Shloka 9

संहाररूप-प्रादुर्भावः

Manifestation of Śiva’s Saṃhāra-Form

Devanagari script

अतितीक्ष्णो महादंष्ट्रो वज्रतुल्यनखायुधः । कण्ठे कालो महाबाहुश्चतुष्पाद्वह्निसन्निभः

Transliteration

atitīkṣṇo mahādaṃṣṭro vajratulyanakhāyudhaḥ | kaṇṭhe kālo mahābāhuścatuṣpādvahnisannibhaḥ

Translation

He is exceedingly fierce, with great fangs; His claws are weapons like vajra-thunderbolts. Upon His throat is the mark of Kāla (Time/Death); He is mighty-armed, four-footed, and radiant like fire—an awe-inspiring saguṇa manifestation of Lord Śiva.

Word by Word

• अति-तीक्ष्णः: exceedingly sharp
• अति-तीक्ष्णः: विशेषण (Adjectival to implied subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अति (अव्यय-उपसर्गार्थ) + तीक्ष्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारय: ‘अतिशयेन तीक्ष्णः’

• महा-दंष्ट्रः: great-fanged
• महा-दंष्ट्रः: विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महा + दंष्ट्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारय: ‘महती दंष्ट्रा यस्य’ (also interpretable as bahuvrīhi)

• वज्र-तुल्य-नख-आयुधः: whose weapons are claws like thunderbolts
• वज्र-तुल्य-नख-आयुधः: विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वज्र + तुल्य + नख + आयुध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहि: ‘वज्रतुल्यानि नखानि आयुधानि यस्य’

• कण्ठे: in the throat/at the neck
• कण्ठे: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कण्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative), एकवचन

• कालः: blackness/Time (as Kāla)
• कालः: कर्ता/विधेय (Subject/Predicate nominal)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• महा-बाहुः: mighty-armed
• महा-बाहुः: विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महा + बाहु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहि: ‘महान्तौ बाहू यस्य’

• चतुष्पात्-वह्नि-सन्निभः: resembling a four-footed fire
• चतुष्पात्-वह्नि-सन्निभः: विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चतुष्पात् + वह्नि + सन्निभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (उपमान-सम्बन्ध): ‘चतुष्पाद्वह्निना सन्निभः’ (resembling four-footed fire)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Kālāntaka

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Kala

FAQs

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

The verse portrays Rudra as the sovereign of Kāla (Time/Death) and blazing power, teaching that the Lord who appears fearsome is the compassionate Pati who cuts the bonds of fear, karma, and mortality for the devotee.

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

It supports saguna-upāsanā: devotees meditate on Shiva’s manifest attributes—fiery radiance, invincible strength, and mastery over Kāla—while understanding that the same Lord is ultimately beyond form and is indicated by the Linga.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Meditate on Rudra as vahni-sannibha (fire-like) while repeating the Panchākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” offering bilva leaves or water to the Linga, and internalizing fearlessness through remembrance of Shiva as the conqueror of Kāla.