Shloka 24

कामदाहोत्तरवृत्तान्तः / Aftermath of Kāma’s Burning

Pārvatī’s Fear and Himavān’s Consolation

Devanagari script

आसाद्य कालीं संबोध्य तद्धिते स्थित आदरात् । अवोचस्त्वं वचस्तथ्यं सर्वेषां ज्ञानिनां वरः

Transliteration

āsādya kālīṃ saṃbodhya taddhite sthita ādarāt | avocastvaṃ vacastathyaṃ sarveṣāṃ jñānināṃ varaḥ

Translation

Approaching Kālī and respectfully addressing her, remaining intent on her welfare, you spoke words that were true and beneficial—O best among all the wise.

Word by Word

• āsādya: having approached
• āsādya: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā-sad (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वा/ल्यप्) ‘having approached/reached’

• kālīm: Kālī
• kālīm: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kālī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative (2nd), Singular

• saṃbodhya: having addressed
• saṃbodhya: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: saṃ-budh (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वा/ल्यप्) ‘having addressed/awakened (by calling)’

• tat-hite: for her benefit
• tat-hite: Prayojana/Adhikaraṇa (प्रयोजन/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad + hita (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Locative (7th), Singular; purpose-locative ‘for her/that benefit’

• sthitaḥ: standing
• sthitaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sthita (प्रातिपदिक; √sthā-धातोः क्त)
• Form: Past participle (क्त), Masculine, Nominative (1st), Singular; ‘standing/remaining’

• ādarāt: out of respect
• ādarāt: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ādara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Ablative (5th), Singular; adverbial ablative ‘out of respect’

• avocaḥ: you said
• avocaḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (धातु)
• Form: Luṅ (लुङ्) Aorist, Parasmaipada, 2nd person, Singular

• tvam: you
• tvam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tvad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun, Nominative (1st), Singular

• vacaḥ: speech/words
• vacaḥ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vacana/vacas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd), Singular

• tathyam: true
• tathyam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tathya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd), Singular; adjective qualifying ‘vacaḥ’

• sarveṣām: of all
• sarveṣām: Sambandha/Śeṣa (सम्बन्ध/शेष)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th), Plural; adjective qualifying ‘jñāninām’

• jñāninām: of the wise/knowers
• jñāninām: Sambandha/Śeṣa (सम्बन्ध/शेष)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jñānin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th), Plural

• varaḥ: the best
• varaḥ: Karta/Viśeṣya (कर्ता/विशेष्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st), Singular

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages at Naimisharanya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Kālī

Role: teaching

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Kali

FAQs

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

The verse praises speech that is both truthful (satya) and welfare-oriented (hita). In a Shaiva Siddhanta lens, such disciplined, compassionate speech purifies the pashu (bound soul) and supports devotion and right conduct on the path toward Shiva’s grace (anugraha).

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

Linga/Saguna Shiva worship is not only ritual but also ethical and devotional alignment. Speaking truth with reverence mirrors the inner purity expected in Shiva-puja—where mantra, intention, and conduct are harmonized as an offering to Shiva-Shakti.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is to adopt satya-hita-vākya as a daily vrata: begin Shiva-puja or japa of “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” with a resolve to speak truthfully and kindly, treating speech itself as an offering (vācika-sevā) to Shiva and the Devi.