Shloka 16

अध्याय ३८ — काली-शंखचूड-युद्धे अस्त्रप्रयोगः

Kālī and Śaṅkhacūḍa: Mantra-Weapons and Surrender in Battle

Devanagari script

अथ कुद्धा महादेवी काली कालसमा रणे । जग्राह मन्त्रपूतं च शरं पाशुपतं रुषा

Transliteration

atha kuddhā mahādevī kālī kālasamā raṇe | jagrāha mantrapūtaṃ ca śaraṃ pāśupataṃ ruṣā

Translation

Then the Great Goddess Kālī—wrathful, and in that battle like Time itself—took up in anger the Pāśupata arrow, purified and empowered by mantra.

Word by Word

• अथ: then
• अथ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अनुक्रम/आरम्भसूचक (then/now)

• कुद्धा: angered
• कुद्धा: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कुध्/क्रुध् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृत् (क्त-प्रत्यय), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; Past passive participle used adjectivally (angered)

• महादेवी: the great Goddess
• महादेवी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा-देवी (प्रातिपदिक); महा (प्रातिपदिक) + देवी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (कर्ता), एकवचन; Nominative singular; कर्मधारय (महती देवी)

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

• कालसमा: equal to Time (Death)
• कालसमा: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: काल-सम (प्रातिपदिक); काल (प्रातिपदिक) + सम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; Nominative singular qualifying काली; उपमान-तत्पुरुष (काल इव समा)

• रणे: in battle
• रणे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (अधिकरण), एकवचन; Locative singular

• जग्राह: seized/took
• जग्राह: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ग्रह् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (परोक्षभूत/Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद; 3rd person singular perfect

• मन्त्रपूतम्: purified/empowered by mantra
• मन्त्रपूतम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मन्त्र-पूत (प्रातिपदिक); मन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक) + पूत (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन; Accusative singular qualifying शरम्; तत्पुरुष (मन्त्रेण पूतः)

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

• शरम्: arrow
• शरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन; Accusative singular

• पाशुपतम्: Pāśupata (of Paśupati/Śiva)
• पाशुपतम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पाशुपत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन; Accusative singular qualifying शरम्

• रुषा: with anger
• रुषा: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रुष्/रुषा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण), एकवचन; Instrumental singular (by/with anger)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Rudrasaṃhitā’s Yuddhakhaṇḍa account to the sages of Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Kālī

Role: destructive

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: pralaya-imagery (kāla-samā)

Characters & Entities

• Kali
• Mahadevi
• Shiva (Pashupati)
• Pashupata Astra

FAQs

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

Kālī appearing “like Time” signifies the divine power that dissolves impurities and egoic forces; the mantra-purified Pāśupata arrow indicates that true spiritual power is not mere force, but Śiva’s sanctioned śakti aligned with dharma.

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

The Pāśupata weapon belongs to Pāśupati (Śiva), a Saguna expression of the Supreme who governs and liberates bound beings (paśu). The narrative reinforces that all effective śakti and protection ultimately proceed from Śiva’s lordship, as honored in Linga worship.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The verse highlights mantra-śuddhi (purification/empowerment through mantra): a practical takeaway is steady japa of the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” with disciplined intention, seeking inner purification before undertaking any intense sādhana.