Shloka 30

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

Sanskrit

सा च तान् प्रहितान् बाणाञ्छूलशक्तिपरश्वधान् ।

चिच्छेद लीलया'ध्मातधनुर्मुक्तैर्महेषुभिः ॥

Transliteration

sā ca tān prahitān bāṇāñ chūla-śakti-paraśvadhān /

ciccheda līlayā ’dhmāta-dhanur-muktair maheṣubhiḥ //

Translation

அவள் முழுமையாக இழுத்த வில்லிலிருந்து விடப்பட்ட பெரும் அம்புகளால், விளையாட்டுபோல, எறியப்பட்ட ஆயுதங்களை—அம்புகள், திரிசூல்கள், ஈட்டிகள், கோடாரிகள்—துண்டுதுண்டாக வெட்டினாள்।

Word by Word

• सा: she
• सा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन (Singular)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (conjunction/समुच्चय)

• तान्: those
• तान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), बहुवचन (Plural)

• प्रहितान्: sent/shot
• प्रहितान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pra-√hi (धातु) + kta (कृत् प्रत्यय)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle); पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; ‘sent/shot’ qualifying ‘तान्/बाणान्’

• बाणान्: arrows
• बाणान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bāṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), बहुवचन (Plural)

• शूल-शक्ति-परश्वधान्: spears, javelins, axes
• शूल-शक्ति-परश्वधान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śūla + śakti + paraśvadha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), बहुवचन (Plural); समुच्चय-द्वन्द्वः ‘spears, javelins, axes’ (as missiles)

• चिच्छेद: she cut (them) to pieces
• चिच्छेद: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √chid (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect/लिट्), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular); परस्मैपदम्

• लीलया: playfully/with ease
• लीलया: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: līlā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन (Singular)

• अध्मात-धनुः-मुक्तैः: released from the drawn bow
• अध्मात-धनुः-मुक्तैः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: adhmāta (प्रातिपदिक) + dhanuṣ (प्रातिपदिक) + mukta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), बहुवचन (Plural); बहुव्रीह्यर्थे/विशेषण-तत्पुरुषः: ‘released from a drawn bow’ qualifying ‘महेषुभिः’

• महा-इषुभिः: with great arrows
• महा-इषुभिः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + iṣu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), बहुवचन (Plural); कर्मधारयः ‘great arrows’

Speakers

• Narrative voice within the Devi Mahatmyam

Verse Rasa

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

Primary Deities

• Devī (Chāṇḍikā/Durgā)

Shakti Aspects

• Devī/Chāṇḍikā as supreme martial Śakti

Key Themes

• Shaktism
• Divine sovereignty
• Effortless mastery
• Victory over adharma

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

Righteous power is not mere reaction; it is skillful, measured, and calm. ‘Līlayā’ underscores mastery without inner agitation—an ethical model for disciplined strength.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana (5 characteristics)?

Primarily episodic narrative (vaṃśānucarita-type storytelling), serving didactic aims rather than cosmological enumeration.

What is the esoteric significance?

The Goddess cutting weapons mid-flight points to the capacity of awakened awareness to intercept harmful impulses before they ‘land’ as speech or action.