Markandeya Purana — Adhyaya 88, Shloka 32

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

Sanskrit

कमण्डलुजलाक्षेपहतवीर्यान् हतौजसः ।

ब्रह्माणी चाकरॊच्छत्रून् येन येन स्म धावति ॥

Transliteration

kamaṇḍalu-jalākṣepa-hata-vīryān hata-ojasaḥ /

brahmāṇī cākaroc chatrūn yena yena sma dhāvati //

Translation

婆罗摩尼（Brahmāṇī）从她的净水瓶（kamaṇḍalu）中洒出清水，使敌众丧失精力与威力——无论他们奔逃到何处，她都在彼处令其如此。

Word by Word

• कमण्डलु-जल-आक्षेप-हत-वीर्यान्: (enemies) whose strength was destroyed by splashed kamaṇḍalu-water
• कमण्डलु-जल-आक्षेप-हत-वीर्यान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kamaṇḍalu + jala + ākṣepa + hata + vīrya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), बहुवचन (Plural); ‘हत’ (√han + kta) PPP; तत्पुरुष-श्रृङ्खला: ‘whose prowess was destroyed by the throwing/sprinkling of water from a kamaṇḍalu’ qualifying ‘शत्रून्’

• हत-ओजसः: with their vigor broken
• हत-ओजसः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: hata + ojas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), बहुवचन (Plural); ‘hata’ PPP; तत्पुरुषः ‘with vigor destroyed’ qualifying ‘शत्रून्’

• ब्रह्माणी: Brahmāṇī
• ब्रह्माणी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahmāṇī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन (Singular)

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

• अकरोत्: she made/did
• अकरोत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √kṛ (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect/लङ्), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular); परस्मैपदम्

• शत्रून्: enemies
• शत्रून्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śatru (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), बहुवचन (Plural)

• येन: by which
• येन: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन (Singular); instrumental relative ‘by which/whereby’

• येन: by whichever
• येन: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; repetition for distributive sense

• स्म: indeed/then (narrative particle)
• स्म: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sma (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (particle) marking past narration/emphasis

• धावति: (he) runs
• धावति: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √dhāv (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present/लट्), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular); परस्मैपदम्

Speakers

• Narrative voice within the Devi Mahatmyam

Verse Rasa

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

Primary Deities

• Brahmāṇī

Shakti Aspects

• Brahmāṇī (Mātṛkā)

Key Themes

• Shaktism
• Mātṛkā theology
• Ritual power
• Subduing adharma

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

Not all victory is by brute force; purity, mantra-informed ritual potency, and disciplined spiritual authority can neutralize aggression.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana (5 characteristics)?

Episodic narrative; functions as theological exposition of śakti-emanations rather than cosmological accounting.

What is the esoteric significance?

Kamaṇḍalu-water signifies sanctified consciousness; ‘sprinkling’ is the subtle act of cleansing tamas/rajas, draining the adversary’s momentum (ojas).