Markandeya Purana — Adhyaya 91, Shloka 15

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

Sanskrit

शङ्खचक्रगदाशार्ङ्गगृहीतपरमायुधे ।

प्रसीद वैष्णवीरूपे नारायणी नमोऽस्तु ते ॥

Transliteration

śaṅkhacakragadāśārṅgagṛhītaparamāyudhe / prasīda vaiṣṇavīrūpe nārāyaṇi namo 'stu te

Translation

礼敬于汝，哦那罗耶尼——执持至上武器：海螺、神轮、钉锤与沙楞伽弓（Śārṅga）者。愿垂慈悯，哦以毗湿奴妃相（Vaiṣṇavī）示现者。

Word by Word

• शङ्ख-चक्र-गदा-शार्ङ्ग-गृहीत-परम-आयुधे: O (Goddess) whose supreme weapons are the conch, discus, mace, and Śārṅga (bow), held in hand
• शङ्ख-चक्र-गदा-शार्ङ्ग-गृहीत-परम-आयुधे: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शङ्ख (प्रातिपदिक) + चक्र (प्रातिपदिक) + गदा (प्रातिपदिक) + शार्ङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक) + गृहीत (कृदन्त, √ग्रह्) + परम (प्रातिपदिक) + आयुध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/स्त्रीलिङ्ग (स्तुत्यर्थे), सप्तमी, एकवचन; सम्बोधनार्थे विशेषणम्—“परमायुधे” (O supreme-weaponed) with specification ‘having taken conch, discus, mace, Śārṅga (bow)’

• प्रसीद: be gracious
• प्रसीद: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √सद् (धातु) उपसर्गः प्र-; धातुरूपम् प्रसीद (from √सद्/√सीद् ‘to be gracious’)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd), एकवचन; अनुग्रहार्थकः—“be gracious/please”

• वैष्णवी-रूपे: in the Vaiṣṇavī form
• वैष्णवी-रूपे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वैष्णवी (प्रातिपदिक) + रूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; अधिकरण/प्रकारवाचकः—“in the form of Vaiṣṇavī”

• 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": "bhakti", "secondaryRasa": "adbhuta", "rasaIntensity": 0, "emotionalArcPosition": "", "moodDescriptors": [] }

Primary Deities

• Nārāyaṇī (Devī)
• Vaiṣṇavī
• Viṣṇu (implied)

Shakti Aspects

• Vaiṣṇavī

Key Themes

• Shaktism
• Protective grace
• Iconography of Viṣṇu’s weapons
• Devotional supplication

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

Divine protection is invoked not as mere force but as prasāda (grace). The devotee aligns with dharma and requests the Goddess’s favor to sustain it.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana (5 characteristics)?

Carita—liturgical praise embedded in the narrative of Devī’s cosmic intervention.

What is the esoteric significance?

The weapons symbolize inner faculties: conch (awakening), discus (clarity/discrimination), mace (steadfast strength), bow (focused intention). Vaiṣṇavī indicates sustaining power (sthiti) in Devī.