Shloka 28

अध्याय ३८ — काली-शंखचूड-युद्धे अस्त्रप्रयोगः

Kālī and Śaṅkhacūḍa: Mantra-Weapons and Surrender in Battle

Devanagari script

मुष्ट्या जघान तं देवी महाकोपेन वेगतः । बभ्राम दानवेन्द्रोपि क्षणं मूर्च्छामवाप सः

Transliteration

muṣṭyā jaghāna taṃ devī mahākopena vegataḥ | babhrāma dānavendropi kṣaṇaṃ mūrcchāmavāpa saḥ

Translation

Then the Devī, driven by mighty wrath, struck him with her fist at great speed. Even that lord of the Dānavas reeled and for a moment fell into a swoon.

Word by Word

• मुष्ट्या: with (her) fist
• मुष्ट्या: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुष्टि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; करण—‘with the fist’

• जघान: struck
• जघान: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: हन् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; ‘struck/slew’

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

• देवी: the goddess
• देवी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘the goddess’

• महाकोपेन: with great anger
• महाकोपेन: Karana/Hetu (करण/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महाकोप (प्रातिपदिक: महा + कोप)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः—महान् कोपः; करण/हेतु—‘with great anger’

• वेगतः: forcefully
• वेगतः: Kriya-vishesana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वेग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (ablatival adverb); ‘swiftly/with force’

• बभ्राम: reeled
• बभ्राम: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भ्रम् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; ‘reeled/wandered’

• दानवेन्द्रः: the Dānava-king
• दानवेन्द्रः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दानव-इन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक: दानव + इन्द्र)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः—दानवानाम् इन्द्रः; ‘lord of the Dānavas’

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/वाक्य-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय/अपेक्षा (particle: also/even)

• क्षणम्: for a moment
• क्षणम्: Kāla-adhikarana (काल-अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कालावधि—‘for a moment’

• मूर्च्छाम्: fainting
• मूर्च्छाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मूर्च्छा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘fainting/swoon’

• अवाप: fell into / attained
• अवाप: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अव-आप् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; ‘attained/underwent’

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

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Bhairava

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Kālī

Role: destructive

Characters & Entities

• Devi
• Danava

FAQs

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

The verse highlights Śakti as the dynamic power of Pati (Śiva) that protects dharma—when egoic, demonic force rises, divine power acts decisively to restore balance, reminding the devotee that grace can subdue inner tamas and pride.

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

In Śaiva Siddhānta, the Liṅga signifies Śiva as the supreme Pati, while Devī represents His inseparable Śakti; this battle imagery supports Saguna worship by showing how the compassionate divine manifests powerfully to protect devotees and uphold cosmic order.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is to steady the mind with japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and cultivate devotion to Śiva-Śakti, using Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and Rudrākṣa as supports for discipline and remembrance during inner “battles” with anger and delusion.