Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 17

देवीयोगनिद्रास्तुतिḥ तथा चण्डिकायाः प्रादुर्भावः | Hymn to Devī Yogānidrā and the Manifestation of Caṇḍikā

Devanagari script

ब्रह्मोवाच । इत्याकर्ण्य वचः सा मे काली लोक विभाविनी । प्रीत्या मां जगतामूचे स्रष्टारं जनशब्दवत्

Transliteration

brahmovāca | ityākarṇya vacaḥ sā me kālī loka vibhāvinī | prītyā māṃ jagatāmūce sraṣṭāraṃ janaśabdavat

Translation

Sinabi ni Brahmā: Nang marinig niya ang aking mga salita, si Kāḷī—na nagpapahayag at nagpapaliwanag sa mga daigdig—ay nagsalita sa akin nang may pag-ibig, sa akin na lumikha ng mga nilalang, sa tinig na gaya ng sa mga tao, tuwiran at malinaw.

Word by Word

• brahmā: Brahmā
• brahmā: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचनम्

• uvāca: said
• uvāca: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (वच् धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकारः (Perfect/परोक्षभूत), प्रथमपुरुषः (3rd), एकवचनम्; परस्मैपदम्

• iti: thus
• iti: Vacana-suchaka (वचनसूचक/Quotative)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम्; वाक्य-समाप्ति/उद्धरणसूचक (quotative particle)

• ākarṇya: having heard
• ākarṇya: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया/Gerundial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ā-√karṇ (कर्ण्/श्रवणार्थक धातु) (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Gerund/अव्ययभाव), ‘आकर्ण्य’ = श्रुत्वा (having heard)

• vacaḥ: the words
• vacaḥ: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vacas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गः, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचनम्

• sā: she
• sā: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: सर्वनाम; स्त्रीलिङ्गः, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचनम्

• me: my
• me: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Possessor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: सर्वनाम; षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचनम्

• kālī: Kālī
• kālī: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kālī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गः, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचनम्

• loka-vibhāvinī: she who illumines/sustains the world
• loka-vibhāvinī: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: loka (प्रातिपदिक) + vibhāvinī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (लोकस्य विभाविनी); स्त्रीलिङ्गः, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचनम्; विशेषणरूपेण ‘काली’ इत्यस्य

• prītyā: with affection
• prītyā: Karana (करण/Instrument-Manner)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prīti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गः, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचनम्; हेतौ/साधने (instrumental of manner)

• mām: me
• mām: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: सर्वनाम; द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचनम्

• jagatām: of the worlds
• jagatām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jagat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गः, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), बहुवचनम्

• ūce: said/spoke
• ūce: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (वच् धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकारः (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुषः (3rd), एकवचनम्; आत्मनेपदम् (ūce)

• sraṣṭāram: the creator
• sraṣṭāram: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sraṣṭṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचनम्

• jana-śabda-vat: like the word ‘jana’
• jana-śabda-vat: Upamana (उपमान/Simile marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: jana (प्रातिपदिक) + śabda (प्रातिपदिक) + vat (प्रत्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम्; ‘-वत्’ तुलनार्थक (comparative particle: like/as); समासवत् प्रयोगः (like the word ‘jana’)

Speaker

Brahma

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Kālī

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Brahma
• Kali

FAQs

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

It highlights Śakti’s role as loka-vibhāvinī—the power through which the worlds are expressed—while Brahmā remains the appointed creator; in Shaiva understanding, creation proceeds through divine power under the supremacy of Śiva (Pati).

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

Though the verse itself is narrative, it supports Saguna worship by showing divine persons in relationship—Brahmā and Kāḷī—within Śiva’s cosmic order; Linga-worship honors Śiva as the transcendent Pati behind all manifesting powers.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is devotional listening (śravaṇa) and respectful dialogue with the divine; in Shaiva practice this is paired with japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and contemplation of Śiva-Śakti as the source of creation.