Shloka 43

Kālajñāna (Knowledge of Time) and Mṛtyu-cihna (Signs of Death): Śiva’s Instruction to Umā

Devanagari script

ऋतोर्विकारभूताश्च गुणास्तत्रैव भामिनि । प्रमाणं दक्षिणं प्रोक्तं ज्ञातव्यं प्राणवेदिभिः

Transliteration

ṛtorvikārabhūtāśca guṇāstatraiva bhāmini | pramāṇaṃ dakṣiṇaṃ proktaṃ jñātavyaṃ prāṇavedibhiḥ

Translation

يا أيتها المتلألئة، إنّ الصفاتَ الناشئةَ عن تحوّلات الفصول حاضرةٌ هناك بعينها. وقد أُعلِنَ أن الجانبَ الأيمن هو المعيارُ الصحيح، وينبغي أن يدركه العارفون بعلم البرانا (prāṇa)؛ نَفَسِ الحياة.

Word by Word

• ऋतोः: of the season
• ऋतोः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऋतु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/सम्बन्ध), एकवचन

• विकार-भूताः: having become modifications / transformed
• विकार-भूताः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विकार (प्रातिपदिक) + भूत (कृदन्त; भू धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/कर्ता), बहुवचन; समासः—विकारं भूता इति (उपपद-तत्पुरुष)

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

• गुणाः: qualities
• गुणाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/कर्ता), बहुवचन

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

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारणार्थक निपात (particle of emphasis)

• भामिनि: O radiant/beautiful lady
• भामिनि: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भामिनी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति (Vocative/सम्बोधन), एकवचन

• प्रमाणम्: the criterion / measure
• प्रमाणम्: Pradhāna-vākya-bhāga (विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रमाण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन; विधेय (predicate nominative)

• दक्षिणम्: right / southern
• दक्षिणम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दक्षिण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन; ‘प्रमाणम्’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• प्रोक्तम्: is said / has been declared
• प्रोक्तम्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-वच् (धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (PPP/क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मणि—‘प्रमाणम्’ इत्यस्य विधेयविशेषणम्

• ज्ञातव्यम्: should be known
• ज्ञातव्यम्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ज्ञा (धातु)
• Form: कृत्य-प्रत्यय (तव्यत्), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विधिलिङ्गार्थ (ought to be known)

• प्राण-वेदिभिः: by the knowers of prāṇa
• प्राण-वेदिभिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्राण (प्रातिपदिक) + वेदिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/कर्तृ), बहुवचन; समासः—प्राणान् वेदितीति (उपपद-तत्पुरुष)

Speaker

Lord Shiva

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Parvati

FAQs

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

It points to the Shaiva view that the cosmos and the body mirror each other: seasonal changes manifest as guṇas, and the seeker should understand their proper ‘measure’ through prāṇa-knowledge, refining the bound soul (paśu) toward Shiva (Pati).

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

Saguna Shiva is approached through ordered practice and right understanding of inner and outer rhythms; knowing prāṇa and proper proportion supports steadiness in worship, helping the devotee move from changing guṇas toward Shiva’s stabilizing grace.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A prāṇa-centered discipline: observe breath and bodily balance (especially right/left flow) with measured regulation (pramāṇa) before japa of “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” supporting focused Shiva-upāsanā.