Shloka 7

अध्याय ३८ — काली-शंखचूड-युद्धे अस्त्रप्रयोगः

Kālī and Śaṅkhacūḍa: Mantra-Weapons and Surrender in Battle

Devanagari script

नारायणास्त्रं सा देवी चिक्षेप तदुपर्यरम् । वृद्धिं जगाम तच्छस्त्रं दृष्ट्वा वामं च दानवम्

Transliteration

nārāyaṇāstraṃ sā devī cikṣepa taduparyaram | vṛddhiṃ jagāma tacchastraṃ dṛṣṭvā vāmaṃ ca dānavam

Translation

Then the Goddess hurled the Nārāyaṇāstra against him. Seeing the wicked demon before it, that divine missile swelled and grew in power.

Word by Word

• नारायण-अस्त्रम्: Nārāyaṇa weapon
• नारायण-अस्त्रम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नारायण (प्रातिपदिक) + अस्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (नारायणस्य अस्त्रम्)

• सा: she
• सा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• देवी: the goddess
• देवी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• चिक्षेप: threw, cast
• चिक्षेप: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: क्षिप् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• तत्: that (weapon)
• तत्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• उपरि: above, upon
• उपरि: Desha (देश)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: उपरि (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (adverb/preposition)

• अरम्: swiftly / sufficiently
• अरम्: Kriya-Visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अरम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; पर्याप्त्यर्थे/शीघ्रार्थे (sufficiently/quickly)

• वृद्धिम्: increase, growth
• वृद्धिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वृद्धि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• जगाम: went to, attained
• जगाम: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• तत्-शस्त्रम्: that weapon
• तत्-शस्त्रम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + शस्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (तत् शस्त्रम् = that weapon)

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• दृष्ट्वा: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund)

• वामम्: left-side / adverse
• वामम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वाम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• दानवम्: the demon
• दानवम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दानव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the battle account to the sages, as typical of the Shiva Purana frame narrative)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Tripurāntaka

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Kālī

Role: destructive

Characters & Entities

• Devi
• Narayanaastra
• Danava

FAQs

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

The verse highlights a core Purāṇic principle: adharma provokes its own destruction. The divine force (śakti) responds proportionally—when confronted by wickedness, the power of righteousness expands, showing that grace and cosmic order prevail over demonic intent.

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

Though set in a battle scene, it reinforces Saguna devotion: divine power is not abstract but personally protective. In Shaiva understanding, Shiva and Shakti operate inseparably; worship of the Liṅga invokes that safeguarding presence, where divine energy counters hostile forces and inner impurities.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is protective japa and surrender: recite the Panchākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” with Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and Rudrākṣa as supports, cultivating inner steadiness so that divine śakti ‘increases’ within and neutralizes negative tendencies.