Shloka 13

अध्याय ३८ — काली-शंखचूड-युद्धे अस्त्रप्रयोगः

Kālī and Śaṅkhacūḍa: Mantra-Weapons and Surrender in Battle

Devanagari script

काल्यै चिक्षेप शक्तिं स शतयोजनमायताम् । देवी दिव्यास्त्रजालेन शतखंडं चकार सा

Transliteration

kālyai cikṣepa śaktiṃ sa śatayojanamāyatām | devī divyāstrajālena śatakhaṃḍaṃ cakāra sā

Translation

He hurled at Kālī a spear-weapon stretching a hundred yojanas; but the Goddess, with a net of divine missiles, shattered it into a hundred fragments.

Word by Word

• काल्यै: to Kāli
• काल्यै: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काली (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (सम्प्रदान/दत्त), एकवचन; Dative singular (to Kāli)

• चिक्षेप: threw
• चिक्षेप: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: क्षिप् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (परोक्षभूत/Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद; 3rd person singular perfect

• शक्तिम्: a spear/weapon (śakti)
• शक्तिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन; Accusative singular

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (कर्ता), एकवचन; Pronoun nominative singular

• शतयोजनमायताम्: measuring a hundred yojanas in length
• शतयोजनमायताम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शत-योजन-आयत (प्रातिपदिक); शत + योजन (प्रातिपदिक) + आयत (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन; Accusative singular agreeing with शक्तिम्; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष/मात्रा-निर्देशः (measure-determinative)

• देवी: the Goddess
• देवी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (कर्ता), एकवचन; Nominative singular

• दिव्यास्त्रजालेन: with a net/array of divine missiles
• दिव्यास्त्रजालेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दिव्य-अस्त्र-जाल (प्रातिपदिक); दिव्य (प्रातिपदिक) + अस्त्र (प्रातिपदिक) + जाल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण), एकवचन; Instrumental singular; समासः कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुष (दिव्यानि अस्त्राणि = दिव्यास्त्राणि; तेषां जालम्)

• शतखण्डम्: into a hundred pieces
• शतखण्डम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शत-खण्ड (प्रातिपदिक); शत (प्रातिपदिक) + खण्ड (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन; Accusative singular; द्विगु-समास (numeral compound)

• चकार: made/did
• चकार: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (परोक्षभूत/Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद; 3rd person singular perfect

• सा: she
• सा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (कर्ता), एकवचन; Pronoun nominative singular

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating the battle account to the sages of Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Kālīntaka

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Kālī

Role: destructive

Characters & Entities

• Kali
• Devi

FAQs

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

It highlights that hostile power (even vast and terrifying) is ultimately limited, while Devī—Śiva’s own śakti—protects dharma by dissolving aggression through superior divine force and inner sovereignty.

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

In Shaiva understanding, Saguna Shiva acts in the world through Śakti; this verse reflects that the Lord’s manifest power protects devotees and upholds cosmic order—an aspect remembered in Linga worship as the union of Śiva (Pati) and Śakti.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is protective japa of the Panchākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) with devotion to Devī-Śakti, coupled with steady dhyāna on fearlessness—seeing destructive impulses ‘shattered’ by disciplined mantra and divine refuge.