Markandeya Purana — Adhyaya 91, Shloka 14

Adhyaya 91 — The Gods’ Hymn to Kātyāyanī and the Goddess’ Prophecy of Future Manifestations

Sanskrit

मयूरकुक्कुटवृते महाशक्तिधरेऽमघे ।

कौमारीरूपसंस्थाने नारायणी नमोऽस्तु ते ॥

Transliteration

mayūrakukkuṭavṛte mahāśaktidhare 'maghe / kaumārīrūpasaṁsthāne nārāyaṇi namo 'stu te

Translation

礼敬于汝，哦那罗耶尼——孔雀与雄鸡随侍者，执大枪（śakti，神力之矛）者；无垢者；安住于鸠摩梨（Kaumārī）之相者。

Word by Word

• मयूर-कुक्कुट-वृते: O (Goddess) attended by peacock and cock
• मयूर-कुक्कुट-वृते: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मयूर (प्रातिपदिक) + कुक्कुट (प्रातिपदिक) + वृत (कृदन्त, √वृ/√वृत् ‘to surround/cover’)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; सम्बोधनार्थे विशेषणम्; द्वन्द्वसमासः (मयूर+कुक्कुट) + वृत (surrounded/attended by)

• महा-शक्ति-धरे: O bearer of great power/spear (śakti)
• महा-शक्ति-धरे: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक) + शक्ति (प्रातिपदिक) + धर (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक, √धृ)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; सम्बोधनार्थे विशेषणम्

• अमघे: O Amaghā (sinless/epithet)
• अमघे: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अमघ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; सम्बोधनार्थे विशेषणम् (epithet)

• कौमारी-रूप-संस्थाने: O (she) abiding in the form of Kaumārī
• कौमारी-रूप-संस्थाने: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कौमारी (प्रातिपदिक) + रूप (प्रातिपदिक) + संस्थान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; सम्बोधनार्थे विशेषणम्—“कौमारीरूपे संस्थाने” (in the state/form of Kaumārī)

• नारायणी: O Nārāyaṇī
• नारायणी: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नारायणी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन

• नमः: salutation
• नमः: Bhava (भाव)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नमस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• अस्तु: may it be
• अस्तु: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √अस् (धातु)
• Form: लोट्, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• ते: to you
• ते: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: चतुर्थी, एकवचन

Speakers

• Devī-stuti within Devi Mahatmyam

Verse Rasa

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

Primary Deities

• Nārāyaṇī (Devī)
• Kaumārī
• Skanda/Kumāra (implied)

Shakti Aspects

• Kaumārī (Skanda/Kumāra-śakti)

Key Themes

• Shaktism
• Mātr̥kā forms
• Martial protection
• Purity and power

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

Pure intent (amagha) and disciplined power (śakti) are praised together: spiritual purity is not weakness but the ground from which righteous protection arises.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana (5 characteristics)?

Carita—devotional enumeration of Devī’s manifestations; it functions as a mnemonic theology within the Purāṇic narrative.

What is the esoteric significance?

Kaumārī suggests youthful, focused force—one-pointed energy that defeats inner ‘daityas’ (vices). The spear symbolizes piercing ignorance with direct insight.