Chapter 3 · Tṛtīyo’dhyāyaḥ (Third Chapter)
Verse 24
निपात्य प्रमथानीकमभ्यधावत सोऽसुरः। सिंहं हन्तुं महादेव्याः कोपं चक्रे ततोऽम्बिका ॥ २४ ॥
nipātya pramathānīkamabhyadhāvata sō’suraḥ | siṁhaṁ hantuṁ mahādēvyāḥ kōpaṁ cakrē tatō’mbikā || 24 ||
Translation
'Having thrown down the army of attendants, the demon charged to kill the lion of the great Goddess. Then, Ambika became angry.'
Word by word
- nipatya
- having thrown down
- pramathānīkam
- the army of attendants
- abhyadhāvata
- he charged
- saḥ
- he
- asuraḥ
- the demon
- siṁham
- the lion
- hantum
- to kill
- mahādevyāḥ
- of the great Goddess
- kopam
- anger
- cakre
- made, felt
- tataḥ
- then
- ambikā
- Ambika (the Goddess)
Meaning
After scattering the Goddess's army, Mahishasura directs his fury at her very mount, the lion, aiming to destroy her foundation and symbol of power. This act of aggression against her companion finally provokes the Goddess's direct and personal anger (kopaṃ). The gentle Ambika now fully embodies her wrathful aspect, ready to end the conflict.