Vamana Purana — Slaying of Raktabija, Shloka 57

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

Devanagari script

श्रुत्वा सुराः सुररिपु निहतौ मृडान्या सेन्द्राः ससूर्यमरुदश्विवसुप्रधानाः आगत्य तं गिरिवरं विनयावनम्रा देव्यास्तदा स्तुतिपदं त्विदमीरयन्तः // वम्प्_30.55 देवा ऊचुः/ नमो ऽस्तु ते भगवति पापनाशिनि नमो ऽस्तु ते सुररिपुदर्पशातनि नमो ऽस्तु ते हरिहरराज्यदायिनि नमो ऽस्तु ते मखभुजकार्यकारिणि // वम्प्_30.56 नमो ऽस्तु ते त्रिदशरिपुक्षयङ्करि नमो ऽस्तु ते शतमखपादपूजिते नमो ऽस्तु ते महिषविनासकारिणि नमो ऽस्तु ते हरिहरभास्करस्तुते

Transliteration

śrutvā surāḥ suraripu nihatau mṛḍānyā sendrāḥ sasūryamarudaśvivasupradhānāḥ āgatya taṃ girivaraṃ vinayāvanamrā devyāstadā stutipadaṃ tvidamīrayantaḥ // VamP_30.55 devā ūcuḥ/ namo 'stu te bhagavati pāpanāśini namo 'stu te suraripudarpaśātani namo 'stu te harihararājyadāyini namo 'stu te makhabhujakāryakāriṇi // VamP_30.56 namo 'stu te tridaśaripukṣayaṅkari namo 'stu te śatamakhapādapūjite namo 'stu te mahiṣavināsakāriṇi namo 'stu te hariharabhāskarastute

Translation

Hearing that the enemy of the gods had been slain by Mṛḍānī (the Goddess), the gods—headed by Indra, together with Sūrya, the Maruts, the Aśvins, and the Vasus—came to that excellent mountain. Bowing down in humility, they then addressed the Goddess with these words of praise: “The gods said: Homage to you, O Blessed Goddess, destroyer of sin. Homage to you, who shatter the pride of the enemies of the gods. Homage to you, who bestow sovereignty upon Hari and Hara. Homage to you, who accomplish the purposes of the Lord of sacrifice (Indra). Homage to you, who bring about the destruction of the foes of the Thirty (the gods). Homage to you, worshipped at the feet of the performer of a hundred sacrifices (Indra). Homage to you, who destroy Mahiṣa. Homage to you, praised by Hari, Hara, and Bhāskara (the Sun).”

Speakers

• The Devas (headed by Indra) addressing Devī (Mṛḍānī/Bhagavatī)

Primary Deities

• Devī (Mṛḍānī/Bhagavatī)
• Indra (Śatamakha)
• Viṣṇu (Hari)
• Śiva (Hara)
• Sūrya (Bhāskara)

Key Themes

• Devī as supreme salvific power
• Shaiva–Vaishnava unity (Hari-Hara)
• Restoration of divine sovereignty (rājya)
• Yajña order and Indra’s role (makha, śata-makha)
• Asura-slaying and cosmic rebalancing
• Sin-destruction and purification

Verse Rasa (Emotional Flavour)

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

FAQs

Why is Devī called ‘Hari-Hara-rājya-dāyinī’ (bestower of sovereignty to Viṣṇu and Śiva)?

The epithet frames Devī as the enabling śakti behind divine governance: even the highest deities exercise rule effectively through her power. In Purāṇic theology, this is a common way to assert Devī’s supremacy while still honoring Viṣṇu and Śiva as principal cosmic administrators.

What does ‘makha-bhuja-kārya-kāriṇī’ imply about Devī’s relation to sacrifice (yajña)?

‘Makha-bhuja’ points to Indra as the recipient/enjoyer of sacrificial offerings. Calling Devī the accomplisher of his ‘kārya’ indicates she restores the sacrificial order disrupted by asuras—so that yajña, rain, and prosperity can function again.

Is ‘girivara’ a specific sacred mountain here?

In these lines it is generic (‘an excellent mountain’) and functions as a sacred stage for the gods’ approach and hymn. Without an explicit toponym, it cannot be securely identified with a particular named tīrtha or mountain in the Vāmana Purāṇa’s geographical catalog.