Markandeya Purana — Adhyaya 88, Shloka 10

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

Sanskrit

तं निनादमुपश्रुत्य दैत्यसैन्यैश्चतुर्दिशम् ।

देवी सिंहस्तथा काली सरोषैः परिवारिताः ॥

Transliteration

taṃ ninādam upaśrutya daityasainyaiś caturdiśam |

devī siṃhas tathā kālī saroṣaiḥ parivāritāḥ ||

Translation

闻此咆哮，四方的底提耶军队为之骚动；而女神与其狮子及迦梨同在，被那些暴怒的敌众环绕而立。

Word by Word

• तम्: that
• तम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• निनादम्: roar
• निनादम्: कर्म (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निनाद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• उपश्रुत्य: having heard
• उपश्रुत्य: पूर्वकाल (Absolutive; prior action)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: उप-श्रु (धातु) + ल्यप् (कृदन्त)
• Form: ल्यप्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (gerund/absolutive), अर्थः ‘having heard’

• दैत्यसैन्यैः: by/with the demon armies
• दैत्यसैन्यैः: करण/सह (Instrument/Association)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दैत्य + सैन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (दैत्यानां सैन्यैः), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन

• चतुःदिशम्: in the four directions
• चतुःदिशम्: देशाधिकरण (Locative sense via accusative adverbial)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चतुर् (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + दिश् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्विगु-समास (चतस्रः दिशः), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; अव्ययीभाववत् क्रियाविशेषणार्थे ‘in four directions’

• देवी: the Goddess
• देवी: कर्ता (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• सिंहः: the lion
• सिंहः: कर्ता (Subject; coordinated)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सिंह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• तथा: also/likewise
• तथा: समुच्चय/क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अव्यय-प्रकारः क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• काली: Kālī
• काली: कर्ता (Subject; coordinated)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काली (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• सरोषैः: with the enraged (ones)
• सरोषैः: करण/सह (Instrument/Association)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स + रोष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (रोषयुक्तैः), पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन

• परिवारिताः: were surrounded
• परिवारिताः: क्रियाविशेषण/विधेय (Predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परि-√वृ (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (PPP), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; कर्तरि-प्रयोगे ‘surrounded’ (agreeing with devī/siṃha/kālī as a group)

Speakers

• Narrative voice within Devi Mahatmyam (frame ultimately: Markandeya recounts to the listener)

Verse Rasa

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

Primary Deities

• Devī (Caṇḍikā)
• Kālī
• Siṃha (lion)

Shakti Aspects

• Devi (Caṇḍikā) with Kālī; lion as Devi’s vahana/companion

Key Themes

• Shaktism
• War tableau
• Asuric aggression
• Devi as protector

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

Adharma reacts violently when confronted by truth and power; the Devi remains unshaken even when encircled. The ethical lesson is steadfastness: righteousness may be surrounded, but it is not defeated by mere numbers.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana (5 characteristics)?

Falls under Vaṃśānucarita / narrative exempla used to teach Dharma—here, the cosmic conflict motif that purāṇas employ to show the restoration of order.

What is the esoteric significance?

The ‘four directions’ suggest totality of the manifested field. The asuric forces encircling the Devi symbolize the ego and passions surrounding consciousness; Devi’s presence indicates the unmoving center that can transmute them.