Shloka 34

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

Devanagari script

प्रतिपदादिविन्यस्य तिथिं प्रतिपदादितः । संपुटाकारहस्तौ तु पूर्वदिङ्मुखसंस्थितः

Transliteration

pratipadādivinyasya tithiṃ pratipadāditaḥ | saṃpuṭākārahastau tu pūrvadiṅmukhasaṃsthitaḥ

Translation

Nachdem man den Mondtag (tithi) beginnend mit Pratipadā (dem ersten tithi) richtig festgelegt hat, soll man von Pratipadā selbst beginnen. Mit den Händen im ‘saṃpuṭa’-Mudrā (schalenförmig, zusammengefügt) sitze man nach Osten gewandt.

Word by Word

• प्रतिपद-आदि: starting from pratipadā (the first tithi)
• प्रतिपद-आदि: Avadhi/Adhikarana (अवधि/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रतिपदा (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Ablative (5th) or Locative (7th), Singular used adverbially; तत्पुरुष—‘प्रतिपदादि’ = ‘beginning with the first lunar day’

• विन्यस्य: having placed/arranged
• विन्यस्य: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि (उपसर्ग) + √न्यस् (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (ल्यप्), ‘having placed/arranged’

• तिथिम्: the lunar day (tithi)
• तिथिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तिथि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• प्रतिपद-आदितः: from pratipadā onward
• प्रतिपद-आदितः: Avadhi (अवधि)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्रतिपदा (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समासः; indeclinable adverb meaning ‘from pratipadā onwards’

• संपुट-आकार-हस्तौ: the two hands shaped like a cupped casket
• संपुट-आकार-हस्तौ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संपुट (प्रातिपदिक) + आकार (प्रातिपदिक) + हस्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Dual; तत्पुरुष—‘संपुटाकारौ हस्तौ’ (hands in the form of a casket/cupped)

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: Sambandha-suchaka (सम्बन्धसूचक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: Adversative/contrast particle (विरोध/विशेषार्थक-अव्यय)

• पूर्व-दिक्-मुख-संस्थितः: standing/situated facing the eastern direction
• पूर्व-दिक्-मुख-संस्थितः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पूर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + दिक् (प्रातिपदिक) + मुख (प्रातिपदिक) + संस्थित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक) < √स्था (धातु)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular; तत्पुरुष-समासः—‘पूर्वदिङ्मुखः सन् संस्थितः’ = situated facing east

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: The verse is calendrical/ritual: fixing tithi from Pratipadā and adopting an east-facing seated posture with saṃpuṭa-hasta; it is not linked to a Jyotirliṅga locale.

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It emphasizes disciplined Śaiva upāsanā: aligning worship with sacred time (tithi) and sacred space (facing east), so the devotee’s intention becomes steady and fit for Shiva’s grace (anugraha).

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

The instruction is a practical guideline for Saguna Shiva worship—preparing the worshipper’s posture, direction, and mental focus before beginning rites directed to the Śiva-liṅga or a chosen form of Shiva.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Begin observance from Pratipadā, sit facing east, and hold the hands in saṃpuṭa-mudrā (cupped, joined palms), a centering gesture suitable for mantra-japa such as the Pañcākṣarī (‘Om Namaḥ Śivāya’).