Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 46

शब्दब्रह्मतनुवर्णनम् — Description of the Form of Śabda-Brahman

Devanagari script

कलाष्टकसमा युक्तं सुश्वेतं शांतिकं तथा । त्रयोदशकलायुक्तं बालाद्यैस्सह लोहितम्

Transliteration

kalāṣṭakasamā yuktaṃ suśvetaṃ śāṃtikaṃ tathā | trayodaśakalāyuktaṃ bālādyaissaha lohitam

Translation

إذا اقترن بثماني كالاهات كان شديد البياض، شانتِكًا مانحًا للسِّلم. وإذا اقترن بثلاث عشرة كالاهة كان أحمرَ—مع الآلهة المرافقة ابتداءً من بالا (Bāla) ومن بعده.

Word by Word

• kalā-aṣṭaka-samā: equal to/with eight kalās
• kalā-aṣṭaka-samā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kalā (प्रातिपदिक) + aṣṭaka (प्रातिपदिक) + samā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), Dvitīyā (Accusative, 2nd), Ekavacana (Singular) used as adjective to 'mantra' (implied); Tatpuruṣa: kalānām aṣṭakena samā (equal to/with eight kalās)

• yuktam: joined/endowed
• yuktam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: yukta (कृदन्त; √yuj धातु)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), Dvitīyā (Accusative, 2nd), Ekavacana (Singular); Kta-participle

• su-śvetam: very white
• su-śvetam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: su (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + śveta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), Dvitīyā (Accusative, 2nd), Ekavacana (Singular); Karmadhāraya: very white

• śāṃtikam: pacificatory (for peace)
• śāṃtikam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śāṃtika (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), Dvitīyā (Accusative, 2nd), Ekavacana (Singular)

• tathā: and also
• tathā: Sambandha-nipāta (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (adverb/conjunction), sense: 'and/also/likewise'

• trayodaśa-kalā-yuktam: endowed with thirteen kalās
• trayodaśa-kalā-yuktam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: trayodaśa (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + kalā (प्रातिपदिक) + yukta (कृदन्त; √yuj धातु)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), Dvitīyā (Accusative, 2nd), Ekavacana (Singular); Tatpuruṣa: trayodaśabhiḥ kalābhiḥ yuktam (endowed with 13 kalās)

• bāla-ādyaiḥ: with (those) beginning with Bāla
• bāla-ādyaiḥ: Sahakāraka (सहकारक/Association)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bāla (प्रातिपदिक) + ādi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (Masculine), Tṛtīyā (Instrumental, 3rd), Bahuvacana (Plural); Tatpuruṣa: bālaḥ ādiḥ yeṣām (beginning with Bāla—i.e., Bāla etc.)

• saha: with
• saha: Sahakāraka (सहकारक/Association)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: saha (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (preposition-like), governs instrumental: 'with'

• lohitam: red
• lohitam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: lohita (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), Dvitīyā (Accusative, 2nd), Ekavacana (Singular)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating Shiva Purana tradition to the sages at Naimisharanya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Kālī

Role: destructive

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Bāla (attendant deity)

FAQs

What is the spiritual significance of this verse in the Shiva Purana?

It distinguishes Shiva’s manifest (saguṇa) radiance through kalās—measured ‘parts’ of divine power—showing that different hues and kalā-counts correspond to distinct functions, such as śānti (pacification and inner stillness).

How does this verse relate to the worship of the Linga or Saguna Shiva?

The verse supports saguṇa-upāsanā: devotees contemplate Shiva’s visible attributes (white for śānti, red for energized manifestation with attendants) as valid gateways to the same Supreme Pati, often approached through Linga-worship and mantra.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is dhyāna on Shiva’s peaceful white form for śānti and on the red, power-filled form for dynamic protection/energy—paired with japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and calm breath-focused meditation.