Shloka 15

स्वप्नवर्णनपूर्वकं संक्षेपशिवचरितवर्णनम् / Dream-Portents and a Concise Account of Śiva’s Career

Devanagari script

अथ सा कालिका देवी सर्वज्ञा परमेश्वरी । उवाच जननीं सद्यः समाश्वास्य पुनः पुनः

Transliteration

atha sā kālikā devī sarvajñā parameśvarī | uvāca jananīṃ sadyaḥ samāśvāsya punaḥ punaḥ

Translation

Then the Goddess Kālikā—omniscient, the supreme Sovereign—at once consoled the Mother again and again, and spoke to her.

Word by Word

• अथ: then
• अथ: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, अनुक्रम/आरम्भसूचक (then)

• सा: she
• सा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative, 1st), एकवचन

• कालिका: Kālikā
• कालिका: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कालिका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative, 1st), एकवचन

• देवी: the goddess
• देवी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative, 1st), एकवचन

• सर्वज्ञा: omniscient
• सर्वज्ञा: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्वज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative, 1st), एकवचन; ‘all-knowing’

• परम-ईश्वरी: the Supreme Lady
• परम-ईश्वरी: Apposition (समानााधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: परम (प्रातिपदिक) + ईश्वरी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative, 1st), एकवचन; ‘परमा ईश्वरी’—the supreme goddess

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु) → उवाच (तिङन्त)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद; ‘said’

• जननीम्: to the mother
• जननीम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जननी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative, 2nd), एकवचन

• सद्यः: immediately
• सद्यः: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सद्यः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, कालवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (immediately/at once)

• सम्-आश्वास्य: having consoled
• सम्-आश्वास्य: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सम्-आ-श्वस् (धातु) → आश्वास्य (ल्यप्/क्त्वा-समकक्ष)
• Form: ल्यप्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (absolutive): ‘having consoled/reassured’; उपसर्ग: सम्+आ

• पुनः: again
• पुनः: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, पुनरावृत्तिबोधक (again)

• पुनः: again and again
• पुनः: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, पुनरावृत्तिबोधक (again; repetition for emphasis)

Speaker

Kālikā Devī

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Kālī

Role: liberating

Characters & Entities

• Kālikā
• Devī
• Janani (Mother)

FAQs

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

It highlights the compassionate function of the Divine (Śakti) in the Shaiva path: by repeatedly consoling the grieving mind, the Goddess steadies the devotee so they can return to dharma, devotion, and trust in Śiva’s higher order.

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

Though the verse names Kālikā, it supports Saguna upāsanā in Shaivism: the devotee experiences the Lord and His Śakti as personal, responsive, and consoling—preparing the heart for deeper worship of Śiva, including Liṅga-bhakti grounded in faith and calmness.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is repeated śaraṇāgati (surrender) and japa during distress—especially the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—to regain composure; this can be paired with simple Śiva-smaraṇa and, if one’s tradition permits, vibhūti (tripuṇḍra) as a reminder of impermanence and refuge in Śiva.