Vamana Purana — Slaying of Raktabija, Shloka 2

The Slaying of Raktabīja and Niśumbha–Śumbha; the Manifestation of the Mātṛkās and the Devas’ Hymn

Devanagari script

तमापतन्तं दैत्यानां बलं दृष्ट्वैव चण्डिका मुमोच सिंहनादं वै ताभ्यां सह महेश्वरी

Transliteration

tamāpatantaṃ daityānāṃ balaṃ dṛṣṭvaiva caṇḍikā mumoca siṃhanādaṃ vai tābhyāṃ saha maheśvarī

Translation

见到代提耶（daitya）之军势汹涌扑来，旃提迦（Caṇḍikā）便发出如狮子般的咆哮；大自在母（Maheśvarī）女神亦与那两位随从神力一同，确实如此咆哮。

Speakers

• Pulastya narrating to Nārada

Primary Deities

• Devī (Caṇḍikā/Maheśvarī)

Key Themes

• Divine battle-cry as shakti-manifestation
• Courage and deterrence in Purāṇic warfare
• Devī’s sovereignty over the battlefield

Verse Rasa (Emotional Flavour)

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

FAQs

What does the ‘lion-roar’ (siṃhanāda) signify in Purāṇic battle scenes?

It is a conventional marker of divine presence and invincibility—an aural omen that terrifies hostile forces and rallies divine energies. It also signals the commencement of a decisive phase of combat.

Why is Caṇḍikā also called Maheśvarī here?

Maheśvarī denotes the Goddess as the power (śakti) of Maheśvara (Śiva), emphasizing Śākta theology where Devī embodies and deploys the energies of multiple deities while remaining supreme in action.

Who are ‘those two’ (tābhyām) mentioned as accompanying her?

The phrase is context-dependent: it typically points back to two attendant śaktis or companions referenced immediately before in the running narrative (often paired manifestations or aides). Without additional surrounding verses, the safest reading is an anaphoric reference to two previously introduced associates.