Markandeya Purana — Adhyaya 84, Shloka 17

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

Sanskrit

दुर्गे स्मृता हरसि भीतिमशेषजन्तोः स्वस्थैः स्मृता मतिमतीव शुभां ददासि । दारिद्र्यदुःखभयहारिणि का त्वदन्या सर्वोपकारकरणाय सदार्द्रचित्ता ॥

Transliteration

durge smṛtā harasi bhītimaśeṣajantoḥ svasthaiḥ smṛtā matimatīva śubhāṃ dadāsi / dāridryaduḥkhabhayahāriṇi kā tvadanyā sarvopakārakaraṇāya sadārdracittā //

Translation

O Durga, wenn man Deiner gedenkt, nimmst Du jedem lebenden Wesen die Furcht. Wenn Dich Gesunde und Gefasste erinnern, verleihst Du einen höchst glückverheißenden Geist. O Du, die Armut, Leid und Angst vertreibt—wer außer Dir ist stets so weichherzig, zum Wohle aller zu wirken?

Word by Word

• durge: O Durgā
• durge: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: durgā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Vocative (8th), Singular

• smṛtā: when remembered
• smṛtā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √smṛ (धातु) → smṛta (कृदन्त, क्त)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (1st), Singular; past passive participle (क्त) meaning 'remembered/invoked' (you, Durgā)

• harasi: you remove
• harasi: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √hṛ (धातु)
• Form: Present (लट्), Parasmaipada, 2nd person (मध्यमपुरुष), Singular

• bhītim: fear
• bhītim: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhīti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative (2nd), Singular

• aśeṣa-jantoḥ: of every creature
• aśeṣa-jantoḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: aśeṣa (प्रातिपदिक) + jantu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Karmadhāraya ('all' qualifying 'creature'); Masculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular

• svasthaiḥ: by the well (people)
• svasthaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: svastha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural; 'by the healthy/at ease (people)'

• smṛtā: when remembered
• smṛtā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √smṛ (धातु) → smṛta (कृदन्त, क्त)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular; 'remembered (by them)'

• matimatī: wise-minded
• matimatī: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: matimatī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular; qualifies (tvam/devī)

• iva: as if
• iva: Nipāta (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iva (अव्यय)
• Form: Comparative particle (उपमा-निपात)

• śubhām: auspicious (state)
• śubhām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śubhā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative (2nd), Singular; object of dadāsi; understood as 'good (mind/intellect)'

• dadāsi: you give
• dadāsi: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √dā (धातु)
• Form: Present (लट्), Parasmaipada, 2nd person, Singular

• dāridrya-duḥkha-bhaya-hāriṇi: O remover of poverty, sorrow, and fear
• dāridrya-duḥkha-bhaya-hāriṇi: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dāridrya (प्रातिपदिक) + duḥkha (प्रातिपदिक) + bhaya (प्रातिपदिक) + hāriṇī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (objects of removal) + agent noun; Feminine, Vocative (8th), Singular

• kā: who?
• kā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kim (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (1st), Singular; interrogative pronoun

• tvad-anyā: other than you
• tvad-anyā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tvad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + anya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (ablative sense: 'other than you'); Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• sarva-upakāra-karaṇāya: for doing every kind of help
• sarva-upakāra-karaṇāya: Sampradāna/Purpose (सम्प्रदान/प्रयोजन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक) + upakāra (प्रातिपदिक) + karaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa ('doing all help'); Dative (4th/चतुर्थी), Singular; purpose (प्रयोजन)

• sadā: always
• sadā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sadā (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb

• ārdra-cittā: tender-hearted
• ārdra-cittā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ārdra (प्रातिपदिक) + citta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Karmadhāraya ('tender/compassionate-minded'); Feminine, Nominative, Singular; qualifies devī

Speakers

• Indra and the Devas

Primary Deities

• Durga
• Devi

Shakti Aspects

• Durga
• Bhadrakali
• Ambika

Key Themes

• Shaktism
• Bhakti (Devotion)
• Divine Compassion
• Protection
• Stuti (Hymn)

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

This verse establishes the dual nature of the Divine Mother's grace: She acts as a savior (removing fear) for those in distress, and as a guide (bestowing wisdom/mati) for those who are stable. It emphasizes that true wisdom (shubham matim) is a gift of grace, not just intellectual effort.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana (5 characteristics)?

This verse is embedded within the Manvantara characteristic of the Purana, specifically detailing the narrative of the Savarni Manu, where the worship of the Goddess is the central pivot for attaining sovereignty.

What is the esoteric significance?

The term 'Ardracitta' (wet or melting heart) signifies the concept of 'Karuna' (compassion) that flows spontaneously without cause (ahaituki). The verse suggests that 'Smriti' (remembrance) is the only qualification required for the devotee to access this universal compassion.