Shloka 19

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

Sanskrit

नारसिंही नृसिंहस्य बिभ्रती सदृशं वपुः ।

प्राप्ता तत्र सटाक्षेपक्षिप्तनक्षत्रसंहतिः ॥

Transliteration

nārasiṃhī nṛsiṃhasya bibhratī sadṛśaṃ vapuḥ /

prāptā tatra saṭākṣepakṣiptanakṣatrasaṃhatiḥ

Translation

تب وہاں نارَسِمْہی نمودار ہوئیں، نرَسِمْہ کے مشابہ صورت دھارے ہوئے؛ اپنی زلفوں کے محض ایک جھٹکے سے انہوں نے ستاروں کے جھرمٹ بکھیر دیے۔

Word by Word

• नारसिंही: Nārasiṃhī (the lioness-form goddess)
• नारसिंही: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नारसिंही (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• नृसिंहस्य: of Narasiṃha
• नृसिंहस्य: सम्बन्ध (Sambandha/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नृसिंह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• बिभ्रती: bearing, carrying
• बिभ्रती: कर्ता (Karta/Agent, participial)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भृ (धातु) + शतृ (कृदन्त)
• Form: वर्तमानकालिक-कर्तरि-शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (present active participle), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• सदृशम्: similar, resembling
• सदृशम्: कर्म-विशेषण (Karma-viśeṣaṇa/Object qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सदृश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying)

• वपुः: body, form
• वपुः: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वपुस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• प्राप्ता: arrived, came
• प्राप्ता: कर्ता (Karta/Subject; ‘having arrived’)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-आप् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि/भूतकर्तरि क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past participle), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Location)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देशवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (locative adverb)

• सटाक्षेपक्षिप्तनक्षत्रसंहतिः: a mass of stars flung by the toss of (her) mane
• सटाक्षेपक्षिप्तनक्षत्रसंहतिः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject; apposition to नारसिंही)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सट + आक्षेप + क्षिप्त + नक्षत्र + संहति (प्रातिपदिक-समूह)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः (तत्पुरुष-प्रधान), अर्थः—‘सटाक्षेपेण क्षिप्तानां नक्षत्राणां संहति:’

Speakers

• Narrative voice within Devi Mahatmyam (frame traditionally: Mārkaṇḍeya recounts to a listener; in Markandeya Purana’s wider frame
• teaching is mediated through the sages/birds tradition)

Verse Rasa

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

Primary Deities

• Nārasiṃhī
• Narasiṃha

Shakti Aspects

• Nārasiṃhī (Matrikā; fierce emanation aligned with Narasiṃha)

Key Themes

• Shaktism
• Divine emanations (Matrikās)
• Cosmic power imagery
• Battle-preparation

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

Divine power is portrayed as immeasurable: the Goddess’ emanations are not merely helpers but cosmic forces. Ethically, it underscores that adharma (here, demonic arrogance) provokes a response proportionate to restore balance.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana (5 characteristics)?

Primarily within Vaṃśānucarita/Carita (narrative of divine deeds) rather than sarga/pratisarga. It is an episode in the Goddess’ salvific history used for dharmic instruction and devotion.

What is the esoteric significance?

Nārasiṃhī symbolizes the ferocity of protective consciousness. The ‘mane scattering stars’ is a metaphor for shaking the fixed patterns of fate (nakṣatra as destiny markers), showing Shakti’s sovereignty over time-signs and cosmic order.