Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 10

घनागमवर्णनम् / Description of the Monsoon’s Onset

Satī’s Address to Śiva

Devanagari script

क्षपाक्षयेषवलयं दृश्यते कालिकागता । अंबुधाविव संदीप्तपावको वडवामुखः

Transliteration

kṣapākṣayeṣavalayaṃ dṛśyate kālikāgatā | aṃbudhāviva saṃdīptapāvako vaḍavāmukhaḥ

Translation

当夜色将尽之时，迦利迦（Kālikā）显现，人们见她被夜之主（湿婆 Śiva）的众眷属环绕。在大海之中，她炽燃如“马面之火”（Vaḍavāmukha）——强烈而被水所藏的点燃之焰。

Word by Word

• क्षपा: night
• क्षपा: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa) / कालाधिकरण (time-locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षपा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• अक्षये: at the time of the waning/ending
• अक्षये: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अक्षय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन

• इषु-वलयम्: a ring/circle of arrows
• इषु-वलयम्: कर्म (Karma/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इषु (प्रातिपदिक) + वलय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (इषूणां वलयम्)

• दृश्यते: is seen/appears
• दृश्यते: क्रिया (Kriyā/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• कालिका-गता: having gone to Kālikā / arrived at Kālikā
• कालिका-गता: कर्ता (Karta/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कालिका (प्रातिपदिक) + गत (कृदन्त, गम्-धातु)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त (क्त) ‘गता’; तत्पुरुष: कालिकां गता

• अम्बुधौ: in the ocean
• अम्बुधौ: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अम्बुधि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन

• इव: like/as
• इव: सम्बन्ध (Sambandha)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमा-अव्यय (particle of comparison)

• संदीप्त-पावकः: a blazing fire
• संदीप्त-पावकः: उपमान (Upamāna)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संदीप्त (कृदन्त, दीप्-धातु) + पावक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; कर्मधारय: संदीप्तः पावकः

• वडवा-मुखः: the mare-faced (submarine fire)
• वडवा-मुखः: कर्ता (Karta/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वडवा (प्रातिपदिक) + मुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: वडवायाः मुखः

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Bhairava

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Kālī

Role: destructive

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: Subterranean fire (vaḍavānala) imagery—latent dissolution power within the waters.

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Kālīkā

FAQs

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

The verse portrays the sudden manifestation of divine Śakti (Kālīkā) under Śiva’s lordship, symbolizing the transformative power that burns impurities even when concealed—like submarine fire within the ocean—guiding the soul toward purification and liberation.

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

By depicting Kālīkā within Śiva’s encircling host, the verse reinforces Saguna worship: Śiva is the sovereign reality (Pati) and Śakti is His dynamic power. Linga worship similarly honors Śiva as the transcendent-support of all manifestations while acknowledging His energies in the world.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Meditate on the inner ‘fire of awareness’ that consumes bondage (pāśa), repeating the Pañcākṣarī mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” and contemplate Śiva-Śakti as the purifier of hidden karmic residues—supported by Shaiva practices like vibhūti (tripuṇḍra) and rudrākṣa where appropriate.