Shloka 26

देवस्तुतिः (Devastuti) — Hymn/Praise of the Devas

Devanagari script

क्षणादिकालरूपाय स्वभक्तबलदायिने । नानारूपाय रूपाय दैत्यचक्रविमर्दिने

Transliteration

kṣaṇādikālarūpāya svabhaktabaladāyine | nānārūpāya rūpāya daityacakravimardine

Translation

Ehrerbietung Ihm, der die Zeit selbst ist—vom Augenblick an; der Seinen Bhaktas Kraft verleiht; der nach Belieben mannigfache Gestalten annimmt; und der das ganze radgleich geschlossene Heer der Dämonen zermalmt.

Word by Word

• क्षण-आदि-काल-रूपाय: to the one whose form is time (moment etc.)
• क्षण-आदि-काल-रूपाय: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षण (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक) + काल (प्रातिपदिक) + रूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति (सम्प्रदान), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः—क्षणादि-कालस्य रूपः (whose form is time such as moment etc.)

• स्व-भक्त-बल-दायिने: to the giver of strength to his devotees
• स्व-भक्त-बल-दायिने: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्व (प्रातिपदिक) + भक्त (प्रातिपदिक) + बल (प्रातिपदिक) + दायिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति (सम्प्रदान), एकवचन; चतुर्थी-तत्पुरुष/षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषभावः—स्वभक्तेभ्यः बलं ददाति इति

• नाना-रूपाय: to the many-formed one
• नाना-रूपाय: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नाना (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक) + रूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति (सम्प्रदान), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः—नानाविधं रूपं यस्य

• रूपाय: to (the) form/embodiment
• रूपाय: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति (सम्प्रदान), एकवचन

• दैत्य-चक्र-विमर्दिने: to the crusher of the demon-host
• दैत्य-चक्र-विमर्दिने: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दैत्य (प्रातिपदिक) + चक्र (प्रातिपदिक) + विमर्दिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति (सम्प्रदान), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः—दैत्यचक्रस्य विमर्दिन् (crusher of the host/circle of demons)

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating the Śiva Purāṇa account to the sages; the verse functions as a stuti within the Yuddha narrative)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahākāla

Jyotirlinga Context

Jyotirlinga: Mahākāleśvara

Sthala Purana: Mahākāla as Time itself: the stuti’s kāla-rūpa aligns with Ujjayinī’s Mahākāleśvara tradition where Śiva is worshiped as the Lord who transcends and governs Time, protecting devotees and subduing adharma.

Significance: Darśana of Mahākāla is sought for fearlessness before death/time, protection from calamity, and strengthening of bhakti (baladāna) through Śiva’s grace.

Mantra Metadata

Mantra: क्षणादिकालरूपाय स्वभक्तबलदायिने । नानारूपाय रूपाय दैत्यचक्रविमर्दिने

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Kālī

Role: destructive

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: Kāla as a cosmic principle (time-from-the-instant) is foregrounded; implicit link to pralaya-capacity though not explicitly stated.

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

The verse presents Śiva as Kāla (Time) who governs all change, yet as the compassionate Pati who empowers His devotees. In Shaiva Siddhānta terms, surrender (bhakti) to the Lord loosens pāśa (bondage), while the “demons” symbolize forces of ignorance and ego that Śiva subdues.

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

It supports Saguna worship by praising Śiva’s “many forms” and His active grace in protecting devotees. The Liṅga represents the same Lord who is beyond form (nirguṇa) yet mercifully manifests (saguṇa) as Time, protector, and destroyer of adharmic forces.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Use this as a stuti before pañcākṣarī-japa (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), meditating on Śiva as Kāla who dissolves fear and grants inner strength. On Mahāśivarātri, recite with vibhūti (tripuṇḍra) and steady breath, offering the “demonic” impulses into Śiva’s transforming fire of awareness.