Vamana Purana — Slaying of Raktabija, Shloka 48

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

Devanagari script

ततस्तूर्याण्यवाद्यन्त भूतसंघैः समन्ततः पुष्पवृष्टिं च मुमुचुः सुराः कात्यायनीं प्रति

Transliteration

tatastūryāṇyavādyanta bhūtasaṃghaiḥ samantataḥ puṣpavṛṣṭiṃ ca mumucuḥ surāḥ kātyāyanīṃ prati

Translation

తర్వాత చుట్టూ భూతసంఘాలు తూర్యాలను మోగించాయి; దేవతలు కాత్యాయనీ వైపు పుష్పవృష్టిని కురిపించారు.

Word by Word

• ततः: then
• ततः: Avyaya (अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb)

• तूर्याणि: musical instruments
• तूर्याणि: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तूर्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/कर्ता), बहुवचन

• अवाद्यन्त: were played/sounded
• अवाद्यन्त: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ + वद् (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/Past), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; आत्मनेपद (वाद्यन्त = sounded/played)

• भूत-संघैः: by groups of beings
• भूत-संघैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संघ (प्रातिपदिक) + भूत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/करण), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष (भूतानां संघाः)

• समन्ततः: all around
• समन्ततः: Avyaya (अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: समन्ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb) ‘on all sides’

• पुष्प-वृष्टिम्: a shower of flowers
• पुष्प-वृष्टिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वृष्टि (प्रातिपदिक) + पुष्प (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/कर्म), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (पुष्पाणां वृष्टिः)

• च: and
• च: Avyaya (अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• मुमुचुः: released/let fall
• मुमुचुः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: मुच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• सुराः: the gods
• सुराः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/कर्ता), बहुवचन

• कात्यायनीम्: Kātyāyanī (Goddess)
• कात्यायनीम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कात्यायनी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/कर्म), एकवचन

• प्रति: towards
• प्रति: Avyaya (अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्रति (अव्यय/उपसर्गसदृश)
• Form: अव्यय (preposition-like) ‘towards/in honor of’

Speakers

• Narrator describing the celebratory response of Śiva’s gaṇas/bhūtas and the devas honoring Devī.

Primary Deities

• Kātyāyanī (Devī)
• Śiva (implied through bhūta-saṃgha)
• Devas (collective)

Key Themes

• Śākta veneration
• Śiva’s gaṇas/bhūtas as ritual-musical agents
• Puṣpavṛṣṭi (flower-rain) as divine approval
• Post-victory celebration

Verse Rasa (Emotional Flavour)

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

FAQs

Why do bhūtas play instruments in this scene?

In Śaiva Purāṇic idiom, bhūtas/gaṇas are Śiva’s attendants who participate in both battle and celebration. Their sounding of tūryas marks a ritualized victory-festival, not mere noise—an audible sign that dharma has been restored.

What is the significance of the “rain of flowers” (puṣpavṛṣṭi)?

Puṣpavṛṣṭi is a conventional Purāṇic motif indicating divine sanction and auspicious completion of a deed. Here it functions as an honor-offering directed to Kātyāyanī, acknowledging her decisive power in the victory.

Is Kātyāyanī the same as Durgā/Parvatī in this context?

Kātyāyanī is a prominent epithet/form of Devī, often associated with martial protection and victory. In Purāṇic usage she is typically understood within the continuum of Devī (Durgā/Umā/Pārvatī) rather than as a separate deity.