Shloka 14

अध्याय ३८ — काली-शंखचूड-युद्धे अस्त्रप्रयोगः

Kālī and Śaṅkhacūḍa: Mantra-Weapons and Surrender in Battle

Devanagari script

स च वैष्णवमस्त्रं च चिक्षेप चंडिकोपरि । माहेश्वरेण काली च विनिवारं चकार सा

Transliteration

sa ca vaiṣṇavamastraṃ ca cikṣepa caṃḍikopari | māheśvareṇa kālī ca vinivāraṃ cakāra sā

Translation

He hurled the Vaiṣṇava missile against Caṇḍikā; but Kālī, by the Māheśvara power, restrained it and rendered it powerless.

Word by Word

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

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

• वैष्णवम्: Vaiṣṇava (of Viṣṇu)
• वैष्णवम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वैष्णव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन; Accusative singular agreeing with अस्त्रम्

• अस्त्रम्: missile/weapon
• अस्त्रम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन; Accusative singular

• च: also
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

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

• चण्डिकायाः: of Caṇḍikā
• चण्डिकायाः: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चण्डिका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (सम्बन्ध), एकवचन; Genitive singular (of Caṇḍikā)

• उपरि: upon/against
• उपरि: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: उपरि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उपसर्गार्थक-अव्यय/अधिकरणवाचक (adverb/preposition)

• माहेश्वरेण: with the Māheśvara (Śiva’s) weapon
• माहेश्वरेण: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: माहेश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (अस्त्र-नाम), तृतीया (करण), एकवचन; Instrumental singular (by/with the Māheśvara [weapon])

• काली: Kālī
• काली: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काली (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (कर्ता), एकवचन; Nominative singular

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

• विनिवारम्: warding off/repulse
• विनिवारम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विनिवार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन; Accusative singular (object of cakāra)

• 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 to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Caṇḍikā

Role: protective

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Shiva
• Chandika
• Kali

FAQs

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

It illustrates the Shaiva Siddhānta emphasis that all powers operate under Pati (Śiva): even formidable divine forces are ultimately checked by Māheśvara-śakti, pointing to Śiva’s sovereign governance over cosmic energies.

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

The Māheśvara power that subdues the missile reflects Saguna Śiva’s protective rulership (anugraha and nigraha). In Linga-worship, devotees approach this same Lord as the stable center through which all śaktis are harmonized and brought to auspicious order.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is to seek protection and steadiness through Śiva-upāsanā—japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and Rudrākṣa—cultivating inner restraint (vinivāra) against disruptive forces.