Vamana Purana — Slaying of Raktabija, Shloka 48

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

Devanagari script

ततस्तूर्याण्यवाद्यन्त भूतसंघैः समन्ततः पुष्पवृष्टिं च मुमुचुः सुराः कात्यायनीं प्रति

Transliteration

tatastūryāṇyavādyanta bhūtasaṃghaiḥ samantataḥ puṣpavṛṣṭiṃ ca mumucuḥ surāḥ kātyāyanīṃ prati

Translation

ثم من كل جانبٍ عزفت جموعُ البهوتا الأبواقَ والآلات؛ وأمطرَت الآلهةُ وابلًا من الزهور متجهًا إلى كاتيايَني.

Word by Word

• ततः: then
• ततः: Avyaya (अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb)

• तूर्याणि: musical instruments
• तूर्याणि: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तूर्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/कर्ता), बहुवचन

• अवाद्यन्त: were played/sounded
• अवाद्यन्त: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ + वद् (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/Past), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; आत्मनेपद (वाद्यन्त = sounded/played)

• भूत-संघैः: by groups of beings
• भूत-संघैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संघ (प्रातिपदिक) + भूत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/करण), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष (भूतानां संघाः)

• समन्ततः: all around
• समन्ततः: Avyaya (अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: समन्ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb) ‘on all sides’

• पुष्प-वृष्टिम्: a shower of flowers
• पुष्प-वृष्टिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वृष्टि (प्रातिपदिक) + पुष्प (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/कर्म), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (पुष्पाणां वृष्टिः)

• च: and
• च: Avyaya (अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• मुमुचुः: released/let fall
• मुमुचुः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: मुच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• सुराः: the gods
• सुराः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/कर्ता), बहुवचन

• कात्यायनीम्: Kātyāyanī (Goddess)
• कात्यायनीम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कात्यायनी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/कर्म), एकवचन

• प्रति: towards
• प्रति: Avyaya (अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्रति (अव्यय/उपसर्गसदृश)
• Form: अव्यय (preposition-like) ‘towards/in honor of’

Speakers

• Narrator describing the celebratory response of Śiva’s gaṇas/bhūtas and the devas honoring Devī.

Primary Deities

• Kātyāyanī (Devī)
• Śiva (implied through bhūta-saṃgha)
• Devas (collective)

Key Themes

• Śākta veneration
• Śiva’s gaṇas/bhūtas as ritual-musical agents
• Puṣpavṛṣṭi (flower-rain) as divine approval
• Post-victory celebration

Verse Rasa (Emotional Flavour)

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

FAQs

Why do bhūtas play instruments in this scene?

In Śaiva Purāṇic idiom, bhūtas/gaṇas are Śiva’s attendants who participate in both battle and celebration. Their sounding of tūryas marks a ritualized victory-festival, not mere noise—an audible sign that dharma has been restored.

What is the significance of the “rain of flowers” (puṣpavṛṣṭi)?

Puṣpavṛṣṭi is a conventional Purāṇic motif indicating divine sanction and auspicious completion of a deed. Here it functions as an honor-offering directed to Kātyāyanī, acknowledging her decisive power in the victory.

Is Kātyāyanī the same as Durgā/Parvatī in this context?

Kātyāyanī is a prominent epithet/form of Devī, often associated with martial protection and victory. In Purāṇic usage she is typically understood within the continuum of Devī (Durgā/Umā/Pārvatī) rather than as a separate deity.