Markandeya Purana — Adhyaya 9, Shloka 15

Adhyaya 9 — Vasiṣṭha and Viśvāmitra’s Mutual Curse: The Āḍi–Baka Battle and Brahmā’s Pacification

Sanskrit

विधूय पक्षाणि बको रक्तोद्वृत्ताक्षिराहनत् ।

आडिं सोऽप्युन्नतग्रीवो बकं पद्भ्यामताडयत् ॥

Transliteration

vidhūya pakṣāṇi bako raktodvṛttākṣir āhanat /

āḍiṃ so 'py unnata-grīvo bakaṃ padbhyām atāḍayat

Translation

Si Baka, habang inaalog ang kanyang mga pakpak at ang mga matang namumula’y umiikot, ay tumama sa kanyang kalaban. At si Āḍi naman, itinaas nang mataas ang leeg, at hinampas si Baka gamit ang kanyang mga paa.

Speakers

• Narrative voice within the Devi Mahatmyam (frame-speaker not explicit in this verse)

Key Themes

• Fury in combat
• Mythic hyperbole
• Symbolic animal/bird combat motifs