Markandeya Purana — Adhyaya 86, Shloka 14

Adhyaya 86 — Dhumralocana’s Mission and His Ashing by the Goddess; Shumbha Sends Chanda and Munda

Sanskrit

विच्छिन्नबाहुशिरसः सृतास्तेन तथापरे ।

पपौ च रुधिरं कोष्ठादन्येषां धुतकेसरः ॥

Transliteration

vicchinnabāhuśirasaḥ sṛtās tena tathāpare /

papau ca rudhiraṃ koṣṭhād anyeṣāṃ dhutakesaraḥ

Translation

另有一些人臂与首被斩断，便从它面前逃窜；而那鬃毛震动的狮子又从另一些人的胸膛中饮其鲜血。

Word by Word

• विच्छिन्नबाहुशिरसः: with arms and heads severed
• विच्छिन्नबाहुशिरसः: कर्तृविशेषण (Qualifier of subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वि-छिद् (धातु) → विच्छिन्न (कृदन्त) + बाहु (प्रातिपदिक) + शिरस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वन्द्वसमास (बाहु + शिरस्) ततः बहुव्रीहिवत् प्रयोगः; पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, बहुवचन; ‘सृताः’ इति विशेषणम्; अर्थः—विच्छिन्नौ बाहू शिरांसि च येषाम्/येषां ते

• सृताः: fled
• सृताः: क्रिया-सम्बद्ध कर्ता (Subject linked to participle)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सृ (धातु) → सृत (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त/PPP); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; ‘(ते)’ इति कर्तरि भावे—‘escaped/fled’

• तेन: by him
• तेन: करण/हेतु (Instrument/Cause)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसक; तृतीया, एकवचन

• तथा: also
• तथा: समुच्चय (Coordinator)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थ (also)

• अपरे: others
• अपरे: कर्ता (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अपर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• पपौ: drank
• पपौ: क्रिया (Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पा (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Coordinator)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय

• रुधिरम्: blood
• रुधिरम्: कर्म (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रुधिर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया, एकवचन

• कोष्ठात्: from the chest/belly
• कोष्ठात्: अपादान (Source/Ablative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कोष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; पञ्चमी, एकवचन

• अन्येषाम्: of others
• अन्येषाम्: षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; षष्ठी, बहुवचन

• धुतकेसरः: having shaken (his) mane
• धुतकेसरः: कर्तृविशेषण (Qualifier of subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धू (धातु) → धुत (कृदन्त) + केसर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष/कर्मधारयवत् ‘धुतं केसरं यस्य’; पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, एकवचन; (सिंहस्य) विशेषणम्

Speakers

• Ṛṣi narrator

Verse Rasa

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

Primary Deities

• Devī (Ambikā)
• Siṃha (Devī’s mount)

Shakti Aspects

• Siṃha as Devī’s terrifying protective force (ugra-rakṣaṇa)

Key Themes

• Shaktism
• Terror of adharma
• Protective wrath
• Battle aftermath

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

The ‘flight’ of the asuras indicates that unrighteousness ultimately cannot stand before truth-power; it collapses into fear and dispersal when confronted by uncompromising protection.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana (5 characteristics)?

Still within the Devi-ākhyāna (episode). It is exemplary narrative rather than a structural pancalakṣaṇa passage.

What is the esoteric significance?

Blood-drinking imagery can signify reclaiming and transmuting dissipated life-force (vital energy) from destructive patterns back into protective strength under Devī’s aegis.