Shloka 4

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

Sanskrit

कोटिवीर्याणि पञ्चाशदसुराणां कुलानि वै । शतं कुलानि धौम्राणां निर्गच्छन्तु ममाज्ञया ॥

Transliteration

koṭivīryāṇi pañcāśad asurāṇāṃ kulāni vai / śataṃ kulāni dhaumrāṇāṃ nirgacchantu mamājñayā

Translation

奉我之命，令五十支阿修罗族类，具亿万之力；又令一百支“达乌摩罗”族类，齐皆出征前进。

Word by Word

• कोटि-वीर्याणि: having crore-fold strength
• कोटि-वीर्याणि: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कोटि (प्रातिपदिक) + वीर्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (कोटीनां वीर्यं येषाम्)

• पञ्चाशत्: fifty
• पञ्चाशत्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पञ्चाशत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययवत् संख्याशब्दः; यहाँ विशेषणरूपेण (frozen numeral), कुलानि इति विशेष्यस्य संख्या

• असुराणाम्: of the demons
• असुराणाम्: Shashthi-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: असुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन

• कुलानि: clans
• कुलानि: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन

• वै: indeed
• वै: Sambandha-bodhaka (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), अवधान/निश्चयार्थक

• शतम्: a hundred
• शतम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन; संख्याविशेषणम् (कुलानि इति विशेष्यस्य संख्या)

• कुलानि: clans
• कुलानि: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन

• धौम्राणाम्: of the Dhaumras
• धौम्राणाम्: Shashthi-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धौम्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन; (धौम्र-नाम्नां असुराणाम्)

• निर्गच्छन्तु: let (them) go out
• निर्गच्छन्तु: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: निर्गम् (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन; परस्मैपद; उपसर्गः निर्-

• मम: my
• मम: Shashthi-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• आज्ञया: by (my) command
• आज्ञया: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आज्ञा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

Speakers

• Śumbha (order reported by narrator)

Primary Deities

• Śumbha

Shakti Aspects

• Devī (implicit)

Key Themes

• Asura genealogy/clans
• Hyperbolic martial scale
• Command authority vs divine authority

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

Worldly power (koṭivīrya) and lineage pride (kula) are depicted as marshaled against the divine—yet they remain finite and ultimately subordinate to dharma.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana (5 characteristics)?

Anucarita with genealogical flavor (vaṃśa-like listing of kulas), though still within the battle narrative rather than a full dynastic register.

What is the esoteric significance?

‘Clans’ suggest entrenched tendencies inherited through habit; the verse portrays how deeply-rooted patterns rise together when confronted by transformative power.