Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 6

अध्याय ३८ — काली-शंखचूड-युद्धे अस्त्रप्रयोगः

Kālī and Śaṅkhacūḍa: Mantra-Weapons and Surrender in Battle

Devanagari script

काली चिक्षेप वह्निं च प्रलयाग्निशिखोपमम् । राजा जघान तं शीघ्रं वैष्णवांकितलीलया

Transliteration

kālī cikṣepa vahniṃ ca pralayāgniśikhopamam | rājā jaghāna taṃ śīghraṃ vaiṣṇavāṃkitalīlayā

Translation

迦梨掷出烈火，炽盛如劫末毁灭之火（pralaya-agni）。然而那国王以带有毗湿奴之力（Vaiṣṇava）印记的奇妙神技，迅速将其击灭。

Word by Word

• काली: Kālī
• काली: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काली (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• चिक्षेप: threw, cast
• चिक्षेप: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: क्षिप् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• वह्निम्: fire
• वह्निम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वह्नि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• प्रलय-अग्नि-शिखा-उपमम्: like the flame of the cosmic-dissolution fire
• प्रलय-अग्नि-शिखा-उपमम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रलय (प्रातिपदिक) + अग्नि (प्रातिपदिक) + शिखा (प्रातिपदिक) + उपम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण; तत्पुरुष-समासः (प्रलयाग्नेः शिखायाः उपमम् = like the flame of the fire of dissolution)

• राजा: the king
• राजा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• जघान: struck, killed
• जघान: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: हन् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• तम्: him/that (weapon)
• तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• शीघ्रम्: quickly
• शीघ्रम्: Kriya-Visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: शीघ्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय (adverb)

• वैष्णव-अंकित-लीलया: by a play/act marked with Viṣṇu’s (power/sign)
• वैष्णव-अंकित-लीलया: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वैष्णव (प्रातिपदिक) + अंकित (कृदन्त/क्त) + लीला (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः—वैष्णवेन अंकिता या लीला तया

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages of Naimisharanya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Kālāntaka

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Kālī

Role: destructive

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: mahapralaya (imagery: pralaya-agni)

Characters & Entities

• Kali
• Vishnu

FAQs

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

The pralaya-fire imagery symbolizes overwhelming karmic fear and dissolution; the verse teaches that divine order prevails over destructive forces, and that steadfastness aligned with dharma can neutralize even “world-ending” inner turmoil.

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

In Shaiva Siddhanta, Saguna worship (including Linga-upasana) trains the devotee to anchor the mind in Shiva’s protecting presence; the narrative mirrors that protective grace—destructive energies are subdued when one stands under divine alignment rather than ego.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and steady breath-awareness, cultivating fearlessness and inner coolness—an antidote to “pralaya-fire” agitation of the mind.