Shloka 26

अध्याय ३८ — काली-शंखचूड-युद्धे अस्त्रप्रयोगः

Kālī and Śaṅkhacūḍa: Mantra-Weapons and Surrender in Battle

Devanagari script

अथागत्य द्रुतं मायी चक्रं चिक्षेप वेगतः । भद्रकाल्यै शंखचूडः प्रलयाग्निशिखो पमम्

Transliteration

athāgatya drutaṃ māyī cakraṃ cikṣepa vegataḥ | bhadrakālyai śaṃkhacūḍaḥ pralayāgniśikho pamam

Translation

Then the sorcerous Śaṅkhacūḍa swiftly came forward and, with great force, hurled a discus at Bhadrakālī—blazing like the flame of the fire of dissolution.

Word by Word

• atha: then
• atha: Sambandha (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atha (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb/particle (अव्यय), sequence marker

• āgatya: having come
• āgatya: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā√gam (धातु) + ktvā (क्त्वा)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त), ‘having come’

• drutam: quickly
• drutam: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: druta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Adverbial accusative (क्रियाविशेषणरूपेण), ‘quickly’

• māyī: the illusionist (one possessing māyā)
• māyī: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: māyin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• cakram: discus
• cakram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: cakra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• cikṣepa: threw
• cikṣepa: Kriyā (मुख्यक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṣip (धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd Person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)

• vegataḥ: swiftly/with speed
• vegataḥ: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vega (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Ablative used adverbially (पञ्चमी-प्रयोगेण क्रियाविशेषण), Singular (एकवचन)

• bhadrakālyai: to Bhadrakālī
• bhadrakālyai: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhadrakālī (प्रातिपदिक: bhadra + kālī)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Dative (4th/चतुर्थी), Singular (एकवचन)

• śaṃkhacūḍaḥ: Śaṅkhacūḍa (name)
• śaṃkhacūḍaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śaṃkha + cūḍa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• pralayāgniśikhaḥ: having a flame like the fire of dissolution
• pralayāgniśikhaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pralaya + agni + śikhā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); adjective qualifying śaṃkhacūḍaḥ

• pamam: (unclear)
• pamam: Anirdhārita (अनिर्धारित)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ? (पाठदोष/अस्पष्ट)
• Form: Form unclear; likely corrupt reading. Possibly intended: ‘paramam’ (अत्यन्तम्) or ‘pavam/pamam’—needs manuscript check.

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Caṇḍikā

Role: destructive

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: mahāpralaya (as simile: pralaya-agni)

Characters & Entities

• Bhadrakali
• Shankhachuda

FAQs

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

It contrasts demonic māyā-powered aggression with the divine Śakti’s steadfastness, teaching that destructive force rooted in illusion cannot ultimately prevail over dharma upheld by Shiva’s power.

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

Bhadrakālī represents Saguna Shiva’s active power (Śakti) protecting cosmic order; devotion to Shiva-Linga is devotion to Pati (Shiva) together with His inseparable Śakti that subdues adharma and māyā.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is japa of the Pañcākṣarī mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” to transcend māyā, along with Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) remembrance of impermanence and steadfast bhakti during inner ‘battles’.