Shloka 15

अध्याय ३८ — काली-शंखचूड-युद्धे अस्त्रप्रयोगः

Kālī and Śaṅkhacūḍa: Mantra-Weapons and Surrender in Battle

Devanagari script

एवं चिरतरं युद्धमन्योन्यं संबभूव ह । प्रेक्षका अभवन्सर्वे देवाश्च दानवा अपि

Transliteration

evaṃ cirataraṃ yuddhamanyonyaṃ saṃbabhūva ha | prekṣakā abhavansarve devāśca dānavā api

Translation

Thus for a long time the battle continued between them, each against the other; and all—both the Devas and the Dānavas—became mere spectators.

Word by Word

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of manner)

• चिरतरम्: for a longer time
• चिरतरम्: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चिरतर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन; Accusative singular used adverbially with duration; comparative (-तर)

• युद्धम्: the battle
• युद्धम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (कर्ता), एकवचन; Nominative singular

• अन्योन्यम्: mutually
• अन्योन्यम्: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अन्योन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-प्रयोगवत् परस्परार्थक-अव्यय (reciprocal adverb)

• सम्बभूव: arose/occurred
• सम्बभूव: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (परोक्षभूत/Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद; 3rd person singular perfect; उपसर्गः सम्

• ह: indeed
• ह: Sambandha (निपातार्थ)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ह (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle; emphasis/indeclinable)

• प्रेक्षकाः: spectators
• प्रेक्षकाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रेक्षक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (कर्ता), बहुवचन; Nominative plural

• अभवन्: became/were
• अभवन्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (अनद्यतनभूत/Imperfect), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन, परस्मैपद; 3rd person plural imperfect

• सर्वे: all
• सर्वे: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; Nominative plural qualifying प्रेक्षकाः

• देवाः: gods
• देवाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; Nominative plural

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

• दानवाः: demons (Dānavas)
• दानवाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दानव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; Nominative plural

• अपि: also/even
• अपि: Sambandha (निपातार्थ)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle; inclusion/emphasis)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Characters & Entities

• Devas
• Danavas

FAQs

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

It highlights how prolonged conflict can render even powerful forces mere witnesses, pointing to the Shaiva insight that the highest steadiness is to abide in Shiva-consciousness (Pati) beyond reactive agitation.

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

When the world’s opposites (deva and danava tendencies) clash, Linga-worship trains the mind to rest in Shiva’s stable presence—Saguna devotion leading the devotee toward the unshaken ground of the Absolute.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Adopt a witness-like japa of the Panchakshara (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and steady the mind with Tripuṇḍra-bhasma remembrance, so inner equilibrium remains even amid outer contention.