Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 28
अध्याय ३८ — काली-शंखचूड-युद्धे अस्त्रप्रयोगः
Kālī and Śaṅkhacūḍa: Mantra-Weapons and Surrender in Battle
मुष्ट्या जघान तं देवी महाकोपेन वेगतः । बभ्राम दानवेन्द्रोपि क्षणं मूर्च्छामवाप सः
muṣṭyā jaghāna taṃ devī mahākopena vegataḥ | babhrāma dānavendropi kṣaṇaṃ mūrcchāmavāpa saḥ
Entonces la Devī, impulsada por una ira inmensa, lo golpeó con el puño a gran velocidad. Aun aquel señor de los Dānavas se tambaleó y, por un instante, cayó desvanecido.
Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Bhairava
Shakti Form: Kālī
Role: destructive
FAQs
The verse highlights Śakti as the dynamic power of Pati (Śiva) that protects dharma—when egoic, demonic force rises, divine power acts decisively to restore balance, reminding the devotee that grace can subdue inner tamas and pride.
In Śaiva Siddhānta, the Liṅga signifies Śiva as the supreme Pati, while Devī represents His inseparable Śakti; this battle imagery supports Saguna worship by showing how the compassionate divine manifests powerfully to protect devotees and uphold cosmic order.
A practical takeaway is to steady the mind with japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and cultivate devotion to Śiva-Śakti, using Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and Rudrākṣa as supports for discipline and remembrance during inner “battles” with anger and delusion.