Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 47
शिवतत्त्ववर्णनम् (Śiva-tattva-varṇana) — “Description/Exposition of the Principle of Śiva”
समाश्रयिष्यति विष्णुं लक्ष्मीरूपेण सा तदा । पुनश्च काली नाम्ना सा मदंशं प्राप्स्यति ध्रुवम्
samāśrayiṣyati viṣṇuṃ lakṣmīrūpeṇa sā tadā | punaśca kālī nāmnā sā madaṃśaṃ prāpsyati dhruvam
Então ela se abrigará em Viṣṇu na forma de Lakṣmī. E novamente, trazendo o nome de Kālī, alcançará com certeza uma porção do Meu próprio poder.
Lord Shiva (narrated within Suta Goswami’s telling to the sages)
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Mahādeva
Shakti Form: Kālī
Role: destructive
Cosmic Event: functional transposition of Śakti: Lakṣmī for sthiti-support; Kālī as fierce śakti receiving Śiva’s aṃśa for higher cosmic operations (often linked to concealment/dissolution cycles)
FAQs
It teaches that the Divine Feminine (Śakti) manifests in different roles for cosmic order—appearing as Lakṣmī with Viṣṇu for preservation and as Kālī endowed with Shiva’s power for transformative dissolution, indicating one Śakti functioning through multiple divine offices.
By stating that Kālī attains “a portion of My power,” the verse places Śakti’s fierce form under Shiva’s lordship (Pati). In Saguna worship, devotees honor Shiva as the source of śakti behind all divine forms, with the Liṅga symbolizing that transcendent source supporting creation, preservation, and dissolution.
A practical takeaway is to meditate on Shiva as the inner source of power (śakti) while chanting the Pañcākṣarī mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” and to maintain Shaiva disciplines like Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and Rudrākṣa as supports for steadiness and protection during transformative inner practices.