Markandeya Purana — Adhyaya 88, Shloka 30

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

Sanskrit

सा च तान् प्रहितान् बाणाञ्छूलशक्तिपरश्वधान् ।

चिच्छेद लीलया'ध्मातधनुर्मुक्तैर्महेषुभिः ॥

Transliteration

sā ca tān prahitān bāṇāñ chūla-śakti-paraśvadhān /

ciccheda līlayā ’dhmāta-dhanur-muktair maheṣubhiḥ //

Translation

Còn Nữ Thần, với những mũi tên lớn phóng ra từ cây cung đã giương căng hết mức, đã như đùa mà chém nát các phi tiễn được phóng tới—tên, đinh ba, giáo và rìu.

Word by Word

• सा: she
• सा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन (Singular)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (conjunction/समुच्चय)

• तान्: those
• तान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), बहुवचन (Plural)

• प्रहितान्: sent/shot
• प्रहितान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pra-√hi (धातु) + kta (कृत् प्रत्यय)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle); पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; ‘sent/shot’ qualifying ‘तान्/बाणान्’

• बाणान्: arrows
• बाणान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bāṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), बहुवचन (Plural)

• शूल-शक्ति-परश्वधान्: spears, javelins, axes
• शूल-शक्ति-परश्वधान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śūla + śakti + paraśvadha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), बहुवचन (Plural); समुच्चय-द्वन्द्वः ‘spears, javelins, axes’ (as missiles)

• चिच्छेद: she cut (them) to pieces
• चिच्छेद: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √chid (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect/लिट्), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular); परस्मैपदम्

• लीलया: playfully/with ease
• लीलया: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: līlā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन (Singular)

• अध्मात-धनुः-मुक्तैः: released from the drawn bow
• अध्मात-धनुः-मुक्तैः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: adhmāta (प्रातिपदिक) + dhanuṣ (प्रातिपदिक) + mukta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), बहुवचन (Plural); बहुव्रीह्यर्थे/विशेषण-तत्पुरुषः: ‘released from a drawn bow’ qualifying ‘महेषुभिः’

• महा-इषुभिः: with great arrows
• महा-इषुभिः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + iṣu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), बहुवचन (Plural); कर्मधारयः ‘great arrows’

Speakers

• Narrative voice within the Devi Mahatmyam

Verse Rasa

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

Primary Deities

• Devī (Chāṇḍikā/Durgā)

Shakti Aspects

• Devī/Chāṇḍikā as supreme martial Śakti

Key Themes

• Shaktism
• Divine sovereignty
• Effortless mastery
• Victory over adharma

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

Righteous power is not mere reaction; it is skillful, measured, and calm. ‘Līlayā’ underscores mastery without inner agitation—an ethical model for disciplined strength.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana (5 characteristics)?

Primarily episodic narrative (vaṃśānucarita-type storytelling), serving didactic aims rather than cosmological enumeration.

What is the esoteric significance?

The Goddess cutting weapons mid-flight points to the capacity of awakened awareness to intercept harmful impulses before they ‘land’ as speech or action.