Shloka 20

अध्याय ३८ — काली-शंखचूड-युद्धे अस्त्रप्रयोगः

Kālī and Śaṅkhacūḍa: Mantra-Weapons and Surrender in Battle

Devanagari script

अत्तुं जगाम वेगेन शंखचूडं भयंकरी । दिव्यास्त्रेण च रौद्रेण वारयामास दानवः

Transliteration

attuṃ jagāma vegena śaṃkhacūḍaṃ bhayaṃkarī | divyāstreṇa ca raudreṇa vārayāmāsa dānavaḥ

Translation

The fearsome Śakti rushed swiftly to devour Śaṅkhacūḍa, but the Dānava checked her with a divine weapon, fierce like Rudra.

Word by Word

• अत्तुम्: to devour
• अत्तुम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/purpose)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √अद् (धातु)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त (infinitive), उद्देश्य (purpose): ‘to eat/devour’

• जगाम: went
• जगाम: Kriya (क्रिया/predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √गम् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• वेगेन: with speed
• वेगेन: Karana (करण/manner)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वेग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन; करण/रीति (instrumental of manner)

• शंखचूडम्: Śaṅkhacūḍa
• शंखचूडम्: Karma (कर्म/object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शंखचूड (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; समास: शंख + चूड (तत्पुरुष, नाम)

• भयंकरī: terrifying (she)
• भयंकरī: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भयंकरī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषण; समास: भयम् + कर (तत्पुरुष) + ई (स्त्रीप्रत्यय)

• दिव्यास्त्रेण: with a divine weapon
• दिव्यास्त्रेण: Karana (करण/instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दिव्य + अस्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन; समास: दिव्यं अस्त्रम् (कर्मधारय)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय/coordination)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक अव्यय (conjunction)

• रौद्रेण: fierce
• रौद्रेण: Visheshana (विशेषण/modifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रौद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying ‘weapon’)

• वारयामास: checked, restrained
• वारयामास: Kriya (क्रिया/predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √वृ (वारयति) (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect) periphrastic/आम-प्रयोग, परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• दानवः: the demon
• दानवः: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दानव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmi (narrating to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Rudra

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Caṇḍikā

Role: destructive

Characters & Entities

• Śaṅkhacūḍa
• Śakti (Bhayaṃkarī form)
• Rudra (implied by 'raudra')

FAQs

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

It depicts the clash between divine Śakti and demonic resistance, symbolizing the inner struggle where grace moves to dissolve ego, while accumulated karmic force attempts to obstruct—until surrender to Pati (Śiva) prevails.

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

The term 'raudra' points to Rudra’s fierce, protective power—Saguna Śiva’s active aspect. Linga-worship trains the mind to take refuge in that supreme Lord, from whom Śakti and divine weapons (divyāstras) ultimately arise.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Meditate on Rudra’s protective presence with the Pañcākṣarī mantra (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), and if following Purāṇic discipline, apply Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) as a reminder that all hostile forces are reduced to ash by Śiva’s grace.