Shloka 24

Śumbha–Niśumbha-pīḍā and Devastuti to Durgā/Śivā

Names and Forms of the Devī

Devanagari script

कदलीस्तंभजंघोरुः कीरनासाऽहिदौर्लता । रणन्मञ्जीरचरणा रम्यमेखलया युता

Transliteration

kadalīstaṃbhajaṃghoruḥ kīranāsā'hidaurlatā | raṇanmañjīracaraṇā ramyamekhalayā yutā

Translation

Her shanks and thighs were smooth like the plantain-stem; her nose was like a parrot’s beak; her arms were like graceful creepers. Her feet, adorned with softly tinkling anklets, resounded gently, and she was beautified by a charming girdle.

Word by Word

• कदली-स्तम्भ-जङ्घा-ऊरुः: she whose thighs and shanks are like plantain-stems
• कदली-स्तम्भ-जङ्घा-ऊरुः: विशेषण (Adjectival qualifier of subject/कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कदली (प्रातिपदिक) + स्तम्भ (प्रातिपदिक) + जङ्घा (प्रातिपदिक) + ऊरु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिसमासः—यस्याः जङ्घे ऊरू च कदलीस्तम्भवत् (having thighs and shanks like plantain-stems)

• कीर-नासा: parrot-nosed
• कीर-नासा: विशेषण (कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कीर (प्रातिपदिक) + नासा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः—यस्याः नासा कीरवत् (having a parrot-like nose)

• अहि-दौः-लता: having arms like serpent-vines
• अहि-दौः-लता: विशेषण (कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अहि (प्रातिपदिक) + दोः (प्रातिपदिक) + लता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः—यस्याः दोः (भुजाः) अहिलतावत् (having arms like serpent-creepers)

• रणन्-मञ्जीर-चरणा: with feet whose anklets jingle
• रणन्-मञ्जीर-चरणा: विशेषण (कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रणत्/रणन् (कृदन्त; √रण् धातु) + मञ्जीर (प्रातिपदिक) + चरण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः—यस्याः चरणेषु रणन्मञ्जीरम् (whose feet have jingling anklets)

• रम्य-मेखलया: with a lovely girdle
• रम्य-मेखलया: करण (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रम्य (प्रातिपदिक) + मेखला (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः—रम्या मेखला (a lovely girdle)

• युता: endowed (with)
• युता: विशेषण (कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √युज् (धातु) → युत (कृदन्त, क्त)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्तः भूतकर्मणि/भावे—युक्ता/समन्विता (endowed/possessed)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Gaurī

Role: nurturing

Characters & Entities

• Parvati
• Shiva

FAQs

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

It presents Devī’s auspicious, saguna (manifest) form as a support for devotion—purifying the mind through reverent contemplation and leading the devotee toward Shiva-Śakti unity, a key Shaiva Siddhanta ideal.

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

While the Linga points to Shiva’s nirguna depth, this verse emphasizes saguna contemplation—honoring the divine attributes of Śakti (Parvati) that inseparably accompany Shiva, strengthening bhakti that culminates in Linga-centered worship.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A simple dhyāna practice is implied: visualize the auspicious form of Devī with steady attention, then offer mantra-japa (such as “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and conclude with inner surrender to Shiva-Śakti.