Markandeya Purana — Adhyaya 88, Shloka 47

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

Sanskrit

वैष्णवीचक्रभिन्नस्य रुधिरस्रावसम्भवैः ।

सहस्रशो जगद्व्याप्तं तत्प्रमाणैर्महासुरैः ॥

Transliteration

vaiṣṇavī-cakra-bhinnasya rudhirasrāva-sambhavaiḥ / sahasraśo jagad vyāptaṃ tatpramāṇair mahāsuraiḥ

Translation

从他被毗湿奴女神之神轮所斩而流出的血中，成千上万与他同等身量的大阿修罗四散蔓延，充满了世界。

Word by Word

• वैष्णवी-चक्र-भिन्नस्य: of (him) split by Vaiṣṇavī’s discus
• वैष्णवी-चक्र-भिन्नस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/qualifier of following)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वैष्णवी (प्रातिपदिक) + चक्र (प्रातिपदिक) + भिन्न (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √भिद्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन; तृतीया-तत्पुरुष/करण-सम्बन्ध: वैष्णव्याः चक्रेण भिन्नः = split by Vaiṣṇavī’s discus

• रुधिर-स्राव-सम्भवैः: by those born from the blood-flow
• रुधिर-स्राव-सम्भवैः: Karana (करण; means/agency in passive sense)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रुधिर (प्रातिपदिक) + स्राव (प्रातिपदिक) + सम्भव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: रुधिरस्य स्रावः; तस्मात् सम्भवाः = born from the flow of blood

• सहस्रशः: in thousands
• सहस्रशः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सहस्रशः (अव्यय)
• Form: परिमाणवाचक-अव्यय (in thousands)

• जगत्: the world
• जगत्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जगत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd; Nom/Acc), एकवचन

• व्याप्तम्: was filled/pervaded
• व्याप्तम्: Kriya (क्रिया; participial predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: व्याप् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘pervaded/filled’

• तत्-प्रमाणैः: of that size
• तत्-प्रमाणैः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + प्रमाण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष: तस्य प्रमाणम् = of that measure/size (i.e., of his size)

• महा-असुरैः: by great demons
• महा-असुरैः: Karana (करण; agent/means in passive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक) + असुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन; कर्मधारय: महान्तः असुराः = great demons

Speakers

• Narrative voice within Devi Mahatmyam

Verse Rasa

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

Primary Deities

• Vaiṣṇavī
• Raktabīja
• Blood-born asuras

Shakti Aspects

• Vaiṣṇavī (Mātṛkā)

Key Themes

• Shaktism
• Pervasive adharma
• Mythic hyperbole for moral truth

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

A small unsealed source can overwhelm an entire system; the verse warns that problems that replicate must be contained at the point of emergence.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana (5 characteristics)?

Not a pañcalakṣaṇa segment; it is part of the Devī narrative illustrating the nature of a specific asura’s boon.

What is the esoteric significance?

‘World-pervasion’ indicates how a single dominant vāsanā can colonize the whole psyche; liberation requires preventing further ‘births’ of that vāsanā.