Devi Bhagavatam 9.18.44 — Devotion & Grace of the Goddess, Skandha 9, Adhyaya 18, Shloka 44

The Meeting and Union of Tulasi and Shankhachuda

Devanagari script

वाचया भक्षयन्ती तं सर्प आखुमिवोल्बणम् । दुःसाहसस्वरूपा च सर्वदोषाश्रया सदा

Transliteration

vācayā bhakṣayantī taṃ sarpa ākhumivolbaṇam । duḥsāhasasvarūpā ca sarvadoṣāśrayā sadā

Translation

彼女は激しい言葉で彼を食い尽くします。それはまるで猛毒の蛇が鼠を飲み込むかのようです。彼女は無謀な大胆さの化身であり、あらゆる欠点の永遠の拠り所です。

Word by Word

• vācayā: with speech
• vācayā: Instrument
• Type: Noun
• Root: vāc
• Form: Fem, Inst, Sg

• bhakṣayantī: devouring
• bhakṣayantī: Adjective to subject
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bhakṣ
• Form: Shatṛ-pratyaya, Fem, Nom, Sg

• tam: him
• tam: Object
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: tad
• Form: Masc, Acc, Sg

• sarpaḥ: a snake
• sarpaḥ: Subject (comparison)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarpa
• Form: Masc, Nom, Sg

• ākhum: a mouse
• ākhum: Object (comparison)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ākhu
• Form: Masc, Acc, Sg

• iva: like
• iva: null
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iva
• Form: null

• ulbaṇam: terrible/large
• ulbaṇam: Adjective to ākhum
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ulbaṇa
• Form: Masc, Acc, Sg

• duḥsāhasasvarūpā: whose nature is rashness
• duḥsāhasasvarūpā: Subject
• Type: Adjective
• Root: duḥsāhasa+svarūpa
• Form: Fem, Nom, Sg

• ca: and
• ca: null
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca
• Form: null

• sarvadoṣāśrayā: refuge of all faults
• sarvadoṣāśrayā: Subject
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva+doṣa+āśraya
• Form: Fem, Nom, Sg

• sadā: always
• sadā: null
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sadā
• Form: null

Speaker

Tulasi

Shakti Theology

Devi Form: null

Mahavidya Connection: null

Shakti Manifestation: Avidya Maya

Tattva Discussed: Maya

Devi Narrative

Demon Antagonist: null

Devi Weapon Used: null

Narrative Source: null

Story Arc Position: null

Tantra Dimension

Mantra Referenced: null

Yantra Referenced: null

Kundalini Element: null

Chakra Referenced: null

Tantric Practice Type: null

Bhakti & Stuti

Stuti Type: null

Recitation Occasion: null

Phala Shruti: null

Devotee Offering Stuti: null

Cosmic Feminine

Maya Aspect: Avidya-Maya

Creation Role: Illusion

Shakti Philosophy: Dvaita

Relation To Brahman: null

Vyasa-Janamejaya Dialogue

Narrator: Vyasa

Listener: Janamejaya

Dialogue Context: Discourse on worldly attachment

Narrative Layer: primary

Philosophical Significance

Text: A dramatic rhetorical exaggeration typical in texts promoting Sannyasa, portraying the object of desire as the source of ultimate ruin.

FAQs

What metaphor is used for her harsh words?

Her harsh words are compared to a fierce snake devouring a rat.