Chapter 5 · Pañcamo’dhyāyaḥ (Fifth Chapter)
Verse 1–2
ॐ क्लीं ऋषिरुवाच ॥ १ ॥ पुरा शुम्भनिशुम्भाभ्यामसुराभ्यां शचीपतेः। त्रैलोक्यं यज्ञभागाश्च हृता मदबलाश्रयात् ॥ २ ॥
ōṁ klīṁ ṛṣiruvāca || 1 || purā śumbhaniśumbhābhyāmasurābhyāṁ śacīpatēḥ | trailōkyaṁ yajñabhāgāśca hṛtā madabalāśrayāt || 2 ||
Translation
The sage said: 'In ancient times, the three worlds and the shares of the sacrificial offerings belonging to Indra were seized by the two demons, Shumbha and Nishumbha, who relied on their pride and power.'
Word by word
- purā
- in ancient times
- śumbhaniśumbhābhyām
- by Shumbha and Nishumbha
- asurābhyām
- the two demons
- śacīpateḥ
- of the lord of Shachi (Indra)
- trailokyam
- the three worlds
- yajñabhāgāḥ
- the shares of sacrificial offerings
- ca
- and
- hṛtāḥ
- were seized
- madabalāśrayāt
- due to reliance on pride and power
Meaning
The sage begins the chapter by setting the scene. The demon brothers Shumbha and Nishumbha have conquered the universe, overthrown Indra and the gods, and usurped the offerings meant for the deities in rituals. Their tyranny is rooted in arrogance (mada) and military might (bala).