Markandeya Purana — Adhyaya 88, Shloka 38

Adhyaya 88 — The Manifestation of the Matrikas and the Slaying of Raktabija

Sanskrit

इति मातृगणं क्रुद्धं मर्दयन्तं महासुरान् ।

दृष्ट्वाभ्युपायैर्विविधैर्ने॑शुर्देवारिसैनिकाः ॥

Transliteration

iti mātṛ-gaṇaṃ kruddhaṃ mardayantaṃ mahāsurān /

dṛṣṭvābhyupāyair vividhair neśur devāri-sainikāḥ //

Translation

Thus, seeing the enraged host of the Mothers (Mātṛkā) crushing the great asuras, the soldiers of the enemies of the gods cried out in many ways and, in panic, resorted to various stratagems.

Word by Word

• इति: thus
• इति: वाक्यसम्बन्ध (Discourse marker/इति)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; इत्यादि-समाप्त्यर्थक/उद्धरणसूचक (quotative/thus)

• मातृ-गणम्: the host of Mothers (Mātṛs)
• मातृ-गणम्: कर्म (Object of ‘seeing’/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मातृ (प्रातिपदिक) + गण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative/कर्म), एकवचन; समासः—मातॄणां गणः

• क्रुद्धम्: angry
• क्रुद्धम्: कर्मसम्बन्धी विशेषण (Attribute/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: क्रुध् (धातु) → क्रुद्ध (कृदन्त, क्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त; पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (मातृगणम्)

• मर्दयन्तम्: crushing; trampling
• मर्दयन्तम्: कर्मसम्बन्धी विशेषण (Attribute/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मर्द् (धातु) → मर्दयन्त (कृदन्त, शतृ)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त (present active participle); पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (मातृगणम्)

• महासुरान्: great demons
• महासुरान्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक) + असुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; मर्दयन्तम् इत्यस्य कर्म

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• दृष्ट्वा: पूर्वकालिक क्रिया (Gerundial action/पूर्वक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु) → दृष्ट्वा (कृदन्त, त्वा)
• Form: क्त्वा/त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययीभावरूप क्रियाविशेषण (gerund/absolutive); ‘having seen’

• अभ्युपायैः: by means; with expedients
• अभ्युपायैः: करण (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अभि + उप + आय (धातु) → अभ्युपाय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental/करण), बहुवचन; ‘उपाय’ = means/expedients

• विविधैः: various
• विविधैः: करणसम्बन्धी विशेषण (Attribute/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विविध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (अभ्युपायैः)

• नेशुः: perished
• नेशुः: क्रिया (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नश् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; ‘नश्’ = नश्यति (perish)

• देव-अरि-सैनिकाः: the soldiers of the gods’ enemies
• देव-अरि-सैनिकाः: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक) + अरि (प्रातिपदिक) + सैनिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; समासः—देवानाम् अरयः (enemies of the gods) तेषां सैनिकाः

Speakers

• Narrative voice within the Devi Mahatmyam

Verse Rasa

{ "primaryRasa": "vira", "secondaryRasa": "raudra", "rasaIntensity": 0, "emotionalArcPosition": "", "moodDescriptors": [] }

Primary Deities

• Mātṛkās (collective host)

Shakti Aspects

• Mātṛkā-gaṇa collectively (Brahmāṇī
• Māheśvarī
• Vaiṣṇavī
• Kaumārī
• Aindrī
• Vārāhī
• Nārasiṃhī
• etc.)

Key Themes

• Shaktism
• Collective divine power
• Collapse of adharma
• Battle psychology

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

When the forces of order unite (symbolized by the Mātṛkās), adharma loses coherence; panic and futile stratagems replace confidence—unity in dharma is itself power.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana (5 characteristics)?

Episodic narrative; not a manvantara or genealogy segment, but a didactic mythic account reinforcing dharma through sacred history.

What is the esoteric significance?

The ‘Mothers’ represent stabilized inner powers; when these faculties become ‘kruddha’ against inner disorder, fragmented tendencies (asura-sainika) can only react with scattered, ineffective coping strategies.