Shloka 10

अध्याय ३८ — काली-शंखचूड-युद्धे अस्त्रप्रयोगः

Kālī and Śaṅkhacūḍa: Mantra-Weapons and Surrender in Battle

Devanagari script

तं दृष्ट्वा प्रज्ज्वलंतं च प्रणम्य भुवि संस्थितः । ब्रह्मास्त्रेण दानवेन्द्रो विनिवारं चकार ह

Transliteration

taṃ dṛṣṭvā prajjvalaṃtaṃ ca praṇamya bhuvi saṃsthitaḥ | brahmāstreṇa dānavendro vinivāraṃ cakāra ha

Translation

Seeing him blazing with radiance, the lord of the Dānavas stood upon the earth and bowed down; then, employing the Brahmāstra, he sought to check and ward him off.

Word by Word

• तम्: it/him (that weapon)
• तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• दृष्ट्वा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (Gerund)

• प्रज्ज्वलन्तम्: blazing
• प्रज्ज्वलन्तम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्र + ज्वल् (धातु)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्यय (Present active participle), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-बोधक अव्यय

• प्रणम्य: having bowed
• प्रणम्य: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + नम् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (Gerund), ‘having bowed’

• भुवि: on the earth/ground
• भुवि: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भू (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative), एकवचन

• संस्थितः: standing
• संस्थितः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम् + स्था (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्यय (Past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्तरि-प्रयोगे विशेषण: ‘standing/placed’

• ब्रह्मास्त्रेण: with the Brahmā-weapon
• ब्रह्मास्त्रेण: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक) + अस्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (ब्रह्मणः अस्त्र)

• दानवेन्द्रः: lord of the demons
• दानवेन्द्रः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दानव (प्रातिपदिक) + इन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘दानवानाम् इन्द्रः’

• विनिवारम्: warding off; prevention
• विनिवारम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वि + नि + वृ (धातु) → विनिवार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; भाववाचक (act of warding off)

• चकार: did; performed
• चकार: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• ह: indeed
• ह: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ह (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (particle), स्मरण/निश्चयार्थक (emphatic/expletive)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: No direct Jyotirliṅga mapping; the verse illustrates the paśu’s oscillation between submission and resistance—central to Siddhānta’s account of mala and māyā.

Characters & Entities

• Brahmāstra
• Dānavas

FAQs

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

The verse highlights that overwhelming divine tejas compels even hostile powers to bow; in Shaiva understanding, reverence (praṇāma) before higher reality is the first softening of ego, even amid conflict.

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

The “blazing” presence reflects Saguna Shiva’s manifest power (śakti/tejas) that can be perceived and responded to; Linga-worship similarly trains the devotee to recognize the Lord’s palpable presence and approach with humility rather than mere force.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The practical takeaway is praṇāma and inner surrender before invoking power—paired with japa of the Panchākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) to steady the mind so actions arise from devotion and discipline rather than fear or pride.