Markandeya Purana — Adhyaya 88, Shloka 39

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

Sanskrit

पलायनपरान् दृष्ट्वा दैत्यान् मातृगणार्दितान् ।

योध्धुमभ्याययौ क्रुद्धो रक्तबीजो महासुरः ॥

Transliteration

palāyanaparān dṛṣṭvā daityān mātṛgaṇārditān / yoddhum abhyāyayau kruddho raktabījo mahāsuraḥ

Translation

Seeing the Daityas bent on flight, harried by the host of the Mothers (Mātṛgaṇas), the great Asura Raktabīja, inflamed with wrath, rushed forward to do battle.

Word by Word

• पलायनपरान्: intent on fleeing
• पलायनपरान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पलायन-पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), बहुवचन; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (पलायनस्य पराः = पलायनपराः)

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• दृष्ट्वा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (Gerund/Absolutive), पूर्वकालिक क्रिया; धातुः दृश् (पश्यति)

• दैत्यान्: the demons (Daityas)
• दैत्यान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दैत्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• मातृगण-अर्दितान्: afflicted by the Mothers’ host
• मातृगण-अर्दितान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मातृ-गण + अर्दित (कृदन्त, प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (मातृगणेन अर्दिताः)

• योध्धुम्: to fight
• योध्धुम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Verb
• Root: युध् (धातु)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त (Infinitive), उद्देश्य/प्रयोजनार्थ

• अभ्याययौ: came forward/approached
• अभ्याययौ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अभि-आ-या (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• क्रुद्धः: angry
• क्रुद्धः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: क्रुध् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (Past participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• रक्तबीजः: Raktabīja
• रक्तबीजः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रक्त-बीज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः कर्मधारयः (रक्तं बीजं यस्य/रक्तबीजः—नाम)

• महासुरः: the great demon
• महासुरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा-असुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः कर्मधारयः (महान् असुरः)

Speakers

• Frame narration within Devi Mahatmyam (traditional recitation voice; not the Jaimini–Mārkaṇḍeya bird-dialogue segment here)

Verse Rasa

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

Primary Deities

• Mātṛkās
• Raktabīja

Shakti Aspects

• Mātṛkās (Mothers); battlefield emanations of Devī’s powers

Key Themes

• Shaktism
• Divine warfare
• Protection of cosmic order
• Asuric aggression

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

When adharma is cornered it often escalates; Raktabīja’s anger symbolizes the reactive intensification of egoic forces when confronted by divine order (śakti).

How does this fit the Pancalakshana (5 characteristics)?

This passage is primarily not pañcalakṣaṇa material (sarga/pratisarga/vaṃśa/manvantara/vaṃśānucarita) but a dhārmic-ākhyāna (sacred narrative) embedded in the Purāṇa.

What is the esoteric significance?

The Mātṛkās represent differentiated powers of consciousness; the demon’s advance indicates the surfacing of deeply rooted impressions (saṃskāras) when purification begins.