Vamana Purana — Slaying of Raktabija, Shloka 67
The Slaying of Raktabīja and Niśumbha–Śumbha; the Manifestation of the Mātṛkās and the Devas’ Hymn
देव्युवाच/ भूयो भविष्याम्यसृगुक्षितानना हराननस्वेदजलोद्भवा सुराः अन्धासुरस्याप्रतिपोषणे रता नाम्ना प्रसिद्धा भुवनेषु चर्चिका
devyuvāca/ bhūyo bhaviṣyāmyasṛgukṣitānanā harānanasvedajalodbhavā surāḥ andhāsurasyāpratipoṣaṇe ratā nāmnā prasiddhā bhuvaneṣu carcikā
[{"question": "What does ‘śārvaṃ tejas’ signify in Purāṇic idiom?", "answer": "It denotes Śiva’s specific potency—an efficacious, transformative ‘tejas’ that can sanctify places, empower beings, or generate boons/curses. Its mention often marks a Śaiva layer within a tīrtha’s mythic charter."}, {"question": "Why emphasize that Agni is ‘kāmacārī’ (moving at will)?", "answer": "Agni is not merely physical fire but a roaming deity who can traverse realms (homes, altars, forests, heavens). The epithet supports narrative mobility—Agni can depart, search, or witness events—while maintaining his divine agency."}, {"question": "Is the Devi here a river-goddess or a separate goddess?", "answer": "The verse distinguishes ‘devī’ from ‘mahāpagā’ in the prior line, suggesting a goddess figure who interacts with Agni and Śiva’s tejas. However, Purāṇic narration sometimes overlaps identities (river as Devi). Only the surrounding verses can confirm whether they are the same entity."}]
{ "primaryRasa": "adbhuta", "secondaryRasa": "raudra", "rasaIntensity": 0, "emotionalArcPosition": "", "moodDescriptors": [] }
FAQs
It encodes intimate Śaiva-Śākta theology: Śakti is not external to Śiva but emerges from him as his power made manifest. The ‘sweat-water’ motif also conveys immediacy—Devī appears as a direct, embodied response to cosmic crisis.
Literally ‘devoted to non-nourishing’: it means Devī acts to prevent Andhaka’s increase—checking his strength, proliferation, or regenerative advantage—rather than allowing him to be ‘fed’ by boons, blood, or battlefield conditions.
Here it is a deity-epithet: Devī declares she will be known as Carcikā. The verse functions as a name-etymology/manifestation notice, not as sacred geography.