Vamana Purana — Slaying of Raktabija, Shloka 3

The Slaying of Raktabīja and Niśumbha–Śumbha; the Manifestation of the Mātṛkās and the Devas’ Hymn

Devanagari script

निनदन्त्यास्ततो देव्या ब्रह्माणी मुखतो ऽभवत् हंसयुक्तविमानस्था साक्षसूत्रकमण्डलुः

Transliteration

ninadantyāstato devyā brahmāṇī mukhato 'bhavat haṃsayuktavimānasthā sākṣasūtrakamaṇḍaluḥ

Translation

Then, as the Goddess roared, Brahmāṇī emerged from her mouth, seated in a celestial car yoked with swans, bearing the rosary and the sacred thread, and holding the water-pot.

Speakers

• Pulastya narrating to Nārada

Primary Deities

• Devī
• Brahmāṇī (Brahmā’s Śakti)
• Brahmā (implied)

Key Themes

• Mātṛkā theology (emanation of deity-powers)
• Iconography of Brahmāṇī (haṃsa-vāhana, kamaṇḍalu, rosary/thread)
• Devī as matrix/source of divine energies

Verse Rasa (Emotional Flavour)

{ "primaryRasa": "adbhuta", "secondaryRasa": "vira", "rasaIntensity": 0, "emotionalArcPosition": "", "moodDescriptors": [] }

FAQs

Why does Brahmāṇī emerge from the Goddess’s mouth?

Emanation from the mouth symbolizes manifestation through sound/command (vāk-śakti) and immediate creative power. In Mātṛkā frameworks, Devī externalizes specific deity-energies as distinct forms to accomplish battle-tasks.

What does the swan-yoked vimāna indicate about Brahmāṇī?

The haṃsa is Brahmā’s emblem (and a symbol of discernment), so a swan-associated vehicle marks Brahmāṇī as Brahmā’s śakti. The vimāna underscores her celestial, authoritative status rather than a terrestrial mount.

How do the listed objects function as identifiers?

Rosary (akṣasūtra), sacred thread, and kamaṇḍalu are standard creator/ascetic emblems. Their inclusion is a Purāṇic iconographic shorthand to ensure the audience recognizes the Mātṛkā’s divine affiliation and role.