Varaha Purana 94.2: Adhyaya 94, Shloka 2

The Birth of Mahiṣāsura and the Goddess’s Victory as Mahīṣamardinī

Devanagari script

एवं सञ्चिन्त्य सा देवी महीषी सम्बभूव ह । सखीभिः सह विश्वेशि तीक्ष्णशृङ्गाग्रधारिणी ॥

Recitation with translationVaraha Purana 94.2

Transliteration

evaṃ saṃcintya sā devī mahīṣī saṃbabhūva ha | sakhībhiḥ saha viśveśi tīkṣṇaśṛṅgāgradhāriṇī ||

Translation

So nachsinnend wurde die Göttin zu einer mahīṣī, einer Büffelkuh. O Herrin des Universums, sie trug scharf zugespitzte Hornspitzen und war von ihren Gefährtinnen begleitet.

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Word by Word

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक (thus)

• सञ्चिन्त्य: having thought
• सञ्चिन्त्य: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-चिन्त् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive), अव्यय; पूर्वकालिक-क्रिया (having reflected)

• सा: she
• सा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• देवी: goddess
• देवी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• महीषी: a buffalo-cow
• महीषी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महीषी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विधेय/उपपद (became a buffalo-cow)

• सम्बभूव: became
• सम्बभूव: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-भू (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन

• ह: indeed
• ह: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ह (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; स्मरण/पादपूरण-निपात (expletive particle)

• सखीभिः: with (her) friends
• सखीभिः: Sahakarana (सहकरण/तृतीया)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सखी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन

• सह: together with
• सह: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सह (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; सहार्थक (with)

• विश्वेशि: O mistress of the universe
• विश्वेशि: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विश्वेशी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति (Vocative), एकवचन; संबोधन

• तीक्ष्णशृङ्गाग्रधारिणी: bearing sharp horn-tips
• तीक्ष्णशृङ्गाग्रधारिणी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तीक्ष्ण + शृङ्ग + अग्र + धारिणी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण (देवी/महीषी); ‘तीक्ष्णानि शृङ्गाणाम् अग्राणि धारयति’ इत्यर्थे

Speaker

Varāha

Tags

• Classical Literature
• Purāṇic Narrative
• Mythology
• Śākta/Vaiṣṇava Intersections

FAQs

What is the historical significance of this verse?

It exemplifies Purāṇic shapeshifting imagery and the use of animal-form symbolism in narrative theology and mythic storytelling.

Which geographic location is identified?

No geographic location is named in this verse.

What is the primary ethical instruction?

No explicit ethical instruction is stated; the verse narrates a strategic transformation.