Vamana Purana — Slaying of Raktabija, Shloka 46

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

Devanagari script

तस्मिन्नपतिते रौद्रे सुरशत्रौ भयङ्करे चण्डाद्य मातरो हृष्टाश्चक्रुः किलकिलाध्वनिम्

Transliteration

tasminnapatite raudre suraśatrau bhayaṅkare caṇḍādya mātaro hṛṣṭāścakruḥ kilakilādhvanim

Translation

["Mātṛkā theology (deities’ powers embodied as Goddesses)", "Shaiva–Vaishnava unity through Śakti", "Fierce protection and apotropaic power (durdṛśyā, roar, skull-garland imagery)", "Yogic attainment and siddhi (yoginī, yoga-siddhā)"]

Word by Word

• तस्मिन्: when/while that (event)
• तस्मिन्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/अधिकरण), एकवचन

• अपतिते: when (he) had fallen/been struck down
• अपतिते: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पत् (धातु) → अपतित (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (PPP), सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन, पुं/नपुं; ‘तस्मिन्…अपतिते’ सति-सप्तमी

• रौद्रे: fierce/terrible
• रौद्रे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रौद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘सुरशत्रौ’ इति विशेषण

• सुर-शत्रौ: in the enemy of the gods
• सुर-शत्रौ: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुर + शत्रु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/अधिकरण), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (सुराणां शत्रुः)

• भयङ्करे: fearsome
• भयङ्करे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भय + कर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (भयं करोति)

• चण्ड-आद्याः: Caṇḍā and others
• चण्ड-आद्याः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चण्ड + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (चण्डा आदिः यसां/चण्डा-प्रमुखाः)

• मातरः: the Mothers (Mātṛkās)
• मातरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मातृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• हृष्टाः: delighted
• हृष्टाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हृष् (धातु) → हृष्ट (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (PPP), प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन, स्त्रीलिङ्ग; ‘मातरः’ इति विशेषण

• चक्रुः: made/raised
• चक्रुः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन, परस्मैपद

• किलकिला-ध्वनिम्: a ‘kilakilā’ clamour
• किलकिला-ध्वनिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किलकिला + ध्वनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/कर्म), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (किलकिला-शब्दरूपः ध्वनिः)

Speakers

• Narrator (Purāṇic sūta-style narration) describing events to the listening sages (frame not explicit in the given excerpt).

Primary Deities

• Śiva
• Kātyāyanī (Devī)
• Mātṛkās (Mothers)
• Devas (collective)

Key Themes

• Triumph over adharma
• Śākta participation in cosmic battle
• Mātṛkā cult and battlefield imagery
• Devāsura conflict

Verse Rasa (Emotional Flavour)

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

FAQs

Who are the “Mothers” (mātaraḥ) mentioned here?

They are the Mātṛkās—fierce, protective mother-goddesses who appear in Purāṇic battle scenes as Śakti-forces assisting the gods (often aligned with Śiva/Devī). The phrase “Caṇḍādyāḥ” signals a list beginning with a fierce form, emphasizing their terrifying, martial nature.

What does “kilakilā-dhvani” convey in a Purāṇic battle context?

It denotes a sharp, ululating victory-cry (often associated with goddesses and warrior retinues). It marks the turning point of battle—public confirmation that the fearsome foe has been brought down.

Is any tīrtha or sacred place encoded in this verse?

No. Unlike the Vāmana Purāṇa’s many geography/tīrtha passages, this śloka is purely narrative and contains no explicit toponyms.