Markandeya Purana — Adhyaya 91, Shloka 16

Adhyaya 91 — The Gods’ Hymn to Kātyāyanī and the Goddess’ Prophecy of Future Manifestations

Sanskrit

गृहीतोग्रमहाचक्रे दंष्ट्रोद्धृतवसुन्धरे ।

वराहरूपिणि शिवे नारायणी नमोऽस्तु ते ॥

Transliteration

gṛhītogramahācakre daṁṣṭroddhṛtavasundhare / varāharūpiṇi śive nārāyaṇi namo 'stu te

Translation

Salutations to you, O Nārāyaṇī—who wields the fierce, great discus; who lifted up the Earth upon your tusk; O auspicious one, appearing in the form of Varāha.

Word by Word

• गृहीत-उग्र-महा-चक्रे: O (she) who has taken up the fierce great discus
• गृहीत-उग्र-महा-चक्रे: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गृहीत (कृदन्त, √ग्रह्) + उग्र (प्रातिपदिक) + महा (प्रातिपदिक) + चक्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/स्त्रीलिङ्ग (स्तुत्यर्थे), सप्तमी, एकवचन; सम्बोधनार्थे विशेषणम्—“(त्वं) गृहीत-उग्र-महाचक्रे”

• दंष्ट्रा-उद्धृत-वसुन्धरे: O (she) who lifted the earth with (her) tusk(s)
• दंष्ट्रा-उद्धृत-वसुन्धरे: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दंष्ट्रा (प्रातिपदिक) + उद्धृत (कृदन्त, √हृ with ud-) + वसुन्धरा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; सम्बोधनार्थे विशेषणम्—“whose earth was lifted by (the) tusk(s)”

• वराह-रूपिणि: O one having the form of a boar
• वराह-रूपिणि: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वराह (प्रातिपदिक) + रूपिणी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; सम्बोधनार्थे विशेषणम्

• शिवे: O auspicious one
• शिवे: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन/सप्तमी-एकवचनरूपम् (stotra usage); यहाँ सम्बोधनार्थे—“O auspicious one”

• नारायणी: O Nārāyaṇī
• नारायणी: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नारायणी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन

• नमः: salutation
• नमः: Bhava (भाव)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नमस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• अस्तु: may it be
• अस्तु: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √अस् (धातु)
• Form: लोट्, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• ते: to you
• ते: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: चतुर्थी, एकवचन

Speakers

• Devī-stuti within Devi Mahatmyam

Verse Rasa

{ "primaryRasa": "bhakti", "secondaryRasa": "adbhuta", "rasaIntensity": 0, "emotionalArcPosition": "", "moodDescriptors": [] }

Primary Deities

• Nārāyaṇī (Devī)
• Varāha (implied, Viṣṇu avatāra)

Shakti Aspects

• Varāha-śakti (Devī identified with avatāra power)

Key Themes

• Shaktism
• Cosmic rescue motif
• Avatāra theology
• Protection of Earth

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

The Goddess is praised as the rescuer of the world itself: dharma includes safeguarding the ‘earth’—society, life, and order—when it sinks into chaos.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana (5 characteristics)?

Carita, with an echo of Sarga/Pratisarga imagery (Earth restoration), but used here as devotional identification of Devī with cosmic preservation.

What is the esoteric significance?

‘Raising the Earth’ symbolizes lifting consciousness out of the abyss of tamas. The tusk is incisive will; the discus is luminous discernment cutting through delusion.