Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 33

अध्याय ३८ — काली-शंखचूड-युद्धे अस्त्रप्रयोगः

Kālī and Śaṅkhacūḍa: Mantra-Weapons and Surrender in Battle

Devanagari script

दानवानां हि क्षतजं सा पपौ कालिका क्षुधा । एतस्मिन्नंतरे तत्र वाग्वभूवाशरीरिणी

Transliteration

dānavānāṃ hi kṣatajaṃ sā papau kālikā kṣudhā | etasminnaṃtare tatra vāgvabhūvāśarīriṇī

Translation

因饥渴，迦梨迦（Kālikā）饮下从达那婆（Dānava）创口涌出的鲜血。就在那时，在那处，忽有无形无身之声响起。

Word by Word

• दानवानाम्: of the demons
• दानवानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दानव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m), षष्ठी (Gen.6), बहुवचन (pl)

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निश्चय/हेतु/उपपत्ति (particle: indeed/for)

• क्षतजम्: blood
• क्षतजम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षतज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n), द्वितीया (Acc.2), एकवचन (sg)

• सा: she
• सा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f), प्रथमा (Nom.1), एकवचन (sg)

• पपौ: drank
• पपौ: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पा (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect/लिट्), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन (sg)

• कालिका: Kālikā
• कालिका: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कालिका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f), प्रथमा (Nom.1), एकवचन (sg)

• क्षुधा: from hunger
• क्षुधा: Karana/Hetu (करण/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षुध्/क्षुधा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f), तृतीया (Ins.3), एकवचन (sg); करण/हेतु-अर्थे (by/with hunger; out of hunger)

• एतस्मिन्: in this
• एतस्मिन्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n), सप्तमी (Loc.7), एकवचन (sg)

• अन्तरे: in the interval
• अन्तरे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्तर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n), सप्तमी (Loc.7), एकवचन (sg); ‘अन्तरे’ = मध्ये/अवसरे (in the meantime)

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देशवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (adverb of place: there)

• वाक्: a voice
• वाक्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाच् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f), प्रथमा (Nom.1), एकवचन (sg)

• अभूत्: arose/was
• अभूत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लुङ् (Aorist/लुङ्), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन (sg)

• अशरीरिणी: bodiless
• अशरीरिणी: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ + शरीरिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f), प्रथमा (Nom.1), एकवचन (sg); विशेषणम् (bodiless)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the battle account to the sages at Naimisharanya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Kālī

Role: destructive

Characters & Entities

• Kālīkā
• Dānavas
• Aśarīriṇī Vāk (bodiless voice)

FAQs

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

Kālikā drinking the demons’ blood symbolizes the Divine Power consuming destructive tendencies (tamas and violence) so that adharma cannot multiply; the sudden bodiless voice indicates higher guidance (Īśvara’s will) intervening when the cosmic balance is at stake.

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

In Shaiva understanding, Saguna Śiva works through Śakti to protect dharma; the ‘bodiless voice’ reflects the transcendent command of Śiva, while the fierce action of Kālikā reflects the immanent power that executes that command—together pointing devotees to the Linga as the unity of Śiva-Śakti.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is to steady the mind with japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and cultivate inner purity; when confronted by intense negativity, devotees traditionally seek Śiva’s protection through mantra, vibhūti (Tripuṇḍra), and disciplined restraint rather than aggression.