Shloka 37

अध्याय ३८ — काली-शंखचूड-युद्धे अस्त्रप्रयोगः

Kālī and Śaṅkhacūḍa: Mantra-Weapons and Surrender in Battle

Devanagari script

भुक्त्वा पीत्वा भद्रकाली शंकरांतिकमाययौ । उवाच रणवृत्तांतं पौर्वापर्येण सक्रमम्

Transliteration

bhuktvā pītvā bhadrakālī śaṃkarāṃtikamāyayau | uvāca raṇavṛttāṃtaṃ paurvāparyeṇa sakramam

Translation

After eating and drinking, Bhadrakālī went to Lord Śaṅkara. She then narrated the full account of the battle, in proper sequence, from beginning to end.

Word by Word

• भुक्त्वा: having eaten
• भुक्त्वा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भुज् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्ययकृदन्त (absolutive/gerund), ‘having eaten’

• पीत्वा: having drunk
• पीत्वा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पा (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्ययकृदन्त, ‘having drunk’

• भद्रकाली: Bhadrakālī
• भद्रकाली: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भद्र-काली (प्रातिपदिक; components: भद्र + काली)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (कर्ता), एकवचन; कर्मधारय-समास (भद्रा काली)

• शंकर-अन्तिकम्: to Śaṅkara’s presence
• शंकर-अन्तिकम्: Gati/Karma (गति/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शंकर-अन्तिक (प्रातिपदिक; components: शंकर + अन्तिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म/गति), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (‘Śaṅkara’s vicinity’)

• आययौ: went, came
• आययौ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-√या (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (परोक्षभूत/Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (परोक्षभूत/Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• रणवृत्तान्तम्: the account of the battle
• रणवृत्तान्तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रण-वृत्तान्त (प्रातिपदिक; components: रण + वृत्तान्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास

• पौर्वापर्येण: in proper sequence
• पौर्वापर्येण: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पौर्वापर्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण), एकवचन; ‘in due order/sequence’ (instrumental of manner)

• स-क्रमम्: step by step, orderly
• स-क्रमम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स-क्रम (प्रातिपदिक; components: स + क्रम)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुष (‘with order/stepwise’), विशेषण (qualifying वृत्तान्तम्)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages of Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Kālī

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Bhadrakali

FAQs

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

It shows the ordered functioning of Śiva’s divine governance: even fierce śakti-forms like Bhadrakālī act in disciplined sequence and report back to Śaṅkara, indicating that all powers ultimately operate under Pati (the Lord) and return to Him for completion and resolution.

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

The verse highlights Saguna Śiva as the accessible Lord who receives, listens, and directs—qualities devotees approach in Linga worship. In Shaiva Siddhānta, the Linga signifies Śiva’s sovereign presence (Pati) to whom all actions and outcomes are offered.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is offering the “account” of one’s actions to Śiva daily—ending japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with a brief self-review and surrender (ātma-nivedana). If done with Tripuṇḍra and rudrākṣa, it supports steadiness and inner order (krama) in sādhana.