Shloka 19

अध्याय ३८ — काली-शंखचूड-युद्धे अस्त्रप्रयोगः

Kālī and Śaṅkhacūḍa: Mantra-Weapons and Surrender in Battle

Devanagari script

इत्याकर्ण्य भद्रकाली न चिक्षेप तदस्त्रकम् । शतलक्षं दानवानां जघास लीलया क्षुधा

Transliteration

ityākarṇya bhadrakālī na cikṣepa tadastrakam | śatalakṣaṃ dānavānāṃ jaghāsa līlayā kṣudhā

Translation

Hearing this, Bhadrakālī did not even cast that weapon; instead, stirred by hunger, she playfully devoured a hundred thousand Dānavas.

Word by Word

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/quotative marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात/उद्धरणसूचक अव्यय (particle/quotative)

• आकर्ण्य: having heard
• आकर्ण्य: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण/absolutive)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ√कर्ण् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (gerund/absolutive), पूर्वकालिक क्रिया (prior action): ‘having heard’

• भद्रकाली: Bhadrakālī
• भद्रकाली: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भद्रकाली (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; समास: भद्रा + काली (कर्मधारय)

• न: not
• न: Pratishedha (प्रतिषेध/negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक अव्यय (negation particle)

• चिक्षेप: threw
• चिक्षेप: Kriya (क्रिया/predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √क्षिप् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• तत्: that
• तत्: Visheshana (विशेषण/modifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; विशेषण (demonstrative)

• अस्त्रकम्: weapon
• अस्त्रकम्: Karma (कर्म/object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्त्रक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• शतलक्षम्: a hundred lakhs (ten million)
• शतलक्षम्: Karma (कर्म/object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शतलक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; द्विगु-समास: शत + लक्ष (a hundred lakhs)

• दानवानाम्: of the demons
• दानवानाम्: Shashthi-sambandha (षष्ठीसम्बन्ध/‘of’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दानव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), बहुवचन

• जघास: devoured
• जघास: Kriya (क्रिया/predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √घस् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• लीलया: playfully, as a sport
• लीलया: Karana (करण/instrument; manner)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लीला (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन; करण/रीति (instrumental of manner)

• क्षुधा: from hunger
• क्षुधा: Hetu (हेतु/cause)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षुध् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन; हेतौ/निमित्ते (instrumental of cause)

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Bhairava

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Kālī

Role: destructive

Characters & Entities

• Bhadrakali
• Danavas

FAQs

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

The verse highlights the effortless supremacy of the Divine Power (Śakti) aligned with Śiva: when adharma becomes rampant (symbolized by the Dānavas), the Mother’s protective energy removes it spontaneously—teaching that grace can dissolve inner negativity without prolonged struggle when one takes refuge in the Lord and His Śakti.

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

Bhadrakālī represents the Saguna, active aspect of the Supreme—Śiva’s inseparable power—through which protection and cosmic order are restored. Linga-worship in the Shiva Purana is devotion to the same Supreme Reality (Pati) whose dynamic efficacy is seen here as Śakti acting in the world.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is śaraṇāgati (taking refuge) supported by japa of the Pañcākṣarī—“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—and worship of Śiva with bhasma (Tripuṇḍra) and rudrākṣa, cultivating inner fearlessness and protection from tamasic impulses symbolized by the Dānavas.