Vamana Purana — Slaying of Raktabija, Shloka 8

The Slaying of Raktabīja and Niśumbha–Śumbha; the Manifestation of the Mātṛkās and the Devas’ Hymn

Devanagari script

वज्राङ्कुशोद्यतकरा नानालङ्कारभूषिता जाता गजेन्द्रपष्ठस्था माहेन्द्री स्तनमण्डलात्

Transliteration

vajrāṅkuśodyatakarā nānālaṅkārabhūṣitā jātā gajendrapaṣṭhasthā māhendrī stanamaṇḍalāt

Translation

ବଜ୍ର ଓ ଅଙ୍କୁଶ ଉଦ୍ୟତ କରଧାରିଣୀ, ନାନା ଅଳଙ୍କାରରେ ଭୂଷିତା—ମାହେନ୍ଦ୍ରୀ ସ୍ତନମଣ୍ଡଳରୁ ଜନ୍ମି ଗଜେନ୍ଦ୍ରର ପୃଷ୍ଠରେ ଆସୀନ ହେଲେ।

Word by Word

• वज्र-अङ्कुश-उद्यत-करा: whose hands were raised with vajra and goad
• वज्र-अङ्कुश-उद्यत-करा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वज्र (प्रातिपदिक) + अङ्कुश (प्रातिपदिक) + उद्यत (कृदन्त; उद्√यम् धातु) + कर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः—'वज्राङ्कुशौ उद्यतौ करौ यस्याः/या' (उद्यत = क्त/क्तवत्-भावे)

• नाना-अलङ्कार-भूषिता: adorned with various ornaments
• नाना-अलङ्कार-भूषिता: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नाना (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक) + अलङ्कार (प्रातिपदिक) + भूषित (कृदन्त; √भूष् धातु)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः—'नानैः अलङ्कारैः भूषिता' (करण-तृतीया बहुवचनार्थः)

• जाता: was born/manifested
• जाता: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: जात (कृदन्त; √जन् धातु)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्तः, क्रियार्थे

• गजेन्द्र-पृष्ठ-स्था: standing on the back of the lordly elephant
• गजेन्द्र-पृष्ठ-स्था: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गजेन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक) + पृष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक) + स्था (कृदन्त; √स्था धातु)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः—'गजेन्द्रस्य पृष्ठे स्थिता/स्था' (स्था = स्था-प्रत्ययान्त/कृदन्तप्रयोगः)

• माहेन्द्री: Māhendrī
• माहेन्द्री: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: माहेन्द्री (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; 'Māhendrī'

• स्तन-मण्डलात्: from the breast-region
• स्तन-मण्डलात्: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्तन (प्रातिपदिक) + मण्डल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (अपादान/Ablative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः—'स्तनस्य मण्डलात्'

Speakers

• Narrator voice within the Andhaka-vadha cycle (explicit interlocutors not stated in the given excerpt).

Primary Deities

• Śiva
• Śakti (Māhendrī/Aindrī)
• Indra

Key Themes

• Mātr̥kā iconography (weapons and vāhana)
• Divine militarization against asuric forces
• Integration of Vedic deity powers into Devī’s forms

Verse Rasa (Emotional Flavour)

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

FAQs

Who is Māhendrī in the Mātr̥kā system?

Māhendrī (often called Aindrī) is the Śakti corresponding to Indra (Mahendra). Her iconography typically includes Indra’s vajra and association with an elephant mount, marking sovereignty and martial authority.

Why are vajra and aṅkuśa paired here?

The vajra signifies irresistible force and kingly punishment; the aṅkuśa signifies control, guidance, and subjugation—together expressing both destructive power and disciplined command over chaotic demonic energies.

What is implied by “born from the breast-orb (stana-maṇḍala)”?

Purāṇic descriptions often map specific body-loci to symbolic functions. The breast region can signify nourishment, protection, and sovereign presence; thus Māhendrī’s emergence from this locus underscores protective kingship and sustaining power even in a battle setting.