Shloka 31

अध्याय ३८ — काली-शंखचूड-युद्धे अस्त्रप्रयोगः

Kālī and Śaṅkhacūḍa: Mantra-Weapons and Surrender in Battle

Devanagari script

उत्पपात च वेगेन शंखचूडः प्रतापवान् । निपत्य च समुत्तस्था प्रणम्य भद्रकालिकाम्

Transliteration

utpapāta ca vegena śaṃkhacūḍaḥ pratāpavān | nipatya ca samuttasthā praṇamya bhadrakālikām

Translation

Then the mighty and valorous Śaṅkhacūḍa sprang up with great speed. Falling down (in reverence) and rising again, he bowed to Bhadrakālī.

Word by Word

• उत्पपात: leapt up
• उत्पपात: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उत्-पत् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; ‘leapt up/sprang’

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (and)

• वेगेन: with speed
• वेगेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वेग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; करण/रीति—‘with speed/force’

• शंखचूडः: Śaṅkhacūḍa
• शंखचूडः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शंख-चूड (प्रातिपदिक: शंख + चूड)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारय-नाम; ‘Śaṅkhacūḍa’

• प्रतापवान्: mighty
• प्रतापवान्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रतापवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘mighty’

• निपत्य: having fallen
• निपत्य: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि-पत् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund); ‘having fallen down’

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (and)

• समुत्तस्थौ: rose again
• समुत्तस्थौ: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-उत्-स्था (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (perfect), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; ‘stood up again/rose’

• प्रणम्य: having bowed
• प्रणम्य: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-नम् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund); ‘having bowed’

• भद्रकालिकाम्: Bhadrakālikā
• भद्रकालिकाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भद्र-कालिका (प्रातिपदिक: भद्र + कालिका)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारय-नाम; ‘Bhadrakālikā’

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Kālī

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shankhachuda
• Bhadrakali

FAQs

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

It shows that even a powerful warrior must acknowledge the higher divine power; bowing to Bhadrakālī signifies surrender of ego and seeking Shakti’s sanction before action, aligning strength with dharma rather than mere pride.

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

In Shaiva Siddhānta, Shiva (Pati) is never separated from Shakti; reverence to Bhadrakālī reflects Saguna devotion to the divine energy that empowers all deeds, complementing Linga-worship where Shiva is adored with His inseparable power.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The verse points to praṇāma (prostration) and inner surrender before undertaking any major work; as a Shaiva takeaway, begin with a brief invocation such as mentally offering salutations and remembering the Panchākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with a devotional attitude.