Shloka 55

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

Sanskrit

ऋषिरुवाच इत्युक्त्वा तां ततो देवी शूलेनाभिजघान तम् ।

मुखेन काली जगृहे रक्तबीजस्य शोणितम् ॥

Transliteration

ṛṣir uvāca ityuktvā tāṃ tato devī śūlenābhijaghāna tam | mukhena kālī jagṛhe raktabījasya soṇitam ||

Translation

Đạo sĩ (ṛṣi) nói: Nói với nàng như vậy xong, Nữ Thần liền dùng đinh ba (triśūla) đâm hắn; và Kāli dùng miệng mình bắt lấy (hút uống) máu của Raktabīja.

Word by Word

• ṛṣiḥ: the sage
• ṛṣiḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ṛṣi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative Singular

• uvāca: said
• uvāca: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (धातु)
• Form: Liṭ (लिट्, perfect), Prathama-puruṣa Singular, Parasmaipada

• iti: thus
• iti: Vākyārtha-sūcaka (वाक्यार्थसूचक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय)
• Form: Quotative particle (उद्धरण-अव्यय)

• uktvā: having said
• uktvā: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (धातु) + ktvā (क्त्वा)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त), indeclinable; prior action

• tām: her
• tām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative Singular

• tataḥ: then
• tataḥ: Kāla/krama (काल/क्रम)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tataḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (क्रियाविशेषण)

• devī: the goddess
• devī: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: devī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative Singular

• śūlena: with a trident/spear
• śūlena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śūla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Instrumental Singular

• abhijaghāna: struck down/struck
• abhijaghāna: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: abhi + han (धातु)
• Form: Luṅ (लुङ्, aorist), Prathama-puruṣa Singular, Parasmaipada

• tam: him
• tam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative Singular

• mukhena: with (her) mouth
• mukhena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mukha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental Singular

• kālī: Kālī
• kālī: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kālī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative Singular

• jagṛhe: seized/took
• jagṛhe: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: grah (धातु)
• Form: Liṭ (लिट्, perfect), Prathama-puruṣa Singular, Ātmanepada

• raktabījasya: of Raktabīja
• raktabījasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: raktabīja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Karmadhāraya (कर्मधारय) proper name; Masculine, Genitive (षष्ठी) Singular

• śoṇitam: blood
• śoṇitam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śoṇita (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative Singular

Speakers

• Ṛṣi (narrator); action by Devī and Kālī

Verse Rasa

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

Primary Deities

• Devī (Caṇḍikā)
• Kālī
• Raktabīja

Shakti Aspects

• Devī (Caṇḍikā) as striker; Kālī as blood-drinker; Cāmuṇḍā function implied

Key Themes

• Shaktism
• Coordinated divine action
• Neutralizing the bīja principle
• Mythic ritual imagery (drinking blood)

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

Power is effective when aligned with method: Devī’s strike is paired with Kālī’s containment. The episode teaches that righteous action (dharma) includes preventing collateral proliferation of harm.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana (5 characteristics)?

Upākhyāna within the Purāṇa—devotional narrative reinforcing śakti doctrine.

What is the esoteric significance?

The trident (śūla) can signify the three guṇas or triad of time; Kālī’s drinking indicates the transcendence/absorption of the very substance that would otherwise generate further bondage.