Varaha Purana 96.32: Adhyaya 96, Shloka 32

The Threefold Power: The Raudrī Observance and the Manifestation of Chāmuṇḍā

Pūrva Bhāga · Devī–Daitya-saṅgrāma (Salutation to Kālī/Kālarātri; stuti attribution)

Devanagari script

काली कराली विक्रान्ता कालरात्रि नमोऽस्तु ते ॥ इति स्तुता तदा देवी रुद्रेण परमेष्ठिना ॥

Recitation with translationVaraha Purana 96.32

Transliteration

kālī karālī vikrāntā kālarātri namo 'stu te || iti stutā tadā devī rudreṇa parameṣṭhinā ||

ITRANS transliteration

Translation

रुद्र ने देवी की प्रशंसा की। उन्होंने कहा, काली, कराली, विक्रांता, कालरात्रि, तुम्हे प्रणाम है। रुद्र बड़े देवता हैं, उन्होंने देवी को नमस्कार किया।

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Word by Word

• kālī: Kālī
• Type: Noun
• Form: Strīliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)
• Root: kālī (प्रातिपदिक)

• karālī: fierce
• Type: Adjective
• Form: Strīliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; kālī iti viśeṣaṇam
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)
• Root: karālī (प्रातिपदिक)

• vikrāntā: valiant / striding forth
• Type: Adjective
• Form: Kta-participle; Strīliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; kālī iti viśeṣaṇam
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)
• Root: vi-kram (धातु) + kta (कृत्)

• kālarātri: O Night of Time (Kālarātri)
• Type: Noun
• Form: Strīliṅga, Sambodhana (8th), Ekavacana
• Role: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Root: kāla + rātri (प्रातिपदिक)

• namaḥ: salutation
• Type: Indeclinable
• Form: Avyaya; namaskāra-vācaka (नमस्कारवाचक)
• Role: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Root: namas (अव्यय/निपात)

• astu: may it be
• Type: Verb
• Form: Loṭ-lakāra (लोट्, imperative/benedictive), Prathama-puruṣa (3rd), Ekavacana
• Role: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Root: as (अस्) (धातु)

• te: to you
• Type: Noun
• Form: Strīliṅga/any, Caturthī (4th/चतुर्थी), Ekavacana (dative)
• Role: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Root: tvad (प्रातिपदिक, सर्वनाम)

• iti: thus
• Type: Indeclinable
• Form: Avyaya; iti-śabda (quotative particle)
• Role: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Root: iti (अव्यय)

• stutā: praised
• Type: Verb
• Form: Kta-participle (past passive participle); Strīliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; devī iti viśeṣaṇam
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)
• Root: stu (स्तु) (धातु) + kta (कृत्)

• tadā: then
• Type: Indeclinable
• Form: Kāla-avyaya (काल-अव्यय, temporal adverb)
• Role: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Root: tadā (अव्यय)

• devī: the goddess
• Type: Noun
• Form: Strīliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)
• Root: devī (प्रातिपदिक)

• rudreṇa: by Rudra
• Type: Noun
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Tṛtīyā, Ekavacana
• Role: Karaṇa (करण)
• Root: rudra (प्रातिपदिक)

• parameṣṭhinā: by the Supreme Lord (Parameṣṭhin)
• Type: Noun
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Tṛtīyā, Ekavacana; rudraṇā iti samānādhikaraṇa (apposition)
• Role: Karaṇa (करण)
• Root: parameṣṭhin (प्रातिपदिक)

Sandhi Notes

• namo 'stu = namaḥ + astu (visarga sandhi: ḥ + a → ' )

Speaker and setting

Bhakti and Bhayanaka rasaSetting: Mythic cosmic

Speaker

Stotra voice; attribution states Rudra

The teaching

Kind of teaching

Theology of praise (stotra as alignment)

Subjects

Hymnic salutationInter-deity praise (Rudra praising Devī)Named fierce aspects (Kālī/Kālarātri)

Core idea

Even Rudra venerates Devī’s terrifying aspects; the ‘night of time’ (Kālarātri) is not negation but divine power worthy of homage.

In practice

Use nāma-smaraṇa of fierce forms to transmute fear into surrender; recognize time/death as within the divine order.

Cross references

Tags

• Classical Literature
• Purāṇic Hymnology
• Śaiva–Śākta Interface
• Sanskrit Philology

FAQs

What is the historical significance of this verse?

It shows inter-sectarian literary layering: a Śaiva figure (Rudra) voices praise of Devī, reflecting shared hymnody across Purāṇic milieus.

Which geographic location is identified?

No location is given.

What is the primary ethical instruction?

Acknowledgment of protective power through gratitude and praise—socially, it models recognizing assistance and authority appropriately.