Shloka 24

अध्याय ३८ — काली-शंखचूड-युद्धे अस्त्रप्रयोगः

Kālī and Śaṅkhacūḍa: Mantra-Weapons and Surrender in Battle

Devanagari script

पुनरत्तुं महादेवी वेगतस्तं जगाम ह । सर्वसिद्धेश्वरः श्रीमानंतर्धानं चकार सः

Transliteration

punarattuṃ mahādevī vegatastaṃ jagāma ha | sarvasiddheśvaraḥ śrīmānaṃtardhānaṃ cakāra saḥ

Translation

Then Mahādevī hurried after him at great speed to seize him again; but that glorious Lord, the Master of all Siddhas, vanished from sight.

Word by Word

• पुनः: again
• पुनः: Adverbial (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• अत्तुम्: to eat/devour
• अत्तुम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अद् (धातु)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त (infinitive), परस्मैपद-धातु; infinitive of purpose

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

• वेगतः: swiftly/with speed
• वेगतः: Adverbial (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वेगतः (अव्यय; वेग + तस्)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb: manner)

• तम्: him
• तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; Accusative singular

• जगाम: went/approached
• जगाम: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (परिपूर्णभूत/Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; Parasmaipada

• ह: indeed (expletive)
• ह: Sambandha/Discourse particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ह (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; पदपूरण/अनुस्मारक-निपात (expletive particle)

• सर्वसिद्धेश्वरः: Lord of all siddhas
• सर्वसिद्धेश्वरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्वसिद्धेश्वर (प्रातिपदिक; सर्व + सिद्ध + ईश्वर)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; Nominative singular

• श्रीमान्: glorious/fortunate
• श्रीमान्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्रीमत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; Nominative singular qualifying sarvasiddheśvaraḥ

• अन्तर्धानम्: disappearance/vanishing
• अन्तर्धानम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्तर्धान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; Accusative singular

• चकार: did/made
• चकार: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (परिपूर्णभूत/Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; Parasmaipada

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; Nominative singular

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: destructive

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Parvati

FAQs

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

It highlights Śiva’s sovereign freedom (svātantrya): even when pursued, the Lord—Sarvasiddheśvara—cannot be controlled by force, and he reveals or conceals himself according to grace, guiding the soul from outward grasping to inward realization.

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

Śiva’s ‘disappearance’ points to his subtle, all-pervading presence: while Saguna Śiva can be approached through form (like the Liṅga), the devotee is taught that the Lord ultimately transcends capture by the senses and is known through devotion and inner worship.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with steady dhyāna on Śiva as the inner witness (antaryāmin), supported by Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and Rudrākṣa as reminders of renunciation and one-pointed devotion.