Sacred Texts

Śrī Durgā Saptaśatī

Ṛṣi Mārkaṇḍēya

Chapter 2 · Verse 60

Chapter 2 · Dvitīyo’dhyāyaḥ (Second Chapter)

Verse 60

नुकारिणः प्राणान् मुमुचुस्त्रिदशार्दनाः। श्येना केषांचिद् बाहवश्छिन्नाश्छिन्नग्रीवास्तथापरे ॥ ६० ॥

nukāriṇaḥ prāṇān mumucustridaśārdanāḥ | śyēnā kēṣāṁcid bāhavaśchinnāśchinnagrīvāstathāparē || 60 ||

Translation

'The enemies of the gods gave up their life-breaths like hawks (swooping). Some had their arms severed, and others their necks.'

Word by word

śyenānukāriṇaḥ
like hawks (swooping)
prāṇān
life-breaths
mumucuḥ
released, gave up
tridaśārdanāḥ
enemies of the gods (demons)
keṣāṁcit
of some
bāhavaḥ
arms
chinnāḥ
severed
chinnagrīvāḥ
with severed necks
tathā
and
apare
others

Meaning

The demons, referred to as enemies of the gods (tridaśārdanāḥ), perish swiftly, their life-breaths escaping like hawks in flight, symbolizing the rapid and decisive nature of their demise. The Goddess severs limbs and heads, leaving some demons armless and others headless, painting a vivid picture of her fierce and precise attacks.