Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 39

सत्याः पुनस्तपश्चर्या — Satī’s Return to Austerity (Tapas) and Fearless Liṅga-Worship

Devanagari script

सा त्वक्कोशात्मनोत्सृष्टा कौशिकी नाम नामतः । काली कालाम्बुदप्रख्या कन्यका समपद्यत

Transliteration

sā tvakkośātmanotsṛṣṭā kauśikī nāma nāmataḥ | kālī kālāmbudaprakhyā kanyakā samapadyata

Translation

Terlepas dari selubung kulitnya sendiri, ia menjelma sebagai seorang gadis—bernama Kausiki; dan sebagai Kali, gelap bagaikan awan yang sarat hujan, ia bermanifestasi.

Word by Word

• सा: she
• सा: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• त्वक्-कोश-आत्मना: by (her) skin-sheath essence
• त्वक्-कोश-आत्मना: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्वक् + कोश + आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; समासः (त्वक्कोशस्य आत्मना = by/with the very essence of the skin-sheath)

• उत्सृष्टा: cast off, released
• उत्सृष्टा: Karta (कर्ता/Subject qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उत्-√सृज् (धातु)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त (past passive participle)

• कौशिकी: Kauśikī
• कौशिकी: Karta (कर्ता/Subject apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कौशिकी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• नाम: by name
• नाम: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Naming marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नाम (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; नामनिर्देशार्थे (quotative/‘by name’)

• नामतः: as to name; nominally
• नामतः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Specification)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नामतः (अव्यय)
• Form: तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (ablatival adverb)

• काली: Kālī
• काली: Karta (कर्ता/Subject complement)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काली (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• काल-अम्बुद-प्रख्या: resembling a dark cloud
• काल-अम्बुद-प्रख्या: Karta (कर्ता/Subject qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: काल + अम्बुद + प्रख्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; उपमान-तत्पुरुष (कालाम्बुदवत् प्रख्या = resembling a dark cloud)

• कन्यका: a maiden
• कन्यका: Karta (कर्ता/Subject apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कन्यका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• समपद्यत: came to be; became
• समपद्यत: Kriya (क्रिया/Verbal action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-√पद् (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/Past), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Kālī

Role: destructive

Ritual Elements

Offering: dipa

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: Storm-cloud imagery (kālāmbuda) evokes monsoon-like cosmic mood; not a calendrical rtu statement.

Characters & Entities

• Kaushiki
• Kali

FAQs

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

The verse highlights Śakti’s manifesting power: a distinct divine form (Kauśikī/Kālī) emerges for cosmic purpose. In a Shaiva Siddhanta lens, such manifestations show the Lord’s power (Śakti) operating within the world to remove obstacles and restore dharma, while the Supreme remains transcendent.

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

Kauśikī/Kālī is a Saguna (with attributes) manifestation of divine power associated with Shiva’s cosmic governance. Devotional worship of Saguna forms—alongside Linga worship—supports the devotee in approaching the transcendent (Nirguna) reality through accessible symbols and narratives.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

This verse primarily narrates manifestation rather than prescribing a rite; a practical takeaway is to worship Shiva with awareness of Śakti—japa of the Panchakshara ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya") and meditating on divine protection and removal of inner darkness (tamas) are aligned practices.