Shloka 27

Devanagari script

पूतनां राक्षसीं प्राहुस्तं विद्यात्‌ पूतनाग्रहम्‌ । कष्टा दारुणरूपेण घोररूपा निशाचरी,पूतनाको राक्षसी बताया गया है, उसे “पूतनाग्रह” समझना चाहिये। वह भयंकर रूप धारण करनेवाली निशाचरी बड़ी क्रूरताके साथ बालकोंको कष्ट पहुँचाती है

Transliteration

pūtanāṃ rākṣasīṃ prāhus taṃ vidyāt pūtanāgraham | kaṣṭā dāruṇarūpeṇa ghorarūpā niśācarī ||

Translation

Mārkaṇḍeya said: “They describe Pūtanā as a rākṣasī; one should recognize her as the ‘Pūtanā-graha’—a malignant, seizing spirit. Taking on a harsh and terrifying form, this night-roaming being cruelly afflicts children.”

Word by Word

पूतनाम्Pūtanā (name of the demoness)

राक्षसीम्a demoness

प्राहुःthey said/called

तम्that/it (that one)

विद्यात्one should know/understand

पूतनाग्रहम्the Pūtanā-seizure/affliction (a kind of graha)

कष्टाcruel, troublesome

दारुणरूपेणwith a dreadful form

घोररूपाhaving a terrifying form

निशाचरीa night-wanderer (female demon)

Speaker

मार्कण्डेय उवाच

Characters & Entities

Mārkaṇḍeya

Pūtanā

Rākṣasī

Pūtanā-graha

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Cross References

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse warns that certain destructive forces—personified as Pūtanā—prey upon the vulnerable, especially children. Ethically, it underscores the duty to recognize harm clearly and to protect those who cannot protect themselves.

What is happening in the narrative?

Mārkaṇḍeya identifies Pūtanā as a rākṣasī and specifically as a ‘graha’—a malignant seizing spirit—describing her terrifying form and her cruel activity of causing suffering to children.