Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 23

कालतत्त्वनिर्णयः / Doctrine of Kāla (Time) and Its Subordination to Śiva

Devanagari script

कालेन शीतः प्रतिवाति वातःकालेन वृष्टिर्जलदानुपैति । कालेन चोष्मा प्रशमं प्रयाति कालेन सर्वं सफलत्वमेति

Transliteration

kālena śītaḥ prativāti vātaḥkālena vṛṣṭirjaladānupaiti | kālena coṣmā praśamaṃ prayāti kālena sarvaṃ saphalatvameti

Translation

Durch die Zeit (Kāla) weht der kalte Wind zu seiner Jahreszeit; durch die Zeit kommt der Regen den wassergebenden Wolken folgend. Durch die Zeit legt sich die Hitze und wird still; durch die Zeit gelangt alles zu seiner rechten Frucht. So lässt die Zeit—unter der Herrschaft des Herrn (Śiva)—alle Bedingungen und Ergebnisse reifen.

Word by Word

• कालेन: by time, due to time
• कालेन: Karana/Hetu (करण/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन; करण/हेतु-भावे

• शीतः: cold
• शीतः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शीत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; वातः इति विशेषण

• प्रतिवाति: blows (in response/against)
• प्रतिवाति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्रति + √वा (वा गतिगन्धनयोः/वायौ) (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present/लट्), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

• वातः: wind
• वातः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वात (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• कालेन: by time
• कालेन: Karana/Hetu (करण/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; करण/हेतु-भावे

• वृष्टिः: rainfall
• वृष्टिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वृष्टि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• जलदान्: clouds (water-givers)
• जलदान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जलद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), बहुवचन; उपैति इति क्रियायाः कर्म

• उपैति: approaches/comes to
• उपैति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उप + √इ (इण् गतौ) (धातु)
• Form: लट्, परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• कालेन: by time
• कालेन: Karana/Hetu (करण/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

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

• उष्मा: heat
• उष्मा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उष्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• प्रशमम्: calm, cessation
• प्रशमम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रशम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; कर्म

• प्रयाति: goes/attains
• प्रयाति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + √या (या गतौ) (धातु)
• Form: लट्, परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• कालेन: by time
• कालेन: Karana/Hetu (करण/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

• सर्वम्: everything
• सर्वम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; समष्टिवाचक

• सफलत्वम्: fruitfulness, success
• सफलत्वम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सफलत्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; एति इति क्रियायाः कर्म

• एति: attains, reaches
• एति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √इ (इण् गतौ) (धातु)
• Form: लट्, परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Seasonal regularity (wind, rain, heat’s pacification) illustrates niyati (cosmic regulation) functioning through Kāla—an instrument of Īśvara—so that results mature only when conditions are complete.

Significance: Encourages alignment with dharma and right timing (kāla-aucitya) in worship and life; supports vrata discipline and steady sādhana.

Shakti Dimension

Role: nurturing

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Kala (Time)

FAQs

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

It teaches that all change and fruition occur in due season through Kāla, which functions under the higher sovereignty of Pati (Shiva). For the seeker, this supports patience, ethical action, and steady sadhana until karma and insight ripen.

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

Linga-worship trains the mind to see the Lord as the stable ground behind changing seasons. While Kāla governs outer cycles, devotion to Saguna Shiva (as the Linga) anchors the devotee in the timeless Reality that directs Kāla.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Maintain daily discipline: apply Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) with remembrance of impermanence, chant the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” with steady count, and offer water to the Linga—accepting that results come by right time (kāla).