो निजघान महासुरान्। पातयामास चैवान्यान् घण्टास्वनविमोहितान् ॥ ५६ ॥
khaḍgādibhiśca śataśō nijaghāna mahāsurān | pātayāmāsa caivānyān ghaṇṭāsvanavimōhitān || 56 ||
Translation
'And with swords and other weapons, she killed hundreds of great demons. And she caused others to fall, (those who were) bewildered by the sound of her bell.'
Word by word
- khaḍgādibhiḥ
- with a sword and other weapons
- ca
- and
- śataśaḥ
- by hundreds
- nijaghāna
- she killed
- mahāsurān
- the great demons
- pātayāmāsa
- she caused to fall
- eva
- indeed
- anyān
- others
- ghaṇṭāsvana
- by the sound of the bell
- vimohitān
- bewildered, stunned
Meaning
The Goddess's attack is multifaceted and utterly devastating. She physically slays hundreds of demons (mahāsurān) with her blades. Simultaneously, she employs her other weapons: the sound of her bell (ghaṇṭāsvana), which has the power to stun and bewilder the enemy, making them easy targets to be struck down. This shows her command over both physical and subtle means of warfare.