Chapter 4 · Caturtho’dhyāyaḥ (Fourth Chapter)
Verse 21
दुर्वृत्तवृत्तशमनं तव देवि शीलं रूपं तथैतदविचिन्त्यमतुल्यमन्यैः। वीर्यं च हन्तृ हृतदेवपराक्रमाणां वैरिष्वपि प्रकटितैव दया त्वयेत्थम् ॥ २१ ॥
durvṛttavṛttaśamanaṁ tava dēvi śīlaṁ rūpaṁ tathaitadavicintyamatulyamanyaiḥ | vīryaṁ ca hantṛ hṛtadēvaparākramāṇāṁ vairiṣvapi prakaṭitaiva dayā tvayēttham || 21 ||
Translation
O Goddess, your nature subdues the conduct of the evil-conducted. And this form of yours is inconceivable and incomparable to others. And your prowess is that of the destroyer of those who stole the valor of the gods. Yet, even towards enemies, compassion is thus clearly manifested by you.
Word by word
- durvṛttavṛttaśamanam
- which subdues the conduct of the evil-conducted
- tava
- your
- devi
- O Goddess
- śīlam
- nature
- rūpaṁ
- form
- tathā
- and
- etat
- this
- avicintyam
- inconceivable
- atulyam
- incomparable
- anyaiḥ
- by others
- vīryaṁ
- prowess
- ca
- and
- hantṛ
- the destroyer
- hṛtadevaparākramāṇām
- of those who stole the valor of the gods
- vairiṣu
- towards enemies
- api
- even
- prakaṭitā
- manifested
- eva
- indeed
- dayā
- compassion
- tvayā
- by you
- ittham
- thus
Meaning
The gods summarize her divine attributes, which seem like opposites but are harmonized in her: Subduer of Evil (śīlam): Her inherent nature is to check wickedness. Incomparable Form (rūpam): She is beyond human conception. Destroyer Prowess (vīryam): She effortlessly destroys powerful evil. Ultimate Compassion (dayā): Despite all this, her actions are ultimately motivated by compassion, even for her enemies, as seen in her granting them a purifying death.