Markandeya Purana — Adhyaya 88, Shloka 61

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

Sanskrit

ततस्ते हर्षमतुलमवापुस्त्रिदशा नृप ।

तेषां मातृगणो जातो ननर्तासृङ्मदोद्धतः ॥

Transliteration

tatas te harṣam atulam avāpus tridaśā nṛpa | teṣāṃ mātṛgaṇo jāto nanartāsṛṅmadoddhataḥ ||

Translation

Pagkaraan nito, nakamtan ng mga diyos ang di-mapapantayang galak, O hari; at ang kanilang pangkat ng mga Ina (Mātṛgaṇa), lasing sa pagkabaliw ng dugo, ay nagsimulang sumayaw.

Word by Word

• tataḥ: then/thereupon
• tataḥ: Kāla/Hetu (काल/कारण-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatas (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (indeclinable adverb)

• te: they
• te: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन (Plural)

• harṣam: joy
• harṣam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: harṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• atulam: unsurpassed
• atulam: Karma (कर्म/Object qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: atula (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण (harṣam प्रति)

• avāpuḥ: attained
• avāpuḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: āp (धातु) उपसर्ग-ava + √āp
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), बहुवचन (Plural)

• tridaśāḥ: the gods (thirty)
• tridaśāḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tridaśa (प्रातिपदिक; त्रि + दश)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन (Plural)

• nṛpa: O king
• nṛpa: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nṛpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), सम्बोधन-विभक्ति (Vocative), एकवचन (Singular)

• teṣām: of them
• teṣām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine/Neuter), षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), बहुवचन (Plural)

• mātṛgaṇaḥ: the group of Mothers (Mātṛs)
• mātṛgaṇaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mātṛgaṇa (प्रातिपदिक; मातृ + गण)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• jātaḥ: arose/was born
• jātaḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया; ‘became/was born’)
• Type: Verb
• Root: jan (धातु) → jāta (कृदन्त; क्त-प्रत्यय, PPP)
• Form: क्तान्त (PPP) used predicatively; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• nanarta: danced
• nanarta: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: nṛt (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन (Singular)

• asṛk-mada-uddhataḥ: exultant with blood-intoxication
• asṛk-mada-uddhataḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: asṛk (प्रातिपदिक) + mada (प्रातिपदिक) + uddhata (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक; ud-√dham/√dhat? ‘raised, excited’)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण (mātṛgaṇaḥ प्रति)

Speakers

• Narrative voice to the king within Devī Māhātmyam

Primary Deities

• Devī (Caṇḍikā)
• Mātṛkās/Mātṛgaṇa
• Devas (Tridaśas)

Shakti Aspects

• Mātṛkās (collective Mothers) in fierce mode; Devī’s emanated powers

Key Themes

• Victory celebration
• Fierce feminine energies
• Ritual/numinous awe (ugra-rasa)
• Cosmic balance

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

Even divine victory has a terrifying aspect: the same power that protects the cosmos is awe-inspiring and overwhelming. The verse teaches reverence toward śakti in both gentle and fierce expressions.

How does this fit the Pancalakṣaṇa (5 characteristics)?

As part of manvantara-embedded narrative (manvantara/vaṃśānucarita mode), it illustrates the functional role of deities and their śaktis in maintaining cosmic order.

What is the esoteric significance?

The Mothers’ ‘dance’ indicates the dynamic play of energies after obstruction is removed; ‘blood-intoxication’ symbolically points to the consumption/transmutation of tamas and violent impulses into protective power.