Varaha Purana 94.32 — Adhyaya 94, Shloka 32

The Birth of Mahiṣāsura and the Goddess’s Victory as Mahīṣamardinī

Devanagari script

ततो हाहाकृतं सर्वं यथा दैत्यबलं महत् । एवं तदाकुलं दृष्ट्वा महिषो वाक्यमब्रवीत् । सेनापते किमेतद्धि बलं भग्नं ममाग्रतः ॥

Transliteration

tato hāhākṛtaṃ sarvaṃ yathā daityabalaṃ mahat | evaṃ tad ākulaṃ dṛṣṭvā mahiṣo vākyam abravīt | senāpate kim etaddhi balaṃ bhagnaṃ mamāgrataḥ ||

Translation

Then the great demon host raised a cry of lamentation. Seeing it thus thrown into confusion, Mahiṣa spoke: “Commander, what is this—my army shattered before my very eyes?”

Word by Word

• tatas: then
• tatas: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatas (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), adverb (क्रियाविशेषण)

• hāhā-kṛtam: a cry of ‘hāhā’/uproar
• hāhā-kṛtam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hāhā (अव्यय/उद्गार) + kṛta (कृदन्त; √kṛ (धातु) + क्त)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा) singular (एकवचन); avyayībhāva: 'made into a cry of hāhā' i.e., uproar

• sarvam: all/entire
• sarvam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा) singular (एकवचन), qualifying hāhā-kṛtam

• yathā: as/like
• yathā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathā (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), comparative particle (उपमान/प्रकार)

• daitya-balam: the Daitya army
• daitya-balam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: daitya (प्रातिपदिक) + bala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा) singular (एकवचन); ṣaṣṭhī-tatpuruṣa: 'army of the Daityas'

• mahat: great/huge
• mahat: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा) singular (एकवचन), qualifying daitya-balam

• evam: thus
• evam: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: evam (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), adverb (प्रकारवाचक)

• tad: that
• tad: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया) singular (एकवचन), qualifying ākulam

• ākulam: confused/agitated
• ākulam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ākula (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया) singular (एकवचन)

• dṛṣṭvā: having seen
• dṛṣṭvā: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dṛś (धातु) + क्त्वा
• Form: Absolutive (क्त्वान्त), indeclinable gerund (अव्ययभाव)

• mahiṣaḥ: Mahiṣa (the buffalo-demon)
• mahiṣaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahiṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा) singular (एकवचन)

• vākyam: speech/words
• vākyam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vākya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया) singular (एकवचन)

• abravīt: said
• abravīt: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: brū (धातु)
• Form: Luṅ (लुङ्, aorist), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष) singular (एकवचन)

• senā-pate: O commander
• senā-pate: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: senā (प्रातिपदिक) + pati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Vocative (सम्बोधन) singular (एकवचन); ṣaṣṭhī-tatpuruṣa: 'lord of the army'

• kim: what?
• kim: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kim (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative/Accusative (प्रथमा/द्वितीया) singular (एकवचन), interrogative

• etat: this
• etat: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: etad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative/Accusative (प्रथमा/द्वितीया) singular (एकवचन), demonstrative

• hi: indeed
• hi: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), particle (निपात) for emphasis

• balam: army/force
• balam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative/Accusative (प्रथमा/द्वितीया) singular (एकवचन)

• bhagnam: broken/defeated
• bhagnam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bhaj (धातु) + kta (क्त)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative/Accusative singular (प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन), predicative with balam

• mama: my
• mama: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Genitive (षष्ठी) singular (एकवचन)

• agrataḥ: in front (of me)
• agrataḥ: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: agratas (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), adverb of place (देशवाचक)

Speaker

Mahiṣa (Mahiṣāsura)

Varaha Avatara Context

Varaha Avatara Context: {"is_varaha_focus":false,"aspect_highlighted":"None","boar_form_detail":"None","earth_interaction":"None"}

Bhu Devi Dialogue

Bhu Devi Dialogue: {"is_dialogue":true,"speaker_role":"questioner","bhu_devi_state":"None","key_question":"Why is my army shattered before me (what caused this sudden defeat and confusion)?"}

Mathura Mandala

Mathura Mandala: {"is_mathura_related":false,"specific_site":"None","parikrama_context":"None","krishna_connection":"None"}

Dharma Shastra

Dharma Shastra: {"has_dharma_rule":false,"topic":"None","instruction_summary":"None","karmic_consequence":"None"}

Vrata Mahatmya

Vrata Mahatmya: {"has_vrata":false,"vrata_name":"None","tithi_month":"None","promised_fruit":"None"}

Cosmic Boar Symbolism

Cosmic Boar Symbolism: {"has_symbolism":false,"symbolic_interpretation":"None","yajna_varaha_imagery":"None","vedantic_connection":"None"}

Philosophical Teaching

Philosophical Teaching: {"has_teaching":true,"teaching_type":"rājadharma (negative exemplar)","core_concept":"Leadership that rests on adharma is brittle; when crisis comes, it produces confusion (ākulatā) and reactive questioning rather than clarity.","practical_application":"In governance/leadership, build on dharma and preparedness; in personal life, cultivate steadiness so setbacks don’t trigger panic."}

Subject Matter

Subject Matter: ["Command structure","Shock at defeat","Battlefield morale"]

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayānaka

Secondary Rasa: raudra

Geographic Context

Type: senā-niveśa / command post

Cross References

Related Themes: 94.94.39 (commander’s answer)

Visual Art Cues

Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Mahiṣāsura, seeing his forces in disarray amid cries of ‘hā hā’, turns sharply to his commander, demanding an explanation; background shows chaotic retreat.","item_prompts":["Mahiṣāsura (buffalo-demon) in command posture","senāpati nearby","gesturing hand of interrogation","background troops in confusion","lamenting faces","battle smoke and banners"],"kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: Mahiṣa with bold facial features and dynamic stance; expressive ‘hāhā’ crowd behind; strong outlines, saturated earth-reds and blacks.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: Mahiṣa as central figure with gold ornamentation; commander slightly bowed; background chaos simplified; rich reds/greens with gold accents.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: refined courtly command scene; detailed jewelry/armor; subtle depiction of turmoil behind; emphasis on facial expression of shock and anger.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari: compact command vignette; Mahiṣa pointing toward battlefield; commander attentive; distant miniature figures crying and scattering."}

Audio Atmosphere

Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"tense, interrogative","suggested_raga":"Todi","pace":"medium (clear articulation of direct speech)","voice_tone":"sharp on the question, controlled intensity."}

Tags

• Purāṇic Narrative
• Political-Military Discourse
• Classical Sanskrit Literature

FAQs

What is the historical significance of this verse?

It preserves a recognizable military idiom (address to a senāpati) and dramatizes the breakdown of command confidence after sudden defeat.

Which geographic location is identified?

No location is identified; the verse centers on battlefield communication and morale.

What is the primary ethical instruction?

The verse implicitly underscores accountability in leadership: commanders must explain losses and respond to crisis rather than deny evident outcomes.