Dharma Katha · Season 2: Navratri · Episode 91

The whole world is full of him. Everywhere the gods look, there is Raktabija. The same face, the same size, the same weapons, a thousand times over, ten thousand times, and every time one of the Mothers strikes, the blood falls, and more of him rise out of the ground. The gods are terrified. The battle that seemed won is being lost, one drop at a time.

Missed the previous story? Listen to Episode 87 first.

Source note. Label: Purana, with quotations. The story is the Devi Mahatmya, chapter eight, verses fifty-two to sixty-three, retold from the text and translation on devimahatmyam.aurobharati.in: the world filled with Raktabija's offspring, the Goddess's laughter, her instruction to Chamunda, the drinking of the blood, Raktabija's mace causing her no pain, his fall, the gods' joy and the Mothers' dance. The instruction quoted is verse fifty-four there; the words before it, Chamunda, open your mouth wide, are verse fifty-three, given in translation. Speeches are shortened and paraphrased. The link between Kali's tongue and this story is a popular explanation, not stated in the text. The inner reading of Raktabija is a common teaching, given with my own reflection. A Sanskrit reader should confirm the verses.

Note: this episode is narrated with an AI voice and the script was written with AI assistance. Sanskrit verses are checked against published editions; corrections are welcome.