Shloka 17

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

Sanskrit

तथैव वैष्णवी शक्तिर्गरुडोपरी संस्थिता ।

शङ्खचक्रगदाशार्ङ्गखड्गहस्ताभ्युपाययौ ॥

Transliteration

tathaiva vaiṣṇavī śaktir garuḍopari saṃsthitā |

śaṅkhacakragadāśārṅgakhaḍgahastābhyupāyayau ||

Translation

അതുപോലെ ഗരുഡസ്ഥിതയായി വൈഷ്ണവീ ശക്തി മുന്നോട്ട് വന്നു; അവൾ കൈകളിൽ ശംഖം, ചക്രം, ഗദ, ശാർങ്ഗധനുസ്, ഖഡ്ഗം എന്നിവ വഹിച്ചു।

Word by Word

• तथा: thus
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• एव: indeed/just
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारण (emphatic particle)

• वैष्णवी: Vaiṣṇavī
• वैष्णवी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वैष्णवी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; नाम (proper name)

• शक्तिः: the power/energy (goddess)
• शक्तिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्तृपद (subject)

• गरुडोपरी: upon Garuḍa
• गरुडोपरी: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: गरुड-उपरि (अव्ययीभाव-समास)
• Form: अव्यय; स्थानवाचक (locative adverb) ‘गरुडस्य उपरि’ (upon Garuḍa)

• संस्थिता: seated/positioned
• संस्थिता: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-स्था (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृत् (past participle/क्त), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘स्थितवती’ (seated/placed)

• शङ्खचक्रगदाशार्ङ्गखड्गहस्ता: with conch, discus, mace, Śārṅga bow, and sword in her hands
• शङ्खचक्रगदाशार्ङ्गखड्गहस्ता: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शङ्ख-चक्र-गदा-शार्ङ्ग-खड्ग-हस्त (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण; ‘शङ्खादयः हस्ते यस्याः’ (having conch, discus, mace, Śārṅga bow, and sword in hand)

• अभ्युपाययौ: approached/came forth
• अभ्युपाययौ: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अभि-उप-आ-या (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; ‘अभ्यागच्छत्’ (approached)

Speakers

• Narrative voice within Devi Mahatmyam

Verse Rasa

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

Primary Deities

• Vaiṣṇavī
• Viṣṇu
• Garuḍa

Shakti Aspects

• Vaiṣṇavī (Matrika)

Key Themes

• Shaktism
• Matrikas
• Vaishnava iconography
• Divine armaments

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

The many weapons signify multi-dimensional protection: wisdom (discus), proclamation (conch), strength (mace), focused aim (bow), and discernment/cutting through (sword). Dharma is defended through a complete arsenal of virtues.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana (5 characteristics)?

Vaṃśānucarita-style sacred narrative with strong ritual-iconographic function; it preserves recognizable attributes for contemplation and worship.

What is the esoteric significance?

Garuḍa symbolizes speed and ascent beyond limitation; the weapon-set can be read as inner faculties marshalled under Shakti—suggesting that preservation (Viṣṇu-function) becomes dynamic when embodied as the Goddess.