Shloka 24
कामदाहोत्तरवृत्तान्तः / Aftermath of Kāma’s Burning
Pārvatī’s Fear and Himavān’s Consolation
आसाद्य कालीं संबोध्य तद्धिते स्थित आदरात् । अवोचस्त्वं वचस्तथ्यं सर्वेषां ज्ञानिनां वरः
āsādya kālīṃ saṃbodhya taddhite sthita ādarāt | avocastvaṃ vacastathyaṃ sarveṣāṃ jñānināṃ varaḥ
T’étant approché de Kālī et l’ayant interpellée avec respect, demeurant soucieux de son bien, tu prononças des paroles vraies et salutaires — ô le meilleur de tous les sages.
Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages at Naimisharanya)
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Umāpati
Type: stotra
Shakti Form: Kālī
Role: teaching
Offering: pushpa
FAQs
The verse praises speech that is both truthful (satya) and welfare-oriented (hita). In a Shaiva Siddhanta lens, such disciplined, compassionate speech purifies the pashu (bound soul) and supports devotion and right conduct on the path toward Shiva’s grace (anugraha).
Linga/Saguna Shiva worship is not only ritual but also ethical and devotional alignment. Speaking truth with reverence mirrors the inner purity expected in Shiva-puja—where mantra, intention, and conduct are harmonized as an offering to Shiva-Shakti.
A practical takeaway is to adopt satya-hita-vākya as a daily vrata: begin Shiva-puja or japa of “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” with a resolve to speak truthfully and kindly, treating speech itself as an offering (vācika-sevā) to Shiva and the Devi.