📖 Markandeya Purana — Durga Saptashati
Verse 1
रक्तबीजो महावीर्यो महासुरवरो बली ।
रक्तबिन्दोः समुत्पन्नः प्रत्येकं रक्तबिन्दुतः ॥
Raktabijo mahaveeryo mahasuravarо bali |
Raktabindoh samutpannah pratyekam raktabindutah ||
रक्तबीजः
Raktabija — the seed of blood
महावीर्यः
of immense might
रक्तबिन्दोः समुत्पन्नः
a new Raktabija arose from each drop of blood
प्रत्येकम्
from every single drop
Raktabija was a demon who had received a terrifying boon: from every drop of his blood that fell to the ground, an identical new Raktabija would arise.
Verse 2
देवाः सर्वे रक्तबीजस्य वध्यन्ते रक्तवृद्धितः ।
तमुवाच तदा देवी चण्डिका कोपसंयुता ॥
Devah sarve raktabijasya vadhyante raktavriddhitah |
Tamuvaca tada devi Chandika kopasanyuta ||
देवाः सर्वे
all the devas
रक्तवृद्धितः
as the blood multiplied
वध्यन्ते
were overwhelmed
कोपसंयुता
with fierce determination
As each wound produced more demons, the devas grew desperate. Devi Chandika saw the situation and understood what had to be done.
Verse 3
चामुण्डे विस्तृतास्यां त्वं पिब रक्तमशेषतः ।
मम वज्रहतस्याशु रक्तबिन्दोः समुद्गताः ॥
Chamunde vistritasyam tvam piba raktamashestatah |
Mama vajrahatashashu raktabindoh samudgatah ||
विस्तृतास्याम्
open your mouth wide
पिब रक्तम् अशेषतः
drink every drop of blood
वज्रहतस्य
as I strike him
रक्तबिन्दोः
the drops of blood
Chandika commanded Chamunda: open your mouth wide — drink every single drop of blood the moment it falls, so that not one new demon can arise.
Verse 4
इत्युक्त्वा सा तदाऽत्यर्थं देवी शुलमुद्यम्य ।
रक्तबीजं हतं तेन वज्रेण समपातयत् ॥
Ityuktva sa tadatyartham devi shulamudyamya |
Raktabijam hatam tena vajena samapayat ||
अत्यर्थम्
with great force
शूलम् उद्यम्य
raising her trident
रक्तबीजं हतम्
struck Raktabija
समपातयत्
brought him down
The Devi raised her trident and struck Raktabija with great force. And Chamunda drank every drop of blood as it fell.
Verse 5
स पपात महीपृष्ठे शस्त्रसंघैर्विदारितः ।
नीरक्तश्च महावीर्यः रक्तबीजो महासुरः ॥
Sa papata mahiprshthe shastrasamghairvidaritah |
Niraktashcha mahaveerya raktabijo mahasura ||
महीपृष्ठे पपात
fell to the earth
शस्त्रसंघैः विदारितः
pierced by many weapons
नीरक्तः
drained of blood — after every drop was consumed
Not a single drop of blood reached the ground. Drained completely, Raktabija fell — and did not rise again.
Verse 6
ततो देवगणाः सर्वे हर्षनिर्भरमानसाः ।
बभूवुस्ते महादेव्याः स्तोत्रं चक्रुः प्रहर्षिताः ॥
Tato devaghanah sarve harshanirbaramanasah |
Babhuvuste mahadevyah stotram chakruh praharshitah ||
देवगणाः सर्वे
all the devas
हर्षनिर्भरमानसाः
hearts overflowing with joy
स्तोत्रं चक्रुः
offered praises
प्रहर्षिताः
deeply joyful
All the devas were overjoyed. They offered their praises to the Mahadevi with hearts full of relief and gratitude.
Verse 7
महादेवी महाभागा देवानां च हितंकरी ।
विजयस्व महादेवी लोकानां हितकारिणि ॥
Mahadevi mahabhaga devanam cha hitamkari |
Vijayasva mahadevi lokanam hitakarini ||
महाभागा
supremely blessed
देवानां हितंकरी
she who protects the devas
विजयस्व
may you be victorious
लोकानां हितकारिणि
the one who works for the good of all worlds
The devas sang: O Mahadevi, you protect the devas. You work for the good of all worlds. May you be ever victorious.
Verse 8
यस्याः प्रभावमतुलं भगवान् वेद नो हरः ।
तथाऽपि स्तूयसे देवि यथाशक्ति मयाऽधुना ॥
Yasyah prabhavamathulam bhagavan veda no Harah |
Tathapi stuyase devi yatashakti mayaadhuna ||
यस्याः प्रभावम् अतुलम्
whose power is beyond measure
भगवान् हरः न वेद
even Bhagavan Shiva does not fully know it
यथाशक्ति
according to our ability
The devas said: O Devi, your power is so vast that even Bhagavan Shiva cannot fully know it. Yet we praise you with all the ability we have.
References
According to the Markandeya Purana, the eighth chapter is the extraordinary story of Raktabija's defeat. Raktabija had a boon: from every drop of his blood, a new Raktabija would rise. The Devi's solution was decisive — she commanded Chamunda to drink every drop before it could touch the ground.
Chamunda drank all the blood. Raktabija fell, drained and unable to multiply. This story speaks of the Devi's strategic brilliance — not just her power, but her wisdom in finding the one way through an impossible situation.
Durga Saptashati · 8 / 13