Shloka 37

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

Sanskrit

चण्डाट्टहासैरसुराः शिवदूत्यभिदूषिताः ।

पेतुः पृथ्व्यां पतितांस्तांश्चखादाथ सा तदा ॥

Transliteration

caṇḍāṭṭahāsair asurāḥ śivadūty-abhidūṣitāḥ /

petuḥ pṛthvyāṃ patitāṃs tāṃś cakhādātha sā tadā //

Translation

ఆమె భయంకర అట్టహాస ధ్వనులతో శివదూతీ చేత బాధపడిన అసురులు భూమిపై కూలిపోయారు; ఆపై ఆమె పడిపోయిన వారిని భక్షించింది।

Word by Word

चण्ड-अट्टहासैःby fierce peals of laughter

असुराःdemons

शिव-दूती-अभिदूषिताःafflicted/defiled by Śiva’s messenger (Śivadūtī)

पेतुःfell

पृथ्व्याम्on the earth

पतितान्fallen

तान्those (ones)

चand

खादdevoured

अथthen

साshe

तदाat that time

Speakers

Narrative voice within the Devi Mahatmyam

Verse Rasa

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

Primary Deities

Śivadūtī

Shakti Aspects

Śivadūtī (fierce Devī-form; often associated with Kālī’s retinue)

Key Themes

ShaktismTerror as divine weaponSound as powerConsumption of evil

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

Evil often collapses under the exposure of its own pretensions; the ‘laughter’ motif conveys the undoing of arrogance when confronted by a higher reality.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana (5 characteristics)?

Episodic narrative; contributes to the character-portrait of Devī’s emanations rather than lineage/time cycles.

What is the esoteric significance?

Fierce laughter symbolizes the shattering of ego-gravity; ‘devouring’ indicates reintegration—negativity is not merely expelled but transmuted back into the ground of Śakti.