Shloka 12

अध्याय ३८ — काली-शंखचूड-युद्धे अस्त्रप्रयोगः

Kālī and Śaṅkhacūḍa: Mantra-Weapons and Surrender in Battle

Devanagari script

आहारं समरे चक्रे प्रसार्य मुखमायतम् । जगर्ज साट्टहासं च दानवा भयमाययुः

Transliteration

āhāraṃ samare cakre prasārya mukhamāyatam | jagarja sāṭṭahāsaṃ ca dānavā bhayamāyayuḥ

Translation

In the midst of battle, he prepared to devour them, stretching wide his elongated mouth. Then he roared with a loud, terrifying laugh, and the Dānavas were seized by fear.

Word by Word

• आहारम्: food; prey
• आहारम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आहार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• समरे: in battle
• समरे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: समर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative), एकवचन

• चक्रे: made; prepared
• चक्रे: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• प्रसार्य: having extended
• प्रसार्य: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + सृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (Gerund), ‘having spread/extended’

• मुखम्: mouth
• मुखम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• आयतम्: wide; extended
• आयतम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आयत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण

• जगर्ज: roared
• जगर्ज: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गर्ज् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• साट्टहासम्: with loud laughter
• साट्टहासम्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स (उपसर्ग/सह) + अट्टहास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; अव्ययीभाव-समास: ‘सह अट्टहासेन’ (with loud laughter)

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

• दानवाः: the demons
• दानवाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दानव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• भयम्: fear
• भयम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• आययुः: came; were seized (by)
• आययुः: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ + या (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating to the sages of Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Bhairava

Characters & Entities

• Dānavas

FAQs

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

The verse portrays the collapse of demonic arrogance when confronted by overwhelming divine power—symbolically, when Pati (Shiva) manifests as the force that subdues inner pāśas (bondages) like pride, violence, and delusion, fear arises in those tendencies and they lose dominion.

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

This is a Saguna depiction—Shiva (or Shiva’s empowered agency) as the fierce protector of dharma. Linga-worship trains the mind to take refuge in the same Lord beyond fear; the outward ‘roar’ mirrors the inward awakening that silences demonic impulses.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

In moments of inner conflict, perform Panchākṣarī japa (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) with steady breath, apply Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) as a reminder of impermanence, and cultivate śaraṇāgati (refuge) in Shiva so fear shifts from the devotee to the forces of adharma.