Markandeya Purana — Adhyaya 85, Shloka 11

Adhyaya 85 — The Gods’ Hymn to the Goddess and the Emergence of Kaushiki; Shumbha Sends His Envoy

Sanskrit

अतिसौम्यातिरौद्रायै नतास्तस्यै नमो नमः ।

(म)नो जगत्प्रतिष्ठायै देव्यै कृत्यै नमो नमः ॥

Transliteration

atisaumyātiraudrāyai natāstasyai namo namaḥ / (ma)no jagatpratiṣṭhāyai devyai kṛtyai namo namaḥ

Translation

Salutation again and again to her who is exceedingly gentle and exceedingly fierce; bowed to her, we offer homage. Salutation again and again to the Goddess who is the foundation of the world, to Kṛtyā.

Word by Word

• अतिसौम्यातिरौद्रायै: to the exceedingly gentle and exceedingly fierce one
• अतिसौम्यातिरौद्रायै: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अति (अव्यय) + सौम्या (प्रातिपदिक) + अति (अव्यय) + रौद्रा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी, एकवचन; द्वन्द्व-समास (अतिसौम्या च अतिरौद्रा च); Dative singular feminine

• नताः: (we/they) bowed ones
• नताः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नत (प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्त from √नम्)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; Past passive participle used as noun; Nominative plural masculine

• तस्यै: to her
• तस्यै: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी, एकवचन; Dative singular feminine pronoun ‘to her’

• नमः: salutation
• नमः: Sambodhana/Prayoga (सम्बोधन/उद्गार)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नमस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; exclamatory usage

• नमः: salutation
• नमः: Sambodhana/Prayoga (सम्बोधन/उद्गार)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नमस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; repetition for emphasis

• मनः: mind
• मनः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; here as exclamatory/elliptic ‘(our) mind (bows)’; Nom./Acc. singular neuter

• जगत्प्रतिष्ठायै: to the foundation of the world
• जगत्प्रतिष्ठायै: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जगत् (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रतिष्ठा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष; Dative singular feminine

• देव्यै: to the Goddess
• देव्यै: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी, एकवचन; Dative singular feminine

• कृत्यै: to Kṛtyā
• कृत्यै: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृत्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी, एकवचन; Dative singular feminine

• नमः: salutation
• नमः: Sambodhana/Prayoga (सम्बोधन/उद्गार)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नमस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; exclamatory usage

• नमः: salutation
• नमः: Sambodhana/Prayoga (सम्बोधन/उद्गार)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नमस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; repetition for emphasis

Speakers

• Devas (collective hymn)

Primary Deities

• Devi

Shakti Aspects

• ['Ati-saumya'
• 'Ati-raudra'
• 'Jagatpratishtha'
• 'Kritya']

Key Themes

• Non-duality of divine attributes
• Transcending binaries
• Cosmic foundation

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

The divine cannot be reduced to a single temperament; recognizing both gentleness and fierceness as sacred helps one accept discipline, justice, and compassion as parts of one dharmic reality.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana (5 characteristics)?

Hymnic theology within narrative; supports Purāṇic instruction in devotion and the comprehension of the deity’s comprehensive nature.

What is the esoteric significance?

The pairing ‘ati-saumya/ati-raudra’ points to Śakti as the power beyond dualities—capable of nurturing and annihilating impediments—mirroring the yogic process of integration.