Shloka 16
Daśa-Śivāvatāra-Nirūpaṇa
Enumeration of Ten Prime Manifestations of Śiva with Their Śaktis
शत्रुमारणकार्य्यादौ तत्तच्छक्तिः परा मता । खल दण्डकरी नित्यम्ब्रह्मतेजोविवर्द्धिनी
śatrumāraṇakāryyādau tattacchaktiḥ parā matā | khala daṇḍakarī nityambrahmatejovivarddhinī
In acts such as the subduing (even the destruction) of enemies and the like, that corresponding Power is regarded as supreme. She ever chastises the wicked and continually increases the splendour of Brahman (spiritual radiance).
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pasha
Shiva Form: Kālabhairava
Jyotirlinga: Mahākāleśvara
Sthala Purana: Mahākāla as the foremost among Śiva’s fierce salvific manifestations; the verse’s punitive-protective śakti theme resonates with Ujjayinī’s Mahākāla who subdues adharma and grants fearlessness.
Significance: Protection from fear and hostile forces; inner purification through confronting tamas and adharma; seeking Śiva’s guardianship.
Shakti Form: Caṇḍikā
Role: destructive
FAQs
It teaches that Shiva’s Śakti is the supreme operative power behind protection and righteous restraint: she removes hostile forces (outer and inner) and increases brahma-tejas—clarity, purity, and spiritual authority—supporting the soul’s movement toward liberation.
In Linga-worship, devotees approach Saguna Shiva as Pati together with Śakti as his dynamic grace. This verse emphasizes that the Lord’s protective and corrective functions manifest through Śakti, so worship is not merely symbolic but invokes a living power that upholds dharma and awakens inner radiance.
A practical takeaway is to worship Shiva with mantra-japa (especially the Panchakshara, “Om Namah Shivaya”) while cultivating purity (bhasma/Tripundra and disciplined conduct), praying that Śakti subdue harmful tendencies and increase brahma-tejas (steadfastness, discernment, and devotion).