Shloka 7

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

Sanskrit

आयान्तं चण्डिका दृष्ट्वा तत्सैन्यमतिभीषणम् । ज्यास्वनैः पूरयामास धरणीगगनान्तरम् ॥

Transliteration

āyāntaṃ caṇḍikā dṛṣṭvā tatsainyam atibhiṣaṇam / jyāsvanaiḥ pūrayāmāsa dharaṇī-gaganāntaram

Translation

Seeing that exceedingly fearsome army approaching, Caṇḍikā filled the space between earth and sky with the twang of her bowstring.

Word by Word

• आयान्तम्: coming, approaching
• आयान्तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आया (धातु: या + आ)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमानकृदन्त (present active participle), पुं/नपुंसक द्वितीया एकवचन; (सैन्यम्)

• चण्डिका: Caṇḍikā
• चण्डिका: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चण्डिका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; देवी-नाम

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• दृष्ट्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund), ‘having seen’

• तत्: that
• तत्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (सैन्यम्)

• सैन्यम्: army
• सैन्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सैन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• अति-भीषणम्: very terrifying
• अति-भीषणम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अति (अव्यय/उपसर्गवत्) + भीषण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्मधारय (अत्यन्तं भीषणम्) विशेषणम् (सैन्यम्)

• ज्या-स्वनैः: with the sounds of bowstrings
• ज्या-स्वनैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ज्या (प्रातिपदिक) + स्वन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (ज्यायाः स्वनाः)

• पूरयामास: filled
• पूरयामास: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पूर् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद; causative sense in usage ‘filled’ (पूरय-)

• धरणी-गगन-अन्तरम्: the space between earth and sky
• धरणी-गगन-अन्तरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धरणी (प्रातिपदिक) + गगन (प्रातिपदिक) + अन्तर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; समासः (धरण्याः गगनस्य च अन्तरम्/मध्ये)

Speakers

• Narrator Ṛṣi

Primary Deities

• Caṇḍikā (Devī/Durgā)

Shakti Aspects

• Caṇḍikā (central); implicit martial śakti

Key Themes

• Divine assurance
• Sound as power (nāda-śakti)
• Psychological intimidation of adharma

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

Devī does not answer intimidation with panic but with clarity and readiness. The bow-twang signifies preparedness rooted in confidence, not aggression.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana (5 characteristics)?

Anucarita: the verse uses epic battlefield imagery to convey the turning of the tide through divine presence.

What is the esoteric significance?

Nāda (sound) precedes form: the bowstring’s resonance represents the awakening of śakti that pervades the whole inner ‘space’ (earth–sky), dislodging fear before direct confrontation.