Shloka 10

Adhyaya 84 — The Gods’ Hymn after the Slaying of Mahishasura and the Goddess’ Boon

Sanskrit

शब्दात्मिका सुविमलर्ग्यजुषां निधानमुद्गीथरम्यपदपाठवतां च साम्नाम् । देवी त्रयी भगवती भवभावनाय वार्ता च सर्वजगतां परमार्तिहन्त्री ॥

Transliteration

śabdātmikā suvimalargyajuṣāṃ nidhānam udgītharamyapadapāṭhavatāṃ ca sāmnām / devī trayī bhagavatī bhavabhāvanāya vārtā ca sarvajagatāṃ paramārtihantrī

Translation

Ты — душа звука, вместилище безупречных Риг- и Яджур-вед, а также гимнов Самаведы с их сладостным распевом Удгитхи (Udgītha). Ты — Богиня, воплощение трёх Вед (Трайи, Trayī), Благословенная, предназначенная для поддержания бытия. Ты — Варта (Vārtā: наука о земледелии и хозяйстве) и высочайшая разрушительница страдания всех миров.

Word by Word

• śabda-ātmikā: consisting of sound (verbal)
• śabda-ātmikā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śabda + ātmikā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular; tatpuruṣa: śabdaḥ ātmā yasyāḥ (consisting of sound/word)

• su-vimala-ṛg-yajuṣām: of the very pure Ṛg and Yajus
• su-vimala-ṛg-yajuṣām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: su + vimala + ṛc + yajuṣ (प्रातिपदik)
• Form: Feminine, Genitive (6th), Plural; karmadhāraya: suvimale (very pure) ṛg-yajuṣī; here genitive plural ‘of the pure Ṛg and Yajus (Vedas)’

• nidhānam: treasury, repository
• nidhānam: Pradhāna-nāma (प्रधानीय/विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nidhāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular; predicate noun

• udgītha-ramya-pada-pāṭha-vatām: of those who possess the charming udgītha and pada-recitation
• udgītha-ramya-pada-pāṭha-vatām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: udgītha + ramya + pada + pāṭha + vat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th), Plural; tatpuruṣa chain: udgīthena ramyaḥ, pada-pāṭhaḥ, tadvatām (those possessing/knowing)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction

• sāmnām: of the Sāmans (Sāma-veda chants)
• sāmnām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sāman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Genitive (6th), Plural

• devī: the Goddess
• devī: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: devī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• trayī: the Vedic triad
• trayī: Pradhāna-nāma (प्रधानीय/विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: trayī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular; ‘the triad (of Vedas)’ used as predicate/apposition

• bhagavatī: the Blessed (Goddess)
• bhagavatī: Pradhāna-nāma (प्रधानीय/विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhagavatī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• bhava-bhāvanāya: for the bringing-forth of existence
• bhava-bhāvanāya: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान/चतुर्थी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhava + bhāvanā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Dative (4th/चतुर्थी), Singular; tatpuruṣa: bhavasya bhāvanā (bringing into being)

• vārtā: speech, utterance
• vārtā: Pradhāna-nāma (प्रधानीय/विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vārtā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular; predicate noun ‘speech/utterance’

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction

• sarva-jagatām: of all worlds
• sarva-jagatām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarva + jagat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Genitive (6th), Plural; karmadhāraya: sarvaṃ jagat

• parama-ārti-hantrī: destroyer of supreme distress
• parama-ārti-hantrī: Pradhāna-nāma (प्रधानीय/विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: parama + ārti + hantrī (प्रातिपदिक; √han + तृच्)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular; tatpuruṣa: paramāṃ ārtiṃ hanti iti

Speakers

• Indra and the Devas addressing the Goddess

Primary Deities

• Devi
• Indra
• Agni
• Devas

Shakti Aspects

• Mahalakshmi (Presiding deity of the Madhyama Charitra)
• Saraswati (implied by Vedic association)

Key Themes

• Shaktism
• Vedic Authority
• Cosmology
• Stuti
• Dharma

FAQs

What is the philosophical significance of identifying the Devi as 'Trayi' and 'Varta'?

This verse establishes the Goddess as the source of both Para Vidya (transcendent spiritual knowledge, represented by the three Vedas or Trayi) and Apara Vidya (material knowledge and sustenance, represented by Varta/Economics). She is the totality of existence, sustaining the soul through scripture and the body through agriculture.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana (5 characteristics) of a Purana?

This verse occurs within the Manvantara section of the Markandeya Purana. Specifically, it details the events of the Savarni Manvantara, illustrating the cosmic battles that define the epoch and the glorification of the deity who ensures the continuity of Dharma.

What is the esoteric significance of 'Shabdatmika'?

The epithet 'Shabdatmika' identifies the Devi as the Shabda Brahman—the primordial cosmic vibration or sound. Before the Vedas existed as texts, they existed as sound/vibration within Her consciousness. She is the root of all language and mantra.