Shloka 18
वीरभद्र–देवयुद्धवर्णनम्
Vīrabhadra and the Battle with the Devas
क्षेत्रपालास्तथा तत्र बुभुक्षुः सुरपुंगवान् । काली चापि विदार्यैव तान्पपौ रुधिरं बहु
kṣetrapālāstathā tatra bubhukṣuḥ surapuṃgavān | kālī cāpi vidāryaiva tānpapau rudhiraṃ bahu
അവിടെ ക്ഷേത്രപാലരായ ശക്തിമാനായ ദേവവീരർ യുദ്ധതൃഷ്ണയാൽ വിശപ്പോടെ ഉണർന്നു. പിന്നെ കാളിയും അവരെ പിളർത്തി ധാരാളം രക്തം പാനം ചെയ്തു.
Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Bhairava
Shakti Form: Kālī
Role: destructive
FAQs
The verse portrays the fierce, protective aspect of Śakti: when dharma is threatened, divine power manifests to destroy obstructive forces. In a Shaiva Siddhānta lens, it also symbolizes the annihilation of inner impurities (pāśa) that bind the soul (paśu), enabling movement toward Śiva (Pati).
Though the verse describes Kālī’s terrifying action, it supports Saguna worship by showing Śiva’s governance through Śakti—His manifest power that protects sacred order. Devotees approach the Liṅga with reverence, understanding that the same compassionate Lord also wields fierce energies to remove obstacles and uphold sanctity.
The takeaway is protective devotion: recite the Pañcākṣarī mantra ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya") with a prayer for inner purification and fearlessness, and adopt Shaiva discipline such as applying Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and maintaining restraint—symbolically ‘starving’ the lower impulses that Kālī destroys.