Shloka 48

Adhyaya 88 — The Manifestation of the Matrikas and the Slaying of Raktabija

Sanskrit

शक्त्या जघान कौमारो वाराही च तथासिना ।

माहेश्वरी त्रिशूलेन रक्तबीजं महासुरम् ॥

Transliteration

śaktyā jaghāna kaumāro vārāhī ca tathāsinā / māheśvarī triśūlena raktabījaṃ mahāsuram

Translation

কৌমারী মহাসুর রক্তবীজকে শক্তি (বল্লম) দ্বারা আঘাত করলেন; বারাহীও তাকে খড়্গ দিয়ে আঘাত করলেন; আর মাহেশ্বরী তাকে ত্রিশূল দ্বারা বিদ্ধ করলেন।

Word by Word

• शक्त्या: with a spear/śakti-weapon
• शक्त्या: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• जघान: struck/killed
• जघान: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: हन् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

• कौमारः: Kaumāra
• कौमारः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कौमार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; देवविशेषः (Skanda/Kumāra-śakti)

• वाराही: Vārāhī
• वाराही: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाराही (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; देवीविशेषः

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक-अव्यय (thus/likewise)

• असिना: with a sword
• असिना: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: असि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• माहेश्वरी: Māheśvarī
• माहेश्वरी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: माहेश्वरी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; देवीविशेषः

• त्रिशूलेन: with a trident
• त्रिशूलेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रिशूल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• रक्त-बीजम्: Raktabīja
• रक्त-बीजम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रक्त (प्रातिपदिक) + बीज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुष-प्रायः नामधेय: ‘blood-seed’ (proper name)

• महा-असुरम्: the great demon
• महा-असुरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक) + असुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; कर्मधारय: महान् असुरः = great demon

Speakers

• Narrative voice within Devi Mahatmyam

Verse Rasa

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

Primary Deities

• Kaumārī
• Vārāhī
• Māheśvarī
• Raktabīja

Shakti Aspects

• Kaumārī
• Vārāhī
• Māheśvarī (Mātṛkās)

Key Themes

• Shaktism
• Mātṛkā theology
• Weapon symbolism
• Cooperative divine action

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

Virtues must be coordinated: different śaktis (capacities) act together—courage, discernment, and disciplined power—showing that dharma is protected by integrated strengths.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana (5 characteristics)?

This is a devī-upākhyāna segment rather than a pañcalakṣaṇa (cosmogonic/chronological) exposition.

What is the esoteric significance?

Spear, sword, and trident symbolize piercing focus, cutting discrimination, and mastery over the three guṇas; together they prepare the ground for neutralizing the blood-seed principle.