Varaha Purana 96.47: Adhyaya 96, Shloka 47

The Threefold Power: The Raudrī Observance and the Manifestation of Chāmuṇḍā

Uttara Bhāga · Devī–Rudra Saṃvāda (Devī’s complaint and request)

Devanagari script

देव्युवाच ॥ भक्ष्यार्थमासां देवेश किञ्चिद्दातुमिहार्हसि ॥ बलात्कुर्वन्ति मामेता भक्षार्थिन्यो महाबलाः ॥

Recitation with translationVaraha Purana 96.47

Transliteration

devyuvāca || bhakṣyārtham āsāṃ deveśa kiñcid dātum ihārhasi || balāt kurvanti mām etā bhakṣārthinyo mahābalāḥ ||

ITRANS transliteration

Translation

Bogini rzekła: 'O Panie bogów, dla pożywienia dla tych istot, powinieneś dać coś tutaj. Te potężne istoty, szukając pożywienia, zmuszają mnie wbrew mojej woli.'

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Word by Word

• devī: the goddess
• Type: Noun
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)
• Root: devī (प्रातिपदिक)

• uvāca: said
• Type: Verb
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन
• Role: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Root: vac (धातु)

• bhakṣya-artham: for eating/for food
• Type: Noun
• Form: चतुर्थी/षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (purpose: ‘for food’); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (accusative of purpose), एकवचन
• Role: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Root: bhakṣya + artha (प्रातिपदिक)

• āsām: of these (women)
• Type: Noun
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (genitive), बहुवचन
• Role: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)

• deveśa: O lord of gods
• Type: Noun
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन
• Role: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Root: deveśa (प्रातिपदिक)

• kiñcit: something
• Type: Noun
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; अनिश्चित-परिमाण (some/anything)
• Role: Karma (कर्म)
• Root: kiñcit (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक/अव्ययीभाव)

• dātum: to give
• Type: Verb
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त (infinitive), क्रियार्थक (purpose)
• Role: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Root: dā (धातु)

• iha: here
• Type: Indeclinable
• Form: देशवाचक अव्यय (adverb of place)
• Role: Deśa-adhikaraṇa (देश-अधिकरण)
• Root: iha (अव्यय)

• arhasi: you ought/are able
• Type: Verb
• Form: लट् (Present), परस्मैपदम्, मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन
• Role: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Root: arh (धातु)

• balāt: by force
• Type: Indeclinable
• Form: पञ्चमी-एकवचन-रूपेण अव्ययीभूत (ablative used adverbially): ‘by force/forcibly’
• Role: Hetu (हेतु)
• Root: bala (प्रातिपदिक)

• kurvanti: they do/they make
• Type: Verb
• Form: लट् (Present), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन
• Role: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Root: kṛ (धातु)

• mām: me
• Type: Noun
• Form: द्वितीया (accusative), एकवचन
• Role: Karma (कर्म)
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)

• etāḥ: these (women)
• Type: Noun
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)
• Root: etad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)

• bhakṣa-arthinyaḥ: desiring food
• Type: Adjective
• Form: उपपद-तत्पुरुष (desiderative: ‘seeking food’); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषण
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)
• Root: bhakṣa + arthinī (प्रातिपदिक)

• mahā-balāḥ: very strong
• Type: Adjective
• Form: कर्मधारय (descriptive); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषण
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)
• Root: mahā + bala (प्रातिपदिक)

Sandhi Notes

• devyuvāca = devī + uvāca
• kiñcid dātum = kiñcit + dātum
• ihārhasi = iha + arhasi
• balāt kurvanti = balāt + kurvanti

Speaker and setting

Adbhuta and Shanta rasaSetting: Celestial realm

Speaker

Devī

The teaching

Kind of teaching

Theology of stuti and divine presence

Subjects

EthicsRitual CultureMythic Narrative

Core idea

Stuti functions as a ritual act that invokes and then releases divine presence; the deity’s disappearance signals completion and cosmic order restored.

In practice

In worship, conclude with proper stuti and closure; recognize that divine intervention may be subtle/instantaneous rather than prolonged.

Cross references

Tags

• Classical Literature
• Purāṇic Narrative
• Gendered Speech in Sanskrit
• Indic Philology

FAQs

What is the historical significance of this verse?

It documents how Purāṇic texts encode social concerns—coercion, protection, and obligation—within divine dialogue, offering a window into normative discourse.

Which geographic location is identified?

No location is specified in this passage.

What is the primary ethical instruction?

The verse frames coercion as a problem requiring intervention and provision—conflict is to be resolved through measured granting rather than unchecked force.