Markandeya Purana — Adhyaya 88, Shloka 28

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

Sanskrit

ते 'पि श्रुत्वा वचो देव्याः शर्वाख्यातं महासुराः ।

अमर्षापूरिता जग्मुर्यत्र कात्यायनी स्थिता ॥

Transliteration

te 'pi śrutvā vaco devyāḥ śarvākhyātaṃ mahāsurāḥ /

amarṣāpūritā jagmuryatra kātyāyanī sthitā

Translation

听闻由舍婆（Śarva，即湿婆）宣告的女神之言，那些伟大的阿修罗——怒火充盈——便前往迦底耶耶尼（Kātyāyanī）驻立之处。

Word by Word

• ते: they
• ते: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा विभक्ति (nominative), बहुवचन (plural)

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/अप्यर्थक अव्यय (also/even)

• श्रुत्वा: having heard
• श्रुत्वा: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु) + त्वा (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्यय; पूर्वकालिक क्रिया (having heard)

• वचः: speech; words
• वचः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वचस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), द्वितीया विभक्ति (accusative), एकवचन (singular)

• देव्याः: of the Goddess
• देव्याः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (feminine), षष्ठी विभक्ति (genitive), एकवचन (singular)

• शर्वाख्यातम्: declared/announced by Śarva (Śiva)
• शर्वाख्यातम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शर्व + आख्यात (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), द्वितीया विभक्ति (accusative), एकवचन (singular); समासः तत्पुरुष: शर्वेण आख्यातम्/शर्वाख्यातम्; विशेषण of वचः

• महासुराः: great demons
• महासुराः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा + असुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा विभक्ति (nominative), बहुवचन (plural); कर्मधारय: महान्तः असुराः

• अमर्षापूरिताः: filled with rage
• अमर्षापूरिताः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अमर्ष + आपूरित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा विभक्ति (nominative), बहुवचन (plural); समासः तृतीया-तत्पुरुष: अमर्षेण आपूरिताः (filled with anger); विशेषण of महासुराः

• जग्मुः: went
• जग्मुः: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन (plural), परस्मैपद

• यत्र: where
• यत्र: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक सम्बन्धबोधक अव्यय (relative locative adverb: where)

• कात्यायनी: Kātyāyanī (the Goddess)
• कात्यायनी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कात्यायनी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (feminine), प्रथमा विभक्ति (nominative), एकवचन (singular)

• स्थिता: was standing; remained
• स्थिता: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्था (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (past participle, क्त), स्त्रीलिङ्ग (feminine), प्रथमा विभक्ति (nominative), एकवचन (singular)

Speakers

• Narrative voice within Devi Mahatmyam

Verse Rasa

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

Primary Deities

• Kātyāyanī
• Śiva (Śarva)
• Śumbha
• Niśumbha

Shakti Aspects

• Kātyāyanī; (contextually also Śivadūtī/Caṇḍikā as the commanding Goddess)

Key Themes

• Shaktism
• Asuric wrath and pride
• Inevitability of conflict after refusal of counsel
• Approach to the climactic battle

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

When pride is confronted with truth, it often hardens into anger. The verse depicts the psychological progression of adharma: counsel is heard, rejected, then converted into aggression.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana (5 characteristics)?

Carita: transition from proclamation to direct engagement; it advances the central salvific narrative of the Devi Mahatmyam.

What is the esoteric significance?

Kātyāyanī as the locus of confrontation represents the stabilizing center of awakened power. The asuras ‘moving toward her’ symbolizes vices surfacing to be met and transformed at the seat of inner strength.