Shloka 48

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

Sanskrit

शक्त्या जघान कौमारो वाराही च तथासिना ।

माहेश्वरी त्रिशूलेन रक्तबीजं महासुरम् ॥

Transliteration

śaktyā jaghāna kaumāro vārāhī ca tathāsinā / māheśvarī triśūlena raktabījaṃ mahāsuram

Translation

کوماری نے مہا اسور رکتبیج کو اپنی شکتی (نیزہ) سے مارا؛ واراہی نے بھی اسے تلوار سے ضرب لگائی؛ اور ماہیشوری نے اسے ترشول سے چھید دیا۔

Word by Word

• शक्त्या: with a spear/śakti-weapon
• शक्त्या: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• जघान: struck/killed
• जघान: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: हन् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

• कौमारः: Kaumāra
• कौमारः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कौमार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; देवविशेषः (Skanda/Kumāra-śakti)

• वाराही: Vārāhī
• वाराही: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाराही (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; देवीविशेषः

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक-अव्यय (thus/likewise)

• असिना: with a sword
• असिना: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: असि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• माहेश्वरी: Māheśvarī
• माहेश्वरी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: माहेश्वरी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; देवीविशेषः

• त्रिशूलेन: with a trident
• त्रिशूलेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रिशूल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• रक्त-बीजम्: Raktabīja
• रक्त-बीजम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रक्त (प्रातिपदिक) + बीज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुष-प्रायः नामधेय: ‘blood-seed’ (proper name)

• महा-असुरम्: the great demon
• महा-असुरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक) + असुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; कर्मधारय: महान् असुरः = great demon

Speakers

• Narrative voice within Devi Mahatmyam

Verse Rasa

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

Primary Deities

• Kaumārī
• Vārāhī
• Māheśvarī
• Raktabīja

Shakti Aspects

• Kaumārī
• Vārāhī
• Māheśvarī (Mātṛkās)

Key Themes

• Shaktism
• Mātṛkā theology
• Weapon symbolism
• Cooperative divine action

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

Virtues must be coordinated: different śaktis (capacities) act together—courage, discernment, and disciplined power—showing that dharma is protected by integrated strengths.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana (5 characteristics)?

This is a devī-upākhyāna segment rather than a pañcalakṣaṇa (cosmogonic/chronological) exposition.

What is the esoteric significance?

Spear, sword, and trident symbolize piercing focus, cutting discrimination, and mastery over the three guṇas; together they prepare the ground for neutralizing the blood-seed principle.