Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 16

देव्याः क्रोधः शक्तिनिर्माणं च

Devī’s Wrath and the Manifestation of the Śaktis

Devanagari script

कराली कुब्जका खंजा लंबशीर्षा ह्यनेकशः । हस्ते धृत्वा तु देवांश्च मुखे चैवाक्षिपंस्तदा

Transliteration

karālī kubjakā khaṃjā laṃbaśīrṣā hyanekaśaḥ | haste dhṛtvā tu devāṃśca mukhe caivākṣipaṃstadā

Translation

Тогда, принимая множество устрашающих обликов — свирепую, горбатую, хромую и с длинной головой, — она схватила богов руками и швырнула их себе в рот.

Word by Word

• कराली: terrifying, fierce
• कराली: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कराल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• कुब्जका: hunchbacked
• कुब्जका: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कुब्जक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st), एकवचन

• खञ्जा: lame
• खञ्जा: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: खञ्ज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st), एकवचन

• लम्बशीर्षा: long-headed / with a long head
• लम्बशीर्षा: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: लम्ब + शीर्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st), एकवचन; कर्मधारय: लम्बं शीर्षं यस्याः

• हि: indeed
• हि: Avadharana (अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle; emphasis/causal nuance)

• अनेकशः: in many ways / many times
• अनेकशः: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अनेकशस् (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक-अव्यय (adverb: in many ways/many times)

• हस्ते: in the hand
• हस्ते: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हस्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• धृत्वा: having held
• धृत्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: धृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund/absolutive): ‘having held’

• तु: and/indeed
• तु: Avadharana/Contrast (अवधारण/विरोध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle)

• देवान्: the gods
• देवान्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• मुखे: in the mouth
• मुखे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• एव: indeed
• एव: Avadharana (अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण-निपात (emphasis)

• अक्षिपन्: throwing/casting
• अक्षिपन्: Karta (कर्ता; participial agent)
• Type: Verb
• Root: क्षिप् (धातु)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमान-कृदन्त (present active participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st), एकवचन; परस्मैपदी; (कर्तृवाचक)

• तदा: then
• तदा: Kala-adhikarana (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of time)

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating the Purāṇic account to the sages, within the Kumārakhaṇḍa narrative)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Bhairava

Characters & Entities

• Devas

FAQs

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

The verse highlights the limitation of even the devas before overwhelming divine power, pointing to the Shaiva view that all celestial authority is subordinate to the Supreme (Pati) and that pride in power is dissolved by the Divine.

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

It emphasizes Saguna manifestation—terrifying, world-subduing forms that act within time and story—reminding devotees that the same Supreme Reality worshipped as the Linga can also appear with fierce attributes to restore cosmic order.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The practical takeaway is humility and surrender in japa and worship—especially steady remembrance of the Panchākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and disciplined Shaiva practice (bhasma/Tripuṇḍra and Rudrākṣa) to overcome fear and ego.