Markandeya Purana — Adhyaya 88, Shloka 5

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

Sanskrit

कालका दौर्‍हृदा मौर्याः कालकेयास्तथासुराः । युद्धाय सज्जा निर्यन्तु आज्ञया त्वरिता मम ॥

Transliteration

kālakā daurhṛdā mauryāḥ kālakeyās tathāsurāḥ / yuddhāya sajjā niryāntu ājñayā tvaritā mama

Translation

奉我之命，迦罗迦、道尔赫利陀、摩乌利耶，以及迦罗迦耶等诸阿修罗——皆已备战——速速出阵。

Word by Word

• कालकाः: the Kālakas
• कालकाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कालक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; जातिनाम

• दौर्‍हृदाः: the Daurhṛdas
• दौर्‍हृदाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दौर्‍हृद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; जातिनाम

• मौर्याः: the Mauryas
• मौर्याः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मौर्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; जातिनाम

• कालकेयाः: the Kālakeyas
• कालकेयाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कालकेय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; जातिनाम

• तथा: also
• तथा: Sambandha-bodhaka (सम्बन्ध/अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, अवधान/समुच्चयार्थे (also/likewise)

• असुराः: demons
• असुराः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: असुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• युद्धाय: for battle
• युद्धाय: Sampradana/Prayojana (सम्प्रदान/प्रयोजन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/Dative), एकवचन; प्रयोजनार्थे

• सज्जाः: ready
• सज्जाः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सज्ज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (असुराः)

• निर्यान्तु: let (them) march out
• निर्यान्तु: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: निर्या (धातु: या + निर्)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद; उपसर्गः निर्-

• आज्ञया: by command
• आज्ञया: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आज्ञा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

• त्वरिताः: swift, hurried
• त्वरिताः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्वरित (प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्त-भाव)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (असुराः)

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

Speakers

• Śumbha (order reported by narrator)

Primary Deities

• Śumbha

Shakti Aspects

• Devī (implicit)

Key Themes

• Confederation of hostile forces
• War preparation
• Cataloging of adversaries

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

The text depicts adharma as coalition-building among many factions; dharma, by contrast, is unified by principle rather than by convenience.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana (5 characteristics)?

Anucarita: an epic-style roll call that serves the didactic arc leading to Devī’s victory.

What is the esoteric significance?

Multiple named groups can symbolize the many ‘sub-personalities’ of the unpurified mind—each rushing to defend the central ego-king (Śumbha).