Shloka 3

अध्याय ३८ — काली-शंखचूड-युद्धे अस्त्रप्रयोगः

Kālī and Śaṅkhacūḍa: Mantra-Weapons and Surrender in Battle

Devanagari script

उग्रदंष्ट्रा चोग्रदंडा कोटवी च पपौ मधु । अन्याश्च देव्यस्तत्राजौ ननृतुर्मधु संपपुः

Transliteration

ugradaṃṣṭrā cogradaṃḍā koṭavī ca papau madhu | anyāśca devyastatrājau nanṛturmadhu saṃpapuḥ

Translation

Ugradaṃṣṭrā, Ugradaṇḍā, and Koṭavī drank the intoxicating madhu (mead); and other goddesses there, upon that battlefield, danced and drank the madhu again and again.

Word by Word

• उग्र-दंष्ट्रा: Ugradaṃṣṭrā (fierce-tusked one)
• उग्र-दंष्ट्रा: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ugra (प्रातिपदिक) + daṃṣṭrā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Karmadhāraya (कर्मधारय) compound; Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/conjunctive)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), conjunction (समुच्चय)

• उग्र-दण्डा: Ugradaṇḍā (fierce-staffed one)
• उग्र-दण्डा: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ugra (प्रातिपदिक) + daṇḍā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Karmadhāraya (कर्मधारय) compound; Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• कोटवी: Koṭavī
• कोटवी: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: koṭavī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/conjunctive)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), conjunction (समुच्चय)

• पपौ: drank
• पपौ: Kriya (क्रिया/predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pā (धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)

• मधु: honey/mead
• मधु: Karma (कर्म/object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: madhu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• अन्याः: other
• अन्याः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: anya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन); adjective qualifying देव्यः

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/conjunctive)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), conjunction (समुच्चय)

• देव्यः: goddesses
• देव्यः: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: devī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन)

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/in that place)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatra (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), adverb of place (देशवाचक)

• अजौ: in the battle
• अजौ: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/in battle)
• Type: Noun
• Root: aja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन)

• ननृतुः: danced
• ननृतुः: Kriya (क्रिया/predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: nṛt (धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Plural (बहुवचन), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)

• मधु: honey/mead
• मधु: Karma (कर्म/object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: madhu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• संपपुः: drank fully/drank together
• संपपुः: Kriya (क्रिया/predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam + pā (धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Plural (बहुवचन), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Bhairava

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Kālī

Role: destructive

Characters & Entities

• Koṭavī
• Ugradaṃṣṭrā
• Ugradaṇḍā
• Devyas (goddesses)

FAQs

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

The verse portrays the fierce, battle-ready expressions of Śakti—energies that operate under Śiva’s sovereignty to restore dharma. The imagery of dancing and drinking indicates overwhelming, unstoppable divine power (śakti-prabhāva) that dissolves demonic forces and fear.

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

In Śaiva understanding, the Liṅga signifies Śiva as Pati (the Supreme Lord), while the Devīs here represent His manifest śaktis in saguna form. Remembering such scenes supports devotion to Śiva as the controller of all powers, with Śakti functioning as His dynamic agency in the world.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Rather than imitating the literal act, a sādhaka takes the inner teaching: invoke protection and courage through japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and contemplation of Śiva-Śakti unity; maintain purity with bhasma (tripuṇḍra) and disciplined worship.