Shloka 28

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

Devanagari script

गृध्रः काकः कपोतश्च शिरश्चाक्रम्य तिष्ठति । शीघ्रं तु म्रियते जंतुर्मासैकेन न संशयः

Transliteration

gṛdhraḥ kākaḥ kapotaśca śiraścākramya tiṣṭhati | śīghraṃ tu mriyate jaṃturmāsaikena na saṃśayaḥ

Translation

যদি শগুণ, কাক বা কপৌত মূৰৰ ওপৰত ভৰি থৈ থিয় হয়, তেন্তে সেই প্ৰাণী সোনকালে মৰে—একমাহৰ ভিতৰতে, সন্দেহ নাই।

Word by Word

• गृध्रः: vulture
• गृध्रः: कर्ता (Kartā/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गृध्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• काकः: crow
• काकः: कर्ता (Kartā/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• कपोतः: pigeon
• कपोतः: कर्ता (Kartā/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कपोत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Conjunctive)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (Conjunction)

• शिरः: head
• शिरः: कर्म (Karman/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिरस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Conjunctive)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (Conjunction)

• आक्रम्य: having stepped on
• आक्रम्य: पूर्वक्रिया (Gerundial action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ+क्रम् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (Absolutive/Gerund in -tvā/-ya), पूर्वकालिक क्रिया (prior action)

• तिष्ठति: stands
• तिष्ठति: क्रिया (Kriyā/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्था (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), परस्मैपद (Parasmaipada), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular)

• शीघ्रम्: quickly
• शीघ्रम्: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial modifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: शीघ्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय (Adverb)

• तु: but
• तु: निपात (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: विरोध/अन्वय-निपात (Particle: but/indeed)

• म्रियते: dies
• म्रियते: क्रिया (Kriyā/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: मृ (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), आत्मनेपद (Ātmanepada), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular)

• जन्तुः: creature/person
• जन्तुः: कर्ता (Kartā/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जन्तु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• मासैकेन: within one month / by one month
• मासैकेन: करण/कालाधिकरण (Instrument/Time-measure)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मास (प्रातिपदिक) + एक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (एकः मासः), पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), तृतीया विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन (Singular)

• न: no / not
• न: निषेध (Negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय (Negation particle)

• संशयः: doubt
• संशयः: कर्ता (Kartā/Subject; idiom: 'there is no doubt')
• Type: Noun
• Root: संशय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating traditional signs as taught in the Uma Samhita discourse)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Mahākāla

FAQs

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

It highlights the fragility of embodied life and urges vairāgya (detachment): rather than clinging to the body, one should turn to Pati (Shiva) as the refuge beyond birth and death.

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

Such omens underscore impermanence; Linga-worship centers the mind on Shiva as the stable Reality (Pati) amidst changing conditions, encouraging surrender and remembrance rather than panic.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Take the warning as a prompt for intensified japa of the Panchakshara ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya"), Tripuṇḍra-bhasma dhāraṇa, and mindful contemplation of death (maraṇa-smṛti) to deepen devotion and dispassion.