Shloka 21

अध्याय ३८ — काली-शंखचूड-युद्धे अस्त्रप्रयोगः

Kālī and Śaṅkhacūḍa: Mantra-Weapons and Surrender in Battle

Devanagari script

अथ क्रुद्धो दानवेन्द्रः खड्गं चिक्षेप सत्वरम् । ग्रीष्मसूर्योपमं तीक्ष्णधारमत्यंतभीकरम्

Transliteration

atha kruddho dānavendraḥ khaḍgaṃ cikṣepa satvaram | grīṣmasūryopamaṃ tīkṣṇadhāramatyaṃtabhīkaram

Translation

Then the enraged lord of the Dānavas swiftly hurled his sword—blazing like the summer sun, its edge exceedingly sharp, and its appearance utterly terrifying.

Word by Word

• अथ: then
• अथ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अनन्तरार्थक-अव्यय (sequence particle: 'then')

• क्रुद्धः: angered
• क्रुद्धः: Karta-samānādhikaraṇa (कर्तृ-समानााधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: क्रुध् (धातु) → क्रुद्ध (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्त (past participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन

• दानव-इन्द्रः: king of the demons
• दानव-इन्द्रः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दानव (प्रातिपदिक) + इन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (lord of the Dānavas)

• खड्गम्: sword
• खड्गम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: खड्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन

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

• सत्वरम्: quickly
• सत्वरम्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सत्वरम् (अव्यय)
• Form: रीत्यर्थक-अव्यय (adverb: quickly/hastily)

• ग्रीष्म-सूर्य-उपमम्: like the summer sun
• ग्रीष्म-सूर्य-उपमम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ग्रीष्म (प्रातिपदिक) + सूर्य (प्रातिपदिक) + उपम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन; उपमान-तत्पुरुष (like the summer sun)

• तीक्ष्ण-धारम्: sharp-edged
• तीक्ष्ण-धारम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तीक्ष्ण (प्रातिपदिक) + धारा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (having a sharp edge)

• अत्यन्त-भीकरम्: extremely terrifying
• अत्यन्त-भीकरम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अत्यन्त (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिकवत्) + भीकर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन; कर्मधारय (extremely terrifying)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages at Naimisharanya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Vīrabhadra

Characters & Entities

• Danava (as a class of beings)
• Dānavendra (chief of the Dānavas)

FAQs

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

It depicts the asuric impulse of krodha (wrath) erupting into violent action—an image of the pāśa (bond) that drives the bound soul toward fear and destruction, in contrast to Shiva’s sattvic, liberating grace.

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

In the Yuddha narrative, worldly power and terror are shown as unstable; devotion to Saguna Shiva through the Linga is upheld elsewhere in the Rudra Samhita as the refuge that steadies the mind and turns it from aggression toward surrender and protection.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

As a practical takeaway, one may counter anger with japa of the Panchakshara—“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—and cultivate śānti (inner calm) before worship, applying Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) as a reminder to restrain passions.