Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 35

काली-परिचयः / Himagiri Presents Kālī (Pārvatī) to Śiva

Devanagari script

एतच्छ्रुत्वा वचनं तस्य शंभोर्निरामयं निःस्पृहं निष्ठुरं च । कालीतातश्चकितोऽभूत्सुरर्षे तद्वत्किंचिद्व्याकुलश्चास तूष्णीम्

Transliteration

etacchrutvā vacanaṃ tasya śaṃbhornirāmayaṃ niḥspṛhaṃ niṣṭhuraṃ ca | kālītātaścakito'bhūtsurarṣe tadvatkiṃcidvyākulaścāsa tūṣṇīm

Translation

噢，诸天中的圣仙！听到商布（湿婆）那无瑕、无欲而严峻的话语，迦梨之父顿时惊惧；同样也略感不安，遂默然无言。

Word by Word

• एतत्: this
• एतत्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), द्वितीया विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifier)

• श्रुत्वा: having heard
• श्रुत्वा: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव; धातु—श्रु (to hear): ‘having heard’

• वचनम्: speech; words
• वचनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वचन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन

• तस्य: of him
• तस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी विभक्ति (Genitive/सम्बन्ध), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• शंभोः: of Śambhu
• शंभोः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शंभु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी विभक्ति (Genitive), एकवचन

• निरामयम्: free from affliction
• निरामयम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निरामय (प्रातिपदिक; निर् + आमय)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण; समासः—नञ्/उपसर्ग-तत्पुरुष (free from illness/affliction)

• निःस्पृहम्: without desire
• निःस्पृहम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निःस्पृह (प्रातिपदिक; निः + स्पृह)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण; समासः—उपसर्ग-तत्पुरुष (desireless)

• निष्ठुरम्: harsh; stern
• निष्ठुरम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निष्ठुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण

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

• कालीतातः: Kāli’s father
• कालीतातः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कालीतात (प्रातिपदिक; काली + तात)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (काली-तातः = Kāli’s father)

• चकितः: astonished; startled
• चकितः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चकित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण

• अभूत्: became; was
• अभूत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लुङ्-लकार (Aorist/अनद्यतनभूत), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद; धातु—भू (to be)

• सुरर्षे: O divine sage
• सुरर्षे: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुरर्षि (प्रातिपदिक; सुर + ऋषि)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन विभक्ति (Vocative/सम्बोधन), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (deva-sage)

• तद्वत्: likewise
• तद्वत्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तद्वत् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, उपमानार्थक (adverb: likewise)

• किञ्चित्: somewhat
• किञ्चित्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: किञ्चित् (सर्वनाम/अव्ययवत्)
• Form: अव्ययवत् (indeclinable usage), अल्पपरिमाणबोधक (somewhat)

• व्याकुलः: agitated
• व्याकुलः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: व्याकुल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण

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

• आस: was
• आस: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect/परोक्षभूत), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद; धातु—अस् (to be): ‘was’

• तूष्णीम्: silently
• तूष्णीम्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तूष्णीम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, क्रियाविशेषण (adverb: in silence)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages at Naimisharanya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Īśāna

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Kālī

Role: destructive

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Kali

FAQs

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

The verse highlights Śiva’s niḥspṛhatā (complete non-attachment) and unwavering clarity; encountering such truth can shake worldly identity, leading first to silence and inner reassessment—an early movement toward vairāgya that supports liberation in Shaiva thought.

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

Though Śiva is approached in saguna form (as Śambhu), his speech reveals nirguṇa-like qualities—desirelessness and stainlessness—teaching devotees that Linga worship is meant to mature devotion into inner purity and detachment, not mere worldly gain.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is mauna (sacred silence) after japa—especially of the Pañcākṣarī ‘Om Namaḥ Śivāya’—to absorb Śiva’s teaching; this can be supported with vibhūti (tripuṇḍra) and steady breath-awareness to cultivate non-attachment.