Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 8

शिवस्य सैन्यप्रयाणम् तथा गणपतिनामावलिः (Śiva’s Mobilization for War and the Catalogue of Gaṇa Commanders)

Devanagari script

कालंकरो बलीभद्रः कालजिह्वः कुटीचरः । बलोन्मत्तो रणश्लाघ्यो दुर्जयो दुर्गमस्तथा

Transliteration

kālaṃkaro balībhadraḥ kālajihvaḥ kuṭīcaraḥ | balonmatto raṇaślāghyo durjayo durgamastathā

Translation

“Kālaṅkara, Balībhadra, Kāla-jihva e Kuṭīcara; Balonmatta (orgulhoso de sua força); Raṇaślāghya (renomado na batalha); Durjaya (difícil de conquistar); e Durgama (difícil de se aproximar) também.”

Word by Word

• kālaṃkaraḥ: Kālaṃkara (a named chief)
• kālaṃkaraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kālaṃkara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; समासः—कालस्य अङ्करः/अङ्कर इति (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• balībhadraḥ: Balībhadra (the strong and auspicious one; name)
• balībhadraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: balībhadra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः—बली च सः भद्रः इति (कर्मधारय)

• kālajihvaḥ: Kālajihva (name; ‘time/black-tongued’)
• kālajihvaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kālajihva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः—कालस्य जिह्वा यस्य/काल-जिह्वा इति (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• kuṭīcaraḥ: Kuṭīcara (dweller/roamer in a hut; name)
• kuṭīcaraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kuṭīcara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः—कुट्याम् चरः इति (सप्तमी-तत्पुरुष)

• balonmattaḥ: Balonmatta (maddened by strength; name)
• balonmattaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: balonmatta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः—बलेन उन्मत्तः इति (तृतीया-तत्पुरुष)

• raṇaślāghyaḥ: Raṇaślāghya (praiseworthy in battle; name)
• raṇaślāghyaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: raṇaślāghya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः—रणे श्लाघ्यः इति (सप्तमी-तत्पुरुष)

• durjayaḥ: Durjaya (hard to conquer; name)
• durjayaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: durjaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; उपसर्ग-निषेधात्मकः—दुर् + जय (कर्मधारय/उपपद-समासभावः)

• durgamaḥ: Durgama (hard to approach; name)
• durgamaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: durgama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; दुर् + गम (कर्मधारय/उपपद-समासभावः)

• tathā: and likewise/also
• tathā: Sambandha/Avyaya (सम्बन्ध/अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (adverb: ‘thus/also’)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahākāla

Jyotirlinga Context

Jyotirlinga: Mahākāleśvara

Sthala Purana: The Mahākāla motif (kālaṅkara, kālajihva) aligns with Ujjayinī’s Mahākāleśvara—Śiva as the devourer of time who turns terror into liberation for the surrendered devotee.

Significance: Cultivates vairāgya and fearlessness; remembrance of death/time as a doorway to anugraha; protective power against enemies and inner passions.

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Kālī

Role: destructive

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: Kāla symbolism: dissolution/time as Śiva’s instrument; hints of pralaya-energy without explicit kalpa markers.

Characters & Entities

• Kālaṅkara
• Balībhadra
• Kāla-jihva
• Kuṭīcara
• Shiva

FAQs

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

The verse lists formidable, battle-famed opponents to highlight how worldly might and pride (balonmatta) appear unconquerable, yet remain limited before the supreme Lord (Shiva) in whom alone true sovereignty (Pati-tattva) abides.

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

In the Yuddhakhaṇḍa narrative, such descriptions intensify the contrast between transient power and Shiva’s Saguna grace—worship of the Linga centers the devotee in the Lord who subdues inner ‘enemies’ like arrogance and fear, just as outer foes are ultimately subdued by Shiva’s will.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is to counter ‘balonmatta’ (egoic strength) with japa of the Panchākṣarī—“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—and humility, mentally offering one’s power and victories to Shiva as the true doer and protector.