Markandeya Purana — Adhyaya 84, Shloka 28

Adhyaya 84 — The Gods’ Hymn after the Slaying of Mahishasura and the Goddess’ Boon

Sanskrit

ऋषिरुवाच एवम् स्तुता सुरैर्दिव्यैः कुसुमैर्नन्दनोद्भवैः ।

अर्चिता जगतां धात्री तथा गन्धानुलेपनैः ॥

Transliteration

ṛṣīruvāca evaṃ stutā surairdivyaiḥ kusumairnandanodbhavaiḥ / arcitā jagatāṃ dhātrī tathā gandhānulepanaiḥ

Translation

The Ṛṣi said: Thus praised by the gods, the Goddess, the Sustainer of the worlds, was worshipped with divine flowers born of Nandana (garden), and also with perfumes and unguents.

Word by Word

• ऋषिः: the sage
• ऋषिः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऋषि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (Masculine, Nom, Sg)

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: क्रिया (Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन (Perfect, 3rd, Sg); परस्मैपदम्

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक (adverb: thus)

• स्तुता: praised
• स्तुता: विशेष्य-भाव (Predicate/Descriptive of देवी)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्तु (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकर्मणि/भूतकृत् (past passive participle); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (Feminine, Nom, Sg)

• सुरैः: by the gods
• सुरैः: कर्ता (Agent in passive/कर्तृकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन (Masculine, Instr, Pl)

• दिव्यैः: divine
• दिव्यैः: विशेषण (Adjectival modifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दिव्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन (Masculine, Instr, Pl); विशेषणम् (सुरैः)

• कुसुमैः: with flowers
• कुसुमैः: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुसुम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन (Neuter, Instr, Pl)

• नन्दनोद्भवैः: born in Nandana (garden)
• नन्दनोद्भवैः: विशेषण (Adjectival modifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नन्दन-उद्भव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन (Neuter, Instr, Pl); पञ्चमी/षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (नन्दनात् उद्भवाः = arisen from Nandana garden) विशेषणम् (कुसुमैः)

• अर्चिता: worshipped
• अर्चिता: विशेष्य-भाव (Predicate/Descriptive of देवी)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अर्च् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकर्मणि (past passive participle); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (Feminine, Nom, Sg)

• जगताम्: of the worlds
• जगताम्: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जगत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन (Neuter, Gen, Pl)

• धात्री: the sustainer (Mother)
• धात्री: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धात्री (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (Feminine, Nom, Sg)

• तथा: also
• तथा: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय/प्रकारार्थ (likewise)

• गन्धानुलेपनैः: with perfumes and unguents
• गन्धानुलेपनैः: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गन्ध-अनुलेपन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन (Neuter, Instr, Pl); समाहार-द्वन्द्वः (गन्ध + अनुलेपन)

Speakers

• Ṛṣi (narrator within the Devi Mahatmyam portion; traditionally Mārkaṇḍeya in the Purāṇic telling)

Verse Rasa

{ "primaryRasa": "bhakti", "secondaryRasa": "shanta", "rasaIntensity": 0, "emotionalArcPosition": "", "moodDescriptors": [] }

Primary Deities

• Devi
• Devas (collectively)
• Indra (implied by Nandana garden)

Shakti Aspects

• Jagatāṃ Dhātrī (sustainer of the worlds)

Key Themes

• Worship (pūjā)
• Devotional offerings
• Narrative framing

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

Gratitude follows grace: after deliverance, the devas respond with praise and worship, modeling reciprocity—recognizing the source of protection and sustaining order through devotion.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana (5 characteristics)?

Carita/narrative: it describes ritual response within the divine episode, not cosmogenesis or dynastic lists.

What is the esoteric significance?

Offerings of fragrance and flowers signify refinement of the inner field—purifying senses and mind as an act of honoring the indwelling Śakti.