Shloka 19

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

Sanskrit

नारसिंही नृसिंहस्य बिभ्रती सदृशं वपुः ।

प्राप्ता तत्र सटाक्षेपक्षिप्तनक्षत्रसंहतिः ॥

Transliteration

nārasiṃhī nṛsiṃhasya bibhratī sadṛśaṃ vapuḥ /

prāptā tatra saṭākṣepakṣiptanakṣatrasaṃhatiḥ

Translation

അപ്പോൾ അവിടെ നാരസിംഹീ എത്തി, നരസിംഹസദൃശമായ രൂപം ധരിച്ച്; തന്റെ കേശം ഒറ്റത്തവണ ഊശിയാൽ മാത്രം നക്ഷത്രസമൂഹങ്ങളെ ചിതറിച്ചു।

Word by Word

• नारसिंही: Nārasiṃhī (the lioness-form goddess)
• नारसिंही: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नारसिंही (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• नृसिंहस्य: of Narasiṃha
• नृसिंहस्य: सम्बन्ध (Sambandha/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नृसिंह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• बिभ्रती: bearing, carrying
• बिभ्रती: कर्ता (Karta/Agent, participial)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भृ (धातु) + शतृ (कृदन्त)
• Form: वर्तमानकालिक-कर्तरि-शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (present active participle), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• सदृशम्: similar, resembling
• सदृशम्: कर्म-विशेषण (Karma-viśeṣaṇa/Object qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सदृश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying)

• वपुः: body, form
• वपुः: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वपुस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• प्राप्ता: arrived, came
• प्राप्ता: कर्ता (Karta/Subject; ‘having arrived’)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-आप् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि/भूतकर्तरि क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past participle), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Location)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देशवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (locative adverb)

• सटाक्षेपक्षिप्तनक्षत्रसंहतिः: a mass of stars flung by the toss of (her) mane
• सटाक्षेपक्षिप्तनक्षत्रसंहतिः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject; apposition to नारसिंही)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सट + आक्षेप + क्षिप्त + नक्षत्र + संहति (प्रातिपदिक-समूह)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः (तत्पुरुष-प्रधान), अर्थः—‘सटाक्षेपेण क्षिप्तानां नक्षत्राणां संहति:’

Speakers

• Narrative voice within Devi Mahatmyam (frame traditionally: Mārkaṇḍeya recounts to a listener; in Markandeya Purana’s wider frame
• teaching is mediated through the sages/birds tradition)

Verse Rasa

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

Primary Deities

• Nārasiṃhī
• Narasiṃha

Shakti Aspects

• Nārasiṃhī (Matrikā; fierce emanation aligned with Narasiṃha)

Key Themes

• Shaktism
• Divine emanations (Matrikās)
• Cosmic power imagery
• Battle-preparation

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

Divine power is portrayed as immeasurable: the Goddess’ emanations are not merely helpers but cosmic forces. Ethically, it underscores that adharma (here, demonic arrogance) provokes a response proportionate to restore balance.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana (5 characteristics)?

Primarily within Vaṃśānucarita/Carita (narrative of divine deeds) rather than sarga/pratisarga. It is an episode in the Goddess’ salvific history used for dharmic instruction and devotion.

What is the esoteric significance?

Nārasiṃhī symbolizes the ferocity of protective consciousness. The ‘mane scattering stars’ is a metaphor for shaking the fixed patterns of fate (nakṣatra as destiny markers), showing Shakti’s sovereignty over time-signs and cosmic order.