Vamana Purana — Slaying of Raktabija, Shloka 63
The Slaying of Raktabīja and Niśumbha–Śumbha; the Manifestation of the Mātṛkās and the Devas’ Hymn
नमस्ते त्रिनेत्रे भगवति तवचरणानुषिता ये अहरहर्विनतशिरसो ऽवनताः नहि नहि परिभवमस्त्यशुभं च स्तुतिबलिकुसुमकराः सततं ये
namaste trinetre bhagavati tavacaraṇānuṣitā ye aharaharvinataśiraso 'vanatāḥ nahi nahi paribhavamastyaśubhaṃ ca stutibalikusumakarāḥ satataṃ ye
[{"question": "Is ‘śukra’ here purely biological, or a theological symbol?", "answer": "In Purāṇic idiom it is both: ‘śukra’ denotes semen and also concentrated tejas (divine potency). The narrative uses embodied imagery to express metaphysical power—Śiva’s essence is too intense for ordinary containment."}, {"question": "Why does Agni’s radiance diminish after imbibing Śiva’s essence?", "answer": "The point is not Agni’s weakness in general, but the superlative intensity of Śiva’s tejas. Being ‘ākrānta’ (overpowered) indicates incapacity to bear/retain that potency, which typically necessitates further transfer (to another vessel, place, or medium) in the broader Skanda-cycle."}, {"question": "How does this connect to the Kroñca-splitting episode?", "answer": "Purāṇas often preface Skanda’s later heroic deeds (like Kroñca-bheda) with the origin of his extraordinary power—tracing it back to Śiva’s tejas and the cosmic handling of that energy among gods."}]
{ "primaryRasa": "shanta", "secondaryRasa": "karuna", "rasaIntensity": 0, "emotionalArcPosition": "", "moodDescriptors": [] }
FAQs
“Trinetra” is primarily a Śiva-epithet, but in Purāṇic stutis it can mark the Goddess as Śiva’s own power (Śakti) or as the supreme divinity sharing Śaiva attributes. It signals her all-seeing sovereignty and her capacity to burn away evil/inauspiciousness, analogous to the third eye’s fiery discernment.
The verse states a protective fruit (phala): those who daily bow in humility and regularly offer stuti, bali, and flowers are not overcome by paribhava (humiliation/defeat) and are kept free from aśubha (inauspicious misfortune).
No. Despite the Vāmana Purāṇa’s strong geographical orientation elsewhere, this śloka is purely devotional/ritual in content and contains no named sacred sites.