2023-02-23 18:49:28 by ambuda-bot
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THE CANDIŚATAKA OF BĀŅA
By Vijaya, uttering these words to the gods who had abandoned
their weapons, Bhavani (Candi), who destroyed her foe
(Mahişa), was put to the blush.
Glory to Bhavānī (Caṇḍī)!
287
[In this stanza the usual benediction is omitted.]¹
Notes. 1. The pun depends on anaśane (loc.), 'in fasting,' and anafane
(voc.), 'O thou deprived of the thunderbolt.' The meaning is that Indra
should not starve himself to death in chagrin, merely because he abandoned
his weapon and ran away in the battle with Mahişa. The commentary
says: "For he who commits a shame-causing deed abandons life by fast-
ing.' 2. Siva drank the poisonous fluid kalakūta that was produced at
the churning of the ocean, and its virulence was such as to stain his neck
dark-blue; hence one of his epithets is nilakantha, 'whose neck is dark-
blue'; cf. Mahabharata, 1. 18. 41-43 and Süryaśataka, stanza 42, note 12.
3. The pun rests on agada, meaning 'medicine' and 'deprived of the mace."
Kubera lost his weapon, the mace (gada), in the battle with Mahişa. 4.
The pun rests on vicakra, 'without an army' and 'without the discus.' 5.
Vijayā was one of Candi's attendants; cf. stanza 12, note 1, and stanza 15,
note 7.
6. Candi is ashamed because her handmaid thus presumes to
taunt the gods. 7. For the omission of the benediction, cf. stanza 3,
note 5.
V.L. (b) artheśa sthanukanthe. (d) lajjam vyäpäditärir.
22
deyād vo vāñchitäni cchalamayamahişotpeṣaroṣānuşangān
nītaḥ pātālakukşim hṛtabhuvanabhayo bhadrakālyāḥ sa pādaḥ
yaḥ prādakṣiṇyakāṁkṣāvalayitavapuṣā vandyamāno muhūrtam
śeşeņevendukāntopalaracitamahānūpurābhogalakṣmīḥ
Because of its connection with anger,¹ in crushing Mahișa, who
was full of deceit,
The foot of Bhadrakālī (Caṇḍī), which had taken away the fear
of the world, was brought to the depths of Pātāla,
Where, resplendent with the circle of its mighty anklet that was
made of moon-stone² jewels,
It seemed to be for an instant adored by Seșa, whose body en-
twined it out of a desire to circumambulate it properly.*
May that foot of Bhadrakali (Candi) grant your desires!
Notes. 1. The commentary seems to imply that the foot of Candi was
By Vijaya, uttering these words to the gods who had abandoned
their weapons, Bhavani (Candi), who destroyed her foe
(Mahişa), was put to the blush.
Glory to Bhavānī (Caṇḍī)!
287
[In this stanza the usual benediction is omitted.]¹
Notes. 1. The pun depends on anaśane (loc.), 'in fasting,' and anafane
(voc.), 'O thou deprived of the thunderbolt.' The meaning is that Indra
should not starve himself to death in chagrin, merely because he abandoned
his weapon and ran away in the battle with Mahişa. The commentary
says: "For he who commits a shame-causing deed abandons life by fast-
ing.' 2. Siva drank the poisonous fluid kalakūta that was produced at
the churning of the ocean, and its virulence was such as to stain his neck
dark-blue; hence one of his epithets is nilakantha, 'whose neck is dark-
blue'; cf. Mahabharata, 1. 18. 41-43 and Süryaśataka, stanza 42, note 12.
3. The pun rests on agada, meaning 'medicine' and 'deprived of the mace."
Kubera lost his weapon, the mace (gada), in the battle with Mahişa. 4.
The pun rests on vicakra, 'without an army' and 'without the discus.' 5.
Vijayā was one of Candi's attendants; cf. stanza 12, note 1, and stanza 15,
note 7.
6. Candi is ashamed because her handmaid thus presumes to
taunt the gods. 7. For the omission of the benediction, cf. stanza 3,
note 5.
V.L. (b) artheśa sthanukanthe. (d) lajjam vyäpäditärir.
22
deyād vo vāñchitäni cchalamayamahişotpeṣaroṣānuşangān
nītaḥ pātālakukşim hṛtabhuvanabhayo bhadrakālyāḥ sa pādaḥ
yaḥ prādakṣiṇyakāṁkṣāvalayitavapuṣā vandyamāno muhūrtam
śeşeņevendukāntopalaracitamahānūpurābhogalakṣmīḥ
Because of its connection with anger,¹ in crushing Mahișa, who
was full of deceit,
The foot of Bhadrakālī (Caṇḍī), which had taken away the fear
of the world, was brought to the depths of Pātāla,
Where, resplendent with the circle of its mighty anklet that was
made of moon-stone² jewels,
It seemed to be for an instant adored by Seșa, whose body en-
twined it out of a desire to circumambulate it properly.*
May that foot of Bhadrakali (Candi) grant your desires!
Notes. 1. The commentary seems to imply that the foot of Candi was