Shloka 14

Śumbha–Niśumbha-pīḍā and Devastuti to Durgā/Śivā

Names and Forms of the Devī

Devanagari script

शरीरकोशाद्यत्तस्या निर्गता तेन कौशिकी । नाम्ना सा गीयते साक्षाच्छुंभासुरनिबर्हिणी

Transliteration

śarīrakośādyattasyā nirgatā tena kauśikī | nāmnā sā gīyate sākṣācchuṃbhāsuranibarhiṇī

Translation

Because she emerged from the sheath (kośa) of her own body, she is praised by the name Kauśikī—indeed, she is directly renowned as the slayer of the asura Śumbha.

Word by Word

• शरीर-कोशात्: from the bodily sheath
• शरीर-कोशात्: अपादान (Apādāna/Source)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शरीर (प्रातिपदिक) + कोश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (5th/Ablative), एकवचन; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (शरीरस्य कोशः)

• यत्: which
• यत्: सम्बन्ध (Sambandha/relative link)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सम्बन्धसूचक-यत् (relative pronoun)

• तस्याः: of her
• तस्याः: सम्बन्ध (Sambandha/Possessor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• निर्गता: having come out
• निर्गता: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Verb
• Root: निर्गम् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्तः—क्त (past passive participle); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; अर्थः ‘निष्क्रान्ता/बाहिरागता’

• तेन: therefore/by that
• तेन: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument-Cause)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• कौशिकी: Kauśikī
• कौशिकी: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कौशिकी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; नाम (proper name)

• नाम्ना: by the name
• नाम्ना: करण (Karaṇa/Means—by name)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नामन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

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

• गीयते: is sung/called
• गीयते: क्रिया (Kriyā/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गै (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), कर्मणि-प्रयोग (Passive), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन

• साक्षात्: directly/indeed
• साक्षात्: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: साक्षात् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• शुम्भ-असुर-निबर्हिणी: destroyer of the demon Śumbha
• शुम्भ-असुर-निबर्हिणी: कर्ता (Karta/Subject—apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शुम्भ (प्रातिपदिक) + असुर (प्रातिपदिक) + निबर्हिणी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (शुम्भासुरस्य निबर्हिणी = नाशयित्री)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Characters & Entities

• Parvati
• Kaushiki
• Shumbha

FAQs

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

The verse highlights Śakti’s compassionate, manifest (saguṇa) descent for the protection of dharma—Kauśikī arises in a tangible form to remove demonic bondage, reflecting the Shaiva view that the Lord’s power becomes manifest to uplift beings.

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

Just as the Liṅga is a saguṇa symbol through which devotees approach the transcendent Shiva, Kauśikī is a saguṇa manifestation of divine power—both teach that the formless reality is accessible through gracious forms and names.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is nāma-japa and stuti: chanting Shiva’s Panchākṣarī ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya") along with reverent praise of the Goddess as Kauśikī, seeking inner purification and protection from negative tendencies symbolized by demons.