Varaha Purana 95.44 — Adhyaya 95, Shloka 44

The Slaying of the Daitya Ruru, the Hymn to Cāmuṇḍā/Kālarātri, and the Doctrine of the Threefold Power

Devanagari script

चामुण्डे ज्वलमानास्ये तीक्ष्णदंष्ट्रे महाबले । शवयानस्थिते देवि प्रेतासनगते शिवे ॥

Transliteration

cāmuṇḍe jvalamānāsye tīkṣṇadaṃṣṭre mahābale | śavayānasthite devi pretāsanagate śive ||

Translation

ఓ చాముండే, జ్వలించే ముఖముగలదానా, తీక్ష్ణ దంష్ట్రలదానా, మహాబలవంతురాలా; ఓ దేవీ, శవయానంపై స్థితురాలా; ఓ శివే, ప్రేతాసనారూఢా!

Word by Word

• cāmuṇḍe: O Cāmuṇḍā
• cāmuṇḍe: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: cāmuṇḍā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सम्बोधन, एकवचन, स्त्रीलिङ्ग

• jvalamāna-āsye: O one whose mouth is blazing
• jvalamāna-āsye: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jvalamāna (कृदन्त; √jval ज्वल्)+āsya (प्रातिपदिक; आस्य)
• Form: सम्बोधन, एकवचन, स्त्रीलिङ्ग; कर्मधारयः (ज्वलमानम् आस्यं यस्याः); ज्वलमान = शतृ-प्रत्यय (Present active participle)

• tīkṣṇa-daṃṣṭre: O sharp-fanged one
• tīkṣṇa-daṃṣṭre: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tīkṣṇa+daṃṣṭrā (प्रातिपदिक; तीक्ष्ण+दंष्ट्रा)
• Form: सम्बोधन, एकवचन, स्त्रीलिङ्ग; कर्मधारयः (तीक्ष्णा दंष्ट्रा यस्याः)

• mahābale: O great in strength
• mahābale: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā+bala (प्रातिपदिक; महा+बल)
• Form: सम्बोधन, एकवचन, स्त्रीलिङ्ग; कर्मधारयः (महद् बलं यस्याः)

• śavayāna-sthite: O one standing upon a corpse-vehicle (bier)
• śavayāna-sthite: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śava+yāna+sthita (प्रातिपदिक; शव+यान+स्थित)
• Form: सम्बोधन, एकवचन, स्त्रीलिङ्ग; सप्तमी-तत्पुरुषः (शवयानस्थिता = शवयान-स्थित)

• devi: O Goddess
• devi: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: devī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सम्बोधन, एकवचन, स्त्रीलिङ्ग

• pretāsana-gate: O one seated on a ghost-seat
• pretāsana-gate: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: preta+āsana+gata (प्रातिपदिक; प्रेत+आसन+गत)
• Form: सम्बोधन, एकवचन, स्त्रीलिङ्ग; सप्तमी-तत्पुरुषः (प्रेतासनगता = प्रेत-आसन-गत)

• śive: O auspicious one (Śivā)
• śive: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śivā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सम्बोधन, एकवचन, स्त्रीलिङ्ग

Speaker

Rudra

Varaha Avatara Context

Varaha Avatara Context: {"is_varaha_focus":false,"aspect_highlighted":"None","boar_form_detail":"None","earth_interaction":"None"}

Bhu Devi Dialogue

Bhu Devi Dialogue: {"is_dialogue":true,"speaker_role":"instructor","bhu_devi_state":"None","key_question":"None"}

Mathura Mandala

Mathura Mandala: {"is_mathura_related":false,"specific_site":"None","parikrama_context":"None","krishna_connection":"None"}

Dharma Shastra

Dharma Shastra: {"has_dharma_rule":false,"topic":"None","instruction_summary":"None","karmic_consequence":"None"}

Vrata Mahatmya

Vrata Mahatmya: {"has_vrata":false,"vrata_name":"None","tithi_month":"None","promised_fruit":"None"}

Cosmic Boar Symbolism

Cosmic Boar Symbolism: {"has_symbolism":false,"symbolic_interpretation":"None","yajna_varaha_imagery":"None","vedantic_connection":"None"}

Philosophical Teaching

Philosophical Teaching: {"has_teaching":true,"teaching_type":"theology/soteriology","core_concept":"Devī’s cremation-ground seat (śava/preta) signifies mastery over death, fear, and impurity; the terrifying form functions as protective transcendence rather than mere horror.","practical_application":"Contemplate impermanence and overcome fear of death; redirect dread into disciplined devotion and ethical purification."}

Subject Matter

Subject Matter: ["Devī-stuti","Iconography (śava/preta motifs)","Ritual Imagery"]

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: None

Cross References

Related Themes: Varāha Purāṇa 95.95.48; Varāha Purāṇa 95.95.51

Visual Art Cues

Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Cāmuṇḍā appears with a blazing face and sharp fangs, immensely powerful, enthroned upon a corpse and seated among pretas—an intense śmaśāna tableau.","item_prompts":["Cāmuṇḍā","jvālāmukha (flame-faced) glow","tīkṣṇa-daṃṣṭrā (sharp fangs)","śava as vāhana/seat","preta attendants","cremation-ground ambience (skulls, ash, dark sky)"],"kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: stylized cremation-ground setting, Cāmuṇḍā with flame halo and pronounced fangs; pretas as decorative attendants; strong contouring and flat fills.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: ornate yet fierce Cāmuṇḍā with gold-leaf aura; corpse-seat rendered symbolically; pretas minimized but present; high-contrast reds/blacks with gold highlights.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: elegant ferocity—fine facial detailing for fangs and flame; subdued śmaśāna background; balanced devotional framing despite the corpse-seat motif.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari: narrative miniature—night cremation ground, compact figure of Cāmuṇḍā on śava, small preta figures; emphasis on expressive face and rhythmic flames."}

Audio Atmosphere

Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"intense, fear-transcending stuti","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"slow with heavy stress on compound epithets","voice_tone":"deep, steady, slightly hushed to evoke śmaśāna gravity"}

Tags

• Purāṇic Hymns
• Śākta Iconography (textual)
• Mythic Symbolism
• Sanskrit Philology

FAQs

What is the historical significance of this verse?

It records a set of strong iconographic markers (śava/preta seating) that are important for tracking the literary formation of fierce Devī imagery across Sanskrit sources.

Which geographic location is identified?

No geographic location is specified; the imagery is symbolic rather than topographic.

What is the primary ethical instruction?

The verse uses intense symbolism to communicate protection and the overcoming of fear and mortality within the text’s poetic framework.